Where to go and what to do? Theres a time to carve your own path, and theres a time to follow the herd. It must be acknowledged that sometimes the masses know a thing or two, and maybe the way to choose your next vacation destination is by working out what everyone else is doing. So, with that in mind, the ever-helpful VacationRentalPeople.com have compiled a list of the most popular vacation destinations for Americans outside the US, so here we go with a whistle-stop tour of some of the top vacation spots.

First up we have the all-encompassing Barcelona, offering amazing vacation architecture and culture, food and drinking, relaxing beaches and pulsating nightlife, and a wonderful maze of narrow streets and stunning plazas. Wide tree-shaded boulevards are filled with cafes and restaurants and street performers, the smell of tapas hangs in the air, the sea breeze wafts in from the coast, and Gothic monuments offer a reminder of the citys history whilst Gaudins gargantuan cathedral dominates the skyline. And theres also the greatest soccer team the world has ever seen.

Staying in Europe and the Latin countries, we move east on to the historic city of Rome, steeped in culture, a city which has risen amongst the ruins of arguably the worlds greatest empire. The fabled Coliseum where gladiators fought and Christians perished, the holy Vatican City and the wonder of the Sistine Chapel, the Roman Forum where Caesar gave his speeches, and the Villa Borghese, a park with 148-acres worth of trees from all over the world, as well as lakes and ancient villas. Then you have the museums, the cafes, the plazas, the fashion, the wine. What more can I say?

We head north-west now and onto Paris, the city of love and romance and birthplace of countless poets and philosophers. Cobblestone streets and quaint bistros, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the Champs DElysse and the Cathedral of Notre Dame, just to name a few of the attractions. Countless cute cafes serving up divine pastries, fine French wine and hot baguettes, and mazy narrow Parisian walkways to explore, and a myriad of stylish vacation homes to stay in.

We hop across the channel and into the bustling, buzzing, vibrant London, combining history with nightlife, a city which is renowned as the ultimate melting pot of cultures and ideas, a city which has everything to offer and then some more. The theatres of Shaftesbury Avenue and the West End, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Tower of London, the many ornate bridges, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, museums galore, the novelty of black cabs and red double-decker buses, the fables of Jack the Ripper, fish n chips and a pint of Ale in a historic pub in the east End, the list is endless. And then you have the pulsating nightlife catering to one and all and all of their friends. The question is not why would you go there for a vacation, but rather, why wouldnt you go there? And now its time to sail back across the Atlantic and to the Americas, starting with the world-famous, sun-kissed, music-drenched Montego Bay, Jamaica, where relaxing (or liming) on the beach is the order of the day, spicy jerk chicken is the food of choice, and Red Stripe, cocktails and dancing the night away is what you do when the sun goes down. Theres plenty more too, from hiking through jungles and waterfalls, to snorkeling in the nature reserve of Rum Bottle Bay, and visiting the Rose Hall Great House, one of the oldest sugar-cane plantation estates on the island and a glimpse of Jamaicas colonial past.

We then head north-west and into probably the most visited place outside the States by Americans, Mexico, and more specifically, Cancun for a wonderful vacation. Cheap flights, 24-hour carnival-style nightlife, more beaches than you can count, as well as the ancient El Ray Mayan ruins and the underwater Museum of Art (yes, scuba dive around a museum of sculptures laid out on the bottom of the sea!), to just name a few of the attractions which make this the most popular of destinations and has Americans flocking down for their vacation. And lets not forget the Tequila.

Last but not least we head north, way north, and into Canada, and the fifth largest city in North America, Toronto. A modern city which straddles the shore of Lake Ontario, it has a lively cultural scene and is stuffed full of culinary delights. No vacation here would be complete without a visit to Kensington Market to sample some of the spice stands, ethnic groceries and fresh produce, just what you need for a wonderful home-cooked dinner in your vacation rental home. Nor would the holiday be complete without venturing up to the top of the CN Tower and taking in the breathtaking views of the city, or wandering around the Distillery District, full of C19th warehouses which once produced the famous Gooderham&Worts Canadian whiskey and which have since been transformed into wonderful patio cafes and art galleries. And for the sports aficionados amongst you, theres the hallowed Hockey Hall of Fame inside Brookfield Place, possibly the best place to educate yourself about Ice Hockey.

Theres plenty more places, with many more stunning vacation homes, but if youre looking for something on the beaten track and guaranteed, just pick one of the above and choose your rental home, you wont go far wrong.