The Top Countries for 2010     Despite tightened budgets of late, make no mistake: we are amidst a golden era of travel. Watching the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall recently only reminds us of how much more of the world has opened up in the past couple decades, including once-closed-off countries like the Soviet Union and China.

The following list highlights the 10 exciting countries you’re going to hear the most in 2010. It’s a wide berth, spanning the Amazon and Sahara and Himalayas, from previously unexplored countries starting to make a stir to more familiar names bouncing back in new ways.

El Salvador El Salvador sneaks up on you: in lefty lounge bars in San Salvador, at sobering war memorials and museums, and along lush cloud-forest trails; it’s a place of remarkable warmth and intelligence, made all the more appealing for being so unexpected. Travelers tend to skip El Salvador, wooed by marquee destinations such as Guatemala and Costa Rica, and unnerved by stories of civil war and gang violence. But the war ended almost 20 years ago, and crime, while serious, is almost exclusively played out between rival gangs; tourists are almost never involved. And though El Salvador has fewer protected areas than its neighbours, you get them practically to yourself — including pristine forests, active volcanoes and alpine lakes.

Germany Some countries are simply allowed to be, but Germany has had to reinvent itself more times than Madonna. And it has done so again since 1990, when reunification brought an end to nearly three decades of division. In year 20 after its latest rebirth, Germany is still a country where you can witness history in the making. Head to Hamburg, where an entire new quarter is being wrested from the detritus of a 19th-century harbour. Or to Dresden, where the domed Frauenkirche church is once again the diamond in the shining tiara that is the city’s famous skyline. And, of course, to Berlin, whose climate of openness spawns an enormous amount of creative experimentation.

Greece Seldom does a travel destination satisfy the blurbs that shout ‘has something for everyone’ — but Greece truly does. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clamouring for more. It’s guilt-free travel — a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy. You get to marvel at the dazzling clarity of the light and the waters, the floral aromas that permeate the air, the pervading sense of spirit — and then sit down to contemplate it all while consuming that great Greek combination of ouzo and octopus!

Malaysia Malaysia often gets criticised as being mild in comparison with its grittier neighbours, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s true, natural disasters and coups only seem to happen across its borders, the roads don’t have too many potholes, buses and trains have air-con and plush seats, and hotels are of international standard. While troubles are few, visiting Malaysia lets you leap into the jaws of one of the most interesting parts of Southeast Asia’s roaring cultural smorgasbord — and not be too worried about it. Cheap connections to Europe and great exchange rates mean that you won’t get eaten up by your wallet either.

Morocco "Hello, bonjour, salaam alaykum, labes?" Street greetings sum up everything you need to know about Morocco in a word: it’s Berber and Arab, Muslim and secular, Mediterranean and African, worldly wise and welcomi  阅读全文>>