Factory 798 isn’t necessarily what you’d expect to find in a communist country. This arts district is peppered with industrial spaces turned art galleries, showcasing contemporary art, photography and abstract sculpture.

Located in the Dashanzi area, this former state-owned factory can be tough to find but, those who venture beyond central Beijing will be rewarded with trendy cafes and awesome art designed by Chinese and Taiwanese artists.

First stop was the visitor’s information center for a map and a list of the day’s lectures, dance performances and film screenings. Next, a little gallery hopping, absorbing all styles of artistic expression: everything from Japanese video installations, to experimental nude photographs, to pop-art representations of Chairman Mao.

Pop-art Representations of Chairman Mao at Factory 798

Post exhibit, I popped into one of the many cafés dotting the district. I ordered a cinnamon cappuccino and a plate of pesto pasta drizzled with goat cheese. In the land of the dumpling, it felt odd to be eating this style of cuisine. This is communist China? I thought to myself while nibbling on a fork-full of green penne.

Visitors taking it all in at Factory 798

In a country that implemented the Cultural Revolution and once condemned artists now allows a modern art district. Though the Chinese government isn’t financially nurturing the arts, “they’re not storming buildings to burn down paintings either,” confessed a Finnish curator who worked in one of the galleries. “Today, a lot of censorship seems to originate from the artists themselves,” she continued. In order to survive, galleries will only carry art that sells. “Instead of art-for art’s sake, artists are creating works that are commercial viable.”

The result is revolution-less art; cool to look at, but ultimately, it lacks a strong social message. In the past, many Chinese creative types, journalists and web bloggers have been arrested and jailed for expressing their views.  I can see how, whether this censorship is self-imposed or not, being cautious is probably best.

For the art-lover traveling through Beijing, Factory 798 is well worth the trip. Expect cute boutiques, art installations and, at the very least if the art doesn’t move you, you’ll be guaranteed a great dish of pesto pasta.

Instead of signing up for four years of filmmaking school, I hunted on-line for an intensive film course that would teach me the craft, quickly. New York Film Academy offers a four-week workshop that teaches Spielberg wannabes how to write, shoot, direct and edit. Their programs are all over the world, from Paris to Milan, London to Seoul, Tokyo, Florence and Shanghai. www.nyfa.com

I paid my tuition, packed my things and flew down to NYFA’s Los Angeles school, located near the Universal Studios lot.

The Hollywood scene was a mix of glitz and grit. A city of three S’s: schmooze, smog and silicone. It’s not the most welcoming for newcomers, but L.A is the industry hub and is one of the best places in the world to learn the biz.

A typical day at the New York Film Academy is divided into lectures and workshops. There I was, sitting in a classroom with a dozen other young hopefuls, taking copious notes about the art of screenwriting. Mostly 20-somethings from all over North America and Europe, fellow students were serious about filmmaking.

Over the month, our teacher worked through the curriculum. He broke down the elements of a good story and taught us how to write a three act structure.  We learned the mechanics of a 16 mm black and white camera, experimented with shot composition, cast actors and directed our own crew. The course was intensive. After classes, workshops, individual projects and group work, there wasn’t much time left for anything else.

Some days, we’d step out of the classrooms and onto the Universal Studio back lots.  It was pretty cool strolling around the Cabot Cove set from Angela Lansbury’s Murder She Wrote and Pyscho’s creepy Bates Motel.

My first short film was shot on a Western film set. Picture saloons, spurs and tumbleweeds; actors dressed as cowboys, saying the word ‘partner’ a lot. Add a little sepia effect in Final Cut Pro and voilà, my first Western.

On this day, I was in charge of lighting the scene. I knew how to use a light meter to gage how much light hit the surface, but I had a hard time properly exposing the scene.  Since we’re dealing with 16mm film, lighting was far more complicated than a digital point-and-shoot camera. F stop became my nemesis.  I thought I’d grasped the concept, but, after the film was processed, I discovered that the entire scene wasn’t lit properly. The film came out completely black.

Slowly, I got the hang of it but one thing was for sure – there’d be no Academy Awards in my future. Though playing movie mogul was fun, I think I’ll stick to travel writing and leave the red carpet to Steven Spielberg.

