Saturday, August 27, 2011

Prague Travel Information

Prague Travel Information

The golden city of Prague is one of Europe’s most popular tourism destinations and one of the cultural centers of Europe. The historical center of the city has remained undamaged and is now the main attraction of Prague. The Medieval buildings, cobblestone streets, countless museums, bridges, and churches of the hometown of Franz Kafka offer a visitor a great deal to explore in Prague. The city’s pubs, quality restaurants, and cafes wait for visitors interested in the famous Czech beer as well as culinary treats.

A famous clock in Prague

A famous clock in Prague


The famous capital of Czech Republic, Prague lies along the Vltava River plain in central part of the country. Founded already in the 9th century, Prague has seen a myriad of different rulers and historic periods that have all left their mark on this beautiful Bohemian city. Today, Prague is a large cosmopolitan city full of history, music, art and culture, receiving a large number of visitors from abroad throughout the year.

Sights & activities Prague: from historical & cultural attractions to nightlife & shopping

There are activities in Prague to attract every type of visitor.Sightseeing in Prague is by far the most popular activity in the golden city. Stare Mesto, Prague’s World Heritage -listed Gothic-style old town, is the center of the city’s historic and cultural attractions, including several museums, churches and historical attractions such as the astronomical clock and the writer Franz Kafka’s birthplace. The city’s famous medieval castle and the Charles Bridge are must sees for visitors, but you should also visit the fortress area of Vysehrad and the Mala Strana quarter next to the Prague castle. If you don’t feel like walking around, you can go to see theater or opera or hop on a sightseeing cruise on the Vltava River that runs through Prague.

A city view of Prague

A city view of Prague


Entertainment & culture. Many people visit the city also because of the vivid nightlife in Prague, offering options from opera to pubs and from concerts to nightclubs and bars. You can find a large number of bars and clubs in Prague that are open very late. There are also many popular venues for concerts in Prague, ranging from classical to popular music. There are plenty of opportunities for shopping in Prague. The capital of the Czech Republic is an excellent place for buying for example jewelry and crystal. The Prague Zoo is one of the best zoos in Europe.

Prague travel tips and practical information

Prague has a temperate continental climate with four distinct seasons. The winters from November to March are cold and sometimes also snowy, while the summers from June to August are generally pleasant, often offering sunny and warm weather.

As the city has plenty of sights and activities for visitors, visiting Prague is good at any time of the year.

Prague skyline with the castle

Prague skyline with the castle


Traveling to Prague is easy: The city is home to a busy international airport with plenty of flights to Prague from around Europe and beyond. Prague is also well connected to the other European cities by international train and bus network, and most visitors to this city of 1,2 million inhabitants actually arrive to Prague by land transport. The best way to get around in the historic center of Prague is by foot, but the public transportation in the city introduces yet more choices offered by trams, an effective underground system, local trains, and buses. Driving in Prague is not easy because of the often narrow streets, but renting a car in Prague is a good option if you want to visit the Czech Republic beyond the capital.

People admiring the Prague skyline

People admiring the Prague skyline


Services & safety. There is a large variety of restaurants in Prague, offering a multitude of cuisines. The ones in the crowded main streets and squares of the old town tend to be more expensive than the others. Hotels in Prague also offer a wide variety of choice suitable to every taste and budget, and are available in great numbers. Prague is generally a safe destination although some problems with petty crime such as pick-pocketing and scams do exist. Watch out for your belongings in crowded tourist areas and public transport. English is spoken by many local people in Prague.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

New Vegas hotel may be demolished

New Vegas hotel may be demolished

LAS VEGASThe prospect of an imploding hotel tower on the Las Vegas Strip conjures images of Hollywood blockbusters — lots of dynamite, a dramatic fall and billowing clouds of dust.

But the owners of the never-opened Harmon near the Strip’s midpoint are convinced that bringing down the 26-story structure can be done safely, with minimal disruption to neighboring buildings and nearby traffic.

Seems tough to fathom given where the stylish oval cylinder sits, but demolition experts say it shouldn’t be too tough thanks to the building’s size and the pedigree of those running the job.

New Vegas hotel may be demolished

New Vegas hotel may be demolished

“They have to be careful, they have to clean all around it, and they have to make sure there’s an area where the building comes down if it spreads out,” said Herb Duane, a demolition consultant based in New Hampshire who has worked in the industry more than 30 years.

“Twenty-six stories is very doable,” Duane told The Associated Press.

