Wanderlust Travel Awards announced
5th February 2009
The winners of the annual Wanderlust Travel Awards, as voted by the readers of the magazine, were announced today at Destinations travel show in London.
There were some big surprises in this year’s results. Japan scooped the prestigious Top Country award, after years of New Zealand and Namibia jostling for the prestigious title.
Antigua in Guatemala grabbed the Top City accolade, beating Luang Prabang in Laos, winner for the previous two years.
Bruce Parry once again nabbed the Top TV Programme prize with his latest show Amazon, leaving Ewan and Charley a long way behind in second place.
Elsewhere, Singapore Airlines retained the Top Worldwide Airline crown, ahead of Etihad and Air New Zealand. Air Berlin held onto the Top Low-Cost Airline award, beating off competition from Air Asia and Virgin Blue.
Singapore’s Changi Airport scooped the Top Worldwide Airport prize (again) while London City retained its Top UK Airport crown.
New this year was the Top Rail Journey category, won by Scotland’s West Highland Line, ahead of the iconic Trans-Siberian and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru.
Here’s a selection of the winners:
Top country – Japan
Top city – Antigua, Guatemala
Top worldwide airline – Singapore Airlines
Top low-cost airline – Air Berlin
Top travel writer – Bill Bryson
Top guidebook series – DK Eyewitness Travel
Top TV programme – Amazon
Top rail journey – West Highland line
Top tour operator – Dragoman
Top travel equipment brand – Rohan
You can read the full list of winners and runners-up here