Thailand makes Top 3 Best Countries in the World to travel in Condé Nast Traveler’s rankings
Condé Nast Traveler magazine - NY-based authority in luxury and lifestyle travel - has published the results of their annual Reader’s Choice awards, recognizing world’s top travel destinations, hotels, spas, airports and more. You can read the whole thing here: https://www.cntraveler.com/inspiration/readers-choice-awards
Thailand in the world’s rankings
Thailand had made a strong showing this year. The country itself ranked 3rd in the list of world's best countries to travel to (#1 being Portugal and #2 - recently reopened Japan). Coincidentally Thailand and Japan are the only 2 Eastern Asian countries to make top-10.
The full list with rankings is as follows:
- Portugal (91.22)
- Japan (91.17)
- Thailand (90.46)
- Singapore (90.09)
- India (90.01)
- Greece (89.79)
- Denmark (89.62)
- United Kingdom (89.12)
- Italy (89.12)
- New Zealand (89.01)
- Spain (88.76)
- Netherlands (88.65)
- Ireland (88.53)
- Croatia (88.33)
- Morocco (88.23)
- Sweden (88.11)
- Sri Lanka (88.01)
- Israel (87.98)
- Turkey (87.97)
- South Africa (87.96)
- Australia (87.88)
- Iceland (87.58)
- Peru (87.4)
- Colombia (87.25)
- Finland (87.2)
- Poland (87.02)
- Malaysia (86.85)
- UAE (86.73)
- Chile (86.72)
- Philippines (86.66)
- Costa Rica (86.45)
- Belize (86.42)
- Germany (86.39)
- Malta (86.2)
- Indonesia (86.03)
- Mexico (85.99)
- France (85.42)
- Argentina (85.28)
- Switzerland (85.22)
- Canada (85.19)
- Austria (84.96)
- Cambodia (84.9)
- China (84.63)
- Jordan (84.11)
- USA (82.9)
- Kenya (82.82)
- Brazil (82.19)
- Cuba (82.1)
Bangkok has ranked #2 in the ranking of the World’s Big Cities (CN Traveler separates rankings for big and small cities - we hope to see Chiangmai in the latter next year!), leaving Tokyo behind at #3. Interestingly, with Singapore at #1 the entire top of the ranking is occupied by Eastern Asia. The digest commends Bangkok’s unique ‘multifaceted identity that blends history, culture, street style, and luxury like nowhere else’ - something that we’ve underlined in our Bangkok destination guide as well.
The list of Asia’s best islands places Samui and Phuket at the top - at #3 and #5 respectively (Boracai is #1, Bali - #2 and Langkawi - #4). Phi Phi closed the top list at #10.
Rosewood Phuket had made the list of the world’s best resorts at #11.
Top-50 of the best hotels in the world includes 2 contenders from Thailand - Bangkok’s Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (part of a gorgeous riverside estate that also includes Capella Hotel and Four Seasons Residences) at #48 and The Athenee Hotel - the Luxury Collection member on embassy-lined Wireless road in Bangkok - at #20.
At the same time Thailand completely dominated South-Eastern Asia hotel rankings, taking up half of the top-10:
- The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok
- Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
- Azerai La Residence, Hue, Vietnam
- Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
- Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Capella Bangkok
- COMO Metropolitan Bangkok
- The Langham, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Rosewood Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thailand once again proved its undisputed expertise in spa business with Hua Hin’s Chiva-Som leading the list of Top Destination Spas, and Samui's Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa at #5.
Another interesting placement is Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train - a trip on a classic train between Singapore and Bangkok, ranked as #8 best train trip in the world. Unfortunately E&O Express is still on the post-pandemic hiatus, but it’s expected to return in 2024.
Thailand’s best
Condé Nast has also published some Thailand-specific lists, including the Kingdom’s Top 15 Resorts list, which we will include here in full:
- Rosewood Phuket (99.49)
- Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Chiang Rai (97.63)
- COMO Point Yamu in Phuket (96.62)
- The Nai Harn in Phuket (96.62)
- Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa (96.52)
- Angsana Laguna Phuket (96.51)
- The Slate in Phuket (96.09)
- Anantara Hua Hin Resort (95.46)
- The Sarojin in Khao Lak (94.74)
- Banyan Tree Samui (94.73)
- Anantara Chiang Mai Resort (94.59)
- Trisara in Phuket (93.16)
- Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort (92.02)
- Pimalai Resort & Spa in Ko Lanta (91.94)
- Avani+ Samui Resort (91.65)