Can Monte Carlo -- the glamorous tax-free principality famous for its casinos and for attracting a supremely well-heeled crowd -- really be considered the top travel destination in the world? Sure, maybe for the rich and famous, but for the average traveler? According to TripAdvisor, producer of the "world's most trusted travel advice" (note: that slogan is trademarked), the tiny luxe town on the Mediterranean is just that, having topped the site's 2010 travelers' choice destinations awards list of the "Top 25 Destinations in the World."
The list, a mix of familiar names (Florence, Venice) and some more inspired choices (Victoria, BC anyone?), included only one U.S. city (congrats San Francisco) as well as some notable absences. Despite France being the top travel destination in terms of international visitors, according to the latest figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (see a slideshow of the top 10 spots here), good old Paris failed to make the cut for the top 25. Was it simply too obvious?
Here are the top 12 destinations, per TripAdvisor's rankings. See the full 25 here. And vote on which one seems worth the lofty title of top destination.