Bangkok replaces Florence as world's best city

Bangkok was voted the world's best city for 2008 and the Galapagos were picked as the best islands in an online poll by Travel + Leisure magazine, trumping last year's winners Florence, Italy and Bali, Indonesia.

It was the first time that Bangkok, the vibrant capital of Thailand, and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador topped their respective categories, said Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure.

Last year, Bangkok was ranked number 3 and the Galapagos number 8. The 2007 winners of best city and best island — Florence an Bali — fell to number 5 and number 2 respectively.

The results were complied from votes by magazine subscribers in an Internet poll which went live between January and March.

Travel + Leisure will honor winners on July 24 in New York City.The complete "World's Best Awards" is available on travelandleisure.com