< link rel =" stylesheet " href =" http : / / editor . daum . net / services / blog / css / contents 4 view . css ? ver = 1 . 1 . 114 " type =" text / css "/>< link rel =" stylesheet " href =" http : / / editor . daum . net / services / blog / css / theme 4 view . css ? ver = 1 . 1 . 114 " type =" text / css "/> 1 . Sri LankaFor a quarter century , Sri Lanka seems to have been plagued by misfortune , including a brutal civil war between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority . But the conflict finally ended last May , ushering in a more peaceful era for this teardrop - shaped island off India ’ s coast , rich in natural beauty and cultural splendors . Skip to next paragraph Enlarge This Image Keith Bedford for The New York TimesGuests by the pool at the Galle Fort Hotel in Galle , Sri Lanka . Where Do You Want to Go ? Share your recommendations and comments on our global map . The island , with a population of just 20 million , feels like one big tropical zoo : elephants roam freely , water buffaloes idle in paddy fields and monkeys swing from trees . And then there ’ s the pristine coastline . The miles of sugary white sand flanked by bamboo groves that were off - limits to most visitors until recently are a happy , if unintended byproduct of the war . Among the most scenic , if difficult stretches to reach , is Nilaveli Beach in the Tamil north . While a few military checkpoints remain , vacationers can lounge on poolside hammocks under palm trees or snorkel in its crystal - clear waters . Or they can order cocktails at the Nilaveli Beach Hotel ( www . tangerinehotels . com / nilavelibeach ) , a collection of recently renovated bungalows with private terraces . An international airport in Matara , on the island ’ s southern shore , is under construction , which will make the gorgeous beaches near the seaside village of Galle easier to get to . Decimated by the tsunami in 2004 , the surrounding coastline is now teeming with stylish guesthouses and boutique hotels . Unawatuna , a crescent - shaped beach a few miles south of Galle , may be furthest along . Higher - end hotels there include Thambapanni Retreat ( www . thambapanni . biz ) , which features four - poster beds , yoga and an ayurvedic spa . The Sun House ( www . thesunhouse . com ) , in Galle , looks like a place where the Queen of England might stay , with its mango courtyard and colonial décor . One stylish place tucked within Galle ’ s city walls is the Galle Fort Hotel ( www . galleforthotel . com ) , a refurbished gem merchant ’ s house run by a couple of Aussies . — Lionel Beehner 2 . Patagonia Wine CountryTen years ago , a group of adventurous winemakers set their sights on an Argentine valley called San Patricio del Chañar , an unusually fertile and eerily beautiful corner of Patagonia . They plowed , planted and waited . The outcome ? A blossoming wine country with delicious pinot noirs and malbecs and smartly designed wineries . One of the area ’ s pioneers , the 2 , 000 - acre Bodega del Fin del Mundo ( www . bodegadelfindelmundo . com ) , which works with the influential wine consultant Michel Rolland , is racking up international medals for its complex merlot , cabernet and malbec blends . And NQN ( bodeganqn . com . ar ) , which is associated with the Argentine oenologist Roberto de la Mota , has seen its 2006 Colección NQN Malbec get 92 points from Wine Enthusiast . Nearby is the new Valle Perdido winery ( www . valleperdido . com . ar ) , which includes an 18 - room resort surrounded by vineyards . At the spa , ask for antioxidant wine - infused treatments . — Paola Singer 3 . SeoulForget Tokyo . Design aficionados are now heading to Seoul . They have been drawn by the Korean capital ’ s glammed - up cafes and restaurants , immaculate art galleries and monumental fashion palaces like the sprawling outpost of Milan ’ s 10 Corso Como and the widely noted Ann Demeulemeester store — an avant - garde Chia Pet covered in vegetation . And now Seoul , under its design - obsessed mayor , Oh Se - hoon , is the 2010 World Design Capital . The title , bestowed by a prominent council of industrial designers , means a year ’ s worth of design parties , exhibitions , conferences and other revelries . Most are still being planned ( go to wdc 2010 . seoul . go . kr for updates ) . A highlight will no doubt be the third annual Seoul Design Fair ( Sept . 17 to Oct . 7 ) , the city ’ s answer to the design weeks in Milan and New York , which last year drew 2 . 