Jeffrey Mayo
These places are known as some of the best vacation spots in the world:- Las Vegas, Nevada, United States -Known as a major entertainment Mecca, Las Vegas is a city that always has something going on, which is why it remains one of the best places to vacation. From concerts, theater shows and casinos to galleries, fine dining and upscale shopping, Las Vegas is sure to offer a good time to its visitors. Although it is known for its many gambling opportunities, Las Vegas now has artistic, cultural and tourist attractions and entertainment venues for the entire family. For more information, go to visitlasvegas.com.
- Virgin Islands, United States - In a year when travelers are apt to still be watching their wallets, this is our #1 choice for an American tropical getaway. It's eternally 80 degrees, rimmed with white-sand beaches on turquoise water, and, yes, it's a US territory. Each of the US Virgin Islands has their own identity: if you want a break from resorts, St John is nearly two-thirds a lush national park with tent cabins amid trees and hikes to secluded beaches - this sadly may be the last year for the Maho Bay Campass, a long-standing eco-resort which is the place to stay if you're watching your budget; or try the St John Inn, which offers great-value rooms with kitchenettes. For more action, the previously inaccessible Hassel Island, now part of Virgin Islands National Park (St Thomas), can be explored by snorkel or kayak. And word is that the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery on St. Croix will open its new visitor center in spring 2012 - ahoy!
- Rid De Janeiro, Brazil - Although hardly a secret destination, Rio de Janeiro is shedding its image as a sun, sea, and samba town and going for glamour and sophistication. Join the friendly Cariocas for an innovative 10-course Amazonian dinner at Rio's top Le Pr Catelan restaurant or some delectable "brapas" (Brazilian tapas) at hip eatery Oui Oui. Even Rio's magnificent beaches are better than ever before; from Leme to Leblon, new outdoor cafs boast fabulous seaside patios with comfortable bathroom facilities. As host of the 2014 Soccer World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city is abuzz with exciting developments that will be sure to attract huge crowds. Beat the rush and see how the Girl from Ipanema is all grown up.
- Doha, Qatar - Doha doesn't attract the hoards of beer-swilling British tourists or the sheer number of hotels that the U.A.E.'s Dubai does, but its beaches are more beautiful and its gourmet restaurants are less crowded. The Al Jazeera news network is what put Doha on the map a decade ago, although a different sort of camera -- the movie kind -- is what's drawing tourists for the Doha-Tribeca Film Festival. Next year marks its third installment. Doha is concentrating on beefing up its presence on the international stage by following up its world-class, I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art with a bid for the Olympics in 2016 and the Fifa World Cup in 2022. Plus, the city is hosting professional soccer's Asian Cup in January.
- Barbados - Barbados is a comparatively flat island situated in the easterly Caribbean Sea just to the north of Trinidad. There is a glitzier, more sophisticated feel to Barbados than most other Caribbean islands, it also features some of the best hotels and resorts in the Caribbean that makes the island to one of the top 10 vacation destinations in the Caribbeans to go for a honeymoon.Barbados is a beautiful coral island with a special charm and warmth, with never ending powdery white sand beaches, an attractive year-round climate of sea breezes and sunshine, exotic botanical gardens, acres of abundant, rolling sugar cane fields, and a rich and exciting history. Besides, the island is one of the best, and most popular ports of call in the Caribbean. Barbados is blessed with a near ideal clime. It is a year-round destination, dryer than most other Caribbean islands, even though you may want to avoid the rainy season from June to November. The joyous island ambience, the active local scene and rhythmical music, making Barbados one of the most powerful beach cultures around the globe.
- Miami, Florida, United States - The long, skinny island of Miami Beach - and specifically image-conscious South Miami Beach (that's South Beach or SoBe in shorthand), with its charming Art Deco District and sizzling dining and club scenes, has for the past decade reigned as one of America's capitals of cool. It's the kind of place where you might spot Cuban boat people washed up on Ocean Drive or a guy walking a leashed mountain lion on Lincoln Road. Sure, there's some pretty interesting and even cultural stuff to do out here, but it's really all about "the scene" - by day, sun and sand amid scantily clad, hard-bodied rollerbladers and volleyballers, by night, dining and partying amid a mix of the rich, famous, and fabulous. This sprawling, sexy, sun-splashed resort playground's posh combination of sun, sand, and hedonism makes it the quintessential glamorama party capital and a perfect spring break destination.
