20,000 of you voted in the 2025 Telegraph Travel Awards – and the results are in...
Since launching the Telegraph Travel Awards in 1998, we have sought after and shouted about your views on the best travel companies and destinations. This year (two years after the last awards in 2023), around 20,000 of you (that’s enough to fill 110 Airbus A320s) completed a survey to let us know the countries, cities and holiday firms that impressed – and the ones that disappointed – on your most recent trips.
There was a lot to analyse when we received the final results. Across four destination categories we had three new winners. When we consider where tourist taxes have been introduced and the places suffering from overcrowding, some patterns begin to emerge: oversubscribed places such as Florence and Venice are down, lesser-visited Stockholm and Copenhagen are up.
When it comes to the firms you travel with, we were reassured to learn that the best in class continue to deliver. Across 20 categories, six retained their title and another nine winners ranked in the top three last time around. But this leaves five disruptors that leapfrogged into top spot. To these companies, we say bravo. Whatever you have changed in recent years, it is working, according to you, our judges.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R44e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R84e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeAnd what judges you are. You, our esteemed panel of experts, have been on expeditions to sub-Saharan Africa, joined coach tours to the Continent and sunbathed on every European beach worth its salt. You have flown solo, joined established operators and taken a punt on smaller specialist firms. Now, it’s time to reveal your verdict on the ones that shined the brightest.
Best European Country
Greece’s victory in this award ends Italy’s 25-year reign at the top. And it is well deserved, for there is little at which the country does not excel. Its islands, strewn across Ionian and Aegean waters, are glorious. As is a visible history, dug into hillsides from the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis to the ruins of Knossos on Crete.
Greece
Italy
Norway
There is little at which Greece does not excel - GettyBest Country
After losing out to South Africa in the last awards, New Zealand is back on top. Will you, The Telegraph readers ever tire of it – of the fjords cut into the west flank of the South Island; of the vineyards that flutter around Marlborough; of Aoraki/Mount Cook in its snowy might; of the dining scenes in Auckland and Wellington? Probably not.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4de4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R8de4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeNew Zealand
Japan
India
After losing out last year, New Zealand has regained the title of ‘best country on earth’ (pictured: PurePods accommodation in the New Zealand wilderness) - Paul WilsonBest European City
Seville’s popularity in this poll is remarkable. Not only is it consistently named as your favourite city in Spain (it has now outscored each of Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia in every one of the past six Telegraph Travel Awards), it has now risen to become your best-loved city in the whole of Europe (an achievement it also managed in 2018).
Seville
Copenhagen
Venice
Seville continues to outshine Madrid and Barcelona - GettyBest City
In the past 11 years, Telegraph readers have been asked the question “What is your favourite city on the planet?” seven times. And seven times, you have replied: “Cape Town”. In truth, this unswerving consistency is easy to unpick. Few places can match South Africa’s most feted metropolis for photogenic power: the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront fringing the Atlantic, Table Mountain rearing as an epic backdrop, the land ebbing down to the beaches of Camps Bay and the flicked tail of the Cape of Good Hope.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4me4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R8me4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeCape Town
Seville
Sydney
Few cities can compete with Cape Town when it comes to photogenic power - GettyBest Short-Haul Airline
Jet2.com reigns supreme for the third awards in a row, with its combination of reasonable fares and reliably good customer service continuing to impress readers. It’s all change on the rest of the podium, however, with Finnair and Turkish Airlines supplanting Swiss and Aurigny Air, which fell to 5th and 16th, respectively.
Jet2.com
Finnair
Turkish Airlines
Jet2.com offers a winning combination of low fares and good customer serviceBest Long-Haul Airline
Emirates, this year’s winner, has never ranked lower than second place in any of the past seven Telegraph Travel Awards, going back to 2014. All Nippon Airways, which did not receive enough votes in 2023 to qualify, rocketed back to second place, meaning two Japanese airlines made the top five (Japan Airlines came 5th).
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4ve4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R8ve4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeEmirates
All Nippon Airways
Singapore Airlines
Best Hotel Group
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has made a triumphant return to the top spot. Oberoi was founded in 1934 and has remained in the family of the same name, with a mantra of “the guest is everything”. It operates 13 hotels in India, along with a handful of properties across Egypt, Indonesia, Mauritius, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Belmond
Taj Hotels
The Oberoi Beach Resort in BaliBest Villa Operator
Offering a roster of carefully selected villas across Europe – all with pools – Vintage Travel has taken the top spot in this category for a third consecutive time, having also been named Best Villa Operator at our 2019 and 2023 awards. In business for more than 30 years, its customers praise its commitment to seeking out lesser-known spots within well-loved destinations, as well as its recognition that there remains a place for “old-school” service within the industry (allowing travellers to browse and book via brochure and telephone, for example, rather than only online).
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R57e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R97e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeVintage Travel
Oliver’s Travels
Simpson Travel
An Andalusian property offered by Vintage Travel - Gordon SimpsonBest Cottage Operator
Scooping up first place this year is Boutique Retreats, which has soared to the top after taking fourth place in 2023. Standing on a platform of carefully curated luxury, the arrival of Boutique Retreats at the top of the charts demonstrates the emphasis that our discerning readers place on quality over quantity (the provider has just 274 UK cottages on its books) and the value of a well-crafted holiday experience.