5 million people and featured a cavalcade of events under two enormous inflatable structures set up at the city ’ s Olympic stadium . — Aric Chen 4 . MysoreYou ’ ve completed 200 hours of teacher training , mastered flying crow pose and even spent a week at yoga surf camp . What ’ s next ? Yogis seeking transcontinental bliss head these days to Mysore , the City of Palaces , in southern India . The yogi pilgrimage was sparked by Ashtanga yoga , a rigorous sweat - producing , breath - synchronized regimen of poses popularized by the beloved Krishna Pattabhi Jois , who died at 94 in 2009 . Mr . Jois ’ s grandson is now director of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute ( www . kpjayi . org ) . First month ’ s tuition is 27 , 530 rupees , or $ 600 at 46 rupees to the dollar . Classes generally require a one - month commitment . Too much time or money ? Mysore ’ s yoga boom now has shalas catering to every need . Off the mat , the yoga tribe hobnobs at Anu ’ s Bamboo Hut or the Regaalis Hotel pool , studies Sanskrit , gets an ayurveda treatment or tours the maharaja ’ s palace . — Mary Billard 5 . CopenhagenAs thousands of environmentalists heckled world leaders in Copenhagen last month for the climate summit , a solitary unifying note could be heard amid the cacophony of discord : the Danish capital has already emerged as one of the world ’ s greenest — and maybe coolest — cities . Copenhageners don ’ t simply preach the “ progressive city ” ethos , they live it . Long , flat urban thoroughfares are hemmed with bicycle paths where locals glide around the city , tourists saddle up on the free bikes that dot the city center , and fashion bloggers take notes on the latest cycle chic ( see copenhagencyclechic . com ) . Over in the harbor district , a public bath at Osterbro , due to open in 2010 , will complement the two swimming areas set off on Copenhagen ’ s inner harbor , a formerly polluted waterway recently transformed into the city ’ s summertime hub . Away from all the modernism and the happy cyclists , cultural thrill - seekers are being coaxed to the once dangerous district of Norrebro , which has arguably become Copenhagen ’ s edgiest hub . A heady mix of hipsters , students and immigrants mingle in the cafes and galleries around the district ’ s focal square , Sankt Hans Torv , and the city ’ s young and excitable night owls can be found dancing in local clubs until the early hours . — Benji Lanyado WAITING IN THE WINGS 6 . Koh KoodIs this the next Koh Samui ? The Trat islands are emerging as Thailand ’ s new luxury outpost . Inaccessible for many years because of tensions with neighboring Cambodia and a poor transportation infrastructure , islands like Koh Kood are starting to draw venturesome paradise seekers , thanks in part to new direct flights to the port city of Trat . The recent opening of Soneva Kiri , a 42 - villa suite retreat by the Six Senses brand ( www . sixsenses . com / Soneva - Kiri ) , definitely ratchets up the high - end quotient on this Robinson Crusoe - like island . Coming soon : X 2 Koh Kood ( www . x 2 resorts . com ) , a designer eco - resort with 14 pool villas . — Gisela Williams 7 . DamascusThe next Marrakesh ? Perhaps mindful of the way that renovations of historic riads have drawn upscale travelers to Marrakesh , Damascus hoteliers are trying to mine tourism gold in the rundown buildings of the Syrian capital ’ s Old City . These 18 th - century homes — many with inviting courtyards and rooftop terraces — are now boutique hotels , like the nine - room Old Vine ( www . oldvinehotel . com ) and the Hanania ( www . hananiahotel . com ) , which doubles as a hotel and a small museum . — Don Duncan 8 . CesmeThe next Bodrum ? While revelers continue to descend upon that seaside retreat , another corner of Turkey ’ s Aegean coastline has begun to emerge as a stylish alternative : the once - sleepy villages of the Cesme Peninsula . The main draw is Alacati , a sheltered beach town that last summer was the site of the Professional Windsurfers Association Slalom World Cup . Scheduled to open in the spring , the seven - room Hotel Nars Alacati ( www . nars . com . tr ) , set in a converted 19 th - century mansion , promises to become the popular weekend gathering spot for Istanbul ’ s smart set , along with the adjoining garden restaurant , Mesa Luna . — Andrew Ferren 9 . AntarcticaThis may be the last year that Antarctica is open to mass tourism — not because the ice is melting too fast ( though it is ) , but because of restrictions that would severely curtail travel around the fragile continent . Until recently , most vessels passing through Antarctica were limited to scientific expeditions , but an exploding number of tourists now flock to what is arguably the world ’ s last great wilderness . The tourism boom , scientists argue , poses a major environmental threat . Indeed , several passenger ships have run aground in recent years . Countries that manage Antarctica are calling for limits on the number of tourist ships , for fortified hulls that can withstand sea ice and for a ban on the use of so - called heavy oils . A ban on heavy oil , which is expected to be adopted by the International Maritime Organization later this year , would effectively block big cruise ships . With the new rules taking effect within two years , tour operators are promoting 2010 as the last year to visit Antarctica , while , at the same time , procuring lighter vessels that would be permitted . Abercrombie & Kent , for example , is introducing a new ship , Le Boreal ( www . abercrombiekent . com ) , which its public relations firm argues “ meets all the environmental regulations , so access to Antarctica via A & K will not be affected . ” Launching this year , the compact luxury ship holds 199 passengers and features an outdoor heated pool , steam rooms and private balconies that offer intimate views of some of the world ’ s remaining glaciers . — Denny Lee 10 . LeipzigIn 2010 , Leipzig , a small industrial city in the former East Germany with an illustrious