Fantasy Vacation Poll Results

Favorite Dream Places To Go, Should Travel Time Allow

© Jennifer W. Miner

Jun 6, 2006

Last month's poll asked readers to step back for a moment, and imagine the possibilities of luxury traveling with unlimited resources. Most of us can't take the time to go wherever we desire, after all. But if we could, one person would likely choose a different luxury locale than the next. Fantasy vacations in dream locations take on different meanings. Where would you like to go, if money were no object?

• Coming in first place, with 43.33% of the votes, was the Mediterranean. Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Turkey and others in this region are the clear preference of the poll-takers. Could it be the temperate climate, or perhaps the luxury and romance of the region? I know personally that I love the museums in Italy, which has more medieval and renaissance art and architecture than anywhere else in the world. And of course, you can't beat Greece and Turkey in terms of art history and museums involving ancient civilizations. While obviously most places in the world have long histories, with rises and falls of various cultures, few relics have survived the ravages of time as well as those of Mediterranean societies.
• We have a tie for second place. The first is the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. 23.33% of the voters, by choosing the U.K. as tops to see, may be dreaming of luxury castle tours, the loneliness of the sweeping moors - or perhaps simply pounding down a Guinness in its country of origin! I particularly liked visiting Western Ireland, which still has crumbling derelict castles from the 1200's, alongside more recently renovated ones. Letting my imagination take hold as I investigated long-forgotten stone walls and ancient homesteads is one of my best travel-related memories.
• Tied for second place, also with 23.33% of the votes, is East and Southeast Asia. China, Japan, India and Nepal are the countries I listed, but of course there are many other countries in this region. Is it the idea of climbing Mt. Everest, with the help of a sherpa guide, that has caught the imagination of nearly a quarter of our voters? It certainly would fit with the overall "Outdoor Adventure" theme of this section of Suite 101. Then again, the world's finest sushi can be sampled in Japan, and while it may not scale the heights of Mt. Everest, Mt. Fuji is quite a vision as well. The sheer sizes of China and India, with their many divergent regions and subcultures, would take unlimited time as well as finances to fully realize. And some people are as enthusiastic about sampling authentic Indian cuisine, as I am regarding sushi. As with Guinness, why not sample it at the source?
• Third place goes to "Can I just take the money?" with 6.67% of the votes. I suppose that when you need the cash, it may seem dangerous even to daydream about fantasy vacations. Indeed, luxury can be found at home as well as abroad; for a small percentage of our voters, getting lost in a good book may serve as a vacation in itself.
• Last place for a dream vacation, with a mere 3.33% of the votes, is North America. The majority of Suite 101 readers hail from the USA and Canada, so it may well be that, as long as we're talking fantasy here, we may as well get outta Dodge! On a more serious note, Route 66, the Canadian Rockies, the American Southwest, the Santa Barbara region, and other North American sites are likely more attainable vacation spots than are overseas countries. In other words, voters know that relatively local sites are more financially accessible. I wouldn't want to spend my fantasy vacation wish on a trip I could take regardless either.

Space constraints prevented this fantasy vacation poll to list every conceivable option, of course. I received an email from one reader who was disappointed that she was not able to select France as her financial luxury location. South America and Africa were absent, as well as most of Europe. Nevertheless, nothing prevents us from daydreaming about taking a luxury vacation anywhere we like; in our fantasies, the possibilities are endless.

Related, on Suite 101:

Florence, Italy

The Duomo in Florence, Italy

Atlantis, Paradise Island

Snorkelling in the Bahamas

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa

Copyright Jennifer Miner and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright.

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