Thank you to all of our readers who took the time to nominate and vote for their favorite travel destinations and businesses in this year’s Best Of Travel Awards! We know that each of the winners and finalists appreciates your support. Below you will find the winner in each category along with a link to the full list of finalists so that you can learn more about each and every one. As you finalize your travel plans for this year — or as you begin to plan for next year — consider our readers’ picks for your itinerary.
Videos by TravelAwaits
Destinations
Favorite U.S. City
Santa Fe, New Mexico — Readers love the small town feel of this remote mountain city. Read more about Santa Fe and the other great finalists in 12 Favorite Cities To Visit In The U.S.
Favorite International City
Paris, France — From fantastic food and the largest and most visited museum in the world to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, The City of Lights is the full package. Enjoy all 12 of our readers’ picks for favorite international cities to visit.
Favorite U.S. Small Town
Abilene, Kansas — A Wild West town with strong ties to the cattle trade, Abilene has received the top spot for the 2nd year in a row! Learn all about why Abilene is one of the 11 Best Small Towns To Visit In The U.S.
Friendliest U.S. Small Town
Abilene, Kansas — The hometown of President Eisenhower won big this year, being named the most friendly in addition to the favorite small town! Learn more about each of the 12 Friendliest Small Towns In The U.S. according to our readers.
Friendliest International Small Town
Banff, Alberta, Canada — Enjoy Banff’s hot springs, walkable shopping district, and proximity to the surrounding National Park simply waiting to be explored. Learn more about Banff and the other eight great destinations named the 9 Friendliest Small Towns Around The World.
Most Walkable U.S. City
Charleston, South Carolina — Our readers picked Charleston for its walkable downtown and its slow-paced vibe. Discover more about each of the 5 Most Walkable Cities In The U.S.
Most Walkable International City
Amsterdam, Netherlands — Whether walking or biking, Amsterdam is a lovely city for getting around using your own two feet. Learn what other great cities made our list of the 9 Most Walkable Cities Around The World.
Most Pet-Friendly U.S. City
Albuquerque, New Mexico — Many shops in Old Town welcome your four-legged friends, as does the open-air Trolley. Read all about each of The 8 Most Pet-Friendly Cities In The U.S. to see where you should travel next with your fur babies.
Favorite U.S. Small Town To Visit At The Holidays
Branson, Missouri — Christmas is Branson’s time to shine, from themed shows to spectacular light displays. Learn why Branson is one of Our 14 Favorite U.S. Small Towns To Visit During The Holidays, and see who else made this coveted list.
Favorite International Town To Visit At The Holidays
Salzburg, Austria — The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt dates back to the 1400s and is a European tradition beloved by our readers. Discover who else made the list of Our 8 Favorite International Cities To Visit During The Holidays and start making your travel plans for this holiday season today!
National Parks
Favorite U.S. National Park
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho — Geysers, hot springs, and diverse wildlife are just three of the reasons the world’s oldest national park is beloved by our readers. Read more about our readers’ 14 Favorite U.S. National Parks and why you should make time for them in the near future.
Favorite Hidden Gem U.S. National Park
Badlands National Park, Interior, South Dakota — The stunning rock formations and valleys of the Badlands will take your breath away, and Badlands Loop Road makes for a great way to easily experience it all. Learn more about the 15 Best Hidden Gem National Parks In The U.S., and why they might be a great alternative if you are looking to avoid the crowds.
Favorite U.S. National Monument, National Historic Site, Etc.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, South Dakota — The larger-than-life faces carved into the Black Hills of western South Dakota are a patriotic tribute to four of the most influential leaders in U.S. history, from its foundation and growth to its reunification and preservation. Discover each of our readers favorite national park properties, and why you should add them to your bucket list.
Favorite U.S. National Park Lodging
Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park — The six-story-tall log cabin is hard to miss when visiting Old Faithful, and a stay within its walls should be in your future. Experience each of the 11 Best Places To Stay In U.S. National Parks during your next visit to each great park.
Favorite U.S. National Park Hike
Rim Trail, Grand Canyon National Park — What makes the Rim Trail stand out above the rest is that it merges the stunning beauty of the area with accessibility, making it possible for everyone to enjoy. Read more about the 11 great hikes in U.S. National Parks that made this year’s list of finalists; how many have you explored?
Favorite National Park Outside Of The U.S.
