Best Cities and Hotels in the World, The U.S.A. and Canada; Also Best Airlines and Cruise Lines

Travel and Leisure has come out with its annual list of top destinations, hotels and resorts around the world. It’s a list I always enjoy reading, so here are some highlights to help you make your next travel decision.

Travel and Leisure is a pretty high-end publication, so keep in mind that you’re not finding many casual, mom and pop places on the hotel and resort lists. The cities are another story.

Below you’ll find highlights for the world, the U.S.A. and Canada, as well as specific areas I love, including Hawaii and Australia.

BEST WORLD CITIES

Japan is famous for its temples, and Kyoto has some of the best. 

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2. Kyoto, Japan (lovely city)
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand (super vibrant and tasty)
4. Hoi An, Vietnam
5. Oaxaca, Mexico
6. Bangkok, Thailand (see Chiang Mai)
7. Jerusalem
8. Siem Reap, Cambodia
9. Mexico City (spectacular food and culture)
10. Tokyo, Japan (again, amazing food and rich culture)

BEST U.S.A. CITIES

The London House rooftop bar in Chicago. JIM BYERS PHOTO

1. Santa Fe, New Mexico (artsy, pretty town. try the green chile cheeseburgers!)
2. Charleston, South Carolina (super relaxing, beautiful city)
3. Savannah, Georgia (ditto; maybe even prettier than Charleston)
4. New Orleans, Louisiana (maybe the best food and cocktail culture in the U.S.)
5. Chicago (fabulous city I’ll be visiting next month)
6. Fort Worth (haven’t been, sorry)
7. Honolulu (amazon diversity, fantastic food and beaches)
8. New York City (eighth? really?)
9. Alexandria, Virginia (great shopping and dining city)
10. Greenville, South Carolina (haven’t been)

BEST CANADA CITIES

1. Quebec City (hard to argue with that)
2. Victoria (much more than faux British sights)
3. Ottawa (a surprising, fun city to explore)
4. Montreal (rich culture, vibrant and quite striking)
5. Vancouver (perhaps the world’s most beautiful city)

BEST CITIES AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

1. Wellington, New Zealand
2. Sydney, Australia
3. Queenstown, New Zealand
4. Melbourne, Australia
5. Hobart, Australia 

I’ve been to all but Wellington and think highly of each. Hobart was the last one on my list, and it was terrific.

BEST WORLD HOTELS

1. Patina Osaka, Japan
2. Baros, Maldives
3. Joali, Maldives
4. Lion Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
5. Capella Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
6. Ta’aktana, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
7. The Singular, Patagonia, Chile
8. Castiglion del Bosco, a Rosewood Hotel, Montalcino, Italy
9. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Maldives
10. Ritz-Carlton, Bali, Indonesia

That’s three places in the top ten for Indonesia. Maybe I need to go?

BEST CONTINENTAL U.S.A. HOTELS

The rooftop at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel in California. Proper Hotel Photo

1. XV Beacon, Boston, Massachusetts (will be visiting the city in September)
2. The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York City
3. Hotel Bourré Bonne, Louisville, Kentucky
4. 1 Hotel Seattle (haven’t been, but I love 1 Hotel Toronto and 1 Hotel Hanalei in Hawaii)
5. Santa Monica Proper Hotel, California (haven’t visited, but love the city and will be be back in the fall)
6. The Rally Hotel, Denver, Colorado
7. The Loutrel, Charleston, South Carolina
8. The Lowell, New York City
9. The Wall Street Hotel, New York City
10. The Lancaster, Houston, Texas

BEST CANADA CITY HOTELS

The Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. JIM BYERS PHOTO

1. The Fairmont Empress, Victoria, British Columbia (sublime and stylish)
2. Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver, British Columbia (luxurious style and huge rooms)
3. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City, Quebec (richly historic and beautiful)
4. Ritz-Carlton, Montreal, Quebec (love the overall feel of the place)
5. Wedgewood Hotel and Spa, Vancouver, British Columbia
6. Fairmont Pacific Rim (sexy and sleek, with fabulous food)
7. Four Seasons, Montreal, Quebec
8. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, Quebec (spectacularly beautiful)
9. Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto, Ontario (haven’t stayed but love the food)
10. Hotel William Gray, Montreal, Quebec (style-forward design and a great rooftop restaurant/bar)

BEST CANADA RESORTS

The amazing Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island.

1. Fairmont Chateau Whistler, British Columbia
2. The Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, British Columbia (amazing design and food)
3. Cabot Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (sublime golf in a beautiful region of the province)
4. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (spectacular views, with rooms to match)
5. Manoir Hovey, Eastern Townships, Quebec (haven’t been but adore the area)

BEST HAWAII RESORTS

Four Seasons Resort Lanai. JIM BYERS PHOTO

1. Hotel Wailea, Maui (fab location in luxurious Wailea)
2. Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection, Hawai’i Island 
3. Four Seasons Resort, Lana’i (truly spectacular, South Seas design and incredible food)
4. Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui (remarkably large rooms, killer food and a great family spot)
5. Kahala Hotel and Resort, O’ahu 
6. Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, Hawai’i Island
7. Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Hawai’i Island
8. Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i Island
9. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection, Hawai’i Island
10. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort (great food and design but haven’t stayed)

WORLD’S BEST ISLANDS

Batibou Beach, Dominica. JIM BYERS PHOTO

1. Koh Samui, Thailand
2. Maldives
3. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
4. Bali, Indonesia
5. Phuket, Thailand
6. Seychelles
7. Fiji
8. Sri Lanka
9. Dominica (love the nature and relaxed pace of this Caribbean beauty)
10. Zanzibar 

WORLD’S BEST AIRLINES

1. Eva Air
2. Qatar Airways
3. Emirates (sadly, this is the only one of the bunch I’ve flown, but it was marvellous)
4. La Compagnie (a French boutique airline I don’t know anything about)
5. Singapore Airlines
6. Japan Airlines
7. Korean Air
8. Virgin Atlantic Airways
9. Etihad Airways
10. Thai Airways International

WORLD’S BEST CRUISE LINES

The Explorers’ Lounge on the Viking Saturn cruise ship. Photo courtesy Viking.

MegaShip (Ocean): Virgin Voyages

Large Ship (Ocean); Disney Cruise Line

Mid-Size (Ocean): Crystal

Small-Ship (Ocean): Viking (I had a very good river cruise with them 10-15 years ago)

Intimate Ship (Ocean): Quasar

River Cruise: The Oberoi Luxury Nile Cruisers