France boasts Europe's best hotel bathrooms

(Dorchester Collection)

The bathrooms in Paris's swanky Le Meurice hotel have been voted by best in Europe, beating a list of other contenders that prove the French know best when it comes to the salle de bain.

The honor was awarded last week at the industry Villegiature Awards, which recognizes the best aspects of Europe's hotels - from terraces to websites.

The Philippe Starck-designed bathrooms of Le Meurice were judged to be the best, managing to top competition from Hotel Raphael in Paris, Le Palais Stephanie in Cannes, La Mas Candille in Mougins, and Muse in Ramatuelle (all in France) as well as Luna Baglioni in Venice, Italy.

In other categories, the Fairmont Monte Carlo's Spa Willow Stream in Monaco was judged the best hotel spa, while Milan's Principe de Savoia won the prize for the best restaurant in a hotel.

Starwood's W Hotel Barcelona was judged to have the best hotel architecture while the Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand won best interior design.

Its interior was designed by Sybille de Margerie with the help of students from the renowned Design Academy Eindhoven, who used famous people associated with the history of the building as a source of inspiration for their creative contributions to the rooms.

The views of the Grace Santorini Boutique Hotel in Imerovigli, Greece helped it to win the "Best Terrasse" award and the Monte Carlo Beach in Roquebrune Cap Martin was judged the most charming hotel in Europe.

For a full list of winners, visit http://www.prix-villegiature.com