Top 10 best in Asia in 2013

Travel+Leisure magazines World Best Awards are out in 2013 and in this article we have explored the best in Asia. Which are the best cities, resorts, hotels, etc. in Asia? T+L collects votes from its readers to rate.

Bangkok, capital of Thailand and tourism hub of South East Asia, has been the best city 4 years in a row both in Asia and the world. Japan's Kyoto became the second best in Asia, followed by Chiang Mai, Thailand (3), Siem Reap, Cambodia (4), and Hong Kong (5). For cities following characteristics are used in rating: Sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, value (and optional: for romance).

Hong Kong fell to the 5th position all the way from 2nd in 2012. Tokyo was 6th best and Singapore was 7th best in Asia as they were in 2012. Shanghai, Seoul and Hanoi completed the top 10 best cities list.

In Asia, the best 2 islands in 2013 are from Philippines. Palawan Island stretching from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest and small island of Boracay with its stunning white sand beaches. Bali Island of Indonesia is voted as 3rd and 4th and 5th islands are from Thailand: Beautiful Koh Samui and Phuket Islands. For islands characteristics voted are natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people, value (optional: for romance).

And let's take a look at the hotels. Which hotels are voted as best hotels in Asia? Asia hotels are voted in 2 categories: city hotels and resorts. In city hotels category, The Peninsula Hong Kong is voted as the best hotel in Asia followed by Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. Below are the Top 30 for the best city hotels in Asia in 2013:

Rank	'12	Name of the Hotel	Score
1	4	The Peninsula, Hong Kong	94.88
2	2	Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok	94.47
3	9	Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong	94.18
4	3	The Peninsula, Shanghai	94.18
5	8	Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam	93.33
6	-	The Oberoi, Gurgaon, India	93.33
7	28	The Peninsula, Tokyo	93.11
8	11	Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai	93.02
9	13	Ritz-Carlton, Financial Street, Beijing	93.00
10	1	The Peninsula, Bangkok	92.87
11	27	The Oberoi, Mumbai	92.71
12	-	Fullerton Bay Hotel, Singapore	92.44
13	-	Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong	91.47
14	-	JW Marriott Hotel, Bangkok	91.29
15	-	Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing	91.24
16	26	La Résidence d'Angkor, Siem Reap	91.17
17	6	Park Hyatt Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam	91.13
18	21	Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok	91.12
19	-	St. Regis Hotel, Singapore	91.11
20	-	The Langham, Hong Kong	91.06
21	10	The Peninsula, Beijing	90.79
22	22	Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai	90.71
23	-	St. Regis, Beijing	90.67
24	-	Park Hyatt, Shanghai	90.53
25	-	Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo	90.40
26	-	Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok	90.36
27	-	JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square	90.29
28	-	The Regent, Beijing	90.25
29	-	Westin Bund Center, Shanghai	90.20
30	18	Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong	90.13

The Peninsula, Hong Kong is awarded the best city hotel in Asia crown in 2013 by T+L.

In resort category first two did not change compared to 2012 but there is a new 3rd. The Oberoi Udaivilas of Udaipur (India) is voted as the best resort in Asia in 2013 with 95.73 rating. It is closely followed by Discovery Shores of Boracay (Phillippines) (95.57 rating) and Umaid Bhawan Palace of Jodhpur (India) (95.33 rating).  Umaid Bhawan Palace has pushed The Oberoi Rajvilas ( Jaipur, India) to 4th place and  La Résidence Phou Vao (Luang Prabang, Laos) has jumped to the 5th position from 11th in 2012.

Hotels are voted for rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food, value and optional characteristics of for business, for families and for romance.

World's best in travel in 2012

New York based travel magazine Travel + Leisure compiles a Worlds Best lists every year by surveying T+L readers to tell which hotels, destinations, and companies represent the very best in travel.  These World's Best Awards have been announced every August since 1995.

In 2012, according to Travel + Leisure press release, Osprey at Beaver Creek, Colorado is named Best Resort in the Continental U.S., Honolulu makes its debut on the list of Top 10 Cities in the U.S. and Canada, Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens is the first Costa Rican resort to rank among the top 10 hotels overall, and Vieques, Puerto Rico is voted the Best Island in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas in the Travel + Leisure 2012 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey, announced today. The results of the 17th annual Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards survey revealing readers’ favorite hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, carUrental agencies, spas*, safari outfitters, and tour operators are listed on www.TravelandLeisure.com now, will be featured in the August digital editions on iPad®, NOOK Color™, and Kindle Fire™, and is the cover story of the August issue of the magazine, on newsstands July 20.

Singita Grumeti Reserves in northern Tanzania is the top ranked World’s Best Hotel overall for the second consecutive year and is one of four properties in Africa to place in the top 10 among hotels worldwide. Australia’s four year old Southern Ocean Lodge, on Kangaroo Island, makes its debut on the Top 100 Hotels list at No. 3. Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi, Italy is the top Resort in Europe and is featured on the T+L August issue cover. Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana is the No. 1 Inn and Small Lodge in the Continental U.S. for the third year, and is ranked No. 2 among hotels worldwide. New York City holds its title for the twelfth year in a row as the Best City in the U.S. and Canada, and ranks No. 7 among top cities overall, while Bangkok retains its number one ranking in the world for the third year in a row. Istanbul rises to its highest ranking ever in the survey at No. 3 on the list of Top Cities Overall. Among cities in the U.S. and Canada, Chicago rises to the No. 2 spot and New Orleans moves up to No. 5 this year from No. 6 in 2011.

Two companies have held onto their No. 1 rankings every year since the poll began in 1996: Crystal Cruises (Best Large Ship Cruise Line) and Singapore Airlines (Best International Airline). The 2012 results, including the Top 100! Hotels, Top 50 Resorts in the Continental U.S., Top 10 Cities Overall, and Top 10 Islands.

Travel + Leisure Editor in Chief Nancy Novogrod said, "Even after 17 years, the opportunity to see what travel experiences resonate with our readers still intrigues and delights me. While some passions change over time, the allure of the exotic and the new remains as strong as ever, as does the attraction to trips that provide distinctive and long lasting memories. Along with great service, our readers crave adventure and the outdoors, reflected in their selection of this year s top three resorts in the Continental U.S., all located in Colorado mountain towns. And, this year, we re introducing our World s Best Awards Hall of Fame, celebrating the winners who have been recognized for the last ten years or more of the survey—congratulations to all 97 of you!"[1]

[1] - The Travel + Leisure 2012 World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results of Top Hotels, Cities, Islands, Cruise Lines, Airlines, and More Announced Today