Thailand’s Islands Best in Asia: Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Awards‏

Thailand, always a traveler favorite for places to visit, has garnered yet more awards in TripAdvisor’s Annual Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2013.
 

In the “Top 10 Islands — Asia” category, Thailand ran away with 40% of the awards, placing first with Ko Tao, in Surat Thani Province. TripAdvisor (TA) writes about Ko Tao noting that: “White sand beaches sheltered by steep hills — some only accessible with four-wheel drive vehicles — and 300 days of sun per year invite long afternoons of lounging.”

 

Ko Lanta in Krabi took the number 3 spot. TA raved about this beautiful southern island, saying, “Ko Lanta offers fantastic scuba diving with exotic marine life and grand coral reefs. The sunsets, too, are legendary…”

The always popular Phuket came in 6^th. TA commented: “Phuket offers a rainbow spectrum of spectacular vacation sights from blue lagoons and pink sunsets to orange-robed monks.”

Ko Samui, on the eastern coast, captured 7^th place in Asia’s top islands category, with the popular travel site noting that, “You’re on a gorgeous island off the coast of Thailand–it doesn’t get much better than this.”

 

TA bases its awards on reviews of the top-rated hotels, restaurants, and attractions over a 12-month period. More than 100 islands around the world were considered in TA’s annual round-up.

Ko Tao is the only island from Asia that made the “Top 10 Islands in the World” list, on which it came in 8^th place. The top 3 islands in the world were listed as being in Belize, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and French Polynesia.

 

9 out of 10 of the top Asian islands are located in Southeast Asia, while the number 10 choice — Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands — is located in India.

 

The prestigious, international survey reinforces the general opinion of Thailand’s premier, quality tourist attractions, of which her islands are always at the forefront. Many visitors to the islands also include Thailand’s major cities in their itineraries, as well as Thailand’s cool, mountainous northern regions.