With thanks to all who are participating in my Weekend Polls, here are the results of the latest poll, which I’ve now closed. Our focus: What inspires you to choose your travel destinations?

Just over a third of you who participated are inspired by the chance to visit some place new

… while more than a fifth of you are making relaxation a priority. There are sun worshipers among the crowd, as 16% of respondents choose destinations on the basis of climate or weather. Exposure to other cultures is a factor for almost one in 10.

These cities are on your wish lists 

Are you ready for a great list of cities? Here goes! Readers would like to visit Bangkok, Berlin, Budapest, Calgary, Hamburg, Las Vegas, London, New Orleans, New York, Paris, Porto, Prague, Toronto, Quebec City and Vancouver. I am, of course, completely biased when saying I’m unsurprised by that final entry on the list of cities.

Historic and scenic sites

Readers want to explore Cinque Terre, the Great Wall of China, Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti and the Trans-Siberian Railway. They’re also interested in areas as diverse as Kalingrad Oblast, Newfoundland, the North Sea and the Deep South in the US.

Sandy beaches – and islands in general

Pull out your sunglasses to read this list of sunny spots that appeal to readers. We have Antigua, Australia, Azores, the Bahamas, Bali, Barbados, Bermuda, Bora Bora, Cancun, Cyprus, Fiji, Greece, Hong Kong, Jamaica, the Maldives, Mallorca, Puerto Rico, Seychelles and Turks and Caicos.

Other, more northern islands were also named. They’re not what you’d call tropical; their beauty reflects different geographical terrain, history and climates.

Of course, readers also identified a number of other countries. Read on for full details.

THE DATA

Which of the following is most important in choosing where you’ll travel? 

• 34% of respondents: Opportunity to visit some place new
• 22% of respondents: Opportunity to relax
• 16% of respondents: Climate/weather
• 12% of respondents: Exposure to other cultures
• 8% of respondents: Adventure
• 4% of respondents: Visiting with family/friends
• 2% of respondents: Arts
• 2% of respondents: Cost

Locales you’d love to visit – We have a diverse bunch of travellers, with inspiring choices. Some people mentioned countries, while others zoomed right in on cities or specific regions. Here they are; see if fellow readers’ lists give you some inspiration for your next journey!

Cities/Regions:

• Bangkok
• Berlin
• Budapest
• Calgary
• Cancun
• Cinque Terre
• Great Wall of China
• Hamburg
• Kalingrad Oblast
• Kilimanjaro
• Las Vegas
• London
• New Orleans
• New York
• North Sea
• Paris
• Porto
• Prague
• Toronto
• Quebec City
• Serengeti
• US – Deep South
• Trans-Siberian Railway
• Vancouver

Islands/Countries/Continents

A few of these received multiple mentions; here they are in alphabetical order.

• Africa
• Antigua
• Australia
• Azores
• Bahamas
• Bali
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bora Bora
• Canada
• Caribbean
• Chile
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• England
• France
• Fiji
• Germany
• Greece
• Hawaii
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Kenya
• Maldives
• Morocco
• Mallorca
• Nepal
• Newfoundland
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Puerto Rico
• Scotland
• Seychelles
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• Turkey
• Turks and Caicos
• USA  (including,”all 50 USA states” from one reader)