Are you a die-hard film buff? What are your Top 5 most cinematic cities? Leave your comments below….

Peru’s world famous Inca Trail annually draws thousands of curious hikers looking to retrace the steps of ancient civilizations. I was one of them. Huffing and puffing, I sweat my way to the top of the famous ruins of Machu Picchu.

The journey along the Inca Trail was awesome but it ain’t easy. It was a four-day, 25-odd km hike that wound along a schizophrenic terrain: sheer cliffs, misty cloud forests, lush jungles and nose-bleed-causing mountain peaks. The scenery was stunning, the ruins historic but the actual hike… well… it was a real workout.

Hiking the Inca Trail

Armed with a bamboo walking stick, I slowly climbed steep mountain faces that can reach altitudes of up to 4200m. Glutes burning, I took frequent breaks, stopping to join clusters of out-of-breath backpackers collapsed along the trail’s sidelines. Beaten by Mother Earth’s natural StairMaster, the only relief was guzzling water and scarfing down Snickers bars for a quick energy boost.

Roger Salas, a certified guide who has hiked the trail over a hundred times, explained that hike difficulty depends on a number of factors: your prior hiking experience, the amount of weight carried on your back and your overall ability to acclimatize to the altitude.

“You never know how your body is going to react in this kind of altitude,” Roger warned. “Some people get sick, so it’s best to take it slow, spend a few days before the hike getting use to the altitude, so your body can adjust.”

For hiking inspiration, I looked to the porters. Part mules, part super-humans, these amazing and painfully underpaid Peruvian porters are hired to carry all camping equipment, prepare the tents and cook. Hunched-over, a junk pile of camping goods tied to their backs, porters scurry along the trail with incredible speed. Despite worn-out rubber sandals and huge weight strapped to their bodies, porters can take down even the most athletic of trekkers.

Once at camp, after a long day of hiking, the weary trekker will be rewarded with a plentiful spread of tasty treats and loose-leaf cocoa tea, a drink that helps with acclimatization. It’s a long hardy four days, but, reaching majestic Machu Picchu at daybreak (as mist creeps over the ancient ruins and there’s not a fanny-pack-wearing-tourist in sight) is certainly worth the hike!

Refreshments along the trail

For those planning a trip to Machu Picchu, here are a few things you’ll need:

- Quick-dry t-shirts, hiking boots, extra shoes, lots of socks, a flashlight and a fleece for those cold early mornings.

- Charged camera batteries. Don’t forget that there is no electricity along the trail

- Money. Even in the wilderness, consumerism finds a way. Bring cash for the necessities: Tips (my guide suggested that we pay $20 per porter, $30 for the head chef and $35 for the guide), an extra porter to carry your personal belongings for the day ($15) and a well-deserved cold Cuscena beer ($2).

- Passport. You must present your passport at entry and exit checkpoints along the trail. Use a Ziplock bag to protect valuable documents from moisture.

- Toilet paper. The outhouses are notoriously nasty.

- Water: Bring your own one liter bottle of water for the first full day of the trek. For the subsequent days, water will be boiled and the bottles refilled by the porters.

- Walking stick. This thin bamboo shoot (sold for $1 at the trail base) helps take the pressure off your knees as you descend thousands of steep steps.

A Few More Tips:

Since independent camping along the Inca Trail isn’t allowed, travelers must book a tour with a certified agency. There are many local tour operators located in the quaint city of Cuzco. An all-inclusive four-day group treks generally includes: transportation to and from Cuzco, trail fees, camping equipment (tent and sleeping mat), porter services, food and a guided tour of Machu Picchu. Be sure to choose a responsible tour operator. Incatrailperu.com warns that, “if you pay under US$350 for a 4 day group Inca Trail trek it is very unlikely that porter welfare is high on the company’s concerns. When you book with a company let them know that the treatment the porters receive is important to you.”

Sleeping bags, backpacks, ponchos and other camping gear can be rented for only a few dollars a day near the Plaza De Armas in Cuzco.

