GT’s First Leisure Travel Awards Winners Announced

Our readers have long been expert business travelers, so we asked them to help choose the best in leisure travel with our inaugural Leisure Travel Awards. Mediamark Research data from January 2012 showed our audience takes an average of three international and six domestic leisure trips per year, proving they know their destinations as well as they know their travel routines.

The Leisure Travel Awards invited readers to vote across categories including Lifestyle, Cruise Line, Resort, Tour Operator and Island. Below are the winners — the places and providers our readers ranked highest for leisure travel experiences.

LEISURE TRAVELERS LONG — these destinations offer abundant options for shopping, sightseeing, sun-seeking or hiking. Our readers selected world-class spots across every leisure activity.

For pure relaxation, a day at a top spa can define a memorable trip. Readers named The Peninsula Bangkok the Best Spa. Its 19,000-square-foot facility in the heart of the city features 14 treatment rooms, four suites, a tea lounge and dedicated relaxation spaces, offering tailored treatments that blend Eastern and Western practices.

Retail therapy reigns in Hong Kong, voted Best Shopping by our audience. From haute couture to local crafts, Hong Kong’s diverse shopping districts ensure visitors always find something to tempt them.

Australia earned two top honors: Best Natural Attractions and Best Adventure Travel Destination. The country’s varied landscapes — from the Australian Alps and the Green Cauldron to the Greater Blue Mountains and the Great Barrier Reef — provide both awe-inspiring sights and adrenaline-filled activities. Neighboring New Zealand was chosen Best Hiking Destination for its exceptional trails and scenery.

Turkey, positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and rich in cultural and religious heritage, won Best Historical Attractions. For wildlife and safari experiences, readers selected South Africa as Best Safari Destination.

For seasonal leisure, Switzerland was named Best Skiing, boasting unmatched alpine resorts such as Grindelwald, Gstaad, Mürren, Zermatt, Klosters and St. Moritz. Beach lovers chose the British Virgin Islands as the Best Beach Destination in our first awards.

When travelers want to explore a destination with expert guidance, they recommended Abercrombie & Kent as the Best Luxury Tour Operator.

SETTING SAIL — cruising continues to evolve, with luxury small ships, expansive itineraries and immersive river voyages gaining popularity.

Silversea Cruises was voted Best Small Ship Cruise Line. Known for intimate, all-suite vessels that offer large-ship amenities, Silversea sails worldwide — to all seven continents, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, polar regions and hundreds of unique ports.

Celebrity Cruises took Best Large Ship Cruise Line, offering itineraries across Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Canada, New England, the Caribbean, Europe, the Galápagos, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, South America and the Pacific. For river travel, readers picked Viking River Cruises as the Best River Cruise Line for its focused itineraries and onboard experience.

NO MATTER THE region, there’s a resort that fits every traveler’s idea of paradise. In the United States and Canada, The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, led the list as Best Resort in the United States and Canada.

Hawaii’s top resort honor went to Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. The resort’s 22-acre oceanfront setting, diverse dining and shopping options, cultural programming and weekly fireworks helped secure the win.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis was named Best Resort in the Caribbean. The property offers unique programs such as a Dive & Dine excursion, combining local cuisine and marine exploration, and supports conservation efforts including sea turtle protection.

The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago earned Best Resort in South America for its urban location in the El Golf neighborhood, on-site spa and multiple dining options, with access to both ski resorts and beaches nearby. In Mexico, Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort was selected Best Resort for its Sea of Cortez waterfront, private terraces and varied amenities.

In the South Pacific, The InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa stood out with its 80 overwater bungalows and an eco-friendly deep-sea cooling system that draws cold water from offshore to power air conditioning, making it a top choice for relaxation and romance.

Europe’s Best Resort is The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, praised for Mallorca’s climate, cuisine and Mediterranean setting. Emirates Palace took Best Resort in the Middle East for its lavish design and guest experience. Best Resort in Africa went to Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, located on private Silhouette Island and offering luxurious villas, pristine beaches and diverse activities.

WHERE IN THE world should your next island escape be? Our readers named standout islands in each region.

Kaua’i, Hawaii, was voted Best Island in the United States and Canada for its dramatic natural features such as Waimea Canyon and the Nāpali Coast, plus varied resort areas and outdoor activities.

Saint Lucia claimed Best Island in the Caribbean, with attractions that include the Piton Mountains, waterfalls, rainforests, beaches and a rich cultural calendar. The Galápagos Islands were chosen Best Island in Mexico, Central and South America for their extraordinary wildlife and unique ecosystems.

Bora Bora earned Best Island in Australia and the South Pacific, famed for its turquoise lagoon, coral formations and iconic overwater accommodations. Capri was named Best Island in Europe, offering dramatic coastal scenery, historic grottos and refined shopping and dining. Bali won Best Island in Asia and Africa, celebrated for its spiritual traditions, cultural richness and growing tourism infrastructure.

Congratulations to all the winners of GT’s first Leisure Travel Awards. These selections reflect the travel experiences our readers value most — from adventure and natural beauty to luxury resorts and unforgettable islands.

Winners’ Circle

Best Spa: The Peninsula Bangkok

Best Shopping: Hong Kong

Best Natural Attractions: Australia

Best Historical Attractions: Turkey

Best Skiing: Switzerland

Best Beach Destination: British Virgin Islands

Best Adventure Travel Destination: Australia

Best Safari Destination: South Africa

Best Hiking: New Zealand

Best Small Ship Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises

Best Large Ship Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Best River Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises

Best Resort in the United States and Canada: The Phoenician

Best Resort in Hawaii: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Best Resort in the Caribbean: Four Seasons Resort Nevis

Best Resort in South America: The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago

Best Resort in Mexico: Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort

Best Resort in Asia and the South Pacific: Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, An InterContinental Resort

Best Resort in Europe: The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort

Best Resort in Africa: Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa

Best Resort in the Middle East: Emirates Palace

Best Luxury Tour Operator: Abercrombie & Kent

Best Island in the United States and Canada: Kaua’i, Hawaii

Best Island in the Caribbean: Saint Lucia

Best Island in Mexico, Central America and South America: Galápagos

Best Island in Australia and the South Pacific: Bora Bora

Best Island in Europe: Capri

Best Island in Asia and Africa: Bali

The Method

Voting for GT’s first Leisure Travel Awards ran from May 1–Dec. 31, 2012, via an online ballot. Each category offered nominees as well as a write-in option. Global Traveler surveys receive thousands of responses annually. Employees of FXExpress Publications, Inc., and affiliated travel industry members were excluded from participation.