past , will be marking the 325 th anniversary of the birth of its former resident Johann Sebastian Bach and the 200 th birthday of Robert Schumann with concerts , festivals and a reopened Bach Museum ( www . bach - leipzig . de ) . But the city ’ s cultural high note is likely to be the Neo Rauch retrospective opening in April at the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts ( www . mdbk . de ) , a show devoted to the father of the New Leipzig School of artists , a scene that for the past decade has been the toast of the contemporary art world . The art cognoscenti will also make their way to the Spinnerei ( www . spinnerei . de ) , a former cotton mill that is home to 11 galleries , a cafe and a quirky new pension called the Meisterzimmer ( www . meisterzimmer . de ) , with rooms starting at 50 euros , or $ 70 at $ 1 . 40 to the euro . The city is also making a splash on the musical front . Moon Harbour Recordings and Kann Records , two indie labels producing innovative electronica from D . J . ’ s , are based here . Sevensol and Matthias Tanzmann will undoubtedly be lugging their laptops to Leipzig Pop Up ( www . leipzig - popup . de ) , a trade fair and music festival taking place in May . Otherwise , gigs can be heard year - round in the city ’ s underbelly of abandoned factories and squats that look a lot like Berlin — maybe 10 years ago . — Gisela Williams 11 . Los AngelesVisitors love to bemoan the lack of an old - fashioned cultural neighborhood in Los Angeles . In truth , the city has as many thriving art spots as it does ZIP codes . Last October , the pioneering Culver City gallery Blum & Poe ( 2727 South La Cienega Boulevard ; 310 - 836 - 2062 ; www . blumandpoe . com ) inaugurated an airy 21 , 000 - square - foot space ; in July , the veteran local dealer Thomas Solomon ( 427 Bernard Street ; 323 - 427 - 1687 ; www . thomassolomongallery . com ) opened a space in Chinatown . And the powerhouse New York galleries L & M Arts and Matthew Marks are scheduled to open prominent spaces in 2010 . Local museums , many of which struggled financially in recent years , are back afloat . The Museum of Contemporary Art ( www . moca . org ) is celebrating its 30 th birthday with a huge exhibition of 500 highlights from its outstanding collection of postwar art . In October , the vast Los Angeles County Museum of Art ( www . lacma . org ) will get even bigger when it unveils a Renzo Piano - designed addition to its multiacre mid - Wilshire campus . And the billionaire collector Eli Broad , who has been both savior and villain to just about every major museum in town , is now looking to plant his own museum in Beverly Hills , Santa Monica or a third unnamed location . — Andrew Ferren 12 . ShanghaiTo many , the idea of a World Expo might seem like a dated , superfluous throwback from some preglobalized age . ( Remember the one in Aichi , Japan ? Enough said . ) But tell that to the 70 million who are expected to attend Expo 2010 in Shanghai . This is China , after all . And following up on Beijing ’ s spectacular Olympics , Shanghai is pulling out all the stops . From May 1 to Oct . 31 , more than 200 national and other pavilions will straddle the city ’ s Huangpu River , turning a two - square - mile site into an architectural playground : Switzerland will be represented by a building shaped like a map of that country , complete with a rooftop chairlift , while England is in the celebrated hands of the designer Thomas Heatherwick , who is fashioning what looks like a big , hairy marshmallow . Other attention grabbers include Macao , taking the form of a walk - through bunny , and the United Arab Emirates , which hired Foster + Partners to build a “ sand dune . ” ( By contrast , the United States pavilion might be mistaken for a suburban office park . ) In the run - up to the Expo , Shanghai seems to have taken this year ’ s theme , “ Better City , Better Life , ” to heart , spending tens of billions of dollars to upgrade the city . The riverfront Bund promenade is getting a makeover with parks and pedestrian - friendly sidewalks , while the subway is being dramatically expanded — including several new stations serving the World Expo site . — Aric Chen 13 . MumbaiOn the one - year anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attacks , citizens painted a one - kilometer stretch of wall in South Mumbai with murals to show their love and hope for the city . The initiative , by a group of organizations that included the Mumbai Arts Project ( MAP ) , which is dedicated to creating public art projects , is just one sign that Mumbai ’ s art scene is on the rebound . A walk through the newly dubbed Colaba Art District yields no fewer than five contemporary art galleries . In the second half of 2009 , two contemporary galleries opened : Gallery BMB ( www . gallerybmb . com ) , which brought in big - name artists from around the globe for its first show ( look for an exhibition focusing on new Indian women artists , starting on Feb . 8 ) , and Volte ( www . volte . in ) , a gallery , cafe and bookstore . Just down the street is Project 88 ( www . project 88 . in ) , an outpost of Gallery 88 in Calcutta , focused on up - and - coming Indian and South Asian artists . The large , simple one - room space will show the artist Hemali Bhuta with an installation on the ceiling and archival prints on the walls , starting Jan . 