It's the special subtleties that distinguish a good hotel from a great one - whether it's the courteous service, the wide range of offers in the spa area or the excellent cuisine. In addition to the winners chosen by our readers and a jury of experts, the Falstaff TRAVEL editorial team has also collected a selection of hand-picked international hotels as Editor's Choice tips that are definitely worth discovering.

For the first time this year, the most exclusive hotels of the year appeared in separate guides and are available in print and digital editions from the Falstaff TRAVEL online store.

Rote Wand Gourmet Hotel

97 | 100 Lech, Vorarlberg

© dieWEST.at

Rote Wand Gourmet Hotel is known as a first-class address for gourmets. In front of a fantastic mountain panorama, you'll embark on a 360-degree culinary experience at award-winning level in the hotel restaurant or the Stuben. In the restaurant Rote Wand Chef's Table and the Friends and Fools Lounge, gourmet feeling meets adventure and tradition meets crazy ideas.

Rote Wand Gourmet Hotel
Zug 5, 6764 Lech am Arlberg, Austria
Tel.: +43 5583 3435 0
Web: rotewand.com

Nature hotel MOLZBACHHOF

94 | 100 Kirchberg am Wechsel, Lower Austria

© Michael Reidinger

Focus on nature: Molzbachhof focuses on the responsible use of resources and self-sufficient, ecological energy generation. Ingredients for the delicious meals, for example, come from the hotel's own paradise garden or the region. They used local wood in the rooms and you can enjoy the special power of Mother Earth in the natural bathing pond.

Naturhotel Molzbachhof
Tratten 36, 2880 Kirchberg am Wechsel, Austria
Tel.: +43 2641 2203
Web: molzbachhof.at

Hotel & Restaurant Mühltalhof 

93 | 100 Unternberg, Upper Austria

© provided

At Mühltalhof, old meets new, historic walls from 1698 meet modern design elements and fine stone meets regional wood. The hotel is an ode to nature and the history that surrounds it. Luxury and simplicity complement each other - in the cozy rooms and suites, in the river bath with its wood-panelled wellness area or in the heart of the hotel: the restaurant. Here, the flair of the inn's past meets fine dining and guests will encounter a futuristic kitchen space.

Hotel & Restaurant Mühltalhof
Unternberg 6, 4120 Neufelden, Austria
Tel.: +43 7282 62 58
Web: muehltalhof.at

TRAUNSEE - The hotel on the lake

94 | 100 Traunkirchen, Upper Austria

© Christof Wagner

The Jesuits once used the historic walls of the Traunsee hotel for the art of brewing, and over the years a charming lakeside hotel with an elegant ambience has been created. Located directly on the water, on the Traunkirchen peninsula, guests can enjoy a fantastic view over the lake from all rooms and suites as well as from the wellness area. Dining takes place in the boathouse. Chef Lukas Nagl was named Gault&Millau "Chef of the Year" in 2023 for his first-class four-toque cuisine. Highlight: the front cooking area - here, you can look over the professionals' shoulders. How about a dip in the cool water? No problem, thanks to direct access to the lake.

Das Traunsee - Das Hotel zum See
Klosterplatz 4, 4801 Traunkirchen, Austria
Tel.: +43 7617 2216
Web: dastraunsee.at

Trofana Royal Resort

99 | 100 Ischgl, Tyrol

© Valentin Photo

Alpine lifestyle paired with indulgence at the highest level will await you at Trofana Royal Resort. The traditional hotel in Ischgl is known far beyond the country's borders for its excellent cuisine, for which top chef Martin Sieberer is responsible. Fine wines and a cozy atmosphere round off the culinary experience. The surrounding mountain world attracts outdoor enthusiasts all year round - whether in winter for skiing fun or in summer for extensive hiking and biking tours. On bad weather days, guests can take a well-earned break in the award-winning spa area.

Trofana Royal Gourmet & Relax Resort
Dorfstraße 95, 6561 Ischgl, Austria
Tel.: +43 5444 600
Web: trofana-royal.at

Read more: Hotel Guide 2024: The best hotels of the year