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Going <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-important-things-in-a-vacation-destination/desertrat89">on vacation</a> doesn't always mean going to <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-beach-destinations-for-a-family-vacation/ranker-travel">a sunny beach somewhere exotic</a> and relaxing on the sand.&nbsp;Many people instead choose to go places with great cultural artifacts&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-tourist-attractions-in-america/ranker-travel">famous tourist attractions</a>. There are thousands of different examples all around the world, but the vast majority of vacationers&nbsp;tend to focus on just the&nbsp;select few that have held something of a monopoly over the public’s imagination for generations.The problem is that many of these destinations are actually pretty overrated and simply don’t live up to the hype. As&nbsp;can often be the case, movies and television shows have glorified particular attractions so that they seem more impressive than they really are. In other instances, an exploitative tourism industry might have spoiled these&nbsp;natural wonders&nbsp;with an over-saturation of merchandise and facilities aiming to siphon off as much money from visitors&nbsp;as possible.What is clear, though,&nbsp;is that there are plenty of overrated travel destinations that you might be tempted to visit, but would be&nbsp;better off avoiding in favor of some other&nbsp;less well-known tourist destinations.

Finding the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/movie-themed-hotel-rooms/anncasano">craziest resorts</a> on earth is not always easy. Anyone can go to a luxury hotel, or a high-end, all-inclusive resort, but most of those tend to offer the same sort of perks and experiences. There are times when a vacation calls for as much beer as you can drink and stuffing your face for days, but there are other times when you want something different. Like staying at one of the weirdest resorts in the world.Maybe you want to stay in a room made completely out of ice. Maybe your thing is having wild animals poke their head in your window while you are eating dinner. Maybe you just want to relax in a giant champagne glass. Whatever your thing is, chances are, you'll be able to find a place that suits your adventurous needs on this list of crazy resorts. Vote up the most insane resorts you'd totally visit.

TripAdvisor&nbsp;serves as&nbsp;the Internet&#39;s top resource for reviews on&nbsp;travel destinations, but occasionally, their reviewers appear to be on a different type of trip. This photo gallery is dedicated to funny TripAdvisor reviews and people who took the high road with their critique of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-travel-destinations-in-the-world/places-to-go">top travel destinations in the world</a>. Sure, comical&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-epic-yelp-reviews/best-web-reviews">Yelp reviews</a>&nbsp;are great, but they&#39;re nothing compared to funny travel reviews where people call the Grand Canyon &quot;overrated&quot; and claim that a beach was &quot;too sandy.&quot; Peruse this collection of weird <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-4100219-13177187?sid=2541103-listdesc" target="_blank">TripAdvisor</a> reviews and funny travel complaints from people who are probably better off staying home for their next vacation.

Hotels

Marriott International

The best luxury hotel chains operate hundreds of hotels around the world and are all known for their lavish amenities, beautiful and spacious guest rooms, and top quality one could expect from a four or five-star hotel. These hotels certainly are not cheap, but for those looking for first-class accommodations, these best luxury hotel chains are just that.With nearly 100 luxury hotels, the Four Seasons has consistently earned top marks in the luxury hotel rankings by trusted travel groups like Zagat and have consistently been rated as the <a href="/list/travel-and-leisure_s-world_s-best-hotels-2011/places-to-go" target="_blank">Travel + Leisure best hotels in the world</a>. Around since 1960, Four Seasons locations around the world are known for their luxury services like spa treatments and fine dining, plus some of the best hotel rooms with scenic views that the world has to offer.But there are many more fabulous luxury hotel chains that give the Four Seasons a good run for their money. The Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, InterContinental, Fairmont and Crowne Plaza all have established themselves as top loved <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-luxury-hotel-brands/ranker-shopping?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">luxury hotel brands</a> with hundreds of lavish properties and expensive amenities that welcome everyone from celebrities to business travelers to families who want to enjoy a vacation in a really nice hotel.Quite simply, these are not your <a href="/list/best-budget-hotel-chains/ranker-travel" target="_blank">best budget hotels</a>, they are the best hotels money can buy. They'll cost you a couple hundred (at least) per night, but escaping from normal life into the luxurious surroundings of these high end hotels is nothing short of a great way to spend time away from home.

