By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Li Xinyi
The globally renowned travel magazine *Travel + Leisure* announced the 2012 World’s Best Awards on the 6th, with winners selected by readers in categories such as the world’s best hotels, travel cities, cruises, resort islands, and airlines. Among them, the top spot in the TOP 10 CITIES ranking remains firmly held by Bangkok and Florence, while third place was claimed by Istanbul, which ranked fifth last year. The rest of the rankings are as follows: Cape Town, Sydney, Rome, New York, Hong Kong, Kyoto, and Paris. These rankings are not far off from the top ten countries/regions most frequently visited by Taiwanese travelers last year, including Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, the United States, and Australia—all featured in *Travel + Leisure*’s list. As for the TOP 10 ISLANDS this year, Boracay in the Philippines took the crown.Crownand claimed second place.
Istanbul showcases a rich and diverse urban character through its cuisine, architecture, religion, and history. (Image provided by Coraline)
Top Three Best Travel Cities:
1. Bangkok
Bangkok has risen at an astonishing pace, with international hotel chains flocking in and emerging design brands or boutique hotels opening one after another. Yet despite rapid development, Bangkok’s traditional local culture has not disappeared. Street vendors still thrive under streetlights, the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and the Chinatown gold jewelry streets remain unchanged, and the riverside communities along the Chao Phraya River continue their daily lives as usual. The entire city, much like the works of many emerging Thai designers, wraps millennia of tradition in a new, globally approachable form—offering visitors endless novelty and surprises.
Bangkok perfectly blends modernity with tradition in its urban landscape. (Photography by MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network, Li Xinyi)
2. Florence
Known as the “City of Flowers,” Florence is home to countless museums and churches. Its buildings and artistic displays showcase the most dazzling treasures of the Renaissance period, all thanks to the Medici family. Rising from commerce to governance, the Medicis infused humanist spirit throughout Florence, promoting art forms such as painting, sculpture, and architecture that beautified the secular world. They revived the spirit of ancient Greece and Rome, ushering in the Renaissance. Master artists of the era—including Michelangelo, Donatello, Brunelleschi, and Botticelli—left behind immortal artworks during this cultural movement.
Renaissance artistic treasures can be found everywhere in Florence. (Image provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)
3. Istanbul
Surrounded by three bodies of water—the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn, and the Bosporus Strait—Istanbul is not only the world’s only city straddling two continents, Europe and Asia, but also the former capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. For two thousand years, it served as the political, religious, and artistic center of the world. In this ancient metropolis, civilizations of Asia Minor, Byzantine ruins, and Ottoman culture coexist. Among them, mosques where Christians and Muslims peacefully coexist are wonders among wonders.
The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most “accessible” attractions, allowing free entry for visitors—but be sure to avoid the five daily prayer times. (Image provided by Coraline)
Additionally, a total of 100 hotels made the best hotels list this year. The top-ranked best hotel remains Tanzania’s Singita Grumeti Reserves in Africa, while only two Asian hotels cracked the top 10: India’s Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur and the Philippines’ Discovery Shores in Boracay. Bangkok’s Peninsula Hotel ranked 11th, Shanghai’s Peninsula Hotel came in at 23rd, and Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel took 31st place. To stay at these top global hotels at discounted rates, from now until September 30, all Peninsula Hotels worldwide are offering a “Summer Gift” promotion. Benefits include complimentary breakfast, room upgrades to the next level, and up to 30% of the daily room rate refunded as credit for hotel spending. Moreover, guests staying in the “Suite Life” package at Peninsula Hotels (excluding Hong Kong and Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotels) will receive a free second night.
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