18 . Also nearby is Gallery Maskara ( www . gallerymaskara . com ) , in a converted cotton storehouse ; starting March 15 , the space will host paintings , sculpture and watercolors by T . Venkanna , a popular artist based in nearby Vadodara . — Lindsay Clinton 14 . MinorcaWhile the beat of disco pounds in Ibiza and Majorca , their quiet sister Minorca offers a tranquil contrast to the glitz next door . The entire island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve , so the Spanish megahotel development frenzy of the last decade has largely skipped over this patch of the Mediterranean . That means miles of beaches — some 120 of them , in fact , like the northern sweep of crystal - clear swimming waters in the coves called Cala d ’ Algaiarens , with fine sand and rolling dunes . And Minorca ’ s eco - diversity extends well beyond the coasts : forests , deep gorges , wetlands , salt marshes and hillsides covered in lush greenery that sometimes look more New England than Mediterranean . Even the island ’ s sun - bleached towns — Mahón and Ciutadella , each combining elements of their British colonial heritage , Moorish roots and modern Spanish identity — are more peaceful than their Majorcan equivalents . The ideal visit to Minorca celebrates islanders ’ emphasis on agritourism — sleeping in rural establishments like Ca Na Xini ( www . canaxini . com ) , a dairy farm that offers an eight - room temple to modernism inside the shell of a century - old manor home . It ’ s like spring break for eco - conscious adults . — Sarah Wildman 15 . Costa RicaCosta Rica has been on any eco - minded traveler ’ s radar for years , but with a new birding route in the northeast region of the country , there ’ s a new reason to pay the country a visit . Opened in early 2009 , the Costa Rican Bird Route ( www . costaricanbirdroute . com ) encompasses 13 far - flung nature reserves with phenomenal avian diversity — the sites are home to more than 500 bird species . Travelers can explore the route on their own with a map ( $ 12 . 95 when ordered online ) or hire a local guide to lead the way . The most popular leg of the route centers on the Sarapiquí - San Carlos region , one of the last remaining habitats of the endangered and prized great green macaw . The landscape along the route runs from wetlands and river explorations to high rain forest canopies and waterfalls ; birders can visit renowned tropical biological research stations , stay in newly built eco - lodges and hike or canoe through local family - run reserves in search of rare raptors , herons and kingfishers . — Bonnie Tsui 16 . MarrakeshThe ancient walls of Marrakesh must have protected the city from the global recession . Luxury boutique hotels , which began opening a few years ago , are now popping like Champagne corks over this historic and atmospheric North African city . Skip to next paragraph Where Do You Want to Go ? Share your recommendations and comments on our global map . La Mamounia , a famed playground for celebrities like Mick Jagger and Charlie Chaplin , reopened in November after a $ 176 million face - lift by the Parisian designer Jacques Garcia ( www . mamounia . com ) . At its dazzling launch party , Jennifer Aniston , Orlando Bloom and Gwyneth Paltrow walked the red carpet , José Carreras sang , and Cirque du Soleil acrobats wrapped in Christmas lights scaled the hotel walls . “ There was caviar galore , ” said Sandra Zwollo , a Dutch expatriate who lived in La Mamounia for three years . “ And not only does the new La Mamounia reflect what is happening in Marrakesh at the moment , it is greatly contributing to it . ” Ms . Zwollo herself is adding to the glamour of the city . Later this month , she plans to open Harem ( www . harem - escape . com ) , a wellness retreat just for women , set on a stunning 12 - acre estate in the city ’ s outskirts surrounded by olive and palm groves . But it all pales in comparison to the palatial Royal Mansour , scheduled to open in 2010 . Owned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco , who is largely responsible for the country ’ s newfound glamour , the jaw - dropping resort is built along the city ’ s ancient walls and has been designed almost like a mini - medina with Andalusian - style courtyards . The 20 , 000 - square - foot royal suite will have a private swimming pool , home theater , gym and private hammam . The resort will also feature three restaurants overseen by the three - star Michelin chef Yannick Alléno . There ’ s more . By the end of 2010 , the Mandarin Oriental Jnan Rahma , which looks like something out of a Merchant - Ivory movie , and a 140 - room Four Seasons are both expected to open , while a Rocco Forte resort and W Hotel are in the works for 2011 . — Gisela Williams 17 . Las VegasDespite a 4 percent drop in visitors in 2009 , and the fact that several Las Vegas hotels have drastically slashed their rates to attract bargain - seeking travelers , a number of ambitious developers seem to think there is still money to be made in Sin City . CityCenter , MGM ’ s $ 8 . 