World's Best Awards 2021

    The World's Best Awards 2021

    The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you.

    By
    Travel + Leisure Editors
    Travel + Leisure Editors

    Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

    Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
    Published on September 8, 2021

    You, our discerning readers, will often plan your next adventure before the one you're on has even ended. Your love of exploring the world has helped sustain the travel industry during these tumultuous times, and as the world began to reopen, you were among the first to get back out there. Your insights on those trips — and on your pre-pandemic journeys, too — informed these rankings of the World's Best hotels, islands, tour operators, U.S. national parks (a first!), and more. Cheers to you, to the winners — and to brighter days ahead.

    This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

    Was this page helpful?
    Related Articles
    The World's Best Awards 2020
    Sunset Key Cottages
    The Top 15 Resort Hotels in Florida
    A safari jeep sits amid wildebeests on a safari with Micato Safaris, voted one of the best safari outfitters in the world
    The Top 10 African Safari Tours
    Moonrise in Istanbul, as seen from the Golden Horn
    The Top 10 Cities in Europe
    JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 takes off from Los Angeles international Airport
    The Top 5 Domestic U.S. Airlines
    Aerial view of S.S La Venezia
    The Top 10 River Cruise Lines
    Colorful wide angle view of Giant waterfall in Jewel, Changi Airport at night, Singapore
    The Top 10 International Airports
    Cape Breton Island, Canada
    The Top 3 Canadian Islands
    A Singapore Airlines plane in the clouds
    The Top 10 International Airlines
    Jeeps at Nordenskjold overlook on a tour with Quasar Expeditions, voted one of the world's best Tour Operators
    The Top 15 Tour Operators
    The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection exterior
    The Top 5 Utah Resorts
    Row of historic homes by Colonial Lake, downtown Charleston, historic district, on a beautiful clear day.
    The Top 15 Cities in the United States
    Exterior of Windstar Star Breeze
    The Top 5 Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines
    Enterprise Rent-A-Car
    The Top 5 Car-rental Companies
    The Reeds at Shelter Haven, Stone Harbor, New Jersey
    The Top 10 Resort Hotels in the Mid-Atlantic
    Big Island, Hawaii
    The Best Islands in Hawaii