The 50 Most Popular World Travel Destinations

Which destinations continued to be favorites among American travelers in 2013 and where are the new tourism hotspots? Fodors.com reveals the answers with their first annual list of the year’s most popular travel destinations according to the more than 4.5 million unique monthly visitors to the brand’s website. Of the 7,500 destinations Fodors.com covers around the world, the leading travel publisher has identified 2013’s top 50 worldwide travel locales as well as the 50 destinations that have grown most in popularity over 2012 based on destination-guide page views from natural search by American visitors to Fodors.com.

“Natural search is a strong indicator of travelers’ intent to visit a destination--these are people that came to us because they were actively researching a trip using a search engine,” says Arabella Bowen, Editor in Chief of Fodor’s Travel.

While New York City continued to top the travel charts in 2013, many of the U.S.’s charming small cities and regions emerged with record interest. Texas Hill Country, situated between Austin and San Antonio and home to a burgeoning wine scene, saw the most dramatic growth in 2013, with a 258% increase in page views according to Fodors.com website statistics. Charleston, S.C., Savannah, G.A., and New York’s Hudson Valley also saw increased interest in 2013 and joined New Orleans, Napa and Sonoma, and Washington, D.C. in the top 50 most-popular destinations for the year.

Europe, the subject of Eugene Fodor’s first guidebook, ON THE CONTINENT (published in 1936), experienced a post-recession resurgence in 2013. Paris and Rome appear in the top ten of the year’s most visited destinations on Fodors.com while Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Ireland and Iceland all saw page views more than double.

“Europe is back in a big way, with the strongest numbers we’ve seen in years, which is really exciting. A number of great events and cultural happenings like Ireland’s The Gathering as well as terrific travel values in countries like Spain have helped put a spotlight on travel to the continent,” said Bowen. “At the same time, we saw a shift to new regions in the United States, like Texas Hill Country and the Oregon Coast, which indicates the Fodor’s audience is always looking to discover new places and experiences, something the brand has long embodied.”

Highlighting the popularity of warm-weather destinations among Americans, the report also revealed that eleven of the top 25 most-visited destination guides on Fodors.com in 2013 were beach retreats. Hawaii is a perennial favorite, along with Caribbean islands like St. Martin and Turks and Caicos. Mexican hotspots showed tremendous growth last year, with travelers showing increased interest in Isla Mujeres, Los Cabos, and the Riviera Maya. Other beach destinations with a significant uptick in interest included Puerto Rico (particularly San Juan and Vieques and Culebra); St. John and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and the Dominican Republic.

To explore these great destinations and other locations around the world, with travel tips from the experts and more, visit Fodors.com.

TOP 50 MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS WORLDWIDE:

1. New York City
2. Paris
3. The Florida Keys
4. San Francisco
5. New Orleans
6. Maui
7. St. Martin/St. Maarten
8. Las Vegas
9. Rome
10. Washington, D.C.
11. Big Island, Hawaii
12. London
13. Kauai
14. Bermuda
15. Napa and Sonoma
16. Turks and Caicos
17. Honolulu and Oahu
18. Seattle
19. Cape Cod
20. Los Cabos, Mexico
21. Barcelona
22. Savannah
23. Chicago
24. Boston
25. St. Lucia
26. Montreal
27. Miami
28. Charleston
29. Los Angeles
30. San Diego
31. Santa Fe
32. Philadelphia
33. Amsterdam, Netherlands
34. Aruba
35. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
36. Puna Cana, Dominican Republic
37. The Hudson Valley
38. Cayman Islands
39. San Antonio
40. Venice
41. San Juan, Puerto Rico
42. Walt Disney World
43. Cancun
44. Grand Canyon
45. St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
46. Buenos Aires
47. Florence
48. Jamaica
49. Quebec City
50. Puerto Rico

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Enjoy the Slow Life In France with a Relaxing and Delicious Week in Gascony

Worn out by the rat race? Need to take a break from the insanity of the modern world? Then join Annie Jacquet-Bentley, founder of l’Ecole des Chefs, in her restored farmhouse in Gascony, France, for the perfect wellness retreat and culinary vacation.

Annie will share her passion for cooking and eating healthfully, as well as her strong commitment to living The Slow Life. In addition to hands-on cooking classes and meals shared at Annie’s table, enjoy visits to open-air markets and local restaurants; excursions to explore the region; wine tastings; and all-around pampering, including relaxation techniques, spa treatments, and massages.

