Choosing the world’s next big travel
destinations is never an easy feat, especially when there’s
seemingly so little left of the globe to discover. But when our
editors got into a room to hash out our top picks for 2008, we
realized that we could have done a Top 13 this year, as all eyes
will be on Beijing (when it hosts the Summer Olympic Games), and
there’s never been a better time to visit Quebec City (which
celebrates its 400th birthday in 2008) or Liverpool (the year’s
European Capital of Culture). Here's the remainder of our list.
1. Bhutan
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 (of up to $200
per person per night) keep crowds at bay, these factors have
also permitted this last Shangri-La to keep its traditions
intact. If the lush valleys and snowcapped mountains, ancient
temples and monasteries, and expansive markets full of cheerful
locals haven’t lured you to Bhutan yet, reconsider in 2008, when
the 101st anniversary of the country’s monarchy will be
commemorated by a yearlong celebration.
2. Greenland
Though Greenland promoters prefer to avoid using the
term “catastrophe tourism” to describe its surging popularity,
new weekly flights from Baltimore (late June through early
August in 2008) have indeed made this Danish province the most
accessible place to bear firsthand witness to the inconvenient
truths of climate change. The midnight sun practically
guarantees encounters with reindeer, seals, and narwhals, but
it's the Arctic island's Ilulissat ice fjord, which has
retreated six miles in just a few years, and Warming Island,
which was thought to have been part of mainland Greenland until
the connecting ice thawed, that tend to leave visitors
dumbstruck.
3. Lisbon
The cheapest capital in Western Europe (according to the 2007
Mercer Consulting survey) is worth a visit not only for its
affordability–a huge plus when considering the anemic exchange
rate of the U.S. dollar against the Euro these days–but for its
dramatic hillside villages, fashionable cobblestone enclaves,
and innovative cuisine. No longer just a stopover on the road to
Porto, the capital of Portugal is fast becoming Europe’s next
“it” city, which means crowds and inflated prices are bound to
follow. Visit in 2008 before the buzz signals the hordes.
4. Mozambique
Safely removed from decades of civil
war, Mozambique is poised to become Africa’s next big tourist
destination. The country’s recent economic success is finally
permitting its natural assets–1,500 miles of unspoiled tropical
shoreline, clear blue seas, and pristine reef-fringed
archipelagos–to shine. Upscale, eco-friendly properties are
opening along the Bazaruto and Quirimbas archipelagos, the
government is restoring the million-acre Gorongosa National
Park, and tour operators now run diving excursions to see sea
cows, whale sharks, and staghorn coral. It’s been a long haul
for this former Portuguese colony, but there’s no question that
the nation is a rising star in the travel world.
5. New Orleans
Many have already returned to New Orleans since Katrina, but
recent events give every indication that 2008 is poised to be
the best year the city has seen since the hurricane. Combine a
rebuilding boom with powerhouse couple Brad Pitt and Angelina
Jolie moving in to the French Quarter, and a revitalized Canal
Street beckoning musicians and ramblers back to its pretty
riverside promenade, and you've got the makings of a fully
revitalized city. Plus, with some of the nation’s most-beloved
festivals getting under way in the first part of the year (Mardi
Gras in February and Jazz Fest in late April and early May) it’s
easy to make the Big Easy a must this year to herald the rebirth
of one of the country’s most storied and fascinating cities.