Book your trip early! The best but busiest time to hike the Inca Trail is during high season (April-October), when the weather is dry. The trail is closed the month of February for renovations. If the Inca Trail is fully booked or if you crave off-the-beaten-track exploration, there are alternative trails in the area that can be hiked independently. For more information, check out http://www.incatrailperu.com/

Do you have any hiking tips you’d like to share? Any peaks you’re dying to climb? Please leave your comments below…

In the spy capital of the world, it’s no surprise that the International Spy Museum is a hot ticket.  In downtown Washington DC, just steps from the FBI building, this one-of-a-kind tourist attraction has been educating the masses and instilling paranoia since it first opened in 2002.

This past weekend, between schmoozing and stage presentations at the Travel & Adventure show, I had a chance to check out The Spy Museum.

This unique museum traces the history of espionage – from Biblical times, through World War II, the Cold War, to modern day.  Dubbed “the world’s second oldest profession”, spying has quite the rap sheet.

Museum exhibits include: testimonials from former CIA agents, tips on disguises, surveillance and decoding classified information.  Displays are packed with authentic artifacts and cool spy gear. There’s even an Aston Martin – used in the 1964 James Bond thriller Goldfinger – fully loaded with an ejector seat, machine guns and tire-slashers.

I loved the spy gadgets.  There’s the lipstick tube that morphs into a pistol, the camera watch, the poison gas gun, even the radio transmitter disguised as dog poo.

Pace yourself when you stroll through the Spy Museum.  There’s a lot to see and just when you think you’ve reached the end of this huge and exhaustive collection, there’s another labyrinth of rooms filled with more stuff.

For those Bond wannabes who prefer sitting to strolling, Spy City Tours offers an alternative to the museum-going experience.  This coach tour, launched in September, is taking espionage to the streets.

Departing from Union Station, this two-hour Grayline tour claims to hit “Washington’s most notable espionage sites.”  If you only have a few days to visit, this tour kills two birds – seeing the city while learning about real life spies.  A training officer (a.k.a the tour guide) teaches the group about the risky spy missions that went down in DC.

Tourists can expect to see buildings where clandestine meetings unfolded; hear stories about men who betrayed their countries; try to decode their own secret (but very simple) message.

“Trust no one. Spies are among us,” warns the training officer.  “According to CIA video sources, undercover ops often use disguises and pose as average people.  Dog walkers, couriers or repairmen may actually be spies.”

With so much talk of covert missions and surveillance gadgets, it’s easy to feel paranoid.  Who’s watching?  Are pedestrians innocent bystanders or are they CIA agents?  The tour preaches that things aren’t always as they seem.

Though they may breed paranoia among conspiracy-theory junkies, both the Spy Museum and the new Spy City tours are worth the time.  They give us common-folk a peek into the secret world of spying, leaving us to question whether that cigar is really just a cigar.

Julia’s Tips:

- On weekends, the International Spy Museum is packed.  Go early to reserve tickets.  For more information on the museum and the new spy city tour visit www.spymuseum.org

Have you been to the Spy Museum? Any other must-see attractions in DC?  Comment below….

Not a dinner party goes by without someone asking me, “Out of all of the places you’ve been around the world, what’s your all-time favorite destination?”  For me, the answer is simple.  Tanzania. Home to the Serengeti, Mt. Kilimanjaro, rich Maasai traditions, welcoming people and Lucy (a historic female hominid that gives root to our human ancestry), this Eastern African country has a lot to offer the curious tourist.

There is tons to see and do but, as far as I’m concerned, no trip to Tanzania is complete without visiting the island paradise of Zanzibar.  Once the hub of the African slave trade, Zanzibar now draws sun-seekers and young partiers looking to laze along its many beaches.  It’s a fascinating combination of Arabic culture and local African life, set against hypnotic blue waters and crumbling buildings that scream character.

A local merchant in Stone Town’s fruit markets

My experience began in Stone Town, an antiquated capital city of colorful markets, gold-trimmed mosques and delicious beachside seafood shacks.  Having survived a mélange of cramped and sweaty forms of public transportation (including a fifty-hour train ride from Zambia), I had finally made it 36 km off the coast of Tanzania to the famed archipelago of Zanzibar.

I checked into Kendwa Rocks, a budget guesthouse along the northeast coast, slipped into my bikini and headed straight for the beach.  Needless to say, I was desperate for some quality piña colada time.

