People of today are primed to contest superlatives, especially in the world where you could fact-check information and data in a split of a second. Remember when Colin Khoo from Crazy Rich Asians said that Newton Food Centre had the best satay in Singapore? No prizes for guessing, it drove us mad. Everyone suddenly had their own say on which satay was the best. Bestowing the title of “The Best” to anything is a huge responsibility on the bequeather’s part, as the consequences that might ensue rage from polarising opinions and exceedingly high expectations left unfulfilled. However, Conde Nast Traveler leaves the decision making to their readers (all 429,000 of them) to vote for the best hotels and resorts in the world.
The globetrotter’s bible summarises the qualities of the best accommodations this year in three succinct words—quiet, small, and subdued—which is a luxury given the world we live in today. 2018 is all about comfort and self-care, evident from the high ranking of spa resorts and hotels that embody the 'less is more' mantra. We want our temporary residences to feel like a home despite being away from home.
Here are the best of the best, the crème de la crème, according to the readers of Conde Nast Traveler.
Top 10 Resorts
1st place: Viceroy Bali (Bali, Indonesia)
2nd place: COMO Uma Ubud (Bali, Indonesia)
3rd place: InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (Danang, Vietnam)
4th place: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa (Phu Quoc, Vietnam)
5th place: The Mulia & Mulia Villas (Bali, Indonesia)
6th place: Alila Diwa Goa (Majorda, Goa, India)
7th place: The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore (Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India)
8th place: Cape Weligama (Weligama, Sri Lanka)
9th place: El Nido Resorts – Pangulasian Island (Pangulasian Island, Palawan, Philippines)
10th place: Iniala Beach House (Phuket, Thailand)
Top 10 Hotels
1st place: COMO Uma Punakha (Punakha, Bhutan)
2nd place: COMO Uma Paro (Paro, Bhutan)
3rd place: Villa Maly (Luang Prabang, Laos)
4th place: Raffles Jakarta (Jakarta, Indonesia)
5th place: Park Hyatt Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
6th place: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Hanoi, Vietnam)
7th place: Grand Hyatt Taipei (Taipei, Taiwan)
8th place: Amansara (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
9th place: Shinta Mani Angkor (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
10th place: Three Camel Lodge (Dalanzadgad, Mongolia)
For the full lists of winners and rankings, check out the official Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice 2018 Awards.
