AOL Travel Ideas

Hottest Destinations for 2011

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:25:00 EST

What makes a destination the world's next "it" place to visit? Is it trendy new hotels, increased air access, exciting events -- or economy? Come jet away with us to our picks for 2011's hottest spots.

1. New York, New York

A perennial Top Ten header, the Big Apple more than ever provides an orchard of opportunities to pluck for culture vultures, fashion fascists, and curiosity seekers alike. Continuing the 2010 hotel boom that increased room capacity nearly 20 percent, upcoming trendsetters include Alofts in Harlem and Brooklyn and a Mondrian. New York will also witness several key anniversaries in 2011. The Statue of Liberty turns 125, the New York Public Library books its centennial, Carnegie Hall chimes in with galas for its 120th birthday, and the commemorative National September 11 Memorial, with reflecting pools placed above the footprints of the World Trade Center, should debut in time for the tenth anniversary of the tragic attacks. And there are the evergreen favorites as well, from Times Square's mega-neon to the top of the Empire State Building.
Stay: New York offers everything from boho to Beaux Arts, and practically invented boutique chic. The Ace is the ultimate in sleek-not-slick vintage vibe plus incredible value.

Harshil.Shah, flickr

2. London

Everyone's abuzz over the royal nuptials in April, which (along with anticipation for the 2012 Olympics) will make London swing as it did in the 60s. Fittingly, a Four Seasons at Park Lane and a W will debut this year. Dorchester's glam new 45 Park Lane will serve up Wolfgang Puck's first European venture, Cut, while another celeb chef, England's own Heston Blumenthal (who has three Michelin stars) opens his first London eatery at the Mandarin Oriental. Fabled architecture, fab museums, and world-renowned theater (including Andrew Lloyd Webber's eagerly anticipated take on "The Wizard of Oz") will provide oohs and ahhs aplenty.
Stay: Right in London's arts and nightlife hub, the Covent Garden Hotel offers rooms that resemble the love children of Laura Ashley and Philippe Starck, with quirky dressmaker's dummies alongside antique wardrobes.

3. Doha, Qatar

Dubai gets the press, but Doha boasts better beaches, restaurants, and even nightlife without over-the-top, off-putting opulence. Nearly 50 new hotels added 10,000 rooms in the past four years; the latest will be the ritzy Shangri-La Doha. The Corniche is a waterfront promenade where rollerbladers (and jet skiers) zoom past a surreal skyline of traditional minarets and twisting postmodern spires, including the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art. And The Pearl, encompassing at least 13 astonishing artificial islands is slowly opening with a planned 154 square miles of sheer indulgence of deluxe residences, hotels, dining (Gordon Ramsay's Maze) and shopping (retail already ranges from McCartney to McQueen) .
Stay: The Four Seasons Doha has post-modern domes that gleam in the desert sun, plus a private beach, a sybaritic spa, and several sexy lounges and restaurants.

Cirtual BCM-Bobb & Company Marketing, flickr

4. St. Kitts & Nevis

Sister islands St. Kitts and Nevis are best known for lush rainforests, a rich history, and exquisite renovated plantations. St. Kitts, the larger of the two islands, has great diving and hiking, plus plentiful value lodging. The Frigate Bay strip, straddling St. Kitts' narrowest point with both Caribbean and Atlantic frontage, is dotted with reasonably priced hotels (including fantastic family-friendly condos) and beach bars that practically stop traffic weekend nights as locals "lime" (hang out). Major Kittitian developments, including a Park Hyatt and Tom Fazio golf course, are scheduled to open by 2012, so go before it's "discovered."
Stay: The restored plantation inns all have fanatic followings. Ottley's on St. Kitts and the Hermitage on Nevis benefit from having the warm, witty owners onsite. The former is quietly luxurious, the latter a treasure trove of vernacular architecture.

