World’s Best Destinations, Top Hotels in U.S. and Canada, and Best Vacation Spots: U.S. News Travel Awards Include Paris, Hawaii and Banff

Canadian national parks, luxury hotels in Florida, top resorts in the Caribbean, and great islands in Hawaii.

U.S. News and World Report has come (LINK) out with its annual list of top destinations and hotels around the world, and there are a few surprises and famous names in the group. Here are some of the top 10 lists they published today (Feb. 6, 2024).

TOP WORLD DESTINATIONS

1. Paris (hosting the Summer Olympics this year)
2. Bora Bora (who hasn’t dreamed of an overwater bungalow in Tahitii?)
3. Glacier National Park, Montana
4. Rome (heading there in three weeks; such an amazing city)
5. Swiss Alps (pristine beauty that never grows old)
6. Maui (please visit responsibly, and help the island recover from the tragic fires last August 8)
7. London
8. The Maldives
9. Turks and Caicos
10. Tokyo

TOP U.S. DESTINATIONS

Zion National Park, Utah. JIM BYERS PHOTO

1. Glacier National Park
2. Maui
3. Grand Canyon
4. Honolulu (an underrated, wildly multicultural city)
5. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
6. Zion National Park, Utah (had a terrific visit last year)
7. Yosemite National Park, California (I’d rate it the most beautiful national park in the U.S.)
8. Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming (spectacular mountain range)
9. Olympic National Park, Washington
10. Kauai (hands down the most beautiful Hawaiian island)

TOP U.S. HOTELS

1. Acqualina Resort and Residence, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
2. Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club, Surfside, Florida
3. The Langham, Chicago (stunning luxury hotel)
4. The Peninsula, Chicago
5. Montage Laguna Beach, California (never been but love the beach here)
6. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resort, Hawaii Big Islanda
7. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World (great family spot if you’re in the luxury space)
8. The Jefferson, Washington D.C.
9. XV Beacon Hotel, Boston
10. Faena Hotel, Miami Beach

TOP CANADIAN DESTINATIONS

Prince Edward Island National Park offers lovely walks and great beaches. JIM BYERS PHOTO

1. Banff National Park (can’t argue with that)
2. Jasper National Park
3. Vancouver
4. Niagara Falls
5. Whitehorse, Yukon (a great choice; such a cool, interesting city)
6. Quebec City
7. Whistler
8. Prince Edward Island (another great choice, with wonderful people and great food)
9. Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland & Labrador (one of my fave Canadian parks)
10. Montreal

TOP CANADIAN HOTELS

1. Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver (definitely worthy of a number one placement)
2. Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
3. 1 Hotel Toronto (beautiful design)
4. Hazelton Hotel, Toronto (one of my personal faves)
5. Four Seasons Resort and Spa, Whistler
6. Four Seasons Montreal
7. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, B.C.
8. Le Mount Stephen, Montreal
9. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City (a beautiful, historic property in a great city)
10. Four Seasons Toronto (never stayed there, but Café Boulud is excellent)

TOP CARIBBEAN HOTELS

Jade Mountain resort Saint Lucia.

1. Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia (awesome, open-air rooms overlooking the Pitons)
2. Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Jamaica
3. Eden Roc, Cap Cana,
4. Eden Rock, St. Bart’s
5. Caribbean Club, Cayman Islands
6. Tortuga Bay, Punta Cana
7. Four Seasons, Anguilla (only there for a visit but it’s gorgeous)
8. Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel, Grenada
9. Baoase Luxury Resort, Curacao
10. Jamaica Inn, Jamaica (a personal Caribbean fave; so relaxed)

BEST FAMILY VACATIONS USA

1. Gulf Shores, Alabama
2. Outer Banks, North Carolina
3. Anna Maria Island, Florida (great area of The Sunshine State)
4. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
5. Destin, Florida (amazing white sand beaches)
6. Hawaii Big Island (so much variety, and Hilo is a cool, funky city)
7. Hilton Head, South Carolina
8. Isle of Palms, South Carolina
9. Amelia Island, Florida (definitely a great spot, especially the town of Fernandina Beach)
10. Maui (see above)

TOP CANADIAN RESORTS

Sonora Resort, British Columbia

1. Four Seasons, Whistler
2. Manoir Hovey, Quebec
3. Pan Pacific, Vancouver
4. Fairmont Banff Springs (awesome resort)
5. Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland & Labrador (ditto)
6. Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa, B.C.
7. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (best views in Canada)
8. Sonora Resort, B.C. (sensational outdoor activities and fab food)
9. Fairmont Chateau Whistler
10. White Oaks Resort and Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake

TOP HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

1. Maui
2. Kauai
3. Hawaii Big Island
4. Molokai (LOVE THIS CHOICE)
5. Oahu
6. Lanai