The first edition of Holidify Explorer Awards took off in December 2018 as thousands of people came together and voted for their favourite destinations around the world. Many of the destinations have had millions of page-views across the year on Holidify thereby allowing us nominate only the best of the best.
Through understanding our users and their travel needs, we carefully compiled a full list of categories and nominations and opened the voting to our users allowing them to pick their favourite travel destinations.
After a month long campaign and thousands of voters, here are the top destinations to look out for in 2019. Whether you want to relax, go on an adventure or simply go for a bachelor party, there's certainly a destination for everyone on this list.
Holidify Explorer Awards 2018 Categories and Winners
Top Luxury Resorts and Hotels In India
- Winner - Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
- 1st Runner Up - Ananda Spa Resort, Rishikesh
- 2nd Runner Up - Kumarakom Lake Resort, Kerala
Best Wildlife Resorts In India
- Winner - Club Mahindra Thekkady
- 1st Runner Up - Inn the Wild, Madumalai Tiger Reserve
- 2nd Runner Up - The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
Spa & Wellness Resorts In India
- Winner - The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg, Kashmir
- 1st Runner Up - The Hilton Shillim, Maharashtra
- 2nd Runner Up - Ananda Spa Resort, Uttarakhand
Top Heritage Hotels in India for Luxury Travellers
- Winner - Maison Perumal, Pondicherry
- 1st Runner Up - Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
- 2nd Runner Up - Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Backpackers Hostels In India That Every Traveller Should Know
- Winner - Horn Okay Please
- 1st Runner Up - The Madpackers Hostel
- 2nd Runner Up - Backpacker Panda
Best Romantic Resorts in India
- Winner - The Windflower Resort & Spa - Coorg
- 1st Runner Up - Marbela Beach Resort - Morjim (Goa)
- 2nd Runner Up - Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa
Best Megacities of the World
- Winner - Mumbai, Maharashtra - The City of Dreams
- 1st Runner Up - Tokyo, Japan - A beautiful melange of old and new
- 2nd Runner Up - Shanghai, China - The towering Chinese metropolis
Best Places In The World To Visit
- Winner - Colosseum, Rome - Mighty and Majestic
- 1st Runner Up - The Grand Canyon
- 2nd Runner Up - Bali, Indonesia - An idyllic retreat
Best Places To Visit in Europe
- Winner - Croatia - The Colourful Coastal Country
- 1st Runner Up - Paris, France - The City of Lights
- 2ns Runner Up - London, England - The heritage of England
Best Countries To Visit in South-East Asia
- Winner - Vietnam - The Country of Natural Beauty and Scenic Vistas
- 1st Runner Up - Singapore - Singapore : A Recreation of Adventure
- 2nd Runner Up - Thailand - The Gateway to Southeast Asia
Best Places To Go For A Bachelor Party For Indians
- Winner - Rio De Janeiro - A New World
- 1st Runner Up - Thailand - The Gateway to Southeast Asia
- 2nd Runner Up - Goa - Beaches, Sunsets and Crazy Nights
Best Country For A Budget Trip For Indians
- Winner - Thailand - The Gateway to Southeast Asia
- 1st Runner Up - Sri Lanka - A Land Like No Other
- 2nd Runner Up - Bhutan - Mountains, Monasteries and Magic
Most Fashionable Places In India
- Winner - Mumbai, Maharashtra - The City of Dreams
- 1st Runner Up - Goa - Beaches, Sunsets and Crazy Nights
- 2nd Runner Up - New Delhi, NCR - The City of Cities
Best Airport In India
- Winner - Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore
- 1st Runner Up - Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
- 2nd Runner Up - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
Best Travel Movies/Documentaries
- Winner - Dil Chahtha Hai: When in Goa
- 1st Runner Up - Raanjhanaa : Varanasi's Ghats and Lanes
