2023 Readers' Choice Awards: all the winners

The survey for the 2024 Readers' Choice Awards is open, vote now for your favourite places, hotels, airports, cruise lines, travel fixers and more.

If 2022 was all about the return to travel, then 2023 was the year we recalibrated what was really important. Few seemed to have disappeared into the metaverse, preferring real life encounters ranging from off-grid wilderness escapes to well-connected urban luxe. From the results that poured in for our 26th readers’ awards – the fifth year running that we’ve joined forces with our American counterparts – it’s apparent that you want to spend more time and more money than ever before on travelling. Much of that is to new destinations, along with trips informed by culture, local food scenes and sustainability. The rise and rise of cruising continues (something we never foresaw in 2020), while, for a vocal minority, music festivals are a ticket to ride (the Beyoncé Bounce and Swiftonomics, anyone?). But don’t forget that these awards and their globe-spinning winners – from hotels and resorts to islands, cities, airports and trains – are a palimpsest of your travel experiences over the years, the places you dream of returning to.

These are all the winners in the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.

The best hotels in the world

Our readers' favourite UK hotels

Winner: Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire

Our readers' favourite hotels in Europe

Winner, Paris: Shangri-La Paris

Winner, rest of France and Monaco: Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection, Massignac

Winner, Ireland: The Westbury, Dublin

Winner, Rome: Hassler Roma

Winner, Florence: Portrait Firenze

Winner, Venice: San Clemente Palace Kempinski, Venice

Winner, rest of Italy: COMO Castello del Nero, Barberino Tavarnelle

Winner, Greece: Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens

Winner, Spain and Portugal: Finca Cortesin, Casares, Spain

Winner, Turkey: Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul

Winner, rest of Europe: Sir Albert Hotel, Amsterdam

The best hotels in Australasia

Winner: The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney

The best hotels in Africa

Winner, Northern Africa: La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco

Winner, Eastern and Southern Africa: Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa

The best hotels in South America

Winner: Faena Hotel Buenos, Aires, Argentina

Our readers' favourite hotels in the USA

Winner, New York City: The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad

Winner, Los Angeles: SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills

Winner, rest of USA: Colony Palms Hotel, Palm Springs, California

The best hotels in Canada

Winner: The Hazelton Hotel Toronto

The best hotels in Asia

Winner, China: Hotel Éclat, Beijing

Winner, Hong Kong: The Peninsula Hong Kong

Winner, Japan: Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto

Winner, Singapore: Villa Samadhi, Singapore

Winner, South-east Asia: The St. Regis, Bangkok

Winner, rest of Asia: Signiel Seoul, South Korea

The best hotels in India

Winner: Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

The best resorts in the world

Winner, Mexico: Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection

Winner, USA: L'Horizon Resort & Spa

Winner, Canada: Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler

Winner, South America: Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa, Brazil

Winner, Greece: W Costa Navarino

Winner, rest of Europe: Adare Manor, Co. Limerick, Ireland

Winner, Indonesia: Alila Villas Uluwatu, Indonesia

Winner, Thailand: Banyan Tree Veya Phuket

Winner, rest of Asia: The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, Malaysia

Winner, Indian Ocean: Cheval Blanc Randheli, Maldives

Winner, Australasia and South Pacific: Wharekauhau Country Estate

Winner, South Africa: Londolozi Game Reserve

Winner, rest of Africa: Elewana Elsa's Kopje, Meru, Kenya

Winner, the Middle East: One&Only The Palm, Dubai, UAE

The best cities in the UK

Winner: Cardiff, Wales

The friendliest cities in the UK

Winner: Cardiff, Wales

The friendliest cities in Europe

Winner: Siena, Italy

The friendliest cities in the world

Winner: Calgary, Canada

The friendliest countries in Europe

Winner: Ireland

The friendliest countries in the world

Winner: Dominica

The best cities in the world for food

Winner: San Sebastian

The best islands in Asia

Winner: Bali, Indonesia

The best islands in Europe

Winner: Sardinia, Italy

The best ski resorts in the world

Winner, Europe: Zermatt, Switzerland

Winner, USA: Snowmass, Colorado

Winner, Canada: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada

The best airline for food

Winner: JAL (Japan Airlines), Japan

The best cruise lines in the world

Winner, mega ships (more than 4,000 passengers): Norwegian Cruise Line

Winner, large ships (2,500 to 4,000 passengers): Virgin Voyages

Winner, medium ships (500 to 2,500 passengers): Viking

Winner, small ships (fewer than 500 passengers): Emerald Cruises

Winner, river ships: Viking

Winner, expedition ships: Viking

The best villa rental companies in the world

Winner: The Thinking Traveller

The best tour operators in the world

Winner, general tour operators: The Turquoise Holiday Company

Winner, travel specialists: Scott Dunn