Tc Destinations Awards2008 V2

“A beautiful town.
It’s like a fairytale.”

“An extraordinary
blend of cultures...
a unique city.”

The Best Destinations in the World
Always Get People Talking

“May be the most
dramatic meeting
of sea and shore
in the world.”

“The opportunity
to see wildlife is
unparalleled here.”

TOP 100 DES TI NATI ONS
World

10 Lake Tahoe 18 Dingle
1 Milford Sound Ireland
California, United States
New Zealand

11 Salzburg 19 Lake Louise
2 Queenstown Alberta, Canada
Austria
New Zealand

20 Bruges
12 Cape Town
3 Philipsburg Belgium
South Africa
St. Maarten

4 Cayo Largo
Cuba

5 Rhodes
Greece

6 Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

7 Cruz Bay
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

8 Bridgetown
Barbados

9 Banff
Alberta, Canada

Milford Sound—Photo by Droitwich Spa

21 Marigot
13 Amalfi St. Martin
Italy

22 Sydney
14 Bath Australia
England

23 Cairns
15 Siena Australia
Italy

24 Kyoto
16 Victoria Japan
British Columbia, Canada

25 Lucerne
17 Hamilton
Banff—Photo by GnarlyGK Switzerland
Bermuda

P3
2008 TRAVELERS’ CHOICE DESTINATIONS AWARDS

37 Auckland 50 Venice
New Zealand Italy

51 Vancouver
38 Poipu
Hawaii, United States British Columbia, Canada

39 Abu Simbel 52 Napa
Egypt California, United States

40 Sedona 53 Luxor
Arizona, United States Egypt

41 New Orleans 54 York
Louisiana, United States England

55 Niagara-on-the-Lake
42 Galway
Ireland Ontario, Canada

56 Lahaina
43 Heidelberg
Germany Hawaii, United States

57 Paris
44 Monte-Carlo
Monaco France

58 La Jolla

59 Melbourne
Australia

Vatican City—Photo by ElsiMMr
60 Port Douglas
Australia

26 Vatican City

61 Quebec City
Quebec, Canada

27 Edinburgh
Scotland
62 Prague
Czech Republic

28 Big Sur
63 St. Petersburg
Russia

29 San Gimignano
Italy

30 Byron Bay
Australia

31 Male Carmel—Photo by A TripAdvisor Member
Maldives

32 Seven Mile Beach 45 Carmel
Cayman Islands California, United States

33 Florence 46 Wanaka
Italy New Zealand

34 San Francisco 47 Oranjestad
California, United States Aruba

35 Chichen Itza 48 Christchurch
Mexico New Zealand

36 Pompeii 49 Rothenburg ob der Tauber St. Petersburg—Photo by smithjen78
Italy Germany

P4

88 Jasper
75 Munich
Germany Alberta, Canada

76 Cayo Guillermo 89 Knysna
Cuba South Africa

77 Whistler 90 Barcelona
British Columbia, Canada Spain

78 Noosa 91 Hana
Australia Hawaii, United States

79 Singapore 92 Bar Harbor
Singapore Maine, United States

93 Innsbruck
80 Amsterdam
The Netherlands Austria

94 Boulder
81 Aix-en-Provence Colorado, United States
France

95 Tokyo
82 Ko Phi Phi Don Japan
Thailand

96 Mont-St-Michel
France

97 Machu Picchu
Peru

Versailles—Photo by RoadTripsterly
98 Charleston
South Carolina, United States

64 Versailles
France
99 Toledo
Spain

65 Assisi
Italy
100 Monterey

66 Jackson
Wyoming, United States

67 Stratford-upon-Avon
England

68 Jerusalem
Israel

Honolulu—Photo by tripgirl74r
69 Ubud
Indonesia

70 Ephesus 83 Honolulu
Turkey Hawaii, United States

71 Wailea 84 London
Hawaii, United States England

72 Interlaken 85 Killarney
Switzerland Ireland

73 West Yellowstone 86 Copenhagen
Montana, United States Denmark

87 Rome
74 Positano Monterey—Photo by hawaii2007RI
Italy Italy

P5

United States

1 Lake Tahoe 4 Poipu 7 Carmel
Hawaii California
California

“Great beaches—ask for directions to the hidden “Tucked away in a one-square-mile radius, you
“Beautiful—fine casinos and restaurants, as well
beach where you can see sea lions and whales, can find a wide variety of romantic restaurants,
as activities for all ages. In the summer, going
and enjoy your own private beach for the day.” charming cafes, picnic spots and the beach.”
to the white sandy beaches is great fun.”

A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Chicago, Ill. A TripAdvisor Member, Monterey, Calif.

2 Big Sur
California

“The heart of Big Sur is nestled in a Redwood
forest. Three miles in any direction, on Hwy. 1,
takes you back to breathtaking ocean views.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Idaho

3 San Francisco
California

“Simply the most beautiful, elegant, interesting
city I have ever seen. It is wonderful. Now I
know what Tony Bennett meant.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Prospect, N.Y.

