Conde Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards

The reader’s choice Awards from Conde Nast Traveller magazine are out, and there is all sorts of good information here. Here, a selection of the top categories: 25 best cities, top 100 hotels, top 25 Islands and the highlights of Central and South America. For all the details check out the magazine, as they have top cities, hotels, resorts and Islands for each region: Europe, Asia, Africa & Middle East, Central & South America, Mexico, Australia & The Pacific, Caribbean & the Atlantic, Canada and United States.

25 best cities:

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2.Budapest, Hungary
2. Florence, Italy
4. Salzburg, Austria
5.Charleston, South Carolina, United States
5.San Sebastián, Spain
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Rome
9. Siena, Italy
10. Québec City
11.Cape Town, South Africa
11.Bruges, Belgium
13. Vancouver, Canada
14. Kyoto, Japan
15. Prague, Czech Republic
15. Kraków, Poland
17. Victoria, Canada
17. Sydney
17. Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
20. Seville, Spain
20. Beirut, Lebanon
22. Paris
22. Melbourne, Australia
24. Venice, Italy
24. Barcelona, Spain

how many have I been to: 11 out of 25. I think this is a pretty solid list of great places to visit. But San Miguel de Allende as No. 1? That i really don’t get. I think its a beautiful city, and a must when travelling to Mexico, but the best? Don’t think so

Top 25 Islands:

Maui
Kauai
Maldives
Kiawah island
Bora bora
Sea island
Moorea
Oahu
Great barrier reef islands
Big island
Bermuda
Santorini
Tasmania
St. John
Whitsunday islands
Vancouver island
Nevis
Lanai
Nantucket
Seychelles
Hilton head
British virgin islands
Elba & tuscan archipelago
Prince edward island
Amelia island

I’m really doing badly on these ones – but I have to say, even though I haven’t been to many of these, isn’t there a clear US focus? I think there are a couple of Thai islands and Greek Islands that could have made it!

Top 100 Hotels & Resorts in the World

Im not going to list the full 100, as you can definitely check the link for that, but here are the top 20!

La residence, franschhoek, south africa
Lodge at kauri cliffs, matauri bay, n.z.
Singita sabi sand, south africa
Bushmans kloof wilderness reserve, south africa
Grand hotel timeo, sicily
Perivolas, santorini
One&only the palm, dubai
Four seasons gresham palace budapest
Ritz–carlton shanghai, pudong
Peninsula house, samaná
Lion sands, sabi sand
Inn at palmetto bluff, bluffton
21c museum hotel, cincinnati
Waldorf astoria chicago
Villa san michele, fiesole
St. Regis lhasa resort
Rosewood mayakoba, yucatán
The chedi, chiang mai
Amankila, bali
Lodge at doonbeg, county clare
Jumby bay (rosewood), antigua
Phinda private game reserve, south africa
One&only palmilla, san josé del cabo
Four seasons resort bora bora
Le meurice, paris
Sabi sabi private game reserve, south africa
Parador santiago de ompostela, spain

In general this list is very USA focused .Of the 100 hotels, 22 are in the US quite a big percentage. OF the top 100 Hotels I’ve been to: Hotel Splendido & Splendido Mare, Portofino, Hotel Villa Magna, Madrid, The Connaught, London, Rosewood Mayakoba, Yucatán, Las Alcobas, Mexico City, Blue Palace Resort (Luxury Collection), Crete, Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris – all of which are very worthy members of this list.

Top 5 Cities in Central & South America