A New City Just Won Top U.S. Destination for the First Time — Ending a 12-Year Streak for a Southern Favorite
A new city topped the outlet's list of best U.S. destinations, ending a 12-year run for the previous champ
Charleston, S.C. had held the title since 2013For the first time in 12 years, a new U.S. city has been crowned the best domestic destination by Travel + Leisure readers.On Tuesday, July 8, T+L released its annual World's Best Awards. In a remarkable upheaval, Santa Fe, N.M. tops the list of best U.S. cities, ousting Charleston, S.C., which had held the title since 2013. The coastal city not only lost the top spot, it dropped to fourth place.
Known for its vibrant art scene, outdoor recreation and more than 300 days of sunshine each year, Santa Fe, was described by one reader is 'a true gem of a place in America.' 'Every trip exceeds the last, with so many new things to discover,' another repeat visitor told the outlet, adding, 'Santa Fe offers a multi-layer experience.'
T+L readers 'raved' about the inventive New Mexican cuisine and the city's natural beauty. Urban markets and galleries combine with the rolling foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges to make for a perfect getaway.
Celebrities are also fans of this Southwest culture capital.
The late Val Kilmer spent decades living in Santa Fe, as did Gene Hackman. Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin also has deep roots in the community. In 2013, he pledged his own money to rejuvenate the local and historic Jean Cocteau Cinema.
Each year, T+L sends a survey out to readers through the magazine, tablet editions, newsletters, social media and travelandleisure.com that asks respondents to rate nominees in each category based on certain characteristics. For cities, readers were asked to rate sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value. Final scores are averages of these responses.
While Santa Fe has had a spot in T+L's top 10 list for the past 20 years, this is its first time it has claimed No. 1.
Overall, readers were big fans of cities in the Southeast and Southwest, with only one city in the Northeast and one in the Midwest rounding out the top 10.
Santa Fe, N.M.
New Orleans, La.
Charleston, S.C.
Savannah, Ga.
Alexandria, Va.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Greenville, S.C.
New York, N.Y.
Asheville, N.C.
Chicago, Ill.
Santa Fe was also the only U.S. city to make T+L's list of top 25 cities in the world, coming in at No. 19. At the top spot, a 10-time honoree, is San Miguel de Allende, Mexico followed by Chiang Mai, Thailand and Tokyo, Japan.
For vacationers looking for an island getaway, Páros, Greece takes the top spot for best island. According to Forbes, big names like Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey and Jeff Bezos are frequent visitors. In the U.S., the top island goes to Mount Desert Island, Maine — a protected part of Acadia National Park.
'This year's results reflect a travel landscape in motion,' Travel + Leisure's editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford said in a press release. 'From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place. We're thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences.'
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See more from Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards in the July issue, on newsstands now, or visit travelandleisure.com.
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These 16 Travel Essentials Just Dropped to Their Lowest Prices Ever for Prime Day—From $5
Sun, surf, and sand—as if there weren't plenty of reasons to love summer already, Amazon Prime Day is back, running from July 8 to July 11. The mega online retailer has rolled out thousands of new discounts in honor of the savings event, and some of the best travel deals include brands that Travel + Leisure editors can't get enough of. From all-in-one Samsonite luggage sets to sandals so supportive you can hike in them, Amazon is stocked with premier travel accessories that will make your summer one for the books. Keep scrolling for the lowest prices you'll find on tried-and-true travel must-haves this year—like Apple AirTags and compression packing cubes, starting at just $5. $100 off: Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds, $149 (originally $249) Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds, $149 (originally $249) T+L editor-loved: Charmast Portable Charger With Built-in Cables, $19 (originally $30) Charmast Portable Charger With Built-in Cables, $19 (originally $30) Mega 49% off: Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX 3-piece Luggage Set, $348 (originally $680) Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX 3-piece Luggage Set, $348 (originally $680) Teva Women's Original Universal Sandal, $41 (originally $55) Flight attendant-approved: Napfun Travel Neck Pillow, $16 (originally $22) Napfun Travel Neck Pillow, $16 (originally $22) Carry-on hack: Bagail 4-set Compression Packing Cubes, $17 (originally $24) Bagail 4-set Compression Packing Cubes, $17 (originally $24) $5 travel accessory: Vlando Travel Jewelry Case, $5 (originally $6) Vlando Travel Jewelry Case, $5 (originally $6) Eachy Travel Makeup Toiletry Bag, $21 (originally $30) T+L-tested: Apple AirTag 4-pack, $65 (originally $99) Apple AirTag 4-pack, $65 (originally $99) Best designer discount: Vera Bradley Adair Rolling Duffel, $86 (originally $190) Many travel hiccups—like delayed flights, or double-booked hotel rooms—are ultimately out of our control. 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I recently bought this specific set for a solo trip to Puerto Rico, and I'm so glad that I did; not only did they help me squeeze five days' worth of clothes into my duffel bag, but they also helped me stay tidy and organized all trip long. Block out crying babies and noisy seatmates on your next flight with these Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds. Currently knocked down $100 for Prime Day, these low-profile earbuds tout noise cancellation capabilities and personalized spatial audio, giving you a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Samsonite has earned a reputation for creating sleek, durable luggage that can last a lifetime, and this Prime Day, you can try out the premier luggage brand out for yourself while saving over $300 in the process. This three-piece Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX luggage set, 49 percent off, contains every suitcase you'd ever need—including a carry-on, a medium checked suitcase, and a large checked suitcase—for weekend trips to long-haul vacations. 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WestJet redeploys network to new locations after decline in demand for flights to U.S.
WestJet's schedule of direct flights is opening up to new locations in Mexico and Central America after the airline saw a descent in demand for U.S. destinations this year. On Monday, WestJet announced five new routes to warmer cities as part of its upcoming winter schedule. The new destinations include Guadalajara, Tepic and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Panama City, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. John Weatherill, WestJet Group executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said the new destinations come as the company makes network adjustments to account for "the geopolitical environment" this year. The airline has seen a decline in demand from Canadian travellers interested in flying to the U.S. "As a result, we've redeployed some of our capacity into domestic markets across the Atlantic and to [Latin America and] Caribbean destinations," Weatherill said. "We've seen that demand situation stabilize, but it's hard to say how it's going to develop going forward. But we have a lot of confidence in the destinations that we're offering today." A decline in consumer interest for U.S. travel has been recorded in Canada since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January and began commenting on a desire to make Canada the 51st state of his country. Many Canadians have opted not to visit their southern neighbour for a number of reasons, including the ongoing trade war between the two countries, increased scrutiny at the border or as a way to boycott the U.S. Instead, Weatherill said the company has seen more interest from Canadians this year in domestic travel, or visiting Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. "It's been meaningful, but it's stabilized and we hope to see it begin to improve," Weatherill said about consumer demand for U.S. travel. The new destinations are also part of the airline's overall strategy to reach more Latin American and Caribbean destinations, which it's pursuing regardless of Canada's relationship with the U.S. Balázs Bogáts, the chief commercial officer at the Calgary airport, also acknowledged the shift in demand WestJet has seen. "Due to the ongoing geopolitical challenges, WestJet decided to reallocate some capacity to some exciting new destinations," said Bogáts In May, WestJet paused nine routes between Canada and the U.S. as a result of declining consumer demand, including the route between Calgary and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which was suspended for a month in June.
