T+L Readers Lead the Way to Luxury for the 18th Year

by Heather Cassell

Looking for a little luxury at the best of the best around the world? Look no further, Travel + Leisure Magazine released its 2013 World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey on July 2.

“The World’s Best Awards are a testament to Travel + Leisure readers’ continued curiosity, spirit of adventure and commitment to excellence, as well as their appreciate for authenticity and great service,” says Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of T+L, about the exhaustive list that is also broken down into various categories includeing Top 100 Hotels, Top 50 Resorts in the Continental U.S., Top 10 Cities Overall, and Top 10 Islands Overall among other lists.

Topping the list of the best of the best of the 18th annual survey is:

WORLD’S BEST CITY                                              Bangkok

WORLD’S BEST HOTEL                                          Mombo Camp and Little Mombo Camp 

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

WORLD’S BEST HOTEL BRAND                             Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
WORLD’S BEST ISLAND                                          Palawan Philippines

WORLD’S BEST MEGA-SHIP CRUISE LINE              Celebrity Cruises

WORLD’S BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE             Crystal Cruises

WORLD’S BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE             Seabourn

WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE                       Tauck

WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE             Singapore Airlines

WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE                       Virgin America

WORLD’S BEST AIRPORT                                        Singapore Changi Airport

WORLD’S BEST SAFARI OUTFITTER                       Rothschild Safaris

WORLD’S BEST TOUR OPERATOR                         Absolute Travel

WORLD’S BEST CAR-RENTAL AGENCY                 Hertz Rent a Car

WORLD’S BEST DESTINATION SPA                       Rancho La Puerta Fitness Resort & Spa                                                                                           Tecate, Mexico

WORLD’S BEST HOTEL SPA                                  Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

Safari destinations continue to rank high with T+L readers. For the third straight year in a row safari camps took the number one spot overall as the World’s Best Hotel. This year Mombo Camp debuted in the spot, Nancy points out.

“It’s no surprise that safari destinations continue to rate high with our readers, as they provide the one-of-a-kind memorable experiences that so many travelers are looking for today,” says Nancy.

This year the survey marks a number of firsts. Istanbul trumped cities around the world as the number one destination city in the world, the highest it’s ever ranked in the survey. Bangkok maintained its position in second place for the fourth consecutive year.

In North America, the South rises with Charleston named as the top destination city for the first time in the history of the survey, jumping from fourth place last year.

Three new categories were added to the survey: World’s Best Hotel Brands, World’s Best Airports, and World’s Best Mega-Ship Cruise Lines. Nabbing the number one spot in these categories are Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Singapore Changi Airport and Celebrity Cruises, respectively.

Something has to be said about oldies but goodies. Two companies have claimed the number one spot in its category since the poll began in 1996: Crystal Cruises for Top Large-Ship Cruise Line and Singapore Airlines as Top international Airline. Nancy points out that while there were a “significant number of newcomers” in the hotels categories – 78 in total this year – many places have endured over time appearing on the survey consistently for more than a decade making up T+L’s 45 Hall of Fame properties.

The top winners in each category will be honored at an awards ceremony hosted by Nancy and Jay Meyer, vice president and publisher of T+L, in New York City July 18.

T+L survey results are available online at TravelandLeisure.com and will be published in the August issue of T+L which will be on newsstands and tablets July 19.

The annual reader survey was developed by the editors of T+L in association with ROI Research Inc. T+L readers were invited to participated in the survey at TLWorldsBest.com through a variety of T+L print and new media platforms between December 1, 2012 and April 1, 2013. T+L vetted the readers to ensure hospitality and travel industry professionals were removed from the process.

To contract an original article, purchase reprints or become a media partner, contact ">editor [@] girlsthatroam [.] com.

Your Next Adventure

Airplane

7 Tips To Make Your Holiday Travels Joyeous and Merry

These Tips Will Help Avoid Turbulence Releasing Some Of That Holiday Stress by Heather Cassell An estimated 40% of Americans plan to travel for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, according to a NerdWallet survey conducted by The Harris Poll. Thursday was the busiest travel day of the holiday season, according to the United States Federal Aviation […]

Read More
holiday travel

Busy Holiday Travel At Airports, But Still Short Of Pre-Pandemic Numbers

Taking To The Skies This Holiday Week, You Are Not The Only One by Heather Cassell Holiday travel is getting started with a bang. Thursday was the busiest travel day of the holiday season, according to the United States Federal Aviation Administration.  An estimated 40% of Americans plan to travel for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, […]

Read More
Chambre-The-Ritz-Carlton-Maldives-Fari-Islands

4 Incredible Ways To Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams

Airbnb, Marriott, and the European Commission Have Created Four Opportunities to Revitalize and Promote Destinations by Heather Cassell Got skills? Are you young and entrepreneurial? Are you able to relocate for a year or more? Are you ready to venture out into the world? Marriott, Airbnb, and Italy have once in a lifetime opportunities waiting […]

Read More