Our annual Readers Choice Awards, now in its 35th anniversary, continues to highlight the best travel experiences that our readers love, from airlines and hotels to islands and cruises. Also: Meditations on your favorite cities and odes to properties that keep you coming back. We already knew that the survey was a success. Nearly a quarter of a billion people completed it Hon tam.

You made Hilton Head Island, a beloved Lowcountry spot, your top American pick. Fernando de Noronha (in Brazil) was your second-best American pick. Tanzania’s most well-known tropical island is known for its exotic spices, bright waters, and swinging palms. This destination has been gaining more attention than ever, thanks to its rich history and culture and a new wave of chic, barefoot resorts.

Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features Swahili architecture and buildings inspired by India’s palaces. Check out Zuri Zanzibar Hotel and Resort, an Afromodernist village-style hotel that has brought severe design flair to the Indian Ocean island. Daily nonstop flights depart from Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam. There are also flights from smaller runways in the national parks.

Not only are our readers proud to call this African nation the best, but Prince William, Kate Middleton, Victoria Beckham, and David Beckham spent their honeymoons here. Some stretches of the sand are so pristine that portions of the movie Castaway were shot here. However, the beauty of these white beaches makes them so appealing that they border on being a religious experience.

Locals believe that the Garden of Eden is located at Vallee de Mai. This UNESCO World Heritage Site produces coco de mer nuts weighing 33 pounds. Air France, Air Seychelles, and Turkish Airlines regularly fly to Seychelles International Airport, just south of Victoria. Pinterest and Instagram have rekindled interest in the island in the Indian Ocean due to its “underwater fountain”–a stunning runoff of silt and sand best seen from above.

Do not trust the scales in Mauritius. The island has a stronger gravity field which causes things (and people, too) to weigh more. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport on the island is your connection to other African cities and major cities throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia. Mauritius, located approximately 550 miles east of Madagascar, maybe the home of a lost continent hidden beneath the waves.

The Langkawi archipelago is located off the northern coast of Malaysia. It has beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and lush mountains. There’s also the famous Sky Bridge that you have probably seen photos of. This 99-item island collection is also a culinary delight. Macheted coconuts and spicy peanut satay are sold at every corner, from high-end hotels to sidewalk stalls.

The second-largest island in Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches, lively nightlife, and luxury hotels. Our readers voted AVANI+ Samui Resort as one of the top resorts in Thailand. However, the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui hillside villas and The Library’s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are worth a visit. Chaweng Beach is a five-mile stretch of sandy beach lined with coconut trees and surrounded by a natural reef. The party center is located at the northern end.