TripAdvisor has kickstarted the new year by unveiling its latest Travelers Choice Best of the Best Destination Awards.
This year, the Traveler’s Choice Destinations feature six subcategories: popular destinations, trending destinations, food destinations, best places to ski, nature destinations and best places for culture.
This year, Dubai retained the top spot as the world’s most popular destination, for the second year in a row. In the United States, New York City reclaimed first place after falling to fifth place due to the pandemic in 2022.
Top 10 global popular destinations:
- Dubai, U.A.E.
- Bali, Indonesia
- London
- Rome
- Paris
- Cancun, Mexico
- Crete, Greece
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Dominican Republic
- Istanbul
Cuba emerged as the No. 1 trending destination in the world, based on YOY growth in interest from TripAdvisor travelers. This category indicates emerging global hotspots. Due to the United States easing some travel restrictions in May 2022 and the addition of new direct flight routes, interest in visiting Cuba has increased on TripAdvisor.
Top 10 global trending destinations:
- Cuba
- Hoi An, Vietnam
- Mauritius, Africa
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Fes, Morocco
- Baku, Azerbaijan
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Krakow, Poland
In the food destinations category, Rome claimed the top spot, while New Orleans topped in the U.S.
Top 10 global food destinations:
- Rome
- Crete, Greece
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Florence, Italy
- Paris
- Barcelona, Spain
- Lisbon
- Naples, Italy
- New Orleans, U.S.
- Jamaica
Among the best places to ski, Whistler, Canada was the No. 1 ski destination this year, while Jackson, Wyo. (No. 2 in North America) was the best in the U.S.
Top 10 global ski destinations:
- Whistler, Canada
- Jackson, Wyo.
- Zermatt, Switzerland
- Chamonix, France
- Livigno, Italy
- Trento, Italy
- Park City, Utah
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Lake Tahoe (California), Calif.
- Durango, Colo.
Nature destinations was a new category this year, reflecting travelers’ appetite for outdoor adventures. Mauritius emerged as the leader in this category.
Top 10 global nature destinations:
- Mauritius, Africa
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
- Hurghada, Egypt
- Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara
- Kauai, Hawaii
- Majorca, Balearic Islands
- Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Corsica, France
- Koh Tao, Surat Thani Province
Another category to be introduced this year was the best places for culture, which recognized the best places to visit to engage with local history and cultural activities. The list was led by Fes, Morocco.
Top 10 global best places for culture:
- Fes, Morocco
- Jerusalem, Israel
- Athens
- Dublin
- Jaipur, India
- Cuba
- Budapest, Hungary
- Berlin
- Seville, Spain
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
Here are the top U.S. winners this year:
| Rank | Most Popular Destinations in the U.S. | Top Trending Destinations in the U.S. |
| 1. | New York City | Juneau, Alaska |
| 2. | Las Vegas | Page, Ariz. |
| 3. | Oahu, Hawaii | Salem, Mass. |
| 4. | Maui, Hawaii | Sonoma, Calif. |
| 5. | Miami Beach | Tierra Verde, Fla. |
| 6. | New Orleans | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 7. | Key West, Fla. | San Juan Island, Wash. |
| 8. | Charleston, S.C. | Camden, Maine |
| 9. | Nashville, Tenn. | Galena, Ill. |
| 10. | Chicago | Whitefish, Mont. |
Every year, TripAdvisor analyzes reviews submitted on its platform in the last 12 months by a global community of travelers to publish a guide for travelers. The rankings are based on insights from travelers who visited these locations in the past year and wrote their reviews on TripAdvisor.