The go-to places of the year

So how does one really come up with a list of the year’s 10 places to visit? Taking it from the experts, I suppose. And that’s exactly what The Daily 10 did. We compiled the opinions of everyone authoritative enough—from the New York Times to vehement travel bloggers—to make a list that is updated and will not make you think, “But I already knew that!” We made sure that in a world where everywhere has practically been exploited, the places we picked still have a little bit of mystery and edge. So if you have the excess cash, here are the places we recommend you visit before 2008 ends. Happy vacationing!
1. Ranked no. 1 in The New York Times’ “The 53 Places to Go in 2008,” Laos is said to be “Indochina’s next hot spot” and that “Vietnam and Cambodia are so 2007.” The country has two world heritage sites, Luang Prabang and Vat Phou. A breathtaking view of the mountains can be seen as the landscape in Vang Vieng and the national symbol of Laos, Pha That Luang, can be found in Vientiane.
2. One of the world’s best beaches, the islands of Capri in Italy top Travel House UK’s travel blog. According to them, “The Capri Islands is an amazingly beautiful coastline. It has no beach yet it is deemed to be one of the best amongst the international beaches. The island has ‘bathing establishments’ in place of beaches. It has a treasure of beach towels, beach balls and beach bunnies. The island is famous to host the rich and facilitate them with perfect luxuries and the exotic Roman art and architecture.”
3. Alexandria is a place that is included in many “must-visit” lists. Aside from being one of the most famous ancient cities, this Egyptian city boasts a wealthy history and massive renovation projects of demolished and semi-demolished structures. To top it all off, a series of modernization actions are also being undertaken.
4. Probably because of the teasing motto, “Munich Likes You,” Munich is a favorite city to visit for many a backpacker. Its old-meets-new architecture, museums and penchant to arts and literature are among the top qualities of the city. It’s also been named the world’s most livable city with its conveniences and eco-friendly ways.
5. Cool Travel Guide lists Dubai in their 10 places to go to list of 2008. Why? Because of “reasons most travel writers won’t tell you: Emirati and Bedouin culture and heritage, the courtyard wind-tower architecture in the Persian Bastakiya neighborhood, gritty backstreets, Deira ‘Creek’ views from Bur Dubai, hospitable people, superb restaurants, and a lively contemporary art scene.”
6. No. 2 on the New York Times list is Lisbon. Denny Lee writes, “Bargain-seeking tourists have long flocked to Lisbon, typically among the most affordable of European cities. But now the Portuguese capital is also emerging as a cultural force.” The heart of the city is the Baxia (or downtown or city center), which is being considered for the world heritage site status. Many monuments and historical references can be found here, among many modern reconstructions.
7. Machu Picchu “is a mystical place and a great spot to divinity. It is Peru’s most popular place, so most of you like to see the place. People of Machu Picchu feel that they are the creators of god. This place offers you strange forces of nature that permit the individual to attain a contrary cosmic state,” says TutzTutz.com and secures its spot as one of the 25 wonderful places to visit in your lifetime.
8. Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture, is included in Expedia’s top 10 places to visit in 2008. A series of cultural events have been going on since 2004, reaching its peak this year, and continues until next year. Many travel writers say that now is the time to visit this English city.
9. In an Associated Content article, a writer, RB, states that if you’re going to the Mediterranean, you have to go to Anguilla. “This is a very elegant small British overseas territory located in the Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico. Anguilla is actually a set of small islands with one main island where the capital [Valley] is located.”
10. Finally, MSN Travel thinks that Bhutan is the top place to visit this year. They claim, “Cradled by the majestic Himalayas in a remote corner of Southern Asia, the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ has long held steadfast to its rich culture and Buddhist heritage. Though an isolated locale and high tourist entry tariffs keep crowds at bay, these factors have also permitted this last Shangri-La to keep its traditions intact.”