Bangkoktraveler Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Reuters July 10, 2008 Bangkok was voted the world's best city for 2008 and the Galapagos were picked as the best islands in an online poll by Travel + Leisure magazine, trumping last year's winners Florence, Italy and Bali, Indonesia. Magazine readers also voted Singita Sabi Sand, at the Kruger National Park, South Africa, as the world's top hotel while Singapore Airlines grabbed the best airline award again. It was the first time that Bangkok, the vibrant capital of Thailand, and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador topped their respective categories, said Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure. Last year, Bangkok was ranked number 3 and the Galapagos number 8. The 2007 winners of best city and best island -- Florence an Bali -- fell to number 5 and number 2 respectively. "We're delighted to welcome so many new winners this year," she said in a statement. "Nature, and adventure, were clearly a draw in the selections." Last year's number one hotel, the Oberoi Udaivilas in India, fell to number 4 this year. Singita Sabi Sands was voted the number two hotel in 2007. The results were complied from votes by magazine subscribers in an Internet poll which went live between January and March. Travel + Leisure will honour winners on July 24 in New York City. The complete "World's Best Awards" is available on www.travelandleisure.com. Following are some highlights: Best city - Bangkok, Thailand Best hotel - Singita Sabi Sand, South Africa Best island - Galapagos, Ecuador Best cruise line (large ships) - Crystal Cruises Best cruise line (small ships) - Silversea Cruises Best international airline - Singapore Airlines Best domestic airline - Virgin America Best tour operator - Micato Safaris Best car-rental agency - Hertz Best hotel for $250 or less - Domaine des Hauts de Loire, France Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Congratulations Bangkok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 I probably wrote the same comment last year, but I've never seen that magazine in continental europe so it's survey is of very little or better no importance at all. :evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Some of their awards are a bit strange elef, I get the feeling that they miss a lot of places out. For my money Boracay Island is one of the greatest tropical holiday destinations ever but I get the feeling that they have never been there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 US-based so mostly americans voted I guess. The Nation Today Link Bangkok voted world's best city in travel poll By Agencies Bangkok was voted the world's best city for 2008 and the Galapagos were picked as the best islands in an online poll by Travel + Leisure magazine, winning over last year's winners Florence, Italy and Bali, Indonesia. US-based magazine readers also voted Singita Sabi Sand, at the Kruger National Park, South Africa, as the world's top hotel while Singapore Airlines grabbed the best airline award again. It was the first time that Bangkok and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador topped their respective categories, said Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure. Last year, Bangkok was ranked number 3 and the Galapagos number 8. The 2007 winners of best city and best island -- Florence and Bali -- fell to number 5 and number 2 respectively. Singapore Airlines was voted number one, followed by Emirates, Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific. Last year's number one hotel, the Oberoi Udaivilas in India, fell to number 4 this year. Singita Sabi Sands was voted the number two hotel in 2007. The results were complied from votes by magazine subscribers in an Internet poll which went live between January and March. Travel + Leisure will honour winners on July 24 in New York City. Top 10 cities : 1 Bangkok, Thailand 87.61 2 Buenos Aires, Argentina 87.24 3 Cape Town, South Africa 86.59 4 Sydney, Australia 86.49 5 Florence, Italy 86.24 6 Cuzco, Peru 86.15 7 Rome, Italy 85.12 8 New York, US 85.03 9 Istanbul, Turkey 84.61 10 San Francisco, US 84.42 Top 5 Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific 1 Sydney 86.49 2 Melbourne 80.35 3 Queenstown. New Zealand 79.95 4 Perth 77.78 5 Hobart 77.38 Top 10 Asia : 1 Bangkok, Thailand 87.61 2 Kyoto, Japan 84.27 3 Chiang Mai, Thailand 84.14 4 Hong Kong 83.69 5 Udaipur, India 83.51 6 Shanghai, China 81.83 7 Siem Reap, Cambodia 81.15 8 Beijing, China 81.05 9 Hanoi, Vietnam 80.87 10 Jaipur, India 80.78 Top 10 Europe : 1 Florence, Italy 86.24 2 Rome, Italy 85.12 3 Istanbul, Turkey 84.61 4 Paris, France 82.59 5 Krakow, Poland 82.14 6 Prague, Czech Republic 81.81 7 Venice, Italy 81.74 8 Barcelona, Spain 