Sitting there near the shore, the scene was a real-life cheesy postcard: a lone emerald palm tree, white sands and glimmering turquoise waters.  Wooden dhows sailed the horizon like fairy tale pirate ships in search of gold and riches.  Local women wrapped in bright orange fabrics offered henna tattoos, hair braiding and massage services for the price of a Starbucks latte.  Maasai men in plaid tribal sarongs hawked beaded necklaces and canvas paintings.  A trio of kids offered fresh mangoes to relaxed tourists, cocooned in hammocks.

With its chill beach life, natural beauty and distinct African culture, Kendwa is paradise.  I sighed happily and spread-out on the beach like a tanning starfish, surrendering to the “hakuna matata” vibe (Swahili for ‘no worries’) that dominates the island.

A few hours of forgotten sunscreen and I was cooked.  Moving my Rudolf-red legs from the tropical heat into the shade, I spotted a local fisherman holding a slimy, speared octopus.  Curious about the art of spear fishing (and on the hunt for an activity that didn’t induce melanoma), I approached him and, with the help of a Swahili interpreter, organized a private fishing tour for the following morning…

Mosi, my spearfishing guide, guts the catch of the day on the white sands of Zanzibar

… Eight am.  Mask, snorkel and flippers in hand, I met up with Mosi, a local subsistence fisherman.  “Jambo,” he greeted, tossing me the handmade spear-gun we’d be using to trap dinner.  This makeshift rifle carved of wood came complete with a thick elastic band, a trigger mechanism and sharp metal spear.

With rudimentary equipment and little instruction, I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous as we swam away from shore, deep into the Indian Ocean.

Near clumps of coral, my underwater guide took a deep breath, dove beneath the water and scanned the rocky crevices for sea life.  With skill, he stalked the little fish, anticipating their movements and waiting patiently for that perfect moment, before launching his spear.  Though he missed a few times, Mosi was nearly a perfect shot.

He threaded his newly caught angelfish and squid along a fine wire and dragged the injured catch behind him.

Drifting further and further from the safety of shore, it suddenly dawned on me.  Swimming alongside bleeding, injured fish probably isn’t the greatest of ideas.  I’ve seen the acclaimed documentary Shark Water.  I know that sharks are merely misunderstood creatures victimized by bad PR and “sorry I mistook you for a seal” incidents, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was just a wee bit vulnerable. So, I kept an eye open for Tiger Sharks and any other creatures that might mistakenly eat me.

Wielding my spear gun like a Soviet spy out of a James Bond flick, I dove, aimed and shot an arrow towards a skittish spotted fish. Having completely missed him, I re-surfaced dejectedly gasping for air, gulping mouthfuls of salt water.

A few fishless hours later, I swam back to shore and collapsed on the beach.  Spear fishing sure was harder than it looked.  I thanked Mosi, hung up my flippers and finally ordered a well-earned piña colada.

Quick Travel Tips:

Kendwa Beach, on the northeastern side of Zanzibar, is the perfect choice for young backpackers.  Its beaches are far better than those found along Nungwi, a popular but rather tacky tourist spot 3 km north.

Kendwa Rocks offers basic but clean accommodations (around $70 night for a private, full-size bungalow) in thatched huts or beach bandas.  As the name suggests, this place is rocks, especially during their monthly full-moon parties.  Scuba Shack can provide more information on spear fishing and snorkel rentals. For bookings visit

http://www.kendwarocks.com/booking/booking.html

Finally, check out Kayak for Zanzibar hotel options: http://www.kayak.com/Zanzibar-Hotels.1557.hotel.ksp

What’s your all-time favorite travel destination?  Leave me a comment below!

If you’re in Boston this weekend, check me out at the Boston Globe Travel Show!  I will be speaking about two hot topics:

Travel Writing 101: where I offer a step-by-step guide on becoming a travel writer.  In this interactive discussion, I’ll take you from proposal to pitch, providing tips and tricks that will help get your articles published.  I’ll also offer social media secrets on how to promote your writing.

The Reality of Reality Travel TV: where I talk about the behind-the-scenes reality of filming a travel show across some 36 countries.  I also offer advice to those looking to break into the TV travel industry for themselves.

Visit the Boston Globe Travel Show for more details: http://www.bostonglobetravelshow.com/

Hope to see you there!

