There’s something about the simplicity and flow of a river that transcends time and space. A river always has a beginning and an end. However, what happens in the middle is always changing—moving and evolving. This movement, combined with a connection to the remarkable and endangered wildlands of our planet’s most remote corners, makes a river adventure one of the best ways to connect with pure nature.

When Amber Gibson checked in at London’s The Goring Hotel this past June, she encountered a common annoyance of travel: her room was not ready yet. “They graciously apologized and asked if they could ‘bother’ me to have a glass of champagne at the bar while I waited,” says thefood and travel writerfrom Chicago. “Umm,yes—you can ‘bother’ me every day of the week with a glass of champagne.” Gibson loved her “sumptuous suite,” she recalls, “but it was really the service that was most memorable.” Gibson wasn’t the only person to get such friendly treatment from The Goring: the Belgravia hotel made the top 10 amongGoTravelDailyreaders for the best hotel service in the world. Among the top 20 winners (including a six-way tie for first place and a four-way tie for No. 20), service goes far beyond helping you with your bags. A few winning hotels offer round-the-clock butler service, and several winners employ concierges who belong to the prestigiousLes Clefs d’Or. One winning hotel in London even boasts that its staffers outnumber guests by two to one. However, readers also applauded hotels that offer intangible service: friendly staffers who seem authentically warm, rather than merely polite. The Goring did more to win Gibson’s loyalty than just ply her with bubbly. After checking in, she realized she’d left a sweater at another hotel. She asked The Goring to give that property a heads-up that she would come to get it. “There was no need,” she says. “When I got back after lunch, it was already hanging in my closet. I don’t think I’d stay anywhere else in London now. The Goring really won my heart.”

Oh, Canada! This year’s World’s Best resorts showcase the True North’s wild coastlines, epic ski slopes, and pristine wilderness. Familiar names — the Wickaninnish Inn and Post Hotel & Spa, among others — ranked among the top five properties, while Canadian operator Fairmont Hotels & Resorts also made its home country proud with four hotels among the 10 winners. Every year, the World’s Best Awards survey asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated based on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties classified as City or Resort based on their locations and amenities were also taken into account. Last year’s gold and silver winners swapped places in 2017, with Fogo Island Inn, a contemporary property featuring just 29 suites — all with floor-to-ceiling windows and locally crafted furnishings — emerging as this year’s big winner. “The beauty of Newfoundland, the remoteness of Fogo Island, and extraordinary design make this inn a very special place,” one voter remarked. Next on the list is Manoir Hovey, a 19th-century mansion set along the shores of Lake Massawippi in North Hatley. Modeled after Mount Vernon and framed by 30 acres of woodland and manicured gardens, the property is an ideal addition to a trip to Quebec City—the No. 1 city in Canada this year—since it’s conveniently located just two and a half hours away. At Le Hatley restaurant, chef Francis Wolf serves dishes such as buttery foie gras and garden-fresh salads drizzled with local birch-tree syrup. After dinner, guests can retreat upstairs to one of the 37 elegant rooms, many featuring fireplaces or private balconies. On the west coast, the picturesque Wickaninnish Inn made its regular appearance on the list. The Vancouver Island property is nestled on a pine-forest-ringed promontory, with cozy rooms equipped with deep soaking tubs, while floor-to-ceiling windows invite the breathtaking outdoors in. You can spend your days strolling along Chesterman Beach or curled up fireside with a fine Pinot from the Pacific. Ski resorts on both sides of Canada also made a strong showing thanks to famous properties such as the Four Seasons Resort Whistler, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and Fairmont Tremblant.10. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, AlbertaCourtesy of Fairmont Chateau Lake LouiseScore: 88.939. Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, La Malbaie, QuebecCourtesy of Fairmont Le Manoir RichelieuScore: 90.228. Fairmont Tremblant, Mont Tremblant, QuebecCourtesy of Fairmont TremblantScore: 90.367. Fairmont Chateau Whistler, British ColumbiaCourtesy of Fairmont Chateau WhistlerScore: 90.406. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler, British ColumbiaCourtesy of Four Seasons Resort WhisterScore: 90.685. Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler, British ColumbiaCourtesy of Nita Lake LodgeScore: 91.304. Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, British ColumbiaCourtesy of Wickaninnish InnScore: 91.643. Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise, AlbertaCourtesy of Post Hotel & SpaScore: 95.642. Manoir Hovey, North Hatley, QuebecCourtesy of Manoir HoveyScore: 96.961. Fogo Island InnWilliam AbranowiczScore: 97.76As one reader aptly noted, “Fogo Island Inn is beyond comparison. To call it a hotel seems somehow wrong.” This 29-room property, a striking contemporary build on Newfoundland’s Fogo Island, serves as an extension of the destination itself. New and old are integrated into every aspect of the inn’s design: its furnishings and textiles— including the wallpaper and hand-sewn quilts—were specifically created for the inn, with most made locally. All guest activities, ranging from berry picking and guided hikes through Fogo residents to traditional fishing and punt rowing, promote regional culture and history.

There are great philosophical arguments about which people feel passionately (think cats versus dogs, Rome versus Florence), but few incite the same vehemence as naming the finest hotel in Paris. This delightful disagreement offers an excellent opportunity to experience each of these hotels, ensuring a fair comparison.

It was once Japan that gained fame for its high-speed train network, introducing the world to its Shinkansen, or bullet trains, back in 1964. While the Land of the Rising Sun still leads in rail technology, it is now China that proudly holds the title of the high-speed train capital of the world.