5 billion , 67 - acre resort complex , is the Strip ’ s biggest headliner in 2010 . Four of the six planned properties opened in December , including three hotels and a 500 , 000 - square - foot luxury shopping mall ( www . citycenter . com ) . The residential Veer Towers and the Harmon , a 400 - room boutique hotel , are scheduled to open this year . The complex also houses Haze , a 25 , 000 - square - foot nightclub , and Cirque du Soleil ’ s seventh show , “ Viva Elvis , ” a tribute to the king of rock ’ n ’ roll . This summer , the Encore , a Steve Wynn property , is unveiling an entertainment complex and “ beach club ” ( complete with three pools and V . I . P . cabanas ) . , and a new nightclub , Surrender . A five - pool addition to Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace , set to open in March , will feature swim - up gaming and an 18 - foot waterfall . The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino , which unveiled its Paradise Tower in July , added the all - suite HRH Tower in late December , as well as Vanity , a 14 , 000 - square - foot nightclub . — Allison Busacca 18 . BahiaAll eyes will turn to sultry Rio de Janeiro when it hosts the 2016 Olympic Games , but right now Brazil ’ s white - hot destination may be the northeastern state of Bahia . With its distinctive African - influenced flavors , cultural diversity , palm - fringed beaches and a new crop of chic hotels , the region is fast emerging as a jet - set playground . In the village of Trancoso , a hideaway that gets more fashionable by the minute , the Dutch designer Wilbert Das ( longtime creative director of the Diesel label ) opened Uxua Casa Hotel ( www . uxua . com ) using recycled materials including old roof tiles and abandoned fishing boats . The hotel ’ s colorful casas and lush gardens were a canvas for the 2010 Pirelli calendar , shot by the bad - boy photographer Terry Richardson . Speaking of the town ’ s rising cachet , a luxury Fasano resort — with 30 beachfront villas , a restaurant and a spa — is in the works . In Salvador , known for its pulsing street carnival and the historic Pelourinho district , head to one of the city ’ s boutique lodgings . Zank ( www . zankhotel . com . br ) recently opened in the residential Rio Vermelho section and seamlessly blends modern and classic styles , with exceptional views of the Atlantic Ocean just steps away . Nearby is the Pestana Bahia Lodge ( www . pestana . com ) , with a hilltop infinity pool and sunny sea - view rooms . While there , don ’ t miss “ The Kiss ” and “ The Thinker ” by Auguste Rodin , on temporary view at the Palacete das Artes ( p alacetedasartesrodinbahia . blogspot . com ) , which opened a gallery devoted to the French sculptor . — Paolo Singer 19 . IstanbulThe reputation of Istanbul ’ s contemporary art scene has been steadily growing in recent years , with the Web site ArtKnowledgeNews . com recently calling it “ one of the most innovative in the world . ” That reputation is bound to be burnished even more this year , now that Istanbul has been named the 2010 European Capital of Culture ( a designation it shares with Essen , Germany , and Pecs , Hungary ) . There will be a series of events , gallery shows and stage performances throughout the city to mark the occasion . ( A complete list of events can be found at en . istanbul 2010 . org / index . htm . ) But one of the best ways to get a crash course in what Istanbul ’ s leading artists are up to right now is to spend some time wandering around the Misir Apartments ( 311 / 4 Istiklal Cadessi ) , right on the busy pedestrian thoroughfare that cuts through the trendy Beygolu neighborhood . Inside this elegant , early - 20 th - century building are some of the city ’ s most cutting - edge art venues , like Galerist ( www . galerist . com . tr ) and Gallerie Nev ( www . galerinevistanbul . com ) Afterward , head to the rooftop terrace and have a drink at 360 Istanbul , a stylish bar and restaurant that offers stunning views of the city ’ s skyline ( 360 istanbul . com ) . — Stuart Emmrich 20 . ShenzhenChances are , the iPod in your pocket was made in Shenzhen , China . But this industrial powerhouse of a city on the Pearl River Delta in the southern region of the country , is more than just a factory town of sweatshops and bad smog — and it has the high - class hotels and high rollers to prove it . Shenzhen is one of China ’ s wealthiest cities , right up there with Shanghai and Beijing . Situated just a one - hour bullet train ride north of Hong Kong , the thriving city exemplifies China ’ s breakneck transformation from peasant economy to capitalist giant . Its rapid rise can be traced back to 1979 , when Deng Xiaoping selected the sleepy fishing port as a special economic zone . Money , bulldozers and cheap labor poured in . Dim sum joints and illicit massage parlors gave way to gleaming shopping malls and faceless skyscrapers . A city of 14 million sprang up seemingly overnight . So did a new travel destination . A 491 - room Grand Hyatt ( 1881 Baoan Nan Road ; www . shenzhen . grand . hyatt . com ) , with bay views , recently opened , joining the ranks of the Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen ( Hai De San Dao , Hou Hai Bin Road ; www . kempinski . com / shenzhen ) and a Shangri - La ( 1002 Jianshe Road ; www . shangri - la . com / shenzhen ) . Even late - night massage parlors have gone upscale and legit . The Queen Spa ( Chunfeng Road ; www . queenspa . cn ) has sleeping pods , a theater and a juice bar — all for under $ 15 a night — plus massages that start at about $ 25 . Affordable luxuries extend to shopping and eating . The jumble of stalls at Dongmen are clogged with pirated DVDs and knock - off handbags , while there are new fashionable restaurants in Shekou , a leafy district with an expatriate flavor . Shenzhen is getting greener , too . The city recently welcomed the first LEED - certified building in southern China : the aptly named Horizontal Skyscraper , billed to be as long as the Empire State Building is tall . — Lionel Beehner 21 . MacedoniaOne of the deepest lakes on the planet , with a dazzling Unesco World Heritage site of ancient dwellings rising high above its shores , Lake Ohrid in Macedonia is a local vacation star poised for greater international acclaim . In the tiered , terra - cotta - roofed city of Ohrid , 18 miles from the Albanian border , a lakefront settlement dating back to Neolithic times , Macedonians boast that on their side of the lake is a church , monastery or mosque for every day of the year , each full of resplendent frescoes , mosaics and icons . Notable attractions include the recently renovated church of St . Clement and St . Panteleimon at Plaosnik , an epic Byzantine masterpiece , and the 13 th - century St . John of Kaneo , a limestone and brick monastery that juts out over transparent blue waters . An estimated $ 50 million renovation of the Ohrid Airport is planned for 2010 , with more international flights expected by summer , and up to six new luxury hotels are in the works , including a $ 33 million property with construction scheduled to begin in March . Tourist attractions on Ohrid ’ s beaches were upgraded last year with swank bars and dining spots complimented by bamboo and leather couchettes , with the hot spot Cuba Libre ( www . cubalibreohrid . com ) leading the way . Meanwhile , new government - financed archaeological digs around the lake regularly unearth treasures , like the 17 fifth - century tombs discovered last July . The find follows the 2008 opening of the Museum on Water , a re - created Bronze Age village built on stilts incorporating Ohrid artifacts . — Dinah Spritzer 22 . South AfricaAs host of the 2010 World Cup this summer , South Africa has gotten its game on with a flurry of new stadiums , new hotels and safari lodges . While soccer is being played across nine cities , much of the action off the field is taking place in Cape Town . Already known for its stunning beaches , mouthwatering cuisine and sophisticated night life , the city is welcoming high - end hotels , including the recently opened One & Only Cape Town and the forthcoming Taj Cape Town ( www . tajhotels . com / capetown ) . Set to open this month , the Taj will have 166 rooms , many with views of Table Mountain . Also scheduled to open in Cape Town this year — but not in time for the World Cup — is the second branch of the nascent Missoni Hotels group ( the first property opened in Edinburgh last year , with future outposts planned for Kuwait , Brazil and Oman ) . Between matches , there ’ s plenty of time to go on a safari . If money is no object , check out the Ulusaba ( www . ulusaba . virgin . com ) , a private game reserve that ’ s part of Richard Branson ’ s collection of luxury vacation properties . It has opened the new Cliff Lodge , with private swimming pools and spectacular views of the bush . Prices start at 13 , 800 South African rand ( around $ 1 , 878 at 7 . 35 rand to the dollar ) a night for two . — Denny Lee 23 . BreckenridgeThe ski resort of Breckenridge is not content to be merely the party capital of the Colorado Rockies — now it wants to be the Amsterdam , too . For its 150 th birthday , the former mining town — known for its anything - goes reputation among ski fanatics — recently passed an ordinance to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana . But even without the law , Breckenridge has plenty going for it , and not just the town ’ s main strip , which is already an après - ski bonanza of Irish joints , upscale restaurants and boutique shops . The BreckConnect Gondola now whisks skiers from town to the slopes in a matter of minutes . And the bases at Peak 7 and Peak 8 are barely recognizable from a few years back . A case in point is the recently opened Grand Lodge on Peak 7 ( 866 - 664 - 9782 ; www . grandlodgeonpeak 7 . com ) , which just rolled out a full - service spa and fitness center called Soothe . Don ’ t expect any Amsterdam - style “ coffee shops ” near the slopes anytime soon : the new ordinance applies only to the town of Breckenridge , not the mountain . — Lionel Beehner 24 . MontenegroOn the southern edges of Montenegro , almost at the border of Albania , is an unusual land formation : a powdery , eight - mile - long beach called Velika Plaza ( Long Beach ) and a triangular island where the Bojana River meets the sea . The island is called Ada Bojana , and the area is quickly becoming a party destination for the young surfer set . While the fantastic weather and soft gray beaches have drawn Eastern Europeans for decades , breezy thermal winds are bringing kitesurfers from Germany , England and France , who are turning Velika Plaza into a wave - riding capital on the Adriatic . The cheap beer doesn ’ t hurt , either . The area is so undeveloped that the only resort is a faded nudist camp popular with Germans . In the meantime , travelers who want to keep their clothes on can book a 26 - euro room ( about $ 37 , at $ 1 . 