","slide_image_data":{"src":"","photo_credit":"","alt":"","video_embed":"","title":"","caption":"consumer marketing slide - do not edit
"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

A\r\nhistorical feast with 300 days of sun per year, spectacular landscapes, and a\r\nvibrant culinary scene, Sicily is becoming one of Italy\u2019s buzziest destinations,\r\nand received its highest score yet in the 2011 World\u2019s Best Awards. On this\r\nItalian island, there\u2019s a new respect for heritage, and the hotel sector is on\r\nthe upswing. The most trumpeted debut, the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort\u2014part of the Rocco Forte\r\nCollection\u2014has focused the spotlight on a handsome swath of the southern coast.\r\nAnd Orient-Express recently renovated two classic hotels in Taormina, the Grand Hotel Timeo and the Villa Sant\u2019Andrea.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:01Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77654,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Sicily","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":8,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 6 Sicily, Italy","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:01Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3849/201110-w-best-islands-sicily.jpg","photo_credit":"Art Kowalsky / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Sicily","video_embed":"","title":"No. 6 Sicily, Italy","caption":"\r\n

A\r\nhistorical feast with 300 days of sun per year, spectacular landscapes, and a\r\nvibrant culinary scene, Sicily is becoming one of Italy\u2019s buzziest destinations,\r\nand received its highest score yet in the 2011 World\u2019s Best Awards. On this\r\nItalian island, there\u2019s a new respect for heritage, and the hotel sector is on\r\nthe upswing. The most trumpeted debut, the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort\u2014part of the Rocco Forte\r\nCollection\u2014has focused the spotlight on a handsome swath of the southern coast.\r\nAnd Orient-Express recently renovated two classic hotels in Taormina, the Grand Hotel Timeo and the Villa Sant\u2019Andrea.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

The Big\r\nIsland of Hawaii is a little bit country and a whole lot of lava rock and\r\nroll\u2014especially whenever Kilauea is pouring hot magma into the Pacific at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on\r\nthe eastern shore. (Check with the park service for eruption updates.) Far from\r\nurban Honolulu, this mostly rural island has its own cowboy culture, farmers\u2019\r\nmarkets, tropical rainforests, and black-, green-, and white-sand beaches. It\u2019s\r\nthis local flavor that resonates with travelers now: this year was the first\r\nthat the Big Island surged past Maui and Kauai to capture the No. 1 island in the\r\nregion.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:01Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77655,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Big Island","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":9,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 7 Big Island, Hawaii","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:01Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3765/201110-w-best-islands-hawaii.jpg","photo_credit":"Kirk Lee Aeder / Hawaii Tourism Authority","alt":"world's best islands: Big Island","video_embed":"","title":"No. 7 Big Island, Hawaii","caption":"\r\n

The Big\r\nIsland of Hawaii is a little bit country and a whole lot of lava rock and\r\nroll\u2014especially whenever Kilauea is pouring hot magma into the Pacific at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on\r\nthe eastern shore. (Check with the park service for eruption updates.) Far from\r\nurban Honolulu, this mostly rural island has its own cowboy culture, farmers\u2019\r\nmarkets, tropical rainforests, and black-, green-, and white-sand beaches. It\u2019s\r\nthis local flavor that resonates with travelers now: this year was the first\r\nthat the Big Island surged past Maui and Kauai to capture the No. 1 island in the\r\nregion.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

It may\r\nbe the most dramatic vista anywhere in Hawaii: from the bluffs above the\r\neastern tip of Hanalei Bay, on the north shore of Kauai, you look out on a\r\ncrescent-shaped beach. Tireless waterfalls spill from jagged cliffs in deep\r\ngreen valleys. A rain shower rolls across the far side of the bay while the sun\r\nblazes down on you. Though the island\u2019s World\u2019s Best ranking fell slightly this\r\nyear, the recently renovated St. Regis\r\nPrinceville Resort, 252 spacious rooms carved into a cliff, is a\r\nslice of paradise. Don\u2019t miss the private Pali Ke Kua Beach, where the only other living creature\r\nmight be a sea turtle laying her eggs.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:01Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77656,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Kauai","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":10,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 8 Kauai, Hawaii","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:01Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3777/201110-w-best-islands-kauai.jpg","photo_credit":"Courtesy of Kauai Visitors Bureau","alt":"world's best islands: Kauai","video_embed":"","title":"No. 8 Kauai, Hawaii","caption":"\r\n

