1. Times Square, NYC

Nobody wants to give the Big Apple a miss. Everyone wants to go to New York. And when you are in New York, you might want to make the Times Square the number one place to visit in your list; if you were a New Yorker, you would complete agree with that. With a wide array of megastores, Broadway shows, megastores, pedestrian only areas lined with café tables, easy access to all modes of city transportation and the awesome spectacle of this place make this the most visited place in the United States.
Number of visitors per year: 39,200,000.

2. Central Park, NYC

The number two spot goes to New York, too. The Central Park in New York City has around 850 acres of greenery where you can visit the zoo, take a ride in the horse-drawn carriages, check out the Belvedere Castle or simply laze around in the lush lawns gazing at the skyscrapers surrounding the park.
Number of visitors per year: 38,000,000.

3. Union Station, Washington, D.C.

This station, opened in 1907, might not be a tourist destination, but it is one place that a lot of tourists pass through. The Union Station sees around 12,500 passengers every day, and it’s mammoth building built in mixed architectural style, from Classical to Baroque to beaux-Arts, houses more than 70 retail outlets making this place not only an aesthetic delight but also a hot shopping destination.
Number of visitors per year: 37, 00,000.

4. Las Vegas Strip

The legendary Sin City does not need any introduction. And for people who did not know much about this city, the Hollywood movie Hangover certainly turned out to be an enlightening one. That is what the figures say, because after the movie was released, Las Vegas, hit hard by the recession, saw a sudden spike in tourist traffic. What do these visitors do here? The question should be what can visitors not do in Las Vegas because making a list of the things you can do in this city is impossible; you can do almost anything. Casinos, fountains, shopping, or just people watching, anything and everything is interesting in this city. Number of visitors per year: 29,467,000.

5. Niagara Falls, New York

Though the Niagara Falls is situated right on the U.S., Canada border, this world famous tourist attraction still makes it to our list for most visited places in the United States. Why do so many people from all over the world come here? Consider this: 6,000,000 cubic feet of water falling down from heights ranging from 70 to 188 feet; a spectacle that will amaze and mesmerize. This is what makes the Niagara Falls breathtaking even if there are many other waterfalls around the world which flow down from greater heights.
Number of visitors per year: 22,500,000

6. Grand Central Terminal, New York City

The number six spot on our list goes to the Grand Central Terminal, a train station that is also an architectural landmark in the Beaux-Arts style. In addition, the ceiling of the station, which is painted with a map of the night time constellations in the sky, holds the visitors spellbound. The station also has a number of shops and events that will hold your attention as you wait for your train to arrive.
Number of visitors per year: 21,600,000.

Source: Travelandleisure.com
Images Sourced From:
en.wikipedia.org
greenconduct.com
ctovision.com
nationaleconomist
yeseniar14.blogspot.com
copinedebile.blogspot.com

Apparently, online travel websites such as Expedia and Travelocity are trying to evade their share of tourist taxes on hotel room stays, which they buy and sell, in the state of Florida. It is also evident that some state legislators are making it easier for them to do this. The legislators are pushing to change the state law as to exempt these companies from paying county taxes on the prices of hotel rooms they buy and sell. What this will do is that it will affect the local governments of revenue from tourism and help the companies from outside the state.

State officials estimated in 2011 that the tax revenue was about $29 million.Many online travel companies refuse to pay taxes on the full price of the hotel rooms which will result in a significant cut in the tourism revenues of Florida. Some county governments such as Palm Beach County have already sued to recover the millions owed to them.

The issue in question is pretty simple. Visitors who book a room online stand to pay a 5% tax on the price that the online company got from the hotel, which is cheaper and at a wholesale price. When a tourist makes a booking directly, he or she will need to pay the 5% tourist tax on the normal, standard price of the hotel room. This naturally makes online booking more preferred thereby increasing business for the online travel companies.
Though the difference might seem small for an individual transaction, for a tourist state like Florida, this small difference could add up to a significant amount in the end. However, the passing of this bill seems to be remote as there are two powerful lobbies — the online travel companies and the traditional hotels — pitted against each other.

