The Maldives has claimed the top spot in Travel+Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards survey, ranking first among the 25 Best Islands to Visit Around the World. The archipelago achieved an impressive reader score of 95.63.
Located in the Indian Ocean along the equator, the Maldives is a collection of 1,192 islands, of which only 200 are currently inhabited. Known for its luxurious overwater bungalows and crystal-clear waters, the Maldives is a visual paradise. One Travel+Leisure reader noted, “the location is just as beautiful as every picture you have seen.” Another commented on the exceptional marine life, stating that it “is beyond expectation.” The Maldives hosts roughly three per cent of the world’s reefs, making it a premier destination for snorkelling and diving. One enthusiastic reader succinctly described it as “Paradise on Earth.”
Travel+Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards survey invites readers to evaluate their travel experiences globally, providing opinions on hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. This year, over 186,000 readers participated, casting more than 700,000 votes across 8,700 properties.
The islands were rated based on several criteria:
For each characteristic, respondents rated their experiences as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores were averages of these responses, leading to the Maldives’ outstanding overall rating.
Feature Photo: Lily Beach Resort & Spa
