Travel Destinations for 2011

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

The lists are out and the hot spots for 2011 have been picked by Lonely Planet, Frommer's, The New York Times and National Geographic Traveler. Are there any places you'd like to see in 2011 from these lists?

Lonely Planet 10 Best Value Destinations for 2011
LP put together this list of places where the traveler's dinero can go a long way: Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Washington D.C., Paris, Namibia, Philippines, Argentina, Naples, Ukraine, and Syria.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bangladesh/travel-tips-and-articles/76216?affil=fb-fan

Frommer's Top Destinations for 2011

Cliffs of Moher, Western Ireland

Frommer's authors and editors picked these winners as their top destinations for 2011: Rio de Janeiro, Santiago in Chile, Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, Taipei, Hokkaido, Ponza and the Pontine Islands in Italy, Kent Coast in England, Stockholm, Doha, Cesme Peninsula in Turkey, Atlanta, Nahanni National Park in Canada. This year's Reader Favorite is Ireland. And mine too. It's such a beautiful country with so much to offer and the people are warm and friendly.
http://www.frommers.com/micro/2010/top-destinations-2011/index.html

The New York Times 41 Places to Go in 2011

Oahu is #13 on NY Times 41 Places to Go in 2011

You can go far and wide with this list. Here are the top 10: Santiago Chile, San Juan Islands Washington, Iceland, Milan, Republic of Georgia, London, Loreto Mexico, Park City Utah and Cali Colombia. For the other 31, follow this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/travel/09where-to-go.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=homepage&src=me

National Geographic Traveler 20 Best Trips of 2011

Palawan, Philippines

Here are the picks of the editors of National Geographic Traveler: Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, Plitvice Lakes Croatia, Sardinia, Tasmania, Fjord Norway, Uruguay, Shimla India, Messinia Region Greece, Dominica, Namibia, Laos, Kodiak Island Alaska, Scottish Highlands, Tunisia, Palawan Philippines, Black Sea Coast Crimea, Gaspé Peninsula Quebec, Shikoku Japan, Papua New Guinea, Kurdistan, Iraq.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-2011-photos/#/20-ulaanbaatar-mongolia-gandan-monastery_30422_600x450.jpg

Common Denominators:
Palawan, Philippines is the choice of the editors of National Geographic Traveler and a Lonely Planet Value Destination.
Santiago, Chile appears on both the Frommer's and NY Times lists.
Namibia is a favorite of both Lonely Planet and National Geographic Traveler.
Kurdistan, Iraq was picked by both NY Times and National Geographic Traveler.

What's your favorite? Where do you plan to travel in 2011? Send me your comments please.

Happy travels!

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Images by Charie

The Fairy Tale Town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber has been on my travel bucket list for years. And I finally got there last November. It is an enchanting place. With its half-timbered houses, clock towers, colorful façades, schneeballs and beer steins, Rothenburg ODT oozes with medieval charm. It's no surprise that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I was partially filmed in Rothenburg ODT. This is a common dilemma in Rothenburg ODT. Which direction to take? It's hard to choose because every cobblestone street seems to be competing for the best dressed street award. And they are all winners in my book. After walking half a day, an inviting table for two with colorful flowers to warm a cold November day. I love how these two half-timbered buildings anchor a street that leads to another intriguing square. The Plönlein (Little Square) is the most photographed square in Rothenburg ODT. But I found more picturesque neighborhoods than this. That's ...

Midnight in Paris Movie Locations

It's not often I watch a movie but on a long flight home late last year, I had the chance to watch Midnight in Paris and was totally captivated by its plot. Can you imagine time traveling to the era of Fitzgerald and Hemingway, Picasso and Dali, Gauguin and Toulouse Lautrec? It was therefore such a treat to be in Paris and be able to see a couple of the locations from the movie. Had so much fun figuring out where the Peugeot came from to pick up Gil (Owen Wilson) and take him back to the Jazz Age. Rue Galande Rue Galande is a narrow street lined with boutiques with engaging window displays. Notice the giant flea sculpture above one of the shops. This location was shown at the beginning of the film. Interestingly enough, Rue Galande is a stone's throw from the bouquinistes along the Seine and across from the Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris. The Steps of St. Etienne du Mont This is where Gil was sitting, a little disoriented, when the Pe...

Casapueblo and Carlos Páez Vilaró

Casapueblo, Punta Ballena Just a few minutes from the popular beach destination of Punta del Este is Casapueblo which sits on the edge of a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. If you're staying at the hotel, then you're in for a big treat. Imagine the view of the blue ocean made more dazzling by the sun. But that's not all. There's also an art gallery and museum next door which displays the artistic works of Carlos Páez Vilaró who also designed Casapueblo, his permanent home and studio. Casapueblo reminds one of the Greek isles at first glimpse. But it isn't that simple. Look closely and you'll find the influence of Gaudi in the architecture which Vilaró himself built with no plans. There are no straight lines. The interior has many passages and narrow stairs leading to enchanting rooms, everyone of which is different from the other. Notice the curving lines and the rooftops with their pointed concrete posts. Vilaró liked his house to a hornero's (ovenbird...

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