Mexico, Las Vegas, Caribbean cruising rank high on travel agent survey

By The Associated Press - 09/13/2008

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mexico, Las Vegas and Caribbean cruising were all high on the list of popular vacation options in a survey conducted by Travel Leaders (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates).

The annual survey, conducted this summer, polled 415 Travel Leaders agents, managers and owners.

The top six domestic destinations this year were the same as last year, starting with Las Vegas, followed by Orlando, Fla.; Honolulu, and Maui, Hawaii; New York and San Francisco. Anchorage, Alaska, was No. 7 on the list. Miami tied with Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., for the next two spots, and Chicago and Washington tied for 10th place. It was the first time Chicago made it into the top 10 in the survey's five-year history.

Mexico ranked No. 1 in the category of "best value outside the U.S.," and took five of 10 spots in the list of top international destinations, with Cancun at No. 2, Riviera Maya at No. 3, Mexican cruising sixth, Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos eighth and Puerto Vallarta ninth.

Caribbean cruising was No. 1 on the international list, with Mediterranean cruises and Rome coming in fourth and fifth; Montego Bay, Jamaica, at No. 7, and Punta Cana, in the Domini-can Republic, at No. 10.

Nearly 30 percent of survey respondents also said their clients were driving more often to vacation destinations than they used to, and about two-thirds said increases in gas prices and fuel surcharges have caused some people to scale back travel.

——— September is wine month in California SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is celebrating wine this month with festivals, tastings, grape stomps and tours.

Check out the "The Land of Wine and Food" Web site at http://www.landofwineandfood.com for information on events as well as a wine region locator that can be searched by location or even by wine varietal for things to do.

In the Carmel Valley on Sept. 26, you can watch as 10 tons of grapes are crushed, then join Chateau Julien winemakers for a dinner in the wine cellar. Chumeia Vineyards is hosting an ice cream social Sept. 19-20 and a wine cruise around Morro Bay Sept. 27. At Pipestone Vineyards, you'll get your hands (and feet) purple with a hands-on winemaking class on Sept. 28.

Tesoro Winery in Temecula is organizing a "Biker Brunch" with a five-course meal following a motorcycle tour of the area. The American Wine and Food Festival in Los Angeles, Sept. 26-28, which raises money for Los Angeles Meals on Wheels, features celebrity chefs, live music, tastings and a feast.

In Napa, Groth Winery and Vineyards is celebrating "Wine in the Insectary" to showcase the 44 different species planted there to attract beneficial insects.

The "Flights of Napa" event, Sept. 26-28, is a showcase for jets, gourmet food, cigars and wine.

The new Web site also offers a self-guided itinerary to see wineries featured in the indie film "Bottle Shock," about the triumph of California wines at a 1976 blind tasting in Paris. Details at http://www.landofwineandfood.com/bottleshock.

Another resource is the Wine Institute's new Web site, http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com, which lists ways to learn about and sample California's wines at wineries, vineyards, restaurants, shops and supermarkets.