Lake Tahoe—Photo by syrahgirl

5 Sedona 8 Napa
Arizona California

“The perfect place to relax and rejuvenate your “If you like scenic drives, the rolling green hills
physical side as well as your spiritual self. The and vineyards are as beautiful as any in France,
beauty of the area is breathtaking.” Germany or Italy.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Colorado Springs, Colo. A TripAdvisor Member, Woodstock, Ga.

6 New Orleans 9 Lahaina
Louisiana Hawaii

“In the Big Easy, a visitor ends up slowing down “Relax, sit on the beach, sit on the grass over-
a little, and savoring life more than racing looking the beach, browse the shops in Lahaina.
through it.” It might have been our best family vacation yet.”
Sedona—Photo by roseabella
A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Irvine, Calif.

P6

14 Honolulu 19 Monterey
Hawaii California

“From sugar plantations to Don Ho to the “One of the most romantic travel destinations—
television show Lost, the city boasts a remark- beautiful sandy beaches, charming B&Bs and
able history.” intimate dining options.”

A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Monterey, Calif.

15 Hana 20 Kailua-Kona
Hawaii Hawaii

“The road to Hana is filled with lush tropical “Not a destination to stay out late and party all
foliage, waterfalls and breathtaking panoramic night, but an oasis of endless exploration possi-
views—the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen.” bilities.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Palestine, Texas A TripAdvisor Member

21 Santa Fe
16 Bar Harbor
Maine New Mexico

“Strolling the streets and stopping in all the “A work of art unto itself! Extraordinary blend
quaint shops is always interesting and fun. We of cultures—a unique city. Some locals refer to
always find unique things to buy. We love it there.” it as ‘the City Different.’”

A TripAdvisor Member, New York, N.Y.
A TripAdvisor Member, Canada
Bar Harbor—Photo by maryobfl

10 La Jolla 22 Estes Park
California Colorado
“Seals, rocks, sandy beaches, surfers and clear “The scenic beauty and opportunity to see
water. The whole area was so clean. Quaint little wildlife is unparalleled here. It’s a very special
shops line the area above the cove.” place to visit!”
A TripAdvisor Member, Shelbyville, Ind. A TripAdvisor Member, Littleton, Colo.

11 Jackson 23 New York City
Wyoming New York
“A great town to unwind in after a day in the “New York is an amazingly friendly place. All the
mountains; a good base camp for exploring hype about NYC rudeness and personal risk
Grand Teton and the National Forests.” proved untrue.”
A TripAdvisor Member, St. Louis, Mo. A TripAdvisor Member, Portland, Ore.

New York City—Photo by NewYorkTours_France

12 Wailea 17 Boulder 24 Austin
Hawaii Colorado Texas
“Gorgeous blue water, exotic nature, soft sandy “Fantastic climate, wide open spaces, scenic “A very informal city. It’s laid-back, but ener-
beaches, bright, colorful sunsets, and an abun- mountains and a plethora of parks draw out- getic. Down-home, but cultured. Sophisticated,
but funky. You’ll find it all here!”
dance of flowers—it's pure paradise.” door enthusiasts to this beautiful town.”

A TripAdvisor Member
A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member

13 West Yellowstone 18 Charleston 25 Washington, D.C.
Montana South Carolina

“From iconic monuments and buildings to his-
“Make time to marvel at Yellowstone River, which “A place where culture and heritage are passed
toric neighborhoods and free museums, it’s
features waterfalls, canyons, warm swimming from generation to generation and traditions
hard to know where to begin.”
areas and great photography opportunities.” have lasted for hundreds of years.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Seattle, Wash. A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member

P7

Europe

1 Rhodes 4 Bath 7 Bruges
England Belgium
Greece

“A wonderful place to visit—like a free open air “Fell in love with Bruges. Especially the little
“Rhodes is just fabulous—long winding roads,
museum. We also enjoyed some of the many streets and shops, chocolate and lace! The peo-
so many lovely little coastal villages to see. The
quaint English pubs scattered around the city.” ple and food are wonderful.”
locals make you feel very welcome.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Mooloolaba, Australia
A TripAdvisor Member, Manchester, England

2 Salzburg
Austria

“Salzburg is a beautiful, well-kept old town.
Every small detail is true to the 17th century in
this gorgeous baroque town lost in time.”

A TripAdvisor Member, New Haven, Conn.

3 Amalfi
Italy

“The drive down the coast is both exciting and
scary. You can’t afford to close your eyes
because you’d miss the spectacular scenery.”

A TripAdvisor Member, United States

Rhodes—Photo by caucacau

8 Lucerne
5 Siena Switzerland
Italy

“Lucerne itself is a beautiful town. It is like
“The walled town is surrounded by vineyards
being in a fairytale.”
and olive groves. A spectacular little city with so
much history, culture and natural beauty.”

