Readers' Choice Awards 2015
The good readers of International Traveller have spoken.
After sorting through thousands of entries, here are the results: the very best destinations, experiences, hotels and airlines of 2015, as voted by you. Enjoy!
Compiled by Megan Arkinstall
– DESTINATIONS –
Best country for travel:
USA
Runners-up:
2. Italy
3. France
4. New Zealand
5. Great Britain
6. Japan
7. Canada
8. Thailand
9. Spain
10. Vietnam
Best destination for a city break:
Paris
Runners-up:
2. Singapore
3. New York
4. Hong Kong
5. London
6. San Francisco
Best beach getaway:
Fiji
Runners-up:
2. Thailand
3. Hawai`i
4. Maldives
5. Bali
6. Tahiti
Best place for a ski holiday:
New Zealand
Runners-up:
2. Canada
3. Japan
4. USA
5. Switzerland
Best place for a family holiday:
Fiji
Runners-up:
2. Disneyland
3. Bali
4. Hawai`i
5. Thailand
Best place to spot wildlife:
Africa
Runners-up:
2. Canada
3. Galapagos
4. Alaska
5. Borneo
Best destination to head off the beaten track:
New Zealand
Runners-up:
2. Peru
3. Nepal
4. South Africa
5. Borneo
Best destination to indulge:
France
Runners-up:
2. Italy
3. New Zealand
4. USA
5. Spain
– ACCOMMODATION –
Best hotel for luxury:
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Runners-up:
2. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
3. Raffles, Singapore
4. Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
5. Bellagio, Las Vegas/Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Best budget hotel brand:
Ibis
Runners-up:
2. Best Western
3. Novotel
4. Mantra Hotels
5. Holiday Inn
Best hotel room service:
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Runners-up:
2. Shangri-La
3. Langham Hotels
4. Sofitel
5. Westin
Best bathroom goodies:
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Runners-up:
2. Hyatt Hotels/InterContinental
3. Sofitel
4. Langham Hotels
5. The Ritz/Shangri-La
Best family hotel:
Disneyland Resorts
Runners-up:
2. Club Med, worldwide
3. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji
4. Atlantis The
Palm, Dubai
5. Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu, Hawai`i
Best hotel pool:
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Runners-up:
2. Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
3. Hanging Gardens Resort, Ubud, Bali
4. Hard Rock Hotel, Kuta, Bali
5. Hotel Caruso, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Best resort:
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji
Runners-up:
2. Disneyland Resorts
3. Aman Resorts
4. Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu, Hawai`i
5. Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Best lodge:
Huka Lodge, Taupo, NZ
Runners-up:
2. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Canada
3. Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay, New Zealand
4. Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown, NZ
5. Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Tanzania
– AIR TRAVEL –
Best airline for service:
Qantas
Runners-up:
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Cathay Pacific
6. Air New Zealand
7. Thai Airways
8. Etihad Airways
9. Qatar Airways
10. Garuda Indonesia
Best airline for food:
Qantas
Runners-up:
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Air New Zealand
Best airline lounge:
Qantas
Runners-up:
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Cathay Pacific
Best airline for entertainment:
Qantas
Runners-up:
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Air New Zealand
Best stopover city:
Singapore
Runners-up:
2. Hong Kong
3. Dubai
4. Kuala Lumpur
5. Bangkok
Best airport:
Changi Singapore
Runners-up:
2. Dubai International 3. Hong Kong International
4. London Heathrow
5. Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International
– JOURNEYS –
Best rail journey:
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Runners-up:
2. Venice–Simplon Orient Express
3. Trans Siberian
4. Glacier Express
5. Trans Alpine
Best destination for cruising:
Alaska
Runners-up:
2. Caribbean
3. South Pacific
4. European River Cruising
5. Antarctica/Mediterranean
Best road trip:
Route 66, USA
Runners-up:
2. California Highway 1
3. Amalfi Coast, Italy
4. South Island, NZ
5. Canadian Rockies
Ultimate dream destination:
Maldives
Runners-up:
2. Italy
3. Tahiti
4. France
5. South Africa
Ultimate dream travel experience:
Grand tour of Europe
Runners-up:
2. African safari
3. Seeing the Northern Lights
4. Booking a round-the-world flight
5. Staying in an overwater bungalow
The survey was obviously commissioned by Qantas, or they significantly influenced the results. Qantas rated above Emirates, Singapore and Virgin in four categories including Service? REALLY?!!! Please give your readers credit for some intelligence.
Hi there, thanks for your input.
Just to clarify this survey was entirely independent, just as International Traveller is a proudly independent publication.
There was not a single company that commissioned or unfairly skewed the results.
The results of our Readers’ Choice Awards are purely based on what our many readers voted for.
We most certainly appreciate and respect the intelligence and insight of our readers, thus hosting such awards in the first place.
Hope this clears up any confusion you had surrounding the results.
Warm regards,
The IT team
Well I voted and two places I put in are there. I don’t believe the winners have any say and all legit. Rather different than last years too going on memory
Hi Belinda, thanks for voting and your support!
Warm regards,
The IT team
Must have been QANTAS petty execs doing a freebie
Hi there, thanks for your comment.
Just to clarify this survey was entirely independent, QANTAS were in no way involved.
The results of our Readers’ Choice Awards are purely based on what our readers voted for.
Hope this clears up any confusion you had surrounding the results.
Warm regards,
The IT team
Nominate Dublin, Ireland for heritage, hospitality and convelient tourism.
Now that more airlines provide Halal cert products to all passengers, are you including a criterion of offering non-Halal foods to those passengers who prefer not to support Islam for religious or political reasons?