It may\r\nbe the most dramatic vista anywhere in Hawaii: from the bluffs above the\r\neastern tip of Hanalei Bay, on the north shore of Kauai, you look out on a\r\ncrescent-shaped beach. Tireless waterfalls spill from jagged cliffs in deep\r\ngreen valleys. A rain shower rolls across the far side of the bay while the sun\r\nblazes down on you. Though the island\u2019s World\u2019s Best ranking fell slightly this\r\nyear, the recently renovated St. Regis\r\nPrinceville Resort, 252 spacious rooms carved into a cliff, is a\r\nslice of paradise. Don\u2019t miss the private Pali Ke Kua Beach, where the only other living creature\r\nmight be a sea turtle laying her eggs.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Within\r\nthe Hawaiian-island family, Maui is the celebrity sibling: radiantly beautiful,\r\na bit rebellious, and with glamour to spare. The island has attracted \u201cseekers\u201d\r\nfor its healing energy since the 1960s and, more recently, Internet\r\nmillionaires and Hollywood A-listers who want to rejuvenate in five-star spas.\r\nReaders love it for its natural attractions and sights and activities, such as\r\nthe Maui Film Festival every June\u2014your best bet to hobnob barefoot with Kristen Bell or Zac Efron.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77657,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Maui","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":11,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 9 Maui, Hawaii","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3801/201110-w-best-islands-maui.jpg","photo_credit":"iStock","alt":"world's best islands: Maui","video_embed":"","title":"No. 9 Maui, Hawaii","caption":"\r\n

Within\r\nthe Hawaiian-island family, Maui is the celebrity sibling: radiantly beautiful,\r\na bit rebellious, and with glamour to spare. The island has attracted \u201cseekers\u201d\r\nfor its healing energy since the 1960s and, more recently, Internet\r\nmillionaires and Hollywood A-listers who want to rejuvenate in five-star spas.\r\nReaders love it for its natural attractions and sights and activities, such as\r\nthe Maui Film Festival every June\u2014your best bet to hobnob barefoot with Kristen Bell or Zac Efron.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

The\r\nwild islands of the Gal\u00e1pagos continue to lure travelers 600 miles west of\r\nEcuador. Where else can you watch a marine iguana dive for seaweed beneath a\r\ncircling blue-footed booby? To better protect the landscape, cruises are now\r\ncapped at 15 days with no repeated ports, though they remain the best way to\r\nsee this perennial World\u2019s Best Awards winner (in 2010 it was ranked No. 1\r\nisland overall). Which itinerary to choose? GalaOdyssey\u2019s new 16-passenger Gal\u00e1pagos Grand\r\nOdyssey luxury yacht pampers guests with Jacuzzis and a spa while en route\r\nto a stop at sea-lion central Mosquera.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77658,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Galapagos","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":12,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 10 Gal\u00e1pagos, Ecuador","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3753/201110-w-best-islands-galapagos.jpg","photo_credit":"iStock","alt":"world's best islands: Galapagos","video_embed":"","title":"No. 10 Gal\u00e1pagos, Ecuador","caption":"\r\n

The\r\nwild islands of the Gal\u00e1pagos continue to lure travelers 600 miles west of\r\nEcuador. Where else can you watch a marine iguana dive for seaweed beneath a\r\ncircling blue-footed booby? To better protect the landscape, cruises are now\r\ncapped at 15 days with no repeated ports, though they remain the best way to\r\nsee this perennial World\u2019s Best Awards winner (in 2010 it was ranked No. 1\r\nisland overall). Which itinerary to choose? GalaOdyssey\u2019s new 16-passenger Gal\u00e1pagos Grand\r\nOdyssey luxury yacht pampers guests with Jacuzzis and a spa while en route\r\nto a stop at sea-lion central Mosquera.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Though\r\nthis is the first year since 2002 that Capri has broken into the top 5 in\r\nEurope, this Italian island just south of Naples may be the Mediterranean at\r\nits most fabulous. There\u2019s a serious sense of style here\u2014designer boutiques\r\nline the traffic-free streets\u2014and the best time to people-watch is during the\r\nnightly ritual of the passeggiata (stroll). There are simple pleasures too,\r\nlike hiking the dramatic cliffs or enjoying a glass of wine at a caf\u00e9\r\noverlooking the Bay of Naples.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77659,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Capri","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":13,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 11 Capri, Italy","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3705/201110-w-best-islands-capri.jpg","photo_credit":"iStock","alt":"world's best islands: Capri","video_embed":"","title":"No. 11 Capri, Italy","caption":"\r\n

