World's Best Travel Revealed
Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards Reveal Top Global Winners Across Diverse Categories
Key Points
The World's Best Awards now collect votes across a broader set of travel experiences, including safari outfitters and airlines, not just hotels or cities.
Some winners have consistently ranked in the awards for more than two decades, while others are catching readers' attention for the first time.
Exceptional service is highlighted as the common thread among winners, turning inquisitive travelers into return guests.
The survey spans a broad universe of listings, with more than 10,088 total properties across hotels, cities, cruise lines, and more.
Travel + Leisure has wrapped its 31st annual World's Best Awards, tallying more than 661,000 votes from over 207,000 readers worldwide, according to Travel + Leisure. The awards cover hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, and even safari outfitters and airlines — making it one of the broadest reader surveys in travel media.
This year's results span 35 countries among the top 100 hotels alone, with more than 10,088 total properties ranked across all categories. Some winners have held their spots for over two decades. Others are appearing on the list for the very first time.
Island Getaways and City Hotels Lead the Pack
Island destinations like the Maldives and Bali remain crowd favorites, per Travel + Leisure. Both have drawn loyal voters year after year. City hotel categories in Venice, New York, and Mexico also drew strong reader interest, with winners spread across diverse regions and price points.
The global spread of winners signals a shift in travel habits. Readers are not just flocking to Europe or the Caribbean. They are seeking rich, place-based experiences across Asia, Latin America, and beyond. The 35-country spread among top hotels reflects that wider curiosity.
Service and Storytelling Keep Hotels at the Top
What keeps a hotel on the list for 20-plus years? According to Travel + Leisure, it comes down to three things: exceptional service, a compelling backstory, and a genuine sense of place. These qualities turn first-time visitors into guests who come back again and again.
Luxury Lifestyle Magazine echoes this, noting that the world's top luxury properties are defined by "striking architecture, refined design, and unforgettable experiences." These hotels are not just places to sleep. They are destinations in their own right, refined over years to feel like nowhere else on earth.
Athens' Grande Bretagne Shows the Power of History
One standout example is Athens's Hotel Grande Bretagne, which opened in 1874, making it the city's first luxury hotel, per Chase. It has hosted prime ministers, opera singers, and actors over 150 years. That kind of history is hard to manufacture — and readers notice.
Properties with deep roots tend to score high in reader surveys. Guests are drawn to hotels where the walls have stories. Athens as a city also benefits from world-class dining, ancient landmarks, and a seaside charm that keeps it competitive with flashier European rivals.
New Winners Signal Fresh Directions in Global Travel
Not every winner is a legacy name. Travel + Leisure notes that some properties are catching reader attention for the very first time this year. New entries in Mexico and Venice suggest travelers are branching out — moving beyond familiar luxury brands to discover independent and boutique hotels.
The sheer size of the survey — over 10,088 listed properties — means competition is fierce. Breaking through to the top ranks for the first time is a meaningful signal. It tells the industry where curious, well-traveled readers are putting their money and their loyalty next.
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