Hawaii Named the Most Welcoming U.S. State

There’s nothing better than being welcomed into a brand-new destination. That feeling of warmth and hospitality can make a trip all the more memorable. And if you’re looking for somewhere that delivers that kind of “hello,” Booking.com knows exactly where you should go. And you don’t even need a passport to get there. 

In January, Booking.com announced the recipients of its 13th annual Traveler Review Awards. While the awards really focus on the best individual accommodations, they also highlight destinations as well, specifically calling out the friendliest and most “welcoming” spots around the U.S. To figure out which places are the most welcoming of all, it calculates which spots have the highest total number of eligible, award-winning accommodations, which are based on more than 360 million verified customer reviews. Destinations, the methodology noted, “also had to have an above-average amount of winners to be included on this list.” 

After looking at all that data, Booking.com named Hawaii the most welcoming state in the U.S., meaning it’s also home to plenty of award-winning accommodations.

Booking.com specifically called out the Napili Sunset Beach Front Resort and the Napili Shores Maui by Outrigger in Lahaina as excellent options, along with the home rentals Slide of Paradise and Sweet Heaven in Waikoloa. But there are tons of other great stays like our readers’ favorite hotels and these editor-loved properties.

And really, it’s little surprise Hawaii won this accolade. After all, Honolulu was also named the best state to live in the U.S., and Ke Ala Hele Makālae (The Path that Goes by the Coast) was also named one of the best places to hike in the nation. Plus, Dr. Beach named Hawaii’s Kahanamoku Beach on Oahu the best in the U.S.

But Hawaii wasn’t the only welcoming state to make Booking’s list. It also called out Maine in second, followed by the District of Columbia, Utah, and Idaho, rounding out the top five friendliest states. 

As for the friendliest city, that honor went to St. Augustine, Florida. It was joined by Cape May, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island; Joshua Tree, California; Sedona, Arizona; and Lahaina, Hawaii, rounding out the top five friendliest cities.