YOUR top 10 countries for 2010

Nov 19, 2009 12:56:37 AM

Vivek Wagle
Lonely Planet Author

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A couple of weeks ago, we published our list of hot destinations for 2010.

You sure had a lot to say! From heartfelt agreement to outrage, your comments were insightful and savvy.

Some people were furious that we had recommended such ‘mainstream’ destinations as Germany and the USA, noting that they were looking for more off-the-beaten-track places. (To that we’ll respond by saying that it wasn’t our intention to discover ‘new’ countries for next year - it’s a list of destinations we believe will be particularly popular in 2010.)

Others were disappointed not to see such perennially popular nations as Italy and Vietnam.

We thought that the responses were so good that they warranted their own list. So we’re proud to reflect back to you the destinations YOU thought would be hot next year.

1. South Africa - our most glaring omission, according to several respondents, as it will host the football/soccer World Cup in 2010.

2. India - an ever-popular destination, vast and diverse.

3. Colombia - a still-undiscovered jewel of South America, according to a few.

4. Jordan - friendly, accessible and lots of fun.

5. Italy - lots of folks love this travel mainstay.

6. Panama - a rising star of Central America.

7. China - for the people, the geography, the beauty and the diversity.

8. Cuba - still an ‘alternative’ destination, partly because of the American embargo.

9. Costa Rica - an environmental paradise in the Americas.

10. Kyrgyzstan - the most underrated of the Central Asian nations.

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Comments

19 November 2009 10:31PM adammathewjones Report this comment
All the countries are really popular. Good to see the china in the top 2010 list.
<a href="http://www.bitsfortheboat.com">stainless steel barometer</a>
26 November 2009 6:58PM mokhathi Report this comment
At last sanity prevailed, as a South African i am looking forward to be in South Africa in 2010 its gonna be exciting.
27 November 2009 8:20AM juliasea Report this comment
I would add "safety and diverse", giving reference to Jordan. Have been last year - recommend you to visit
27 November 2009 8:23AM melitas Report this comment
Glad to see Cuba on this list. Have been there 2x this year, it's still a must-experience destination due to its fabulous people and nature. I call this island 'Planet Cuba', a totally different place than any other on our planet. You can't return home the same person...
29 November 2009 2:32PM kevin123 Report this comment
I think Nepal Should be top 10 destinations for 2010. It offers really best trekking destination in worlds as well as worlds highest mountain (Everest 8,848 Meter) is there. http://www.guidenepal.com
18 December 2009 2:30PM mobilemeg Report this comment
I would agree with the comment about Colombia being an undiscovered jewel, it is absolutely beautiful (I would go back in a heartbeat)!
30 January 2010 2:03AM turtolisto Report this comment
www.istanbul2010.org
See the İstanbul in 2010, european capital of culture.
fascinating!!
22 March 2010 10:58AM mikeyohare Report this comment
How about Sweden? I lived in <a href="http://www.citiesforpeople.net/cities/westernharbour.html">Malmo</a> for two years and it is a beautiful city in a beautiful country.
15 May 2010 5:54AM nago217 Report this comment
Colombia... listed in top 10 cleanest countries: http://bit.ly/dn3Deh and in the top 10 ecofriendly countries: http://bit.ly/9l2s0D
29 May 2010 5:55PM nityanandsingh Report this comment
am glad to see India at 2nd...it really is the most multidimensional. be it adventure,spiritual.travelling cheap,history or you just trying to take a escape from your life. India offers you that quite easily :)