AHOY, MATEYS! Welcome aboard the m/s Globility as we set sail with the 2018 Leisure Lifestyle Awards. For the sixth year running, we honor the finest in leisure and lifestyle travel—recognizing outstanding destinations, hotels, cruise lines, airlines, resorts, tours and travel services. Join us as we spotlight the winners that shaped travel in 2018.
These awards focus on immersive travel experiences, not just postcard vistas. Turkey takes the top spot for Best Historical Attractions, Thailand earns its second win as Best Adventure Travel Destination, and Costa Rica tops the Best Beaches category. Each of these destinations offers unique, award-winning reasons to plan a trip.
Imagine a cruise visiting this year’s island winners: Saint Lucia, crowned Best Caribbean Island; Santoríni, the five-time Best Island in Europe; and the Cook Islands, three-time winner for Best Island in the Pacific Rim. Together they represent an ideal island-hopping itinerary for leisure travelers.
Across the United States, several notable cities earned accolades: Nashville is Best Leisure Destination in the United States; Savannah is Best Weekend Destination in the United States; and Key West, Fla., is Best Babymoon Destination. Jackson Hole, Wyo., was named Best North American Ski Destination. In North America’s broader scene, Whistler, British Columbia, won Best International Ski Destination, and Cabo San Lucas was named Best Leisure Destination in Mexico.
International winners include Lisbon, Best Leisure Destination in Europe; Taipei, Best Leisure Destination in Asia; Buenos Aires, Best Leisure Destination in Latin/South America; and Bermuda, chosen as Best Weekend Destination in the World.
Turning from shores to ships, the cruise categories celebrate leaders across segments. Regent Seven Seas won two awards—Best Family Cruise Line and Best Cruise Line Spa—while Silversea Cruises repeated as Best Luxury Cruise Line for the third consecutive year and also claimed Best Cruise Line Suites. MSC Cruises debuted on the winners list with two honors: Best Cruise Line Entertainment and Best Cruise Line Rewards Program for MSC Voyagers Club.
Several lines continued multi-year streaks: Paul Gauguin Cruises was named Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for the third year running; Cunard Line repeated as Best Large-Ship Cruise Line; and Princess Cruises secured Best Cruise Ship Excursions for the third consecutive year. Windstar Cruises took the new category Best Adventure Cruise Line, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection dominated Best River Cruise Line. Viking Ocean Cruises earned top honors for Best Cruise Line Dining, while Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection was voted Favorite Cruise Ship.
In hotels and resorts, Meliá Hotels International was recognized as the Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World for the fourth straight year. Westin Hotels & Resorts emerged as a triple winner—Best Hotel Chain Resorts for the fourth consecutive time, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels, and Best Family Resort Chain in the World for the second year running. The Resort at Paws Up received Best Glamping Destination as a first-time winner, while Sandals Resorts was named Best All-Inclusive Resort.
For air travel, Hawaiian Airlines was voted Best Leisure Airline for the fourth consecutive year. Scandinavian Airlines made its first appearance on the winners list as Best Premium-Economy Class, and Asiana Airlines won the new category Best Airline for Onboard Entertainment. New airport categories recognized Doha Hamad International Airport as Best Airport for Layovers and Munich Airport as Best Airport for Recreation.
On land, renters chose Hertz as Best Leisure Car Rental and Maserati as Best Luxury Vehicle for travelers who want to elevate their trip. For curated travel, Elegant Resorts was named Best Luxury Tour Operator.
Before we disembark from the m/s Globility, two more brands receive acknowledgment: TAG Heuer is a three-time Favorite Luxury Watch Brand winner, and Johnnie Walker Blue takes Best Liquor Brand.
© AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES
Cruise Line of the Year
For the first time, Global Traveler names a Cruise Line of the Year. The inaugural winner is Azamara Club Cruises. Nominees were compiled by the magazine and the final selection was made by the Globility Board, a vetted group of well-traveled subscribers.
