The 25 best islands to visit around the globe have just been announced by Travel + Leisure magazine, with the Maldives taking the number one spot and a representative from Vietnam coming in second.
Islands in the open sea always offer tourists unparalleled experiences and are often referred to as “gateways to paradise.” Pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters create a serene setting for visitors to relax and “heal.” However, the islands on the list voted by Travel + Leisure readers as the best also host a variety of exciting activities, from surfing and diving to participating in regional festivals or exploring local cuisine.
This year’s top three winning islands include two destinations that need no introduction: the Maldives (number 1) and Bali (number 3). But squeezing into the second spot is Phu Quoc Island from Vietnam.
Kem Beach in Phu Quoc with fine white sand
With a score of 94.41, Phu Quoc is recognized by Travel + Leisure as “an emerging travel destination – and that is its greatest strength. While some beaches in Southeast Asia have become developed, Phu Quoc has maintained its tranquility.” Additionally, Phu Quoc has recently hosted various artistic performances, firework displays, a new night market in Sunset Town, and notable new projects like the Kiss Bridge.
Greece, a country with over 6,000 islands, has four islands in the aforementioned list: Milos (number 4), Crete (number 6), Corfu and the Ionian Islands (number 20), and Paros (number 24). Three Italian islands – Ischia at number 11, Sicily at number 17, and Sardinia at number 21 – made the list this year. Don’t forget Thailand, with Koh Samui at number 9 and Phuket at number 16. Southeast Asia is also represented by Palawan in the Philippines (number 13).
In the Travel + Leisure 2024 World’s Best Awards survey, more than 186,000 readers completed the questionnaires. In total, over 700,000 votes were cast on more than 8,700 hotel properties, cities, tour operators…
For the island travel rankings, the criteria included: natural beaches; activities/attractions; restaurants/food; people/friendliness; value. For each characteristic, respondents could choose to rate them as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final score is the average of these responses.
@Thanhnien.vn
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Source: Vietnam Insider