For an unprecedented 16th time, "Maui, the Magic Isle" captured "Best Island in the World" honors in the 23rd annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards Poll.
With a score of 90.7, it also garnered "Best Pacific Island" for the 20th consecutive year. According to the magazine, "Maui is the only island to score above 90, making it No. 1 in the world for the sixteenth time."
In the "Best Pacific Island" category, sister island Kauai placed second with a score of 88.8. Bora Bora ranked third with 85.5. Other Hawaiian islands placing in the "Top 10" were: 6th place Hawaii Big Island (83.5); 7th place Oahu (83.3); and 8th place Lanai (80.8).
Other top island destinations in the world included winners in the following geographical categories: Asia/Indian Ocean (Maldives, 86.4), Caribbean/Atlantic (Bermuda, 83.7), North America (Kiawah, 83.0) and Europe (Mykonos and the Cyclades, 78.0).
Maui's score once again surpassed all other top destinations worldwide, convincingly topping every single "Best City" category winner including Oceania (Sydney, 86.1), U.S. (San Francisco, 84.3), Europe (Florence, 84.6), Asia (Bangkok, 82.9), Africa/Middle East (Capetown, 83.7) and The Americas (Vancouver, 82.4).
The hotels of Maui County completely dominated the "Top Hawaii Resorts" list. In this category, four of the top five winners were from Maui and Lanai. The list includes: 1. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (pictured above); 2. Hotel Hana Maui and Honua Spa; 4. Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay and 5. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koeele. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (on Hawaii's Big Island) ranked third.
Other Maui properties ranked in the Top 20 including: #9 Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui; #11 Grand Wailea; #15 Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (tie) and #20 Westin Maui Resort & Spa (tied with Kauai Marriott and Beach Club).
In total, Maui captured nine of the "Top 20" spots.
The magazine's annual Readers' Choice Awards poll analyzes the travel preferences of their readership in various categories including cities, islands, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, spas, resorts and rental cars. Ratings are based on the responses of Condé Nast Traveler subscribers who participated in the 23rd annual poll.