Though\r\nthis is the first year since 2002 that Capri has broken into the top 5 in\r\nEurope, this Italian island just south of Naples may be the Mediterranean at\r\nits most fabulous. There\u2019s a serious sense of style here\u2014designer boutiques\r\nline the traffic-free streets\u2014and the best time to people-watch is during the\r\nnightly ritual of the passeggiata (stroll). There are simple pleasures too,\r\nlike hiking the dramatic cliffs or enjoying a glass of wine at a caf\u00e9\r\noverlooking the Bay of Naples.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

The city\r\nof Vancouver offers a winning combination of urban delights (neighborhoods with\r\npersonality, a serious food scene) and expansive natural beauty. It\u2019s also a\r\njumping-off point for exploring greater Vancouver Island, which hasn\u2019t dropped\r\nbelow No. 3 in the Continental U.S. and Canada since 2001. With its rugged\r\ncoastline and national parks, it\u2019s an ideal place for wildlife spotting. Don\u2019t\r\nmiss the annual Pacific gray whale migration.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77660,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Vancouver","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":14,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 12 Vancouver Island, Canada","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3861/201110-w-best-islands-vancouver-island.jpg","photo_credit":"Rick Lawrence / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Vancouver","video_embed":"","title":"No. 12 Vancouver Island, Canada","caption":"\r\n

The city\r\nof Vancouver offers a winning combination of urban delights (neighborhoods with\r\npersonality, a serious food scene) and expansive natural beauty. It\u2019s also a\r\njumping-off point for exploring greater Vancouver Island, which hasn\u2019t dropped\r\nbelow No. 3 in the Continental U.S. and Canada since 2001. With its rugged\r\ncoastline and national parks, it\u2019s an ideal place for wildlife spotting. Don\u2019t\r\nmiss the annual Pacific gray whale migration.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Though\r\nSpanish royals have long been spending their summer holidays on the Balearic\r\nisland of Majorca, and the island welcomes roughly 8 million visitors annually,\r\n2011 is the first year that T+L readers anointed it a World\u2019s Best Island in\r\nEurope. Perhaps that\u2019s because of how easily accessible it is via a quick\r\nflight from most of Europe, and the abundance of high-rise hotels. On the\r\nhorizon: a new generation of locals who are opening vineyards and boutiques and\r\nrenovating historic properties.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77661,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Majorca","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":15,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 13 Majorca, Spain","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:02Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3789/201110-w-best-islands-mallocra.jpg","photo_credit":"Photolicensors International AG / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Majorca","video_embed":"","title":"No. 13 Majorca, Spain","caption":"\r\n

Though\r\nSpanish royals have long been spending their summer holidays on the Balearic\r\nisland of Majorca, and the island welcomes roughly 8 million visitors annually,\r\n2011 is the first year that T+L readers anointed it a World\u2019s Best Island in\r\nEurope. Perhaps that\u2019s because of how easily accessible it is via a quick\r\nflight from most of Europe, and the abundance of high-rise hotels. On the\r\nhorizon: a new generation of locals who are opening vineyards and boutiques and\r\nrenovating historic properties.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

With\r\njagged mountains, white-sand beaches, and thatched overwater bungalows, this\r\nFrench Polynesian island is frequently compared to paradise. Resorts there\r\nsatisfy every South Seas fantasy, from thatched-roof\r\nbungalows on stilts over a crystalline lagoon at Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa to\r\n1,290-square-foot bungalows at Legends Resort Moorea. You can snorkel in the\r\nlagoons, go horseback riding by the deep bays, golf, fish, or catch a fire-dancing demonstration or a traditional dance show\u2014one\r\nreason why the island gets such high scores for the local people. The island\r\neven resembles the shape of a heart. What\u2019s not to love?