Drug, kidnappings, violence and Swine Flu.  It’s been a hard year for Mexico.  With these kinds of reports coming out of the country, it’s no wonder tourists have shied away from traveling south of the border.  But, as The New York Times recently reported in their feature travel piece “36 Hours in Mexico City,” Mexico is on an upswing, with chic restaurants, new galleries and hotels at huge discounts (some luxury hotels slashing their room rates by up to 65%.)

Times writer Brooks Barnes suggests a variety of things to do while in Mex-hi-co: visit the home of unibrow painter Frida Kahlo, spend your money in Condesa (a hip neighborhood with great shopping), chow down in Polanco (a strip with the latest in Peruvian restaurants) and relax at the “floating gardens” of Xochimilco.

What the Times doesn’t mention is that there’s a most unusual, off-the-beaten path attraction… perfect for the traveler who wants to get their fire burn and caldron bubble.

Mercado de Sonora, a sprawling outdoor shopping area in the heart of the city, is the Walmart of the witch world.  Located on Avenida Fray Servando Teresa in the Venustiano Carranza borough, it’s a maze of alleyways stacked with hundreds of stalls.  For locals who dabble in witchcraft, or visitors looking to stray off the typical tourist trail, the Sonora market has all your ritualistic remedies.

You can find everything from antique amulets to medicinal herbs; live snakes to mysterious brews; and animal-shaped ceramic charms to powdered potions for health, wealth and romance. The market is loosely organized into three parts: Healing herbs, Afro-Cuban paraphernalia and black magic.

Walking amongst the tribal rattlers, taxidermy rabbits and other accessories of the underworld, I met Bertha Gutierrez Montes de Oca, a shaman who has been working in the market for 51 years. The five-foot-nothing elderly woman explained the ritualistic purpose behind the potions.

“Witchcraft plays a central role in Mexican society and medicine,” she explained. “In the half-century I’ve worked here, the market has grown and the faces have changed but people’s hopes and desires have stayed the same — hopes for money, love, good luck, marriage and fewer problems at work are among the most popular.”

I learned that, though these beliefs stem from indigenous knowledge and centuries-old traditional medicine, witchcraft continues to play a big role in contemporary Mexican society.

Navigating a clutter of products that claim to ward off evil spirits, Bertha took me to a set of stalls selling popular love sprays.  For the ladies, there are potions for better sex, long marriage and curbing a boyfriend’s flirtations with other women.

For men, the art of seduction is a popular sell.  Male customers, looking to attract their heart’s desire, often buy a product called Quita Calzon.  As belief has it, men looking for love must first lather their bodies with this powder and think about the woman for whom they yearn for.  The power of the talcum-like potion will cause the woman in question to succumb to the man’s wildest fantasies, all for the equivalent of a few dollars.

Just in case there was truth to the bottles claims, I dabbed on a little “true love” perfume, an aphrodisiac oil that promises to attract Mr. Right. In the rat race of today’s dating scene, I figured a little sorcery couldn’t hurt.

From there, Bertha showed me a soap called Tapa Voca, purchased by women who want to stop gossiping, and a pair of cloth voodoo dolls for women who crave more commitment in their romantic relationships.  For every problem, the market sells a solution.

Beyond the scary headlines, Mexico truly has a lot to offer, from high-end luxury resorts to markets with eye of newt.  A visit to Sonora market is a culturally significant look into a side of Mexico most tourists don’t normally hear about.

And as for that love spray? It hasn’t helped me find Mr. Right, but it may have protected me from swine flu.

Do you have off-the-beaten track advice for cool things to do in Mexico City? Leave me a comment below!

Martha of Martha’s Heli-Hikes

The best part about starting a new year is the chance to wipe the slate clean and achieve a fitter, slimmer, richer, smarter you.  If fitness, natural beauty and all-round relaxation are on your resolution “to-do list” for 2010, consider a trip to Canadian Rockies’ snow-capped mountains.  While they boast some of the world’s best skiing and wildlife viewing, this region is also home to an unusual tourist activity called heli-yoga, a practice that combines the meditative properties of yoga with a traditional helicopter sightseeing tour.

