Wish magazine’s awards for the world’s best travel companies, services and destinations

01. BEST NEW HOTEL: Ham Yard, London. The Ham Yard Hotel in the heart of the West End is Firmdale Hotels’ most ambitious project to date. The site, for many years a run-down car park, has been transformed under the direction of designer and co-owner Kit Kemp. It’s the ninth hotel for Kit and Tim Kemp and they’ve set the bar high with this development, which includes a courtyard with outdoor dining and 13 small boutiques.

02. BEST HOTEL REFURBISHMENT: Cafe Royal, London. If a hotel in the heart of Piccadilly doesn’t at first blush seem like a sanctuary of tranquillity, wait til you get inside. Cafe Royal occupies three John Nash-designed buildings on Regent Street, transformed by architect and master of minimalism David Chipperfield. Many of the 159 rooms and suites have views up Regent Street, down St James to the Houses of Parliament or of Piccadilly itself — all framed by triple-glazed windows. A must-see for the design-conscious.

03. BEST AUSTRALIAN HOTEL: One & Only Hayman Island. One of our most famous island resorts has lately been in need of some TLC. Now managed by one of the world’s best luxury resort brands, it has a new lease on life. We like the unique combination of family-friendly and adults-only accommodation in the one resort.

04. MOST ANTICIPATED HOTEL OPENING: Peninsula Paris. It seems like we’ve been writing about it for some time so we’re very pleased to be able to say that the Peninsula Paris opens its doors to guests today. The hotel in the 16th arrondissement has 200 spacious guest rooms, 34 luxury suites and six food and beverage venues. Rooftop restaurant L’Oiseau Blanc serves modern French cuisine with 360 degree views of Paris.

05. BEST SKI RESORT: Little Nell, Aspen. For ski resorts it really is all about location, location, location. The Little Nell has won countless awards for its service, food and wine cellar, but perhaps the thing that keeps people coming back year after year is the fact that this is the only ski-in/ski-out hotel in Aspen. The recently refurbished rooms are spacious and comfortable and many have views of Aspen Mountain.

06. BEST ROOM SERVICE: ACE Hotel, New York City. Getting a decent cup of coffee in New York is nigh on impossible. As for getting one from room service, forget about it. The super-cool Ace Hotel can deliver your fix from Stumptown Coffee Roasters 24 hours a day. The room service menu changes seasonally, with food from the hotel’s Breslin Bar & Dining Room.

07. BEST BUSINESS HOTEL. The Langham, London. So-called “business hotels” are typically dull and best avoided. If you’re in London on business, focus on location rather than business amenities (all hotels have them anyway). The Langham is between Marylebone and Oxford Circus, a short walk or Tube ride from anywhere in central London. The Artesian Bar is a perfect place for a business meeting and the one-bedroom suites are ideal for a longer stay.

08. MOST UNIQUE HOTEL POOL: Molitor, Paris. Hotel pools are rare in Paris, outdoor ones even more so. The Molitor started life as a public swimming pool in 1929; the two piscines (outdoor and indoor) closed in 1989 and the building fell into disrepair. This year, after a €65 million transformation, it has reopened as part of a five-star hotel in the 16th arrondissement.

09. BEST LUXURY LODGE: Matakauri, Queenstown, NZ. On the banks of Lake Wakatipu just minutes from Queenstown, Matakauri Lodge has an unrivalled location. Like many New Zealand lodges, it has spectacular views, the rooms are large and well appointed (there are only 12), there are endless activities to do and the food and wine is superb. One of the standouts here, however, is the extraordinary new 465sq m, four-bedroom owner’s cottage, which can accommodate eight guests.

10. BEST HOTEL BREAKFAST: Royal Monceau Raffles, Paris. There are only two words you need to know about breakfast at the Royal Monceau: Pierre Herme. The pastries by the famed Paris institution are so perfectly arranged on the buffet that it seems a shame to destroy the display, but you quickly get over that feeling. You’ll find yourself dreaming about breakfast in your sleep.

