Lori's Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2010

Now that we are smack dab in the middle of the Holiday Season, I bet I know a word that will light up your eyes... ESCAPE. With New Years right around the corner, it is now the perfect time to reveal my picks for the top 10 travel destinations for 2o1o. On your mark... get set.. pack your bags!


#10 - Washington DC

Value for money will still be on everyone's mind in 2010 - so if you are looking for a destination with great attractions, food and everything in between - look no further than our Nation's Capital. The one thing that I love about Washington DC is that all of the attractions are FREE! All of the museums, the monuments and even the National Zoo. The best time of the year to come to DC is in April to catch the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom as the weather starts to warm back up.


#9 - Iceland
Does Value for Money always mean staycation? Not so much. Iceland is the perfect getaway for the adventure traveler who is also on a budget. For every US Dollar you will get around 123 Iceland Krona - so, the conversion rate is on your side! Iceland is known for its hiking and mountain biking. This is the place where you challenge yourself all day on the trails and then soak in a natural hotspring at night.


#8 - Cruising
Cruising still offers the best bang for your travel buck when it comes to island destinations. There are always great deals to be had and new ships to tickle your wallets. I am super excited to check out Norwegian's new EPIC which is set to sail in June out of Miami. This is like a floating Las Vegas with a Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soliel right on board for your entertainment.


#7 - Colorado Ski Resorts
From Sunshine to Ice - my next top travel pick is the beautiful city of Denver Colorado and the ski resorts of Vail. The Vail resorts are almost like one big all inclusive property. If you go onto their website at snow.com you can book Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Beaver Creek all on one site. Be sure to make a brunch reservation at Keystone's Alpenglow Stube located at the top of North Peak. At 11,444 ft. this is the highest AAA-Four Diamond dining experience in North America where you trade your skis for warm slippers upon arrival.


#6 - Thailand
Travelers will continue their romance with Thailand in 2010. Talk about value for your dollar! The most expensive part of your trip will be your airfare - so shop early so that you can find a rate that works for you. Once you get there, you will experience some of the best and cheapest food and accommodations on the planet. Also, major resorts are offering deep discounts throughout the country to try to lure tourists away from neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Chiang Mai in the north of the country offers cultural immersion with over 300 classes in everything from cooking to kickboxing. Bangkok is a fest for the shopper and is a great jumping off point for the southern beaches and islands. If you thought Phuket was beautiful before the Tsunami, most locals will tell you that the beaches are cleaner and more spectacular then ever!


#5 - China
After hosting the Olympics, China has really opened its eyes to catering to the Western Tourist!You will find Beijing easy to navigate now with most signs translated into English. China still offers great bang for your travel buck - you are simply going to get a lot here for your money. I highly recommend also checking out the Giant Pandas in Cheng Du. At the sanctuary there, for a mere $125 you can have the opportunity to hold a real Giant Panda in your arms.

#4 - Marrakesh
2010 is the year that all of the hotels come to Marrakesh! There is a new Mandarin Oriental, the W Marrakesh and an Intercontinental. However, the most anticipated is the reopening of La Mamounia - known to be the best hotel in the world. La Mamounia recently opened its doors after a $180m renovation and now boasts a new 27,000 square foot spa, 3 new restaurants and 4 staffers to every room in the house.


#3 - Tunisia
Most Americans have never even heard of this diamond of a destination - mainly due to geography...(its sandwiched between Algeria and Libya) However, Tunisia is a land rich in history that offers the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean lapping against white sand beaches. If you are wanting real cultural immersion in an off-the beaten path location - then Tunisia is for you. Traveler beware though - Tunisia was also listed on Frommer's Top 10 List for 2010 - so, I am sure that this little pocket of paradise will no longer be our little secret.


#2 - South Africa
2010 is definitely the year for traveling for events. The FIFA World Cup is set to take over South Africa this summer. The US is playing this year, which makes a perfect excuse for all of you futbol (ok, ok... soccer) fans to book that long awaited safari. Jo'berg makes a great starting point for a safari and games just happens to coincide with the best time to see the big 5 in action. I believe the US has a match in Jo'berg on June 18th against Slovania... so, get planning.


#1 - VANCOUVER!
Vancouver promises to be the travel highlight of the year when the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics opens in February. It will surely open all of our American eyes to our beautiful neighbors to the north in British Columbia. Be sure to check out the area known as Gastown where you should have a whiskey (or 3) to toast one of the city's founders - Jack "Gassy" Deighton. Gassy Jack came to this area with his wife, a dog and a barrel of whiskey in hopes of opening a saloon. That saloon was built in Gastown and there is a shiny statue in honor of old Gassy. Did you also know that Vancouver has the highest Asian population in North America? That means that you will be treated to some of the best Asian cuisine in the world here - so, be sure to check out Chinatown and get some dim-sum. Opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics are scheduled for February 12th.

Travel On.
Lori

Getting my Blog Back On!

Hi all...