Austria

There's nothing like traveling and seeing the world to broaden your horizons and the countries on this list are the most beautiful places in the world. Vote up the most gorgeous destinations below or add a beautiful country to visit if it isn't already listed. This list should encourage you to travel and see some of these gorgeous landscapes for yourself. The pictures of beautiful countries below are incredible, but nothing beats seeing these locations in person.Many people love Italy because of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-magical-cities-in-the-world/island-hopper-dan" target="_blank">magical cities</a> of Rome, Venice, Florence, and the spectacular Amalfi Coast. Breathtaking scenes are everywhere! What factors go into considering the most beautiful countries in the world? Certainly, many of these gorgeous countries are home to the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-beautiful-natural-wonders-in-the-world" target="_blank">most beautiful natural wonders in the world</a>, along with the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-beautiful-buildings-around-the-world" target="_blank">most beautiful buildings</a>. It's hard to argue, for example, with Australia as a popular travel destination, given the extraordinary natural wonders it is home to.What do you believe is the prettiest country? Time to vote and rerank the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-beautiful-female-celebrities-2019/calistylie?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top most beautiful</a> countries in the world below.

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Romania

Many travelers believe that the best way to experience another country is to explore it alone. These is a list of good countries to travel alone, ranked best to worst. Solo travel allows you to really take in the culture and beauty of a country without the influence of a companion to help shape your experience. When traveling alone you are able to be completely self-indulgent. If you want to spend all day getting lost in a museum you can do it.Which country is the best to travel alone? That depends on your vacation priorities. If you would like to take in great museums and intricate architecture or just sit at a cafe all day sipping on cappuccinos, France would be a great option. The Louvre would be a wonderful museum to explore on your own. You can take your time to fully appreciate each work of art without worrying about someone else's timeline.Australia is another great country to travel alone. You can spend all day learning to surf while enjoying the beach or you can explore the Australian wilderness with a hike through Tasmania. Japan is also a wonderful place to explore by yourself. The nation scores very high on the Global Peace Index ensuring that travelers will feel safe and welcome in this beautiful country.Vote on this list of the best countries to travel alone and share your opinions with solo travelers in the comments section.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

The best hotel chains are those most popular and favorite hotel brands around regardless of price and star quality. These top hotel brands are visited by millions each year with locations across the United States and abroad. When you're traveling, where do you like to stay? Vote for your favorite hotel brands below! In terms of the <a href="/list/best-luxury-hotel-chains/ranker-travel" target="_blank">best luxury hotel brands</a>, top names like the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont, InterContinental and Westin come to mind. Other high-end favorites such as the Crowne Plaza, Hilton, the Hyatt and Sheraton Hotels are other favorites of those looking for top of the line accommodations on the road. For frugal travelers, there are many <a href="/list/best-budget-hotel-chains/ranker-travel" target="_blank">great budget hotel chains</a> too. Brands like Best Western, Motel 6, Choice Hotels and Residence Inn all provide the basics you'd expect in a hotel room without all the bells and whistles, not to mention steep prices, that come with luxury hotels. So whether you're an occasional traveler on a budget who can settle for a simple Extended Stay America, a middle of the road traveler who likes the classic Holiday Inn or one who will only settle for the best, like offered at the Omni, these best hotel chains surely have something to offer a bit of everyone.

Everyone has a different idea of what makes the perfect vacation, whether you're looking to get away on your own or with your family in tow. This list of the most important things in a vacation destination takes all the most important things to consider when picking a vacation destination and puts them in one list that can be voted on my other travelers.What are the things you look for first when you're thinking of that perfect vacation? Do you consider the destination with the best climate, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-top-party-cities-of-the-world/places-to-go">best party cities</a>, the vacation spot with the best beaches or the best recreational facilities, or is choosing a city for a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-top-5-vacation-spots-for-parents-traveling-with-children-v1/mcorn310">family friendly vacation</a> your top priority? All these aspects of vacation planning come into play, but it's sometimes hard to say what the best vacations have in common.What are the best cities for the perfect vacation? What are the must-haves for the perfect vacation destination? Vote for your faves and add whatever you think is missing! If the qualities your ideal vacation spot aren't listed, be sure to add them so other travelers can add them to the list of things a vacation spot needs.

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area

This is a ranked list of the best places for hang gliding as voted on by men and women. These places include some of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the world such as Interlaken, Santa Barbara, and New Zealand are some of the top places to hang glide in the entire world. Whether you are looking for beautiful mountain ranges, gorgeous bodies of water, or luscious greenery, these places offer all the lovely landscapes you could ever wish to glide over. Each place has distinct wind patterns and companies that offer hang gliding tours. This list answers the question, “what are the best places in the world to hang glide?” Those seeking extensive thrills might seek windier environments while first-time hang gliders might look for calmer winds. These ranked places in every part of the world provide &nbsp;accessible hang gliding experience no matter where you live. As traveler looking for the world’s best hang gliding you might ask yourself, “Where are spots for hang gliding?”. Well here we have compiled a list of the very best places for this extreme sport.

