Holiday Gift Guide: Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011

For a lot of the western world, December is a month for doing, but also for dreaming. If I could, where would I go? or even I’m going to go. But where? The editors of Lonely Planet, who do a reasonably awesome job of thinking about travel, have beaten us to the this often circular process of thought and are offering up some answers, and all just in time for the holiday gift giving season, 2010.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 (Lonely Planet) looks at the top trends and destinations for the coming year. What’s hot (wine and olive tasting in Croatia, for a start) and what’s not? (Gated communities geared at foreign retirees in Panama.) and where are those in the know going to spend their leisure time in the upcoming year?

The 2011 version of Lonely Planet’s annual guide ranks the top 10 countries, regions and cities to visit in the upcoming year. (Albania ranks as top country.) Also included, the top 10 destinations for good value (Bangladesh comes out on top.)

There are other cool lists included and though some of them are silly (Best Places to See Red; Best Places for Dance Fever; Best Secret Islands) all of them offer insight and inspiration as well as some very concrete travel tips. Highly recommended. ◊

Linda L. Richards is editor of January Magazine and the author of several books.