Obviously, the best part of what travel editors do is travel. So, you might wonder, where do they go? And where do they want to go next? In this column, our editors reveal their most recent vacations (some admittedly more glamorous than others) and offer up a personalized wish list of where they hope to visit this year. As always, if you'd like to comment on any of these places, or tell us about your own past adventures and upcoming travel plans, please visit our message boards.
Last Trip: Arizona
Next Up: Philadelphia or Japan
Our last vacation was a family one, a circuit through Arizona, and our next vacation is likely to be of the same ilk. Perhaps a city within driving distance of New York (our home base), say Philadelphia, where we can take in such child-friendly favorites as the Please Touch Museum and the Franklin Institute, or Washington D.C., where we'd stop off at the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History.
But were I to take off without the wee ones, I'd opt for a trip to Japan with my old college roommate. It's a vacation we've been "planning" for years.
I see us losing a week in the bright lights of Tokyo, rushing to the Tsukiji fish market in the wee hours, shopping in Harajuku, indulging in silky, fresh sushi and slurping big bowls of noodles. Then we'd head to Kyoto, explore the Gion District, and lose ourselves in the past.
But my favorite part of this trip-that-is-to-be will be our stays in ryokan, those traditional Japanese inns, where rice-paper doors glide silently shut, rooms are minimalist and pristine, and perfect kaiseki meals arrive on demand, requiring no shopping, cooking or cleaning. I see us gazing upon serene, green landscapes, lingering over cups of hot tea, and relaxing in thermal baths. -- Margot Weiss
Last Trip: Tulum, Mexico
Next Stop: South Africa
In December 2006, my boyfriend and I took off for a week-long getaway to Tulum, Mexico. This picturesque beach town on the Yucatan Peninsula offers visitors history (in its Mayan ruins), serenity (on its powdery beaches) and abundant options for adventure (biking, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving -- just to name a few).
Flights on Continental Airlines (tel. 800/523-3273; www.continental.com) from Newark to Cancún were relatively inexpensive and short (about four hours). This part of the Riviera Maya especially appealed to us because it's less developed than Cancún and Playa del Carmen; accommodations are mostly cabanas on the beach and you can take a walk along the shore in near solitude. Unfortunately, based on the amount of current construction projects we saw along the coast, I'm not sure how long this area will remain somewhat off-the-beaten path; go soon or you'll probably want to travel farther south to escape the crowds.
Upon arrival in Cancún, we rented a car and drove about two hours to Tulum.
We stayed at Ana y Jose (tel. +52 998/887-5470; www.anayjose.com) in the Arena suite (which has air conditioning, though not all rooms here do). Because Tulum is going though a significant growth spurt right now, be specific about what you want (and don't want) when booking your room. Ask about noise levels due to construction, air conditioning and hours of electricity provided. Many places in Tulum turn off their electricity at 11pm.
You can spend your entire vacation barefoot on the beach, but if you want to try on those sneakers you packed, get up early one morning to stroll around the Tulum Ruins. For a more active endeavor, book a bike tour. We scheduled one at Ana y Jose's front desk, and our wonderful guide Fernando took us on a 30-km ride, during which we swam in a cenote (natural sinkhole of fresh water in a cave), then kayaked and snorkeled in Solomon Bay. With all this exercise, you'll be hungry. Some of our favorite spots to eat dinner were Posada Margarita for Italian, Mezzanine for Thai, the restaurant at Zamas for thin-crust pizzas and live music, and the restaurant at Ana y Jose for seafood dishes (the ceviche is especially delicious). The next morning, if you're ready to go barefoot again, try a yoga class at Maya Tulum (tel. 888/515-4580; www.mayatulum.com).
If you can afford one splurge, spend your last night in Mexico at Ikal del Mar (tel. +52 984/877-3000; www.ikaldelmar.com), a good stopping point between Tulum and Cancún. From the moment you arrive -- to a personalized Mayan welcoming ceremony -- you're enveloped in exquisite service, accommodations that blend into nature but feature modern amenities. Each villa features a private hammock and pool, as well as A/C and a television, not to mention a giant bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower. Don't miss a visit to the spa; treatment rooms set in the jungle are especially unique and relaxing. Spending time at this retreat is a transcendental experience.
