A single element — a spa, a beach, a particular service — can elevate a hotel from excellent to unforgettable. This list of awards highlights the best of such amenities from our past year of travels. We’re pleased to say that these categories were quite competitive this time around! It was tough narrowing them down to just one winner.

Best Pool: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon

Grindavík, Iceland

It’s hard to believe that a power plant’s geothermal runoff could be so arrestingly beautiful. The warm, milky blue waters of the Blue Lagoon contain silica, micro-algae and mineral salt, and while they may tangle one’s hair and discolor jewelry, they also relieve skin conditions and prove rejuvenating. Beyond the restorative waters themselves, it is the lagoon’s Mars-like setting that is so magical — and guests of the private Retreat at Blue Lagoon get it all to themselves. Whether you’re wading between walls of ancient black lava with a drink in hand or getting a transportive in-water massage, this is a place to soak in a cornerstone of Icelandic culture.