10 SURREAL DESTINATIONS

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano, Japan (TripAdvisor)

TripAdvisor is out with their "10 of the most surreal places on earth" list. Sorry -- nothing from Florida qualified, even if we do produce some of the weirdest news in the country. But check out the list and you may find some additions to your own bucket list, like a trip to see Japan's snow monkeys. Brrr. I bet that water is c-c-c-cold. -- Gerry

AND THE WORLD'S BEST ISLAND IS ...

TripAdvisor is out with their Top 10 Islands in the World, 2015 Edition. The good news is you don't have to go that far to experience their number one rated island paradise. It's right in our Caribbean neighborhood: Providenciales, in the Turks and Caicos. It has the usual suspects: Miles of sugary white sand, turquoise waters, upscale resorts ... so what are we waiting for???

12 WEIRD AND QUIRKY HOTELS

Sun Cruise Resort - South Korea (TripAdvisor)

A cruise ship on a mountaintop? Sleep capsules in Japan? Suspended in a forest? These are just a few of TripAdvisor's "12 fantastically weird hotels." And did we mention hotel rooms in what looks like a construction crane in the Netherlands? They say the view is to die for. We'll take their word for it! -- Gerry

10 STUNNING HOTEL VIEWS

Atlantis, The Palm - in Dubai (TripAdvisor)

In real estate it's "location, location, location."

For hotel rooms, it's "view, view, view."

The list-builders at TripAdvisor are busy again, this time with their "10 stunning hotel views." Not sure anyone will argue that these don't qualify. -- Gerry

DO YOU KNOW THESE BEAUTIFUL PLACES?

Aitutaki, in the Cook Islands, South Pacific (TripAdvisor)

TripAdvisor is taunting us again with their list of "10 amazingly beautiful places you may not know." Just what we need -- more entries for our bucket list! -- Gerry

FLORIDA SCORES 6 BEACHES IN THE TOP 10

St. Pete Beach (TripAdvisor)

Florida beaches score again. TripAdvisor's most recent Traveler's Choice Top 25 Best Beaches in the United States listed six Florida beaches in the top 10:

1. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida
2. St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Florida
5. Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach, Florida
8. Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, Florida
9. St. Augustine Beach, St. Augustine, Florida
10. Beach at Panama City, Panama City Beach, Florida

That list aside, it's pretty hard to go wrong at any beach in the Sunshine State. -- Gerry

CHECK OUT THESE 10 QUIRKY RESTAURANTS

Who doesn't love a quirky restaurant? TripAdvisor does, and has their list out of "10 of the quirkiest restaurants in the world." This is one list that lives up to its name. Like the Paris eatery that serves wine in baby bottles ... or the German place where the food arrives on roller coasters. Cjeck it out and get your quirk on! -- Gerry

TRIPADVISOR'S TOP 25 WORLD HOTELS

Coming in at number one (TripAdvisor)

TripAdvisor is out with their Top 25 Hotels in the World list, as voted by their millions of users. It's interesting that only one U.S. hotel made the list -- The Langham, in Chicago. It may not be long before the top rated hotel is out of this world, literally, as tourism expands into space and we get the first orbiting Hyatt or Hilton. Shades of 2001: A Space Odyssey. -- Gerry

14 AMAZING HOTEL POOLS

The Perivolas Hotel in Oia, Greece (TripAdvisor)

Here's TripAdvisor's list of 14 Amazing Hotel Pools. Need we say more?

IN PRAISE OF INDOOR POOLS

The pool at the Le Parker Meridien  (Photo: Gerry)

There's a new list out on TripAdvisor for "The 10 most amazing indoor pools." While this pool didn't make the Top 10, the indoor pool atop the Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York has a pretty amazing view of Central Park. We took a dip during a recent stay there and we give it our four-pineapple rating for the best way to relax after a full day of shopping and sightseeing in the Big Apple. -- Gerry

10 HIGH FASHION HOTELS

The Schlosshotel Im Grunewald in Berlin
Design by Karl Lagerfeld (Credit: TripAdvisor)