For our next trip, I'd love to explore South Africa. We could fly into Johannesburg and go on a three-day safari in Kruger National Park. Then, we might take a flight to Capetown, and spend some time exploring the Cape Winelands before continuing along the coast to the luxurious Tsala Treetop Lodge -- this trip is the stuff travel dreams are made of. -- Jennifer Anmuth
Last Trip: Singapore
Next Up: Yellowstone National Park
I remember when I met my friend Lynn during my freshman year of college in Boston and asked her where she was from: "Singapore," she said. It took longer than I'd have liked, but this fall, I finally made it there. The occasion was Lynn's wedding, and on many of my travel adventures I had her -- an expert tour guide -- at my side. During the few days I spent in Singapore, I managed to take part in the power sport that is shopping along Orchard Road, visit the temples in Chinatown and Little India, and survey the markets and mosques along Arab Street. Truth be told, though, much of the trip revolved around food: Lynn had planned her wedding to roughly coincide with three of Singapore's biggest cultural feasts, namely, the Indian Deepavali, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Islamic Hari Raya. In order to experience the country and its festivals fully, I told myself, I simply needed to eat as much possible.
The country's compact size helped my noble cause along -- I was able to zip around from one restaurant to another, sampling samosas in Little India, eating Hainanese chicken at a hawker center, and even daring to try durian-filled mooncakes (which frankly smelled like rotting fish slathered in moldy sour cream). Although I think I'll steer clear of durian for the rest of my life, most of my dining experiences in Singapore left me wondering why on earth I'd waited so long to visit the country. Ultimately, by sampling its myriad cuisines, I fell as much in love with Singapore as did Anthony Bourdain, who wrote in A Cook's Tour, "Aw, man, I love itÂ?Singapore has a kooky, crazy food culture that's a fantastic mix of influences. It's a real pleasurable riot of food."
Having literally stuffed myself with Singapore culture, I'm hoping my next trip will burn off some calories and explore places closer to home. I recently traveled to southern Montana, and although I was painfully close to Yellowstone, I didn't have time to visit it. This spring, I'm hoping to fly back to that part of the country with the sole purpose of camping out in the national park.
To plan your own trip to Singapore, check out www.visitsingapore.com. For details on Yellowstone, visit www.nps.gov/yell. -- Jennifer Reilly
Last Trip: Fort Myers Beach, FL
Next Up: Costa Rica
On a recent five-day trip, my wife, six-year-old daughter and I headed to Fort Myers Beach, which occupies narrow Estero Island, off the southwestern coast of Florida. Unlike its swanky counterparts to the south (Naples) and to the north (Sanibel and Captiva islands), Fort Myers Beach is a laid-back beach community with a pedestrian-friendly downtown, wide pristine beaches and calm gulf waters. Slowly revitalizing the area from its somewhat sleepy existence are new bars, beach-apparel shops, restaurants and hotels.
Singles and families populate the hotels that line Estero Boulevard, the main drag that runs the length of the island. From beachside motels to family friendly luxury resorts, there's a full range of accommodations here. We stayed at the Gullwing Suites (tel. 888/627-1595; www.gullwingfl.com), a luxurious three-bedroom condominium facing the Gulf of Mexico. The Gullwing is comprised of privately owned units, which are rented out to visitors throughout the year. Each unit has a washer/dryer, dishwasher, and other comforts of home. Our days were spent swimming and sunning by the pool or on the beach. We ate lunch and dinner on a private, screened porch, after which we'd stroll down to the beach and watch the sun set.
Fort Myers Beach is easy to reach because many airlines fly nonstop to Southwest Florida International Airport (www.flylcpa.com). Car rentals from nearly all the major national agencies are here, and it's only a 30- to 45-minute drive (depending on traffic) from the airport to the beach. February through April is peak season, especially during the winter and spring school breaks. Estero Boulevard is inundated with traffic at that time (driving five blocks can take you 30 minutes). So leave your car at the hotel, hop on the beach trolley, which runs every 15 minutes, daily from 7am to 9:30pm. If you're close to downtown, walking is your best option.