11. BEST HOTEL BEDS: Connaught, London. If the Connaught is a little slice of heaven in the middle of Mayfair, then its beds are like sleeping on a cloud. Produced especially for the Maybourne Hotel Group (which also includes Claridge’s and The Berkeley), they have a poly-fibre pillow top on a pocket-spring mattress construction, which means they are both firm and incredibly comfortable. The Connaught beds are made up with Italian cotton sheets and feather and down pillows and finished with cashmere throws.

12. MOST SURPRISING HOTEL LOBBY: Hotel Hotel, Canberra. Hotel Hotel — so nice they named it twice — would be a welcome addition to any city, but the fact that it’s in Canberra, where the hotel accommodation is consistently lacklustre, makes it all the more interesting. The lobby is more like a gallery space than a traditional hotel foyer, and there’s a striking grand staircase designed by March Studio, a design-focused library open to everyone, and great dining at Monster kitchen and bar.

13. BEST HOTEL CHAIN: QT. Since opening its first hotel (on the Gold Coast) just over two years ago the QT brand, part of the ASX-listed Amalgamated Holdings, has gained a reputation as Australia’s best design-driven chain of boutique hotels. But perhaps chain is not the right word: each of the brand’s hotels — at the Gold Coast and in Sydney, Port Douglas, Falls Creek and Canberra — is unique, fun and inspired by its location. A much-needed shot in the arm for the Australian hotel industry.

14. MOST ATMOSPHERIC HOTEL RESTAURANT: Tower Bar and Restaurant, Sunset Tower Hotel, Los Angeles. This wood-panelled room — at one time gangster Bugsy Siegel’s apartment — with its cosy dining niches is the ultimate Hollywood dining experience. The food is Italian and French-inspired with an emphasis on fresh, California-sourced ingredients. There’s always a small jazz band playing, the maitre d’ Dimitri is as much a Hollywood institution as the restaurant itself, and the views all the way to downtown Los Angeles can be spectacular at sunset. ‘

15. BEST HOTEL ROOM WITH A VIEW: Shangri-La at The Shard, London.Being housed on the 34th to the 52nd floors of London’s tallest building means every room has spectacular views. For something truly breathtaking try the Shangri-La suite. The 232sq m one-bedroom suite has 180-degree floor to ceiling views that take in the Tate Modern, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and the meandering Thames along Canary Wharf.

16. BEST BAR: Bemelmans at The Carlyle, New York City. Named in honour of Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the Madeline children’s books, the bar is decorated with murals that are the only surviving original works by Bemelmans open to the public. The Art Deco bar, with its dark brown leather banquettes and glass-topped round tables, is the quintessential New York bar experience. Try the Carlyle Manhattan, made with Bookers Over Proof Bourbon.

17. BEST MINIBAR: The Greenwich, New York City. This is not the most health-conscious minibar, but it’s certainly the most fun. Complimentary and replenished daily, the Greenwich offering includes some of the best treats we’ve seen in a hotel room. There’s an emphasis on American snacks, including gourmet potato chips, choc-chip cookies, mixed nuts, caramel pecan popcorn, cranberry oat bars, M & Ms, Tic Tacs and much more. Soft drinks are complimentary, too.

18. BEST HOTEL INNOVATION: Four Seasons Private Jet. Possibly the only thing better than staying at a Four Seasons hotel is travelling between Four Seasons hotels on a Four Seasons private jet. The Toronto-based Boeing 757 service, thought to be the first of its kind in the hotel industry, is designed for round-the-world trips (staying at Four Seasons hotels, of course). A nine-destination, 24-day trip costs $130,000 per person.

19. BEST FIRST CLASS: Singapore Airlines A380 Suites. To be fair, there isn’t a great deal of difference between Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Etihad when it comes to first-class flying. All three offer guests private, spacious suites and excellent dining options. What we like about Singapore Airlines is that the bed is a stand-alone item that descends from the wall, not a converted seat. When the suite is in dining mode there’s room for two.

