The survey for the 2024 Readers' Choice Awards is open, vote now for your favourite places, hotels, airports, cruise lines, travel fixers and more.
If 2022 was all about the return to travel, then 2023 was the year we recalibrated what was really important. Few seemed to have disappeared into the metaverse, preferring real life encounters ranging from off-grid wilderness escapes to well-connected urban luxe. From the results that poured in for our 26th readers’ awards – the fifth year running that we’ve joined forces with our American counterparts – it’s apparent that you want to spend more time and more money than ever before on travelling. Much of that is to new destinations, along with trips informed by culture, local food scenes and sustainability. The rise and rise of cruising continues (something we never foresaw in 2020), while, for a vocal minority, music festivals are a ticket to ride (the Beyoncé Bounce and Swiftonomics, anyone?). But don’t forget that these awards and their globe-spinning winners – from hotels and resorts to islands, cities, airports and trains – are a palimpsest of your travel experiences over the years, the places you dream of returning to.
These are all the winners in the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.
The best hotels in the world
Our readers' favourite UK hotels
Winner: Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire
Our readers' favourite hotels in Europe
Winner, Paris: Shangri-La Paris
Winner, rest of France and Monaco: Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection, Massignac
Winner, Ireland: The Westbury, Dublin
Winner, Rome: Hassler Roma
Winner, Florence: Portrait Firenze
Winner, Venice: San Clemente Palace Kempinski, Venice
Winner, rest of Italy: COMO Castello del Nero, Barberino Tavarnelle
Winner, Greece: Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens
Winner, Spain and Portugal: Finca Cortesin, Casares, Spain
Winner, Turkey: Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul
Winner, rest of Europe: Sir Albert Hotel, Amsterdam
The best hotels in Australasia
Winner: The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney
The best hotels in Africa
Winner, Northern Africa: La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
- InspirationAnnouncing the Hot List Winners of 2024
Winner, Eastern and Southern Africa: Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa
The best hotels in South America
Winner: Faena Hotel Buenos, Aires, Argentina
Our readers' favourite hotels in the USA
Winner, New York City: The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
Winner, Los Angeles: SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills
Winner, rest of USA: Colony Palms Hotel, Palm Springs, California
The best hotels in Canada
Winner: The Hazelton Hotel Toronto
- InspirationAnnouncing the Hot List Winners of 2024
The best hotels in Asia
Winner, China: Hotel Éclat, Beijing
Winner, Hong Kong: The Peninsula Hong Kong
Winner, Japan: Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
Winner, Singapore: Villa Samadhi, Singapore
Winner, South-east Asia: The St. Regis, Bangkok
Winner, rest of Asia: Signiel Seoul, South Korea
The best hotels in India
Winner: Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
The best resorts in the world
Winner, Mexico: Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
- InspirationAnnouncing the Hot List Winners of 2024
Winner, USA: L'Horizon Resort & Spa
Winner, Canada: Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler
Winner, South America: Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa, Brazil
Winner, Greece: W Costa Navarino
Winner, rest of Europe: Adare Manor, Co. Limerick, Ireland
Winner, Indonesia: Alila Villas Uluwatu, Indonesia
Winner, Thailand: Banyan Tree Veya Phuket
Winner, rest of Asia: The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, Malaysia
Winner, Indian Ocean: Cheval Blanc Randheli, Maldives
Winner, Australasia and South Pacific: Wharekauhau Country Estate
Winner, South Africa: Londolozi Game Reserve
Winner, rest of Africa: Elewana Elsa's Kopje, Meru, Kenya
Winner, the Middle East: One&Only The Palm, Dubai, UAE
The best cities in the UK
Winner: Cardiff, Wales
The friendliest cities in the UK
Winner: Cardiff, Wales
The friendliest cities in Europe
Winner: Siena, Italy
- InspirationAnnouncing the Hot List Winners of 2024
The friendliest cities in the world
Winner: Calgary, Canada
The friendliest countries in Europe
Winner: Ireland
The friendliest countries in the world
Winner: Dominica
The best cities in the world for food
Winner: San Sebastian
- InspirationAnnouncing the Hot List Winners of 2024
The best islands in Asia
Winner: Bali, Indonesia
The best islands in Europe
Winner: Sardinia, Italy
The best ski resorts in the world
Winner, Europe: Zermatt, Switzerland
- InspirationAnnouncing the Hot List Winners of 2024
Winner, USA: Snowmass, Colorado
Winner, Canada: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
The best airline for food
Winner: JAL (Japan Airlines), Japan
The best cruise lines in the world
Winner, mega ships (more than 4,000 passengers): Norwegian Cruise Line
Winner, large ships (2,500 to 4,000 passengers): Virgin Voyages
Winner, medium ships (500 to 2,500 passengers): Viking
Winner, small ships (fewer than 500 passengers): Emerald Cruises
Winner, river ships: Viking
Winner, expedition ships: Viking
The best villa rental companies in the world
Winner: The Thinking Traveller
- InspirationAnnouncing the Hot List Winners of 2024
The best tour operators in the world
Winner, general tour operators: The Turquoise Holiday Company
Winner, travel specialists: Scott Dunn