Azamara was chosen for exceptional guest service, noteworthy dining, distinguished spa and wellness offerings, and a focus on extended port stays that allow deeper exploration. The line’s Destination Immersion program offers curated excursions and activities that take guests closer to local culture. Its itineraries span Alaska, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Cuba, the Mediterranean, Europe, Panama, Central America, North America and South America.
Join us in celebrating Azamara Club Cruises as Cruise Line of the Year 2018.
CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR 2018
1. Azamara Club Cruises
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Silversea Cruises
4. Crystal Cruises
© OMNI HOTELS & RESORTS
Special Achievement Awards
In addition to the Leisure Lifestyle Awards, Global Traveler honors travel companies demonstrating exceptional leadership in innovation, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Omni Hotels & Resorts received Outstanding Social Responsibility for its Say Goodnight to Hunger campaign, which donates to Feeding America for every booking and supports local food banks across its properties. Denver International Airport earned Outstanding Customized Services for unique programming such as a holiday ice rink, Yoga on the Fly and a Canine Airport Therapy Squad. Hurtigruten Cruise Line won Outstanding Environmental Initiatives for building the world’s first hybrid cruise ships with battery systems. Singapore Changi Airport claimed Outstanding Innovations for Terminal 4’s advanced automation and biometric technologies that streamline the passenger experience.
OUTSTANDING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Omni Hotels & Resorts
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMIZED SERVICES
Denver International Airport
OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Hurtigruten Cruise Line
OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS
Singapore Changi Airport
THE PROCESS
Global Traveler conducted a reader survey from Oct. 1, 2017–Jan. 31, 2018. The survey included open-ended questions across many categories of leisure, luxury and lifestyle travel and was available in print insert, direct mail, online and email. Only responses with more than 50 percent of the questions completed were counted. Submissions from magazine employees or travel industry associates were excluded.
