Fountain of Youth Entrance, St. Augustine, Florida – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Ovidiu Hrubaru
For hundreds of years, tourists have been drawn to the sunny coastline of St. Augustine, Florida. It is currently regarded as one of the nation’s friendliest cities.
According to Booking.com data provided with Travel + Leisure, the city, which is tucked away along Florida’s East Coast, was chosen one of the most inviting destinations in the United States for 2025. Booking.com claimed to have examined over 360 million verified customer reviews in order to create the rankings.
Ben Harrell, Booking.com’s managing director for the U.S., told T+L, “We’re thrilled to see destinations like Saint Augustine recognized in the global list for their exceptional hospitality. The U.S. is such a diverse country that has so much to offer travelers.” “St. Augustine has always been known for its historic charm, and now travelers will also come to know it for its welcoming environment and excellent accommodations.”
Established in 1565, St. Augustine is still the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement of European and African-American ancestry. It has excellent hotels, stunning beaches, and a ton of activities, including boating, a 17th-century fortress, historic trolley tours, and eerie ghost tours.
When visiting St. Augustine, tourists should think about booking a room at the charming St. George Inn, which is ranked among the best accommodations in the city on Booking.com and has a picturesque courtyard and a pedestrian-friendly location. Or take advantage of the highly regarded boutique Marker 8 Hotel & Marina’s beachfront setting, heated plunge pool with bay views, and free evening hors d’oeuvres. Take into consideration these T+L preferred hotels for stays that editors adore and have won awards for.
Outside of Florida, visitors will feel completely at home in Cape May, New Jersey, which ranked No. 2 on the list, and Newport, Rhode Island, another East Coast destination, which ranked No. 3.
With about 800,000 acres of national park and its unique Joshua tree (or yucca) forests, California’s Joshua Tree was regarded as one of the friendliest destinations on the West Coast in 2025. Sedona, Arizona, which is well-known for its breathtaking red rocks, stargazing, and other activities, should also make visitors feel at home.
According to Booking.com, the following is the complete list of the top ten friendliest locations in the United States:
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Cape May, New Jersey
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Joshua Tree, California
- Sedona, Arizona
- Lahaina, Hawaii
- Oakhurst, California
- Waikoloa, Hawaii
- Prescott, Arizona
- Broken Bow, Oklahoma
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