5. Atlanta, Georgia

Southwest may take Atlanta by Sherman-esque storm once its merger with AirTran closes this spring, with fierce fare wars raging through 2011. The hotel scene is booming as well: The Kimpton Palomar and a W (the city's fourth) are being built while the Hyatt Regency receives a $60 million facelift and the city's second Hotel Indigo is scheduled to open in the historic Carnegie building. A Legoland Discovery Center, Pirate Museum, and 1.3 million-gallon dolphin exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium are slated to open this year. And that's on top of the city's other attractions, from the World of Coca-Cola to a top-notch zoo to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. When night falls you can party in cutting-edgier Little Five Points and Virginia Highlands or check out the sensational dining and nightlife scenes in Midtown.
Stay: Stonehurst Place, an 1896 Arts & Crafts mansion, has a riveting modern art collection (Warhol, Chihuly, Nan Goldin) plus modern eco-friendly touches like rainwater harvesting, solar power, and biodegradable bath products.

jurvetson, flickr

6. Tallinn, Estonia

This lively city, known for one of the world's most beautifully preserved medieval old towns, celebrates both its designation as a 2011 European Cultural Capital and the 20th anniversary of overthrowing Communist rule. The city will celebrate with one big virtual rave all year, with festivals, street concerts, parades, and more eclectic events scheduled. And that's on top of bargain shopping, buzzing nightlife, and that exquisite Old Lower Town with stunning red-roof castles, metal-tipped church spires and towers. Estonia officially switched to the Euro January 1, making life easier for hopping around the Continent.
Stay: The intimate, refined Savoy Boutique Hotel occupies an 1890 police station in the heart of the old town, featuring Art Deco styling, hand-plastered walls and marble bathrooms, as well as the top-rated MEKK restaurant.

7. Curacao

The island became a self-autonomous region within the Netherlands in October 2010, and its citizens will be celebrating all year. Not that they shouldn't celebrate every year. Curacao offers exceptional diving, charming plantations (landhuizen), and eco-centric activities in its cunucu (countryside). The truly stunning capital of Willemstad -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- is highlighted by bright pastel-hued gingerbread townhouses out of a fairytale. The hotels, including a new Hyatt Regency, offer a nice medium between neighbor island Aruba's mega-development and Bonaire's casual dive accommodations. Curacao is also below the hurricane belt, balmy year-round, and only two and half hours from Miami.
Stay: Kura Hulanda, near Willemstad's harbor, is made up of restored 18th-century townhouses along pebbled alleys radiating from a central courtyard.

Blue Lagoon in Iceland; Wikimedia Commons

8. Iceland

Tourism in Iceland is expected to geyser 20-percent this year, thanks to the cool nightlife, warm people and hot springs. And you can't miss the famous Blue Lagoon or Landmannalaugar's lunarscape lavafields. While restaurants remain ridiculously pricey (due to importing costs), Iceland is affordable and more accessible than ever thanks to the plummeting exchange rate. This summer Delta becomes the first US carrier to fly nonstop, while low-cost Iceland Express is slated to launch service from New York, connecting with Boston and Chicago. Icelandair will team with Alaska Airlines on mileage-earning codeshare flights from West Coast hubs.
Stay: Reykjavik hotels tend to be cold, grey and utilitarian. Thankfully, the centrally located Hotel Borg, while monochromatic, impresses with its restored Deco flourishes and classically clean lines.

9. The Philippines

For years Thailand ruled as the paradise of unspoiled, un-crowded beaches. But the Philippines has dethroned it. The country's 7,107 idyllic islands offer pyrotechnic diving and fascinating history and culture including 16th-century Sino-Spanish Baroque churches and remarkably engineered 2,000-year-old rice terraces. From the sultry nightlife in the pulsating capital of Manila to Marinduque's flower dances, the country is ablaze with local color and diverse ethnic customs. Cheap, plentiful ferries make island hopping to the archipelago with names from Albay to Zambales. And though luxury resorts have begun their inevitable onslaught (Raffles Makati opens next year), it's still cheap.
Stay: Boracay, the Filipino Phuket, remains ravishing with butterflies outnumbering beachcombers. The comfy Boracay Beach Club is right across the street from the dazzling white sands.

