• Introduction
• United States & Canada
• Caribbean & Mexico
• Europe
• Central & South America
• Asia & Middle East
• Australia & Pacific
• Africa

Asia & Middle East

24. SOUTH KOREA
In just two decades, South Korea has emerged as a stable democratic country with big ambitions. The bustling megacity of Seoul embodies the nation’s new spirit, where towering skyscrapers and posh department stores are interspersed with venerable imperial palaces, traditional teahouses, and centuries-old Buddhist temples. Ancient Gyeongju, meanwhile, offers a glimpse into Korea’s 5,000 years of history, and was ranked in 1995 by UNESCO as one of the world’s ten most historically significant places. Nearby, a sunrise climb to the temple-topped peak of Mt. Tohamsan reveals the origin of the country’s moniker, “Land of the Morning Calm.”

Why Go In 2009: The South Korean won has lost more than 30% of its value against the dollar since just one year ago, giving the American traveler plenty of purchasing power – of particular interest for shoppers looking to pick up brand-name consumer electronics and designer fashions in Seoul. What’s more, the number of international tourists boomed some 12 percent between 2007 and 2008, a trend that’s inspired hotel chains like Wyndham and InterContinental to expand their presence in the country in 2009.

25. TEL AVIV
Fabulous Tel Aviv, dubbed “the Miami of the Mediterranean,” is easily Israel’s coolest city. Trimmed with gorgeous beaches, loaded with Bauhaus architecture, and populated with smartly dressed locals with a fierce appreciation for art, cuisine, and nightlife, Tel Aviv is the hedonistic antidote to historic, heady Jerusalem, which, even at just one hour away, is a world apart in every respect. Indeed, while Jerusalem is all about the past, Tel Aviv is Israel’s definitive 21st-century flag-bearer, with a regular rotation of new restaurant, hotel, and bar openings, and a superb design-forward sensibility that’s altogether unmatched in the Middle East.

Why Go In 2009: Tel Aviv turns 100 in April 2009, making it older than Israel (which celebrated its 60th in 2008). While the city never needs an excuse to party, visitors can count on an amped-up centennial schedule with eight months of festivities culminating in December. The line-up features fun events like a centennial photo shoot of thousands on the beach in April; a flower carpet in Rabin Square in September; and an international film festival hosted by the Tel Aviv Cinemateque in November. Keep abreast of event schedules at tlv100.co.il and book your room now; the city’s best hotels are bound to book up fast.

(Editor's note: This article was written prior to the recent onset of violence in Israel which started December 27, 2008. At this time, the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. For current information about traveling there, please consult the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs' Web site at www.travel.state.gov.) 

26. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
A modern, moneyed, Muslim destination with astonishing architecture, cutting-edge pleasure palaces, and tax-free shopping (at least for now), the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is rapidly transforming the Middle East by drawing focus away from distressing regional conflicts and emphasizing care-free commerce and spectacle-fueled tourism. The U.A.E.’s leading star is still Dubai, but capital Abu Dhabi, its more cultured older sister, deserves to share the spotlight.
 
Why Go In 2009: During the decade of feverish growth that followed the opening of self-proclaimed “seven-star” hotel Burj Al Arab in 1999, much has been made about dazzling Dubai’s limits-be-damned luxury and ersatz wonders (palm-shaped islands! indoor mountains!), but all the ado promises to be outdone again when the world’s tallest tower, Burj Dubai (www.burjdubai.com), tricked out with an Armani-branded hotel, opens later this year. New non-stops from D.C. (United), Atlanta (Delta), San Francisco, and Los Angeles (both on Emirates’s A380 fleet) make getting there easier than ever. Combine with a trip to Abu Dhabi, just 105 miles to the southwest, to experience traditional Bedouin and Islamic cultural attractions (but you’ll have to wait for 2012 to peruse the emirate’s Jean Nouvel-designed branch of the Louvre museum).

27. VIETNAM
Fascinating Vietnam has finally shed its war-ridden image and recently emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s hottest destinations. Physically stunning, this country of tropical mountains, rice-paddy deltas, and the flowing Mekong River is marked by a unique combination of Vietnamese and French culture (part of the legacy of French colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries), and a people that welcome foreign travelers with warmth and curiosity. Must-sees include bustling Hanoi, Vietnam’s French-flavored capital; the picturesque jewel box of a town at UNESCO-listed Hoi An; frenetic Ho Chi Minh City, better known as Saigon; and mystical Halong Bay, with its famous limestone islets and enchanting emerald-green waters.

Why Go In 2009: The U.S. dollar carries substantial weight in Vietnam, so you can explore without squandering your savings. What’s more, the advent of some major American cruise companies plying the waters off Vietnamese shores has brought a convenient and value-oriented means of exploring the ports of this elongated nation. Royal Caribbean launched its Southeast Asia itineraries in early 2008, and calls upon ports in Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, and more, while the line’s more intimate and upscale sister company, Azamara Cruises, recently followed suit. Likewise, Cruise West is testing the waters with a one-off Vietnam sailing in fall. Meanwhile, Vietnam's race toward Western-style development on the mainland has brought recognizable international brands to everything from hotel chains (InterContinental debuted its first hotel in Vietnam in Hanoi in 2008 and is slated for a Saigon opening in 2009) to car rental services (Budget Rent A Car just became the first international car rental service in the nation).