The best islands in the world in 2016

The Travelers' Choice awards rank destinations based on reviews for hotels, restaurants and attractions - as voted for by the public

The Pacific outcrop of Maui in Hawaii has been named as the best island in the world to visit as a tourist.

Roughly the same size as the Shetland Islands, though with a markedly more pleasant climate, Maui combines golden beaches with forested national parks befitting its status as a tropical paradise.

The top 10 islands list has been compiled as part of TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice awards, with the winners based on the cumulative quality of reviews for facilities across the whole island over a 12-month period.

Second place was given to the Greek island of Santorini, whose famous white-stone houses carved into cliffs make it one of the best-known sites in the Cyclades island chain.

While Jamaica takes third place, Bali, Majorca and Mauritius feature in the rest of the top 10. There was no place for any of the UK’s islands in the global line-up – though TripAdvisor has produced a separate ranking system just for them.

Though it seemed to prioritise hotel prices in its listings, TripAdvisor says the rankings also take into account reviews for restaurants and attractions on the islands, all voted for by its registered travelers. The average nightly rate of all hotels on Maui was £233.

A spokesman for the review website said: “While the thought of an island getaway might seem like a budget-busting trip, the average rates to book hotels on TripAdvisor for this year’s award-winning islands say otherwise.”

For the full top 10 and average prices on each island, click through the gallery.

Click here to view the latest travel offers, with Independent Holidays.