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77662,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Moorea","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":16,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 14 Moorea, French Polynesia","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3813/201110-w-best-islands-moorea.jpg","photo_credit":"Chad Ehlers / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Moorea","video_embed":"","title":"No. 14 Moorea, French Polynesia","caption":"\r\n

With\r\njagged mountains, white-sand beaches, and thatched overwater bungalows, this\r\nFrench Polynesian island is frequently compared to paradise. Resorts there\r\nsatisfy every South Seas fantasy, from thatched-roof\r\nbungalows on stilts over a crystalline lagoon at Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa to\r\n1,290-square-foot bungalows at Legends Resort Moorea. You can snorkel in the\r\nlagoons, go horseback riding by the deep bays, golf, fish, or catch a fire-dancing demonstration or a traditional dance show\u2014one\r\nreason why the island gets such high scores for the local people. The island\r\neven resembles the shape of a heart. What\u2019s not to love?

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

This\r\nyear was the first that readers were able to vote on Mykonos as an individual\r\nisland (and not as part of the Cyclades), and clearly, it was time to make the\r\nchange\u2014the destination surged directly into the list of top 5 islands of Europe.\r\nThe Greek island of sun-bleached churches and throbbing nightlife may be a\r\nmust-visit destination for club kids, but it\u2019s also recapturing some of the\r\nlow-key sophistication of its 1960s heyday, when Jackie O. and friends would\r\nsail into town. Then there are those legendary sunsets, which you can admire from\r\nthe glamorous hillside spot CBar at the Belvedere Hotel.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77663,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Mykonos","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":17,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 15 Mykonos, Greece","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3825/201110-w-best-islands-mykonos.jpg","photo_credit":"iStock","alt":"world's best islands: Mykonos","video_embed":"","title":"No. 15 Mykonos, Greece","caption":"\r\n

This\r\nyear was the first that readers were able to vote on Mykonos as an individual\r\nisland (and not as part of the Cyclades), and clearly, it was time to make the\r\nchange\u2014the destination surged directly into the list of top 5 islands of Europe.\r\nThe Greek island of sun-bleached churches and throbbing nightlife may be a\r\nmust-visit destination for club kids, but it\u2019s also recapturing some of the\r\nlow-key sophistication of its 1960s heyday, when Jackie O. and friends would\r\nsail into town. Then there are those legendary sunsets, which you can admire from\r\nthe glamorous hillside spot CBar at the Belvedere Hotel.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

To the\r\nnorthwest of Moorea\u2014which squeaked ahead at No. 14 in the 2011 World\u2019s Best\r\nAwards\u2014Bora-Bora stands out for its two volcanic peaks and a lagoon circled by\r\na coral reef. It\u2019s no surprise that the island\u2019s score for natural beauty is\r\nalways its top-ranking characteristic. Rouse yourself from the luxurious\r\nresorts here to hire a boat and explore the surrounding motus (islets).

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77664,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Bora-Bora","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":18,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 16 Bora-Bora, French Polynesia","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3669/201110-w-best-islands-bora-bora.jpg","photo_credit":"Prisma Bildagentur AG / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Bora-Bora","video_embed":"","title":"No. 16 Bora-Bora, French Polynesia","caption":"\r\n

To the\r\nnorthwest of Moorea\u2014which squeaked ahead at No. 14 in the 2011 World\u2019s Best\r\nAwards\u2014Bora-Bora stands out for its two volcanic peaks and a lagoon circled by\r\na coral reef. It\u2019s no surprise that the island\u2019s score for natural beauty is\r\nalways its top-ranking characteristic. Rouse yourself from the luxurious\r\nresorts here to hire a boat and explore the surrounding motus (islets).

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

A\r\ncollection of hundreds of islands, Fiji\r\nis on the dividing line between Polynesia and Melanesia, midway between Tahiti\r\nand Australia. The payoff for the long journey is that you get to indulge your\r\nSouth Seas fantasies in what feels like one of the last untrammeled places (no\r\nskyscrapers, a single two-lane highway, and steamer ferries plying the\r\nstraits). But here, it\u2019s the warm Fijian people who got the highest scores from\r\nvoters, helping to keep the island in the top 5 in Australia, New Zealand, and\r\nthe South Pacific for five years in a row.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77665,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Fiji","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":19,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 17 Fiji","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3741/201110-w-best-islands-fiji.jpg","photo_credit":"Douglas Peebles Photography / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Fiji","video_embed":"","title":"No. 17 Fiji","caption":"\r\n