20. BEST BUSINESS CLASS: Etihad Airways. Travelling for business often means going solo, and one of the best features of Etihad’s business class seat is that you’re never really sitting next to someone. The seats are configured in an alternating pattern that means everyone has not just privacy but direct access to the aisle. There’s plenty of in-seat storage space, a large 38.1cm entertainment screen, and the seats recline to a fully flat 185.4cm-long bed.

21. BEST PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS: Air New Zealand. Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300 premium economy seats are an interesting innovation in this burgeoning class. The airline has eliminated the possibility of the person in front reclining into your personal space by housing the seats in a shell-like construction. For those travelling with a partner, some seats can be converted to a bench style to allow a bit more room to stretch out.

22. BEST ECONOMY CLASS: Qantas. Some people might think “best economy class” is an oxymoron but the seats on Qantas’s A380 and refurbished 747 aircraft are a cut above the rest. The base of the ergonomically designed seats moves forward slightly as you recline; combined with the innovative netted footrest, this makes them a little more comfortable for sleeping. If you still can’t nod off, the in-seat entertainment includes more than 1500 options to keep you entertained for hours.

23. MOST ANTICIPATED SEAT PRODUCT: Etihad’s new take on first class, The Residence. When this premium service starts in December there will be nothing like it in the sky. Each A380 will have one Residence, which resembles a private apartment more than an airline suite, with a living room, bedroom and ensuite bathroom. Available on flights from Abu Dhabi to London.

24. BEST NEW AIRLINE LOUNGE: Star Alliance, LAX. Business and first-class lounges can be so crowded, it feels as if the main part of the terminal would be more comfortable. What’s impressive about the new Star Alliance lounge at LAX is not just its size but the different types of spaces available.

25. BEST IN-LOUNGE DINING: Qantas Hong Kong Lounge. The dining at Qantas’s new premium lounge in Hong Kong International Airport is both delicious and unique. The menu by Neil Perry is based on dishes from his Sydney restaurant Spice Temple and in a nod to the local culture, there are yum cha trolleys as well as a la carte Chinese classics.

26. BEST ONBOARD CUISINE: Turkish Airlines. For consistency of cuisine across all classes of travel, Turkish Airlines is a cut above. For first and business class, an on-board chef freshly prepares a wide range of traditional dishes in generous portions. The aroma is enough to whet the most jaded traveller’s appetite.

27. MOST THOUGHTFUL AIRLINE INNOVATION: Virgin Australia’s business class toilets. We’re never fans of gender segregation, except perhaps when it comes to aircraft toilets. In Virgin Australia’s business class, one of the toilets is specifically for female passengers and the other for male. Upon being informed of this, the women seem to light up with joy for some reason.

28. BEST OVERALL AIRLINE SERVICE: Cathay Pacific. When it comes to assessing an airline’s service, a useful benchmark is how it handles problems. A delay or missed connection might not be the end of the world but Cathay Pacific handles such situations with reassuring efficiency, urgency and calm. And the staff-to-guest ratio is one of the highest in the sky.

31. BEST IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT: Your own device. There are a lot of airlines offering passengers a lot to watch on their aircraft, so it’s surprising how often there’s nothing to watch. A flight attendant recently commented to WISH on a long-haul flight, looking at our loaded-up MacBook Air: “I don’t know why we have entertainment on board anymore, everyone brings their own.” Load up your device with the TV series (downloaded legally of course) that you missed and you’ll have hours of entertainment to take with you to your destination.

29. BEST FLIGHT ATTENDANT UNIFORMS: Virgin Atlantic and Vivienne Westwood. You won’t see these uniforms in the air until September 1, but they have been generating quite a bit of buzz since being unveiled earlier this year. The chic red Vivienne Westwood outfits for Virgin Atlantic are a long way from the queen of punk’s anarchic fashion designs, and are made using sustainable materials including a polyester yarn that started life as plastic bottles.