A TripAdvisor Member, London, England
A TripAdvisor Member, Townsville, Australia

6 Dingle 9 Vatican City
Ireland

“Dingle itself is absolutely beautiful, great “The Vatican is an absolute ‘must’ when in
drives and great weather that was as good as Rome. I’m not a religious person but it blew me
any you would get on the coasts.” away. I recommend that you join a tour!”
Amalfi—Photo by giras0le
A TripAdvisor Member, Glasgow, Scotland A TripAdvisor Member, Cotswald, England

P8

14 Galway 19 York
Ireland England

“Galway’s an amazing city, and probably one of “There is always something going on here,
the best places I’ve been to in all my travels. from chess tournaments to dance festivals to
The friendly Irish really shine here.” continental markets.”

A TripAdvisor Member, London, England A TripAdvisor Member, York, England

15 Heidelberg 20 Paris
Germany France

“A fabulous place to visit, with plenty to do. The “My favorite city in the world, Paris has more to
views over Heidelberg and surrounding towns offer in the way of natural and manmade
are absolutely stunning.” beauty than any other city.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Surrey, England A TripAdvisor Member, Farmington, Conn.

21 Prague
16 Monte-Carlo Czech Republic
Monaco
“Full of history, culture, wonderful restaurants,
“Not all about Hollywood, car races and casi-
interesting people, stunning architecture, won-
nos. You will find museums and attractions that
derful concert halls and beautiful parks.”
don’t fall into the usual categories.”
A TripAdvisor Member, El Paso, Texas
Edinburgh—Photo by Flojo78

10 Edinburgh 22 St. Petersburg
Scotland Russia

“As both the traditional epicenter of Scottish culture “Really worth going to, especially in the sum-
and modern national capital, Edinburgh reflects both mer. The center is the most beautiful in Europe,
the proud past and vibrant present of the people.” and Peterhof is magnificent.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Boston, Mass. A TripAdvisor Member, Tampere, Finland

11 San Gimignano 23 Versailles
Italy France

“Full of medieval history—looks like it did 800 “Nothing can prepare you for the absolute
years ago! Fall in love with this beautiful region grandeur, size and beauty of the palace and
and its lovely people.” gardens. It has to be seen to be believed.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Italy A TripAdvisor Member, Adelaide, Australia

St. Petersburg—Photo by A TripAdvisor Member

12 Florence 24 Assisi
17 Rothenburg ob der Tauber Italy
Germany
Italy
“Part of the beauty of Assisi is discovering the
“Walk along the wall of the city and take in the
“A romantic and artistic place with striking
small, cobblestone streets, climbing up to La
town. There are plenty of old towers to examine
buildings, galleries and historic churches. The
and unique and interesting architecture.”
picturesque city is full of elegant sites.” Rocca to see the sunrise, sunset or the view.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Sydney, Australia A TripAdvisor Member, Sacramento, Calif. A TripAdvisor Member, Alaska and Italy

13 Pompeii 18 Venice 25 Stratford-upon-Avon
Italy Italy England

“Immense—it includes one of the oldest and most “If you want to really see Venice, get lost! Leave “The birthplace of Shakespeare—it’s no wonder
intact Roman amphitheaters, artifacts aplenty and the map behind and just wander up and down that theaters abound and performances of all
three brothels—no longer operational!” its many streets.” kinds can be seen year-round.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Wirral, England
A TripAdvisor Member, Manchester, England A TripAdvisor Member, Ardmore, Okla.

P9

Asia

1 Kyoto 4 Singapore 7 Siem Reap
Singapore Cambodia
Japan

“A land of diverse cultures and traditions, yet “Away from the main temples you can find sur-
“The walks at night down lanterned lanes, past
everything complements one another, making prising peace and quiet. Preah Khan is a huge
traditional restaurants, seeing meiko (geisha)
for a city that seems perfectly in balance.” temple with forest and a moat all around.”
slipping in and out of doorways, are magical.”
A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Tooting, United Kingdom
A TripAdvisor Member, Melbourne, Australia

2 Male
Maldives

“Walk the maze of streets. Walk by the presi-
dential palace and the fish market if you are
there in the morning. The place just hums.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Seattle, Wash.

3 Ubud
Indonesia

“A good base for touring Bali—a very pleasant,
interesting town with art galleries, a market,
Ubud Palace, rivers, brooks and rice fields.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Germany

Kyoto—Photo by uagreg

5 Ko Phi Phi Don 8 Hong Kong
Thailand China

“A relaxing place—people get around by foot, “One can have as outstanding a dining experi-
bicycle and boat! The scenery is fabulous, so a ence at a street market food stall as at a gour-
walk to the viewpoint is a must.” met restaurant.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Dublin, Ireland A TripAdvisor Member

9 Chiang Mai
6 Tokyo Thailand
Japan

“Find hillside tribe people wandering the streets
“Visitors can choose their Tokyo: chaotic and
selling their wares, old temples in nooks and
noisy or patient Zen-like calm; soaring skyscrap-
ers or tiny, hidden backstreet shrines.” crannies—and McDonald’s around the corner!”
Ko Phi Phi Don—Photo by danielle2008
A TripAdvisor Member, Vancouver, British Columbia A TripAdvisor Member, Fairfax, Calif.