A\r\ncollection of hundreds of islands, Fiji\r\nis on the dividing line between Polynesia and Melanesia, midway between Tahiti\r\nand Australia. The payoff for the long journey is that you get to indulge your\r\nSouth Seas fantasies in what feels like one of the last untrammeled places (no\r\nskyscrapers, a single two-lane highway, and steamer ferries plying the\r\nstraits). But here, it\u2019s the warm Fijian people who got the highest scores from\r\nvoters, helping to keep the island in the top 5 in Australia, New Zealand, and\r\nthe South Pacific for five years in a row.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

This\r\nSouth Pacific island group\u2019s low-key resorts make an affordable alternative to\r\nits five-star neighbors Tahiti and Bora-Bora. And there are plenty of other\r\nreasons to hang your hammock here: snorkeling, kayaking, and motu walking (the local pastime of wading in the shallow waters between islets).\r\nThanks to improved scores in four out of five categories, the islands made\r\ntheir debut on the World\u2019s Best Awards this year.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77666,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Cook Islands","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":20,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 18 Cook Islands","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3717/201110-w-best-islands-cook-islands.jpg","photo_credit":"iStock","alt":"world's best islands: Cook Islands","video_embed":"","title":"No. 18 Cook Islands","caption":"\r\n

This\r\nSouth Pacific island group\u2019s low-key resorts make an affordable alternative to\r\nits five-star neighbors Tahiti and Bora-Bora. And there are plenty of other\r\nreasons to hang your hammock here: snorkeling, kayaking, and motu walking (the local pastime of wading in the shallow waters between islets).\r\nThanks to improved scores in four out of five categories, the islands made\r\ntheir debut on the World\u2019s Best Awards this year.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Centuries of\r\nvisitors and rulers\u2014among them, Italians, Brits, and Turks\u2014have felt the urge\r\nto claim this alluring Greek island for their own. It\u2019s the farthest north of\r\nthe seven Ionian islands and the greenest, with countless olive groves. And\r\nalthough the Ionian Islands (minus Corfu) made the World\u2019s Best list for three\r\nyears between 2004 and 2006, Corfu itself has never broken into the top 5. What\u2019s\r\nchanged? An improved score in the activities and sites category helped lift the\r\ndestination\u2019s rank in 2011.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77667,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Corfu","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":21,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 19 Corfu, Greece","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:03Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/3729/201110-w-best-islands-corfu.jpg","photo_credit":"iStock","alt":"world's best islands: Corfu","video_embed":"","title":"No. 19 Corfu, Greece","caption":"\r\n

Centuries of\r\nvisitors and rulers\u2014among them, Italians, Brits, and Turks\u2014have felt the urge\r\nto claim this alluring Greek island for their own. It\u2019s the farthest north of\r\nthe seven Ionian islands and the greenest, with countless olive groves. And\r\nalthough the Ionian Islands (minus Corfu) made the World\u2019s Best list for three\r\nyears between 2004 and 2006, Corfu itself has never broken into the top 5. What\u2019s\r\nchanged? An improved score in the activities and sites category helped lift the\r\ndestination\u2019s rank in 2011.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Belize\u2019s\r\nlargest island attracts travelers eager to experience some of the world\u2019s top\r\nsnorkeling and scuba diving in the Belize Barrier Reef. So it\u2019s no wonder that\r\nthe island got its highest score for natural sights. Even in San Pedro, the only town, bicycles\r\nand golf carts account for most of the traffic. And the beach offers a pleasant\r\nmix of dive huts, barefoot bars, and caf\u00e9s on stilts over the water.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77668,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Ambergris Cay","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":22,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 20 Ambergris Cay, Belize","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/6369/201110-w-best-islands-ambergris-caye.jpg","photo_credit":"Aivar Mikko / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Ambergris Cay","video_embed":"","title":"No. 20 Ambergris Cay, Belize","caption":"\r\n

Belize\u2019s\r\nlargest island attracts travelers eager to experience some of the world\u2019s top\r\nsnorkeling and scuba diving in the Belize Barrier Reef. So it\u2019s no wonder that\r\nthe island got its highest score for natural sights. Even in San Pedro, the only town, bicycles\r\nand golf carts account for most of the traffic. And the beach offers a pleasant\r\nmix of dive huts, barefoot bars, and caf\u00e9s on stilts over the water.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

