Beau-Rivage Palace - Lausanne, Switzerland

The Beau-Rivage Palace reigns supreme over all other hotels in the Lake Geneva region. The stately neoclassical property sits pretty on 10 manicured lakeside acres and enjoys what are perhaps the area’s best views of the Alps. And while Old World features come standard in Switzerland, of course, here the expected wall murals, stained glass and brocade fabrics are truly grand. Still, the hotel isn’t caught up in the past: A $91 million renovation has ushered in wifi and other modern twists, as well as a sleek top-ranked spa.