A Luxury Travel Blog

Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and resorts worldwide. The awards appear in the November issue (on newsstands from 18th October 2011) and are derived from the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice survey. This year, a record 28,876 readers cast a combined eight million votes on thousands of properties and destinations around the world. The list also highlights a few firsts:

· The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, was named the top hotel in the world.
· Charleston, South Carolina grabs the number one spot in Top Cities in the U.S.
· After only two years since the grand opening, Chicago’s Elysian Hotel is named top hotel in the U.S.
· Despite a tough year for Japan, Kyoto claims title as Asia’s top city for the first time.

Top Cities: United States

1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. San Francisco
3. Santa Fe

Top Cities: Europe

1. Florence
2. Barcelona
3. Rome

Top Cities: Asia

1. Kyoto
2. Bangkok
3. Hong Kong

Top Cities: Africa/Middle East

1. Cape Town
2. Beirut
3. Byblos, Lebanon

Top Cities: Canada

1. Quebec City
2. Vancouver
3. Victoria, British Columbia

Top Cities: Oceania

1. Sydney
2. Queenstown, New Zealand
3. Melbourne

Top Cities: Mexico

1. San Miguel de Allende
2. Oaxaca
3. Mérida

Top Cities: Central/South America

1. Buenos Aires
2. Cuzco
3. Antigua de Guatemala

Top Islands: Caribbean/Atlantic

1. Bermuda
2. St. John
3. Nevis

Top Islands: Oceania

1. Bora Bora
2. Great Barrier Reef
3. Moorea

Top Islands: Asia

1. Maldives
2. Bali
3. Phuket

Top Islands: United States

1. Maui
2. Kauai
3. Kiawah, South Carolina

Top Islands: Europe

1. Bozcaada and the Turkish Aegean Islands
2. Mykonos and the Cyclades
3. Madeira
3. Mallorca and the Balearics

Top Resorts: Asia

1. Ayana Resort & Spa, Bali
2. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
3. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai
3. Oberoi Vanyavilas, Rajasthan

Top Resorts: Mexico

1. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos
2. Rancho La Puerta, Tecate
3. The Tides, Riviera Maya

Top Resorts: Africa

1. Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh
1. Safari Lodges at Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
3. Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp, Tanzania

Top Resorts: Europe

1. Hotel Caesar Augustus, Capri
2. Perivolas, Santorini
3. Park Hotel Kenmare, County Kerry

Top Resorts: Hawaii

1. Travaasa Hana (formerly Hotel Hana-Maui)
2. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
3. Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk

Top Resorts: Atlantic

1. The Reefs, Bermuda
2. Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos
3. One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas

Top Resorts: Middle East

1. Burj Al Arab, Dubai
2. Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
3. Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

Top Resorts: Oceania

1. Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand
2. Four Seasons, Bora Bora
3. Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, French Polynesia

Top Resorts: Mainland U.S.

1. Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Coast, California
2. Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain, Avon, Colorado
3. Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina

Top Small Resorts: Mainland U.S.

1. Keswick Hall at Monticello, Virginia
2. Mii Amo, Sedona
3. Amangani, Jackson Hole

Top Resorts: Canada

1. King Pacific Lodge (Rosewood), British Columbia
2. Emerald Lake Lodge, British Columbia
3. Long Beach Lodge Resort, Vancouver Island

Top Resorts: Caribbean

1. Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis
2. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
3. Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia

Top Resorts: Central/South America

1. Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay
2. Xandari Resort & Spa, Costa Rica
3. Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort, Belize

Top Cruise Lines: Small-Ship Lines

1. Seabourn
2. Silversea
3. Windstar

Top Cruise Lines: Medium-Ship Lines

1. Crystal Cruises
2. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
3. Disney

Top Cruise Lines: Large-Ship Lines

1. Celebrity
2. Princess
3. Royal Caribbean

Top Cruise Lines: River Cruises

1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
2. Grand Circle Travel
3. Viking River Cruises

Top Foreign Airlines

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Virgin Atlantic
3. Emirates

Top U.S. Airlines

1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Hawaiian Airlines

Top Small Airlines

1. OpenSkies
2. Porter Airlines
3. Air Tahiti Nui

Top Hotels: Southern Europe

1. Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo
2. Il San Pietro di Positano, Italy
3. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Top Hotels: Northern Europe

1. Mandarin Oriental, Prague
2. Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne
3. Regent Berlin

Top Small Hotels: Europe

1. Palazzo Sasso, Ravello
2. Château de La Chèvre d’Or, Côte d’Azur
3. Villa San Michele, Fiesole, Tuscany

Top Hotels: Central America

1. Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica
2. Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua Guatemala
3. Inn at Robert’s Grove, Belize

