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29 places to go in 2009
Caribbean & Mexico
11. Bermuda
Commonly misconceived as a Caribbean island, Bermuda is actually an Atlantic one, with a location that’s closer to Washington, D.C. than it is to points south. As a result, like much of the northern United States, this balmy British isle kicks into high-season in summer — while other islands of its ilk are becoming too hot to bear. With its fantastic golf, charming historical cities, gorgeous bougainvillea, splendid pink-sand beaches, and endearing pastel-colored houses, Bermuda attracts a loyal following of repeat visitors. Plus, its proximity to the United States makes it ideally suited for a quick getaway — at around two hours from the East Coast, you can be there by lunch.
Why go in 2009: Bermuda turns 400 in 2009 (www.bermuda2009.bm) and is commemorating the historic event with a bevy of promotions and special events. Helping to bring affordability to the costly island is the Department of Tourism’s “Compliments of Bermuda: 400th Anniversary Offer,” which gives up to $400 credit towards air-and-hotel bookings made at select hotels (travel through March 31; book by March 27), as well as a “400th Anniversary Passport” savings booklet valued at up to $1,000. Meanwhile, event highlights include the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 in June and the Bermuda Festival For The Performing Arts in January and February. Also of note: The upscale, all-suite Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa (www.newsteadbelmonthills.com) opened its doors in early 2008, while the exclusive Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa (www.tuckerspoint.com) is set to debut in April 2009.
12. Curaçao
Sophisticated Curaçao, the largest of the Dutch-owned ABC islands (Aruba and Bonaire form the “A” and “B”), may lack its neighbors’ high-caliber beaches and dive sites, but its capital, Willemstad, ranks among the region’s most cosmopolitan cities, with some 55 different cultures living in its vicinity — in fact, it’s the only Caribbean city aside from Havana to be ranked a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Boasting colorful Dutch colonial architecture, a century-old pontoon bridge, and an animated floating market, it’s the isle’s premier attraction, although plenty of outdoor activities abound, too, from riding ATVs through ocean-trimmed cacti forests to hiking Mount Christoffel. It’s the perfect destination for urbanites who’d rather discover a new cultural capital than lounge on a beach. more photos
From chic to rustic, expensive to affordable, tourists looking for some sun and sand can find what they're looking for in the Caribbean.
Why go in 2009: The tourism board’s “Curaçao Now” (www.curacao.com/now) promotion offers summer 2009 visitors perks like a $100 airfare credit, free additional hotel nights, food and beverage credits, and more (book January 15 through March 15). Curaçao’s airline, Insel Air, meanwhile, is launching non-stop service between Miami and the island in November, adding to its accessibility. Look for major hotel openings in the coming months, as well, including the Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino (December 2008; www.renaissancecuracao.com) and the Hyatt Regency Curaçao (December 2009; www.curacao.hyatt.com). And don’t miss our favorite Curaçao smart splurge, the recently opened luxury two-bedroom Tree House Mansion at the Lodge Kura Hulanda (www.kurahulanda.com).
13. San Juan
Founded in 1521, San Juan is not only the political and cultural capital of Puerto Rico, but it's the United States' very oldest city. At turns charming and gritty, historical Old San Juan and the sugary, resort-laden Condado and Isla Verde beachfronts woo visitors — moving away from the sand, urban sprawl and factories dominate. Combine your trip with escapes to off-the-coast islets like Vieques and Culebra for a truly unforgettable Caribbean experience.
Why go in 2009: When it comes to quick, affordable beach and cultural getaways, few destinations rival San Juan, which is less than a three-hour flight from Miami or under five hours from New York.
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14. Riviera Maya
The beautiful white-sand beaches and turquoise sea fronting Riviera Maya (a.k.a. the Mayan Riviera) — stretching south roughly 80 miles from Cancún, on past Tulum, and into the Sian Ka'an Biosphere — allow visitors to combine a tropical beach vacation with visits to awe-inspiring ruins and a UNESCO World Heritage nature preserve. Head here for the perfect combination of relaxation and culture in the form of beaches, resorts, and historic ruins.
