2020 has been an extraordinary year for travel. As borders gradually reopen and destinations, hotels and airlines prepare to welcome guests again, we celebrate the resilience of the travel industry and announce the winners of the eighth annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. This reader-driven survey honors the best in leisure and lifestyle travel across categories including destinations, hotels, airlines, cruises and travel services.
These winners showcase outstanding places, products and providers to consider as you plan your next getaway. From historic cities to sun-drenched beaches, snowy slopes to luxury cruise experiences, this year’s list highlights top options for every kind of leisure traveler.
PHOTO: © F11PHOTO -DREAMSTIME.COM
Our destination winners begin with outstanding historic attractions. Internationally, Spain is recognized for Best Historical Attractions, while Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earns Best Historical Attractions domestically. If you prefer beaches, Costa Rica retains the top spot for Best Beaches for the third consecutive year. The U.S. Virgin Islands are named Best Caribbean Island, and Santoríni takes Best Island in Europe for the seventh year running. In the Pacific Rim, the Cook Islands secure Best Island, marking their fifth straight win and earning Quint Status for consistent excellence.
For winter travelers, Telluride, Colorado, is Best North American Ski Destination for the second year, while Lech, Austria, is the top international ski destination. Other standout leisure destinations include Charleston, South Carolina (Best Leisure Destination in the United States); South Africa (Best Leisure Destination in Africa and Best Adventure Destination, International); Seville, Spain (Best Leisure Destination in Europe); Taipei (three-time Best Leisure Destination in Asia); Panama City, Panama (Best Leisure Destination in Latin/South America); Puerto Vallarta (Best Leisure Destination in Mexico); and Cabo San Lucas (Best Leisure Destination for Groups).
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For shorter trips, Savannah, Georgia, is chosen as Best Weekend Destination in North America, while Bermuda is recognized as Best Weekend Destination in the World. Adventure seekers can explore domestic favorites such as Albuquerque, New Mexico, named Best Adventure Destination, Domestic.
The cruise categories highlight excellence across ship sizes, service levels and onboard experiences. Celebrity Cruises is the readers’ choice for Best Family Cruise Line for the second year. Silversea Cruises captures Best Cruise Line Suites with its Owner’s Suite, and Regent Seven Seas earns Best Luxury Cruise Line. Royal Caribbean International is recognized as the inaugural Best Value Cruise Line.
Hurtigruten is praised as Best Adventure Cruise Line, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is Best River Cruise Line for the third consecutive year. Paul Gauguin Cruises is honored as Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for the fifth consecutive year, joining other Quint Status recipients. Cunard wins Best Large-Ship Cruise Line for the fifth time and is also named Cruise Line of the Year for 2020.
PHOTOS: © CUNARD LINE
Additional cruise honors include Princess Cruises for Best Cruise Ship Excursions and Best Cruise Line Entertainment; Seabourn Cruise Line for Best Cruise Line Spas; Azamara Club Cruises for Best Cruise Line Dining; and Oceania Club by Oceania Cruises for Best Cruise Line Rewards Program. Port of Miami and Port Everglades tie for Best Cruise Port.
Hotels and resorts also receive top recognition. Meliá Hotels International is named Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World for the sixth time. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts receives the Best Pet-Friendly Hotel award. The Ritz-Carlton takes Best Hotel Chain Resorts and is recognized for community work, while Westin Hotels & Resorts is honored as Best Family Resort Chain. Sandals Resorts International ranks as Best All-Inclusive Resorts for the third year.
Airports and airlines earn accolades for services that enhance leisure travel. Miami International Airport wins Best Airport for Layovers, and Denver International Airport is named Best Airport for Recreation. TAP Air Portugal, Air Tahiti Nui and Air Canada each retain top honors in their categories, while Alaska Airlines is recognized as Best Pet-Friendly Airline. Air Canada receives awards for onboard entertainment, premium-economy class and its business-class onboard menu.
PHOTO: © ALASKA AIRLINES
Other notable winners across travel products and services include Abercrombie & Kent as Best Tour Operator; Volvo as Best Luxury Vehicle; Patek Philippe as Favorite Luxury Watch Brand; Hertz as Best Leisure Car Rental; Na Hoku as Best Vacation Jewelry Brand; and Johnnie Walker Blue as Favorite Liquor Brand.