Top Hotels: Oceania

1. Observatory Hotel, Sydney
2. Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay
3. The Langham, Auckland
3. Westin Sydney

Top Hotels: British Isles

1. Culloden House, Inverness, Scotland
2. Chewton Glen, Hampshire
3. The Halkin, London

Top Hotels: Caribbean/Atlantic

1. Peninsula House, Dominican Republic
2. The Caves, Jamaica
3. Eden Rock, St. Barts

Top Hotels: Asia

1. Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
2. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
3. The Peninsula, Tokyo

Top Hotels: Africa

1. Steenberg Hotel, Cape Town
2. The Saxon, Johannesburg
3. Cape Grace, Cape Town

Top Hotels: Canada

1. Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa, Cambridge, Ontario
2. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
3. Hôtel Nelligan, Montreal

Top Hotels: Mexico

1. Las Mañanitas, Cuernavaca
2. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo
3. Casa de Sierra Nevada, San Miguel de Allende

Top Hotels: United States

1. Elysian Hotel, Chicago
2. 21c Museum Hotel, Louisville
3. The Peninsula, Chicago

Top Small Hotels: United States

1. Colonial Houses, Williamsburg, Virginia
2. Fairbanks House, Amelia Island
3. Fearrington House Inn, Pittsboro, North Carolina

Top Hotels: South America

1. Hotel Fasano, São Paolo
2. Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires
3. Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt, Buenos Aires

Top Hotels: Middle East

1. Park Hyatt Dubai
2. Al Faisaliah Hotel (Rosewood), Riyadh
3. Four Seasons, Doha

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Copenhagen gastronomy has reached new heights with Noma being awarded the prestigious accolade of the world’s best restaurant by the UK Restaurant Magazine, breaking the dominance of El Bulli which had previously won the title four times on the trot. With 11 Michelin-starred restaurants the city of Copenhagen is rightly priding itself on being in the premier league of Northern Europe’s food capitals.

Halekulani, one of the world’s finest and most acclaimed luxury resorts, and Gourmet, the magazine of good living, have gathered together leading Asian culinary masters for an unparalleled epicurean experience at this iconic Hawaiian resort.

From 13th to 15th November 2009, connoisseurs from around the world are invited to join hosts Sara Moulton, Gourmet executive chef, and Vikram Garg, Halekulani executive chef, as they lead guests through a weekend of authentic tastes, intimate seminars, chef-led farm and market tours, hands-on cooking demonstrations and cocktail parties featuring Vietnamese, Japanese, and Indian master chefs.  Follow this link for the full schedule.

Three-night event packages start at $1,480 per person and include three nights at Halekulani and access to all events.

It was announced yesterday that Gourmet magazine, despite having almost one million subscribers, is to cease publication after 68 years.  A slump in ad revenue is being blamed for its demise although Wikipedia currently reads:

On October 5, 2009 Condé Nast announced that  Gourmet will cease monthly publication by the end of 2009, due to the total lack of taste and refinement of the Conde Nast Management.  The Gourmet brand will continue to be used by Condé Nast for book and television programming and recipes appearing on Epicurious.com.

No doubt that first sentence has been written by a disgruntled employee or subscriber and will be edited in due course.  Sad news indeed, however. The editor – @ruthreichl – has tweeted:

Thank you all SO much for this outpouring of support. It means a lot. Sorry not to be posting now, but I’m packing. We’re all stunned, sad.

…followed by:

Dishes done. All gone. Great gathering at the house tonight. I so love the people I’ve worked with at Gourmet. Hard to believe it’s over.

It is hard to believe that Condé Nast can’t seem to make this one work although with the increasing shift towards online media rather than print, it’s perhaps not completely surprising.  The November issue could well be the last one for Gourmet.

Condé Nast’s  parenting magazine Cookie and two wedding magazines, Elegant Bride and Modern Bride, are also to close.

Rambagh Palace, Jaipur has been voted the Best Hotel in the World by Conde Nast Traveller in the Readers Travel Awards for 2009 across travel and industry categories, in the World Top 100.

This former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur also tops the list of ‘Overseas Leisure Hotels for Asia and the Indian sub-continent’. Scoring an overall 95.62, Rambagh Palace has the ‘best ambience/decor’ (98.12) and ‘location’ (96.5) of all hotels in the category.