40 to the euro ) at the Hotel Mediteran ( hotel - mediteran . com ) in the small city of Ulcinj , a 15 - minute water taxi ride north . — Gisela Williams 25 . Vancouver IslandVancouver will have the sporting world ’ s attention when it hosts the Winter Olympics this year , but the most rewarding outdoor exploration is found outside the city , away from the crowds and off the beaten path . Hop the BC Ferry ( www . bcferries . com ) from Vancouver to Nanaimo , on Vancouver Island ’ s east coast , and drive three hours through mountain passes to the wild , dramatic west coast . The new Wild Pacific Trail ( www . wildpacifictrail . com ) skirts the rocky , rugged shoreline , overlooking sandy coves lined with driftwood and tidepools and the Pacific beyond them . The hiking trail is being built in sections ( there are three of seven set up so far ) , hand - cut through dense old - growth forests of cedar and spruce , with viewing platforms that let hikers see turn - of - the - 20 th - century lighthouses , kayakers heading to nearby islands , and the annual gray whale migration ( about 20 , 000 pass by the island from February to late May ) . The base for the Wild Pacific Trail is a folksy fishing village called Ucluelet , a former First Nations settlement dotted with seaside inns , bed - and - breakfasts and beach cabins like the Terrace Beach Resort ( www . terracebeachresort . ca ) , which has direct access to the trail . BONNIE TSUI 26 . ColombiaUnfairly or not , Colombia is still known for its cocaine cartels and street violence , but cool - hunting travelers are calling it Latin America ’ s next affordable hot spot . Bogotá , its capital , has emerged as a role model of urban reinvention . Starting in the late 1990 s , the city underwent a breathtaking transformation . Sidewalks , once used mainly for parking , are now lined with bicycle paths and tree - shaded cafes . An innovative bus system zips residents across the traffic - congested city . And museums and restaurants have opened in its historic center , including the refurbished Museo del Oro , which houses pre - Columbian treasures . Getting there is affordable , too . JetBlue recently began nonstop daily service to Bogotá from Orlando , Fla . , joining other carriers including Delta . Meanwhile , the picturesque coastal city of Cartagena , a Unesco World Heritage site , which has been experiencing a tourism surge in recent years , gets even more stylish . The latest addition is the Tcherassi Hotel + Spa ( www . tcherassihotels . com ) , a seven - room boutique hotel designed by Silvia Tcherassi , a Colombian fashion designer . It has even prompted some travel bloggers to call Cartagena the next Buenos Aires . — Denny Lee 27 . KitzbühelMost Austrians know the Austrian town of Kitzbühel as nothing less than a ski paradise , with 53 lifts and 104 miles of powdery slopes . But in the past few years , Kitzbühel has started to earn a reputation for its high - end dining — three restaurants with Michelin stars , with two more Michelin - starred joints outside town — making this small Alpine village of just 8 , 439 inhabitants an up - and - coming attraction for food lovers as well . Skip to next paragraph Where Do You Want to Go ? Share your recommendations and comments on our global map . Many of the most celebrated kitchens are in hotels , like the five - star Hotel Tennerhof ( www . tennerhof . com ) , with one Michelin star and three Gault - Millau toques , and the Hotel Schwarzer Adler , which houses the Neuwirt restaurant ( www . restaurant - neuwirt . at ) , serving updated Central European fare like goose liver with baked almond milk and plums . The A - Rosa resort and spa ( www . resort . a - rosa . de ) , is host to no fewer than three restaurants , including KAPS , which was awarded its Michelin star in November 2008 and is known for its “ Poor Man ’ s Menu , ” a set dinner of traditional recipes from the region . The highest fliers , however , seem to hide outside the village : Rosengarten , the only restaurant in the area to earn two Michelin stars ( it was upgraded to two in 2009 ) , is less than four miles away in Kirchberg . From there , it is about a 30 - minute drive to Restaurant Schindlhaus ( www . schindlhaus . com ) in Söll , where the Winkler brothers , Christian and Markus , run a kitchen known for its dedication to local ingredients . Naturally , you can ’ t expect meals at a top ski destination to go cheap . If the high - end prices are beyond your means , try something a little more bucolic : the barn at the 400 - year - old Stanglwirt hotel ( www . stanglwirt . com ) , where a lovely stube , or pub , serves schnitzel and goulash next to grazing cows . — Evan Rail 28 . NorwayWith an acclaimed new opera house and plenty of high - end dining options , Oslo is already a must - visit urban destination . But this year the focus should be on the wilds of