Kauai voted Hawaii's best island

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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With so many beaches and so much sun, how do you choose among the Hawaiian Islands? Travel + Leisure readers managed to do it, and voted Kauai as the best of the bunch. Islands were judged on natural attractions, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people, and value. And though T+L readers might skew higher budget than the traveling public in general, Kauai really can be an affordable destination.

Kauai came in second on the worldwide list of best islands, behind Bali. And guess which one of those destinations has cheaper airfare from the U.S. Here’s a hint: It’s not Bali.

More world’s bests, including best cities, best hotels, and best airlines are available online as well.

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