Cruise Line of the Year
This year’s Cruise Line of the Year is Cunard Line. Selected by Global Traveler’s Globility Board, Cunard was honored for its storied heritage, signature service and timeless onboard experiences. With three iconic ships — Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 — and a legacy that spans 180 years, Cunard remains a symbol of luxury cruising and a fitting recipient of this year’s top cruise honor.
Special Achievement Awards
In addition to category winners, the Special Achievement Awards recognize exceptional efforts in social responsibility, customization, environmental stewardship and innovation.
The Ritz-Carlton is commended for its Community Footprints program and is this year’s Outstanding Social Responsibility honoree for contributions in child well-being, hunger relief and environmental initiatives. Tahiti Tourisme receives Outstanding Customized Services for enabling travelers to personalize experiences in Tahiti. Oceania Cruises is awarded Outstanding Environmental Initiatives for measures that reduce single-use plastics and introduce sustainable onboard practices. Qatar Airways earns Outstanding Innovations for its QSuite, a business-class product that combines privacy, flexible layouts and enhanced comfort.
About the survey process
The Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle survey ran Oct. 1, 2019–Jan. 31, 2020. Readers completed open-ended ballots across many leisure, luxury and lifestyle travel categories via mailed inserts, online forms and email. Only responses with more than 50 percent of the questionnaire completed were counted; industry submissions and magazine employee entries were excluded. Winners reflect the collective voice of well-traveled readers and subscribers.
Winners’ Circle (selected categories)
Best Historical Attractions, Domestic
1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
5. Williamsburg, Virginia
6. Savannah, Georgia
7. Charleston, South Carolina
8. New Orleans, Louisiana
9. Charlottesville, Virginia
10. Big Sur, California
Best Historical Attractions, International
1. Spain
2. Egypt
3. Greece
4. Jordan
5. Turkey
6. United Kingdom
7. Israel
8. India
9. Italy
Best Beaches
1. Costa Rica
2. Cayman Islands
3. Lanai, Hawai’i
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, Domestic
1. Albuquerque, New Mexico
2. Alaska
3. Grand Canyon
4. Asheville, North Carolina
5. Portland, Oregon
6. Hilton Head, South Carolina
7. Salt Lake City, Utah
8. Nashville, Tennessee
9. California
10. Montana
Best Adventure Destination, International
1. South Africa
2. Taiwan
3. India
4. Thailand
5. New Zealand
6. Chile
7. Colombia
8. Australia
9. Jordan
10. Galápagos Islands
Best Leisure Destination in the United States
1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. Asheville, North Carolina
3. Nashville, Tennessee
4. Napa Valley, California
5. Miami Beach, Florida
6. Chicago, Illinois
7. Virginia Beach, Virginia
8. San Francisco, California
9. Austin, Texas
10. New Orleans, Louisiana
Best Leisure Destination in Africa
1. South Africa
2. Botswana
3. Morocco
4. Zanzibar
5. Kenya
6. Seychelles
7. Reunion Island
8. Uganda
9. Zambia
10. Namibia
Best Leisure Destination in Europe
1. Seville, Spain
2. İstanbul, Turkey
3. Lisbon, Portugal
4. Prague, Czech Republic
5. Rome, Italy
6. Porto, Portugal
7. Paris, France
8. Florence, Italy
9. Venice, Italy
10. Krakow, Poland
Best Leisure Destination in Asia
1. Taipei, Taiwan
2. Singapore
3. Seoul, South Korea
4. Tokyo, Japan
5. Phuket, Thailand
6. Hong Kong
7. Bangkok, Thailand
8. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
9. Osaka, Japan
10. Bali, Indonesia
Quint Status winners
Cook Islands — Best Island Pacific Rim (Fifth Consecutive Year)
Paul Gauguin Cruises — Best Small-Ship Cruise Line (Fifth Consecutive Year)
Cunard Line — Best Large-Ship Cruise Line (Fifth Consecutive Year)
Princess Cruises — Best Cruise Ship Excursions (Fifth Consecutive Year)
Congratulations to all the 2020 Leisure Lifestyle Awards winners. As travel resumes, these destinations and providers stand out for their quality, service and memorable guest experiences. We look forward to exploring the world with you again soon.