Travellers name top cities and islands
Wednesday, 19 Oct 2005 14:27
San Francisco: named top US city for the 17th time
San Francisco, Bangkok and Florence all have something in common. And they share this common ground with Cape Town, Sydney and Vancouver.
Of course, they are all cities, and very popular cities at that; but they have also been voted top city in their region in the
Conde Nast Traveler readers' choice awards.
Nearly 28,000 readers voted on a wide range of travel categories from best rental car agencies to top resorts.
In Europe, Mykonos & the Cyclades, Greece, was voted top European island ahead of the Spanish islands of Majorca & Minorca, and the Italian island of Sicily.
It was an all-Italian affair in the European cities category with Florence triumphing ahead of Rome and Venice, while Ireland fared well in the European resorts category with the K Club, County Kildare, claiming top spot, followed by Domoland Castle, County Clare, in second.
Chewton Glen, Hampshire, was voted top hotel in the British Isles, followed by Cliveden in Berkshire and Gravetye Manor, West Sussex.
The survey also provides some cheer for the Indonesian island of Bali, which was recently hit by several bomb attacks just as the tourist economy had begun to recover from the 2002 bombings in which over 200 people were killed.
Bali came second in the Asian islands category, sandwiched between Phuket, Thailand, in first and Mauritius in third, while the Four Seasons hotel in Bali's Jimbaran Bay was voted Asia's top resort.
Four Seasons had several successes in the awards, taking the top resort crowns in Canada, the Caribbean and the Pacific Rim as well as Bali; and the top hotel award in Europe for the Four Seasons Istanbul.
Details of all the winners in the 18th annual readers' choice awards are available in November's edition of
Conde Nast Traveler
Winners
Top Cities
Africa – Cape Town
Americas – Vancouver
Asia - Bangkok
Europe – Florence
Pacific Rim – Sydney
United States - San Francisco
Top Islands
Asia – Phuket
Caribbean/Atlantic – St John
Europe – Mykonos & the Cyclades
North America – Vancouver Island
Pacific Rim – Maui
Top resorts
Africa – Chief's Camp, Botswana
Asia – Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali
Atlantic – One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas
Canada – Four Seasons, Whistler, British Columbia
Caribbean – Four Seasons, Nevis
Central/South America – Four Seasons Penninsula, Papagayo
Europe – K Club, County Kildare, Ireland
Mexico – One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos
Pacific Rim – Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island, Hawaii
United States – Little Palm Island, Florida
Top hotels
Africa/Middle East – Cape Grace, Cape Town
Asia – The Peninsula, Hong Kong
British Isles – Chewton Glen, Hampshire
Canada – Hotel Dominion 1912, Quebec City
Caribbean/Atlantic – Ladera Resort, St Lucia
Central America/Mexico – Casa Santo Domingo, Guatemala, Mexico
Europe – Four Seasons, Istanbul
Pacific Rim – Lilanfels Blue Mountains, Australia
South America – Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru
United States – Twin Farms, Barnard, Vermont
Top international route airline
Singapore Airlines
Top domestic route airline
JetBlue
Top rental car agency
Hertz
Top large cruise line
Crystal Cruises
Top small cruise line
Silversea