Charleston wins in Travel+Leisure US World’s Best Awards, while Sydney takes a tumble

For only the second time since it hosted of the Olympic Games in 2000, Sydney has failed to make the top-10 cities list in the prestigious Travel+Leisure US World’s Best Awards.

Why? It's too expensive.

Or rather, as Australia's Fairfax media puts it, the city rates poorly among Travel+Leisure's readers for "value-for-money."

In order, the top-5 cities in the readers' survey were:

1. Bangkok
2. Istanbul
3. Florence
4. Cape Town
5. Kyoto

The only US city named in the top-10 — Charleston, South Carolina — came in at No. 7.

The survey asks Travel+Leisure readers to rate several apects of trave, including hotels, cities, islands, cruises and spas.

According to Travel+Leisure, US hotels represent nearly 20 percent of the top-50 list, from Triple Creek Ranch (No. 13) in western Montana to Elizabeth Pointe Lodge (No. 25) on Amelia Island, F.

Meanwhile, Virgin America was named "Top Domestic Airline" for the sixth consecutive year.

Airlines were rated in four categories: cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and value

The California-based airline's CEO, David Cush, said in a statement:

"Receiving independent feedback from thousands of the most discerning travelers out there is not only an honor but a continued validation of the work of our teammates in creating a service experience that stands head and shoulders above the competition."