South Africa’s Cape Town has once again been included in a list of the World's Top 15 Cities according to the latest Travel + Leisure survey 2017. The international travel magazine hosts the annual survey through a reader questionnaire. Readers vote on several categories, including the world's best hotels, airports, spas and islands.
Cape Town has featured below the top 10 spot for several consecutive years. According to the magazine Cape Town is ranked at number eight this year. The magazine described the city as "cutting-edge, artsy, and buzzing with energy", and applauded the variety of activities in Cape Town.
"There are few places in the world where you can exercise your shopping skills (head to Woodstock's Neighbourgoods Market on Saturday mornings for Afrikaans jerky and silk-and-leather sandals), take off on a safari, or indulge in world-famous cuisine and meet the South Africa's cuisine all in one weekend," the magazine explained.
Atlantic-facing Clifton Beaches are the South Beach of South Africa, known for enormous natural boulders tumbling into the sea, pristine sunbathing conditions, and the capoeira dancers that entertain crowds with fire and African drums on Monday nights.
Top of the list, however, Mexico’s San Miguel de Allende, with Charleston in the United States and Chiang Mai in Thailand in second and third place respectively this year. These were followed by Kyoto in Japan, Florence in Italy, Oaxaca in Mexico, Hoi An in Vietnam, just below Cape Town is Ubud in Indonesia, followed by Luang Prabang in Laosand, Santa Fe in New Mexico, Rome in Italy, Siem Reap in Cambodia, Udaipur in India, and taking the 15th spot is Barcelona in Spain. Readers rate the top cities based on sights, culture, arts, food, friendliness and shopping.
The Ellerman House, a Cape Town hotel, also made it on to the list of the World's Best 100 Hotels, ranked at number 73. Other South African hotels on the list includes; Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge, Phinda Private Game Reserve at number 44, Londolozi, Sabi Sand Game Reserve at 35, La Residence, Franschhoek at 18, Singita Sabi Sand, Sabi Sand Game Reserve at 14, and Tswalu Kalahari, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve at number 6.
Hotels were rated in terms of facilities, location and service. Based on the survey, the 2017 top hotel in the world is The Nihi Sumba Island (formerly Nihiwatu) in Indonesia
