The Sunday Times Travel Readers' Awards 2011
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Title: The Sunday Times Travel (online) st Date: December 1 2011 Circulation: N/A The Sunday Times Travel Readers' Awards 2011 You voted, we counted. Now, the world of travel has a new galaxy of stars – both big names and little-known gems whose time it is to shine The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Published: 1 December 2011 Video highlights of The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards 2011 Places to go Your most desirable destinations, from Brighton to Beirut UK citybreak 1. Edinburgh 2. London 3. Brighton The competition between the English and Scottish capitals came down to a photo finish. Edinburgh gets brownie points for being ‘easily walkable’ and for its down-to-earth charm. ‘There are world-class restaurants, but you can still get deep-fried haggis,’ explains Carol Paten from Peterborough. And as Colin Fitch from East Riding points out: ‘Where else can you see castles and Greek columns?’ You love the buzz of the Big Smoke, where the ‘east London regeneration and new Stratford City Mall’ gets a big tick from Thiagarajan Ramachanndran. Lauren Paton suggests: ‘Watch the ducks from bed! On the Water is a houseboat B&B on the canal near Regent’s Park.’ Brighton snagged third place for its kiss-me-quick vibe and independent spirit: ‘You won’t find many chains,’ says Susie Garrod from London W9. But as much as Jody Ingram from London N15 loves the place, she issues a warning: ‘Avoid the main thoroughfares when the stags and hens are on the rampage.’ Also in the running are ‘pretty’ Bath, and Manchester: ‘The Northern Quarter is cooler than Shoreditch,’ says Chantal Blum. Best day trip: York ‘York is prettier than London and you can cover it easily: wander on the Shambles, stop for a scone in Bettys and visit the cathedral.’ Michael Franklin, Derbyshire UK rural break 1. The Lake District 2. Cornwall 3. Pembrokeshire You’re country bumpkins at heart, looking for excuses to escape in any direction – Norfolk, Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, Northumberland, Devon and Dorset all scored highly. The Lake District shunts last year’s winner into second place, helped on its way to victory by a good helping of nostalgia: ‘I spent many university weekends camping in the Lakes. It brings back memories of utter freedom,’ recalls Beverley Brookes from Hertfordshire. John Cunningham describes the region as ‘a condensed version of New Zealand’s South Island.’ But perhaps the loftiest words of all come from Maggie Chambers: ‘We Yorkshire folk think the Lakes are the gateway to heaven.’ Cornwall bags votes for its beaches and balmy weather, but romantic Malcolm Wearn doesn’t give a hoot about the temperature: ‘It’s best in February, with the sea crashing on the rocks and a log fire in the evening.’ Pembrokeshire scores because ‘it’s often quieter than the UK’s other honeypots’, ‘you’ll find some of the best walking in the UK’, and as Marc Giddings from Gloucestershire points out: ‘Mobile phones don’t tend to work.’ Best for ‘quiet-time ’: The Highlands ‘We head to Ross-shire every September. The scenery is epic, and you’re guaranteed solitary strolls and the freshest seafood.’ Joan Bailey, Manchester European citybreak 1. Rome 2. Berlin 3. Barcelona Readers’ Awards shocker: Paris misses out on a place in the top three. Competition in this category was razor-sharp this year, and the romantics among you put the French capital a close fourth for ‘bike rides along the Seine’ and ‘dining à deux in dimly-lit bistros’. Venice and Stockholm were also contenders, but it’s the Italian capital that gets the most love: ‘Something interesting and ancient lies around every corner,’ says Paul Stockall from Worcester. It’s not just the Colosseum that gets you going; you can’t get enough of the ‘life-changing carbonara’ or ‘that ice cream’. Romaine Barton from Essex takes it one step further: ‘I’d sell my grandmother for an espresso from the little yellow coffee shop that’s behind the Pantheon.’ Berlin bags second place because it’s ‘untouristy’, ‘stylish’, and ‘best of all, cheap’, compared with other European big-hitters. In at No. 3, Barcelona’s Gaudí buildings and tapas come high on your hit list. Laura Whitehurst from Birmingham sums up its appeal succinctly: ‘Great architecture, beach and sun – the perfect citybreak’. Best on a small scale : Siena ‘Siena takes the title for its lovely, car-free town centre, Santa Maria della Scala Museum (better than anything you’ll find in Florence) and perfect pasta.’ Olivia Ludgate, Lancashire European beach destination 1. Southern Spain 2. Greek Islands 3. Croatia ‘Heaven is a jug of chilled Cava Sangria and a Spanish sunset,’ avows Veronica Preston from Kent. And she’s not the only one getting excited about Spain. Costa de la Luz (pictured) gets glowing reviews for being ‘so close to Africa, it feels exotic’. The more out-of-the-action parts of the Costa del Sol did well, too, and Reiss Culmer even helpfully recommends his favourite stretch of sand: ‘Untouristy Las Rotas beach in Denia (near Alicante)’. Southern Spain might be bringing home the cup this year, but the South of France, Portugal, Cyprus and the Balearic and Aeolian islands all scored well. You love Greece for its value for money and variety, with Kefallonia and Mykonos rated highly. Lynden Swainston can’t decide which bits of the country he likes best: ‘the black sands of Santorini, honey-coloured Crete, and those white-on-blue postcard views’. It was neck-and-neck between out-of-the-Euro-zone Croatia and Turkey for third, with the former helped to victory by Zoe Sheldon, who ‘had the best night of my life, partying with oligarchs on Hvar’ – sadly she doesn’t elucidate. Best footprint-free : Montenegro ‘Quiet coves, bargain B&Bs and sleepy little towns – we booked again for next summer as soon as we got home. Just don’t tell everyone about it.’ Roger Smythe, Surrey Worldwide beach destination 1. Maldives 2. Barbados 3. Mozambique When it comes to romantic sojourns, the Maldives is ‘just dreamy’. Some respondents love the destination because ‘it’s even prettier under the water than it is on top’. Others, like Roy Catchpole from Cheshire, are smitten as ‘there’s nothing to do, other than read and sleep’. The Caribbean snagged a hefty number of votes, with Barbados edging Saint Lucia and Jamaica out of the running thanks to its ‘lovely locals’, ‘talcum- powder beaches’ and, specifically, ‘the kingfish sashimi at Lone Star restaurant’. For those of you who prefer your sandy swathes more unexplored, Mozambique hits the spot for being ‘like the Maldives was 20 years ago’. Other exotic options that get your juices flowing include Japan’s Okinawa, Hawaii, Zanzibar and the Philippines: ‘Boracay Island has one of the best beaches in the world,’ says Angus Scott-Brown. In spite of all that, not everyone favours the exotic, far-flung destinations. ‘Pembrokeshire beats them all,’ says Eileen Jolliffe, with conviction. Best little-known beach : Los Roques, Venezuela ‘Los Roques are 350 gorgeous islands sprinkled across the Caribbean Sea. The white-sand beaches are the best I’ve seen –you’ll easily have one to yourself.’ Marika Johnson, Devon European adventure destination 1. Iceland 2. Norway 3. Swiss Alps Whale-watching, geysers, hot tubs and snow-mobiling – just an average holiday for Elaine Fox-Packer from Surrey. And Elaine is only one of hundreds shouting about Iceland’s ‘thrilling Martian landscapes’. Others love trekking in the Pyrenees, railing through Russia, and climbing the Dolomites, but it’s the snow that gives you real shivers of excitement, and for that, Norway is your pick. You like ‘nights looking for the Northern Lights’, ‘husky-sledding’ and even ‘ice-fishing’. Skiers can’t get enough of Switzerland’s ‘epic runs’. James Davies’ list of Swiss must-dos includes: ‘canyoning, cycling and white-water rafting’, but he also rates ‘snowball fights and fondue’. Best one to watch : Andorra ‘This tiny principality is home to some of the best ski slopes in Europe. And Barcelona is just down the road. Sightseeing and skiing – the perfect break!’ Andrew Paton, Berkshire Worldwide citybreak 1. New York 2. Bangkok 3. Marrakech You’ve clearly racked up some serious air miles between you – Tokyo, Washington, Sydney, Buenos Aires, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Hanoi all pull in points. Despite the diversity, the Big Apple still manages to claim a massive 50 per cent of the votes, taking first place with ease. For Helen Taylor of Inverness, New York’s appeal is obvious: ‘shopping, shopping, shopping’; Sophie Naylor from West Sussex is all about the ‘burgers and secret, speakeasy cocktail bars’; but Trudy Royal from Suffolk is the lone dissenting voice: ‘loud, brash, busy – yuk’. Bangkok wins silver for ‘gold-smothered temples’, ‘manic markets’ and those all-important ‘3am foot massages’. Exotic Marrakech bags bronze for being ‘as different from the UK as you can get in four hours’. Best nightlife : Beirut, Lebanon ‘The bars blow London’s out of the water – go to Pacifico for cocktails and Crystal (both on Monot Street) for dancing!’ Ben Williams, Bristol Worldwide adventure destination 1. Australia 2. India 3. Argentina Proving that you’re not afraid to schlep to the other side of the world to get your adrenaline fix, Australia takes gold with ease. You like the feeling of space (‘you can go for miles without meeting anyone’), the easy adventures (‘the Blue Mountains are right on Sydney’s doorstep’), and the variety (‘reef, Outback, surfing, skiing’). William Whyte has been five times and still has a wishlist to get through, while Steven Chalmers of Kent goes for the ‘scary spiders’.