Cyprus

What are the best cruise destinations? Whether you&#39;re thinking warm, tropical and relaxing or hustling, bustling, historical cities, there is truly an idea cruise destination for everyone. The <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-cruise-lines/island-hopper-dan" target="_blank">best cruise lines</a> in the world offer a diverse selection of cruises with various destinations to suit almost anyone&#39;s cruising tastes. This list includes some of the most popular cruise destinations worldwide, so be sure to vote for your favorites (and add any of your favorite destinations that are missing).

Having fun while on a cruise ship is really important, but for many cruisers, it&#39;s all about the destination - not the journey. Which cruise ports are the most popular? That&#39;s easy: anywhere in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, along with several ports in Mexico (both Cancun and Puerto Vallarta). Are these the best destinations when cruising? That depends on what you want.

The more adventurous among us might prefer some more unusual, remove cruise destinations. Examples include cruises to the Galapagos, Antarctica and to Norway, to see the famous fjords. And for those who want to live in the lap of luxury while getting to a destination, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-luxury-cruise-lines/island-hopper-dan" target="_blank">best luxury cruise lines</a> are a must when planning a vacation.

For those traveling with young children, destinations on some great <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-cruise-ships-for-families/island-hopper-dan" target="_blank">cruise ships for families</a> (like Disney&#39;s Dream) might include the Bahamas, the Mexican Riviera,&nbsp;and even the Mediterranean.

Honeymooners: Listen up! Some great cruise destinations include some of the most beautiful, favorite <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-honeymoon-destinations" target="_blank">honeymoon locations</a> in the world, including several locations in Hawaii (Maui and Kauai), Fiji and the romantic Italian cities of Venice and Florence.

Vacations

England

This is a ranked list of the best countries for hiking as voted on by men and women. These places include some of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the world such as Luxembourg, Switzerland, and South Africa. These are all some of the top places to go hiking in the world. This list answers the question, “what are the best countries in the world to go hiking?” Whether you are looking for beautiful mountain ranges, gorgeous bodies of water, or luscious greenery, these places offer all the lovely landscapes you could ever wish to trek upon. Many countries in Europe offer vast hiking routes while other countries just offer gorgeous open landscapes to tread upon. Each of these best countries for hiking offer distinct features as well. Those seeking the thrill of being one with the land and discovering new countries by foot might want to venture to far off lands like Bhutan. Excellent hiking can also be had in North America in the United States and Canada as well. &nbsp;Whether looking for an extreme activity or a leisurely stroll these ranked places offer great hiking in every part of the world. As a traveler looking for the world’s best hiking you might ask yourself, “Where are best spots to hike around the world?”. Well here we have compiled a list of the very best places for this activity.

Residence Inn by Marriott LLC

The best budget hotel chains are those low-end hotel and motel chains across America where roadtrippers, business travelers and families can stay overnight for affordable rates. Not all budget hotels are created equal and even specific locations will vary within each chain but there are certainly some that are better than others. If you're looking to travel on the cheap and need an affordable hotel, these are your best bets.These best budget hotels might not be among the <a href="/list/hotels-and-motels-companies/reference" target="_blank">best hotel chains</a> in the world or offer fine dining, valet parking or spa services but they also don't come with the high overnight rates of the <a href="/list/best-luxury-hotel-chains/ranker-travel" target="_blank">top luxury hotels</a>. At these budget hotels, you will find basic accommodations, ample parking and in many cases free wifi or continental breakfast. They likely won't have designer sheets or flat panel televisions but they can provide a place to rest for generally under $100 per night.According to a Consumer Reports study, Microtel Inn was rated as the top budget hotel chain. Located mainly across the North America, Microtel Inns &amp; Suites provide the basic amenities plus bonuses like coffeemakers, free phone calls and microwaves in rooms. Red Roof Inn and Super 8 both got great marks too for clean, comfortable rooms and affordable prices. Both also offer these same basics with many also allowing pets and select locations featuring restaurants and pools.Which brand of budget hotels do you turn to for frugal traveling? Are you partial to the classic Howard Johnson's and Motel 6 or the slightly more luxurious chains like Holiday Inn Express or Wingate? Vote for your favorite budget hotel chains below!

Reno

List of the Best Cheap Travel Destinations ranked from best to worst. Traveling doesn't have to be a strain on your budget. There are great inexpensive vacation options close to home and overseas. Where is the best cheap travel destination? Vote on this list and help thrifty travelers decide where to spend their time without spending a lot of money.If you love to spend your vacations in the great outdoors, camping can be a great way to save money while enjoying a wonderful vacation. Yosemite National Park has some of the most beautiful mountain views while offering visitors the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife. Gatlinburg, Tennessee is home to Smokey Mountains National Park while the town offers travelers great restaurants and entertaining live shows.Luxury is still attainable when traveling on a budget. The Dominican Republic and Mexico offer visitors great options for inexpensive all-inclusive resorts. European travel is also an option for cost conscious individuals. Flying off season and staying in hostels gives people the chance to take in amazing culture while saving money.&nbsp;Which is the best cheap travel destination? Vote on this list and share your money saving travel tips in the comments section.

