The preliminary round of The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament 2011 ended yesterday and your votes helped to rank these 64 cities from number 1 all the way down. Those ranks are what I used to determine the match ups for this first round – and there are some intriguing ones to vote for down below. There’s the battle of the Canadas (Montreal versus Toronto), Olympics past and present (London vs. Beijing), and last year’s champ Zermatt up against New Orleans.
Cast your votes below before Monday, March 7th at 9am US EST – today there are 64 cities but once all is said and done in 3 days, there will be only 32. Your votes decide who moves on – good luck to all of the cities and contestants! (Email and RSS subscribers will need to click through to this page to vote.)
You can view the entire tournament bracket in full size or click the image to view in wide-screen.
I will act as the tie-breaker in the event that any two cities end up with the same number of votes in this round. The second round of The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament 2011 will continue next Tuesday, March 8th.
Don’t worry if you missed this contest, I run several throughout the year. You can be the first to find out about the next one by signing up for my email updates, RSS feed, or bi-monthly newsletter.
Awesome Anil! Some of these were very tough! Not fair to put Sydney against Sao Paulo though! ๐
It’s always tough to see how the seeds work out, I just flipped the list!
This is such a great idea. I can’t contribute much as I’ve barely left the U.S., but I am fascinated by any sort of March Madness brackets. You could throw 64 foods in a bracket and I’d follow the tournament to the end.
Go Seattle!
Thanks Scott – I too am a bracket-fan and can’t get enough. A big reason I wanted to start this tournament originally ๐
I love Seattle too – I’d have to say my favorite city in the US.
Terrific fun, Anil. It took me quite a while to vote. I had another browser window open for quick web searches to learn about each city that is new for me. Didn’t have to open a window for Edinburgh, of course. I have the memories to remind me why I love to visit it!
I love hearing that – each year I find out about cities I didn’t know or hadn’t thought to visit. Any new ones especially catch your eye?
Some Guilin pictures made me think of a video my son adored, Big Bird in China. Finding information on the video, its wonderful landscape Was one of the locations used. I never thought of travel overseas back almost 20 years ago, but it is interesting to see those striking hills above the river again, and feel just a touch of wonder that it could be possible to see something like that for myself in person.
Historical locations in Europe generally appeal to me, so Lubeck and Bratislava were new names for me to enjoy photos. Safaga’s not doing too well against Seattle, but it is also a sea port (if I am reading of the correct location), and the pictures I am seeing are quite a contrast: some gorgeous coastal sights of diving and all water sports, and then some with dusty, desert-y mountains in the background and ancient Egypt to explore not too far away in Luxor, so a touch of the exotic, too (exotic for me, anyway).
This is one of the best comments I’ve read here and the best reason for me to run this contest. I love the inspiration that’s come out of it ๐
Some really tough choices there – I’m a very indecisive person as well, so I really can’t choose!
Not even Stockholm, Sweden’s only representative in the contest??
Bishkek against Singapore!? Dang, tough break. Oh well, I somehow managed several votes so far. Go ะััะณัะทััะฐะฝ!
It was a tough draw for Bishkek…but everyone loves an underdog right? ๐
Apparently not, but 25 is still really surprising!
sniff sniff- looks like Izmir is losing ๐
It’s not looking good, but there’s still quite a bit of time between now and Monday morning!
You made me think really hard Anil. This is awesome.
Thanks Juno! Can I guess your vote in Seoul vs. Cuzco though? ๐
Go Chiang Mai! Wooo!
With #TeamCM there as well, it might be a force to be reckoned with ๐
Done! ๐
Thank you for the votes!
I didn’t expect Swansea to get even a single vote. But it has ๐
Actually I selected it out of nostalgia. If one is traveling to UK, I would definitely recommend a visit to Wales. Warm, inviting people, rugged landscape and beautiful country side… I visit Stockholm in July end. So my vote to Stockholm as well.
When looking at the other smaller places, Swansea gave Bangkok a run for its money all things considered. Stockholm/Kyoto should make for a great second round match up tomorrow.
Come on Swansea my University town! you can do it, as we all say its a Pretty but shitty city but you grow to love the place.
some really tough draws,
Mexico city vs Vilnius was tough but for me Kaunas is a much better city in Lithuania and Mexico city is just to crazy not to love it.
also Dubai vs Chicago that was tough, the food is much better in Chicago but i loved Dubai more
Budapest vs Honolulu as well but there are loads of better places in Hawaii and Budapest is magical.
some good draw ups
I thought Dubai had great food, but I’ve never been to Chicago so now my stomach is really curious ๐ Next round will make the choices even tougher…
That is one hell of a complicated system you have going there, Mr Polat!! ๐ We shall look forward to the next round…
Julia
It looks scarier than it is ๐ – good luck in the next round!