Source: Palmbeachpost.com
Image Source
destination360.com

1. London, United Kingdom

With the Olympics coming up, London is bracing up for a huge influx of sports tourists along with the usual huge number of regular tourists it receives every year. Make sure you make hotel bookings pretty early if you don’t want to spend your nights under the stars in London.

2. Muscat, Oman

The capital city of Oman, Muscat is going full swing in attracting international tourists this year. The leaders of this oil rich nation have the vision to know that oil is not going to last forever and are pretty serious about making Oman a country people want to go to even if there is no oil anymore. Water sports, old souks, and Qurum’s trendy outlets should keep you entertained, and the famous Omani hospitality will ensure that you feel very welcome during your stay.

3. Bengaluru, India

Bengaluru is the new name for Bangalore, the software capital of India. For tourists wary of the hot Indian weather, Bengaluru is a place that they will like for its mild weather even in the peak Indian summer. Bengaluru offers you everything: good night life, famous Bengaluru pubs that serve gallons of draught beer, and an ambience that is both western and Indian.

4. Cadiz, Spain

The fourth place goes to the Mediterranean. Go to Cadiz in Spain if you want to experience the Andalusian way of living. What appears to be a sleepy town transforms into the raunchiest and boisterous-in-a-fun-way Spanish town once in a year when there is a 10 day carnival of drinking, singing and dancing. No wonder that this small town got the Ibero-American Capital of Culture for 2012 tag.

5. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is as romantic as Paris but in a very Scandinavian way. This cozy, cosmopolitan city is very picturesque and offers an alternative European experience. Bohemian bars and uber-cool design shops are found all over this city, and you cannot leave Stockholm without a tinge of sadness in your heart. Not the cheapest of cities to travel to, but the experience is worth it even if it leaves a hole in your wallet.

6. Guimaraes, Portugal

Guimaraes, in northern Portugal, is astonishingly beautiful, and its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List is perfectly justified. This is the European Capital of Culture for 2012; go here if you want to experience medieval style architecture with red roofed and colonnade buildings. You can also see some of the most stunning mansions and palaces of Europe in this city. This is also a place that should interest artists, as artists from Portugal and the rest of Europe gather here to showcase their creations.

7. Santiago, Chile

Chile has been through some terrible events recently: the devastating earthquake and the mining accident that gained international exposure. However, all that is put to the backburner by the defiant and spirited Chileans and now, Santiago is posed to host quite a few cultural and sports extravaganzas. You should join the Chileans in their defiance of calamities, and explore the Andes, the valleys of Maipo and Colchagua valleys, and the vineyards of Casablanca when you are there.

Source: Lonelyplanet.com
Image Sources:
cretalive.gr
img1.loadtr.com
t0.gstatic.com
t1.gstatic.com
visitsweden.com
t1.gstatic.com
uspassportnow.com

Want a website from where you can get info on insanely cheap flights to most destinations? Check out insanely-cheap-flights.info for downright cheap flight tickets from most airlines to almost all destinations.

According to Skynewswire.com, Tony Morrison, a former travel agent, created this website about cheap flight tickets in order to “empower people everywhere on their rights and entitlements while flying and to reveal the truth to everyone about how to get cheap airline tickets, both, online and offline”.

The site and the idea behind it might seem like the actions of a disgruntled worker — and Morrison accepts that it is partly true — but the creator of the website says he is also dedicated to providing the latest, relevant information and resources to the general public to help them get cheap air tickets from any airline.

The guide contains info on how the airline companies work, how to get cheap flight tickets, how to upgrade to a higher class for free, etc., and is available for $24.95. In addition, you get some free goodies, such as hotel booking secrets, car rental secrets and a Good Seats Guide, and more, if you buy the guide.

“I guarantee that once you finish reading my guide, you will be BLOWN COMPLETELY AWAY at just how much you’ve been ripped off, overcharged, and even outright lied to by the airline corporations over the years” is what Morrison assures, and if all that he says is true, then this site will surely become popular with all those looking for cheap flight tickets.

Source: Skynewswire.com
Image Source: prlog.org