Just a short drive outside Banff National Park near Alberta’s Lake Louise, Icefield Helicopter Tours takes the conventional aerial experience one step further.  This helicopter tourism provider has partnered with Martha’s Heli-Hikes, an outdoor adventure outfitter, and together, they are offering a variety of high altitude activities, from hiking to snow shoeing, ice walking to yoga.

Tourists keen on connecting with nature may find themselves high on the mountain top, resting in “child’s pose,” overlooking some of our country’s most stunning scenery.  There’s nothing quite like “tree pose” at 9,000 feet.  There I was, balancing in this classic yoga position while taking in a panorama view of the Canadian Rockies’ snow-capped mountains.  One thing’s for sure, this certainly isn’t your average yoga studio.

A day excursion begins at the heliport with a brief safety lesson, a gear check and the distribution of tasty gourmet packed lunches.  After piling into the chopper and slipping on a set of noise-canceling headphones (complete with fighter jet style microphones), the pilot is ready for take-off.  The blades rotate faster.  The whomp-whomp sound crescendos.  The plane lifts off and hovers above the ground like a giant metal dragonfly. Even for the most jaded of flyers, there’s something truly exciting about cruising around in a helicopter!

We soared above The Rockies mountain range, keeping our eyes open for wolves, elk, grizzly bears and other wildlife found in the area.

Depending on the flight conditions, the helicopter can land in a variety of geographic landscapes, from the waterfalls of the raging Cline River to the ridge of Wedding Knoll, a grassy clearing and matrimonial hot spot.

The chopper found a safe pad to land and Martha, my guide and resident yoga-expert, hopped out, mindful of the deadly blades swooping overhead.  I followed her and braced myself as whirls of wind whipped up sand and dust.

I got into yoga gear and prepared for my Hatha yoga lesson.  Depending on the season, weather can change quickly and without warning, so it’s best layer your wardrobe and prepare for sudden variances in temperature.

As my yoga mat flopped and folded with every gust, I slithered into Cobra position. Breathing deeply, relaxing and stretching at the top of a remote mountain somehow made me feel more connected with nature, with myself and the world around me.

While I enjoyed the experience, I can understand why helicopter tourism is such a controversial topic in the area.  Critics claim that helicopter tours aren’t sustainable; that the noise and air pollution from the aircrafts can cause environmental damage and disturb the wildlife.  Martha herself admits the environmental irony of using a gas-guzzling machine to enjoy the pristine wilderness, but she maintains that “practicing yoga in nature bring us closer to the earth.  Fuel and yoga might seem at odds with each other but the benefits of coming out here, into remote parts of the Rockies, far outweigh the negative effects.”

After a series of poses and meditative moments, the lesson ended with a calm concluding “oooom,” a whispered “Namaste,” and a scenic helicopter ride back to the base.

Icefield Helicopter Tours offers day Heli- yoga trips in Alberta’s Rockies at $469 per person.  For more information visit www.icefieldheli.com

Can’t make it to Canada? Here are some other ideas for the World’s Best Places to Yoga.

1) Rishikesh, India – Dubbed the “Yoga Capital of the World,” this spiritual budget getaway is one of the most spectacular places to downward dog.  Located on the banks of the Ganges River it’s now famous for its ashrams, New Age meditation classes and delicious vegetarian cuisine.
2) 7 Centers Yoga Arts in Sedona Arizona offers week-long yoga retreats, day workshops and teaching seminars for those who want to take their Chakra training to the next step. http://www.7centers.com/
3) Create your very own Zen Den at home.  A little Ayurvedic Tea, soft music and flickering candles can go a long way and will cost you a fraction of the price…

Where are your favorite places to Yoga? Email me at julia@traveljunkiejulia.com

The Philippines

All the big boys do it. Conde Nast, Lonely Planet, Frommers.  It’s an annual travel industry tradition (much like the Academy Awards minus the emaciated actresses) to select hot destinations for the new year.

When considering such a big endeavor, one must look at several factors: pop culture events on the calendar, value for your dollar, under-appreciated cities, up-and-comers and general awesomeness.

Between research, real-life experience and peering into my travel crystal ball, I offer up my personal picks for the Top 10 hottest travel destinations in 2010.

