Out Traveler Awards: Beaches, Parties, and Islands

After weeks of voting, we have winners for this year's Out Traveler Awards, which were decided with your votes. Check out the winners of the sexiest categories below.

Sultriest Place on Earth: Rio de janeiro
Runner-up: Sitges, Spain

Rio wins again as the sultriest place on Earth, after snagging the title last year. The warm temperatures, sizzling nightlife, and seriously sexy inhabitants of the Brazilian metropolis put it over the top. Rio's Pride celebration is also one of the best in the world; a huge street party where sensuality runs as thick as the city's humidity.

Hottest U.S. Gay Beach: Sebastian Beach (Fort Lauderdale)
Runner-up: Lighthouse Beach (Fire Island)

Fort Lauderdale had been stealing a lot of thunder lately from Miami, its famous neighbor to the south, and committing to LGBT tourism. The smaller city is a more relaxed alternative to South Beach, but there's no shortage of action, whether it be warm sands or handsome men. Fire Island will always be a favorite, but Ft. Lauderdale is on a roll. Oh, and marriage equality is coming to Florida in January.

Most Decadent Annual Destination Party: Sydney Mardi Gras
Runner-up: White Party (Palm Springs)

If you can afford the plane ticket to Australia, this is the annual gay event not to miss. An equal measure of hot bodies, frivolity, and tongue-in-cheek playfulness (thanks to the huge drag presence) bested the venerable Palm Springs White Party as the top gay event, which it was named last year.

Favorite Island: Maui
Runner-up Tahiti

The Hawaiian island of Maui is less packed than Oahu, home of Honolulu, but less remote than Kauai. It has all the beauty you could ask for, plus a gay hotel and a beach — Little Beach, south of Kihei — that comes alive with queer (and naked) energy every Sunday.