- Puerto Villarta, Mexico - While there are quite a few Mexico hot spots favored as spring break destinations, no place other than Puerto Vallarta combines a raging nightlife scene with a colorful colonial village imbued with old-world ambience. Indeed, Puerto Vallarta's appeal is undeniable: The city proper, a fabled hillside hamlet, brims with muddled alleyways, red-tiled roofs, and balconies draped in bougainvillea. Miles of golden seafront, dotted with newer towns and resorts, stretch to its north and south, while the local color of an old Mexican fishing village mingles with modern upscale influences. The famed malecn - a waterfront boardwalk that stretches from the center of town towards the Hotel Zone - is dotted with shops, restaurants, cafs, bars, and street artists. The lively promenade is always hopping and perfect for grabbing a drink or a bite during the day and after sunset. Plus, come nightfall, you can revel in trendy lounges, rowdy pubs, surf-side watering holes, and romantic taverns. Most of the worthy nightlife is located along a three-block stretch of Calle Ignatio L. Vallarta, on the south side of the river, where everything from mariachi music and sports bars to salsa clubs and discos is found.
- Amsterdam - Some come for the tulips, some come for other "green" delicacies, but whatever's on the vegetative agenda, visitors to this freewheeling spring break destination often find themselves mesmerized by the city's free-thinking, live-and-let-live mantra. With a Dutch policy structured on controlling what it can't efficiently outlaw, such illegalized American no-nos as marijuana (widely available in Amsterdam's ubiquitous coffeeshops - though you may have to act quick, as recent pushes for legislation have sought to ban "drug tourists") or even prostitution (witness the notorious Red Light District) are permitted and regulated here. Additionally, the legal drinking age for beer is 16 (and even that is rarely enforced), giving the under-21 crowd full access to the stellar nightlife scene and all its libations, in trendy cafs, cozy "brown" bars (neighborhood watering holes), and clubs highlighting top international DJs. For those preferring to steer clear of such illicit temptations, spring's warm days in this Venice of the North are also tailor-made for strolling the some 1,000 bridges that span the city's 160 canals - whether they lead you to a Van Gogh painting or to fulfill your hankering for a hashish-filled hookah or cold Heineken (the Dutch beer's former brewery is open for tours in town; http://www.heinekenexperience.com) is entirely up to you.
- Los Cabos, Mexico - From Hollywood stars to rowdy teens, Los Cabos, Mexico, attracts 'em all for a quick winter getaway - and it's no wonder. Beaches, mountain, and deserts - you name it, this place has got it - with a plethora of activities to enjoy the best of each. Scuba diving, fishing, golfing, whale-watching, hiking, and biking are just a few of the outings on offer. Whether you choose to stay in crazy Cabo San Lucas with its bars and nightclubs or in the quieter, picture-perfect village of San Jose del Cabo, you are guaranteed a good time.
- Montego Bay, Jamaica - Jamaica may do duty as a spring-break central every year, but the reggae-centric spot has a fascinating history, vibrant culture, and passionate political past that make it an enchanting (and warm!) place to visit for a quick winter getaway. Known as MoBay, Jamaica's second-largest city is the premier tourist destination on the northwest coast, offering travelers everything from picture-perfect white-sand beaches to river rafting; from spicy jerk chicken to some of the best golf in the West Indies. Catering to everyone - honeymooners, party-goers, and families alike - the island offers an array of accommodations from luxurious villas to all-inclusive resorts and out-of-the-way enclaves.
- Prague, Czech Republic - We hear the question, "What's the next Prague?" a lot. But while we're all for discovering great new destinations, we hardly think Prague is over. Sure, everyone's heard of it, but it's still a grand city with extraordinary historic and cultural sights, and it's definitely worth a visit. The often-rebuilt Prague Castle has overlooked the city since the 9th century, and the synagogues and cemetery of the Jewish Quarter are must-sees. Nightlife here is diverse and plentiful, from trendy clubs to sophisticated wine bars to late-night celebrations.
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