<p>I think musica hit the nail on the head, e.g., folks book flights to HNL, but might not stay in the city.</p>
<p>I think I would rather go to Hong Kong than Shanghai or Beijing.</p>
<p>Hong Kong from my perspective was not as interesting as Shanghai which wasn’t as interesting as Beijing.</p>
<p>I’ve been to 11 on the list but also prefer nature and zero people to cities and many people…although I would LOVE to go to Buenos Aires or places that didn’t make the list and really have no desire in general to go to Vegas.</p>
<p>I’ve been to 12 including the first 6 and am adding 2 more this summer. Also Fez is definitely more interesting than Marrakech.</p>
<p>
You missed the entry for Bora Bora - fantastic snorkeling. Although I didn’t snorkel in Bora Bora I did snorkel off of another Tahitian island - Moorea, and from what I hear it’s similar. The cool thing about some of the Tahitian islands is that they have a barrier reef which forms a huge protected lagoon filled with fish, coral, etc. and with great visibility and very calm waters. It’s quite different from Hawaii in this respect. I really enjoyed Tahiti and would like to go back.</p>
<p>Hong Kong is a physically gorgeous spot, islands and mountains and sea. Lots of contrast, and international in flavor as well as Chinese. HK is good for hiking as well as shopping. </p>
<p>But, Beijing has the history, the sense of gravity as the ‘northern Capitol’ and seat of power. Shanghai has colonial history, and amazing new architecture as well. Both have horrible air quality. Having been to all three, I have some preference for Beijing, though haven’t been there, or to HK in decades. </p>
<p>Las Vegas is the only city in the west I’ve never been to, though the lights were interesting once when refueling after circling Phoenix for too long during a storm. No interest. But my Japanese sis in law insisted on going at one point, as ‘all Japanese go to Las Vegas.’ I am also amazed at how many folks from my Midwestern city go to Las Vegas for short trips. </p>
<p>Tatin, totally agree, though this was about places masses of computer literate folks want to research.</p>
<p>I’ve been to twelve. Sydney stands out as the one I’d most want to return to, as it is so physically beautiful. Why Chiang Mai, not Bangkok? Most pass through Bangkok to elsewhere in Thailand.</p>
<p>I don’t know what their ranking criteria was. I wonder if it includes people heading to those destinations due to business. I’m trying to figure out why Chicago would be on the list - no offense intended to Chicagoans. I’m pretty sure if I took a random poll of cc’ers or most other groups to rank their desire to visit Chicago vs Florence, Chicago wouldn’t come out on top.</p>
<p>Las Vegas - in addition to people who go there to gamble there are a lot of people who go there to stay in a nice hotel, eat at any number of restaurants including many by famous chefs, and see some shows. It can also be interesting to see some of the stuff they’ve done in the hotels - like the canals in the Venetian.</p>
<p>Sorry, GGD, but I’ve been to several on this list and Chicago is one of my top cities. I dream of retiring to a condo in the Loop. I agree with most on Las Vegas, though.</p>
<p>That’s so funny… I’ve been to 11 also. I wonder if it’s all the same 11 :D</p>
<p>Went to school in Chicago for 10 years. Only go back if forced to attend a meeting there, although I really should go to a Reunion one of these years.</p>
<p>I just realized how little travel I have done in my life, but I don’t regret it at all. I am not a city building looker and I goto HK, BJ and Shanghai only for business, I have no desire to be a looker in those cities. I have my hands full in my outdoor activities. I don’t think Hong Kong is a place for outdoor’s type. </p>
<p>As musica says, “fit” is more important than ranking…:)</p>
<p>I haven’t traveled much either ( that requires a plane)I have been to San Francisco several times & L.A., but those are the only cities on their 25. I’d gladly go to SF again, LAnot so much.
No desire to go to Vegas.
I considered it because it is someplace on Eddie Vedder’s next tour and hotels & airfare are relatively inexpensive, but the thought of the place makes me shudder.
Think I will try for Austin or Atlanta instead. 
</p>
<p>Count us in the outdoor crowd. We’ve taken oodles of trips and purposely avoided major cities when we could (and have visited some cities on other trips). It is all about fit.</p>
<p>With regards to Vegas, everyone said we had to go to see it. Saw it. Couldn’t wait to leave. Regretted having made reservations for two nights… would have preferred the second night in Death Valley (which we underestimated and didn’t allow enough time for).</p>
<p>Bora Bora would be at the top of my list from those 25. I doubt we’d get bored after dark.</p>
<p>We’ve been to 7 on that list and most of the rest don’t make our top 50 list. Bora Bora would.</p>
<p>It’s definitely a fit deal. I’m glad we’re in the minority or places we like would be really crowded.</p>
<p>I prefer the cities as I’m interested in architecture and I feel that I get a better feel for the country’s culture in cities. This summer, we’ll be seeing Sydney and Bora Bora on the top 25 list.</p>
<p>I love cities. On this list my favorites are Istanbul, Marrakech and Buenos Aires. Fabulous, exotic destinations and bargains too.</p>
<p>Been to eight of the places. I grew up in NJ so was in NYC quite often. We have a timeshare in Las Vegas and go every other year. I like the shows and the food and the people watching. I have been to London six or seven times and love it. Looking forward to being in London the summer of 2013. Paris is great. Spent five nights in Dublin, which I thought was two too many. We will be in LA at the end of the month visiting our son. We have been there many times because he went to USC. I don’t care for that city. I traveled to SF on government business 20 years ago and thought the city looked run down. I also do not care at all for Honolulu. We will be in Lihue, Kauai for 10 nights in January. I much prefer that island to Oahu. Would like to go to Prague and Sydney and Tahiti.</p>
<p>artlover, having lived in HK, hiking is one of my favorite things about the place. I really appreciated the public transport access to natural areas. </p>
<p>[Best</a> hiking in Hong Kong | CNNGo.com](<a href=“http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/play/hiking-hong-kong-141663]Best”>http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/play/hiking-hong-kong-141663)</p>
<p>You can spend the day on a coastal path with amazing vistas, take a ferry back to the crowded city and eat world class food for dinner.</p>
<p>We have been to many of these destinations in the last two years. And we are going to Rome and Florence (again) in the next six months. and Maui. Interesting list.</p>
<p>Tatin: I chuckled when I saw your list. We like our cement. (Vive la Difference!) When I was a child my parents took me to Yosemite. After twenty minutes of looking up at the trees my mother (a true New Yorker at heart) said, “If I see one more f…ng tree I’ll vomit.” We left three days early. Not the nature/camping people…</p>
<p>
Sorry, I know some people like Chicago and have a colleague who was from Chicago who expressed that same statement as you just made. However, he’s now back in Chicago and when I talked to him last he said he wants out of there and to move to California which surprised me. Personally, someone could hand me gratis any condo there is on the Loop (or in NYC) and I still wouldn’t move there but we’re all different and there’s no right or wrong answer which is a good thing.</p>
<p>It still surprised me that Chicago would be a big tourist destination when compared to places like Florence, Hawaii, Sydney, NYC, etc. but I know it’s a big business destination and a big airport hub (I’ve been through O’Hare hundreds of times) so I was wondering if perhaps business travel was a part of the equation in coming up with the list.</p>