World’s Best Travel Places, Hotels, Cruise Lines and More

Looking for the world’s best airlines, cruise lines or top places to visit and stay?  The Travel + Leisure 2018 World Best’s Awards are a fittingly eclectic showcase of the finest in the world of travel.

Between November 6, 2017 and March 5, 2018, T + L readers were invited to participate in a survey to cast their votes on their favourite travel places and service providers in more than a dozen categories – based on various features.

The categories include airlines, airports, car-rental agencies, cities, cruise ships, destination spas, hotels, hotel brands, islands, tour operators, and safari outfitters.

We have summarized the top five or 10 winners in the different categories, according to T + L 2018 World’s Best Awards.

World’s Best Airlines

Criteria: Cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and value.

International

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates Airline
3. Qatar Airways
4. Japan Airlines
5. Air New Zealand
6. Cathay Pacific Airways
7. All Nippon Airways (ANA)
8. Virgin Atlantic Airways
9. Etihad Airways
10. Eva Air

U.S.

1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Alaska Airlines
4. Southwest Airlines
5. Hawaiian Airlines

World’s Best Airports

Criteria: Access, check-in/security, restaurants/bars, shopping and design.

International

1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar
3. Dubai International
4. Hong Kong International Airport
5. Haneda (Tokyo International) Airport
6. Incheon International Airport, South Korea
7. Zurich Airport
8. Narita International Airport, Tokyo
9. Oslo Airport
10. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

U.S. – Domestic

1. Portland International Airport, Oregon
2. Indianapolis International Airport
3. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
4. Tampa International Airport
5. Pittsburgh International Airport
6. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
7. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
8. John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California
9. Palm Beach International Airport
10. Dallas Love Field

World’s Best Cities

Criteria: Sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value.

International

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2. Oaxaca, Mexico
3. Udaipur, India
4. Ubud, Indonesia
5. Kyoto, Japan
6. Florence, Italy
7. Luang Prabang, Laos
8. Hoi An, Vietnam
9. Chiang Mai, Thailand
10. Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Related: Why Thailand’s Thanin Market Is for Gourmet Window Shoppers and Serious Foodies

U.S.

1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
3. Savannah, Georgia
4. Santa Fe, New Mexico
5. New York City, New York
6. Chicago, Illinois
7. San Antonio, Texas
8. Asheville, North Carolina
9. Nashville, Tennessee
10. Honolulu, Hawaii

Canada

1. Quebec City
2. Vancouver
3. Victoria, BC
4. Montreal
5. Toronto

Mexico

1. San Miguel de Allende
2. Oaxaca
3. Mexico City
4. Mérida
5. Guadalajara

Central and South America

1. Cuzco, Peru
2. Rio de Janeiro
3. Antigua, Guatemala
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
5. Bogotá, Colombia

Asia

1. Udaipur, India
2. Ubud, Indonesia
3. Kyoto, Japan
4. Luang Prabang, Laos
5. Hoi An, Vietnam
6. Chiang Mai, Thailand
7. Tokyo, Japan
8. Bangkok, Thailand
9. Siem Reap, Cambodia
10. Thimphu, Bhutan

Africa and the Middle East

1. Cape Town
2. Beirut, Lebanon
3. Jerusalem
4. Tel Aviv
5. Marrakesh, Morocco

Europe

1. Florence, Italy
2. Rome, Italy
3. Istanbul, Turkey
4. Porto, Portugal
5. Seville, Spain
6. Barcelona, Spain
7. Kraków, Poland
8. Lisbon, Portugal
9. Siena, Italy
10. San Sebastián, Spain

Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific

1. Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. Queenstown, New Zealand
4. Auckland, New Zealand
5. Wellington, New Zealand

World’s Best Islands

Citeria: Natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness and value.

Continental U.S.