Next, I hope to visit Costa Rica, which has recently matured as a tourist destination. Not only does the country have white sandy beaches, amazing surf, and stunning scenery, it also boasts amazing wildlife such as monkeys, macaws, and egrets. I'm especially fascinated with the Nicoya Peninsula, particularly Montezuma, a funky little village on its southern tip, about 115 miles from San Jose. There's a waterfall to swim under, great surfing at Playa Hermosa, and Curu Wildlife Refuge and the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve -- both rich with scenery and wildlife. As for places to stay, condos and luxury resorts abound. December through May is the dry season, attracting many visitors, subsequently driving hotel prices up. I plan to travel in June, a shoulder season month, when the days are mostly sunny.
You can fly nonstop to San Jose from most major U.S. cities; Liberia is also an option. The flight is five hours from New York. From San Jose, you can either take a leisurely drive to Montezuma or drive to Puntarenas and take a ferry to Paquera. Flying from San Jose to Tambor, eleven miles from Montezuma, is an option, but I like to drive; the leisurely route from San Jose or Liberia is my ticket. I can see a bit of the countryside, then on the return trip, I can take the ferry. Sun, sand, swim, Red Stripe, dub reggae and amazing wildlife: What could be better? -- William Travis
Last Trip: Belize
Next Up: Guatemala
Spending what would have been an unseasonably warm and wet November week in New York in the seasonably warm and wet country of Belize was just what I needed to prep for another Manhattan winter. I wasn't sure what to expect (all I knew was that my hair and humidity don't mix well), but I fell in love with the Central American country while on a 16-seater plane from Belize City to San Pedro, the main town on the Ambergris Caye. The 15-minute plane ride revealed turquoise water, and the airport (if you want to call it that) in San Pedro mirrored Belize's no-frills, relaxed character. During that week, I saw the country's diversity, from the large barrier reef in San Pedro and the rainforests of the Cayo District to the Maya ruins at Caracol and the serene beach of Placencia.
While our guide steered our van along the extremely bumpy road to Caracol, he pointed out the window, through the lush greenery, toward Guatemala. After editing the first edition of Frommer's Guatemala (due out February 2007), seeing similarities in the Belizean and Guatemalan cultures, and staring enviously at the gorgeous Guatemalan artwork that filled each and every hotel we stayed at, I knew I had to go. Come 2007, I hope to explore the expansive ruins at Tikal, walk the colonial streets of Antigua, and pick up some of those Guatemalan crafts for my own home. -- Anuja Madar
Last Trip: Amalfi Coast, Italy
Next Up: Seattle, Scottland or the Caribbean
For one charmed week this past October, I called a small cliff-side villa in the tiny fishing town of Praiano home. This compact community has it all: beaches, cafes, restaurants, even the surreal Oasi del Gusto, an endearing streetside mobile bar (think Good Humor-style truck with Campari, limoncello, and Peroni instead of King Cones and Bomb Pops) -- everything, that is, except for the crowds. While the Amalfi Coast towns of Maori and Positano are overrun with day-trippers and cruisers who pile off their mega-ships and onto enormous buses to shop 'til they drop, Praiano moves at a more relaxed pace. Upon my arrival in town, a person who I asked for directions led me to my landlord's gate with the amiable aid of a nearby construction worker, who gladly used the break to take some refreshment in the form of a ripe, red pomegranate. The two men chatted, lounging against a wall, while the landlady's daughter came out to tell me her mother would be coming soon. It was like being a distant cousin a few times removed -- although in that case Raffaella would have stuffed me full of home-cooked goodies. Instead, I was left to fend for myself, so I made daily enjoyable trips to Tutto per Tutti for staples like fresh-picked figs, cheese, bread, oranges, salami, wine, and of course pomegranates. All perfect for a picnic lunch at one of the sandy or pebbly beaches, or for enjoying on the sunny tiled deck back at our villa. To rent your own home-away-from-home, go to www.igluvillas.com.