- 2nd Runner Up - Rockstar: From Delhi to Kashmir
Best Offbeat Places In India
- Winner - Shivanasamundram Falls, Karnataka - The guardian of waterfalls
- 1st Runner Up - Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh - A handpicked history
- 2nd Runner Up - Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh: Explore the Unexplored
Best Treks in India
- Winner - Roopkund Lake Trek
- 1st Runner Up - Chadar Frozen River Trek
- 2nd Runner Up - Kheerganga Trek
Cleanest Cities in India
- Winner - Mysore, Karnataka - A Glimpse of Southern India
- 1st Runner Up - Indore, Madhya Pradesh - The Cleanest City In India
- 2nd Runner Up - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - Preservation At It's Best
Best Road Trips in India
- Winner - Mumbai to Pune Expressway
- 1st Runner Up - Manali to Leh Highway
- 2nd Runner Up - Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley
Best Family Holiday Destinations in India
- Winner - Rishikesh, Uttarakhand - Yoga Capital of the World
- 1st Runner Up - Ooty, Tamil Nadu - Queen of the Nilgiris
- 2nd Runner Up - Darjeeling, West Bengal - Queen of The Himalayas
Best Places For Solo Travel in India
- Winner - Lahaul-Spiti Valley - Deserts, Mountains and Valleys
- 1st Runner Up - Kasol, Himachal Pradesh, The higher you go, the more beautiful it gets
- 2nd Runner Up - Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh - The Spiritual Capital of India
Safest Destinations for Solo Female Travellers in India
- Winner - Kovalam, Kerala - Sea, sun, surf, sand and shopping
- 1st Runner Up - Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
- 2nd Runner Up - Jaipur, Rajasthan
Best Honeymoon Places In India For A Perfect Romantic Trip
- Winner - Andaman & Nicobar - Blue seas, virgin islands and colonial past
- 1st Runner Up - Goa - Beaches, Sunsets and Crazy Nights
- 2nd Runner Up - Alleppey, Kerala - Backwaters, Beaches and Lagoons - Venice of the East
Best National Parks in India
- Winner - Kaziranga National Park, Assam - Home to the One Horned Rhino
- 1st Runner Up - Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand - Home to the majestic Tigers
- 2nd Runner Up - Gir National Park, Gujarat - Home to the mighty Lions
Best Historical Monuments of India
- Winner - Qutub Minar, Delhi
- 1st Runner Up - Taj Mahal, Agra
- 2nd Runner Up - India Gate, Delhi
Best Cities For Food in India
- Winner - Delhi - Dildaar Dilli
- 1st Runner Up - Mumbai - The city that never sleeps
- 2nd Runner Up - Varanasi - The city of lights
Best Cities For Nightlife
- Winner - Gurgaon, Haryana - Millennium City of India
- 1st Runner Up - Goa - What happens in Goa, Stays in Goa
- 2nd Runner Up - Mumbai, Maharashtra - The City That Never Sleeps
Best City To Live in India
- Winner - Mumbai, Maharashtra - The City of Dreams
- 1st Runner Up - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh - The City of Nizams
- 2nd Runner Up - Pune, Maharashtra - Oxford of the East
Best Hill Stations in India
- Winner - Manali, Himachal Pradesh - Lover's Paradise
- 1st Runner Up - Ooty, Tamil Nadu - Queen of the Nilgiris
- 2nd Runner Up - Darjeeling, West Bengal - Queen of The Himalayas
Best Beaches in India
- Winner - Goa - Beaches, Sunsets and Crazy Nights
- 1st Runner Up - Andaman & Nicobar - Blue seas, virgin islands and colonial past
- 2nd Runner Up - Varkala, Kerala - The hidden treasure of Kerala
Top Tourist Places In India
- Winner - Munnar, Kerala - Tea Gardens, Lakes and Pretty little hill-station
- 1st Runner Up - Goa - Beaches, Sunsets and Crazy Nights
- 2nd Runner Up - Agra, Uttar Pradesh - The city of Taj Mahal, the monument of eternal love
With thousands of places to choose from for your next vacation, these places stand out on top of the list. So, where are you heading to next? Let us know in the comments below!