For many years I was greeted at Kahului Airport with a huge banner welcoming me to Maui, Voted Best Island in the World. I was shocked when last fall, for the first time in 13 years, Maui did not hold the top spot in the 19th Annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards Poll. That honor instead went to the island of Bali with a score of 88.48 followed by Kauai with a score of 86.47. Maui came in third with a score of 86.21.
Hawaii and Pacific Rim Islands Rise to the Top
Not only has Maui reclaimed its title with a score of 90.0, but Kauai finished in second place with a score of 87.1. Last year's winner, Bali, fell to a tie for fourth along with the Maldives. Coming in third place in 2007 were the Great Barrier Reef Islands. Bali's ratings drop is likely due to ongoing threats of terrorism on the Indonesian island.All in all, it was an excellent year for the islands of the Pacific and Pacific Rim, holding down seven of the top fifteen places. (Bali - 6th, Moorea - 7th, Big Island of Hawaii - 8th, Oahu - 11th and Lanai - 13th)
New Ranking of Resorts in Hawaii
This year, for the first time, Condé Nast Traveler also released a separate ranking of resorts located in Hawaii. It was, to say the least, a good year for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts whose properties held down the first four places in this year's poll.Coming in first and with a score of 96.0 which ranks higher than any other resort in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean was the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Located in the most beautiful and luxurious coast of South Maui, the Four Seasons offers a top guest experience on the island once again selected as Best Island in the World.
Following closely on the heels of the Four Seasons Maui in this year's poll are the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii's Big Island, and the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele and Four Seasons Lana'i at Manele Bay both on the island of Lana'i.
Rounding out the rest of the top ten resorts in Hawaii are the Halekulani on Oahu (5), Kahala Hotel & Resort on Oahu (6), the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa on Kauai (7) the Hotel Hana-Maui on Maui (8), the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui and the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on the Big Island.
You can view the resorts that placed 11-20 on Condé Nast Traveler's website.
Two Hawaiian Airlines Honored
I should also mention that the two Hawaii based airlines also placed well in the category of Top Domestic Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines came in third place behind Jet Blue and Midwest and Aloha Airlines came in eighth place.
Value of Readers' Choice Awards
While many of the lists featured in travel magazines and on travel websites are clearly intended to sell magazines and generate traffic, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards are decided by us, the traveling public and, therefore, I feel a strong indication of the relative quality of the selections.For a complete list of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2007, check out the November issue of their magazine or visit their excellent website at www.concierge.com/bestof/readerschoice/.
