Taking off Travel blog

10 Places American Tourists Should Visit in 2012

by Anna Dewinter

Travelers might think of visiting Great Britain for the Olympic Games 2012, or to experience the sights and sounds of London – one of America’s favorite destinations. However, there are other destinations that are sometimes overlooked and that definitely deserve a visit in 2012.

Whilst there, consider using hire cars to drive south to the second city and explore Cork – enjoy shopping in the English Market and ringing the Bells of Shandon. Throw in a short trip to nearby Blarney Castle where the famous Blarney Stone awaits.

From Cork, fly to the third destination: Hamburg. Packed with popular things to do and see, including the Miniature Wonderland with model railways and tiny countries, there are also fantastic parks and gardens, examples of superb architecture and wonderful museums.

A high-speed train runs between Hamburg and Amsterdam in The Netherlands, which has a laid-back ambiance and offers the wonderful Van Gogh Museum and the Royal Palace. For a countryside trip, seek out the tulip fields and windmills.

For these four European destinations tourists should always carry ID: a valid passport is needed but a visa is not required for stays of less than three months.

Two Complementary Destinations in China

Hong Kong displays a fusion of east and west influences with major Chinese temples and palaces, accessible via the iconic tram system, plus skyscrapers and Hong Kong Disneyland!

A three-hour flight from Hong Kong to Beijing takes visitors to a different, exquisite historical era; explore the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs and the Temple of Heaven.

Singular India

Delhi in India is a city in two parts: Old Delhi features historic mosques, forts and shrines, whilst New Delhi is contemporary, bustling and cosmopolitan. Be sure to view the stunning Taj Mahal in nearby Agra, the world’s finest monument to Mughal architecture and one of the seven top tourist attractions globally.

For both China and India a visa is required and a passport must have at least six months’ validity.

Three Different Choices – Abu Dhabi, St Vincent and Wellington

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates might be relatively unknown but it offers a relaxed break and a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of the city. Explore dramatic sand dunes and mountains, and cruise along the Gulf Coast. A valid passport is sufficient if staying for up to 30 days; visas are free of charge at the port of entry.

Caribbean island destination St Vincent and the Grenadines is a great alternative to Barbados or Martinique. An English-speaking location, there are lots of tourist facilities among the tropical eco-rainforests. Snorkeling, yachting and scuba diving are on offer.

The city of Wellington provides easy access to the lovely North and South Islands of New Zealand. Besides the outstanding natural habitat, Wellington offers fabulous views from its cable cars and the Mount Victoria Lookout, and great shopping in the bohemian quarter of town. Pack a passport – visa requirements are waived for US citizens.

Whether preferred vacation choices are educational, unusual or exotic, there is a place to visit in 2012 that suits perfectly.

Image: slleong

I’m always fascinated by the view from a plane. These days, when I travel with my family I don’t get the window seat any more, and even when I travel alone, I often opt to take the slight leg room advantage afforded by an aisle seat. But it was a nice change to have a window view when flying through the Caribbean recently. I’d like to share these photos with you.

View of the Jamaican coastline as we left Norman Manley Airport in Kingston.

In the next photo, I love the way the clouds look above the island.

Another view of the Jamaican coastline - this time with clouds

Next up, more cumulus clouds – the Caribbean is a great place to see them – and you can’t beat the view from the air!

Cumulus landscape in the Caribbean

Rainbows fascinate me – and it’s not often you get to see this much of one from this high up.

Rainbow over the sea

Finally, here’s a view of the Barbados coastline.

Flying into Barbados - coastal view

The Caribbean Sea in Cancun, Mexico, is more of a lion than a pussycat, at least at the edge of the hotel where I stayed. This can be something of a shock to those used to the placid waters where the same sea laps against the shores of Caribbean islands. In contrast, this water releases a constant roar and pounds against the large, flat rocks at the shoreline. During my four day visit, there was no possibility of swimming, though I did dip my toes in the water just because it was there before returning to the safety of the spacious pool at the Cancun Hilton.

Cancun Hilton View

Tourism Experts

Cancun impressed me from the moment I landed. Many travel experiences feature bleary eyed voyagers whose faces fall at the prospect of another long queue (can anyone say Miami International?) but this was different. I’d filled out my forms on the plane and as I entered the bright, well-signposted airport, I was directed to a bank of security desks where the people on duty quickly scanned the form and let me pass. The whole process took less than 10 minutes from la nding to luggage collection, and passing through customs was equally smooth.

Once into the main airport, there were people everywhere directing travelers to the best mode of transport. It took only another five minutes to buy my shuttle ticket and get a seat on a bus for the hotel zone. I’ve never seen an operation quite as slick, and unlike many airports where you can look for officials in vain, there were help desks all around. Read more »