The 11th successful Conde Nast Traveller annual Readers’ Awards were announced on 2nd September 2009 and give the readers of the magazine the chance to voice their views on all things travel.  Over 40,000 entries were made this year with readers filling out questionnaires in April 2009, either in print or online. The replies were collated and analysed by an independent market-research company, Market Management. The 26 categories include hotels from each continent, tour operators, airlines, cities, countries, islands, spas and airports.

The Polish city of Krakow, too often overlooked by travellers, has been recognised as one of the world’s top five cities by readers of Wanderlust magazine. The self-styled magazine “for people with a passion for travel” placed Krakow fourth place in its list of favourite cities for 2009 and described it as a “bargain destination”. The other cities to make the top five  were Antigua in Guatemala, Kyoto in Japan, the US city of Boston and the  Cuban capital of Havana.

Thirteen years after they created Soneva Fushi – the Maldives benchmark for high-end, eco-friendly, all-natural opulence – the innovative husband and wife team Sonu and Eva Shivdasani are getting set to launch Soneva Kiri, just the third Soneva on the planet. In the interim, they have built Six Senses Resorts & Spas into a company that demonstrates to the world that luxury lifestyle and environmental responsibility can complement each other beautifully, to deliver “Intelligent Luxury”.

Soneva Fushi was awarded the Best of the Best for 2000 by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller, as Soneva Gili – the second Soneva – was in development. When Soneva Gili opened in 2002, it almost immediately was awarded Hotel of the Year from Tatler Travel Guide, plus Hideaway of the Year by Hideaways Magazine. This confirmed to Sonu and Eva that they were absolutely on the right track, and they set about creating Soneva number three – Soneva Kiri.

This time, the Soneva phenomena  is heading for Thailand. Sonu and Eva discovered a stunning site on the island of Kood, on the south-east side of the Gulf of Thailand, referred to as Thailand’s last frontier. Sonu had always described the ideal Soneva location as “remote but accessible”, and remote is certainly the case with Soneva Kiri. Accessibility has come  later, with the construction of a private airstrip, reducing the travel time from Bangkok from more than three hours to less than one hour, with the convenience of a private, ultra comfortable 8-seat Grand Caravan.

It’s a Soneva – an amalgam of their names – so Sonu and Eva are intimately involved with every aspect of the property. It carries their DNA. And when it comes to design, Eva is quite formidable; an inspired zealot with all things concerning the environment, from furnishings to food. Yet she still manages to create some of the most innovative and memorable interior concepts for Soneva, whilst at the same time, leading the Six Senses creative team, who are simultaneously working on another dozen properties in development. A former top model, working as Eva Malmstrom, she graced the front covers of more than one hundred fashion magazines in the 70s and 80s.

Sonu and Eva’s own home is a Soneva, so they set about designing villas and facilities the way they would enjoy entertaining in them, themselves. They consider personal space and privacy to be one of the greatest luxuries, so this becomes integral to the Soneva philosophy; an extension of their own lifestyle. At Soneva Kiri, they have gone one better, by setting aside some villas for purchase by loyal Soneva Repeaters. Owners get all the benefits of the resort, while enjoying their very own piece of Soneva Kiri. As with guests, they also have the Soneva Kiri Grand Caravan for transfers.

Soneva Kiri will also be a showcase for SLOW LIFE, the philosophy that the couple have created for the Six Senses group. An acronym for Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wholesome Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences, this has become the nuclei for the group’s core purpose: To create innovative and enlightening experiences that rejuvenate our guests’ love of SLOW LIFE, and an individual mission for hoteliers extroadinaire, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani.

Soneva Kiri is scheduled to open in the middle of 2009.

qualia, Australia’s newest world class luxury resort on Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, has much to celebrate since its opening 12 months ago. Most notably it was awarded “Best New Tourism Development” at the 2008 Whitsunday Tourism Awards; in May 2008 qualia was also featured on the cover of the UK version of the  Conde Nast Traveller magazine and was the only Australian property  listed in the title’s “Definitive Guide To The Hottest New Hotels in the World”.

Located only two to three hours flight time from Australia’s major east coast cities (Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne), qualia offers guests a choice of 60 pavilions: 27 Windward pavilions, each four times the size of an average hotel room with private plunge pool on an expansive deck, and 33 west facing Leeward pavilions. For guests desiring more space the Beach House comes with its own full size swimming pool, extensive entertaining area and a separate guest pavilion.

