The Hideaway Report is best known for its reviews of small, distinctive properties, and the following list includes some very distinctive selections indeed. Post Ranch Inn again takes the top spot — it is quite understandably a perennial Members’ Choice Awards favorite. This list contains selections in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, but fully half of the hotels are in the United States. It’s clear that one need not travel to a remote corner of the planet to find a top luxury hideaway.

1. Post Ranch Inn
Big Sur, California

Set along a bluff directly above the Pacific in Big Sur, this unique coastal resort offers 40 contemporary guest lodgings suspended over the cliffs with views of the ocean. Spacious interiors feature natural wood and stone trims, woodburning fireplaces and spa tubs. The "tranquil and inspiring" location draws particular praise from members, and the word "perfect" came up more than once.