Dream trips

To travel is to dream and then the fulfillment of that dream. In fact, travel dreams are one of the few dreams we can actually make come true. To that end, Virtuoso, the international network of luxury travel advisors, spent some time taking the pulse of dreamers and finding out who they are and what travel fantasies they are creating, so that travel counselors may be able to turn those aspirations into actualities.

The results of Virtuoso’s eighth annual Travel Dreams Survey show that wish-lists of the world’s best travelers reach far beyond the norm, with responses like “taking a world cruise” and “calling on all seven continents” serving as potential next trips for these upscale globetrotters.  

Australia continued its reign as the top dream destination and newcomers such as the Amalfi Coast, Rio de Janeiro and Saint Petersburg made their debut, while perennial favorites Paris and Rome stood firm at the top of survey categories. Cruising also continued to rank high, with European river sailings besting other itineraries and round-the-world cruising topping the trips of a lifetime. Similarly, Virtuoso sees in its network that aspect of consumer demand. The 2015 world cruise inventory is nearly sold out already.

The survey identifited five travel personalities:

The Go-Getter (24% of respondents)

  • Go-Getters are active, adventurous and want to see and do it all on their vacations.
  • Dream vacations: Traveling the Trans-Siberian Railway, cruising the Amazon, zip-lining with the kids in Costa Rica and biking with the family through Tuscany.
  • Recommendations: a 15-day Nomadic Expeditions rail journey from Beijing to Moscow, which joins the main Siberian Railway route in Ulan-Ude and includes guided sightseeing and a cruise on Lake Baikal. From $9,195.

Dream Safari trips Africa

The Connoisseur (21%)

  • The Connoisseur likes the best of everything, and indulges interests and passions while traveling.
  • Dream vacations: Exploring Saint Petersburg, French wine-country cruises, taking the kids to the Swiss Alps in the summer, family pasta-making lessons in Italy and dinner dates in Paris’ five-star restaurants.
  • Recommendations: Wine-tasting through Bordeaux over the course of eight days on Viking River Cruises’ 190-passenger Viking Forseti. Guided excursions include vineyard visits, blending Cognac, learning about truffles in Dordogne, dinner at a private chateau and city tours of Bordeaux, Blaye, and medieval Saint-Emilion. From $1,956.

The Classic Traveler (20%)

  • Classic Travelers are loyal to the places they love and will return multiple times to their favorite destinations.
  • Dream vacations: Taking over a French villa with their family, going on a world cruise or riding the Orient-Express.
  • Recommendations: The Venice Simplon Orient-Express has launched service from Brussels. Options include two-day direct journeys from Venice to Brussels and five-day itineraries that feature two hotel nights in Budapest as well as two nights on the train. From $2,810.

Luxury Train travel

The Relaxationist (18%)

  • The Relaxationist travels to get away from it all to restore and rejuvenate.
  • Dream vacations: Lounging on a beach in Tahiti, staying in a Paris apartment and relaxing in the Maldives or the French Riviera.
  • Recommendations: For the kids’ first glimpse of Cannes, Rome, Florence and Naples, Disney Cruise Line’s eight-day voyage on the Disney Magic sails round-trip from Barcelona this August. From $4,656 for a family of four.

The Trendsetter (17%)

  • The Trendsetter is all about what’s new and next and is an early adopter of emerging destinations.
  • Dream vacations: going on safari in Namibia, heading to space with Virgin Galactic, river cruising in Myanmar and wine tasting in Chile.
  • Recommendations: Hike Sossusvlei’s giant dunes and track black rhinos and desert elephants in Damaraland on Swain Destinations’ Namibia safari. The ten-day adventure wraps up at Etosha National Park, home to giraffe, free-roaming lions and cheetah.Through October 31; from $6,235.

 

Top Trips of a Lifetime
1.      Taking a world cruise
2.      Visiting Italy’s Amalfi Coast
2.      Calling on all seven continents
3.      Renting a private island
4.      Renting a European Villa
5.      Seeing the highlights of Australia
6.      Photographing the “big five” on safari
7.      Exploring the Galapagos Islands
9.      Journeying to the Holy Land
10.    Chartering a private jet

 

Top 10 Dream Destinations
1.      Australia
2.      Italy
3.      New Zealand
4.      France
5.      Fiji
6.      Ireland
7.      Greece
8.      Antarctica
9.      South Africa
10.    The Caribbean

 

Dream Islands                     
1.      Hawaii
2.      Greek Islands
3.      Fiji
4.      New Zealand
5.      Capri
Dream Cities
1.      Paris
2.      Rome
3.      Rio de Janeiro
4.      Sydney
5.      Saint Petersburg

 

Top 10 Dream Destinations
1.      Australia
2.      Italy
3.      New Zealand
4.      France
5.      Fiji
6.      Ireland
7.      Greece
8.      Antarctica
9.      South Africa
10.    The Caribbean

 

Gourmet Favorites
1.      Paris
2.      Rome
3.      Florence
4.      Barcelona
5.      New Orleans

 

Where to Set Sail
1.      European river/canal
2.      The Mediterranean
3.      Australia/New Zealand
4.      World cruise
5.      Alaska

 

 

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