By The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards are out! What city makes the top list? Here’s the best top ten cities overall:
Top Ten Cities Overall 2015
- Kyoto, Japan
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Florence
- Rome
- Bangkok
- Kraków, Poland
- Barcelona
- Cape Town
- Jerusalem
Kyoto holds on to its position as the No. 1 City Overall for the second consecutive year, and Kraków, Poland makes its debut on the list of Top 10 Cities Overall. Only two of this year’s Top 10 Cities Overall appeared on the inaugural list in 1996, when the survey launched: Florence and Rome. Charleston is ranked the No. 1 City in the US and Canada for the third consecutive year, while No. 10 Asheville, North Carolina makes its first-ever appearance on the Top 10 US and Canada Cities list.
Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, India is the No. 1 hotel in the world, followed by Hotel Castello di Casole—A Timbers Resort in Casole d’Elsa, Italy at No. 2. Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland and Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana tied for No. 3. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is the Top Hotel Brand, followed by Aman, and The Peninsula Hotels, respectively.
The results help showcase how travel habits have changed over the last two decades. For example, no hotels in India were on the list of Top 100 Hotels Overall in 1996, while this year, there are two ranked among the Top 10 Overall, and five among the Top 100.
Travel + Leisure Editor Nathan Lump said, “Twenty years since the Awards were created, they showcase a widely changed travel landscape, one in which exotic destinations, intimate hotels, and one-of-a-kind experiences stand out from the crowd—the preferences of individuals who have been all around the world and are seeking out ever more distinctive travel options.”
Two companies have held on to their No. 1 rankings every year since the poll began in 1996: Crystal Cruises (Top Large-Ship Cruise Line) and Singapore Airlines (Top International Airline). The 2015 results, including the Top 100 Hotels, Top 25 Resorts in the Continental US, Top 10 Cities Overall, and Top 10 Islands Overall, among other lists, are posted on www.TravelandLeisure.com now. The survey results are featured in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands July 17.
TRAVEL + LEISURE WORLD’S BEST AWARDS 2015 WINNERS OVERALL
WORLD’S BEST CITY Kyoto
WORLD’S BEST HOTEL Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
WORLD’S BEST HOTEL BRAND Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
WORLD’S BEST ISLAND Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
WORLD’S BEST MEGA-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE Disney Cruise Line
WORLD’S BEST LARGE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE Crystal Cruises
WORLD’S BEST SMALL-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE Seabourn
WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE Viking Cruises
WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE Singapore Airlines
WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE Virgin America
WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Singapore Changi Airport
WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRPORT Portland International Airport, Oregon
WORLD’S BEST SAFARI OUTFITTER Ker & Downey
WORLD’S BEST TOUR OPERATOR Butterfield & Robinson
WORLD’S BEST CAR-RENTAL AGENCY National Car Rental
WORLD’S BEST DESTINATION SPA Golden Door, San Marcos, California
