IF THE PANDEMIC has taught us anything, it’s that local is more reliable than global—and that neighborhood diners provide food for the soul. Forced out of our usual routines and shuttered out of our favorite top tables, we turned increasingly to our

IT’S A GREY AND SHIVERY LATE-FEBRUARY DAY AT KITANO TENMANGU SHRINE. BUT INSTEAD OF SNOW DUSTING the stone pathways and frosting the tips of the trees, the scene is awash in ume—plum blossoms of red, white and fairy-tale pink. Today at the Plum Bloss

COURTESY OF ANANTARA HOTELS, RESORTS & SPAS ■

Fly into Tokyo or Osaka and take a bullet train to Kyoto Station. Japan Airlines (jal.com) offers daily flights from most major cities. Park Hyatt Kyoto (hyatt.com; doubles from ¥98,000) offers guesthouse-style luxury near Ninenzaka slope. For a reso

TOP 100 OVERALL 1. Capella Ubud Bali, Indonesia 99.85 Architect and designer Bill Bensley created this intimate refuge, where nightly entertainment ranges from screenings of black-and-white movies to campfire tales spun by a local storyteller. 2. Hot

I’ve been driving for two hours before the dust hits. In a matter of seconds, the hard-blue cloudless skies have been washed sepia, and the wind has turned an angry gale-force, whooshing giant tumbleweeds around like dried-up asteroids. The only othe

TOP 25 OVERALL 1. Palawan Philippines 94.83 In addition to its incredible tropical scenery, this archipelago between the South China and Sulu seas captivates with affordable resorts, leisurely snorkeling and plentiful birdlife—including the endangere

TOP 10 1. Singapore Airlines 90.84 ⋆ This beloved carrier aces the flying experience every step of the way. The airline continues to innovate, prioritizing not only luxury and safety but also fliers’ wellness through its partnership with Canyon Ranch

THAT DAY, WE HIRED A TAXI GUIDE specifically to take us to Bagan’s most popular viewpoint. We hoped for a speedy ride so we could catch the sunset in time, but he must have been new because he was unfamiliar with the roads. I realized that we would n

NB: This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented due to COVID-19. The results, therefore, reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic. We hope that this year’s honorees

TOP 10 RESORT HOTELS 1. Capella Ubud Bali, Indonesia 99.85 Raised above the forested slopes of the Keliki Valley, 22 dramatic, one-bedroom tents outfitted with antiques, local textiles and private pools immerse guests in a Bill Bensley–designed glam

Past experiences that have shaped us, new adventures born of isolation—and some Buddhist mantras for every day. This issue we reflect on travel from a different perspective. EARLIER THIS YEAR, as the world came to a grinding halt and citizens around

TOP 5 CITY HOTELS 1. COMO The Treasury Perth, Australia 95.73 Part of Perth’s ongoing renaissance, this collection of reinvigorated 19th-century government buildings brilliantly weaves together the old (Victorian architecture, decorative moldings) wi

MOST EIGHTIES KIDS I knew grew up riding their bikes through the bush. My experience of that world was short but sweet. I was eight when my family packed up our suburban Canberra existence for the rushing sights and smells of post-war Seoul in the ea

TOP 5 CITY HOTELS 1. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Dubai 97.20 Travelers staying at this hotel—a standout tower in a city known for its modern skyline—revel in perks like private butlers and 18-karat-gold-plated iPads. 2. Royal Mansour Marrakesh, Morocco 97.

JUST GO, BE ALERT and do your best, as always,” my mother Tundra used to tell me on the eve of each new journey. It was her way of chasing away bad luck, for my unconventional traveling-and-writing lifestyle gave her both infinite pride and inextingu

TOP 10 CITY HOTELS 1. Raffles Istanbul 98.40 Elegant Byzantine flourishes and Turkish artwork imbue this glistening 185-room tower with an unrivaled sense of place. 2. Shangri-La Hotel, at the Shard London 98.06 3. Hotel Café Royal London 97.07 4. Ri

IF YOU’D ASKED me a year ago about my yoga practice, I’d have shrugged and said it was fine. I mean, I wasn’t a beginner. After years of haphazard attendance at assorted classes and showing up diligently for morning yoga at resorts, I could touch my

TOP 15 CITY HOTELS 1. The Mark New York City 96.24 Urban hotels often distinguish themselves by harnessing the personality and excitement of their hometown, and no property accomplishes that better than this dashing Manhattan hideaway. 2. The Georges

TOP 10 1. Ker & Downey 99.10 Operating since 1946, before “experiential travel” ever entered the industry lexicon, this adventure-focused company has excelled in orchestrating immersive itineraries across all seven continents. 2. Greaves India 98.96

POSITIVELY ITCHING FOR A BREAK, you’ve decided to run the new-normal gauntlet of international travel, with deserted beaches, unsurfed waves and sunrise-volcano hikes firmly fixed in your mind’s eye. You’re absolutely in need of a tropical island dri

Zoom in on high-definition images of permanent-collection gems—such as Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, one of van Gogh’s self-portraits, and Hopper’s Nighthawks—in photos so detailed you can see cracks in the oil paint. You can also pop through