Winners’ Circle
BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS
1. Turkey
2. Israel
3. India
4. Jordan
5. Spain
6. Peru
7. Egypt
8. Greece
9. Italy
10. United Kingdom
BEST BEACHES
1. Costa Rica
2. Fiji
3. Cayman Islands
4. The Big Island, Hawai’i
5. Phuket, Thailand
6. Lopes Mendes, Brazil
7. Mykonos, Greece
8. Turks & Caicos
9. Krabi, Thailand
10. Honolulu, Hawai’i
BEST ADVENTURE DESTINATION
1. Thailand
2. Alaska
3. India
4. Chile
5. South Africa
6. New Zealand
7. Argentina
8. California
9. Colombia
10. Australia
BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
1. Nashville, Tenn.
2. Charleston, S.C.
3. Asheville, N.C.
4. Miami Beach, Fla.
5. Napa Valley, Calif.
6. Chicago, Ill.
7. San Francisco, Calif.
8. Austin, Texas
9. New Orleans, La.
10. Sedona, Ariz.
BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN EUROPE
1. Lisbon, Portugal
2. Prague, Czech Republic
3. Porto, Portugal
4. Seville, Spain
5. Rome, Italy
6. İstanbul, Turkey
7. Paris, France
8. Florence, Italy
9. Venice, Italy
10. Krakow, Poland
BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN ASIA
1. Taipei, Taiwan
2. Phuket, Thailand
3. Singapore
4. Tokyo, Japan
5. Seoul, South Korea
6. Hong Kong
7. Bangkok, Thailand
8. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
9. Osaka, Japan
10. Bali, Indonesia
BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN LATIN/SOUTH AMERICA
1. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Lima, Peru
3. Santiago, Chile
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
5. Mendoza, Argentina
6. Panama City, Panama
7. Quito, Ecuador
8. Cusco, Peru
9. Bogotá, Colombia
10. Machu Picchu, Peru
BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN MEXICO
1. Cabo San Lucas
2. Mérida
3. Cancún
4. Mexico City
5. Guadalajara
6. Isla Holbox
7. Playa del Carmen
8. Puerto Vallarta
9. Cozumel
10. San Miguel de Allende
BEST WEEKEND DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
1. Savannah, Ga.
2. Las Vegas, Nev.
3. Charleston, S.C.
4. San Francisco, Calif.
5. Austin, Texas
6. Nashville, Tenn.
7. New Orleans, La.
8. Asheville, N.C.
9. Miami, Fla.
10. New York, N.Y.
BEST WEEKEND DESTINATION
1. Bermuda
2. Dublin, Ireland
3. Lisbon, Portugal
4. Québec City, Canada
5. Belize City, Belize
6. London, England
7. Cartagena, Colombia
8. Vienna, Austria
9. Paris, France
10. Rome, Italy
BEST GLAMPING DESTINATION
1. Paws Up, Montana
2. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda
3. Soule Creek Lodge, British Columbia
4. Eco-Lodge Brejeira, Algarve, Portugal
5. Canna Camping Holidays, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
6. Singita Sabora Tented Camp, Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania
7. Honey Bee Suite, Platbos Forest, South Africa
8. Patagonia Camp, Torres del Paine, Chile
9. Reapot Lane Luxury Camp, Co. Leitrim, Ireland
10. Cabañas en Los Árboles, Biscay, Spain
BEST BABYMOON DESTINATION
1. Key West, Fla.
2. Saint Lucia
3. Belize
4. Barcelona, Spain
5. Palm Springs, Calif.
6. Cancún, Mexico
7. Savannah, Ga.
8. Sedona, Ariz.
9. Hilton Head Island, S.C.
10. Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
BEST NORTH AMERICAN SKI DESTINATION
1. Jackson Hole, Wyo.
2. Vail, Colo.
3. Aspen Snowmass, Colo.
4. Telluride, Colo.
5. Alta, Utah
6. Park City, Utah
7. Beaver Creek, Colo.
8. Breckenridge, Colo.
9. Winter Park, Colo.
10. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
BEST INTERNATIONAL SKI DESTINATION
1. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
2. Zermatt, Switzerland
3. Courchevel, France
4. Gstaad, Switzerland
5. Lech, Austria
6. Meribel, France
7. St. Moritz, Switzerland
8. Verbier, Switzerland
9. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
10. Niseko, Japan
BEST CARIBBEAN ISLAND
1. Saint Lucia
2. Aruba
3. Grand Cayman
4. St. Vincent
5. Bahamas
6. Curaçao
7. Nevis
8. Jamaica
9. British Virgin Islands
10. U.S. Virgin Islands
BEST ISLAND IN EUROPE
1. Santoríni
2. Ireland
3. Mykonos
4. Sicily
5. England
6. Capri
7. Elba
8. Crete
9. Sardinia
10. Jersey, United Kingdom
BEST ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC RIM
1. Cook Islands
2. Phuket, Thailand
3. Japan
4. Fiji
5. Okinawa
6. Bora Bora
7. The Big Island, Hawai’i
