So… despite the setbacks and the delays and just a little bit of trepidation, 2022 was the year we really embraced travel again after pretty much two years of enforced abstinence. And from the responses to the questionnaire that accompanied our Readers’ Choice survey – our 25th awards, and the fourth time we’ve teamed up with our sister title in the USA – it’s clear that you’re intent on making up for lost time. You have the horizon in sight, with footloose plans for over-the-rainbow bucket-list trips and other big-ticket holidays, with more than a quarter saying you planned to travel more than ever before. But even when grounded, you remained curious, arranging staycations and discovering the appeal of close-to-home destinations. All of this feeds into these results – the winners from around the world, from islands and spas to cities and airports. And hotels, of course, lots of hotels and resorts, for which we added extra criteria to this year’s survey, such as accessibility, remote-working potential and how community-minded they are.
These are all the winners in the 2022 Readers' Choice Awards.
The best hotels in the world
Our readers' favourite UK hotels
Winner: The Fife Arms, Scottish Highlands
Our readers' favourite hotels in Europe
Winner, Paris: Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
Winner, rest of France and Monaco: Cheval Blanc St-Tropez
Winner, Ireland: The Westbury, Dublin
Winner, Rome: Hotel de Russie, A Rocco Forte Hotel
Winner, Florence: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
Winner, Venice: The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice
Winner, rest of Italy: Il Sereno, Lake Como
Winner, Greece: Katikies Santorini
Winner, Portugal: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Winner, Spain: Rosewood Villa Magna, Madrid
Winner, Turkey: Raffles Istanbul
Winner, rest of Europe: Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, Switzerland
The best hotels in Australasia
Winner: The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart, Australia
The best hotels in Africa
Winner, Northern Africa: La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
Winner, Southern Africa: Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa
The best hotels in South America
Winner: Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, Colombia
Our readers' favourite hotels in the USA
Winner, New York City: The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Winner, Los Angeles: Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
Winner, rest of USA: The Driskill, Austin, Texas
The best hotels in Canada
The best hotels in Asia
Winner, China: Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li
Winner, Hong Kong: Rosewood, Hong Kong
Winner, Japan: Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
Winner, Singapore: Capella, Singapore
Winner, South-east Asia: The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Winner, rest of Asia: Mandarin Oriental, Taipei, Taiwan
The best hotels in India
Winner: Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
The best resorts in the world
Winner, Mexico: Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
Winner, Central America: Islas Secas Reserve & Resort, Panama
Winner, USA: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, Colorado
Winner, Canada: Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler
Winner, South America: Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa, Trancoso, Brazil
Winner, the Caribbean and Atlantic: Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa, St Barth’s
Winner, Greece: The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino
Winner, rest of Europe: Adare Manor, Co. Limerick, Ireland
Winner, Indonesia: COMO Uma Ubud, Bali
Winner, Thailand: Rosewood Phuket
Winner, rest of Asia: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam
Winner, Indian Ocean: Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Winner, Australasia and South Pacific: Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island, Australia
Winner, South Africa: Singita Sabi Sand
Winner, rest of Africa: Virunga Lodge, Ruhengeri, Rwanda
Winner, the Middle East: Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, UAE
The best cities in the UK
Winner: Cambridge, England
The best cities in Europe
Winner: San Sebastían, Spain
The best cities in the world
Winner: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
The friendliest cities in the UK
Winner: Glasgow, Scotland
The friendliest cities in Europe
Winner: San Sebastián, Spain
The friendliest cities in the world
Winner: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
The friendliest countries in Europe
Winner: Ireland
The friendliest countries in the world
Winner: French Polynesia
The best ski resorts in the world
Winner, Europe: St Moritz, Switzerland
Winner, North America: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
The best airlines in the world
Winner: Singapore Airlines
The best airports in the world
Winner, UK: London City
Winner, rest of world: Istanbul, Turkey
The best cruise lines in the world
Winner, mega ships (more than 4,000 passengers): Royal Caribbean International
Winner, large ships (2,500 to 4,000 passengers): Norwegian Cruise Line
Winner, medium ships (500 to 2,500 passengers): Viking Ocean Cruises
Winner, small ships (fewer than 500 passengers): Ponant
Winner, river ships: Viking River Cruises
Winner, expedition ships: Ponant
Our readers' favourite train journeys in the world
Winner: Seven Stars in Kyushu, Japan
The best villa rental companies in the world
Winner: The Thinking Traveller
The best tour operators in the world
Winner, general tour operators: Red Savannah
Winner, travel specialists: Scott Dunn
The best destination spas in the world
Winner, UK: Coworth Park, Berkshire, England
Winner, USA: The Ranch Malibu, California
Winner, rest of world: Chiva-Som, Hua Hin, Thailand
For last year's winners, see the Readers' Choice Winners 2021.