Introverted travellers can find amazing opportunities to explore the world on their own terms; however, there are also challenges—like finding the time and space to recharge in busy hostels, trains, and cities. Therefore, choosing the right destination can significantly enhance the travel experience for introverted adventurers.

“Peaceful yet majestic” is how oneGoTravelDailyreader described Ashford Castle. The hotel is nestled on 350 quiet, scenic acres alongside a lake in western Ireland, exuding a grand presence with its rich history dating back to the early 13th century. It features 83 elegantly appointed rooms furnished in a baronial style, complete with gilded mirrors, four-poster beds, and luxurious velvet upholstery. Furthermore, a range of activities—from tennis to falconry—combined with attentive service has solidified Ashford Castle’s reputation as the top resort hotel in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The north is on the rise. This year, the first seven of the top 10 resort hotels in California are all from the upper half of the Golden State. Most can be found in the counties of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino, the beloved land of wine and redwoods north of San Francisco. This year’s top two winners, however, belong to properties elsewhere in the north. Rosewood CordeValle, a luxury resort with its own championship golf course and vineyard, is tucked away in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, while Château du Sureau, near Yosemite, is an enchanting slice of Provence in the Sierra Nevada.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as City or Resort based on their locations and amenities. Readers praised the 45-room Rosewood CordeValle for its seclusion. “A hidden treasure,” said one reader, while another added, “We had wild deer grazing right outside our room.” All of this despite being just half an hour from San Jose on the 101.

That’s a common trait among many of California’s top resort hotels: they give you the feeling of getting away from it all while being relatively easy to reach — no small feat in a state of nearly 40 million people. Last year’s winner, Farmhouse Inn, located just up the road from some of Sonoma’s finest wineries, feels like a remote little forest kingdom, but it’s just 90 minutes from San Francisco. This year, the family-run boutique inn with a Michelin-starred restaurant claimed the No. 3 spot. In neighboring Napa Valley, three resorts ranked highly with our readers: Auberge du Soleil, in Rutherford; Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort, in Calistoga; and Meadowood Napa Valley, in St. Helena. In southern California, both the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa and Terranea are an easy drive from Los Angeles, making them great options for travelers wanting to tack a few days of relaxation onto a city trip. Read on to see the full list of top California retreats.

In a city known for fashion and elegance, you’d expect Milan’s bar scene to be sophisticated. The city offers chic spots to sip aperitifs with beautiful people in vine-covered gardens. However, Milan is also blessed with quirky watering holes. If you know where to go, you can enjoy shots in a converted 18th-century church or play pinball in a bar designed by Wes Anderson.