MGM Resorts International, the casino company that owns the Harmon as part of its $8.5 billion CityCenter joint venture, said as it proposed demolition to the county that implosion is the best option for a building that they say wouldn’t be able to support its own weight in a strong earthquake. County building officials had asked the company to propose a plan to fix the building they call a public health hazard.

The Harmon was originally envisioned as a boutique hotel and condominium tower to open in December 2009 with the rest of the 67-acre complex of hotels, entertainment and a casino. But problems with reinforcing steel in the construction led MGM Resorts to shorten the tower in half and put off its opening at least a year. It never opened.

Now, plans call for an implosion in six months, followed by four months of cleanup.

Company spokesman Alan Feldman declined comment Tuesday, saying the company was waiting for all necessary approvals from the county and court officials handling a separate legal case involving MGM Resorts and Tutor Perini Corp., the main contractor for CityCenter. A county spokesman declined comment.

Perini contends the building is structurally sound, and that MGM Resorts is pushing for demolition to bolster its legal case because it’s more economically wise than having to fill more rooms on the Strip. No matter what happens to the Harmon, MGM Resorts and Perini are likely to still have a dispute over unpaid construction bills.

Representatives for LVI Services, Inc., the demolition company that would run the job, and Controlled Demolition, Inc., the subcontractor in charge of the implosion itself, declined comment, referring questions to MGM Resorts.

Greenland Travel Information

Greenland Travel Information

The rugged Arctic island of icebergs and stunning glacier landscapes, Greenland is a unique place to visit. This world’s biggest island set between Europe and North America is the home of interesting Inuit culture, arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales and seals, and the midnight sun. The remote Greenland is a nature paradise suitable for the adventurous and well-prepared visitors.

Arctic island with glaciers and Inuit culture: Greenland

Located mostly beyond the Arctic Circle, 84% of Greenland is covered with ice. Much of the ice-free area in located along the coast as the mountainous inland of Greenland consists mostly of glaciers. The main attractions on this icy island are the many stunning glaciers shining in rich shades of blue, the Arctic wildlife of the coastal regions, and the attractive capital Nuuk, which is a showroom of Greenland’s culture and a destination full of breathtaking natural beauty and interesting wildlife.

Arctic nature wonders The most famous of Greenland’s incredible icebergs is Ilulissat, which is floating in coastal waters of a small fishing village. The midnight sun lightens the stunning landscapes of Greenland non-stop for weeks in the summer and offers an adventurous wonderland for outdoor sports such as dog-sled tours or trekking in Greenland, kayaking or climbing, not to mention the art of landscape photography. In another words, Greenland is an amazing and wild outdoor park waiting for the active visitor.

Colorful houses on the coast of Greenland

Colorful houses on the coast of Greenland


Infrastructure and services. A prehistoric home of Inuit people that has seen the influence of both Norwegian and Danish culture, contemporary Greenland is a home of Inuit fishermen and an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark. Although Greenland is an island with small towns only, tourist services (where there are any) are quite good and tourism is a growing industry in this Arctic destination.Hotels in Greenland offer convenient accommodation, and some restaurants in Greenland that are suitable to most tastes are also available.

Shopping facilities Although shopping is not one of the major attractions of expensive Greenland, some interesting opportunities for shopping are offered especially in Nuuk. The most popular shopping items of Greenland are Inuit arts and crafts and sealskin. In addition to these, duty-free goods are available at the airport for international air passengers.

A view of Glacier in Greenland

A view of Glacier in Greenland

Greenland – the home of the midnight sun

Greenland has an arctic climate with highly changeable weather and average monthly high temperatures only occasionally rising above 10 degrees. During the cold and icy winter of this northern island, average monthly high temperatures are usually below zero from October to April.

The best time to travel to Greenland is between June and August for summer activities, and between December and March for winter activities. If you arrive in summer, you will see the magical midnight sun, which means the sun never gets below the horizon for weeks.

Northern lights in above Greenland

Northern lights in above Greenland


Safety. No matter which time you plan to travel, Greenland is a safe destination where crime is practically an unknown matter. However, the presence of polar bears and other representatives of Greenland’s wild but interesting nature, and the challenges set by the Arctic weather make outdoor activities in Greenland potentially dangerous if not done with a professional guide.

How to get there. Flights to Greenland are best available from Denmark and Iceland. Cruises to Greenland are available from both Europe and North America. The adventurous nature of Greenland is boosted by the fact that this large arctic island lacks train and road network, which is why best opportunity to travel around in Greenland is by internal air connections. Unless of course you want to use more sportive means of transport such as for instance those offered in husky safaris. Rental cars in Greenland can be hard to find.