Groups are limited to three people to ensure individualized attention. Sessions begin in the spring of 2014 and are priced at an all-inclusive fee of $3,750. (Travel costs are not included.)

Please visit Annie’s website at SlowLifeInFrance.com for details.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Broadmoor Named #1 Golf Resort in North America by Golf Magazine Readers

The Broadmoor is proud to announce that the property has been named “#1 Golf Resort in North America” by Golf magazine readers.

With more than 8,000 readers voting on four criteria, including Golf, Lodging, Food & Drink, and Service, The Broadmoor secured a “runaway win” to the #1 position, with readers sighting impressive property-wide renovations, as well as ranking The Broadmoor as the leader in the Service, Lodging, and Food & Drink categories.

The award follows an impressive year of national recognition for The Broadmoor’s golf program. Last year Links magazine named The Broadmoor one of the “25 Best Golf Resorts in the World,” while The Broadmoor’s East Course was recognized by Colorado Avid Golfer “Reader and Editor’s Choice Awards” for “Best Resort Course,” and “Best Course Conditions.” Also in 2013 The Broadmoor was also named one of the “Global Ten” resort golf operations in the world in Gary Galyean’s Golf Letter and received a Platinum Award from AGM (Associated Golf Merchandisers).

“The accolades for The Broadmoor’s golf program are a testament to our dedication to create an exceptional experience for our guests,” says Russ Miller, Director of Golf. “With three championship courses to choose from, along with world-class pros, golf at The Broadmoor is unparelleled.”

The Broadmoor has three distinct courses, the East Course, West Course, and Mountain Course. The Broadmoor’s championship East and West courses, designed by Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones Sr., offer scenic and challenging play for golfers of all handicaps. The East Course is known for its wide, tree-lined fairways and expansive greens, while the West Course offers rolling fairways and steeply-angled greens. The Mountain Course by Nicklaus Design adds an additional 18 challenging holes, large greens and captivating mountain views, ideal for a range of skill levels.

The Golf Club also features a full-service Pro Shop, summer caddie program and electric carts and to date, The Broadmoor has hosted 22 major championships including seven PGA championships.

In addition to golf, The Broadmoor is home to over fifteen on-property dining options, including the Five-Star Five-Diamond Penrose Room, the award-winning Spa at The Broadmoor, and tennis. Indoor activities include Play at The Broadmoor, with six lanes of bowling, while outdoor adventures comprise of horseback riding, hiking, fly fishing, and more.

For more information on Golf at The Broadmoor, please visit Broadmoor.com or call 866.837.9520.

About The Broadmoor

Opened in 1918, The Broadmoor is situated at the gateway to the Colorado Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs with more than 60 flights into Colorado Springs Airport by Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta and United. The resort encompasses 3,000 acres with three championship golf courses, and more than 770 rooms and suites, including the new Cottage suites. Amenities include an award-winning spa and fitness center, nationally recognized tennis program, 26 retail boutiques and 19 restaurants, cafes and lounges.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Present Moment Retreat a Hidden Gem on the Mexican Riviera

Present Moment Retreat today announced that it has been named as a winner of the Top Small Hotels Traveler’s Choice category in the 2014 Travelers’ Choice® awards for the 3rd consecutive year. In the 12th year of the awards, the world’s most outstanding properties were identified in the categories of Top Hotels, Bargain, B&Bs and Inns, Family, Luxury, Romance, and Small Hotels. Travelers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers around the globe.

Present Moment Retreat is a boutique hotel, yoga retreat, wellness spa and gourmet restaurant in Troncones Beach, Mexico. It was co-founded by Minneapolis residents CJ Ananda Page and Thomas William Morisette in 2005. Present Moment specializes in Yoga, Meditation, Qigong, Dance & Healing Arts.

“It’s an incredible honor to have been recognized and included in such an elite group of boutique hotels,” said CJ Ananda Page, a Minneapolis native and co-owner of Present Moment. “I have to pass the credit on to our amazing staff and the natural beauty of Troncones Beach. Nine years ago the dream began when we packed up a U-Haul and headed south. The journey has been magical; every breath has been a continuation of that dream.”

“We’re excited to recognize the world’s best properties, based on the opinions of those who know them best – the millions of travelers around the globe who come to TripAdvisor to share their experiences,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “For those seeking inspiration for their 2014 travel planning, this list of spectacular accommodations that received 2014 Travelers’ Choice awards is a perfect place to start.”

For Present Moment reviews, click here.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.