In a spectacular gala evening event at Shaka Zulu in London last night, 32 winners were announced with awards presented by TNT Multimedia Chairman Ken Hurst.
Scroll down for full list of winners – and see photos from the night here.
Voted by TNT readers via live and online campaigns, the accolades recognised tour operators, airlines, accommodation and transport providers who have shown outstanding commitment to the adventure, backpacking and youth travel market.
It’s the second time Golden Backpack Awards have been held in the UK – having been a huge success in Australia.
Winners included Busabout who along with sister companies Haggis Tours and Shamrocker scooped a total of 5 gongs, STA Travel, who were voted Favourite Travel Agent, Easyjet who bagged Favourite Short Haul Airline and Travel Talk, who were awarded Best Tour Itinerary.
The big winner of the night was Topdeck which scooped three awards for Favourite Ski / Winter Operator, favourite big tour operator, favourite tour operator in West Europe.
Travel service providers Excess Baggage and First Contact won Favourite Shipping Provider and Favourite Finance Support Provider respectively.
Intrepid Travel were voted Favourite Middle East Tour Operator as well as Favourite Medium-Sized Tour Operator. Adventure travel specialists Contiki won Favourite South America Tour Operator
TNT Editor Laura Chubb said: “This is the second year that we’ve held the Golden Backpack Awards in the UK and once again it’s been a huge success.
“The thing that makes these awards really count is that they’re voted for by the TNT readers. And who better to judge the best of the best in the travel industry than the people who actually go out and experience what these companies have to offer?
“It obviously means a lot to the winners, too, judging from the raucous reactions at the awards on the night!
“Well done to everyone involved this year and we look forward to another great event in 2013.”
Favourite Shipping Provider | |
Winner | Excess Baggage |
Finalists | 1st Contact Anglo Pacific Pickfords PSS International Removals |
Favourite Insurance Provider | |
Winner | Insure & Go |
Finalists | Directline Travel Insurance Downunder Insurance Go Travel Insurance World First Travel Insurance |
Favourite Travel Transport | |
Winner | Eurostar |
Finalists | Busabout easyBus Eurolines National Rail |
Favourite Travel Agency | |
Winner | STA Travel |
Finalists | Co-operative Group Travel Ltd Flight Centre Thomas Cook Trailfinders Ltd |
Favourite Short Haul Airline | |
Winner | easyJet |
Finalists | Aer Lingus British Airways Lufthansa Ryanair |
Favourite Long Haul Airline | |
Winner | Emirates |
Finalists | British Airways Qantas Singapore Airlines Virgin Atlantic |
Favourite Finance Support Provider | |
Winner | 1st Contact |
Finalists | MoneyGram Post Office Thomas Exchange Global Western Union |
Favourite Festival Operator | |
Winner | Busabout |
Finalists | Contiki First Festival Travel Stoke Travel Topdeck |
Favourite Adventure / Activity / Sports Operator | |
Winner | Sail Croatia Adventures |
Finalists | G Adventures The Fanatics Travel Talk Tucan Travel |
Favourite Campervan / Caravan Operator | |
Winner | Wicked Campers UK & Europe |
Finalists | Budget Campervans Campervans.com Scooby Campers Spaceships Campervan Rentals |
Favourite Ski / Winter Operator | |
Winner | Topdeck |
Finalists | Contiki h.o.f.n.a.r. Ski Direct Travel Talk |
Favourite Educational / Charity / Volunteering Operator | |
Winner | Camp America |
Finalists | BUNAC Gapyear.com i-to-i Travel & Volunteering Work And Volunteer Abroad (WAVA) |
Favourite Small Tour Operator | |
Winner | Haggis Adventures |
Finalists | First Festival Travel Macbackpackers Shamrocker Trek America |
Favourite Medium-size Tour Operator | |
Winner | Intrepid |
Finalists | Busabout Cosmos Holidays On the Go Travel Talk |
Favourite Big Tour Operator | |
Winner | Topdeck |
Finalists | Contiki G Adventures Imaginative Traveller Thomas Cook |
Best Tour Itinerary | |
Winner | Travel Talk |
Finalists | Busabout Contiki Intrepid Topdeck |
Favourite Africa Tour Operator | |
Winner | Absolute Africa |
Finalists | Acacia Africa Busabout Travel Talk Tucan Ltd |
Favourite Middle East Tour Operator | |
Winner | Intrepid |
Finalists | Contiki Geckos Topdeck Travel Talk |
Favourite America Tour Operator | |
Winner | Trek America |
Finalists | Contiki G Adventures Geckos |
Favourite South America Tour Operator | |
Winner | Contiki |
Finalists | G Adventures Intrepid Trek America |
Favourite Hostel in East Europe | |
Winner | PLUS Hostels |
Finalists | Czech Inn Friendly Fun Frank’s Hostel Old Prague Hostel St Christopher’s Prague |
Favourite Hostel in West Europe | |
Winner | PLUS Hostels |
Finalists | Generator Hostel Berlin St Christopher’s Inn Paris The Flying Pig Downtown Wombats Munich |
Favourite Tour Operator in East Europe | |
Winner | Busabout |
Finalists | Topdeck Contiki Encounters Travel Travel Talk |
Favourite Tour Operator in West Europe | |
Winner | Topdeck |
Finalists | Contiki Euro Camp Intrepid Busabout |
Favourite Hostel in England | |
Winner | Clink78 |
Finalists | Brighton Backpackers Generator Hostel London St Christophers Inn YHA |
Favourite Hostel in Ireland | |
Winner | Generator Hostel Dublin |
Finalists | Barnacles Hostel Temple Bar House Dublin International Hostel Hostels Club Killarney International Hostel |
Favourite Hostel in Scotland | |
Winner | Castle Rock Hostel Edinburgh |
Finalists | Edinburgh Backpackers Hostels Haggis Hostels Morags Lodge St Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh |
Favourite Hostel in Wales | |
Winner | Cardiff Backpacker Hostel |
Finalists | Beacons Backpackers Nomad Cardiff NosDa Hostel YHA |
Favourite Tour Operator in England | |
Winner | The London Sightseeing Pass |
Finalists | Anderson Tours Contiki Golden Tours Topdeck |
Favourite Tour Operator in Ireland | |
Winner | Shamrocker |
Finalists | Contiki Inroads Ireland Tours Paddywagon Topdeck |
Favourite Tour Operator in Scotland | |
Winner | Haggis Adventures |
Finalists | Anderson Tours Contiki MacBackpackers Ltd Topdeck |
Favourite Tour Operator in Wales | |
Winner | Explore Wales |
Finalists | Best of Britain Haggis Adventures |