FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2019 Recap

by Kimberly Inlander

Sep 1, 2019
Features

A RARE RAINSTORM IN LOS ANGELES couldn’t dampen our spirits as Global Traveler celebrated its seventh annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. With so many European winners this year, our Night in Europe theme transformed the luxury hotel’s meeting space and transported guests to Switzerland, Turkey, France and beyond.

The Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards honor the cream of the crop in destinations, airlines, cruise lines and hotels in the leisure and lifestyle travel categories. Sofitel’s beautiful venue, overlooking Beverly Hills, was our host venue for the fourth year as acceptees and guests said “Bonjour!” with GT.

Liz Watts and Company treated guests to a range of performances celebrating the continent of Europe, including a booming opera performance at sunset, a rousing rendition of “Mamma Mia!” to celebrate Santoríni, Czech folk dancers and a corps of Irish step dancers.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS, INTERNATIONAL
Turkey
Second Consecutive Year

BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS, DOMESTIC
Williamsburg, Virginia

BEST BEACHES
Costa Rica
Second Consecutive Year

BEST ADVENTURE DESTINATION, INTERNATIONAL
Thailand
Third Consecutive Year

BEST ADVENTURE DESTINATION, DOMESTIC
Alaska

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Nashville, Tennessee
Second Consecutive Year

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN AFRICA
Botswana

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN EUROPE
Prague, Czech Republic

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN ASIA
Taipei, Taiwan
Second Consecutive Year

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN LATIN/SOUTH AMERICA
Bogotá, Colombia

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN MEXICO
Guadalajara

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION FOR GROUPS
Italy

BEST WEEKEND DESTINATION IN NORTH AMERICA
Austin, Texas

BEST WEEKEND DESTINATION IN THE WORLD
Dublin, Ireland

BEST NORTH AMERICAN SKI DESTINATION
Telluride, Colorado

BEST INTERNATIONAL SKI DESTINATION
Niseko, Japan

BEST CARIBBEAN ISLAND
Curaçao

BEST ISLAND IN EUROPE
Santoríni
Sixth Consecutive Year

BEST ISLAND PACIFIC RIM
Cook Islands
Fourth Consecutive Year

BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE
Celebrity Cruises

BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE
Silversea Cruises
Fourth Consecutive Year

BEST CRUISE LINE SUITES
Owner’s Suites, Silversea Cruises
Second Consecutive Year

BEST ADVENTURE CRUISE LINE
National Geographic Expedition Cruises

BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Fourth Consecutive Year

BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE
Cunard Line
Fourth Consecutive Year

BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Second Consecutive Year

BEST CRUISE LINE ENTERTAINMENT
Princess Cruises

BEST CRUISE LINE DINING
Seabourn Cruise Line

BEST CRUISE LINE SPAS
Seabourn Cruise Line

BEST CRUISE SHIP EXCURSIONS
Princess Cruises
Fourth Consecutive Year

BEST CRUISE LINE REWARDS PROGRAM
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards Program

BEST CRUISE PORT
Port Canaveral, Florida

BEST LUXURY LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD
Meliá Hotels International
Fifth Consecutive Year

BEST HOTEL CHAIN RESORTS
The Ritz-Carlton

BEST PET-FRIENDLY HOTELS
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Second Consecutive Year

BEST FAMILY RESORT CHAIN IN THE WORLD
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Third Consecutive Year

BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS
Sandals Resorts International
Second Consecutive Year

BEST TOUR OPERATOR
Abercrombie & Kent

BEST AIRPORT FOR LAYOVERS
Zürich Kloten International Airport

BEST AIRPORT FOR RECREATION
Hong Kong International Airport

BEST STOPOVER PROGRAM
TAP Air Portugal

BEST LEISURE AIRLINE
Air Tahiti Nui

BEST AIRLINE FOR ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT
Air Canada

BEST AIRLINE ONBOARD MENU
Swiss International Air Lines First Class

BEST PREMIUM-ECONOMY CLASS
Air Canada

BEST PET-FRIENDLY AIRLINE
Delta Air Lines

BEST LUXURY VEHICLE
Volvo

FAVORITE LUXURY WATCH BRAND
Patek Philippe

BEST LEISURE CAR RENTAL
Hertz

BEST LIQUOR BRAND
Johnnie Walker Blue
Second Consecutive Year

CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR
Silversea Cruises

QUINT STATUS

BEST LUXURY LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD
Meliá Hotels International
Fifth Consecutive Year

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Celebrity Cruises

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMIZED SERVICES
ATL Rewards Program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
United Airlines

OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS
New İstanbul Airport

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
February 2024
Mar 1, 2024

Down to Earth: Find Your Element for the Ultimate Customized Spa Experience at Chuan Spa

After a stressful pre-holiday season and a busy work schedule, there was no better time for a relaxing spa experience than during my recent trip to Pasadena with the FXExpress Publications, Inc. team. We headed to The Langham Huntington, Pasadena for the 20th anniversary of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, which meant a jam-packed trip, but I managed to carve a little time out of our busy schedule to visit Chuan Spa at the hotel.

Why Buy Annual Travel Insurance?

One affordable plan can protect an entire year of trips: business or pleasure, short or long, domestic or international.

Daily
Feb 26, 2024

Fukui: A Culture Hub in Rural Japan Worth the Detour

In many cases, less can be more in terms of what smaller cities and small-scale museums have to offer. This is true for Fukui Prefecture, located on the west coast of the main island and best known for its coastline, terrain and quiet towns. While major cities are awash with large-scale museums, bucolic Fukui Prefecture is worth a visit for its assemblage of institutions offering a deeper dive into Japanese life, history and culture.

Daily
Feb 26, 2024

Ennismore Unveils Flagship Hotel and Restaurant Openings in 2024

This year marks an exciting time for Ennismore, the world’s fastest growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company. With plans to open new properties and restaurants across the world, Ennismore shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

MORE TO TRAVEL

There’s more to travel than just getting there.

February 2024
Feb 26, 2024

Unearth the Enduring Heritage and History of the Island Nation

Valletta, capital of Malta, was built to keep us out. The old city is protected by formidable limestone walls and crammed onto a peninsula flanked by two natural harbors.

Daily
Feb 22, 2024

Europe by Rail Never Felt So Luxe

Two of 2024’s top travel trends are sustainable travel and slow travel. Rocco Forte Hotel combined both with the Rocco Forte by Rail offer, allowing customers to fully immerse themselves in multiple destinations while traveling scenic routes.

Share Your Travel Preferences with Global Traveler in a Short Survey & Win

Learning more about our readers’ travel habits and preferences ensures Global Traveler delivers the content you desire. As the travel industry has adapted and changed over the last few years, it’s more important than ever to connect. To best meet your short- and long-term travel content needs, please help us!

Africa / Uganda
Feb 22, 2024

Come Face-to-Face with Mountain Gorillas on a Trek in Uganda

Not a word was spoken as I settled into a cozy spot on the outdoor terrace just outside the main lodge at Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge in Uganda. The air was so still the ice in my single malt seemed to echo off the forest in the distance as it clanked against the glass. I sat among a handful of fellow adventurers, each sitting silently beneath the night sky for one collective goal. Moments earlier, we learned a troop of mountain gorillas had made their way down the mountain near our lodge, and we left our meals to instead sit in eager anticipation of hearing the guttural grunts of the primates below. The chills on my arms never left me that night, even as I made my way up a stone pathway to my personal banda (guestroom). Thankfully, sleep came quickly for me that night as I drifted into dreams of what my next day would bring.