Top travel social networks on the Web, including niche social communities for travelers and travel planning as well as those organized by language, nationality or specialty interest (including sites for backpackers, jetsetters, first-time travelers and so on). This list contains social networks and online communities relating specifically to vacationing, trip-taking and world exploration.A social network is defined as an online service, platform or website which is focused largely around uniting individuals and allowing them to communicate and interact. Facebook currently is the world's largest and most popular social networking platform, having supplanted previous champions such as MySpace and Friendster.This list gathers together major players in the travel-themed social networking field, making up the world of travel social media. It is an open list, so if you have a favorite travel-planning themed social network or social networks for travellers and frequent fliers that aren't featured, enter it below to make sure it's included on the list.

Traveling is fun! You get to see new things, eat new foods, talk to new people - or even not talk to anyone at all for a while, if that&#39;s what you want to do. What an adventure! But traveling can also be super stressful, what with all the getting on planes or whatever, living out of a suitcase or duffle bag, spending money on just about every single meal, and maybe even not knowing the local language. That is a lot to think about! The right travel companions can make all of the stress worth it. On the other hand, as the old saying goes, one bad apple can spoil the whole vacation. When you travel with a person, be it friend, family member, or stranger you met at the train station, you will see a whole lot of him or her, from idiosyncrasies to underwear.

Which of these people is the worst to travel with?&nbsp;Is it Tourist-Trap Ted, who really wants to go to Madame Tussauds? Culture-Snob Colleen, who has already been there and to every other wax museum on the planet (but hates them all anyway)? Museum-Loving Melissa, who just needs to see some old paintings hung in frames, stat? Influencer Isabel, who is only there for the Insta and hasn&#39;t lived in the present moment since she got her first cell phone?&nbsp;Or even Plan-Ahead Paolo, who might just vomit all over the floor if you make a single change to today&#39;s carefully-regimented schedule?

A lot of travelling involves eating, so it can be a bummer to be with someone who is picky, cheap, rude, boisterous, or allergic to shellfish, which you happen to love. You also move around a lot when you travel, so you want someone who does things at a pace similar to your own, be it walking, eating dinner, or getting a move on throughout the day. It&#39;s not that a fast or slow walker is necessarily right or wrong - it&#39;s just that one of them might drive you crazy while the other one is just your style. A person who walks at your speed to the same cites, restaurants, and hotels that you like will probably make a better travel companion than one who is constantly making you feel like, &quot;Ugh, I hate you; this was a huge mistake.&quot; Vote up the worst travel buddies that can make you just wish you stayed at home on your couch where everything is free and nobody forgot to bring toothpaste.

While many&nbsp;regarded mythology as fake, some real mythological places are alive and well along with the legend itself. These are indeed locations that&nbsp;can be visited, inspiring guests to wonder&nbsp;if the tales they&nbsp;heard about them are true.&nbsp;These real places from mythology will give you a glimpse into the world&nbsp;of gods, heroes, and monsters.&nbsp;Besides their fantastical&nbsp;associations with mythology, the places listed here are also&nbsp;worth visiting for either their&nbsp;natural beauty, cultural value, or distinctive features that&nbsp;can’t be found&nbsp;anywhere else on the planet. Vote up the places you need to visit, like, now.

List of most exciting luxury hotel perks. What are the best luxury hotel perks? This list ranks the top luxury hotel perks, from pet services to silk robes and personal butlers. While staying at a luxury hotel is already a treat by itself, there are many perks and exciting amenities that come with those high-ticket and often exclusive hotels that range from the outrageous to the glamorous.&nbsp;Have a fluffy loved one? Most hotels don't even allow pets but many luxury hotels include pet service as perk of booking at a more expensive hotel. While you're waiting for Fido to get groomed, drop by the reading room for afternoon tea service and catch up on some reading and relaxation at designated areas with complimentary books and entertainment. If the reading room doesn't suit you, go back to your room where now many luxury hotels offer iPads, e-Readers and state-of-the-art technology for free use. Though these are basic luxury hotel perks, what are the most exciting amenities when booking at a luxury hotel? Luxury car service is now among one of the top amenities at the world's top luxury hotels, where you can summon a driver or borrow a Rolls Royce for an afternoon appointment. At night, enjoy an evening at the hotel's fine-dining restaurant and have a celebrity chef cook your dinner.&nbsp;What are the best things about booking at a luxury hotel? Rank up the most luxurious hotel amenity. If your favorite posh hotel perks aren't on the list of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-essential-hotel-amenities/ranker-travel?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">luxury hotel amenities</a>, make sure to add them.