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada — It is fitting that one of the oldest national parks in the world would earn the Best Of Travel crown. Acres of rugged Rocky Mountain peaks and vast wilderness are just the beginning. Discover more about Banff as well as the other Best National Parks To Visit Outside Of The U.S.
Outdoor Activities
Favorite State Park In The U.S.
Redwood National and State Parks, Crescent City, California — The towering redwood trees along the coast of northern California are a sight to be seen in this park that’s co-managed by the National Park Service. Learn more about each of the 15 Best State Parks To Visit Across The U.S. and make plans to visit each of them!
Favorite U.S. Beach
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii — The white sand and turquoise water set in the beautiful tropical paradise of Hawaii make Waikiki Beach an unforgettable experience for all with the good fortune of visiting. See why you should make plans to visit each of the 13 Beautiful Beaches In The U.S. Our Readers Love.
Favorite U.S. Botanical Garden
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Located in the heart of downtown, this free garden makes the beauty of nature accessible to all. Read more about each of the 10 Best Botanical Gardens In The U.S. and what sets them above all others.
Favorite U.S. Zoo
San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California — It is not known as the “World Famous San Diego Zoo” for no reason, as our readers can attest. Each of the 9 Best Zoos To Visit In The U.S. to make our list of finalists is worth your time.
Favorite North American Ski Resort
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Crested Butte, Colorado — This exciting ski resort in the middle of the Rockies is situated in a quaint town full of charm. Discover more about Crested Butte and each of the Amazing Ski Resorts In North America Our Readers Love.
Cruise Lines
Favorite Alaska Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean — With a dedicated fleet of ships serving Alaska, Royal Caribbean is ready to provide a whale’s-eye view of the vast glaciers and towering peaks that make up Alaska’s gorgeous and natural shoreline. Here are the 8 Best Alaska Cruise Lines according to our readers.
Favorite Caribbean Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean — Many cruise lines navigate the waters of the Caribbean, but none do it quite like Royal Caribbean. Learn what makes them stand out as the best of the 7 Best Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Favorite Mediterranean Cruise Line
Viking — Cruise the Mediterranean in style on a ship that caters to the mature traveler. Discover what makes Viking one of the 7 Best Mediterranean Cruise Lines.
Favorite Small Ship Cruise Line
Viking — Viking helped write the playbook on how to do a small ship cruise right, and if you don’t believe me, hopefully our readers will be able to convince you. Read more about each of the 5 Best Small Ship Cruise Lines named finalists in this year’s awards.
Favorite River Cruise Line
Viking — This is where it all started for Viking and what put them on the map. See why they top the list of the 6 Best River Cruise Lines, and why you should consider the other finalists as well.
Favorite Overall Cruise Line
Viking — After topping three of the five cruise line categories, it should come as no surprise that our readers named it the best overall. Curious who else made the cut? Here is the full list of Our 10 Favorite Cruise Lines In The World.
Air Travel
Favorite U.S. Airline
Southwest Airlines — Free checked bags, a liberal cancelation policy, and a comparatively lower cost top the reasons why our readers prefer Southwest to other U.S. airlines. Curious how other airlines stacked up against each other? Here are the 5 Best U.S. Airlines according to our readers.
Favorite International Airline
Lufthansa — Enjoy your in-flight meal on fine china from an airline dedicated to sustainability. Discover more about each of the 10 Best International Airlines Our Readers Love.
Favorite Airline Rewards Program
Rapid Rewards, Southwest Airlines — Simply put, Southwest is, well, simple. And their rewards program ensures their loyal customers keep coming back, flight after flight. Read more about what makes Southwest’s Rapid Rewards one of the 3 Top Airline Rewards Programs, In The Eyes Of Our Readers.
Favorite U.S. Airport
Denver International Airport (DEN) — Readers love the stunning views of the Rockies as their flights arrive in and leave out of DEN. See what else makes it stand out as one of the 8 Top Airports In The U.S.
Favorite Airport Outside Of The U.S.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) — What makes Heathrow one of the 6 Top Airports Around The World? In a word, convenience: The London Underground connects each of the passenger terminals to the city center as well as King’s Cross train station, allowing for ease of transfers.
Hotels & Resorts
Favorite Luxury Hotel
Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff, Alberta, Canada — Framed by the surrounding mountains, and with access to area hot springs, Fairmont Banff Springs is the definition of luxury and comfort. Learn more about each of The Top 9 Luxury Hotels from around the world.