Boutique Retreats
Mr and Mrs Smith
Sykes Cottages
Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Line
This year’s winner is Princess Cruises, which is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary, and unveiled the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess – the largest in its fleet and the first of its all-new Sphere class – last year. A sister ship, Star Princess, is set to follow in autumn 2025.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R5fe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R9fe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframePrincess
Cunard
Celebrity
Diamond Princess, one of the mega ships operated by our winnerBest Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line
Hurtigruten – whose ships have been a hallmark of the Norwegian coast since 1893 and enable guests to live more like locals than tourists – jumped two places this year to claim the top spot.
Hurtigruten
Seabourn
Noble Caledonia
The Norwegian line Hurtigruten took the top spotBest Boutique Ocean Cruise Line
Boutique cruise lines offer passengers a more personal and unique experience through design-led interiors, exceptional service, quirky itineraries, sustainability credentials, and strong connection to the destinations they visit. Viking, which has been crowned the winner for the second awards running, is a case in point. The Norwegian-owned cruise line’s 14 near-identical, adult-only ships carry 930 passengers and personify Scandi chic: expect light-filled public spaces featuring Swedish granite, birch and juniper furniture, pelt-draped sofas, and flame-effect firepits and spacious cabins – every one of which has a private veranda.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R5oe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R9oe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeViking Cruises
HX
Saga
The cruise ship Viking Sky in the Lofoten Islands - Mike LouagieBest River Cruise Line
River cruises offer smaller ships, more regular (and relaxed) stops and the chance to enjoy the ever-changing scenery along the banks of the waterways as you glide past. This year’s winner, Oberoi Luxury Nile Cruisers, has two ships in operation – the Zahra and the Philae – and will launch two new luxury Nile dahabiyas (the Melouk and the Malekat), in the second half of 2025.
Oberoi Luxury Nile Cruisers
Uniworld
Viking River Cruises
Best Tour Operator
Having crowned our table many times over the last decade, Audley once again takes the top spot for best tour operator. Given its offering of complex itineraries in adventurous destinations aimed at travellers with large budgets, such consistency is extremely impressive. It offers travel arrangements all over the world and this year adds some new offerings at three of Telegraph readers’ favourite countries.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R60e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Ra0e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeAudley Travel
Trailfinders
Cox & Kings
Luxury specialist Audley has long been a favourite of Telegraph readers - GettyBest Specialist Tour Operator
Topping this category for the first time, Llama Travel was founded in 2002 as a Latin American specialist by Luca Newbold, who lived in Peru for four years and was the son of a former managing director of Thomson Holidays (now Tui). His aim was to offer “the best possible holidays at the best possible prices” and it is a mantra which has paid off as far as Telegraph readers are concerned. The company expanded its range and now also offers holidays to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Llama Travel
McKinlay Kidd
Inntravel
Latin American specialist Llama Travel was named best specialist tour operator - GettyBest Escorted Tour Operator
HF Holidays takes top place, 11 years after it last won this category. The company was founded in 1913 and is one of Britain’s longest-established tour operators. Founder Thomas Arthur Leonard’s original mission was to improve the lives of factory workers by helping them get out and enjoy the countryside, and that ethos is still reflected in the company today.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R69e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Ra9e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeHF Holidays
G Adventures
Explore
HF Holidays specialises in active UK breaks - John LambBest Rail Holiday Company
The growing popularity of rail-based holidays has played into the hands of luxury operator Belmond, which runs a fleet of iconic trains in destinations around the world and, in the opinion of Telegraph Travel readers, continues to deliver exceptionally high standards. This year’s result marks a return to the number one slot which it last held in 2018.
Belmond
The Railway Touring Company
Tailor Made Rail
Belmond was voted Best Rail Holiday CompanyBest Car Hire Operator
This is a highly impressive performance by the car hire broker Zest, which heads this category for the first time after last time coming third. Norfolk-based Zest offers hire cars in dozens of countries around the world and, as a broker, strikes deals with individual suppliers in each destination. Its success seems to be based on a combination of good customer service, competitive pricing and clear information when it comes to one of the biggest bugbears in the car hire market – insurance charges.
Zest Car Rental
Auto Reisen
Cicar
Best Ski Operator
For the third time running – having been named best ski operator in 2019 and 2023 – French specialists Peak Retreats took the top spot, proving the enduring popularity of self-catered ski holidays. The operator now offers packages to over 70 French resorts, ranging from traditional off-the-beaten-track villages to high-altitude favourites.
Peak Retreats
Club Med
Neilson
Peak Retreats now offers packages to over 70 French resorts - Paul BessonBest Ferry Line
If you have a sense of déjà-vu reading this result, it is not surprising. Brittany Ferries has an extraordinary record in our travel awards, topping our poll of cross-channel operators year in, year out since our travel awards first began in 1998. There was just one blip on its record – when it was pipped to first place by the now-defunct SpeedFerries in 2005. It is a record unmatched by any other travel company in any other category of our awards.
Brittany Ferries
Stena Line
DFDS
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