Sailing Yacht Georgia
Dream It, Do It by Virtuoso Staff
Nice to see you again, the nearly 11,000 ardent travelers who shared your travel aspirations with us in this yearââ,¬â,,¢s survey. The results are in, and itââ,¬â,,¢s clear that you know how to relax in style ââ,¬” on beaches and ship decks, in safari jeeps, and, soon, by revolutionary rocket. Grab a pen, get comfortable, and tick through this yearââ,¬â,,¢s winning destinations to see where youââ,¬â,,¢ve been and where you want to head next.
TOP 10 Dream Destinations
Australia edges Italy for the first time in four years.
1. AUSTRALIA
Explore Melbourne, Uluru and the Olgas, Kakadu National Park, the Reef, Sydney, and more of the Red Continentââ,¬â,,¢s highlights on Globusââ,¬â,,¢22-day escorted vacation. Departures: Multiple dates September 26, 2010, through March 27, 2011; from $5,929.
2. ITALY
Sample daily life with Tauckââ,¬â,,¢s culture focused trip in Italy, filled with eight days of guided museum visits and light walks through villages and vineyards in Tuscany and the Cinque Terre. Departures: Multiple dates September 20 through October 16, 2010; from $3,490.
3. NEW ZEALAND
Travel2 rolls out New Zealandââ,¬â,,¢s showstoppers on a 14-day escorted trip through the North and South islands: Waitomoââ,¬â,,¢s glowworm caves and Rotoruaââ,¬â,,¢s thermal pools, Milford Sound, the Southern Alps, and more. Departures: Multiple dates July 27, 2010, through March 29, 2011; from $3,850.
4. SOUTH AFRICA
Kids ride a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, visit a cheetah park, and spot game on safari during Big Five Tours & Expeditionsââ,¬â,,¢ 11-day family trip in South Africa. Departures: Any day through 2010; from $5,615.
5. GREECE
SeaDream Yacht Clubââ,¬â,,¢s two 112-passenger yachts offer numerous ways to explore the Aegean Sea. One popular route: seven days between Athens and Istanbul with calls at five Grecian ports, along with Kusadasi, Turkey. Departures: Multiple dates July 24 through September 25, 2010; from $3,405.
6. FRENCH POLYNESIA
Hike, search for pearls, and snorkel and dive some of the Tuamotu Archipelagoââ,¬â,,¢s 78 atolls on Paul Gauguin Cruisesââ,¬â,,¢ 11-day sailing from Papeete. The 332-passenger Paul Gauguin features a retractable water-sports platform with Windsurfers, sea kayaks, and Zodiac dive boats. Departures: Multiple dates August 14, 2010, through October 19, 2011; from $4,195.
7. CARIBBEAN
Celebrate the holidays in the Caribbean with Cunardââ,¬â,,¢s 16-day sailing from New York City. The 2,620-passenger Queen Mary 2 heads to Grand Turk before taking an eastern tack to Tortola, Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Grenada, among other islands. Departure: December 19, 2010; from $2,552.
8. FRANCE
Savor one of your top wine regions this year with Chocolatineââ,¬â,,¢s five-day trip in Bordeaux. The privately guided vacation includes daily tastings in the Graves, MÃ