Minnesotans can't get enough of Mickey and Mexico, according to a Travel Leaders survey released late last week. The national travel company, with headquarters in Plymouth, ranked the top destinations for Minnesotans based on a survey of 66 of their travel agents, managers and owners across the state.
In the Fall Travel Trends Survey for Minnesota, Orlando ranked at the top for domestic destinations. More than 60 percent of the agents have booked trips for clients to the destination this fall. Las Vegas ranked second; Honolulu and New York City tied for third, followed closely by the Phoenix-Scottsdale area.
Minnesotans' top international destinations, according to the survey, are Cancun, Mexico; Caribbean cruises and Rome.
The spots Travel Leaders agents recommend don't always correspond to where Minnesotans travel, the survey showed. For instance, San Diego was the third most suggested domestic destination, but it did not crack the top 10 list of destinations Minnesotans actually booked. The same is true of Paris, which was frequently floated as a possibility -- in part because there is a direct flight from the Twin Cities -- but wasn't named among the top international destinations.
Sandra Lovick, owner of four local Travel Leaders franchise offices, explained that agents are comfortable suggesting San Diego for several reasons, including its year-round beautiful climate and its abundance of activities. But, as she said, "Every child comes home from school at some point and says, 'I want to go to Orlando to see Mickey Mouse,' but they don't say they want to go to San Diego and see Sea World."
Kerri Westenberg • 612-673-4282