British Columbia, Canada:

Brace your bobsled, the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, Canada from February 12-28.  With over 97 nations qualifying for such sports as alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, luge and ski jumping, the world’s eyeballs (and tourists in turn) will look to British Columbia. Beyond the Okanagan wine tours and great surfing, it’s a province famous for its ski resorts, rugged coast line, temperate rainforests and – as it is affectionately called by local pot heads – “BC bud.”  Grab a Canadian flag and get “Out and About.”

Quick Tip:  For a cheaper way to get to Vancouver, fly to Seattle, rent a car, then drive a few hours over the Canadian border.

Philippines:

If you’re looking for more bang for your buck, Philippines is an affordable option for an exotic retreat.  With over 7,000 islands in the archipelago, Philippines offers world-class diving, snorkeling, whitewater rafting and some of the world’s most pristine wilderness.  Check out Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a 5 mile river on the west coast of Palawan Island.  This Unesco World Heritage site, boasts the world’s longest underground navigable river with a pretty impressive cave system.  If you crave city life, Manila is an eclectic mix of indigenous cultures, Spanish and American influence, with cool architecture, cheap markets and tons of English-speakers.

KAYAK visitor guides are a great place to start planning— to get started, check out: http://www.kayak.com/Things-to-Do-Manila.29645.cg.html

Slovenia:

Europe and I don’t usually get along.  Expensive, predictable and over-run with tourists, central Europe is a part of the world my wandering spirit and wallet like to avoid.  But Slovenia is another story.  A hidden gem, this tiny country is affordable, stunning and off the tourist track.  Bordering Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Austria, the Republic of Slovenia gained independence from the former region of Yugoslavia in 1991.  A population of over 2 million, most of them Roman Catholic, Slovenia has its own language, is part of the EU and has a strong tourist infrastructure where English is widely spoken. Start in the vibrant capital city of Ljubljana before heading to the foothills of the Julian Alps for a long list of outdoor activities.

Quick Tip:  The capital city of Ljubljana has some really cool accommodations.  Hostel Celica, which Lonely Planet calls the “world’s hippest hostel” is part of a military barracks used by the Austro-Hungarian army.  A former prison, each “cell” was renovated into a room and re-decorated by a different artist.  Modern and sparkling clean, this budget accommodation has twenty renovated slammer cells for guests to stay in.

Nevada:

High on my list of travel priorities for 2010 is a trip to Burning Man in Black Rock Nevada August 30 – September 6.  Imagine some 50,000 citizens living in the desert, cars and bodies decked out in psychedelic art, staying in theme camps with a strict ‘no vending’ all partying policy. Sounds like trouble. Check it out: www.burningman.com

Nicaragua:

Dubbed the ‘new’ Costa Rica by backpackers, the Central American country of Nicaragua has a lot to offer the budget traveler.  From volcano boarding to architecture hopping, to surfing along the Caribbean coast for cheap, a trip here is an affordable option away from the throngs of tourists.

Quick Tip:  Searching for flights on Kayak.com, I found an American Airlines return flight from New York to Managua for only $378.  That’s a great deal!

Thailand:

Rich in culture, Buddhist temples and happening nightlife, Thailand continues to be a great value destination for 2010 and a good times party spot likely for years to come.  These days, Thailand draws a younger backpacker crowd, but you can’t beat the cheap accommodations (with ocean front beach huts charging as low as $10 USD a night), almost free street food, dollar beers and $8 Thai massages.  Check out Songkran, a weekend-long city-wide water fight from April 13-15.

Chile:

While Chile’s BFF Argentina got most of the glory from other travel publications this year, my top pick for 2010 is most certainly Chile.    This narrow coastal strip wedged between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is very diverse.  In one day, you can go from skiing in the mountains, to sweating it out in the world’s driest desert, touring graffiti murals in quaint cultural towns along the Pacific, to hiking around Alpine fjords.  But most importantly, you can get delicious bottles red wine (my fave is the Carmenere, a full-bodied grape) for a $5 price tag.