the Norwegian countryside . With its dazzling Nordic light and dramatic landscape , Norway is perhaps the most unexplored and exotic corner of Europe . Having convinced the world that its fjords and southern coastline make the country a great summer getaway , Norwegians have begun showcasing its charms as a winter destination . Specialized trekking and ski tours like those offered by the Lyngen Lodge ( www . lyngenlodge . com ) can open up pristine areas of the north like the stunning Lyngen Alps , with high - speed boats to shuttle across the fjord to ski trails that would otherwise be inaccessible . And the country ’ s indifference to trendy boutique hotels and splashy resorts — long the lament of global tourism professionals — is just what appeals to a more discerning clientele . Bespoke travel specialists like Ziniry ( www . ziniry . com ) excel at getting visitors deep into the scenery . Who needs a penthouse suite when you can book a lighthouse on a private island ? — Andrew Ferren 29 . GarganoFar from the madding crowds of Amalfi and Cinque Terre , the Italian peninsula of Gargano sits on the Adriatic and boasts a checklist of summer - perfect Italian holiday options . The offerings are largely a part of the protected Gargano National Park , a swath of terrain encompassing everything from the oak and beech Foresta Umbra to the sheer chalk - colored cliffs and grottoes of the coast ’ s Caribbean - clear waters to the postcard - worthy whitewashed villages that hug the sea . Twelve nautical miles offshore , accessible by boat and hydrofoil , are the Tremiti Islands , specks of land surrounded by a wealth of sea life and a marine reserve of their own . Looking for Romanesque churches and seaside fisherman ’ s restaurants ? Try Peschici and Vieste , larger than fishing villages but cozier than cities , with white walls and medieval centers . How about mountain hiking ? Check . Gargano also offers the rarest of luxuries : fabulous food and lodging on the cheap — campsites offer space for mere pocket change , while hotel rooms can be had for 30 to 60 euros a night ( $ 42 to $ 84 at $ 1 . 40 to the euro ) in Peschici . If saving on food is wallet - friendly enough , pay a bit more than 100 euros and stay at the Chiusa delle More ( www . lachiusadellemore . it ) , a 16 th - century farmhouse in the national park but still only yards from the sea . Meals are locavore , Gargano style , incorporating the farm ’ s own vegetables and eggs . — Sarah Wildman 30 . Kuala LumpurWhile Phuket and Angkor Wat are tourism anchors in Southeast Asia , jetsetters in the region are heading these days to Kuala Lumpur , the Malaysian capital that ’ s quietly evolved into one of the area ’ s coolest and friendliest cities . Not only are K . L . - ites diehard foodies , fiercely proud of a robust street food scene that straddles Chinese , Indian and Malay flavors — check out the food blog EatingAsia ( www . eatingasia . typepad . com ) — they ’ re also shopaholics , spending weekends trawling boutiques for the latest looks emerging from the sophisticated local fashion scene . The country ’ s media - appointed King of Fashion is Bernard Chandran , who recently stole the spotlight when Lady Gaga wore one of his candy - pink minidresses to an awards show in London . His concept store is at the KL Plaza on Jalan Bukit Bintang . Another designer to look out for is Khoon Hooi , known for streamlined yet feminine dresses in muted tones , sold at his flagship store in the ritzy Starhill Gallery ; and Melinda Looi , who makes vintage - inspired cocktail dresses from chiffon . Bloggers at Tongue in Chic keep vigilant watch over the city ’ s fashion temples , which are clustered along the streets of Jalan Telawi 2 and 3 in the suburb of Bangsar , a 15 - minute cab ride from the city center . To showcase the young designers , the blog recently started Chic POP , a flea market held every three months at one of K . L . ’ s most prestigious dance clubs , Zouk ( www . zoukclub . com . my ) . — Naomi Lindt 31 . NepalSan Francisco , Amsterdam and Provincetown ? Been there . Mykonos and Ibiza ? Done that . Looking for the next gay destination ? How about the Himalayan country of Nepal ? Yes , Nepal . In the roughly two years since the nation ’ s supreme court ordered that gay , lesbians and transgendered people be afforded equal rights , this conservative , mostly - Hindu country appears to be moving ahead full throttle . Gay friendly clubs now dot its capital . ( Go to www . utopia - asia . com for listings . ) A “ third gender ” category is an option on national I . D . cards . Recently , a transgender beauty queen even got a photo op with the prime minister . And now there ’ s a tourist agency in Katmandu that is promoting gay tourism to Nepal . Started by Sunil Babu Pant , an openly - gay legislator , Pink Mountain Travels and Tours ( www . pinkyatra . com ) promises to marry adventure travel with gay weddings . With talk that Nepal may legalize same - sex marriage this year as the country hammers out a new constitution ( and , perhaps more importantly , deals with recent bouts of civil unrest ) , Mr . Pant is offering to hold nuptials at the Mount Everest base camp , jungle safari honeymoons and bridal processions on elephant back . — Aric Chen