Boston

List of the Best Girls Trip Destinations ranked from best to worst. An all-girl vacation can give friends the opportunity to spend some quality time together without the distraction of men. Some women love a soothing beach vacation, while others would prefer to explore a big city. Which is the best girls trip destination? Vote on this list and let us know which girly spot is the greatest. Las Vegas is a great girls trip destination because it allows ladies the chance to really let loose. Vegas is home to some of the hottest dance clubs and chicest shopping. If you're not into all the hustle and bustle, Vegas is also a great spot to lay out by the pool or enjoy a relaxing massage. “Sex in the City” has made New York City a classic destination for a girls trip. Only in the Big Apple can ladies shop at designer stores, eat at five star restaurants, and take in a Broadway show.Paris is also a popular city for females to explore together. Home to some of the largest museums in the world, Paris offers women a chance to nourish their minds before nourishing their bodies with goodies like croissants, cheese, and wine.Which is the best girls trip destination? Vote on this list and share stories from your favorite girly getaways in the comments section.

What are the must-have hotel amenities you absolutely need? This is a list of the most essential hotel amenities and services, from unlimited hot water to free WiFi. Whether on a vacation or a business trip, hotel amenities make life a little easier when you're away from home. For different types of travel, there are amenities that are more important than other ones. While business travelers might enjoy laundry services, families on vacations might look for recreational services such as a concierge or a swimming pool. These days, most basic amenities are included in all hotel rooms, but <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-popular-video-games-today/ranker-games?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">what's the most</a> important one? Many travelers rank free wireless internet as an essential amenity, with room service being one of the least essential. From flatscreen TVs to luxury bedding and complimentary high-end toiletries, hotels are stepping up their game on the number of hotel amenities that are included when booking at their hotel. Who doesn't enjoy free warm cookies when you walk into your room at night and shower towels shaped into various animals every morning? Even large hotel chains are now offering amenities that used to be reserved for luxury resorts including complimentary bottled water, spa services, fitness centers and valet parking.&nbsp;One thing remains true for many travelers: Anything free is good. Free breakfast, free coffee and free wi-fi are a few of the most essential travel amenities during a hotel stay. Rank up the other top hotel amenities using this list of the best hotel amenities and make sure to add any essential hotel services that might be missing.&nbsp;

The best part about getting drunk is all the greasy, melty, and deliciously disgusting food that you get to eat after the part of your brain that reminds you that you’re on a diet shuts off. Depending on where you are in the world, drunk food takes on a different meaning. In some countries the meals that you eat while you’re staggering home at three in the morning are meant to be lazily held in your hand as you try to work the Uber app.&nbsp;All the way across the world, some drunk guy is tucking in&nbsp;to a delicious bowl of steamy soup. The one thing that drunk food from around the world has in common is that it’s meant to sop up all your bad decisions, one bite at a time.Drunk eating is one of the most spectacular past times in the world,&nbsp;and in America we pretty much have it down to a science. But what about in a place like Scotland that exists in a thick haze of drunk for most of the day? We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you find out what they eat, and what people from countries that you probably never think about chow down on once they get hammered. If you love food and want to know what people across the world eat when they’re drunk then you’ve come to the right place.After reading about the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/drunk-food-in-america/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best drunk food</a> from across the globe, leave us a comment about what you munch on when you get blitzed.&nbsp;

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List of the Best Group Vacation Destinations ranked from best to worst. Group travel can be a lot of fun as well as a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and family. A great group vacation can be at a theme park, a beach resort or a National Park. Which is the best group vacation destination? Vote on this list and make sure your favorite travel spot ends up on top.Las Vegas is one of the most fun locations to head to with a group. With endless options for entertainment, beautiful weather and of course gambling, Las Vegas truly has something for everyone in your group. Another great location to travel to with family and friends is Walt Disney World. Nicknamed “the happiest place on earth” Disney is good fun for everyone. National Parks are also great vacation destinations for group travel. Yosemite National Park in northern California offers hikers of all levels beautiful views of mountainous landscapes. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is also a breath-taking sight that is even more special when you are sharing the experience with a group.Which is the best group vacation destination? Vote on this list and share stories of your favorite group vacations in the comments section.

