Top five international vacation destinations in 2011

Top five international vacation destinations in 2011

Aussie Robbert van Bloemendaal of Rowlett shares his latest Tips on Travel

Of all the international destinations being booked for the remainder of 2011 by clients of Travel Leaders, one – London, England – has had a big resurgence in popularity. Rising to number three in Travel Leaders’ 2011 Fall Travel Trends Survey, London is now close to the number one ranking it held for many years.

Travel Leaders executives believe that the surge in London’s popularity may be due in part to interest in the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, earlier this year. There’s also tremendous anticipation for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne; as well as for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, which will be held in London.

The top two international destinations, Caribbean cruising and Cancun, Mexico, offer warm, sunny weather to U.S. travelers who have endured a stormy summer at home. The number and variety of Caribbean cruises is constantly expanding, and some spectacular new ships – including Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Epic, and Celebrity Cruises’ Silhouette – spend at least part of the year in the Caribbean. Cancun recently refurbished its beaches with more than a billion gallons of wonderful sand, enhancing the beach experience for all of its visitors.

Rome, Italy, at number four, and Mediterranean cruising, at number five, complete the list of the top five international vacation destinations. With three of the top five destinations in Europe, it’s clear that more Americans are willing to travel a little farther for a great vacation, especially now that so many more have passports at the ready.

Robbert van Bloemendaal, Blue Ribbon News special contributor and world traveler

The Travel Leaders survey, conducted in August, gathered actual booking data and insider expertise from hundreds of Travel Leaders owners and agents across the U.S. To plan your next international vacation, talk with your travel professional.

Click here to read about the Top 5 U.S. Travel Destinations in 2011

This travel column was written by BlueRibbonNews.com special contributor Robbert van Bloemendaal, an experienced world traveler, native of Australia, an Ambassador with the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce, and president of  Travel Leaders of Rowlett.

To submit your news, events, or a guest column of your choice, email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com.