Western Europe, Mexico, Turkey and Australia are top destinations for Americans headed abroad this summer
evelyn 
Australia, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA 
France, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom
When it comes to heading abroad for summer vacation, London, Rome, Paris, Cancun remained American’s top four choices for the eighth consecutive year according to the 2011 Hot Spots for Summer study. The survey, which asked ASTA travel agents what destinations were hot for this summer season, found that Western European destinations are the most popular overall with six cities in the top 10.
Rounding out the top 10 city hot spots were Punta Cana, Dublin, Barcelona, Venice, Sydney and Istanbul. This year was the first time that Sydney and Istanbul have joined the top 10. Last year, Istanbul hosted ASTA’s International Destination Expo, which brought more than 1,200 travel professionals together to learn about the culture, attractions and travel business of Turkey and its neighboring countries.
“Americans are interspersing trips to such tried-and-true favorites as Mexico and Europe, with the opportunity to experience new cultures and regions of the world. Istanbul and Sydney both are new entrants to the list and are holding a great deal of attraction for U.S. travelers,” said Chris Russo, ASTA president and chair.
When asked to name which countries or regions are most popular with Americans traveling abroad, Italy ranked first, with the United Kingdom remaining in second place again. Mexico ranked third, followed by France and the Caribbean, in fourth and fifth place, respectively. The same five countries/regions have remained in the top five for more than five years.
Survey data was collected through the 2011 ASTA Research Family. This survey has a 95-percent rate confidence with an error rate +/-4.3 percent.
What is Australia Famous For?
That isn’t a tough question.
Without a doubt that’s the Australian Open (one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments), Australian football, the notorious Ned Kelly, the Nobel Prize Laureate Patrick White, the Booker Prize winner Thomas Keneally, Kim Scott, Sally Morgan and other prominent authors.
Moreover, Australia has great artistic traditions and hosts a great number of festive celebrations including the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Country Music Festival, Hobart Summer Festival, and many other world known events.
Furthermore, Australia is known for its great architectural achievements. Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House are part of the world’s architectural heritage and Australia’s most famous landmarks.
Visit Australia
If you wish to visit Australia and wonder what time of the year would be best to do so, the great news is that Australia is suitable for vacations all year round.
Weather wise, the country offers an array of options. When the weather is cold at the southern part of the continent, it is lovely and pleasant in the central and the northern regions and vice versa.
Despite of the weather tourists can always enjoy Australia’s outstanding wilderness landscapes, amazing beaches, coastal dunes, beautiful national parks, and magnificent mountain ranges.
The Australian continent, itself, Tasmania, and islands such as the Kangaroo Island, Melville Island, King Island, among others, has a lot to offer to their guests.
Welcome to Our Blog page for Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the northeast and New Zealand to the southeast.