Best Group Vacation Destinations | List of Top Places to Travel in Groups

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New Orleans

New Orleans (pronounced N'awlins or New Orlens by locals, the only time that a hard E is correct is while singing "Way Down Yonder In New Orleens" or Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleenz)) is the birthplace of Jazz, a major US port city, important in river transshipment, naval logistics, and the illegal drug trade.
New Orleans is located at the mouth of the Mississipi River, just south of where the river splits off into Lake Pontchartrain, which forms the northern city limit and a unique ecosystem because of the salt water boundary.  The Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge in the world.
New Orleans is unique in the United States for many reasons.  It shares more in common with european cities and Montreal than most other American cities, and both historically and liguistically has more in common with other port cities like New York than other cities in the South (the local Y'at accent shares similarities with Brooklynese).  The architecture of the Vieux Carre, or French Quarter, mainly comes from the 18th century Spanish period, is reminiscent of many european cities, and changes are tightly controlled.  The Garden District contains many stately mansions built in the early 19th century, after the city was purchased by the US.   There are two distinct local cuisines, cajun and haute creole.  Culturally and economically, since the decline of the local oil industry in the 1970's, the city and the attitude of local residents have more in common with a banana republic or a small caribbean nation than most US cities.  Tourism is the major industry, and Mardi Gras is the major holiday.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas, officially the City of Las Vegas and often known as simply Vegas, is a city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, the county seat of Clark County, and the city proper of the Las Vegas Valley. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city known primarily for gambling, shopping, fine dining and nightlife and is the leading financial and cultural center for Southern Nevada.
The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its mega casino–hotels and associated entertainment. A growing retirement and family city, Las Vegas is the 30th-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 603,488 at the 2013 United States Census Estimates. The 2013 population of the Las Vegas metropolitan area was 2,027,828. The city is one of the top three leading destinations in the United States for conventions, business, and meetings and is one of the wealthiest major cities in the country. In addition, the city's metropolitan area has more AAA Five Diamond hotels than any other city in the world, and is a global leader in the hospitality industry.

Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign state located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to the north and northeast by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the west and northwest by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. Along with France and Morocco, it is one of only three countries to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Spain's 1,214 km border with Portugal is the longest uninterrupted border within the European Union.
Spanish territory also includes two archipelagos; the Balearic Islands, in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast; two major exclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, in continental North Africa; and the islands and peñones of Alborán, Alhucemas, Chafarinas and Vélez de la Gomera. With an area of 505,990 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union, and the fourth largest country in Europe. By population, Spain is the sixth largest in Europe and the fifth in the European Union.

Rome

Rome is a city and special comune in Italy. Rome is the capital of Italy and region of Lazio. With 2.9 million residents in 1,285 km², it is also the country's largest and most populated comune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome has a population of 4.3 million residents. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio, along the shores of Tiber river. Vatican City is an independent country within the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.
Rome's history spans more than two and a half thousand years. Although Roman tradition states the founding of Rome around 753 BC, the site has been inhabited much earlier, being one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. The city's early population originated from a mix of Latins, Etruscans and Sabines. Eventually, the city successively became the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of Western civilization.

Athens, Greece

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New York City

New York – often called New York City or the City of New York to distinguish it from the State of New York, of which it is a part – is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York metropolitan area, the premier gateway for legal immigration to the United States and one of the most populous urban agglomerations in the world. A global power city, New York exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural and financial capital of the world.
Situated on one of the world's largest natural harbors, New York City consists of five boroughs, each of which is a county of New York State. The five boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island – were consolidated into a single city in 1898. With a census-estimated 2014 population of 8,491,079 distributed over a land area of just 305 square miles, New York is the most densely populated major city in the United States.

Paris

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. Situated on the Seine River, in the north of the country, it is in the centre of the Île-de-France region, also known as the région parisienne, "Paris Region". The City of Paris has an area of 105.4 square kilometres and a population of 2,273,305 people within its city limits, It has the most populous urban area in the European Union. The Paris Region covers 12,012 square kilometres, and has its own regional council and president. It has a population of 12,005,077 as of January 2014, or 18.2 percent of the population of France.
Paris was founded in the 3rd century BC by a Celtic people called the Parisii, who gave the city its name. By the 12th century, Paris was the largest city in the western world, a prosperous trading centre, and the home of the University of Paris, one of the first in Europe. In the 18th century, it was the centre stage for the French Revolution, and became an important centre of finance, commerce, fashion, science, and the arts, a position it still retains today.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital city and most populous city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its status as the Dutch capital is mandated by the Constitution of the Netherlands though it is not the seat of the Dutch government, which is The Hague. Amsterdam has a population of 813,562 within the city proper, 1,112,165 in the urban area and 1,575,263 in the metropolitan area. The city region has a population of 2,332,773. The city is located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country. It comprises much of the northern part of the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe, with a population of approximately 7 million.
Amsterdam's name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city's origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded, and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were planned and built.