Why go in 2009: Part of the allure of Mexico has always been is its affordability. In 2009, this truth will extend to airfare with the launch of several new, inexpensive routes to Cancún (the gateway to Riviera Maya), including AirTran's upcoming service from Baltimore and Atlanta in February, and JetBlue's new flights via D.C. and Tampa in December 2008.
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Europe
15. Berlin
Packed with cultural treasures, hip nightclubs, cutting-edge dining options, and no less than three opera houses, Berlin is Europe's first true 21st-century metropolis. Yet, even after two decades of German reunification, its rechristened capital still has the feel of a city on the verge: Berlin's art scene rivals that of London, except you can actually afford to buy a painting from the local galleries.
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Barbara Sax / AFP - Getty Images Visitors walk past the Market Gate of Miletus, an outstanding example of Roman architecture, at the Collection of Classical Antiquities of the Pergamon museum in Berlin. |
A spurt of innovative restaurants could be the envy of Paris, but their reasonable prices are distinctly un-Left Bank. The same holds true for accommodations: new, cool, and refurbished hotels abound, but again, at rates nowhere near those of other European capitals. The city's immense affordability is one reason to visit, but its outsized art collections, fascinating history, trendy neighborhoods, and teeming nightlife are what will keep you captivated while you're there.
Why go in 2009: While we'd gladly visit Berlin every year, 2009 gets special dibs, as November 9 marks the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. A series of special commemorative events are planned throughout the year (www.mauerfall09.de), with the city's open spaces, buildings, and museums serving as the celebratory focal points — visitors can expect to see facades tricked out with light installations, specially commissioned public art displays, and exhibits focused on the history of the wall itself. The festivities culminate with a grand celebration at the Brandenburg Gate, complete with artistic performances, concerts, and a street festival, on November 9.
16. Cappadocia
Located in the center of Turkey, approximately 450 miles from Istanbul, Cappadocia is a Salvador Dali painting come to life. This bizarre, lunar-like landscape is dotted with extraordinary “fairy chimney” rock formations, dramatic gorges, troglodyte houses, subterranean chapels, underground cities that once sheltered early Christians, and exquisite hotels carved out of the area’s abundant soft stone. Make pottery in Avanos, go wine-tasting in Urgup, and rise with the lark and take to the skies in a hot-air balloon for a bird's eye view of Goreme National Park’s dramatic valleys and conical rock formations.
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Why go in 2009: Most American tourists are still reluctant to venture beyond Istanbul and Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, so go now before word spreads that Cappadocia has reached beyond backpackers and archeology buffs to appeal to a more luxury-minded set. The Serinn House (www.serinnhouse.com), a boutique design hotel in Urgup with just five rooms (when was the last time you stayed in a Wi-Fi-equipped cave?), opened in early 2007. Also, due to the favorable exchange rate (though Turkey aspires to adopt the euro and join the European Union, the Turkish lira will remain in circulation through 2009), Turkey is both exotic and affordable.
17. Iceland
The name may suggest a barren, frigid land, but Iceland offers some of the most awe-inspiringly diverse landscapes on the planet. A single day’s travel will uncover volcanoes, endless waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, geothermal hot springs, cold deserts, northern lights, and moonscape landscapes. Reykjavik, the nation's capital city, has an intimate population of fewer than 200,000, yet boasts a brag-worthy nightlife and shopping district. Plus, with flights from the Eastern seaboard lasting just over five hours, it's the closest sampling of European culture you can get.
