TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Hawaii-lovers abound among
the readers of Conde NastTravelers can't take the best airline to get to the best island to stay at the one of the best resorts as named by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
Still, the readers' choice list does Hawaii proud.
Of 22 top-ten lists, Hawaii and its traveler-friendly operations could only be named on five. Of the 50 possible entries, 16 are Hawaii-connected. Of the top 12 large cruise lines, seven offer Hawaii packages. Hmm, coincidence?
Winners of the 2002 survey were announced Sunday night during a magazine-hosted reception at Iolani Palace. The timing coincided with the world congress of the American Society of Travel Agents.
Fledgling airline JetBlue Airways, based in New York, was named the No. 1 domestic route airline, though its coast-to-coast flights go no farther than California. Hawaiian Air, which flies the rest of the way to Hawaii, was ranked No. 6 in the category.
Any plans for the No. 1 airline to add a route to get folks to the No. 1 island or No. 1 hotel?
"Not yet," laughed JetBlue spokeswoman Fiona Morrison.
The Nos. 1 and 2 tropical islands, the travelers say, are Maui and Kauai. They are followed by Fraser Island (Australia) and Bora Bora (French Polynesia). Tied at No. 5 are Bali (Indonesia) and the Big Island, followed by Moorea (French Polynesia), Bermuda, No. 9 Oahu and Phuket (Thailand).
Conde Nast Traveler's top 10 Pacific Rim Resorts list is chock full of Hawaii properties, leaving only the No. 8 spot lacking a Hawaii mention. For the Four Seasons Hualalai, it was another day, another No. 1 ranking.
Last week it topped the 2003 Zagat survey of the nation's best resorts.
The Four Seasons Wailea Maui came in second, as it did in the Zagat survey. Conde Nast's list is filled out by the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui at No. 3, the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Big Island. The Hyatt Regency Kauai is tied with Australia's Hayman Island Resort, then Halekulani on Oahu, Hotel Bora Bora and on Lanai, Nos. 9 and 10, The Lodge at Koele and the Manele Bay Hotel.
The Royal Garden at Waikiki Hotel came in at No. 9 on Conde Nast's list of top Pacific Rim hotels, a list dominated by properties in Australia, but topped by Huka Lodge in New Zealand and giving a No. 8 nod to a Sheraton property in Fiji.
The complete 2002 Conde Nast Traveler readers' choice list is in the November issue.
Condé Nast
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com