Wikimedia Commons

10. Nicaragua

Is it too clichéd to call Nicaragua the next Costa Rica? It's got fabulous Caribbean and Pacific beaches (relatively deserted compared to its neighbors), coral reefs exploding like fireworks, emerald rainforests chattering with wildlife, and Spanish colonial towns like Granada. A whopping 17% of the country is protected as nature preserves. Any surprise it was the locale for the latest Survivor? East Coast flights, which usually connect in Miami, Houston, and Atlanta, remain affordable even during high season and TACA Airlines is increasing service on its LA-Managua route in January. This is also one of the few places in the Western Hemisphere where you can go green for less green. Cool new hotels in restored colonial buildings to horse ranches have opened, offering comfort and authentic culture for $50 to $150 per night -- in high season.
Stay: Chattering howler monkeys greet you at Aqua Nicaragua, a treetop yoga-wellness hideaway on the rugged Pacific. Expect teak rain showers, plunge pools, and fresh organic produce in the restaurant (much of it cultivated onsite).

More Articles You Might Like

Top Budget Destinations for 2011 [AOL Travel]

The Biggest Openings of 2011 [AOL Travel]

Travel Trends for 2011 [AOL Travel]

Events Worth Traveling for in 2011 [AOL Travel]

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:12:00 EST

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rayced/ / CC BY 2.0

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=848379&pid=848378&uts=1268856748

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

Right about now 75% of the country is dreaming of a place where the sun shines every day and ice scrapers are an unnecessary accessory. Which means its high season in the Caribbean and the outrageous prices-and crowds-that come with it. But you can avoid the hordes and save hundreds on hotel rooms by thinking outside the box. Here are 10 affordable Caribbean islands that you may not have heard of that will give you fun in the sun without breaking the bank. Most entail hopping a second puddle jumper or boat (from lumbering ferry to fleet hydrofoil), though some are reachable by non-stop flights from the U.S. But remember that an extra step can open up a whole new world. All of these locales have great hotels less than $150 a night (yes, even in high season) and offer you the chance to not only easily find a spot on the sand but also immerse yourself in old-time Caribbean that's quickly vanishing.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

Several worth-the-extra-step islands lie off Guadeloupe and are easily accessible by hydrofoil from the capital of Pointe-à-Pitre. Despite the Euro-dollar exchange, they remain unsung budget destinations. Caribbean connoisseurs regard Les Saintes as a mini St. Barths, similar in all but haute prices and hauteur. Whitewashed Creole cottages cling precariously to the hills, housing charming inns, galleries, boutiques, and bistros with amazing fare at fair prices. Neighboring Marie Galante is a sparsely populated and unaccountably undeveloped island, offering only one resort and several family-run auberges. Go for the beauteous beaches, cactus-covered cliffs, sun-dappled grottoes, and quaint fishing villages.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

Though it's the most recognizable name on the list, the D.R. does have out-of-the-way budget beaches that just can't be ignored. The country has three international airports that are near these hidden-gems which offer hotels brimming with character (and characters) on or steps from the sand. Juan Dolio and Boca Chica are just outside the historic capital of Santo Domingo and the 30-mile Bávaro is a sandy stretch lined with all-inclusives near Punta Cana. Puerto Plata offers tawny talcum-soft beaches as well as good values of its own, but head to nearby Sosúa or Cabarete and it's perpetual-spring-break surf scene. If you feel adventurous, a prop-jet or longer drive brings you to still-unspoiled areas like Barahona and the blissful beaches of Samaná.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

A short flight from more developed Grand Cayman, "The Brac" takes its name from the Gaelic for bluff, illustrated by the 12-mile-long cave-stippled crag that dominates the rugged landscape. Despite its petite size there is a good selection of small resorts, condos, and family-run inns that are a sensational value. But hurry. The island is getting attention as a world-class eco-adventure destination. Bike or hike to the cliff-edge nature trail at desolate Lighthouse Walk or explore the island's many caverns, long rumored to hold pirate treasure. The underwater topography is also quite dramatic. Divers can explore pyrotechnic sponge-encrusted walls, wrecks, and even manmade marine sculptural installations.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

