Welcome to The Readers’ Choice Awards 2024. This is the 27th edition of our globetrotting annual event, and for this iteration we have done things a little differently. After five years of co-curating the awards with our sister title in the US, we have consciously uncoupled, meaning that the responses here are based purely on votes from the UK. So, in this Olympics year, how does the travel medal table look? Well, Japan – voted your favourite country – is on everyone’s lips, as are other long-haul destinations such as New Zealand, Australia and Thailand. The Greek islands, particularly their villas, continue to shine, and the healthy interest in wellness escapes, authentic experiences and transformational travel continues to grow. But beyond all the trends (coolcationing and astro-tourism, anyone?) is the simple desire to explore, relax and escape – to that palm-fringed island beach or wilderness safari camp; that urban hotel with a rooftop bar that does a mean dirty martini. Together, the names here form a special gazetteer of the places pinned to your travel dreams – the hotels, spas and resorts, the countries, cities and islands you return to again and again, and the tour operators, villa experts and airlines that take you there.
These are all the winners in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
The best hotels in the world
Our readers’ favourite UK hotels
Winner: The Fife Arms, Aberdeenshire.
Hôtel Les Roches Rouges, a Beaumier hotelBenoit Linero
Our readers’ favourite hotels in Europe
Winner, Paris: Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel.
Winner, rest of France and Monaco: Les Roches Rouges, A Beaumier Hotel.
Winner, Ireland: The Merrion.
Winner, Rome: Hotel Eden.
Winner, Florence: Villa Cora.
Winner, Venice: The St Regis Venice.
Winner, rest of Italy: Como Castello del Nero.
Winner, Greece: The Dolli at Acropolis.
