Victoria B.C. and Chicago Score in Conde Nast Travel Awards; San Diego, San Francisco, Montreal and Vancouver, Too

Chicago has been named the best big city in the U.S. for the eighth year in a row, and Victoria has been awarded best small city in the world for the second year running. 

Conde Nast Travel today (Oct. 1), issued a variety of lists of top cities, best hotels, top islands and more with its 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.

 My home state of California came out looking strong, with San Diego being named the number two big city in the States and San Francisco finishing sixth. For International Large Cities, Montreal came in ninth and Vancouver fourth, so kudos to them.

I was quite pleased to see Milwaukee come third, as I think it’s a highly underrated city. I also quite liked Columbus when I visited many years ago as a sports reporter covering The Memorial golf tournament in nearby Dublin, Ohio. And you can’t argue with New York City, Miami, Boston and New Orleans finding places in the top ten.

SEE BELOW FOR FULL LISTS

Here’s some of what Conde Nast said about Chicago: “A world-class destination known for its impressive architecture, first-rate museums, brilliant chefs, and massive brewing scene, it’ll take several repeat visits to get through your list of must-dos. Most people start downtown—from the Magnificent Mile to the ritzy Gold Coast to funky Old Town—but there are 77 neighborhoods to explore, where you’ll find cutting-edge restaurants, chilled-out corner bars, and, no matter where you go, some of the most pleasant people you’ll find anywhere.”

And here’s their excerpt on San Diego: “Several years ago, travelers headed to San Diego might have wondered what they would do in the city, besides hitting the beaches. No longer. With a world-class destination known for its impressive architecture, first-rate museums, brilliant chefs, and massive brewing scene, it’ll take several repeat visits to get through your list of must-dos.”

Milwaukee was cited for its increasingly hot food scene and the revitalization of neighborhoods such as the historic Third Ward and Lincoln Village.

As for San Francisco, my almost home town (I was born in Oakland), Conde Nast said the city is small in area but packs a punch. “Yes, there’s Alcatraz and the famed Golden Gate Bridge, but you could also spend a whole day wandering through the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art or discovering street art in the character-filled Mission District. Treat yourself to some pampering at one of the city’s fantastic spas, or head north and take in the majesty of the redwoods in Muir Woods. Add in some of the best restaurants and barsin the world and a hotel scene that truly has something for everyone, and you’ll likely find that one visit to the city by the bay just isn’t enough.”

On the small city front, Conde Nast said Victoria is home to the “bucket-list worthy” Fairmont Empress hotel and other attractions. “If you’re seeking a more rural escape, disconnect in the ancient forests with a road trip on Vancouver Island.” Somehow they failed to mention how darn beautiful the city is, and didn’t get into the craft beer or coffee scene. But I forgive them.

Montreal was cited for its “quaint cobblestone streets and Gothic-Revival cathedral” in Old Montreal, as well as for having “a  rebellious, forward-thinking streak, which you can find in its contemporary art museums, eclectic bars, and design-forward hotels.” Well said.

Vancouver? Conde Nast noted its ethnic diversity and fabulous food scene. And then they added a great kicker. “There’s something wonderful about visiting a city where you can be in the heart of a metropolis eating a five-star meal one day, and enjoying the skyline from the seat of a kayak the next day.” Again, nicely said.

Also on the Canadian front, The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto was named ninth best hotel in the world by Conde Nast readers. I was just there for lunch today and have stayed in the past, and can attest to its amazing service and gorgeous sense of style. Also making the top 50 hotels in the world was Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Four Seasons Montreal and The Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto. Conde Nast readers named 1 Hotel Toronto the best hotel in the country, yet somehow it didn’t join the above-mentioned Canadian hotels in the world’s top 50 list. Strange. Toronto hotels made up the top 3 for best Canadian properties, with 1 Hotel on top, Hazelton number two and the lovely Fairmont Royal York in the bronze medal spot. No Montreal hotel made the top 10, which makes me wonder about who voted in these awards.

