Thailand on top
Thailand took top honours at Travel + Leisure magazine’s luxury travel awards, as voted for by 200,000 readers.
Photography by Asia Pacific Superyachts
09 July 2024
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Travel + Leisure has awarded top honours to Thailand at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards 2024.
The premier travel and lifestyle magazine named Koh Samui the best island in the Asia–Pacific region, while Bangkok secured the best city in Asia-Pacific award.
The magazine praised Bangkok’s aesthetic appeal and convenience. Samui Airport ranked fourth in the best airports in the Asia-Pacific category.
The T+L Luxury Awards from Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau were based on surveys and reader votes between January and March 2024, totalling over 200,000 individuals.
The magazine emphasised Koh Samui’s charm, noting its small bungalows, fishing villages and natural scenery, making it one of Thailand’s most visited destinations.
Indeed, Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand has emerged as a great cruising destination, popular with visitors for its pristine white sand beaches and luxury five-star resorts and restaurants.
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Superyachts find world-class cruising through the archipelago of Ang Thong National Marine Park and its distinctive shores, from Sleeping Cow Island to Three Pillars Island.
Many yachts then sail on to Koh Tao, one of the world’s highest-ranking dive spots, or to Samui’s neighbouring island, Koh Phangan–home to the monthly full moon party that attracts 10,000 revellers.
The magazine described Bangkok as a dynamic city with diverse offerings from street food to haute cuisine, a vibrant nightlife and a blend of cultural and spiritual landmarks.
Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke revealed at the prize-giving that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is prioritising the development of Thailand’s tourist destinations to make the country a global tourism hub. Wacharonke noted that the awards reflect the country’s capability to provide exceptional tourist experiences.
Captain Charlie Dwyer is co-founder of Asia Pacific Superyachts and is based in Koh Samui. “After many years of being a captain and cruising the world on large yachts, I believe that Thailand and Koh Samui, in particular, are some of the best cruising grounds in the world,” he says. “That’s why they call Koh Samui The Jewel of Siam.”
Phuket is a popular holiday island in the Andaman Sea, often called the superyacht hub of the Asia–Pacific.
Visitors can choose from four high-end marinas and enjoy the larger island’s luxury attractions and vibrant nightlife before moving on to the Gulf of Thailand.
Phuket also features a new private jet centre at the expanding Phuket Airport, which will become a popular amenity for superyacht owners and their guests meeting their vessels.
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