P 10

14 Shanghai 19 Guilin
China China

“Food in Shanghai is amazing. But forget your “The beauty of the strangely shaped surround-
usual eating habits and try to eat like locals. ing hills, the friendliness of the locals, each
Drink tea and try the local restaurants.” bridge over the river has its own character.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Sydney, Australia A TripAdvisor Member, Knoxville, Tenn.

15 Jaipur 20 Varanasi
India India

“A great city to discover India’s regal heritage. “One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited
The palaces are wonderful. Make sure you take cities, situated on the banks of the Ganges and
a day trip to the restored Samode Palace.” steeped in Hindu rites. Visit a timeless spirit.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Mumbai, India A TripAdvisor Member, Kuwait

21 Ko Phangan
16 BeijingChina Thailand

“Not only are the typical tourist sites rich with his- “There are 30-odd beaches on Ko Phangan, all
torical significance and visual grandeur, but Beijing very nice compared to the bigger islands. This
explodes the senses unlike any place on earth.” island is very laid-back and not so developed.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Stoughton, Wis. A TripAdvisor Member, Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok—Photo by Raychan

10 Bangkok 22 Nusa Dua
Thailand Indonesia
“This exciting vibrant city offers great history, “There’s plenty to do: parasails, jet skis, banana
fabulous shopping, a never-ending night life, and glass bottom boats, cruises to Turtle Island
sumptuous food and plenty of fun.” —get hands-on with birds, snakes and turtles.”

11 Xi’an 23 Kuala Lumpur
China Malaysia
“The real fun is just outside the city wall where “A fascinating city constantly on the move. It
locals exercise, walk their pets (dogs and birds), offers stunning architecture, an amazing array
play instruments, practice swordplay and dance.” of cuisines and shops and exciting nightlife.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Atsugi, Japan
A TripAdvisor Member, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Jaisalmer—Photo by sypanda

12 Goa 17 Jaisalmer 24 Ko Tao
India India Thailand
“South Goa is a wonderful holiday venue. Low- “Sunset at Sam sand dunes is an opportunity to “Ko Tao is a wonderful place to visit and a very
key, but lots of restaurants and what they call commune with nature. A camel safari is a unique easy place to get stuck in because life can be so
‘beach shacks’ to drink and eat in.” experience that can only be enjoyed here.” simple and cheap.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. A TripAdvisor Member, Gujarat, India A TripAdvisor Member

13 Agra 18 Udaipur 25 Krabi
India India Thailand
“Coming out of the early morning Agra fog, “A spectacular city on a series of lakes, Udaipur “Krabi is a haven for scuba divers and snorkel-
ing. There are several local sites offering good,
you will see the majestic Taj Mahal appear. It is is not only beautiful but full of ‘off the track’
adventurous caves and caverns.”
surprises. It’s easy to walk around.”
sure to wow you.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
A TripAdvisor Member, Needham, Mass.

P 11

South Pacific

1 Milford Sound 4 Cairns 7 Wanaka
Australia New Zealand
New Zealand

“Home to the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Trop- “A beautiful place with great restaurants and
“Spectacular reminder of the forces of nature,
ics Rain forests. Nowhere else in the world can cafes. The scenery is stunning and there are
formed during the ice age. Gorgeous on a
you find such incredible natural beauty.” some amazing bike rides, walks and drives.”
sunny day, and rain brings more waterfalls.”
A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Melbourne, Australia
A TripAdvisor Member, Melbourne, Australia

2 Queenstown
New Zealand

“What you imagine a postcard will look like.
The village center feels straight out of the set of
a movie; everything is clean and pristine.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Brisbane, Australia

3 Sydney
Australia

“Breathtaking. When you see the Opera House
and the bridge, you have to pinch yourself to
believe you are there.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Hull, England

Milford Sound—Photo by droitwichSp

5 Byron Bay 8 Christchurch
Australia New Zealand

“An ‘alternative lifestyle’ mecca, with beautiful “If you want to enjoy ‘city’ experiences such as
white sandy beaches, sub-tropical surroundings, fine dining and shopping, museums, art galleries,
and lots of shops, markets, cafes and ‘hippies.’” etc., then Christchurch has lots to offer.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Australia A TripAdvisor Member, Zhuhai, China

6 Auckland 9 Melbourne
New Zealand Australia

“The ‘City of Sails,’ is strategically located be- “A lovely, laid-back city with lots of parks, gardens
tween two harbors. A day out on Waitemata and great sights outside the city, including the
Harbor and Hauraki Gulf is fabulous.” great Ocean Road and Yarra Valley.”
Sydney—Photo by papay
A TripAdvisor Member, Auckland, New Zealand A TripAdvisor Member, Adelaide, Australia