30. MOST STYLISH AIRLINE REBRAND: Fiji Airways. The rebranded Fiji Airways — formerly Air Pacific — now has some of the best designed cabin interiors in the sky. The decor on board the airline’s new A330-200 aircraft is clean and light, the neutral colours complemented with soft furnishings in traditional Fijian patterns. The bright tropical colours on the exterior of the planes have also been jettisoned in favour of more traditional Fijian motifs.

32. BEST AIRPORT DINING: Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Business Lounge.There are many excellent dining options at Hong Kong International Airport but nothing quite beats Cathay Pacific’s business class lounge. If you have a late-night flight (as many flights to Australia are), before departure you can dine at the lounge’s noodle bar and choose from a selection of made-to-order traditional Chinese noodle dishes. Once on-board, hit the sack as soon as the seat belt sign is off

33. BEST AIRPORT SHOPPING: Paris Charles de Gaulle. You know you’re in the right airport to kill some time and do some serious last-minute shopping when the check-in staff direct you to your airline’s lounge by saying, “it’s between Prada and Hermes”. That’s the direction for the new Etihad lounge, in case you’re wondering. CDG is also home to boutiques by Dior, Gucci and Burberry among many others, but perhaps best of all there is a Laduree store just next to Dior. the queue significantly shorter than that at its main store on the Champs Elysees.

34. BEST AIRPORT TERMINAL: LAX International. We thought we’d never be able to give Los Angeles International Airport any awards in our annual travel survey other than pejorative ones. It’s been the airport people love to hate, but there has been a major change at LAX and there’s more to come.

35. BEST AIRPORT IF YOU’RE DELAYED: Singapore. Delays are never something you should think about while you’re planning your trip but if the unthinkable does occur and you happen to be in Singapore, it’s not the end of the world Changi Airport has some of the best airport dining in the world, a cinema to help kill some time, a swimming pool. gym, hair and beauty services, sleep areas and of course endless shops.

36. BEST AUSTRALIAN HOTEL SPA: The Darling, Sydney. The Spa at The Darling occupies an entire floor of this hotel in Pyrmont, inner Sydney. That means it’s spacious, which in turn means it’s very private. The spa is also the only one in the city to use La Prairie products for its treatments. There is a range available for both men and women and 16 large private rooms, as well as a hammam to relax in following your treatment.

37. BEST DESTINATION SPA: Bulgari Resort, Bali. An intricately carved antique joglo house from Java was dismantled and reassembled at the entry to the spectacular spa complex at the Bulgari Resort in Bali. The spa includes an open-air relaxation lounge, plus a yoga pavilion, swimming pool, rain showers and six spacious treatment rooms. Choose from Asian or European therapies; the facial treatments use Bulgari’s skincare products.

38. MOST SPECTACULAR RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW: Le Jules Verne, Eiffel Tower. It’s at the highest point on the Eiffel Tower ... need we say more? Le Jules Verne restaurant is part of the Alain Ducasse empire and is a very popular destination for romantic marriage proposals, but it’s also one of the easiest (and most enjoyable) ways to see the view from the top of the iconic tower without having to queue for hours. The cuisine is based on a reinterpretation of traditional French dishes and the wine list is exclusively French.

39. BEST ONE-STOP CITY RETAIL: The Grove, Los Angeles. The Grove is a shopping centre that sounds corny when you describe it: an outdoor mall built to resemble a city street, complete with a train running through it. But The Grove in Los Angeles works, and is in fact a refreshing counterpoint to the luxury stores of Beverly Hills. Here you’ll find Barney’s, Nordstrom, J Crew, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Anthropologie, among many others. And right next door is LA’s famous Farmer’s Market, which has a unique mixture of food stalls and restaurants.

40. BEST AIRPORT LIMOUSINE SERVICE: Royale Limousines, Australia.When it comes to limousine services, it’s the small touches that make all the difference — after all, most limousine companies offer passengers a choice of the same luxury vehicles. And while it’s nice when your driver helps with your luggage, it’s nicer still when they offer to come inside and help you get them out the door of your home. Royale Limousines, founded in Sydney in 1989, now also operates services in Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Canberra.

