MANILA: Three Philippine islands have again made it to the New York-based magazine Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Islands list this year after being absent from it last year.
Palawan, Boracay and Cebu landed in the international travel magazine’s list, with Palawan clinching the top rank after receiving the highest score among readers at 93.71, reported Philippine Star.
This is the second time that Palawan was dubbed the “world’s best” in the list. It first reached the top spot in 2013, the report said.
T+L writer Melani Lieberman was reportedly surprised by Palawan’s comeback as she described the place where “visitors are greeted with mountains rising out of impossibly turquoise waters, where shipwrecks and reefs make for prime scuba diving and snorkeling. Palawan is known for its five-mile-long underground river regarded as one of the world’s wonders of nature.
“Palawan is every beach lover’s dream destination,” said one voter, who regarded it as a “wonderful and magical place.”
As Palawan ruled the international travel magazine’s list, Boracay reportedly snagged the second spot and Cebu made it to the top 6 with 90.47 and 88.65 scores among readers, respectively. Boracay also used to top the “World’s best Islands” list.
A reader was quoted as saying that Cebu is the island “perfect for travelers who don’t want to spend a lot of money on recreational activities.” The reader added that “there is never a dull moment in Cebu” as Lieberman cited that among the activities to be tries are hiking through canyons, swimming with whale sharks, and diving from the top of a waterfall.
“The Philippines’ predominance shows that discerning travelers are willing to travel great distances for the rewards of clear waters and sugary white beaches,” Lieberman was quoted as saying by Philippine Star.
Other islands which made it to T+L’s World’s Best Island list are: Bali, Indonesia (Top 10); Kauai, Hawai (Top 9); Hilton Head, South Carolina (Top 8); Maui, Hawaii (Top 7); Santorini, Greece (Top 5); Waiheke Island, New Zealand (Top 4); and Ischia, Italy (Top 3).
T+L conduct the annual survey by asking its readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe and share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, and airlines, among others, said the news portal.
