The world’s best island revealed: Little-known Caribbean destination is voted the most idyllic on earth

By Chris Kitching for Mailonline
Providenciales consistently ranks as one of the best beach destinations on the planet
Greece is home to three of the top four islands in Europe, including Santorini at No 1
Jersey ranked sixth in Europe, its best ever position in TripAdvisor’s annual
Famed for its crystal clear waters and white sand beaches, a slice of paradise in the Turks and Caicos has been named the best island in the world.
Providenciales has a reputation as one of the best beach destinations on the planet, and is adding to its trophy haul after claiming the top gong in TripAdvisor’s annual ranking.
The Caribbean island, north-east of Cuba, was tops in the website’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2015, edging Maui in Hawaii and Roatan in Honduras.
Most idyllic place on earth: Stunning views of Providenciales
TRAVELLERS PICK THEIR FAVOURITE ISLANDS
Best islands in the world:

1. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
2. Maui, Hawaii
3. Roatan, Honduras
4. Santorini, Greece
5. Ko Tao, Thailand
6. Madeira, Portugal
7. Bali, Indonesia
8. Mauritius
9. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
10. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Best islands in Europe:
1. Santorini, Greece
2. Madeira, Portugal
3. Crete, Greece
4. Zakynthos, Greece
5. Fuerteventura, Spain
6. Jersey, Channel Islands
7. Mallorca, Spain
8. Capri, Italy
9. Tenerife, Spain
10. Corsica, France
TripAdvisor said the rankings are based on reviews from users around the world, with winners being determined using an algorithm that considers the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for each island’s hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Rounding out the top five were Santorini in Greece, which was named the best island in Europe, and Ko Tao in Thailand.
Madeira, Portugal was Europe’s only other entry in the top 10, ranking sixth ahead of Bali in Indonesia, Mauritius, Bora Bora in the South Pacific and Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha.
No island in the UK or Australia managed to crack the global top 10.
BEST IN UK AND CHANNEL ISLANDS
Jersey, Channel Islands
Isle of Wight
St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly
Isle of Arran, Scotland
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Mainland Orkney, Scotland
Anglesey, Wales
Lewis and Harris, Scotland
Isle of Man
Guernsey, Channel Islands
In the European top five, Santorini was followed by Madeira, the Greek islands of Crete and Zakynthos, and Fuerteventura in Spain’s Canary Islands.
Jersey, a self-governing British Crown dependency, was named the sixth best island in Europe – finishing ahead of Mallorca and Tenerife, two of Britons’ favourites – and the top island in the UK and Channel Islands category.
Scotland was the biggest winner in the domestic category, claiming four spots in the top 10.
The Isle of Arran, Isle of Skye, Mainland Orkney, and Lewis and Harris were awarded fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth places, respectively.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Visit Jersey tourist bureau said: ‘We are thrilled to learn that Jersey has been voted number one island in the Travellers’ Choice Awards for Islands UK and Channel Islands category.
‘Not only are we top in the UK but more notably were also voted the sixth best island in the whole of Europe.
‘This is hugely encouraging news as with so many incredible islands to visit across Europe, Jersey holds its own. This is testament to the fantastic work of the Jersey tourism industry.’
IMAGES:
The Caribbean island of Providenciales, in Turks and Caicos, was named the best island in the world by TripAdvisor users
Providenciales, which is home to about 20,000 people, consistently ranks as one of the world’s best islands or beach destinations
With golden beaches and rugged mountains, Maui, the second largest island in Hawaii, was named the second best island in the world
Located just north of the mainland in the Caribbean Sea, Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands in Honduras
Europe’s best island, according to TripAdvisor users, is Santorini, Greece, which was also named fourth best in the world
The small town of Oia is famous for buildings that are painted white and churches with their domes painted blue
Thailand’s Ko Tao, named the fifth best island in the world, is located west of the mainland in the Gulf of Thailand
For more on this story go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3047213/Better-Mallorca-Tenerife-Jersey-named-sixth-best-island-Europe-TripAdvisor-users-Providenciales-Turks-Caicos-world-No-1.html#ixzz3XzbSyKiv