World's best hotel is ...
Africa has the best hotel in the world and Bangkok is the best travel city, according to the 2012 World’s Best Awards, voted by the readers of Travel + Leisure.
The United States' lifestyle magazine collected votes from December 2011 to March 2012 from travelers in nine categories including hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, tour operators and safari outfitters, airlines, rental-car agencies, destination spas and hotel spas.
Singita Grumeti Reserves at Tanzania’s Seregeti National Park was named the best hotel for the second consecutive year.
"You almost expect to see Teddy Roosevelt behind the wheel of one of the two vintage Chevrolets," the magazine said in its review.
Bangkok was named the best city for the second year in a row and the best island title was given to Boracay in the Philippines.
Best hotels offer best seclusion, bigger bills
Nearly all the hotels in the top 10 have remote natural locations. Among those, safari resorts were the biggest draw.
Singita Grumeti is one of four African hotels to be in the top 10, all offering views of wildlife. Singita Sabi Sand (no. 10) provides the views of elephants bathing from the hotel, for example.
Southern Ocean Lodge in Kangaroo Island, Australia and Nayara Hotel in Costa Rica made it into the top 10 with their debut appearances in the list.
Although value is one of the five categories to be rated, only six of the 100 listed hotels cost US$250 or less per night.
India is Asia’s resort capital
Around one-fifth of the hotels in the list are in Asia. Among the best Asia resorts, six resorts out of 15 are in India with Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur leading the pack.
The Peninsula Hotel and Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok came first and second in the best city hotels list. Followed by The Peninsula chains in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Bangkok also snatched the crown of the World’s best city.
World's best awards' winners
Best hotels:
1. Singita Grumeti Reserves, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
2. Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana
3. Southern Ocean Lodge Kangaroo Island, Australia
4. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
5. Discovery Shores, Boracay, Phillippines
6. Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, La Fortuna-Arenal, Costa Rica
7. Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa
8. Palacio Duhau, Park Hyatt, Buenos Aires
9. Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Tanzania
10. Singita Sabi Sand, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
To see the full list, go to www.travelandleisure.com.
Best cities:
1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Florence, Italy
3. Istanbul, Turkey
The full list of the best cities is here.
Best islands:
1. Boracay, Philippines
2. Bali, Indonesia
3. Galápagos
The full list of the best islands is here.
Best international airlines:
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Air New Zealand
3. Emirates
Best domestic airlines:
1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Hawaiian Airlines
Best cruises:
Large-ship cruise: Crystal Cruises
Small-ship cruise: Seabourn
River cruise: Viking River Cruise
To see the results for other categories, go here.