81.32 9 Vienna, Austria 80.99 10 Salzburg, Austria 80.63 Top 5 Mexico and Central and South America 1 Buenos Aires, Argentina 87.24 2 Cuzco Peru 86.15 3 San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 82.19 4 Rio de Janeiro 80.15 5 Antigua, Guatemala 79.92 Top 10 Africa and the Middle East 1 Cape Town 86.59 2 Jerusalem 84.39 3 Fez, Morocco 80.77 4 Marrakesh, Morocco 80.46 5 Cairo 80.23 6 Dubai 78.86 7 Tel Aviv 78.60 8 Amman 74.52 9 Tunis 71.93 10 Alexandria 70.72 Top 10 Islands : 1 Galapagos Islands 87.64 2 Bali 86.32 3 Maui 86.09 4 Kauai 85.87 5 Tasmania 85.00 6 Easter Island 84.78 7 Hawaii 84.66 8 Santorini 84.52 9 Great Barrier Reef Islands 84.42 10 Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia 83.82 Top 3 Asia : |1 Bali 86.32 2 Phuket Thailand 82.64 3 Penang Malaysia 81.67 Top 5 Europe : 1 Santorini, Greece 84.52 2 Dalmatian Islands, Croatia 83.50 3 Sicily, Italy 82.92 4 Ischia, Italy 82.41 5 Cyclades, Greece (Santorini rated separately) 82.40 Top 3 Mexico and Central and South America 1 Galapagos Islands 87.64 2 Easter Island, Chile 84.78 3 Ambergris Cay, Belize 78.08 Top 20 Hotel Spas: 1 Wickaninnish Inn Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada 92.66 2 Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand 92.19 3 Lodge at Pebble Beach California, US 90.94 4 Four Seasons Resort Nevis, US 90.88 5 Maroma Resort & Spa Riviera Maya, Mexico 90.79 6 Esperanza Resort Los Cabos, Mexico 90.63 7 Auberge du Soleil Rutherford, California, US 90.37 8 Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, France 90.28 9 Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Arizona, US 90.14 10 Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 90.10 11 Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa Maui, US 89.66 12 The Oriental Bangkok, Thailand 89.58 13 Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa Asheville, North Carolina, US 89.51 14 One & Only Ocean Club Paradise Island, Bahamas 89.47 15 Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, US 89.42 16 Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, US 88.75 17 The Peninsula Chicago, US 88.64 18 Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch Beaver Creek, Colorado, US 88.62 19 Hotel del Coronado San Diego, US 88.16 20 American Club Kohler, Wisconsin, US 87.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelseafan Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 ReutersJuly 10, 2008 Bangkok was voted the world's best city for 2008 and... Your kidding ? best city for what ? whoreing for sure but hotels are medicore at best, pollution is bloody awful, the city is gridlocked for most of the day, the food is so-so, no beaches, a palace that is over-hyped and certainly not somewhere you would bring a family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Your kidding ? best city for what ? whoreing for sure but hotels are medicore at best, pollution is bloody awful, the city is gridlocked for most of the day, the food is so-so, no beaches, a palace that is over-hyped and certainly not somewhere you would bring a family. The whoreing should be enough.. However, I reckon there are great hotels there, especially in vfm terms. And I look forward to eating there. But yeah, there's not that much to do there other than temples and shopping IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USVirgin Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Your kidding ? best city for what ? whoreing for sure but hotels are medicore at best... The hotels and general hospitality of the people are probably the major reason Bangkok got that vote, IMO. Remember, we're talking about cities here, not resorts. Bangkok has some fantastic hotels. Maybe you've only tried the mediocre ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USVirgin Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Yes, of course it is American bent, but it is one of the most respected magazines to get this kind of award from. What cracks me up, looking at the results you posted, is that Cuzco beat out Rome and New York in the best city category. I didn't know Cuzco was classified as a city. Maybe I should backtrack on what I just posted to Chelseafan about only real cities (as in metropolises) being included. Cuzco is nothing except for the accessibility to the ruins at Machu Picchu and Sacsaywaman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EasySt Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Bkk has amazing dining options that are very affordable as are the range of accomodations. I would guess those 2 things were a big part of vote. Obviously air polution and grid lock were not taken into consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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