Bushmans Kloof has been named among the world’s finest hotels in the Forbes Traveller 400 Best Hotels for 2008/2009, one of the world’s premier lists of deluxe hotels, as determined by a team of 79 distinguished luxury travel experts. At the same time, it has been named among the Top 10 Resorts in Africa in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler World’s Best Awards 2008 and National Geographic Adventure Magazine has included it among the world’s Top 50 Eco Lodges. Locally, being named ‘Top Quality Facility’ on the West Coast for 2008 in South Africa’s third annual West Coast Tourism Gala Awards is another great achievement.

More good news is that Kadoro, their shepherd’s cottage in the heart of the reserve, heads the top of the list of Top 10 Experiences for 2008 on premier tour operator, New Frontiers Tours‘ coveted list.

The Peninsula Chicago has received the highest possible rating given by Conde Nast Traveler readers in the 2008 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. The top shelf, luxury property was named number one hotel on the list of the “Top 100 United States Hotels”. The awards, which were announced  last Wednesday  at a gala ceremony in New York City, will be featured in the celebrated “Best in the World” November issue of Conde Nast Traveler, which hits newsstands this week.

It’s that time of year once again when Travel+Leisure releases its World’s Best Awards. I haven’t had time to study them in detail just yet, but have noted that Singita Sabi Sand at Kruger has taken top spot in the World’s Best Hotels section, up one place from last year. Second is Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, India, up from 11th place last year, and Fairmont Mara Safari Club in Kenya’s Masai Mara makes one of the most impressive climbs to third place (up from 48th spot in 2007).

Kevin May is editor of Travolution, an industry-focussed magazine for online travel and division of Reed Business Information.   It consists of a blog, e-news service and a physical magazine, and is a leader in its field with an advisory board that comprises some  of the biggest names in the travel industry.

What is it that  you do exactly?

I am responsible for all editorial content on Travolution, including our magazine, website and blog. I also produce our fortnightly podcast, The Purple Pod, and organise our conferences and other events as well as oversee the Travolution Awards. It’s a busy job!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The most rewarding aspect of editing Travolution is being able to track and analyse such a wonderfully diverse and innovative industry as travel and its use of the web. Equally, as a journalist at heart, when we set the record straight or uncover a scoop still gives me an incredible buzz. I’m very lucky to work with some fantastic writers and reporters.

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

Hanoi: easily the most fascinating city I have ever visited. My wife and I stayed there during a seven-month jaunt around Asia in 2000. We were mesmerised by the colour and smells, the French and traditional Vietnamese quarters, and – whether it exists in reality or not is another question – a sense of proud nationhood. A remarkable capital in a remarkable country.

Varanasi (Benares): This central Indian city is an assault on the senses and consciousness. Despite it being a place where many people come to die (simply because of its proximity to the holy Ganges river), life abounds everywhere. The customs associated with death, while perhaps alien and odd to some westerners, are seen as life affirming to Hindus, giving it the feeling of being a place where people actually come to celebrate life. My wife was also taken very ill here so I have the utmost respect for Indian medical staff forced to work in, er, challenging conditions.

Lake Toba, Sumatra: The most beautiful place I have had the pleasure of visiting. Once a sunken caldera (super-volcano), currently a giant lake, Toba has incredible feature, plant life and a real feeling of isolation. There are few places on earth that have had such a dramatic physical history and the laid-back attitude of the people is in absolute tune with the environment around them. An almost perfect location on many levels.

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

I spent four days practically marooned on a slow boat travelling across the Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. I ate rice every meal as – being a strict vegetarian – the boiled ’something’ didn’t appeal and there was absolutely nothing else to eat. After finally arriving in Siem Reap, I ate almost everything I could on the menu at the guesthouse – mounds of vegetables, a huge omelette, slice after slice of bread, any fruit I could get my hands on, cereal, yoghurt… everything. It might not sound like a feast for a king, but it tasted so good.

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful and talented people through work or when travelling, although I have a tendency to steer away from so-called celebrities, even when given the opportunity. In fact, most of the “richest” people I’ve met are probably those that have created a fantastic business and subsequently reaped the rewards for their innovation and passion for travel and the Web.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I am currently at that stage, with a young family, where I am yearning to return to places I have visited previously, primarily – though not guaranteed at all (!!) – in the vain hope of sharing the experiences I had. I hope to return to Angkor Wat in Cambodia one day and also trek the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (a three-week hike). Egypt, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand would also make my current wishlist.

Unfortunately the overseas trips of a business magazine editor these days consist primarily of enjoying the inside of some very nice hotel conference suites. A shame really…

Thank you, Kevin. And keep up the good work at Travolution!

A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

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• A Corsican gem: La Maison Rorqual
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A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

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