In a recent Harris poll asking what foreign destinations Americans would prefer to travel to if costs were not a consideration Australia reclaimed the top spot. Last year was the only year since 1997 that Australia was not in the number one position as it ranked second. In 2008 Italy captured the top spot but this year its drops back down to number two. Men and women have different favorites. Australia ranked number one for men while Italy is tops for women.

The rankings are:
1. Australia
2. Italy
3. Great Britain
4. France
5. Ireland
6. Germany
7. Japan
8. Greece
9. New Zealand
10. Spain

Overall half of all adults (50 percent) surveyed would choose a European country for a foreign vacation if cost was not a consideration. 24 percent of the respondents would choose a country in Asia or the Pacific while looking at the Caribbean or the Americas only 15 percent said they would go to a country in this region. A very small number of people (4 percent) say they would not travel anywhere outside the United States.

The European numbers do not surprise but I would have thought that the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America would have scored higher on preferred vacation destinations.

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Happy travels!