As 2014 draws to a close, find out which of our 1,500 handpicked hotels and boutique rentals got the biggest thumbs up from happy holidaymakers this year.
Unlike certain global sports bodies, nobody can buy these votes – they’re based purely on scores submitted by our verified guests. So extra kudos to those who got top marks all round…
BEST BEACH ESCAPE: Chumbe Island Coral Park, Zanzibar
We say: A tiny coral-ringed island off Zanzibar, with beautifully designed thatch bungalows, genuinely ecological aims and some of the world’s best snorkelling
You say: “Snorkelling was wonderful, and it was great to have the opportunity of a short dhow sailing trip.” Kirsten, Liechtenstein (28.07.14)
“We had such a perfect stay. Lovely places on the island to see sunset, go for a walk, go snorkelling. The staff are awesome – all are so friendly and kind! Best food we had on Zanzibar. Thanks to all the team. You are doing a great job to save the corals!” Maria, Germany (20.06.14)
BEST FOR WINTER SUN: Turtle Beach House, Sri Lanka
We say: Secret hideaway for 4-6 on the beach near Galle, with luxe furnishings, a lovely garden and a dreamy pool
You say: “Turtle Beach is a true gem amongst private villas anywhere in the world… The location is right on the beach, which is easily accessed after you walk around your private swimming pool.” Graham, Hong Kong (26.10.14)
“Absolutely superb in all senses. Even hard to distinguish the best part of our experience – was it the villa itself, the delicious food made every evening by Ranaweera, the kindness of Santa, or the overall atmosphere?” Andra, Latvia (26.01.14)
BEST ISLAND HIDEAWAY: Casa Los Geranios, Canary Islands
We say: Gorgeous traditional Canarian house (sleeps 2-8) in La Palma’s sunny south, with gob-stopping views over volcanoes to the shimmering Atlantic
You say: “This is a very special place – quite perfect. Located on the edge of a vineyard, with beautiful accommodations and gardens. It was spotless and very comfortable, and the owner Lourdes went to great pains to ensure everything met my expectations.” Jonathan, Canada (01.07.14)
“A fantastic place with excellent service, a fabulous view and a wonderful garden. This is now one of my favourite places on earth.” Katharina, Switzerland (18.03.14)
BEST BUDGET BOLTHOLE: Casa do Rio Vez, Portugal
We say: An ancient millhouse with a contemporary slant offering B&B rooms and a self-catering loft, beside the crystalline waters of the Vez River
You say: “We had a great time at Casa do Rio Vez and Valerie is an excellent hostess. Food was fresh and good quality, and always looked tempting as well as tasting good.” Sue, United Kingdom (01.09.14)
“This is really heaven! So nice and peaceful and beautiful! Everything is perfect. I have never seen such a lovely breakfast and beautiful rooms. You do feel so wonderful. The owner tells you a lot of places where you can go and is very helpful. We recommend it to everybody!” Albert, Netherlands (11.09.13)
BEST FAMILY ESCAPE: Ammos Hotel, Crete
We say: Style with a big smile at this chic and superbly serviced family-minded hotel on the beach, 15 minutes from Chania
You say: “Absolutely wonderful place – fantastic staff, great food and beautiful hotel. It was the ideal place for a holiday with our one year old (who was treated like royalty by everyone there) and we all loved it.” Julia, United Kingdom (21.06.14)
“Faultless! A wonderful boutique hotel that really caters for small children. The service is fantastic and the staff are genuinely friendly and helpful; nothing is too much trouble. Excellent food – we didn’t eat anywhere else really, apart from the days we hired a car. Nikos and all his staff were amazing.” Colette, United Kingdom (17.06.14)
BEST CITY PAD: Pedrera Boutique Apartment, Spain
We say: A spacious, super-stylish apartment for 2-4 in the heart of the Eixample district, looking onto Gaudí’s La Pedrera building
You say: “Fantastic location and a beautifully conserved and designed apartment. We cannot fault it and would love to go back before too long.” Duna, United Kingdom (02.09.14)
“Our stay at the Pedrera Boutique Apartment met and exceeded our expectations – a thoroughly excellent experience all round! I loved that the apartment had all the best bits of staying in a luxurious hotel – extraordinary decor/furniture, AMAZING city centre location – and none of the things that can niggle about staying in an apartment.” Katie, United Kingdom (17.06.14)
Take a look at the review >>
BEST HOTEL (OVERSEAS): Finca el Tossal, Spain
We say: A traditional casa rural, 8km uphill from the Costa Blanca, with great views of the Marina Alta mountains and the Med
You say: “Lovely secluded place. A place to enjoy the view and the calm atmosphere. Bring some good books and sit back and relax.” Jon, Denmark (24.09.14)
“We had a wonderful stay at Finca el Tossal. The setting is stunning, in the middle of the quiet mountains though just 10 miles from the sea. The house is beautiful, with careful service, and the delicious dinners cooked by the Argentinian chef were perfect. We highly recommend this place.” Perquis, France (23.08.14)
BEST RENTAL (OVERSEAS): Xaghra Farmhouse, Malta
We say: A huge rustic townhouse in the charismatic small Gozitan town of Xaghra; ideal for families or friends and excellent value (sleeps 6-8)
You say: “We had a wonderful stay at the Xaghra Farmhouse. The house was beautiful, well equipped and relaxing. The Maltese stone interior when lit up at night was lovely, and we all enjoyed the pool. Our little girl also really enjoyed playing with the toys available at the house. We spent most days and evenings relaxing by the pool, but had a lovely meal at Ta’Frenc. We would thoroughly recommend the house, and Gozo itself.”
Emma, United Kingdom (13.09.14)
Small print: only properties with at least 5 respondents were counted. ‘Verified guests’ means those who booked and paid their stay through i-escape.com. Percentages shown are the average across all guests and all categories (Rooms, Eating, Service, Value).