P 12

14 Cape Tribulation 19 Papeete
Australia French Polynesia

“A diamond in the rough, and I hope it stays “Experience the lifestyle of the Polynesian peo-
that way. What a lovely little piece of paradise! ple by visiting downtown, especially the huge
Beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife and flora.” market place and the European-style shops.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Newport Beach, Calif. A TripAdvisor Member, Rossland, Canada

15 Brisbane 20 Fremantle
Australia Australia

“Take a cruise on Moreton Bay, swim with dol- “A vibrant port city renowned for its cosmopolitan
phins and turtles, relax by the fire and listen to atmosphere. See the Maritime Museum, Fishing
the sounds of the rain forest at Mt. Tamborine.” Boat Harbor and the famous Cappuccino Strip.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Brisbane, Australia A TripAdvisor Member

21 Alice Springs
16 Wellington
New Zealand Australia

“A beautiful harbor city with activities to suit all “We were pleasantly surprised, this is the real
tastes, and cafes and wine bars where you can Australia. The McDonnell Ranges are a lovely
sit day or night, enjoying water views.” backdrop to this outback town.”

A TripAdvisor Member, New Zealand A TripAdvisor Member, Wicklow, Ireland

Port Douglas—Photo by Sammiev

10 Port Douglas 22 Margaret River
Australia Australia
“The atmosphere is relaxed! If you’re stressed “Gentle country living, vineyards, green trees
out, this is the place to go. Time will slow and streams, great beaches and surf—and
down, and your perspective will return.” lovely walks in the forest.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Houston, Texas A TripAdvisor Member, Melbourne, Australia

11 Noosa 23 Airlie Beach
Australia Australia
“Spectacularly beautiful. It has blue skies, a “A backpacker’s paradise with so much to offer:
National Park that is a joy to walk and Hastings Conway National Park, exceptional rain forest
Street’s huge range of restaurants and shops.” hiking, diving and snorkeling, too.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Spain A TripAdvisor Member, Connecticut

Kaikoura—Photo by roo15

12 Perth 17 Kaikoura 24 Hobart
Australia New Zealand Australia
“The lifestyle is unbeatable. The beaches are “Kaikoura is great for whale watching and hikes “A vibrant place in the summer and a great
among the best in the world. People live an across the headland from the seal colony. Head climate. In 20 minutes you can be out bush-
down to Fisherman’s Wharf for fresh seafood.” walking or on a lovely deserted beach.”
almost year-round outdoor lifestyle.”

A TripAdvisor Member, United Kingdom A TripAdvisor Member, Hobart, Tasmania
A TripAdvisor Member, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Nadi
25 Dunedin
13 Rotorua 18 Fiji New Zealand
New Zealand
“It’s very safe, everyone knows everyone, and “You won’t fit everything in one day! The Alba-
“Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland, a showcase
it’s a great mix of people and cultures. Lots of tross Colony, Larnach Castle, Speights Brewery,
of Maori cultural activities, a center of tourism and
bonding and exchanging of ideas and life.” Cadbury Chocolate Factory, Baldwin Street, etc.”
a place of extraordinary natural beauty.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Aruba, St. Nicholas A TripAdvisor Member, Queenstown, New Zealand

P 13

Latin America/Caribbean

1 Philipsburg 4 Cruz Bay 7 Marigot
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands St. Martin
St. Maarten

“Very beautiful. Cruz Bay is a quaint little town, “Marigot is spectacular, with the brick walks
“The island is meant to be explored by car, with
and St. John is less commercialized than and beautiful views of the harbor. The Saturday
many beautiful secluded beaches. Safe, excit-
St. Thomas.” morning market is not to be missed.”
ing, beautiful and multi-faceted.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Maine A TripAdvisor Member, Pennsylvania
A TripAdvisor Member, New Jersey

2 Cayo Largo
Cuba

“The weather was perfect. The beach left us
speechless. Totally unspoiled and clean. Plenty
of food, sun, sand. The list is endless. It’s bliss!”

A TripAdvisor Member, Welland, Ontario

3 Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

“Clean, friendly, full of great shopping and
quiet little spots to stop and catch your breath
and take in the amazing views.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Saskatchewan, Canada

Philipsburg—Photo by VertigoSeoul

5 Bridgetown 8 Seven Mile Beach
Barbados Cayman Islands

“We are definitely returning to Barbados next “Seven Mile Beach is in itself an attraction, with its
year. The duty free shopping in Bridgetown is a pure, white sand, turquoise water and evening
must. Cheap shoes—say no more!” skies the color of melting orange sherbet.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Marbella, Spain A TripAdvisor Member

6 Hamilton 9 Chichen Itza
Bermuda Mexico

“Wednesday evening is ‘Harbor Night,’ and the “I really recommend that you spend as much
streets come alive (in a very crowded way) with time here as you can, because it is a piece of
street vendors, face painting, music. I loved it.” true history that is a pleasure to experience.”
Charlotte Amalie—Photo by A TripAdvisor Member
A TripAdvisor Member, New York, N.Y. A TripAdvisor Member, Los Angeles, Calif.