Why go in 2009: After a near brush with bankruptcy in late 2008, the value of the Icelandic krona has dropped dramatically, making this once expensive destination affordable for American tourists — look for highly discounted vacation packages and airfares through providers like the country’s flagship carrier, Icelandair. While any major new tourism infrastructure developments are expected to be put on hold as the economy attempts recovery, the benefits of enhancements made in recent years can still be reaped, including road improvements that now allow travelers access to some of the country’s more remote pristine pockets.
18. Montenegro
Montenegro has come a long way since its shaky days following Yugoslavia's breakup. With medieval cities and ancient monasteries, over 200 miles of coastline, a plethora of beaches, soaring Dinaric Alps, four national parks, and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this gem of a country — often overshadowed by fashionable neighbor Croatia — offers travelers a spectrum of outdoor and cultural experiences — at much more reasonable rates.
Why go in 2009: Currently ranked as the second fastest growing tourism market in the world (falling just behind China), you’ll need to head here fast, before rates rise to match Montenegro's mounting popularity. Luckily, travel will be easier than ever as of June 2009, when Montenegro Airlines expands its service to Tivat via London Gatwick. Meanwhile, Aman Resorts (www.amanresorts.com) is slated to celebrate the opening of its newly branded Sveti Stefen island resort, a former fishing village and modern-day celebrity retreat that closed for the Aman takeover and luxury makeover last year. This highly anticipated development has consequently sparked other luxury hotel negotiations in the region (the Four Seasons among them), as well as the pending transformation of Tivat's Port Montenegro into a marina for mega yachts.
19. Sardinia
The second largest island in the Mediterranean (situated southwest of mainland Italy), Sardinia — historically influenced by Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian, and later, Roman rule — stands out for its warm hospitality and charm. As you explore — whether by biking, hiking, horseback riding, sailing, or riding in an antique train — you'll discover ancient ruins, exquisite wines, fresh local cuisine (think ricotta and suckling pig), and over 1,000 miles of soft white-sand beaches fronting turquoise waters. Base yourself in the northeastern part of the island at Costa Smeralda, a celebrity magnet renowned for luxury hotels, high-end boutiques, and expensive real estate, or in Budoni, an emerging seaside destination of just 4,000 residents.
Why go in 2009: Sardinia remains largely off the radar for non-Italian travelers and noisy tourism developers alike, offering vacationers better value and more seclusion than other Italian hotspots. But it’s only a matter of time before all of that changes — Chia Beach, on the southern, less-developed part of the isle was recently named one of the best European beaches of 2008 by readers of the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph, and low-cost European airlines continue to increase service to this once not-so-accessible isle (Jet2.com, for one, is launching an Edinburgh to Olbia route come May).
20. Warsaw
Warsaw today is a testament to the perseverance, strength, and, ultimately, revitalization of Poland. The capital city, once beaten down by two iniquitous powers — the Nazis and the Soviets — which both attempted to strip the Poles of their heritage, culture, and beliefs, has reclaimed its legacy, rebuilt and restored its landmarks, and looks to the future as a proud and dynamic city. Holocaust survivors and former down-and-out Varsovians mingle with a bright, progressive youth. Bullet holes embedded in surviving WWII buildings stand not far from drab Soviet-era blocks and shiny new skyscrapers, while the UNESCO-listed Old Town, really a 50-year-old imitation of the bombed-out original, draws unapprised tourists who like its Prague-like charms.
Why go in 2009: Poland uses the zloty, making affordability a major draw here over other European cities that are now on the euro. Aside from giving visitors a good dose of WWII and Red history, Warsaw boasts a burgeoning after-dark scene in up-and-coming neighborhoods like Fabryka Trzciny, the old part of the Praga district, where the latest in the city's reinvention is showcased with new galleries and restaurants. The superlative nightlife landscape pours out over the whole of Warsaw, too, with a blend of boho bars, clubs housed in unusual spaces (be it a former fort or art museum), underground discos, and hip cafes. Don’t miss popping into one of the few remaining, and somewhat controversial, Communist-era "milk bars" for cheap pierogies and borscht.
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