Africa, Costa Rica top ASTA poll

According to ASTA travel agent members in a January survey, Africa and Costa Rica are their top two unique destination recommendations. The top five ranked destinations, which also include Italy, Australia and Alaska, all offer varied activities and climates. “ASTA agents have experienced many destinations and know what resonates with their clients,”said ASTA president Zane Kerby. “One of the smartest decisions travellers can make when planning a unique vacation is to work with a travel agent that specializes in the region. An agent can plan an unforgettable experience based on his or her client’s desires and bucket list.”Africa ranked first in the survey results as respondents believe the safari experience in Africa is unparalleled throughout the entire world. Agents also feel the many diverse cultures and wildlife in Africa creates an endless adventure. Costa Rica, which came in second, was cited for its combination of beach and rainforest in a friendly country. Agents expressed Costa Rica offers unique experiences at an affordable price. Italy was another favourite with the travel agents polled, who believe that the small town Italian lifestyle can be a very unique experience. Agents described diverse options in Italy from food and wine to beautiful landscapes that can result in a distinctive vacation. Australia and Alaska ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Agents cited Australia’s rare fauna and wide variety of cultures, climates and experiences. Alaska was felt to have the most varied outdoor activities including dog sledding, ice climbing, kayaking, etc. in a gorgeous landscape. (http://www.ASTA.org)