1. Hilton Head, South Carolina
2. Golden Isles (Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, St. Simons Island), Georgia
3. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
4. Mount Desert Island, Maine
5. San Juan Islands, Washington
6. Amelia Island, Florida
7. Florida Keys
8. Nantucket, Massachusetts
9. Outer Banks, North Carolina
10. Longboat Key, Florida

Canada

1. Cape Breton Island
2. Vancouver Island
3. Prince Edward Island

Mexico and Central and South America

1. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
2. Easter Island, Chile
3. Isla Mujeres, Mexico
4. Caye Caulker, Belize
5. Ambergris Caye, Belize

Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas

1. Anguilla
2. Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
3. Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
4. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
5. St. Lucia
6. Turks & Caicos
7. Vieques, Puerto Rico
8. Bermuda
9. Cuba
10. Aruba

Asia

1. Java, Indonesia
2. Bali, Indonesia
3. Lombok, Indonesia
4. Lombok, Indonesia
5. Palawan, Philippines
6. Palawan, Philippines
7. Phuket, Thailand
8. Boracay, Philippines
9. Koh Samui, Thailand
10. Koh Lanta, Thailand

Africa and the Middle East

1. Mauritius
2. Seychelles
3. Seychelles

Europe

1. Páros, Greece
2. Orkney Islands, Scotland
3. Azores, Portugal
4. Santorini, Greece
5. Crete, Greece
6. Milos, Greece
7. Skye and the Hebrides, Scotland
8. Sicily, Italy
9. Mykonos, Greece
10. Corfu and the Ionian Islands, Greece

Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific

1. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
2. Tasmania, Australia
3. Cook Islands
4. Moorea, French Polynesia
5. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia

World’s Best Cruise Ships

Criteria: Cabins/facilities, food, service, itineraries/destinations, excursions/activities and value.

Related: How to Enjoy Alaska, the Fun and Easy Way

Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

1. Cunard
2. Disney Cruise Line
3. Princess Cruises
4. Holland America Line
5. Celebrity Cruises
6. Royal Caribbean International
7. Norwegian Cruise Line
8. Carnival Cruise Line
9. MSC Cruises
10. Costa Cruises

Large-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

1. Viking
2. Crystal Cruises
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
4. Seabourn
5. Cunard
6. Oceania Cruises
7. Azamara Club Cruises
8. Princess Cruises
9. Holland America Line
10. Celebrity Cruises

Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

1. Windstar Cruises
2. Paul Gauguin Cruises
3. Ponant
4. Seabourn
5. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

1. Quasar Expeditions
2. Grand Circle Cruise Line
3. Australis
4. Ponant
5. Lindblad Expeditions
6. Windstar Cruises
7. Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises
8. UniCruise Adventures
9. Silversea
10. Celebrity Cruises

River Cruise Lines

1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
2. Viking
3. Tauck
4. Aqua Expeditions
5. Grand Circle Cruise Line
6. Crystal River Cruises
7. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
8. Vantage Deluxe World Travel
9. Avalon Waterways
10. AmaWaterways

Related: The Reality of River Cruising: Is it for You?

World’s Best Hotels

Criteria: Rooms/facilities, location, service, food and value.

T & L Top 100 Hotels in the World

International Hotels

1.   Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, Indonesia
2.   Ballyfin, County Laois, Ireland
3.   Frangipani Beach Resort, Anguilla
4.   Inkaterra La Casona, Cuzco, Peru (tie)
4.   Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Torlundy, Scotland (tie)
6.   The Mulia, Bali, Indonesia
7.   Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, Torres del Paine, Chile
8.   Temple House, Chengdu, China
9.   Nihi Sumba Island, Indonesia
10.  Nayara Springs, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

International Hotel Resorts

1.  Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
2.  Frangipani Beach Resort, Anguilla
3. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
4. Curtain Bluff Resort, Antigua
5. Tensing Pen, Negril, Jamaica
6. Ladera Resort, St. Lucia
7. Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia
8. Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica
9. Cap Maison, St. Lucia
10. Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
11. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba

World’s Top Hotel Brands

1. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
2. Red Carnation Hotel Collection
3. Oetker Collection
4. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
5. One&Only Resorts
6. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
7. The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts
8. The Peninsula Hotels
9. Alila Hotels & Resorts
10. Auberge Resorts Collection

Car-Rental Agencies

Criteria: Vehicle selection, vehicle availability, car-rental location, service and value.

1. National Car Rental
2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
3. Hertz
4. Alamo Rent A Car
5. Sixt Rent A Car

Tour Operators

Criteria: Tour operators and safari outfitters: Staff/guides, itineraries/destinations, activities, accommodations, food and value.

1. Artisans of Leisure
2. ATJ (formerly Asia Transpacific Journeys)
3. Classic Journeys
4. Adventure Unbound
5. DuVine Cycling & Adventure Co.
6. Trek Travel
7. TCS World Travel
8. Journeys Within, a Wild Frontiers Company
9. VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations
10. Tauck