I also note that the marvelous and totally wonderful Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, B.C. was named best resort in North America. The Four Seasons Hualalai on Hawai’i Island, a place I also love, came second, while Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia finished sixth.

Top Caribbean resorts in the 2024 Readers Choice Awards include Jumby Bay in Antigua, Zemi Beach House on Anguilla, Silversands Grenada, Secret Bay on Dominica, Sandy Lane on Barbados, Jade Mountain on Saint Lucia, Cap Juluca on Anguilla, Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anse Chastanet on Saint Lucia, Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Malliouhana on Anguilla, The Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour and Sandals Grenada.

The Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, which I dearly love, was named best resort on Hawai’i. Also on the list for the islands were The Fairmont Orchid on Hawai’i Island, Grand Wailea on Maui, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa on Ka’anapali Beach, The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, the Wailea Beach Resort on Maui, the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui, The Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Montage Kapalua Bay on Maui, Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach on O’ahu, Ko’a Kea Resort on Po’ipu Beach, The Ritz Carlton O’ahu Turtle Bay, and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali, Maui. Nice to see two Ka’anapali resorts on the list, as it’s one of my fave places on earth.

Also worth noting is that Singapore (you can fly directly there from Vancouver with Air Canada) was named the world’s friendliest city and that Air New Zealand was named world’s best airline and cited for the world’s best airline food.

Here are some of the lists

TOP TEN WORLD COUNTRIES

1. Japan (magnificent destination)
2. Portugal (fantastic, and not expensive)
3. Turkiye (going next month!)
4. Italy (met my wife there)
5. Spain (perennial fave)
6. Thailand (amazing food)
7. Vietnam (fascinating, and beautiful)
8. New Zealand (incredible variety; going next year)
9. Ireland (so pretty, and the nicest people you’ll meet)
10. Greece (not at all like Ireland, but so much beauty)

(CANADA was 14^th)

TOP TEN WORLD CITIES

1. Sydney (can’t argue with that)
2. Valencia, Spain (beautiful)
3. Singapore (here’s a link to my story from earlier this year)
4. Hong Kong (enormous vitality)
5. Stockholm (one of world’s most beautiful cities)
6. Tokyo (utterly fascinating)
7. Vienna (and another story of mine)
8. Berlin (never been)
9. Milan (think I was there for an hour once)
10. Budapest (so striking)

TOP TEN BIG U.S. CITIES

1. Chicago (hard to argue)
2. San Diego (great choice)
3. Milwaukee (great choice again)
4. New Orleans (no brainer)
5. Washington D.C. (terrific city)
6. San Francisco (well deserved, but I’m biased)
7. Boston (fantastic spot)
8. New York City (This far down? Really?)
9. Columbus (see note above)
10. Miami (style to spare)

TOP TEN SMALL CITIES (WORLD)

1. Victoria (agreed)
2. San Sebastian, Spain (never been)
3. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (ditto)
4. Florence, Italy (definitely; just don’t go in summer)
5. Salzburg, Austria (indisputable)
6. Lucerne, Switzerland (gorgeous)
7. Porto, Portugal (never been)
8. Galway, Ireland (my fave town in Ireland)
9. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (never been)
10. Dubrovnik, Croatia (fabulous, but see not about Florence)

TOP TEN SMALL CITIES, USA

1. Charleston, South Carolina (fabulous)
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico (love the green chile cheeseburgers)
3. Alexandria, Virginia (so pretty)
4. Lexington, Kentucky (never been)
5. Greenville, South Carolina (ditto)
6. Savannah, Georgia (achingly beautiful)
7. Pensacola, Florida (never been)
8. Healdsburg, California (lovely)
9. Key West, Florida (love it, love it)
10. Chattanooga, Tennessee (never been)

TOP TEN HOTELS CANADA

1. 1 Hotel Toronto
2. Hazelton Hotel, Toronto
3. Fairmont Royal York, Toronto
4. The Royal Hotel, Picton, Ontario
5. Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Victoria, B.C.
6. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
7. Westin Bayshore, Vancouver
8. Shangri-La Toronto
9. Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
10. JW Marriott Parq Hotel, Vancouver