Mykonos

Mykonos is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island spans an area of 85.5 square kilometres and rises to an elevation of 341 metres at its highest point. There are 10,134 inhabitants most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, which lies on the west coast. The town is also known as Chora.
Mykonos' nickname is The island of the winds. Tourism is a major industry. Widely known for its nightlife, Mykonos is called "Ibiza of Greece" for its summer club scene which attracts very large numbers of tourists every year. The island is also a well-known gay destination with a very vivid gay scene.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles, officially the City of Los Angeles, often known by its initials L.A., is a major city in California's Southern California region, approximately 342 miles south of San Francisco. With a population of 3,792,621 as of 2010, Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States, after New York City, and the most populous city in California. Los Angeles is known for its mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, celebrity culture, traffic, and the film and television industry.
Historically home to the Chumash and Tongva, Los Angeles was claimed by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo for Spain in 1542 along with the rest of what would become Alta California. The city was officially founded on September 4, 1781, by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. It became a part of Mexico in 1821 following the Mexican War of Independence. In 1848, at the end of the Mexican–American War, Los Angeles and the rest of California were purchased as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, thereby becoming part of the United States. Los Angeles was incorporated as a municipality on April 4, 1850, five months before California achieved statehood.

London

London is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its 1.12-square-mile medieval boundaries and in 2011 had a resident population of 7,375, making it the smallest city in England. Since at least the 19th century, the term London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the Greater London administrative area, governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism, and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is one of the world's leading financial centres and has the fifth-or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world depending on measurement. London is a world cultural capital.

Cancún

Cancún is a city in southeastern Mexico, located on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is an important renowned tourist destination in Mexico, as well as being the seat of the municipality of Benito Juárez. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, and is one of the easternmost points in Mexico. Cancún is located just north of Mexico's Caribbean coast resort band known as the Riviera Maya. In older English-language documents, the city’s name is sometimes spelled "Cancoon".

Ibiza

Ibiza [p] is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, 79 kilometres off the coast of the city of Valencia, in eastern Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. Its largest cities are Ibiza Town, Santa Eulària des Riu, and Sant Antoni de Portmany. Its highest point, called Sa Talaiassa, is 475 metres above sea level.
While it is one-sixth the size of nearby Majorca, Ibiza is over five times the size of Mykonos, or ten times the size of Manhattan Island. Ibiza has become famous for the association with nightlife and the electronic music that originated on the island. It is well known for its summer club scene which attracts very large numbers of tourists, though the island's government and the Spanish Tourist Office have controversially been working to promote more family-oriented tourism.
Ibiza is the home of the noted port in Ibiza Town, a popular stop for many tourists and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ibiza and the nearby island of Formentera to its south are called the Pine Islands, or "Pityuses".

Berlin

Berlin is the capital of Germany, and one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.5 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union. Located in northeastern Germany on the banks of River Spree, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region, which has about 6 million residents from over 180 nations. Due to its location in the European Plain, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. Around one third of the city's area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes.
First documented in the 13th century, Berlin became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. Berlin in the 1920s was the third largest municipality in the world. After World War II, the city was divided; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany while West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall. Following German reunification in 1990, the city was once more designated as the capital of all Germany, hosting 158 foreign embassies.

Aruba

Aruba is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, located about 1,600 kilometres west of the Lesser Antilles and 29 kilometres north of the coast of Venezuela. It measures 32 kilometres long from its northwestern to its southeastern end and 10 kilometres across at its widest point. Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms a group referred to as the ABC islands. Collectively, Aruba and the other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Netherlands Antilles or the Dutch Caribbean.
Aruba is one of the four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The citizens of these countries all share a single nationality: Dutch. Aruba has no administrative subdivisions, but, for census purposes, is divided into eight regions. Its capital is Oranjestad.
Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. This climate has helped tourism as visitors to the island can reliably expect warm, sunny weather. It has a land area of 179 km² and is densely populated, with a total of 102,484 inhabitants at the 2010 Census. It lies outside Hurricane Alley.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in the central eastern portion of the U.S. state of California. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, covers an area of 747,956 acres and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. Over 3.7 million people visit Yosemite each year: most spend the majority of their time in the seven square miles of Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness. Yosemite was central to the development of the national park idea. First, Galen Clark and others lobbied to protect Yosemite Valley from development, ultimately leading to President Abraham Lincoln's signing the Yosemite Grant in 1864. Later, John Muir led a successful movement to establish a larger national park encompassing not just the valley, but surrounding mountains and forests as well—paving the way for the United States national park system.

