Washington.– Mexico, Las Vegas and Caribbean cruising were all high on the list of popular vacation options in a survey conducted by Travel Leaders (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates).

The annual survey, conducted this summer, polled 415 Travel Leaders agents, managers and owners.

The top six U.S. destinations this year were the same as last year, starting with Las Vegas, followed by Orlando, Fla.; Honolulu, and Maui, Hawaii; New York and San Francisco. Anchorage, Alaska, was No. 7 on the list. Miami tied with Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., for the next two spots, and Chicago and Washington tied for 10th place. It was the first time Chicago made it into the top 10 in the survey's five-year history.

Mexico ranked No. 1 in the category of "best value outside the U.S.," and took five of 10 spots in the list of top international destinations, with Cancun at No. 2, Riviera Maya at No. 3, Mexican cruising sixth, Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos eighth and Puerto Vallarta ninth.

Caribbean cruising was No. 1 on the international list, with Mediterranean cruises and Rome coming in fourth and fifth; Montego Bay, Jamaica, at No. 7, and Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, at No. 10.

Nearly 30 per cent of survey respondents also said their clients were driving more often to vacation destinations than they used to, and about two-thirds said increases in gas prices and fuel surcharges have caused some people to scale back travel.