Have you ever booked an awesome vacation several months out that you’ve been dreaming of for years and then in the months between when you book and when you go on the vacation you see like 500 of your friends on social media visiting that city? This has pretty much happened to anyone who’s visited Iceland (or Austin, TX for a bachelor/bachelorette party) in the past 5 years.
Miraculously, Iceland didn’t make this year’s list of the TripAdvisor‘s Travelers’ Choice Awards for the Top 10 travel destinations in the world and in the US even though Reykjavik is one of the hottest destinations around. This year’s travel rankings just came out and NYC game in as the #1 travel destination in America but it was only ranked as the #10 destination in the world.
TripAdvisor released their annual report of the Travelers’ Choice Destinations in a press release which has detailed information on what makes each city so popular. Let’s look at both the world and USA top 10s with the U.S. travel destinations up first:
1. New York City, New York
The beloved Big Apple offers something for every type of traveler at any time of day, from Broadway shows to some of the world’s most iconic attractions.
2. Maui, Hawaii
This island is a hotspot for travelers who love being outdoors, as they can stretch out on warm, golden sands, jump in the ocean for windsurfing lessons or dive into a relaxing snorkeling session.
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Vegas can satisfy a variety of vacation tastes, including great meals from renowned chefs, access to some of the world’s premier casinos and a variety of spectacular shows on the Strip.
4. Oahu, Hawaii
This island is a sunbather’s and surfer’s paradise, with beautiful beaches and wild waves of epic heights.
5. Orlando, Florida
Home to some of the world’s most popular amusement and theme parks, Orlando offers travelers boundless opportunities for adventure and family fun.
6. Chicago, Illinois
The Windy City is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, innovative comedy and unique neighborhoods from Lincoln Park to Hyde Park.
7. San Diego, California
San Diego offers travelers laid-back California culture, ideal weather and endless outdoor fun, from exploring Balboa Park to swimming and surfing the spectacular shores.
8. San Francisco, California
Travelers can explore the City by the Bay’s colorful neighborhoods, from the hippie chic of the Upper Haight to the hipster grit of the Mission to trendy bistros in the Marina district.
9. New Orleans, Louisiana
From Mardi Gras celebrations on Bourbon Street to the historic French Quarter, NOLA has something for everyone – even supernatural museums and guided tours.
10. Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
Life on the Big Island boasts natural beauty and adventure, from the heights of Mauna Kea to black sand beaches to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and a famous local plate of fresh “poke.” (via)
It’s pretty interesting that Florida’s billed as a top tourist destination with some of the best beaches in the world but the only city from the state of Florida to crack the Travelers’ Choice Awards is Orlando, a landlocked city famous for Disney World and Universal Studios. But it’s not all that surprising when you consider how insufferably hot, swampy, and muggy the state of Florida is for 8 months out of the year.
Here’s what the Top 10 in the world looks like for 2018:
1. Paris, France
Least expensive month to go: August (8% savings, compared to annual average)
2. London, England
Least expensive month to go: April (4% savings, compared to annual average)
3. Rome, Italy
Least expensive month to go: August (8% savings, compared to annual average)
4. Bali, Indonesia
Least expensive month to go: April (8% savings, compared to annual average)
5. Crete, Greece
Least expensive month to go: October (36% savings, compared to annual average)
6. Barcelona, Spain
Least expensive month to go: November (15% savings, compared to annual average)
7. Prague, Czech Republic
Least expensive month to go: November (12% savings, compared to annual average)
8. Marrakech, Morocco
Least expensive month to go: November (12% savings, compared to annual average)
9. Istanbul, Turkey
Least expensive month to go: May (6% savings, compared to annual average)
10. New York City, New York
Least expensive month to go: August (4% savings, compared to annual average) (via)
It seems like the months to travel to Europe are either August or November. Presumably, August because it’s unbearably hot and November is when the seasons switch, the weather changes, and half the restaurants/shops close for the season because all of the tourists are gone.
For more on the 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards you can CLICK HERE to see how much the average trip costs and the best hotels to stay at when visiting these destinations.
