Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw has come a long way from the grey, Soviet concrete jungle of the post-war era. In fact, Lonely Planet included the Polish capital on its list of trendiest cities for 2009. Warsaw’s town centre, which was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War, has regained its former glory thanks to a painstaking reconstruction, some of it based on paintings by Canaletto. Set alongside the beautiful Vistulaa River, this historic capital is one of Eastern Europe’s finest cultural draws with beautiful castles, excellent art galleries, first class restaurants and an increasingly active night life. In terms of value for money, it beats London and New York because of the comparative cheapness to visit the city’s museums, galleries and other historic sites. The big year in Warsaw is going to be 2010, the 200th anniversary of composer Frédéric Chopin’s birth. The city is passionate about Chopin, who died in Paris in 1849, but left instructions for his heart to be returned to Warsaw for interment. If you go before the hoopla starts, you can visit scores of Chopin sites and take advantage of cheaper hotel rates, which are generally lower than those in Western European capitals.

Beirut, Lebanon
Although my barber, who is from Beirut, insists that his city is a lovely place to visit, it is still difficult to clear my mind of images of bombed-out buildings and machine-gun fire. Wasn’t the Hamas section of the Lebanese capital recently under ferocious attack by the Israelis? Despite its recent plague of violence, several publications rank Beirut among their top 10 travel destinations for 2009, noting its swank restaurants, designer shopping, hip club scene and underground jazz joints, while the New York Times went so far as to rank Beirut number one of its 44 places to visit in 2009, boldly stating, “With a recent (though perhaps tenuous) detente keeping the violence in check, the capital of Lebanon is poised to reclaim its title as the Paris of the Middle East.”

Ko Tao, Thailand
First there was Ko Samui, then Ko Pha-Ngan; and now the latest island to offer Nirvana along Thailand’s crystalline Gulf Coast is Ko Tao. Undiscovered by the mainstream, it’s still backpacker heaven: clear water, cheap food and accommodation and a bar scene that rages on until dawn, but the island also boasts superb scuba diving and snorkelling, as diving enthusiasts cavort with sharks and rays in a playground of tangled neon coral. The most popular tourist draw is Sairee on the west coast, which has a white sandy beach that stretches 1.7 kilometres and is interrupted only by a scattering of medium-budget resorts and restaurants. A multitude of beautiful granite boulders, which nestle both in the forests and on the beaches, are attracting a growing number of climbers who visit each year to enjoy the adventurous aspect of their sport. Ko Tao is also quickly becoming a mecca for game fishermen. Target species include marlin, sailfish, king mackerel, barracuda and snapper.

Vilnius, Lithuania
It is hard to imagine a more obscure European capital, yet Vilnius is now being hailed by many travel experts as a place to go, especially since it has been designated Europe’s capital of culture for 2009 by the European Union. To celebrate, Vilnius is putting on quite a show with 120 art and culture projects and 900 events. The city will also be part of a country-wide celebration of Lithuania’s millennial year, as 2009 marks 1,000 years since the first known mention of the country in written records. The medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the main tourist attraction, with quaint shops and cosy cafes set amongst a blend of intricate spires, domes and towers. In a relatively small space (887 acres) there are 1,487 old houses, churches and other historical buildings. The city was built during different centuries, therefore one can find a blend of architecture with baroque and gothic dominating. As an added bonus, although it’s a member of the EU, Lithuania doesn’t use the euro as its currency, which makes accommodations, food and activities more affordable.

Cartagena, Colombia
According to Frommer’s, “After years of violence owing to the drug cartel wars, Colombia has begun to emerge as a safe and vibrant travel destination.” Although there is still a certain amount of violence in remote areas, the government has increased its presence in the countryside and in all major tourist areas, so whereas in the past travel was certainly dangerous, the risks are now lower except in the areas of known guerilla, paramilitary or drug cartel presence. Founded in 1533, Cartagena was a major centre of early Spanish development in the Americas. Today it’s the economic hub of the Caribbean region and in recent years the government has invested a lot of money to turn the city into a tourist destination. It features a wealthy of pastel-painted buildings, fine cathedrals and plenty of Spanish colonial architecture. ”The white-sand beaches are sublime, the restaurants are excellent and lodging comes in all styles and prices,” says Frommer’s.

Botswana
South Africa, Kenya and Namibia continue to be favourite African destinations, but Botswana, which has one of the lowest population densities in the world with virtually no political unrest, has emerged as an exciting new option. Covering an incredible 15,000 square kilometres, its Okavango Delta is famed for its wildlife and an increasing number of luxury safari lodges have opened there. Nearby is Chobe National Park, a beautiful grassland reserve that has gained international fame for its abundant elephant population. Southeast of Chobe are Botswana’s enormous Makgadikgadi salt pans, remnants of a huge lake that dried up 10,000 years ago, which spans an area the size of Portugal when it fills with water during rainy season and becomes home to a stunning array of bird and wildlife. Almost the entire remaining portion of the country is covered by the Kalahari Desert–a varied environment of sand, savanna and grassland. Although this area of Botswana is only sparsely inhabited by humans, it is one of the richest wildlife regions in all of Africa.

Istanbul, Turkey
A recent spate of terrorist bombings failed to deter several travel publications from nominating Istanbul as a travel hot spot for 2009. Known as a city of striking contrasts and a bewitching blend of Asian and European inflences, Istanbul today boasts a thriving art scene, buzzing night life and some of the world’s most atmospheric cafes and markets. Frommer’s says that city’s boutique hotels now offer an alternative to its “flea-bitten hostels” and “sushi bars that would do Tokyo proud” offer an escape from Istanbul’s old image for “a kebab-laden diet.” Despite these new developments, the traditional landmarks and traces of Istanbul’s old glory remain high on the sightseeing agenda. The crowd-pleasers include the Blue Mosque, with its tiers of magnificent domes and six graceful minarets, Hagia Sophia, a massive, ochre-coloured Byzantine basilica, and the Grand Bazaar’s vast labyrinth of 65 twisting streets crammed with more than 4,000 shops, teahouses, Turkish baths, storehouses and fountains.

Photo Credits:

#1: guardian.co.uk

#2: bloggingbeirut.com

#3: thesilvericon.com

#4: botswanaodyssey.com