The results of Fodor's Travel's first-ever Best of Europe Survey provide some fun (and informative) insight into European travel. The winners were ranked by Fodors.com visitors. Averaging visits to a few.5 countries and 7.1 cities per an associate the last two years, these European travelers recommended destinations depending on select criteria including: food and wine, art and culture, family travel, best value and more.
Here are some highlights in the survey.
Hot spots - Iceland was voted Europe's emerging hot spot and now is the perfect time to visit as 2012 marks the optimum time in more than 50 years to find out one of nature's most awe-inspiring wonders: the Northern Lights. Other emerging destinations in the survey span Europe, from buzzy cities like Berlin and Edinburgh to lesser-traveled locales like Croatia's Dubrovnik and Greece's Crete.
Dubrovnik is living proof a city can live up to its fabled nickname. Dubbed the "Pearl from the Adriatic" by the poet Lord Byron in the 1800s, Dubrovnik survived heavy shelling during the civil war in the 1990s to emerge as Europe's "it" spot in the moment. A secret hideaway for your international jet set for decades, this fairytale city now attracts an extremely large number of tourists from the U.S. The truth is, award-winning tour operators like Travel Impressions recently announced portfolio expansions to include Croatia. Travel Impressions' specially priced, five-night travel packages include Dubrovnik, Adriatic resort areas like Hvar and the Croatian capital of Zagreb.
This tourism renaissance is entirely understandable: Dalmatia's Mediterranean sunshine, brilliant blue sea, rich history and inspired cuisine will quickly turn it into a favorite of your clients. The nightlife around the island of Hvar lures night owls, and also the idyllic scenery on the islands of Korcula and Mljet-think lavender fields and dramatic rocky beaches-beckons like Odysseus' sirens.
Forewarn customers that rocky ledges pass for beaches from my lexicon; sand is not to be found in Dalmatia. However the glittering jewel of the Croatian coast will be the walled city of Dubrovnik jutting into the Adriatic, the famous red-tiled roofs waiting in sharp relief with the surrounding azure sea. These impressive 82-foot high ramparts have protected town for centuries, so it's little wonder that Dubrovnik was named an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
Inspite of the summer cruise ship passengers-the main pedestrian promenade of polished marble, called Stradun, can become awfully crowded in July and August-summer continues to be best time to visit Dubrovnik. The celebrated Summer Festival is a large draw and attracts world-renowned artists, musicians and actors (July 10-August 25). The Communist-era hotels have been replaced with newer, more chic accommodations, though Dubrovnik's best and a lot affordable accommodations are the private apartments. Most are situated in the pedestrian-only city center and can be found on websites such as www.dubrovnik-amoret.com, www.dubrovnik-apartments-bb.com and www.dubrovnik-online.com/english/private_accommodation.php. On your clients on a budget, sobes (private rooms in the houses of Croats) present an affordable option.
Old Town
Hotels are rare in the picturesque Old Town itself, along with the aptly named Stari Grad, meaning "Old Town," is a lovely choice just steps through the vibrant caf? life on Stradun. The first kind house of the aristocratic Draskovic family dating through the 16th century, the three-star Hotel Stari Grad only has eight rooms with all the contemporary conveniences like air cooling, minibars, satellite TV and private bathrooms with hydro-massage showers. (You can find four single rooms and four doubles with king-size beds.) Small size assures privacy on your clients, and attention to detail by the staff. Book room #402 for views in the Adriatic from a side window. At breakfast, your customers will swoon over the rooftop terrace overlooking the terra-cotta roofs of Dubrovnik. Note: There's no elevator.
Best value - Spain, Austria, and Ireland work best places for travelers to stretch their Euros, providing high style for a fraction of the price. These picks provide unique hotels, affordable shopping, and restaurants and nightlife which don't put travelers over budget.
Art and culture - Whether you love to view the classics in Rome or trend toward modern art installations in Basel, Switzerland, Fodor's Travel users ranked Europe's best arts and cultural destinations. The revealing list includes traditional favorites like Florence and Paris, including a few surprises, like Spain's Granada, the web page of the Moorish Alhambra palace.
Food and drink - Unsurprisingly, perennial foodie favorites Burgundy and Tuscany came out on top, but some unexpected newcomers in this area include Austria's Danube Valley and Croatia's Istria.
Family destinations - The Scottish capital of scotland - St. Andrews came in as the top family-friendly vacation spot, followed by Southwest Ireland, and Iceland. The three destinations have plenty of outdoor activities, can be found by train or car after arrival and aren't crowded, easing the journey for parents.
Author Resource:
For additional facts and data, go to Dubrovnik , in which beautiful summer season Croatian town.
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