Nashville

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. Nashville is the second largest city in Tennessee and is the fourth largest city in the Southeastern United States. It is located on the Cumberland River in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the music, healthcare, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home to numerous colleges and universities. Reflecting the city's position in state government, Nashville is home to the Tennessee Supreme Court's courthouse for Middle Tennessee. It is known as a center of the music industry, earning it the nickname "Music City".
Since 1963, Nashville has had a consolidated city-county government which includes six smaller municipalities in a two-tier system. Thirty-five of 40 members are elected from single-member districts; five are elected at-large. According to the 2013 American Community Survey estimates, the consolidated county population stood at 658,602; not including the semi-independent municipalities, the population was 634,464.

Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney World Resort, informally known as Walt Disney World or simply Disney World or shortly WDW, is an entertainment complex in Bay Lake, Florida, near Kissimmee, Florida and is the flagship of Disney's worldwide theme park empire. The resort opened on October 1, 1971 and, according to Forbes, is the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an attendance of 25 million annually.
Disney World is owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company. The property covers 27,258 acres, in which it houses 27 themed resort hotels, 9 non–Disney hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, one nine-hole walking golf course for young golfers, two themed miniature golf courses, one camping resort, one residential area, and additional recreational and entertainment venues. Magic Kingdom was the first and original theme park to open in the complex followed by Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom, which opened later throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Designed to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955, the complex was developed by Walt Disney in the 1960s.

San Diego

San Diego is a major city in California, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, approximately 120 miles south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico.
With an estimated population of 1,355,896 as of July 1, 2013, San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest in California. San Diego is the birthplace of California and is known for its mild year-round climate, natural deep-water harbor, extensive beaches, long association with the U.S. Navy, and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center.
Historically home to the Kumeyaay people, San Diego was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the entire area for Spain, forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later. The Presidio and Mission of San Diego, founded in 1769, formed the first European settlement in what is now California.

Chicago

Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, after New York City and Los Angeles. With 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in both the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States. Its metropolitan area, sometimes called Chicagoland, is home to 9.9 million people and is the third-largest in the United States. Chicago is the seat of Cook County.
Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837, near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed, and experienced rapid growth in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, the city is an international hub for finance, commerce, industry, technology, telecommunications, and transportation, with O'Hare International Airport being the busiest airport in the world; it also has the largest number of U.S. highways, and railroad freight entering its region. In 2012, Chicago was listed as an alpha global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, and ranks seventh in the world in the 2014 Global Cities Index.

Mexico

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a federal republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Covering almost two million square kilometres, Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Americas by total area and the 13th largest independent nation in the world. With an estimated population of over 113 million, it is the eleventh most populous and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and the second most populous country in Latin America. Mexico is a federation comprising thirty-one states and a Federal District, its capital and largest city.
In pre-Columbian Mexico many cultures matured into advanced civilizations such as the Olmec, the Toltec, the Teotihuacan, the Zapotec, the Maya and the Aztec before first contact with Europeans. In 1521, the Spanish Empire conquered and colonized the territory from its base in Mexico-Tenochtitlan, which was administered as the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

Hershey

Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Hershey's chocolates are made in Hershey, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey.
The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg−Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality, and all its municipal services are provided by Derry Township. The population was 14,257 at the 2010 census.
It is popularly called "Chocolatetown, USA". Hershey is also referred to as "The Sweetest Place on Earth".

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around 4.5 million, of whom nearly a quarter live in the metropolitan area of the capital and largest city, San José. Costa Rica was sparsely inhabited by indigenous people before coming under Spanish rule in the 16th century.

Jamaica

Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles. The island, 10,990 square kilometres in area, lies about 145 kilometres south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres west of Hispaniola, the island containing the nation-states of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Jamaica is the fifth-largest island country in the Caribbean.
Once a Spanish possession known as Santiago, in 1655 it came under the rule of England, and was called Jamaica. It achieved full independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. With 2.8 million people, it is the third most populous Anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. Kingston is the country's largest city and its capital, with a population of 937,700. Jamaica has a large diaspora around the world, due to emigration from the country.
Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. Her appointed representative in the country is the Governor-General of Jamaica, currently Patrick Allen. The head of government and Prime Minister of Jamaica is Portia Simpson-Miller.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western three-eighths of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, that are shared by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean nation, with 48,445 square kilometres and nearly 10 million people, one million of which live in the capital city, Santo Domingo.
Christopher Columbus landed on the island in 1492, which the Taíno people had inhabited since the 7th century. It became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas; namely Santo Domingo, the oldest continuously inhabited city and the first seat of the Spanish colonial rule in the New World. After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludes, the country became independent in 1821. The ruler, José Núñez de Cáceres, intended that the Dominican Republic be part of the nation of Gran Colombia, but he was quickly removed by the Haitian government and Dominican slave revolts.

List of the Best Group Vacation Destinations ranked from best to worst. Group travel can be a lot of fun as well as a great opportunity to reconnect with ...