I love lists, and I'm really partial to boutique hotels. When I want to choose among the best of the best — from intimate inns to luxurious lodges to sumptuous chateaux — I turn to the free Guide to the Good Life at www.gayot.com. On this Web site "discerning professionals" compose lists of reviews you can trust on superlative hotels, restaurants and other travel-related topics around the world.

Here are its reviewers' very subjective Top Ten picks for the best boutique hotels on the planet. And for top value accommodation, look for promotional offers on the hotel Web sites.

Melbourne, Australia: Conveniently on Melbourne's most famous boulevard —St. Kilda Road— with panoramic views of the Shrine of Remembrance, the Royce Hotel, www.roycehotels.com .au, is next to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake. It's also a short tram ride from the Central Business District and fashionable shopping districts, as well as walking distance from Melbourne's premier theater district. With 100 stylish, recently redeveloped rooms and suites, the Royce is recognized as one of Melbourne's finest five-star designer boutique hotels and known for its award-winning restaurant and popular bar.

Singapore: Dramatic, passionate and decadent are terms that spring to mind when visiting The Scarlet Hotel, www.thescarletho tel.com. Housed in a 1924 Art Deco building on a row of 1868 early shop houses on the historic Erskine Road, the hotel offers themed suites, as well as 89 stunningly designed rooms. In-room features include one-for-one evening cocktails, personal bars with gourmet selections and a pillow menu. Have a drink at the aptly named Bold bar before or after dining at the top-rated Desire restaurant.

Bali, Indonesia: Amandari, www.amanresorts.com/amandari.com, is a tranquil, luxurious 30-suite property where rice terraces and the roaring Ayung River converge, along with the artistic elements of the town of Ubud. The property is designed in the same style as the nearby villages and offers a glimpse of the indigenous lifestyle combined with a full-service spa, pool and tennis court. Each thatched suite features a garden courtyard, outdoor sunken marble tub and plenty of local teak and coconut wood. The restaurant features highly acclaimed Western and Indonesian fare and provides a dramatic view of the impressive gorge down below.

Paris: Small, intimate and with impeccable service, the Franklin Roosevelt Hotel, www.paris-hotel-roosevelt.com, offering 48 rooms and suites, combines the ultimate in luxury, charm and tradition. The hotel is just a stone's throw from the Champs Elysees and some of the city's best shopping. This six-story, stone-clad, late-19th century building boasts fully soundproofed rooms, a patio garden for breakfast or tea, and a petite salon where you can while away the hours reading in peace or indulging in a drink or two.

Florence, Italy: An 18th-century palazzo converted into an elegant, exclusive boutique hotel, Relais Santa Croce, www.relaisanta croce.com/en/index.htm, sits on the doorstep to some of Florence's most treasured historic sites. There are just 24 rooms, each a truly extraordinary setting with sweeping views of the Florence skyline including the Duomo, Santa Croce Basilica, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio. You'll live regally here, surrounded by parquet floors and frescoed ceilings and attended by a highly professional staff.

Stockholm: Situated in the heart of Stockholm's business district, personal service is the motto at sleek 65-room Berns Hotel, www.berns.se, housed in an historic 1863 landmark building. The hotel's concierge will open doors for you all over town when it comes to the hottest nightclubs, restaurants and any type of excursions you wish to take part in.

London: A contemporary four-story town house hotel located just off Kensington High Street in London's West End, Kensington House Hotel, www.kenhouse.com, is in the heart of the best the city has to offer. Kensington Gardens is just a short stroll away with world-renowned shopping, restaurants, art galleries and museums also within walking distance. The exterior of the hotel has been restored to its 19th-century elegance and the interiors have been rendered in a crisp, contemporary design.

Funchal, Madeira: Quinta da Bela Vista, www.belavistamadeira.com, has been transformed from a 165-year-old manor house into a sumptuous boutique hotel. This walled estate, with lavish gardens surrounded by the magnificent landscape of the island of Madeira in Portugal, is the ideal resting place for those seeking a relaxing and tranquil holiday. You can still sense the private-home feeling here, surrounded by fine paintings and antique furniture.

Beverly Hills, Calif.: Built in the 1930s, unique Maison 140, www.maison140beverlyhills.com, is on a quiet street away from the clamor of Wilshire Boulevard, combining French and Far East styles. This innovative property was recently redesigned by Kelly Wearstler as a contemporary tribute to the classic Parisian inns of the last century.

New York: A New York fixture since 1924, Gramercy Park Hotel, www.gramercyparkhotel.com, underwent a major renovation in 2006, courtesy of ground-breaking hotelier Ian Schrager. With rich Bohemian décor and custom furnishings designed by Julian Schnabel, this 185-room hotel is decked out in rich jewel tones. Rooms boast new takes on old traditions: instead of a mini-bar, you'll be treated to a mahogany English drinking cabinet.