8. Hong Kong
9. Maui, Hawai’i
10. Tahiti
BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE
1. Regent Seven Seas
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Disney Cruise Line
4. Holland America Line
5. Norwegian Cruise Line
6. Royal Caribbean
7. Silversea Cruises
8. Princess Cruises
9. MSC Cruises
10. Cunard Line
BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE
1. Silversea Cruises
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Cunard Line
4. Regent Seven Seas
5. Paul Gauguin Cruises
6. Crystal Cruises
7. SeaDream Yacht Club
8. Seabourn Cruise Line
9. Norwegian Cruise Line
10. MSC Cruises
BEST CRUISE LINE SUITES
1. Owner’s Suite, Silversea Cruises
2. MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises
3. Haven Suites, Norwegian Cruise Line
4. Princess Grill Suites, Cunard Line
5. Penthouse, Celebrity Cruises
6. Queens Grill Suites, Cunard Line
7. Regent Suites, Regent Seven Seas
8. Owner’s Suite, Oceania Cruises
9. Royal Loft, Royal Caribbean
10. Penthouse, Crystal Cruises
BEST ADVENTURE CRUISE LINE
1. Windstar Cruises
2. American Safari
3. Ponant
4. National Geographic Expeditions
5. UnCruise Adventures
6. Lindblad Expeditions
7. Azamara Club Cruises
8. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
9. Silversea Cruises
10. Seabourn Cruise Line
BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE
1. Paul Gauguin Cruises
2. Viking River Cruises
3. Seabourn Cruise Line
4. Azamara Club Cruises
5. Silversea Cruises
6. SeaDream Yacht Club
7. Windstar Cruises
8. Crystal Cruises
9. Regent Seven Seas
10. Oceania Cruises
BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE
1. Cunard Line
2. Princess Cruises
3. Viking Ocean Cruises
4. Celebrity Cruises
5. Norwegian Cruise Line
6. Royal Caribbean
7. Holland America Line
8. Regent Seven Seas
9. Crystal Cruises
10. MSC Cruises
BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE
1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
2. Tauck
3. AmaWaterways
4. Avalon Waterways
5. Viking River Cruises
6. Aqua Expeditions
7. Crystal River Cruises
8. American Cruise Lines
9. CroisiEurope
10. Pandaw River Cruises
BEST CRUISE LINE ENTERTAINMENT
1. MSC Cruises
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Viking Ocean Cruises
4. Princess Cruises
5. Celebrity Cruises
6. Norwegian Cruise Line
7. Disney Cruise Line
8. Cunard Line
9. Regent Seven Seas
10. Holland America Line
BEST CRUISE LINE DINING
1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Azamara Club Cruises
3. Cunard Line
4. Regent Seven Seas
5. Royal Caribbean
6. Celebrity Cruises
7. Seabourn Cruise Line
8. Norwegian Cruise Line
9. MSC Cruises
10. Oceania Cruises
BEST CRUISE LINE SPAS
1. Regent Seven Seas
2. Princess Cruises
3. Viking Ocean Cruises
4. Crystal Cruises
5. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
6. Seabourn Cruise Line
7. Celebrity Cruises
8. Costa Cruises
9. Cunard Line
10. MSC Cruises
BEST CRUISE SHIP EXCURSIONS
1. Princess Cruises
2. Viking Ocean Cruises
3. Silversea Cruises
4. Cunard Line
5. Celebrity Cruises
6. Norwegian Cruise Line
7. Royal Caribbean
8. Holland America Line
9. MSC Cruises
10. Regent Seven Seas
BEST CRUISE LINE REWARDS PROGRAM
1. MSC Voyagers Club, MSC Cruises
2. Club World, Cunard Line
3. Castaway Club, Disney Cruise Line
4. Latitudes, Norwegian Cruise Line
5. Captain’s Club, Celebrity Cruises
6. Captain’s Circle, Princess Cruises
7. Mariner Society, Holland America Line
8. Oceania Club, Oceania Cruises
9. Crown & Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean
10. Seven Seas Society, Regent Seven Seas
FAVORITE CRUISE SHIP
1. Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Cruises
2. Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line
3. Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Cruises
4. Seven Seas Explorer, Regent Seven Seas
5. Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Cruises
6. Royal Princess, Princess Cruises
7. Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
8. Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Cruise Line
9. Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Cruise Line
10. mv Viking Sea, Viking Ocean Cruises
BEST LUXURY LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD
1. Meliá Hotels International
2. Westin Hotels & Resorts
3. The Ritz-Carlton
4. Four Seasons
5. Conrad Hotels & Resorts
6. The Waldorf Astoria
7. Belmond
8. The Peninsula Hotels
9. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
10. Hyatt
BEST HOTEL CHAIN RESORTS
1. Westin Hotels & Resorts
2. Four Seasons
3. St. Regis
4. Meliá Hotels International
5. The Ritz-Carlton
6. Hyatt
7. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
8. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
9. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
10. Montage Hotels & Resorts
BEST PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL
1. Westin Hotels & Resorts
2. Loews Hotels & Resorts
3. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
4. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
5. The Peninsula Hotels
6. Le Méridien
7. The Ritz-Carlton
8. Mandarin Oriental
9. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
10. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
BEST FAMILY RESORT CHAIN IN THE WORLD
1. Westin Hotels & Resorts
2. Loews Hotels & Resorts
3. Disney Hotels
4. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
5. Omni Hotels & Resorts
6. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
7. Hyatt
8. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
9. JW Marriott
10. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT
1. Sandals Resorts
2. Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts
3. Paradisus Resorts
4. Karisma Hotels & Resorts
5. Dreams Resorts & Spas
6. Meliá Hotels International
7. Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia
8. Secrets Resorts & Spas
9. Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resort
10. Hyatt Zilara
BEST LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR
1. Elegant Resorts
2. Black Tomato
3. The Inspiring Travel Company
4. Abercrombie & Kent
5. Red Savannah
6. Kuoni
7. Trailfinders
8. Perillo Tours
9. The Turquoise Holiday Company
10. Cox & Kings
BEST AIRPORT FOR LAYOVERS
1. Doha Hamad International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Munich Airport
4. Zürich Kloten International Airport
5. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
6. Helsinki Airport
7. Seoul Incheon Airport
8. Dubai International Airport
9. Denver International Airport
10. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
BEST AIRPORT FOR RECREATION
1. Munich Airport
2. Vancouver International Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport
4. Incheon Airport
5. Denver International Airport
6. Austin Bergstrom International Airport
7. San Francisco International Airport
8. Miami International Airport
9. Los Angeles International Airport
10. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
BEST LEISURE AIRLINE
1. Hawaiian Airlines
2. American Airlines
3. Air Tahiti Nui
4. Alaska Airlines
5. United Airlines
6. Delta Air Lines
7. Fiji Airways
8. Aeromexico
9. TAP Air Portugal
10. Air France
BEST AIRLINE FOR ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT
1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. Air Canada
5. Qatar Airways
6. Delta Air Lines
7. American Airlines
8. Emirates
9. JetBlue
10. Korean Air
BEST PREMIUM-ECONOMY CLASS
1. Scandinavian Airlines
2. Lufthansa
3. Air Canada
4. EVA Air
5. American Airlines
6. United Airlines
7. Delta Air Lines
8. China Airlines
9. British Airways
10. Japan Airlines
BEST LUXURY VEHICLE
1. Maserati
2. Cadillac
3. Volvo
4. Porsche
5. Mercedes-Benz
6. BMW
7. Tesla
8. Lexus
9. Acura
10. Audi
FAVORITE WATCH BRAND
1. TAG Heuer
2. Patek Philippe
3. Panerai
4. Movado
5. Louis Vuitton
6. Tiffany & Co.
7. Omega
8. Ulysse Nardin
9. A Lange & Sohne
10. Cartier
BEST LEISURE CAR RENTAL
1. Hertz
2. Avis
3. Sixt
4. National Car Rental
5. Budget
6. Enterprise
7. Dollar Car Rental
8. Alamo
9. Thrifty
10. Payless
FAVORITE LIQUOR BRAND
1. Johnnie Walker Blue
2. Patrón
3. Grey Goose
4. Crown Royal
5. Johnnie Walker Black
6. Maker’s Mark
7. Belvedere
8. Bombay Sapphire
9. Bacardi
10. Woodford Reserve
Raise a glass on the lido deck as we salute the 2018 Leisure Lifestyle Awards winners—leaders who inspired travel experiences and set high standards across the global leisure industry.