Yahoo! Travel recently released its list of the most popular cities of 2009.  Based on leading travel research and booking websites, here’s what travelers have to say about where they went this year:

1. Las Vegas
2. Miami
3. Cancun, Mexico
4. San Diego
5. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
6. New York City
7. San Francisco
8. Orlando
9. Honolulu
10. Paris, France

Are there any surprises for you on that list?

I was a surprised to see two Mexico destinations on the list, in light of the Swine Flu scare of this year.  Mind you, that’s not that I think people should avoid travel to Mexico (I don’t), but more what I experienced there earlier this year with plummeting hotel occupancy rates.

I was a little surprised to see Las Vegas at the top of the list, too.  After a campaign promoting the city as one of excess (What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas), it seems like a good time to dial back a bit, and fill some of those hotel rooms.  Vegas Means Business is trying to remind people why the city is such a great business destination (value-priced rates, top-notch meeting facilities, and broad range of restaurants and other services, and I have a hunch that is a good part of why it ranks at the top of the list.

Of the cities on this Top 10 list, I visited the following this year:  Las Vegas (several times), Miami (for a week), Cancun (several times in the midst of the Swine Flu scare), San Diego, New York City (a quick trip, not nearly enough time), and San Francisco (still one of my all time favorite cities),.

Which of these cities did you visit this year?  Did your travel choices help shape this list?

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares