| October 17, 2005 - The November issue of Conde Nast Traveler celebrates
the 18th annual Readers' Choice Awards. This year's survey boasts the highest
responses and scores ever in each category. With nearly 28,000 travelers
voting, the lists show an even greater global variety and depth.
Many perennial favorites are holding onto their top spots. Singapore
Airlines is again the 2005 #1 International Route Airline, and has led
this category for 17 of the past 18 years (in 1994 Swissair took the top
spot). San Francisco, the #1 US City, has also been #1 for 17 of the past
18 years (in 1992 Santa Fe won the honor). But there are some surprises
too, including St. Lucia's Ladera, which is the first-ever Caribbean Hotel
to rank number one in the Best of the Best category. St. John also climbed
to the top of the Caribbean/Island category, marking the first time since
1994 that Bermuda has not won.
Also of note was the fact that New Orleans made the top ten cities list,
which it has done consistently since Conde Nast Traveler's first reader
poll in 1988. The magazine is confident that The Big Easy will rank high
in the years to come, despite the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
As editor Klara Glowczewska notes, "New Orleans will need more than just
your accolades ... bringing back residents and visitors alike will be fundamental
to the city's long-term survival and will test the mettle of its tourism
officials." New Orleans can find hope in Thailand's remarkable recovery.
With five resorts (all in Phuket) in the top 15 Asian resorts category,
there is proof that these beautiful regions are fully rebounding after
last year's Tsunami.
Below are results for the top three winners in each category.
Top Resorts
Top Resorts - Africa:
1. Chief's Camp, Botswana
2. Singita Private Game Reserve
3. Phinda Private Game Reserve
Top Resorts - Canada:
1. Four Seasons, Whistler, B.C.
2. Post Hotel, Lake Louise, Alberta
3. Fairmont Chateau Whistler, B.C.
Top Resorts - Atlantic:
1. One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas
2. The Reefs, Bermuda
3. Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos
Top Resorts - Central/South America:
1. Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo,
2. Explora Atacama, Chile
3. Turtle Inn, Belize
Top Resorts - Asia:
1. Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali
2. Ritz-Carlton, Bali
3. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
Top Resorts - Mexico:
1. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos
2. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuantanejo
3. Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
Top Resorts - Pacific Rim:
1. Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island
2. Lodge at Koele, Lanai
3. Halekulani, Oahu
Top Resorts - Europe:
1. K Club, County Kildare
2. Dromoland Castle, County Clare
3. Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas,Crete
Top Resorts - Caribbean:
1. Four Seasons, Nevis
2. Peter Island Resort, BVI
3. Curtain Bluff Hotel, Antigua
Top Resorts - United States:
1. Little Palm Island, FL
2. Inn at Spanish Bay, CA
3. Lodge at Pebble Beach, CA |
Top Hotels
Top Hotels - Asia:
1. The Peninsula, Hong Kong
2. Amankila, Bali
3. Oberol Rajvilas, Jaipur, India
Top Hotels - Caribbean/Atlantic:
1. Ladera Resort, St. Lucia
2. Le Toiny, St. Barts
3. Hotel Carl Gustaf, St. Barts
Top Hotels - Pacific Rim:
1. Lilanfels Blue Mountains, Australia
2. Four Seasons, Sydney
3. Park Hyatt, Sydney
Top Hotels - Africa/Middle East:
1. Cape Grace, Cape Town
2. Four Seasons at the First Residence, Cairo
3. Grande Roche Hotel, Paarl,South Africa
Top Hotels - Europe:
1. Four Seasons, Istanbul
2. Four Seasons George V, Paris
3. Four Seasons, Milan |
Top Hotels - South America:
1. Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru
2. Four Seasons, Buenos Aires
3. Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires
Top Hotels - United States:
1. Twin Farms, Barnard, VT
2. Four Seasons, Chicago, IL
3. Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA
Top Hotels - Canada:
1. Hotel Dominion 1912, Quebec City
2. Opus Hotel, Vancouver
3. Four Seasons, Vancouver
Top Hotels - British Isles
1. Chewton Glen, Hampshire
2. Cliveden, Berkshire
3. Gravetye Manor, West Sussex
Top Hotels - Central America/Mexico:
1. Casa Santo Domingo, Guatemala
2. JW Marriott, Mexico City
3. Las Mananitas, Cuernavaca, Mexico |
Top Cities
Top Cities - United States:
1. San Francisco, CA
2. Santa Fe, CA
3. Charleston, SC
Top Cities - Asia:
1. Bangkok
2. Hong Kong
3. Singapore
Top Cities - Europe:
1. Florence, Italy
2. Rome, Italy
3. Venice, Italy |
Top Cities - Africa/Middle East:
1. Cape Town
2. Jerusalem
3. Marrakech
Top Cities - Pacific Rim:
1. Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. Queenstown, NZ
Top Cities - The Americas:
1. Vancouver
2. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
3. Buenos Aires |
Top Islands
Top Islands - Europe:
1. Mykonos & the Cyclades
2. Majorca & Minorca
3. Sicily
Top Islands - Pacific Rim:
1. Maui
2. Kauai
Bora Bora
Top Islands - Caribbean/Atlantic:
1. St. John
2. Bermuda
3. British Virgin Islands |
Top Islands - North America:
1. Vancouver Island
2. Kiawah, South Carolina
3. Nantucket
Top Islands - Asia:
1. Phuket
2. Bali
3. Mauritius |
Other
Top International Route Airlines:
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Emirates
Top Domestic Route Airlines:
1. JetBlue
2. Midwest
3. Song
Top Rental Car Agencies:
1. Hertz
2. Avis
3. Enterprise |
Top Large Cruise Lines:
1. Crystal Cruises
2. Radisson Seven Seas
3. Celebrity
Top Small Cruise Lines:
1. Silversea
2. Seabourn
3. SeaDream Yacht Club |
The November issue of Conde Nast Traveler is available on newsstands
on October 25th. Unlike many other travel publications, Conde Nast Traveler
does not accept free travel and accommodations, and its correspondents,
as far as possible, travel anonymously. The result is travel the way consumers
experience it -- good and bad, with reporting that is fair and honest.
Conde Nast Traveler recently won its 6th National Magazine Award and is
still the only travel publication to have won the highest honor in magazine
publishing. Conde Nast Traveler, the 2005 Zagat Survey Best Travel Magazine,
has a circulation of over 750,000 and is published by Conde Nast Publications,
Inc.
|
