Savannah may be No. 1 in the hearts of its residents, but it rates a little lower among the nation's travelers.
Still, No. 6 isn't bad.
National travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler has released its list of top 10 U.S. cities as voted on by its readers. Savannah came in sixth with a 71.9 percent score. The 2000 Readers' Choice Award is considered the Kentucky Derby of travel awards. The poll is the magazine's 13th and received the most respondents -- more than 25,000.
"It's really the granddaddy of travel industry awards," said Jon Paul Buchmeyer, director of public relations for the magazine.
Random readers voted on the choices using a five-star scale from poor to excellent and used four criteria for the cities: ambiance, people/friendliness, culture/entertainment and restaurants. Respondents had to choose from 87 U.S. and 93 international cities.
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Charleston
Special to the Savannah Morning News
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The scores are then averaged, based on "excellent" and "very good" votes, and divvied up into foreign and domestic categories. The results will appear in the magazine's November issue.
Even though the No. 2 through 10 cities weren't awarded the swanky statue that No. 1 winner San Francisco got at a black-tie ceremony in Las Vegas last weekend, awardees get something equally valuable.
"For Savannah, it's huge bragging rights," Buchmeyer said. "It's a perennial favorite with our readers. It's not easy to make it on our top 10 list, so Savannah should be proud."
Savannah has been on the Conde Nast readers' choice list for more than six years. Last year, it ranked ninth among U.S. cities.
Other Georgia locations also did well this year. The Lodge On Little St. Simons Island won Top North American Small Hotel. The Cloister in Sea Island ranked 13th in the Top North American Resorts category and two Atlanta-area hotels -- the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead and the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta -- ranked seventh and 23rd, respectively, in the Top North American Hotels category.
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San Francisco
Special to the Savannah Morning News
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Anthony Schopp, director of the Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the local distinction just reaffirms what he and residents have always known: that Savannah is a hot property in the Southeast.
As for that other Southern city ranking higher than Savannah, he recommends taking it in stride.
"The recognition from Conde Nast says we're offering their readers some unique and different experiences," Schopp said. "Savannah and Charleston are one of the last vestiges of the old South, with its history and mystique. It's good for both of us. Here, we're an hour and a half apart... it's a good one, two combination. One being Savannah, two being Charleston."
Here is the list of U.S. cities ranked in the top 10 of the Conde Nast Traveler 2000 Readers' Choice Award.
1. San Francisco
2. New Orleans
3. Charleston
4. Santa Fe
5. New York City
6. Savannah
7. Chicago
8. Seattle
9. Boston
10. San Diego