Next up: Seattle, Scotland, or the Caribbean. Not too near, not too far, and where my latest crop of frequent flier miles can take me. -- Alexia Meyers Travaglini
Last Trip: Yangshuo, China
Next Up: Goa, India
I took my big trip of 2006 in the summer, when I met up with a friend in Hong Kong and together we headed to Yangshuo, China. Getting there was an adventure in itself. First, we had to pass through the hectic, seedy border town of Shenzhen to reach the bus station. The overnight trip takes about nine hours, with teeny bunk beds, a loop of only ten Cantopop songs played over and over again, and a driver who may be paid extra by touts to drop you off outside of town (which is what happened to me). But any hardships we endured were completely worth it, because I'm convinced Yangshuo is the most beautiful place on earth. The town is set between magnificent, steep green peaks which create a gorgeous, almost surreal landscape. Yangshuo is a popular spot for backpackers en route to or from Vietnam, and the town caters to visitors (the main street is even called "Foreigners Street"). It's an easily navigable place, with two main streets featuring bars, souvenir and crafts shops, and a very large number of motorbikes. Try to spend some time at the low-key café/used book store Café Too (5 Pan Tao Road; www.findbookshere.com). When you get hungry, there's a variety of options: You can have pizza for lunch and bamboo rat for dinner (and perhaps corn ice cream for dessert). There are also many tourist-oriented activities available, such as taking a cruise on a fishing boat along the Li River, or taking a mudbath in nearby caves. My friend Camala took a hike up one of the Karst hills, and was treated to a home-cooked lunch at her guide's house. The highlight of my trip was when, still jetlagged, I went running at 6am along the Li River. It was completely silent, with the mist rising above the mountains, and the grey river sedated. I didn't do much running because I kept stopping to take it all in. For more information on Yangshuo, check out www.yangers.com.
I have a milestone birthday coming up in 2007, so I'd like to celebrate it with a vacation. The criteria for my trip are that it be far, far away, and offers both the chance for both partying and quiet contemplation, depending on my mood. I think the perfect place to go would be Goa, India. If I want to revisit my youth, I can go party with the ravers on Anjuna beach. But when I crave some solitude, I can spend time at a more isolated beach in southern Goa. I'd love to stay at the eco-friendly Bhakti Kutir Resort (tel. +91/832-2643469; www.bhaktikutir.com) at Palolem beach, which Frommer's India named the best beach in Goa. There, I can enjoy daily yoga classes, ayurvedic massages, and nature trips. I'm sure that while lying on a white-sand beach, sipping a banana lassi, there will be no birthday stress whatsoever. -- Jamie Ehrlich
Last Trip: Mexico
Next Up: New Mexico, USA
My last trip was to Mexico City, and it included a visit to Cuernavaca, Taxco and Teotihuacan. I loved the National Autonomous University of Mexico (www.unam.mx) on the southern edge of the city. One of the few open, green spaces in Mexico City, the University campus has acres of grassy quads and a beautiful sculpture garden, featuring gigantic, colorful geometric renderings of many Aztec gods and goddesses. After a few days in the Mexico City's congestion, you'll be glad for a little bit of green scenery.
For my next trip, I'm interested in visiting New Mexico, specifically Chaco Culture National Historic Park (www.nps.gov/chcu) in a remote section of northwestern New Mexico. I know admittedly little about Native American history and culture. Within Chaco Canyon is the largest known pre-historic Native American settlement, built of fine stone masonry into the sides of cliffs. Historians know next-to-nothing about the Anasazi -- who built the huge city now dubbed Pueblo Bonito -- but archeological finds lead many to believe that this was once a major regional hub, complete with roads, religious centers, artwork, and trash heaps. It thrills me to know that such mysteries exist in the United States, where all corners seem thoroughly explored and explained. -- Melinda Quintero
Last Trip: Istanbul, Turkey
Next Up: Cambodia and Thailand
Last fall, I spent a glorious long weekend exploring Istanbul's Hagia Sofia, the Grand Bazaar, and the bustling streets of Beyoglu. By day, as I toured the city, I grazed on traditional Turkish delicacies including baklava and innumerable glasses of delicious sour cherry juice. Most memorable, though (food-wise), was the iskender, a delicious combination of spiced and grilled lamb plated over a pita covered in rich yogurt, tomato sauce, and drenched in butter. It has me dreaming of going back for a substantially longer visit. As does the nightlife with its genuinely hip east-meets-west vibe. Next time, I'll certainly spend more than three days.
For my next adventure, though it's far too late to see a remotely unspoiled Angkor Wat, I'm keen to see the site's legendary temples before they're further eroded by poor management and too many visitors' footsteps. While I'm in the region, I plan to explore Thailand from Chiang Mai to Pattaya and back to Bangkok, the legendary dirty underbelly of Southeast Asia complete with fantastically-designed temples, cheesy 1960's vintage Go-Go bars, and the odd elephant, none of which could exist in any other metropolis. -- Marc Nadeau
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