By Marika Cain
We've got them covered. The results of our annual Travel Dreams Survey are in.
The dream destinations at the top of your wish list:
The island escapes you find most alluring:
Do it: Oceania, Seabourn, and Regent Seven Seas are among the cruise lines that offer great deals the Aegean this August through October.
Read it: Get the scoop on what to do in Honolulu now, from best bets for dining to shopping essentials.
Your most enticing cruise itineraries:
Read it: Get $1,000 to $2,000 per couple in shipboard credit on almost all Crystal Cruises’ Mediterranean sailings through 2010. Page 38
2. World cruise
3. Alaska
4. Australia and New Zealand
5. European River
Read it: Tauck World Discovery’s newest river cruiser, the Swiss Jewel, debuts on the Danube.
Your perfect family vacation destinations:
Do it: Abercrombie & Kent caters to the whole clan during a nine-day trip through Rome, Florence, and Venice, complete with pizza making and Venetian mask painting. Departures: July 26 and August 2, 2009; from $7,695.
Do it: Perhaps the ultimate romantic journey is a jaunt from Venice to Paris (or the reverse) aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. One night on the famed train is bookended by stays at some of these enchanting cities’ finest hotels. Departures: Multiple dates through November 9, 2009; from $5,180.
2. Venice
READ it: Explore the quieter side of La Serenissima during this year’s Biennale of Art. Page 64
3. Santorini
4. Florence
5. Rome
For great outdoor adventures, you would:
Read it: Choose from ten unparalleled safari experiences, such as canoeing among hippos on the Zambezi River and searching for mountain gorillas in Uganda. Page 108
Do it: Explore one of Italy’s most storied regions on Butterfield & Robinson’s eight-day Amalfi Coast walking trip. Departure: September 6, 2009; from $9,295.
3. Sail the Caribbean
4. Explore Yellowstone National Park
5. Bike the French countryside
To connect with nature, you’d most like to see:
Read it: Find out how tourism is helping to preserve this Ecuadoran Eden. Page 58
2. Elephants in Zimbabwe
Read it: Canoe the Zambezi and spot the “big five” on a safari through Zimbabwe and Zambia. Page 96
3. Birds in Costa Rica
Read it: Get a bird’s-eye view of the jungle on a zipline trip in Costa Rica. Page 138
4. Penguins in Antarctica
5. Moose at Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Do it: A private three-day NYC fashion-centric trip from WorldPanache includes an insider’s look at a designer’s workshop, guided shopping for clothing and accessories, and style advice from a former Vogue editor. From $5,300, including accommodations.
Gourmet cities where you’d linger over meals:
Read it: Take in Paris from a base at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée’s new Eiffel Suite, complete with a Maserati for transport to the city’s best restaurants. Page 37
2. Rome
3. Florence
4. San Francisco
Read it: Slip into a booth at RN74, Michael Mina’s new restaurant in the City by the Bay, for modern, simple French fare. Page 30
5. New Orleans
For stunning city architecture, you want to visit:
Do it: Go inside the workshops of Catherine Palace to see how the famed Amber Room was painstakingly reproduced; Exeter International offers an eight-day private trip through Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Departures: Any day through 2009; from $5,025.
Do it: Pedal from one grand château to the next, with plenty of stops for tasting on Backroads’ six-day Bordeaux biking trip. Departures: August 2 and September 13 and 20, 2009; from $4,898.
3. Napa Valley, California
4. Loire Valley, France
5. Champagne, France
The educational vacations that expand your horizons:
Do it: Spend seven days learning to cook in southwestern France through In Quest of the Classics. Peruse farmers’ markets for produce, meet a local Michelin-starred chef for a cooking demonstration, and whip up an authentic cassoulet. Departures: Any day through 2009; from $3,300 per person for a group of eight, including accommodations, some meals, and cooking lessons.
Your ultimate trips of a lifetime:
Read it: Book a trip on a one-of-a-kind world cruise that never has to end. Page 144
2. Spreading out in a European villa with family and friends
Read it: Discover the joys of vacationing in an Italian home away from home.
Page 54
3. Sailing the Mediterranean on a private yacht
Do it: Charter broker Yachtstore does it all, from $10,000 bareboat sailing charters to $1 million megayacht getaways with private chefs and Bond-worthy digs around the world.
Read it: Rent David Copperfield’s private island, and the magic is free. Page 27
Do it: Join TCS Expeditions’ 14-day exploration of the ancient Silk Road across Asia and Europe, from the comfort of a private jet. Departure: April 20, 2010; from $29,950.
Read it: See the debut of Virgin Galactic’s White-KnightTwo mother ship at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Page 35