On this tradition-rich island,\r\nold meets new\u2014from classic hotels to swanky restaurants that cater to the sea-\r\nand scene-loving urbanites who\u2019ve flocked to the area over the past decade. But\r\nNantucket maintains its blustery island spirit. The 82 miles of coastline,\r\nstarkly beautiful dunes, and moors feel almost as remote as they must have a century\r\nago, and its colonial heritage is still more evident than on the mainland, just\r\n30 miles away. For nearly perfect weather and reduced prices, head to the\r\nisland during the shoulder season in late April, May, or October.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77671,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Nantucket, MA","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":23,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 21 Nantucket, MA","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4929/201110-w-best-islands-nantucket.jpg","photo_credit":"Marianne A. Campolongo / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Nantucket, MA","video_embed":"","title":"No. 21 Nantucket, MA","caption":"\r\n

On this tradition-rich island,\r\nold meets new\u2014from classic hotels to swanky restaurants that cater to the sea-\r\nand scene-loving urbanites who\u2019ve flocked to the area over the past decade. But\r\nNantucket maintains its blustery island spirit. The 82 miles of coastline,\r\nstarkly beautiful dunes, and moors feel almost as remote as they must have a century\r\nago, and its colonial heritage is still more evident than on the mainland, just\r\n30 miles away. For nearly perfect weather and reduced prices, head to the\r\nisland during the shoulder season in late April, May, or October.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Travelers\r\nenter this happening Hawaiian paradise through Honolulu, a 5.5-hour flight from\r\nLos Angeles. Oahu\u2019s biggest city is a favorite in T+L\u2019s annual America\u2019s\r\nFavorite Cities survey\u2014ranking No. 1 for romance and No. 2 for families\u2014and\r\nOahu\u2019s fabled North Shore is only 90 minutes by car. This is where pro and\r\namateur surfers head to catch waves of epic proportions during high surf season\r\n(October through March). Humpback whale season, when the mammals arrive from\r\nAlaska to mate and give birth, is at least as popular.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77672,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Oahu, Hawaii","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":24,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 22 Oahu, HI","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4941/201110-w-best-islands-oahu.jpg","photo_credit":"Travis VanDenBerg / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Oahu, Hawaii","video_embed":"","title":"No. 22 Oahu, HI","caption":"\r\n

Travelers\r\nenter this happening Hawaiian paradise through Honolulu, a 5.5-hour flight from\r\nLos Angeles. Oahu\u2019s biggest city is a favorite in T+L\u2019s annual America\u2019s\r\nFavorite Cities survey\u2014ranking No. 1 for romance and No. 2 for families\u2014and\r\nOahu\u2019s fabled North Shore is only 90 minutes by car. This is where pro and\r\namateur surfers head to catch waves of epic proportions during high surf season\r\n(October through March). Humpback whale season, when the mammals arrive from\r\nAlaska to mate and give birth, is at least as popular.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Nearly\r\na million people a year visit this 13-mile-wide island. After all, it\u2019s gorgeous,\r\nwith a jungle-draped interior and long, sandy beaches. And Koh Samui\u2019s top-tier\r\nresorts\u2014the Banyan Tree, the W Retreat,\r\nand the Four Seasons\u2014rank\r\namong the finest in Southeast Asia. Although you don\u2019t have to leave these\r\nresorts\u2019 relaxing confines to enjoy the island\u2019s beauty, more ambitious visitors\r\nmight venture out to discover the killer snorkeling, or even take in a\r\nkickboxing match and browse the stalls at a night market.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77673,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Koh Samui, Thailand","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":25,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 23 Koh Samui, Thailand","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4917/201110-w-best-islands-koh-samui.jpg","photo_credit":"iStockphoto","alt":"world's best islands: Koh Samui, Thailand","video_embed":"","title":"No. 23 Koh Samui, Thailand","caption":"\r\n

Nearly\r\na million people a year visit this 13-mile-wide island. After all, it\u2019s gorgeous,\r\nwith a jungle-draped interior and long, sandy beaches. And Koh Samui\u2019s top-tier\r\nresorts\u2014the Banyan Tree, the W Retreat,\r\nand the Four Seasons\u2014rank\r\namong the finest in Southeast Asia. Although you don\u2019t have to leave these\r\nresorts\u2019 relaxing confines to enjoy the island\u2019s beauty, more ambitious visitors\r\nmight venture out to discover the killer snorkeling, or even take in a\r\nkickboxing match and browse the stalls at a night market.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Though direct travel to Cuba from the U.S. is currently limited to\r\nCuban-Americans with family still living there and travelers who book select\r\ntour guide\u2013operated packages, it\u2019s easy to see why anyone eligible would want\r\nto make the trek. Besides the intrigue that comes with being largely\r\noff-limits, Cuba offers miles of beaches, national parks, the crumbling beauty\r\nof Havana, and cigar-smoke-filled jazz clubs.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77674,"image_alt":"World's best isalnds: Cuba","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":26,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 24 Cuba","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4905/201110-w-best-islands-cuba.jpg","photo_credit":"David Noton Photography / Alamy","alt":"World's best isalnds: Cuba","video_embed":"","title":"No. 24 Cuba","caption":"\r\n