P 14

14 Road Town 19 Havana
Tortola, British Virgin Islands Cuba

“It’s mountainous, surrounded by islands, “Old Havana is breathtaking—old buildings,
noted as ‘the sailing capital of the world’ and cobbled streets and little hidden shopping malls
has spectacular views in every direction.” in what were once houses.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Milwaukee, Wis. A TripAdvisor Member, United Kingdom

15 Castries 20 Antigua
St. Lucia Guatemala

“A major city that will keep people of all ages “The place to be, the place to relax, go dancing,
entertained, whether swimming in the ocean, meet people and basically enjoy life! The town
sightseeing downtown or even catching a flick.” has a magic of its own.”

A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Guatemala

21 San Juan
16 Willemstad
Curacao Puerto Rico

“One of the most beautiful Caribbean cities I’ve “Old San Juan is beautiful. Whether you’re into
ever seen. Beautifully colored buildings line the architecture or scenery, you’ll find a postcard
canal and fill the island.” setting here.

A TripAdvisor Member, Bridgeport, Conn. A TripAdvisor Member, Absecon, N.J.

Willemstad—Photo by nbusta

10 Oranjestad 22 Tulum
Aruba Mexico
“The city of Oranjestad is just so quaint and is “Not to be missed. There’s a terrific beach
also the cleanest city I have ever seen.” below the ruins. Bring your swimsuit and a
towel. It’s crowded, but the kids will love it.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Chicago, Ill. A TripAdvisor Member, Rochester, N.Y.

11 Cayo Guillermo 23 Palm/Eagle Beach
Cuba Aruba
“Stunning. It was well worth the visit just to “Gorgeous beaches. Eagle is more spread out
relax in paradise. The narrowness of the beach with less people. Palm has more activity and con-
gives everyone their own piece of paradise.” venient high-rise hotels within walking distance.”
A TripAdvisor Member, United Kingdom A TripAdvisor Member, New Jersey

Tulum—Photo by tokyoeyes

12 Freeport 17 Soufriere 24 San Jose
Bahamas St. Lucia Costa Rica

“Freeport is more laid-back and quaint than “The best part of St. Lucia—beautiful, with “We enjoyed the many handmade crafts. The
Nassau’s city hustle and bustle. The beaches waterfalls, a rainforest, snorkeling, scuba and people are friendly and courteous. Great place,
and water are better in Freeport.” gardens. Soufriere is definitely a romantic place.” wonderful people. Pura Vida!”

A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Florida A TripAdvisor Member, Texas

13 St. John’s 18 Ocho Rios 25 Zihuatanejo
Antigua and Barbuda Jamaica Mexico

“You can’t fail to relax. The whole island chills “A stunning place which offers a rich experience “Zihuatanejo is a magical place along the Pacific
you out! I even forgot what I did for a living at for tourists of all ages, with outdoor activities coast of Mexico. Beautiful beach, incredible
one point.” and water adventures.” scenery and wonderful people.”

A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, El Paso, Texas

P 15

South America

1 Machu Picchu 4 Buenos Aires 7 San Pedro de Atacama
Argentina Chile
Peru

“Very nice buildings and construction. Also, the “A fascinating atmospheric town with a lot of
“Worth any effort it takes to get there. The train
city has lots of places to go at night. It’s a city good restaurants. Try to do as many organized
ride is spectacular, with the river along the
that never sleeps, especially in summer.” tours of this beautiful area as possible.”
tracks and the mountains rising above.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Quito, Ecuador A TripAdvisor Member, Santiago, Chile
A TripAdvisor Member, Leola, Pa.

2 Rio de Janeiro
Brazil

“A wonderful city with warm, spontaneous
people, great food, cool music and some of
the best natural scenery in the world.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Houston, Texas

3 Cusco
Peru

“Like no other place on earth! Amazing archi-
tecture, and given the altitude, you can gaze
upon snow-covered peaks when it’s 70° out.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Washington, D.C.

Machu Picchu—Photo by PepperB

5 Foz de Iguacu 8 San Carlos de Bariloche
Brazil Argentina

“Unbelievable. When we saw the first water- “Spectacular scenery —large lakes with snow-
falls, we could not stop taking photos. Then we capped Andes in the background. Fly-fishing,
turned the corner and saw the Devil’s Throat!” biking, hiking and skiing are the main sports.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Dronfield, England A TripAdvisor Member, Baltimore, Md.

6 Salvador 9 Buzios
Brazil Brazil

“A trip here is a must. The Capoiera dancers are “An incredible resort town with boutiques,
amazing, and the Bahia music is fabulous. Check restaurants, cafes and 22 beaches. It’s the clos-
out the caipurhina cocktails and cachaca.” est thing to being in Europe that we’ve found.”
Salvador—Photo by Dada77
A TripAdvisor Member, York, England A TripAdvisor Member, Framingham, Mass.

