Life at the Top

(9/11/2004)

Now for the 9^th successive year, Travel & Leisure Magazine has polled its readers to name their favorite hotels, cities, islands, tour operators, airlines, cruise lines and rental car companies. More than 425,000 serious travelers from the readership of the magazine took the time to respond to this year's survey, a record number of responses.

The results of that survey are now published in the latest edition of Travel & Leisure Magazine and on their website.

The World's Best Island

The magazine's readers continued to display excellent judgment and taste in naming Bali the world's best island destination for the third consecutive year.

Best Asian Destination

In a separate category, Bali also won the distinction of being named the best tourist destination in Asia, followed by Thailand's Ko Samui and Phuket, in second and third place, respectively.

The World's Top 100 Hotels

The survey also rates the world's best hotels with Bali securing 4 places in that hallowed ranking, up from 3 in last year's survey.

Ranked as the world's sixth best hotel in the survey was the [Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Ubud], which managed to surpass its sister property [Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay], which came in 22^nd in this year's poll - down dramatically from its number one slot in the 2003 survey.

The other 2 Bali properties named to the "Best 100" were [Ritz Carlton Bali Resort & Spa] (ranked #23) and [Amandari Resort] in Ubud (ranked #44).

The Best Hotels in Asia

Also ranked were Asia's Top 25 hotels, where [Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Ubud] secured the #2 post behind The Peninsula, Bangkok; coming in at #6 was [Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay]; followed at #7 by [Ritz Carlton Bali Resort & Spa]; and the [Amandari Resort] in the #10 slot among Asia's top 25 hotels.

Best Hotel Under $250

In the category for the best hotel costing less than $250 a night Bali's [Ritz Carlton Bali Resort & Spa] won first place honors.

Meanwhile, [Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Ubud] was named the world's fifth best "small hotel."

Getting to Bali in Style

Those planning to visit the world's best island destination and stay in one of the finest resorts and hotels named in the survey can rest assured that their flights to Bali can be done in comfort style.

Among the world's ten best international airlines named by Travel & Leisure's readers, 6 of these carriers offer regular service to Bali: Singapore Airlines (#1); Cathay Pacific Airways (#2); Thai Airways International (#4); Malaysian Airlines (#6); Japan Airlines (#7); and Qantas Airways (#10).