Though direct travel to Cuba from the U.S. is currently limited to\r\nCuban-Americans with family still living there and travelers who book select\r\ntour guide\u2013operated packages, it\u2019s easy to see why anyone eligible would want\r\nto make the trek. Besides the intrigue that comes with being largely\r\noff-limits, Cuba offers miles of beaches, national parks, the crumbling beauty\r\nof Havana, and cigar-smoke-filled jazz clubs.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Smack-dab in the middle of Tahiti and Bora Bora, this tiny,\r\nlesser-known island\u2014completely surrounded by a ring of coral reef like its island\r\nneighbor Tahaa\u2014is a hidden gem in French Polynesia. The island stands out for\r\nits affordable lodging, but you\u2019ll want to be especially sure to visit its\r\nboutiques for a slew of handmade trinkets.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77675,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Raiatea, French Polynesia","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":27,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 25\r\nRaiatea, French Polynesia","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4965/201110-w-best-islands-raiatea.jpg","photo_credit":"Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Raiatea, French Polynesia","video_embed":"","title":"No. 25\r\nRaiatea, French Polynesia","caption":"\r\n

Smack-dab in the middle of Tahiti and Bora Bora, this tiny,\r\nlesser-known island\u2014completely surrounded by a ring of coral reef like its island\r\nneighbor Tahaa\u2014is a hidden gem in French Polynesia. The island stands out for\r\nits affordable lodging, but you\u2019ll want to be especially sure to visit its\r\nboutiques for a slew of handmade trinkets.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

With\r\nsuper-calm waters on all sides, this Bahamian archipelago is a prime spot for\r\navid boating fans looking to do what they love most\u2014with the comforts of\r\ntropical weather. Even if you\u2019re not into boating, visitors like to take\r\nadvantage of the laid-back beach lifestyle that reigns throughout. (If it\u2019s any\r\nindication of how wonderfully slow-paced it is, there is just one traffic light on the whole island chain.)

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77676,"image_alt":"world's best islands: The Abacos, Bahamas","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":28,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 26 The\r\nAbacos, Bahamas","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4881/201110-w-best-islands-abacos.jpg","photo_credit":"Andrew Macdonald / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: The Abacos, Bahamas","video_embed":"","title":"No. 26 The\r\nAbacos, Bahamas","caption":"\r\n

With\r\nsuper-calm waters on all sides, this Bahamian archipelago is a prime spot for\r\navid boating fans looking to do what they love most\u2014with the comforts of\r\ntropical weather. Even if you\u2019re not into boating, visitors like to take\r\nadvantage of the laid-back beach lifestyle that reigns throughout. (If it\u2019s any\r\nindication of how wonderfully slow-paced it is, there is just one traffic light on the whole island chain.)

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

It\u2019s not only Seattle residents who dream of escaping to these islands just northwest of their city, where the weather is sunnier and the pace slower. Ferries connect the main islands, such as Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, and Shaw\u2014sharing the waterways with sea kayaks. Fill your days with hiking, biking, and whale-watching, and overnight at one of the quaint bed-and-breakfasts.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77677,"image_alt":"world's best islands: San Juan Islands, WA","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":29,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 27 San Juan Islands, WA","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4989/201110-w-best-islands-san-juan.jpg","photo_credit":"National Geographic Image Collection / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: San Juan Islands, WA","video_embed":"","title":"No. 27 San Juan Islands, WA","caption":"\r\n

It\u2019s not only Seattle residents who dream of escaping to these islands just northwest of their city, where the weather is sunnier and the pace slower. Ferries connect the main islands, such as Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, and Shaw\u2014sharing the waterways with sea kayaks. Fill your days with hiking, biking, and whale-watching, and overnight at one of the quaint bed-and-breakfasts.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