P 16

14 Puerto Iguazu 19 Quito
Argentina Ecuador

“A quiet and nice place to stay to visit the falls “A UNESCO World Heritage site that’s well
of Iguazu. If you have the choice, stay on the worth seeing. At the equatorial monument, you
Argentinean side of the falls.” can stand in two hemispheres at one time.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Amsterdam, The Netherlands A TripAdvisor Member, Toronto, Ontario

15 Paraty 20 Valparaiso
Brazil Chile

“The city is the same as two centuries ago. It’s “We discovered that Valparaiso is Chile’s soul. It
like traveling in time. You can dive, see the has the hills, with the magnificent view that you
many islands, take a bath in waterfalls, etc.” don’t get from the beach.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil A TripAdvisor Member, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

21 Natal
16 Sao Paulo
Brazil Brazil

“Sao Paulo is a modern marvel, but the best “The dunes are cinematic. And the food is deli-
thing is the people. The Paulistas are friendly, cious. Yet it still has a lot of traditions and a
tolerant and outgoing.” very particular way of life.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Vancouver, B.C. A TripAdvisor Member, San Francisco, Calif.

Banos—Photo by Flit

10 Banos 22 Florianopolis
Ecuador Brazil
“A really nice little town. The tours to the vol- “If I ever go back to Brazil, I would jump directly
cano Tungurahua and to the waterfalls (Paillon to this beautiful island! To me, it’s the ‘Mar-
Del Diablo) are definitely worth a visit.” velous city, of a thousand delights.’”
A TripAdvisor Member, Nuremburg, Germany A TripAdvisor Member, Guatemala, Mexico

11 El Calafate 23 Punta del Este
Argentina Uruguay
“See and take pictures of the most amazing gla- “A lovely, safe beach resort with beautiful houses
ciers, walk on them, go in their caves, explore and gorgeous gardens. The Arboreto Lusich has
the surrounding areas, trek or take a cruise.” the most tree species in South America.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Buenos Aires, Argentina A TripAdvisor Member, Punta del Este, Uruguay

Cartagena—Photo by A TripAdvisor Member

17 Cartagena
12 Ushuaia 24 Vina del Mar
Colombia
Argentina Chile

“Cartagena is a paradise you should visit. The
“The town is like a work of art. Go to the Tierra “The garden city has a tropical atmosphere and a
hidden element of local wealth. I loved this little
old city is the most beautiful picture you will
del Fuego National Park and do the train to the
ever see.”
end of the world.” town’s deep roots and colorful promenade.”
A TripAdvisor Member, Kobe, Japan
A TripAdvisor Member, Buenos Aires, Argentina A TripAdvisor Member, Sydney, Australia

13 Pucon 18 Santiago 25 Colonia del Sacramento
Chile Uruguay
Chile

“Pucon is one way to get everything in just one “Colonia del Sacramento offers a beautiful river
“Great restaurants and bars, beautiful parks and
spot—volcano climbs, horseback trips, rafting, view and tree-lined streets filled with Spanish
very civilized people. Don’t forget the wine—it’s
even in winter, hot springs.” colonial-style structures and stores.”
surrounded by mountains and wineries.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Santiago, Chile A TripAdvisor Member, Montevideo, Uruguay
A TripAdvisor Member, Santiago, Chile

P 17

Africa

1 Cape Town 4 Knysna 7 Cairo
South Africa Egypt
South Africa

“Cairo has more living history in the dust on its
“Knysna is beautiful. A good way to spend the
“A beautiful seaside city with incredible moun-
streets than many destinations in their entirety.”
day is on a paddle steamer for a short cruise. Or
tain views and beautiful beaches. You’ll run out
of time before running out of things to see.” go to Brenton on Sea; the beach is amazing.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Washington A TripAdvisor Member, Bolton, England A TripAdvisor Member, Singapore

2 Abu Simbel
Egypt

“It is a must to visit Abu Simbel, the most awe-
inspiring place. It brought a lump to my throat
when I walked into Ramses’ temple.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Coventry, England

3 Luxor
Egypt

“Called the ‘world’s largest open air museum,’
Luxor boasts some of the finest tombs, monu-
ments and temples from the ancient world.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Boston, Mass.

Cape Town—Photo by GooseOhio

5 Victoria Falls 8 Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe Zambia

“These truly are the greatest falls in the world. “The falls are absolutely stunning—the best
If you’ve been to Niagara Falls and thought they ‘high’ you could wish for. I’d have been happy if
were beautiful, you haven’t seen anything yet!” that had been my entire holiday.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Canada A TripAdvisor Member

6 Giza 9 Franschhoek
Egypt South Africa

“It was amazing in every sense of the word. The “I like Franschhoek. The scenery is beautiful,
Sphinx and pyramids are majestic. An unforget- nestled amongst the mountains with a very
table adventure. The trip of a lifetime!” French flavor. Lovely old wine farms.”
Luxor—Photo by alanvowles
A TripAdvisor Member A TripAdvisor Member, Cape Town, South Africa

P 18

14 Marrakech 19 Port Louis
Morocco Mauritius

“A brilliant city, so full of energy, colors, action, “Port Louis can be seen as a rather quaint old
sights, sounds, tastes, aromas and textures. city with a few modern tower blocks to show its
Something for all the senses.” keeping pace with modern times!”

