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 Travel & Outdoors | December 2006 
'Bluelist': Top Trips Around the World
 Don George - Lonely Planet
| | The beauty of rural China helped propel that country to No. 1 on Lonely Planet's U.S.-based staffers' list of top places to visit in 2007. (Martin Moos/Lonely Planet) |
To inspire travelers' adventures in the new year, Lonely Planet has just published the "Bluelist," a 260-page compendium of top places to go and things to do around the world, compiled from our globe-girdling staff, authors and on-the-road travelers.
In addition to profiles of 30 hotter-than-ever countries, the book contains 40 "bluelists" of recommendations in such categories as Best Adventure Travel Ideas, Dining on the Wild Side, Best Music & Place Combinations, Most Deserted Islands and Tourist Traps Worth the Stay.
With these in mind, we asked our U.S.-based staffers to choose their three top hot spots for 2007. We compiled their responses and came up with our collective bluelist. Wondering where to go in the new year? Here are our recommendations, along with selected staffers' comments.
• Number ten: two-way tie of Mexico and India.
Mexico: "Mexico offers a vibrant culture and delicious regional cuisine far beyond the American taco-burrito-tostada staples; it's tropical, easy to get to and cheap. Music-lovers should be sure to check out Mexico City's thriving underground music scene."
India: "From the Taj Mahal to Kerala, Darjeeling to Rajasthan, India is one of the world's treasure houses — if you want to change your perspective on life, go there!"
• Number nine: Greece. "After the obligatory course in Ruins 101 — the Acropolis, Delphi, etc. — savvy travelers are heading off the beaten track to islands like Amorgos, rich in windmills and monasteries, or the Peloponnesian region of Arcadia, which offers an alluring and relatively unexplored combination of medieval mountain villages, Mycenean palaces, Frankish fortresses, precipitous ravines and picturesque plateaus. Urban lovers should be sure to visit Thessaloniki, too, the country's No. 2 city with a cuisine and character all its own."
• Number eight: Spain. "Be sure to visit San Sebastian on the northern Basque coast. From art nouveau architecture to world-class restaurants — would you believe 13 Michelin stars? — this place is definitely hot!"
• Number seven: Nicaragua. "Nicaragua is one of the safest countries in which to travel in Central America; it has the wonderful cities of Leon and Granada, the Isla de Ometepe, rain forests, beaches, the famed Miskito Coast and the Corn Islands, and a distinctive national identity. Go!"
• Number six: Turkey. "I love Turkey for the numerous ancient sites, gorgeous coast and unique architecture — and the spice markets, mosques and Turkish coffee in tiny cafes."
• Number five: Brazil. "Tropical, sexy Brazil has always had its lures — pristine beaches, music-filled cities with pulsing nightlife, the lush Amazon rain forest, wildlife-watching in the Pantanal. But the tourism scene in Brazil is really taking off now. Top-end boutique hotels — including the new Philippe Starck creation, the Fasano in Rio de Janeiro — are springing up to meet the demand."
• Number four: Argentina. "The country's got fabulous food and wine, culture and countryside; it's warmly welcoming to travelers, safe and still very affordable due to exchange rates."
• Number three: Morocco. "Scenic landscapes and exotic cities such as Marrakech and Fez, rich history and culture, great adventure and beach activities, and easy access from Spain will combine to make this the travel hit of 2007."
• Number two: U.S.A. From Hawaii ("tropical, safe, great culture and natural beauty") to New Orleans ("people want to see what has become of their beloved place and still want to enjoy its fruits, or help it return to its full glory") to Brooklyn ("hot art and restaurant scenes, still with neighborhood intimacy"), the U.S.A. is poised for a great year.
• Number one: And the winner for the 2007 hot spot is — China! "For its diverse landscapes, amazing culture, world heritage sites and general affordability, China is the place to visit this year. Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong all warrant some travel time, but travelers who really want to understand China should get out into the rural areas where 70 percent of the population still lives. There, the old foundations of the new China are poignantly revealed."
Don George is Lonely Planet's global travel editor. You can e-mail him at don.george@lonelyplanet.com. For more travel information, visit LonelyPlanet.com. |
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