Florida:

For 2010, it’s not exactly the most exotic location but for the millions of Harry Potter fans, Orlando, Florida will be a big draw for tourists, families and muggles alike.  It’s all a little hush-hush now but word on the street is that, this spring, Universal Orlando is opening the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” a Harry Potter theme park!  Part of the Islands of Adventure, this 20-acre Potter paradise will have a Hogwarts Castle and interactive scenes from the books and movies.  For more, visit http://www.universalorlandoresort.com/harrypotter

Abu Dhabi:

While Dubai just launched the World’s Tallest Tower (a “superscraper” that stands 2,716 feet, is double the Empire State Building and took more than $1 billion to build) it’s actually neighboring Abu Dhabi that’s hot for 2010.  The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is a cosmopolitan metropolis with grand mosques, helicopter tours, night cruises and imposing skylines.   Check out their weekly camel races, the Abu Dhabi International Triathalon on March 13 or the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from March 2-7.  For a unique cultural experience, and an amazing feast after sundown, visit the UAE during the holy month of Ramadan from August 11 to September 10.

South Africa:

This summer, the FIFA World Cup football championship will dominate the hearts and minds of all sports enthusiasts.  While some may huddle around the TV set to watch Bekham run around the field, others will be tempted to jet set to South Africa to watch this historic event in person.  It’s the first time the tournament has been hosted by an African nation.  Venture beyond the ball, to check out Table Mountain in Cape Town, a wine tour in Stellenbosch, Durban’s Golden Mile beach and the Big Five wildlife in Kruger National Park.

What are your top travel destinations for 2010?  Share your hot spots with a comment below!

Cruising the palm-tree lined strip of South Beach Miami, I felt a little like David Hasselhoff from Knight Rider.  Like his crime-fighting car companion Kitt, my ride also talked, cracked the occasional joke and advised me about where to turn left. But unlike Hasselholf’ s pimp Pontiac Trans Am, my car came in the form of a three-wheeled yellow GoCar. A GoCar is a two passenger, “storytelling” car that offers tours of famous South Beach, home of luxury lifestyles, reality-TV tattoo shops and the no-carb diet. Complete with GPS, it’s both navigator and audio guide for visitors who want to drive through Miami’s hot spots.

Puttering around in this lemon yellow mobile, I took in the sites, from the famous Miami Beach hotels along Collins Ave. to quaint Espanola way, a strip of restaurants in historic 1920s buildings. Against a backdrop of pastel-colored Art Deco edifices, I drove around the celebrity playground of restaurants, bars, salsa clubs and Miami vices. I traveled from the Botanical Gardens to the Holocaust Museum, from the Venetian Causeway to downtown Miami.

“Go left onto 15th street,” the computerized female voice commanded. I touched the scooter-like hand-breaks and slowed down to turn.  “Continue straight” the voice told me. Beyond the directional duties of a typical GPS, the GoCar technology also provides restaurant recommendations and facts about local attractions (in both English and Spanish).

While crawling along Ocean Drive, the voice told me that “The Carlyle Hotel can be seen in many famous films, including: Miami Vice, the Bird Cage, Bad Boys 2.” Well thank you, GPS car.

GoCar Tours, offered across San Diego, San Francisco, Lisbon and Miami, boasts the world’s first computer guided tour.  Unlike sightseeing bus tours, the GoCar franchise aims to empower tourists with the freedom and flexibility to come and go as they please, (stopping to shop, sightsee or indulge in a little gelato) all the while, learning about the destination. They call it “the cure for the common tour.”

Glimmering Lambos and Porsches revved their way along the Drive, but, surprisingly, it was my 50 cc, rented GoCar that sparked the most attention. Tourists snapped photos and pointed as I drove past. Entertaining for some… mortifying for me. In a city of high-end luxury and flashy displays of wealth, my wheels weren’t doing much in the way of showcasing my social status.

From the Art Deco district, I followed directions to Lincoln Road, a main hub with some seven blocks of pedestrian friendly shops, sidewalk cafes and art galleries. This is prime people watching territory, so I parked the car to gawk at the beautiful people. Before I hopped out, the GoCar suggested I check out Icebox Cafe, for a cake Oprah called the “best in America.”

Who needs Hasslehoff’s artificially intelligent supercar when you can fight crime (I mean…explore Miami) by GoCar.

A few tips: The car’s hard plastic seats aren’t the most comfortable, especially on such bumpy city roads, so be sure to bring your own cushion. There’s also room for your own MP3 player/iPod to crank your tunes if you get sick of listening to GPS directions. For more info visit: www.gocartours.com