It\u2019s been almost seven years since the tsunami hit, and Phuket is decidedly back in business. Many resorts renovated, new ones have opened, the arts scene is on the rise\u2014if anything, the island struggles with overdevelopment in certain areas. The beaches still wow, from serene Hat Nai Harn on the island\u2019s southern tip to near-deserted Mai Khao Beach in northwestern Sirinat National Park. Go inland to ride elephants or ATVs through the lush hills or to wander among the Sino-Portuguese architecture of Phuket Town.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77678,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Phuket, Thailand","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":30,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 28 Phuket, Thailand","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:05Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4953/201110-w-best-islands-phuket.jpg","photo_credit":"iStockphoto","alt":"world's best islands: Phuket, Thailand","video_embed":"","title":"No. 28 Phuket, Thailand","caption":"\r\n

It\u2019s been almost seven years since the tsunami hit, and Phuket is decidedly back in business. Many resorts renovated, new ones have opened, the arts scene is on the rise\u2014if anything, the island struggles with overdevelopment in certain areas. The beaches still wow, from serene Hat Nai Harn on the island\u2019s southern tip to near-deserted Mai Khao Beach in northwestern Sirinat National Park. Go inland to ride elephants or ATVs through the lush hills or to wander among the Sino-Portuguese architecture of Phuket Town.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

These Spanish islands off Africa\u2019s northwest coast are overrun with tourists (mostly Europeans) in winter. So you\u2019ll have more sand to yourself from March through October, when the weather is still balmy. Hikers generally choose to\r\nvisit Tenerife, the largest island and the one with the highest volcanic mountain, the 12,198-foot Pico del Teide; 20 trails wind through the national park that surrounds it. There\u2019s also an archaeological park with pre-Hispanic step pyramids in G\u00fc\u00edmar.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:06Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77679,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Canary Islands, Spain","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":31,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 29 Canary\r\nIslands, Spain","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:06Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4893/201110-w-best-islands-canary.jpg","photo_credit":"Travelshots.com / Alamy","alt":"world's best islands: Canary Islands, Spain","video_embed":"","title":"No. 29 Canary\r\nIslands, Spain","caption":"\r\n

These Spanish islands off Africa\u2019s northwest coast are overrun with tourists (mostly Europeans) in winter. So you\u2019ll have more sand to yourself from March through October, when the weather is still balmy. Hikers generally choose to\r\nvisit Tenerife, the largest island and the one with the highest volcanic mountain, the 12,198-foot Pico del Teide; 20 trails wind through the national park that surrounds it. There\u2019s also an archaeological park with pre-Hispanic step pyramids in G\u00fc\u00edmar.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"\r\n

Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, combines ancient ruins with a dynamic caf\u00e9 and restaurant scene. Anchored by Rhodes Town, the popular destination is also beloved for its outlying villages, such as labyrinthine Lindos. Add ample sunshine, some of Greece\u2019s most pristine beaches, hidden coves, and remnants of an Islamic and Jewish past, and you get a taste of the entire Mediterranean on a single island.

","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:06Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77680,"image_alt":"world's best islands: Rhodes, Greece","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":32,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"No. 30 Rhodes,\r\nGreece","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:06Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"/images/amexpub/0025/4977/201110-w-best-islands-rhodes.jpg","photo_credit":"iStockphoto","alt":"world's best islands: Rhodes, Greece","video_embed":"","title":"No. 30 Rhodes,\r\nGreece","caption":"\r\n

Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, combines ancient ruins with a dynamic caf\u00e9 and restaurant scene. Anchored by Rhodes Town, the popular destination is also beloved for its outlying villages, such as labyrinthine Lindos. Add ample sunshine, some of Greece\u2019s most pristine beaches, hidden coves, and remnants of an Islamic and Jewish past, and you get a taste of the entire Mediterranean on a single island.

"}},{"active":true,"caption":"","created_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","created_user_id":null,"hd_slide_image_url":null,"id":77669,"image_alt":"","is_master":null,"old_slide_id":null,"old_slideshow_id":null,"position":33,"slideshow_id":849,"title":"","updated_at":"2012-10-02T17:13:04Z","updated_user_id":null,"version":null,"video_embed_code":"","slide_image_data":{"src":"","photo_credit":"","alt":"","video_embed":"","title":"","caption":""}}]; //]]>