Thanks for all of the emails and tweets! We are all super busy here at travel with the relaunch of TravelChannel.com coming this October! Have you signed up for Travel Channel GO? Get on your mobile, blackberry...whatever and download the APP asap! It's super helpful when you are out in the world and just looking for quick bites of travel information!

I have a bunch of stuff coming your way this week! Stay tuned to hear about my run-in with the "cricket" burger at the Cherry Cricket in Denver! It was one of the burgers featured on Man V. Food and Girl Won! I even had a little room for some choco cake for dessert! BIG thanks to Adam and the team there!



I also traveled out to LA to spend a grueling three days at K-Camp! What's K-Camp? How about a fun weekend hanging out with Travel Channel's own adventure girl, Kirsten Gum! Kirsten and I biked, yoga'd and spa'd our way through a fab weekend in Santa Monica! I'll tell you about the most amazing yoga class of my life, a movie under the stars at Hollywood Forever Cemetery AND how you can get professionally bathed at a Korean spa.


Oh yeah... I had some personal vacation while I was on hiatus too! The entire Ansaldi clan headed up to our lake house in Lake George, NY! It's a great getaway for a family on a budget!


For now, I leave you with this... a quote that was sent to the staff at Travel Channel this morning by our President, Pat Younge. It reminded me of how important it is to take time away from our busy lives every now and then. Travel is all about reconnecting with yourself, your family and your friends. Too many of us think of a "break" as a luxury... it is a necessity for your soul. Don't take my word for it...


Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgement will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgement. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and a lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen."- Leonardo da Vinci

Travel On.
Lori

Keystone Resort - Keystone, Colorado

After a long trip through the Rockies and back, we finally arrived Keystone Resort on Saturday and I made it in time to give the opening speech at the Travel Channel. TCA welcomed 23 new travel journalists this go-around and it was really exciting to meet the new group.

One of my responsibilities while up in Keystone was to help with a shoot for the resort. One of our top preditors, Ryan VanDuzer was shooting and I was there to pre-pro and get a feel for the place. So, you know what that meant... yup, this chick did the rental thing, grabbed a lift ticket and headed out to the mountain for some ski school!


I think the last time I was on skis was when I was 13 and I went to Browdie Mountain with my dearest friend from childhood, Cathleen. She had been skiing since she was a toddler, so skiing with her was fun and in only a few hours of skiddish falls... I was able to handle some green runs. Well, that was 21 years ago and I was not taking any chances. Good thing for me that Keystone has a great ski school... so, we rented some skis and headed to River Run Village to meet up with our instructor.


Ski school was great. They taught us how to move our feet and bend our legs right on the pavement. Then, we hauled our equipment, jumped on the gondola and headed up to the top of the mountain to practice on their bunny slope. The great thing about Keystone's practice hill is that it has what they call a magic carpet. It is literally a people mover... like the one in the airports... that is covered like a tube that you simply walk onto with your skis and you are towed right back up to the top. No tow ropes! Now, don't get me wrong... I still stumbled onto it and I think I spilled off of the carpet a few times before I finally mastered it.


In just a few hours, my husband and I were comfortable and feeling ready for a more significant run... or a beer. So, we decided on the beer and called it a day on the slopes. We went back down the mountain and enjoyed a snack at Spoon, a cute little cafe only steps from the gondola at the base of the mountain. The one thing that I love about ski resorts is the comfort level. Everyone is in their ski gear, hair is messed, lips are chapped and a little "fresh" smelling after a day on the slopes. Nobody cares... and everyone is there just enjoying how relaxed the environment is. The whole place is family friendly and it may just be Keystone... but, I mean the whole place... from the resorts to the restaurants to the bus service. It was refreshing.

The next morning I did a brief speech with the students before they started their morning lecture. Then,Peter and I headed back out to the mountain. Our first stop took two gondolas up to over 11,000 feet to the premiere restaurant at the resort, Alpenglow Stube. We decided to go for a nice brunch so that we could work on skiing off the calories for the rest of the day. When we walked into the restaurant, they asked us for our coats and gear and our boots. They then handed us a cozy pair of slippers to wear into the dining room. I immediately fell in love! The food was amazing and probably the best brunch I have ever had... and that includes the brunch with my Ritz! Peter had an eggs benedict which was a duck egg with melted aged cheddar over grilled ostrich with a holandaise and a balsamic reduction. TO DIE FOR! I had a spinach and crab omelet that was also yummy. The highlight of my meal was the giant crab claws on the seafood bar and the endless choices of desserts. I would need three days of skiing to knock off the calories that I consumed in a period of 90 minutes!






I always thought that ski trips were about long cold days on the mountain, beer and burgers for dinner, hot cocoas and board games. I was sure surprised with the level of service, the quality of the food and the value that we got at Keystone. It is definitely up on my "must do that again" list and I highly recommend the experience... especially for families.

Luckily, our trip back to Denver was quiet and it allowed us to stop in on one of the restaurants featured on Man V. Food. Get ready for the next blog where I take on a burger from Duffy's Cherry Cricket... and this time, girl won.

Travel On.
Lori