By Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse
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| Image of Grand Canal in Venice, with Santa Maria della Salute Basilica in the background. |
In-Demand Autumn Destinations
Virtuoso recently revealed the most popular fall and holiday travel destinations for upscale American travelers at the 30th annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. The global luxury travel network examined more than $40.7 billion in future bookings to determine the most coveted hot spots around the globe.
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Italy
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| View of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. |
Italy is one of five European countries in the top 10, including three in the top five. Its history, art and culture are nearly unrivaled but just represent just the tip of the iceberg in terms of its overall draw as visitors will discover charming villages, world-class cuisine and breathtaking coastlines.
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France
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| Famous medieval half-timbered facades reflecting in water, Colmar, France. |
Unsurprisingly, nearby France is also in demand among upscale travelers this fall and heading into the holidays. The diverse destination remains the most-visited country in the world so don't expect it to drop from this list anytime soon.
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South Africa
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| Paragliding over Cape Town, South Africa. |
An unbeatable place for adventure seekers, South Africa is high on Americans' wish list this fall. The African destination is among the best for safaris and whale watching, among other popular activities.
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Israel
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| Old town and port of Jaffa and modern skyline of Tel Aviv, Israel. |
Israel leads the way in the Middle East, which is experiencing a notable rise in interest from upscale Americans ahead of the fall and winter seasons. The good news for travelers is that air connectivity between the U.S. and Israel keeps improving and there are plenty of unique tours to choose from.
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Germany
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| Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin Mitte |
Germany rounds out the top five most in-demand countries for the latter half of the year, with Virtuoso reporting strong interest among river cruisers looking to experience the destination's renowned Christmas markets.
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Japan
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| Landscape of Tokyo. |
Despite ranking sixth, Japan is clearly gaining momentum among upscale American travelers, earning a spot on this year's Virtuoso Luxe Report list of the top emerging destinations.
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Greece
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| Ancient Amphitheater of Acropolis of Athens, Greece. |
Greece is well-known for its one-of-a-kind landmarks, offering visitors a slew of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to explore as well as museums showcasing one of the world's most emblematic cultures.
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United States
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| Skyline of Washington, DC. |
Many Americans are also content to stay close to family and travel domestically around the upcoming holiday season. The U.S. is also convenient for families with children in school and chock-full of premier destinations for fall colors.
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New Zealand
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| The most famous landmark in Wellington. |
Like South Africa, New Zealand is a perennial favorite among adventure travelers, especially during the fall and winter months, which correspond to spring and summer in the Pacific island country.
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Switzerland
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| Church, bridge and houses with tiled rooftops, Bern, Switzerland. |
American arrivals in Switzerland increased more than 12 percent in 2017 over 2016 so it's appropriate the European destination rounds out the list of upscale U.S. travelers' top 10 most coveted countries for fall and holiday travel.
