Where to go in 2008

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). In the end, the ten destinations that rank among our Top 10 Places to Go in 2008 include renascent cities like New Orleans and emerging countries like Bhutan that are fast becoming the world’s next travel hotspots. Get there now, before the crowds do . . . in 2009.

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. And, while the Kingdom of Bhutan is charging ahead into the 21st century (thanks largely to the advent of hydroelectric power), they consider happiness a better gauge of accomplishment, with a nationwide poll in 2002 reporting only 3% of the population feeling down. 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 year-long 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 first-hand witness to the inconvenient truths of climate change. The five-hour flight lands in Kangerlussuaq, a jumping off point for musk oxen safaris, cultural tours of Inuit settlements, and day trips to the foot of a melting 250-foot high polar icecap. While endangered polar bears are rarely sighted these days, the midnight sun practically guarantees encounters with reindeer, seals, and the narwhal whale, with its nine-foot horn. Fauna-sightings notwithstanding, it's the Arctic island's Ilulissat ice fjord, which has retreated six miles in just a few years, and Warming Island, which is 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, and bask in the medieval streets of the Amalfa district, hip boutiques of the Bairro Alto, and trendy waterfront restaurants in the Docas area (where John Malkovich co-owns a trendy sushi joint). It may be the last year you'll enjoy any solitude in the peak summer season.

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 like Azura at Gabriel’s (azura-retreats.com) are opening along the Bazaruto and Quirimbas archipelagos, the government is pouring money into restoring the million-acre Gorongosa National Park, and tour operators are organizing diving excursions to introduce visitors to the area’s endangered 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. Go now before the masses descend.

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 the some of the nation’s most-beloved festivals getting underway in the first part of the year (Mardi Gras in February and Jazz Fest in late April–early May) it’s easy to make the Big Easy a must this year to listen to the best live music around, sample superb Creole cuisine, embrance the fun-loving local attitude, and herald the rebirth of one of the country’s most storied and fascinating cities.