The 143 rooms have been redone in calm colors and opulent fabrics, and last year, chef Bruno Davaillon—who earned two Michelin stars during his stint at Alain Ducasse’s Mix in Las Vegas—took over at the Mansion Restaurant, earning acclaim for signature dishes including King Crab butternut squash soup and bison tenderloin au poivre.

　　The hotel’s location—on a leafy residential street in the heart of downtown Dallas—is hard to beat. See the full results of the 2012 World’s Best Awards. Advertisement Courtesy of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces It's easy to see why this sandstone monument once held the title of being the largest private home in the world. Rajput traditions meet Renaissance grandeur at this 347-room palace (which took a whopping 15 years to construct, starting in 1923), designed by renowned Edwardian architect, Henry Lanchester. Guests can browse through a range of precious antiques from Jodhpur's royal past, including a 105-foot cupola and a Silver Ghost Rolls Royce—all while sipping flutes of bubbly as part of the property's daily Champagne Museum Walk. Standard Palace rooms are kitted up with Art Deco furnishings and a private bar, while suites are flourished with chrome flaming torches and Ruhlmann sofas. Advertisement 38 of 52 It’s no wonder that Capella chose the recently revitalized Sentosa for its Asian debut. The 30-acre island off Singapore’s southern coast already has six comfortable hotels, but none have this form of colonial grace (public spaces are set in sprawling 19th-century converted barracks) and modern accents (two Foster & Partners–designed wings made of glass and steel). Guest rooms feature teak-lined doors and windows and crisp white-on-white baths, with some surprising layouts: top-floor corner suites have semicircular bedrooms and balconies.

　　The outdoor dining terraces look out over the bi-level infinity pools, which seem to slip into the South China Sea. See the full results of the 2012 World’s Best Awards. Advertisement 39 of 52 Recently opened in 2008, this beach resort has caused quite a stir amongst vacationers, and with good reason. Located on the edge of the Yucatan jungle and the white-sand coast of Cozumel, Grand Velas ingeniously divides its 491 suites into three sections: an adult-only Grand Class that focuses on romance with Jacuzzis and in-room massage tables, the ocean-view Ambassador section which are arranged around the main pool, and the Zen Grand section, which is ¾ of a mile away from the beach, but closer to the convention center.

　　Décor features muted earth tones with pops of Mexican color. Dine at one of the eight dining locations on-site, from French to Asian to traditional Mexican (don’t miss the Yucatan Tikin Xic shrimp at Frida). See the full results of the 2012 World’s Best Awards. Advertisement 40 of 52 Amansara used to be the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk, so you know you’re in for private luxury. Located a mere ten minutes away from the China Pet Mould Manufacturers magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu temple in the world, the 24-suite hotel features swimming