A TripAdvisor Member, Durham, England A TripAdvisor Member

15 Fes 20 Grand Baie
Morocco Mauritius

“The old Medina is not to be missed. If you ever “Grand Baie is good for exploring, dining out,
want to feel out of touch with the western and water sports, including parasailing, water-
world, this is the place!” skiing, kayaking and wind-surfing.”

A TripAdvisor Member, San Diego, Calif. A TripAdvisor Member, Johannesburg, South Africa

21 Alexandria
16 Stone Town
Tanzania Egypt

“The back alleyways of Stone Town hold a real “Alexandria is so modern compared to Cairo!
magic for me. So do all the little spice shops And the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is in a class of
and antique shops.” its own. I have never seen anything like it.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Dakar, Senegal A TripAdvisor Member, Cape Town, South Africa

Aswan—Photo by A TripAdvisor Member

10 Aswan 22 Le Morne
Egypt Mauritius
“Aswan is just beautiful and worth the visit. The “Le Morne is beautiful, but you can only appre-
people are charming and make you feel right at ciate this from the water. If you don’t windsurf
home from the word go.” or kite-surf, take a boat trip and a camera.”
A TripAdvisor Member, United Kingdom A TripAdvisor Member, Lilliput, England

11 Stellenbosch 23 Port El Kantaoui
South Africa Tunisia
“The wines were absolutely superb, and we “Port El Kantaoui is a beautiful resort and ideal
found the local scenery and people to be for a relaxed break in the sun.”
extraordinarily beautiful and sophisticated.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Colorado A TripAdvisor Member, Guildford, England

Stone Town—Photo by Frank51Africa

17 Essaouira
12 Tangier 24 Sharm El-Sheikh
Morocco
Morocco Egypt

“A total gem of a place! If you ever are in need
“There are many fine bars and restaurants. The “Gifted with natural beauties—idyllic beaches,
of a total ‘get away from it all experience,’ you
food is an exciting mix of Spanish and Moroc- rare and beautiful reefs and crystal-clear water
should go to Essaouira.”
can influence and will please many palates.” — it’s one of the top diving spots world-wide.”

25 Hurghada
18 Belle Mare
13 Victoria Egypt
Mauritius
Seychelles

“Whether you’re an experienced diver or just a
“Belle Mare is the type of place where one
“We had great fun playing in the surf. Calmer
novice, you will absolutely find Hurghada one of
could be busy with things all day long or just
waters for snorkeling could be found within a
the most charming places to dive in the world.”
choose to relax and do nothing.”
10-minute car trip.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Headlam, England A TripAdvisor Member, Cairo, Egypt
A TripAdvisor Member, United States

P 19

Canada

1 Banff 4 Vancouver 7 Whistler
British Columbia British Columbia
Alberta

“One of the cleanest cities I have ever seen. “A visitor’s day can be quite full, with skiing or
“The mountains are beautiful, and there are so
Also, one of the few cities surrounded with other outdoor activities, a nice dinner and an
many things to do, whether you want to walk,
such splendor and natural beauty.” evening in one of the many nightclubs.”
hike, shop, ski or just take it easy.”
A TripAdvisor Member, San Francisco, Calif.
A TripAdvisor Member, Minneapolis, Minn. A TripAdvisor Member, Denver, Colo.

2 Victoria
British Columbia

“Everywhere you look is a Kodak moment. We
barely scratched the surface during our five
days there and can’t wait to return.”

A TripAdvisor Member, California

3 Lake Louise
Alberta

“Located in absolutely the most beautiful place
on earth. The lake was frozen, and they built an
ice castle to skate through!”

A TripAdvisor Member, Bradenton, Fla.

Banff—Photo by mae67

8 Jasper
5 Niagara-on-the-Lake Alberta
Ontario

“The true attraction of Jasper lies outside the
“A beautiful, quaint little town. The shops are
town limit. People come here to go hiking,
fabulous. The wine tour, exceptional. I never
mountain climbing and whitewater rafting.”
realized we would find such fabulous wines.”

A TripAdvisor Member, Jasper, Alberta
A TripAdvisor Member, Illinois

6 Quebec City 9 Halifax
Nova Scotia
Quebec

“A small city, easily discovered on foot: old build-
“Quebec City may be part of Canada, but its
ings, open spaces, universities, gardens, restaurants,
heart and soul is strictly French. Visitors may
waterfront and good views around many corners.”
feel that they are in a European city.”
Niagara-on-the-Lake—
Photo by RossendaleMancunian
A TripAdvisor Member, N. Vancouver, B.C.
A TripAdvisor Member, New Hampshire

P 20

Tc Destinations Awards2008 V2

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Tc Destinations Awards2008 V2