41. BEST TAXIS: Uber. One of the best features of this multinational app-powered car service is the way your receipt is emailed to you directly, which makes reconciling your expenses later much easier. The fact that the cars are clean and the drivers know where they are going is just an added bonus. Even better still, they are in some cases cheaper than a taxi. In New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta, Uber has declared war on conventional taxis and has discounted its fares. Pay as much as 20 per cent less than a standard cab fare.

42. BEST TRAIN: NTV’s “Italo” train, Italy. If you’ve always dreamed of zipping from city to city in Italy in a bright red Ferrari, maybe this is just the thing for you. NTV is Italy’s first rail company that isn’t run by the state, and its chairman is Luca di Montezemolo, who also happens to be the chairman of Ferrari. The trains, which have a dark red colour scheme and a streamlined design, can reach speeds as fast as an F1 car, which is why the service is referred to as the “Ferrari train”. The service operates between several major Italian cities and is being expanded.

43. BEST CRUISE SHIP REDESIGN: Crystal Serenity. The 2013 redesign of the Crystal Serenity, part of a two-year, $US52 million investment in the ship, has yielded a modern, sophisticated interior inspired by southern Californian design. Vertical walls of greenery throughout the ship are a nice touch and the cabin designs in neutral colours are contemporary and elegant. For the ultimate in luxury on the high seas, try one of the Crystal Penthouses complete with a separate living room, master bedroom and media room.

44. BEST SOCIAL MEDIA SITE FOR TRAVEL: Twitter. This is perhaps the best way to keep an eye on things if you’re travelling and there is the possibility of a delay of some sort. For starters, we recommend following all major airlines, airports and government travel agencies such as DFAT for travel updates. Twitter is also an incredibly powerful and efficient tool for contacting an airline’s customer service department

45. MOST USEFUL TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: GlobalTrak TrakDot. Put this small device in your checked luggage and you can track it using the GSM phone network. When you land at your destination, turn on your smartphone and you’ll receive a text telling you where your bag is (hopefully where you are!). For $US50 it’s peace of mind and, should the unthinkable happen, makes negotiating with baggage services much easier.

46. BEST HOTEL BOOKING SITE: Tablet Hotels. There are plenty of hotel booking engines and sites on the internet; the problem with a lot of them is they’re just too comprehensive. As a time-poor traveller you want someone whose opinion you trust to do the hard work and give you a manageable list of hotels for your chosen destination. Enter Tablet Hotels with one of the best edits of design-focused and luxury hotels on the internet. You can also choose to pay in Australian dollars.

47. BEST CREDIT CARD: These days a credit card is a credit card; the difference comes down to the interest rate and fees. We’ve become a fan of prepaid stored currency travel cards as they eliminate transaction fees when overseas, lock in exchange rates and help you to manage your money while travelling. Most banks offer them and will allow you to load several currencies on one card.

48. MOST USEFUL TRAVEL WEBSITE: Google. Apart from Twitter, the site we look at most when travelling is Google. Needless to say it’s a great source to find hotels, flights, restaurants ... everything in life, really. But here’s a useful tip you might not know about. Whether you are using your smartphone or desktop just type your flight number into the search engine and up pops information on your flight including it’s current status, gate number and boarding time.

49. BEST CHECK-IN LUGGAGE: Basic black Tumi luggage. As nice as it is to have a beautiful, luxurious suitcase the sad reality is that it rarely stays looking good for very long. It pays to have durable luggage that lasts but won’t rip your heart out with every scratch or blemish. To that end we love Tumi’s Alpha Accents range of wheeled suitcases, which are black with coloured accents and so a little easier to identify on a baggage carousel.

50. BEST CARRY-ON LUGGAGE: Louis Vuitton Keepall. This is one of the most enduring luxury bag designs of all time and for good reason: it does the job. The simple, barrel-shaped bag with two handles (and detachable shoulder strap) comes in a range of fabrications and sizes, most of which will fit easily into an overhead locker. It’s also durable and can take a bit of a battering — in fact, it actually looks better with a few knocks and bruises.

Source: The Australian - 1st August 2014