It may not be the easiest to get to (American Airlines offers service through San Juan, Puerto Rico), but once you arrive in Dominica you will feel like you've entered the Lost World. If the Lost World had an assortment of reasonably priced hotels, that is. The island's varied ecosystem and terrain-not to mention fauna, flora, and birdlife-comprise a miniature continent in just 289 square miles. You'll find verdant parks, volcanic black-sand beaches, bubbling hot springs like Boiling Lake (part of the lunarscape that is the aptly named Valley of Desolation), and rivers punctuated by tumultuous waterfalls tumbling into natural Jacuzzis. The earth's restlessness also puts on a show for divers and snorkelers, who can whale-watch while gliding through sheer 800-foot drops and 1,000-foot walls curtained with gorgonian. Or simply swim in the water's champagne-like bubbles, courtesy of submerged volcanic vents.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

Neighboring Saba and St. Eustatius and their affordable Caribbean inns are both a 25-minute flight from St. Maarten. What Saba lacks in beaches it makes up for in views, especially those from the hiking trails up the 2,855-foot Mt. Scenery. Besides mangoes and mahogany you'll see the fairytale fieldstone cottages with gingerbread trim and bougainvillea-draped picket fences that cling dollhouse-like to steep hills. The lack of beaches doesn't mean you have to stay out of the water. Divers and snorkelers cruise the Saba Marine Park and its maze of coral-carpeted pinnacles, walls, and ridges patrolled by grunts to grouper.
St. Eustatius is where you'll find the beach, namely miles and miles of near-deserted black-sand. Dive or snorkel at the St. Eustatius Marine Park through crumbling brick buildings visible from shore in shallow water and among coral-encrusted galleons, their cannons exploding with vibrant fish. On dry land there are beautifully preserved Dutch colonial forts and the St. Eustatius Historical Foundation Museum, which includes excavated artifacts of the previously unknown 6th-century Saladoid community.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

This island has old-time Caribbean ambiance and hospitality to spare, is easily accessible from Antigua (15-minute flight or 75-minute ferry), and has amazing prices at homey guesthouses and fabulous villas. The "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" (a soubriquet referring to the residents' mostly Irish roots, as well as the verdant countryside), has been reinventing itself as an eco-centric destination after its Soufrière volcano blew its top in 1995. Despite periodic pyroclastic flows and ash fall to the south, the island's northern half remains safe. You can visit the world-class Montserrat Volcano Observatory, drive to viewing points displaying dramatic petrified lava "rivers" flowing down the volcano's flanks to the sea, or even take specially authorized trips into Plymouth, the former capital which eerily resembles a Caribbean Pompeii. As for the beaches, sands are unsurprisingly volcanic gray, with the exception of Rendezvous Bay. This sugary beach is accessible via boat or challenging hike, but is worth it to be able to snorkel in its cool bat cave.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

This idyllic island off Puerto Rico's east coast is easily accessible via plane from San Juan or ferry from the town of Fajardo. Though the island is slowly going upscale (a W recently opened) there are lots of fun funky budget properties to choose from. Many of the island's beaches are only accessible via dirt and gravel roads, ensuring remote romantic picnics. Vieques resisted high-rise chain hotels since it was under U.S. Navy control until 2003 and much of the island constitutes the Caribbean's largest and most ecologically diverse National Wildlife Refuge. The rest is pure old-time Caribbean: charming little villages with tree-shaded plazas, bumpy roads where cows and chicken own the right of way, historic ruins, and mellow vibe thanks to the mix of locals and expats.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands

Though upscale development looms, affordable hotels are still plentiful on St. Kitts. The main beach area of Frigate Bay is just minutes from the airport, which is served by nonstops from most major East Coast hubs. Since Frigate straddles the island's narrowest point, it has both Caribbean and Atlantic frontage, the perfect location for all those reasonably priced hotels and condos. It's also an easy jaunt from your hotel on Frigate to even lovelier and laidback strands, such as Friars, Turtle, and Banana Bays. Off the beach the intrepid can scale Mt. Liamuiga then descend into its jungle-filled crater clinging to vines and roots. Or visit Brimstone Hill, a restored fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site, for stunning 360-degree panoramas of surrounding islands and walks along nature trails where green vervet monkeys play peekaboo.

Best Budget Caribbean Islands