This year’s World’s Best Awards survey was open for voting from January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world. Although many of us were grounded for much of 2020, in our hearts, we remained global citizens. Travel + Leisure readers know that adventures never cease, even when we remain close to home — and an excellent hotel can still put a smile on your face, especially when the world feels tumultuous. From the Caribbean to Southeast Asia, from Africa to South America, this year’s top 100 winners span the globe and include city skyscrapers, jungle glamping, palace resorts, luxe safari lodges, and seaside hideaways. But top-notch service, premier locations, and over-the-top amenities connect the winners and ensure they are all top-tier options worthy of praise. In fact, according to T+L readers who voted in this year’s awards: “Travel is not about ticking off boxes — it’s about new experiences.
In Travel + Leisure’s 18th annual World’s Best Awards survey, we asked readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as cities or resorts based on their locations and amenities.
1. Mahali Mzuri, Masai Mara, Kenya
Your favorite safari destination may not have made the cut, but the top 10 destinations on our list are guaranteed to make you want to pack your bags and book a ticket — pronto. So what’s the appeal? We found that it wasn’t just one factor in particular that set these locations apart. Many respondents simply mentioned the overall “vibe” of the spot or its luxurious accommodations. One voter raved about the opulent bathrooms at Aldabra, while another was a big fan of the private butlers at Alila Jabal Akhdar, a hotel in Oman. Whatever type of luxury you prefer, you’re sure to find it on this list.
2. Capella Bangkok
The Kahala Hotel & Resort and Spa are located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, which winds its way through the bustling metropolis of Bangkok. The tropical city sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Thailand on the shores of the Andaman Sea and is known for its opulent temples and palaces, such as Wat Phra Kaew, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Thailand. The hotel overlooks a busy roundabout near many local attractions including the Harajuku shopping street and weekends markets.
3. Capella Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Last year’s Top 100 Hotels winner, this glamorous, Bill Bensley-designed resort features a dramatic suspension bridge leading to 22 tented hideaways surrounded by lush rain forest and the river Wos gurgling below. The on-site organic Keliki Garden supplies two restaurants and a bar, and the nightly campfire is the setting for storytelling, movies, and live music with s’mores and hot chocolate. Dine like royalty at the three-Michelin-starred L’Aquarium Restaurant.
4. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
It’s not hard to feel like royalty in this extravagant palace hotel, where Udaipur’s glittering Lake Pichola is front and center. Posh rooms have semi-private pools that create a kind of moat around the hotel, and staff are trained to anticipate guests’ every desire. But it will still cost you about $1,590 per night for a standard lake view room.
5. The Temple House, Chengdu, China
From the moment you approach the hotel, located near the center of Chengdu, it is clear you are entering a different world. A trip to Four Points by Sheraton Chengdu Taiping Culture Centre begins not with a room key but your choice of newspapers from a table just inside the entrance. To your left are a cozy library and small cafe; to your right, an open patio where you might relax in the evening after dinner.
6. Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paracas, Peru
Who says that the most luxurious hotels on earth don’t come with a slice of nature? The Paracas Peninsula in Peru is home to the Luxury Retreats at Punta Paraíso, a 120-acre property dotted with brightly colored cabanas and surrounded by palm trees, white-sand beaches, and turquoise waters.
7. Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa, Goa, India
There are few things in life better than lying on a beach towel, listening to the waves of the ocean crash on the shore, and gazing at a sky full of stars. Time seems to stand still when you’re there. And that’s exactly what the Oberoi Udaivilas resort in the tropical Indian state of Rajasthan offers its guests. This is not just any beach bungalow. It’s located on Jodhpur’s Golden Mile, which is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in all of India.
