The 'Best Island in the World' is Maui -- for the 15th time!

The folks over at the Maui Visitors Bureau (and Hawaii Visitors Bureau) are beaming because, for an unprecedented 15th time, Maui, the Magic Isle has captured Best Island in the World honors in the 22nd annual CONDE NAST TRAVELER Readers Choice Awards Poll.

With a score of 90.1, Maui was also voted Best Pacific Island for the 19th consecutive year.

This is a huge achievement for Maui as the world becomes smaller and smaller each year as travelers become more familiar with farther flung islands.

In the Best Pacific Island category, sister island Kauai placed second with a score of 87.8. Bora Bora (recently featured in the movie Couples Retreat) ranked third with 84.9 and the Great Barrier Reefs 84.0 score was enough for 4th place. Completing the Top Ten were: 5th place Moorea (83.5); 6th place Hawaii Island (83.0); 7th place Oahu (81.7); 8th place Lanai (79.8); 9th place Galapagos (76.6) and 10th place Tazmania (76.5).

Other top island destinations in the world included winners in the following geographical categories: Asia (Maldives, 87.5), Caribbean (Bermuda, 81.3), North America (Kiawah, 79.9) and Europe (Mykonos and the Cyclades, 77.3).

In a news release, Terryl Vencl, executive director for the Maui Visitors Bureau said, As destinations everywhere continue to endure challenging times, Maui has been able to capture the hearts and minds of treasured visitors from all across the globe. We are truly blessed with stunning natural beauty and our cherished host culture while the gracious aloha of our residents continues to entice and inspire. She concluded, this prestigious honor is yet again a testament to our industry and most importantly, the people of our beloved home of Maui.

The magazines annual Readers Choice Awards poll analyzes the travel preferences of their readership in various categories including cities, islands, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, spas, resorts and rental cars. Ratings are based on the responses of CONDE NAST TRAVELER subscribers who participated in the 22nd annual poll. More than 25,000 readers participated this year and complete results are published in the November 2009 issue, which arrives on newsstands later this month.

Maui no ka oi! or Maui is the Best! is a common Hawaiian refrain. The important to budget travel is to prepare onward. When it happens to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new destinations we have never been before, the truth of cost and budgeting is always in the back of our thoughts. Arranging and consuming our travel budget carefully is a priority for most families. Minimizing spending and costs, while still enjoying your vacation to its fullest, is the key to confirmed accomplishment and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The reasoning regarding saving money while journeying is simple: Even if your personal funds is really limited, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also recalling that while traveling, whether on a price range or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a huge vacation or travel charge!. World-class resorts, award winning cuisine, championship golf, staggering natural beauty and the islands host Hawaiian culture has propelled Maui into the limelight. For more information, visit www.visitmaui.com or call 800-525-6284.