In 2022, travel reinstated itself in our lives as pandemic challenges cooled, and confidence and our sense of adventure rose again. In the seventh annual Reader Awards, shortlisted by our judges and voted for by you, we wanted to know what inspired you to pack your suitcase last year — and where you headed. Plus, who got you there, what captured your interest and what you read and watched on the way. Our awards celebrate the places, experiences, tour operators and travel innovators shaping the industry and the very best in travel last year. The votes are in, let’s reveal the winners…
WINNER
Italy
For the fourth time in a row, you picked Italy as your short-haul destination of choice, and it’s easy to see why it continues to dominate in this category. From the art and archaeology (and dolce vita) of the cities of Florence, Rome and Venice to the lakes of the north, the beaches of the south and the slopes of the Dolomites, Italy has it all in one ‘boot’. And underpinning it all, food and wine to charm the Gods — enjoyed at long, languid lunches — and a general sense of wellbeing. For frazzled visitors looking to recapture their equilibrium, it offers a seductive glimpse at what a slower pace of life might look like, surrounded by some of