There is some element of danger in posting this list of "10 high fashion hotels" from TripAdvisor. Like keeping the post on the downlow so Pam doesn't get busy making us reservations! With designer names like Versace, Armani and Lagerfeld, I'm too timid to hit the "Check Prices" button. But I admit it's fun to imagine a stay at one of these. Enjoy -- but mum's the word, OK? -- Gerry

TRIPADVISOR'S '22 AMAZING PLACES'

Iguazu Falls (Credit: TripAdvisor)

Why does TripAdvisor continue to taunt me? Their latest "poke in the eye" is titled "22 amazing places you must visit." Among them, probably the number one place on my bucket list: Iguazu Falls in South America, where the Amazon feeds almost 300 waterfalls. Some day ... Until then, we'll recall the splendor of another amazing place we did visit -- Niagara Falls. Maybe not Iguazu, but not too shabby, either! -- Gerry

LOUNGE ON A PRIVATE BEACH

Credit: TripAdvisor

What better way to end the week than picking out a lounge chair on a private beach at a posh resort? If you need some help finding one, check out TripAdvisor's list of "10 hotels with private beaches." We'll meet you there! -- Gerry and Pam

GREAT FOOD WITH A VIEW

Hotel La Darsena, Lake Como, Italy  (TripAdvisor)

TripAdvisor's list of "10 dazzling lakeside hotels" reminds us of the meal we had at a restaurant on the shores of Lake Geneva, in the New York Finger Lakes region while on a tour of its wonderful wineries. It was one those idyllic days in early spring. Great views, great wine, great company  -- who could ask for more? Happy Friday, all! -- Gerry

10 MOST UNIQUE BEACHES

Maho Beach (TripAdvisor)

What makes a beach unique? That's the topic in TripAdvisor's list of the The 10 Most Unique Beaches, as chosen by their readers. One beach that made the list is Maho Beach, on St. Maarten, one of our island favs by the way. Why? It's not the sand or the water -- it's the up close and personal view of jet planes arriving and leaving the island's airport. Personally, we'll opt for a quiet stretch of sand, a lounge chair and a umbrella-laden drink. Happy Friday, all! -- Gerry and Pam

10 SPECTACULAR CLIFFTOP HOTELS

Bali, Indonesia (TripAdvisor)

This list title from TripAdvisor says it all: "10 unbelievably spectacular clifftop hotels."

We admit they are all pretty awesome, although if you are afraid of heights, probably not the right venue for you. And even if you aren't, watch that first step.

Here's sending all well wishes for everyone to enjoy the Easter holiday weekend. -- Pam and Gerry

10 STUNNING OVERWATER BUNGALOWS

Maybe the closest thing to a cruise without actually boarding a ship is a stay in an overwater bungalow, such as this one -- the Four Season Resort in Bora Bora, courtesy of TripAdvisor and their "10 stunning overwater bungalows" list. We have to suppose room service arrives in a boat. Have a great weekend, all! -- Gerry and Pam

TOP BEACHES FOR 2014

Number one beach: Baia do Sancho - Brazil (Trip Advisor)

One thing we Floridians know about is beaches. We have over 800 miles of them. Travel website TripAdvisor also knows beaches, and they are out with their list of Best Beaches 2014 list, as chosen by their millions of readers. Of course, "best" is always subjective, but nonetheless, it would be hard to go wrong on any of these. Just grab a folding chair, an umbrella and your drink of choice, and voila! You're on vacation. Happy Friday, all! -- Gerry

10 HOTELS WITH STUNNING VIEWS

Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (TripAdvisor)

TripAdvisor's latest is "10 hotels with stunning views." They are located in places from Finland to Chile to Kuala Lumpur. Even if you can't hop a jet and try one for yourself, it doesn't hurt to daydream a little, right? Happy weekend, all! -- Gerry

THE TOP 10 ISLANDS IN THE WORLD

Credit: TripAdvisor

What's the number one island in the world? According to the millions of reviewers on TripAdvisor, that honor goes to Ambergris Caye, in the Belize Cayes. The popular travel website is out with its 2014 Travelers Choice picks for the top island destinations. We're pleased to see Florida landed number four with Marco Island. The entire list is great for daydreaming on a start-the-week Monday. -- Gerry