Favorite Family-Friendly Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Orlando, Florida & The Resort At Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels, Texas (Tie) — The Disney Beach Club resort includes an on-site water park and convenient access to nearby EPCOT. The Resort At Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels includes four different water parks in one, giving families plenty to keep them busy.
Read more about each of the 6 Best Family-Friendly Resorts In The U.S. to decide which one is right for a getaway with your nearest and dearest.
Favorite All-Inclusive Resort
Jade Mountain Resort, Saint Lucia — Access to a private ocean-view infinity pool with each suite ensured Jade Mountain its top spot this year. Learn more about each of the 8 Best All-Inclusive Resorts from around the world.
Favorite Glamping Experience
Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country, New Braunfels, Texas — Readers love gorgeous Texas Hill Country, and the multiple glamping options available that range from miniature cabins to standard RV sites. Discover what makes each of the 6 Best Glamping Experiences In The U.S. unique.
Favorite Resort Worldwide
Koʻa Kea Hotel & Resort at Poipu Beach, Hawaii, United States — The intimate setting of this boutique resort ensures that you won’t get lost in the crowd. Read about all 10 Of The Best Resorts Our Readers Love as you consider your next resort stay.
Favorite Bed & Breakfast
Sophie’s Gasthaus, New Braunfels, Texas — Charming rooms and an outdoor pool with a nearby garden make Sophie’s Gasthaus a perfect addition to any New Braunfels visit. Here are the 10 Best Bed And Breakfasts Our Readers Love to consider for your next weekend away.
Favorite Hotel Rewards Program
Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Program — With access to over 8,000 different properties in over 130 countries, our readers have spoken up and declared Marriott Bonvoy the victor. Read all about each of the 4 Best Hotel Rewards Programs.
Favorite Overall Hotel Group
Marriott — A fantastic rewards program and a business model that focuses on putting the customer first helped set Marriott apart from their competitors. Learn more about each of our readers’ 5 Favorite Hotel Brands.
Food & Drink
Restaurant With The Best View
TEN 3, Albuquerque, New Mexico — Looking down on the city of Albuquerque a full mile below, TEN 3 affords diners panoramic views of the city and beyond. Enjoy each of the 14 Top Restaurants With A View, As Selected By Our Readers.
Favorite Splurge-Worthy Restaurant
Commander’s Palace, New Orleans, Louisiana — Locally sourced, fresh ingredients make the vibrant flavors of this Creole eatery all the more enjoyable, and worth the splurge. See how the other finalists fared in 14 All-Time Favorite Splurge-Worthy Restaurants.
Favorite BBQ Restaurant
Cackle & Oink BBQ, Sherman, Texas — Pitmaster Aaron has worked hard perfecting his award-winning baby back ribs, which you simply have to sample the next time you pass through Sherman. Reading through all 10 Of The Best BBQ Restaurants In The U.S. and what they are best known for will have your mouth watering.
Favorite Steakhouse
The Cedar Room, North Platte, Nebraska — The Cedar Room is a modern steakhouse with a rustic feel, and our readers’ favorite steak house for 2022. Learn more about each of the 11 Best Steakhouses In The U.S. and prepare a trip to sample their steaks (and beyond!) as soon as you are able.
Favorite Seafood Restaurant
Hudson’s Seafood House On The Docks, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina — With much of the fish caught on their very own dock, you know you can expect superb flavor and freshness with every bite. Read about each of the 9 Best Seafood Restaurants In The U.S.
Favorite Wine Region In The U.S.
Texas Hill Country — If you haven’t visited Texas Hill Country, their wine is one more fine reason to add the region to your list. See what makes each of these 9 Great U.S. Wine Regions perfect for your next getaway.
Favorite Craft Brewery
Pals Brewing Company, North Platte, Nebraska — With creative brew blends on tap along with more traditional options, you are bound to find a flavor to satisfy your palate. Discover our picks for the best brews to choose from each of the 10 Best Craft Breweries Our Readers Love.
Favorite Ice Cream Shop
Cali Cream Homemade Ice Cream, San Diego, California — With over 55 flavors served daily, and ice cream flights for those who struggle to pick just one favorite, Cali Cream is a frozen dessert-lovers paradise. Each of the 13 Best Ice Cream Shops Our Readers Love was named a finalist for a reason, so make sure to consider each and every one of them.