A view of glaciers in Greenland

A view of glaciers in Greenland


Finding your way. Note that all places in Greenland have two names, of which one is in Greenlandic and the other in Danish that used to be the major language of Greenland, but has today been put aside by Greenlandic. Another interesting thing is that most places are so small no one has bothered to put a road sign visible. Therefore, if you have problems finding your way in Greenland, ask locals, and they can most likely help you.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Roskilde Travel Information

Roskilde Travel Information

A charming Danish city famous for its rock festival, Roskilde used to be the place of the hippies. Centuries before that, the city was inhabited by Vikings whose heritage is today made visible in Roskilde’s interesting museums and heritage centers. More than that, this hilly historical town in Denmark offers you architectural sights such as the first Gothic cathedral of Scandinavia. Facilities for shopping and entertainment make your stay in Roskilde even better. When the time comes for leaving, Copenhagen is almost next door.

Yellow buildings in Roskilde

Yellow buildings in Roskilde

Roskilde, Danish rock festival city with historical sights & Viking heritage

Located on the island of Zealand near the Danish capital Copenhagen, Roskilde is dedicated to its cultural heritage. This small city hosts a Viking Ship Museum, where you can admire ancient sailing ships of the Vikings. If you want to give it a try yourself, it is possible to participate in a sailing tour on a Viking boat on the fjord. This opportunity is offered by Lejre Forsogscenter, a showplace of houses and settings from the Viking Age and even earlier times. The area hosts also historic workshops and has domestic animals around to please especially children.

Famous rock festival. As for the entertainment for slightly older people, Roskilde is the home of the famous Roskilde Rock Festival. In the 1970s this lively event used to be the playground of hippies, but today the festival is enjoyed by young people from all over Europe. In recent years Roskilde Festival held in June has been attended by more than 80,000 people annually.

Roskilde fjord with a couple in their kanos

Roskilde fjord with a couple in their kanos


Sights and activities. A city of culture and entertainment, Roskilde offers you also architectural sights. The most famous building of the city is the Roskilde Cathedral, which is located in the very heart of the city and is known as the burial place of Danish royalties. This 12th century church is the first Gothic cathedral of Scandinavia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hilly city offers you also scenic landscapes and plenty of opportunities for entertainment and shopping in Roskilde. Sailing and kayaking in Roskilde Fjord and the many courses for golf in Roskilde are wanted activities among outdoor people. In case you are planning to tour more in Denmark, Copenhagen is close by and charming castles and countryside of Jylland can be easily reached from Roskilde.

A city view of Roskilde

A city view of Roskilde

Practical information for your trip to Roskilde

Roskilde has warm, short summers and long, cold winters. While summertime temperatures (June-August) are around 20°C, winter temperatures in Roskilde can drop to zero degrees Celsius.

Although annual rainfall in Roskilde is quite moderate, it rains evenly throughout the year. If you want to see Denmark at its best, visit Roskilde between April and October, but if you are not afraid of cold temperatures, Roskilde is a pleasant destination any time of the year.

An evening shot showing the festival area of Roskilde

An evening shot showing the festival area of Roskilde


How to get there. There is a small airport just south of the city, but for travelling and flights to Roskilde most visitors use the connections of Copenhagen. Travelling inside the hilly city area is best done with a taxi or by foot. Car rental in Roskilde is available for longer tours, and there is a fast train and road connection from Roskilde to Copenhagen, with buses and trains running at frequent intervals.

Viking ship remains in Roskilde

Viking ship remains in Roskilde


Visitor services. Denmark is a popular tourism destination, which is well prepared to meet the needs of the flow of international visitors who come here. The peak time for tourism in Roskilde is during the summer, especially at the time of the Roskilde Festival in June. Even though most of the festival guests stay in tents, hotels in Roskilde can be fully booked in June. Restaurants in Roskilde are also very popular during the summer, not least because there are plenty of places where you can sit outside enjoying the atmosphere and landscapes. Nightlife in Roskilde is active as it is a University town, but this first capital of Denmark is still a small and safe travel destination. Many locals in Roskilde speak some English.

Jutland Travel Information

Jutland Travel Information

Representing the green side of Denmark, Jutland is filled with charming attractions such as rural castles, fascinating small towns, astonishing beaches, and sand dunes surrounded by lovely pine forests. There is also the entertainment part of Jutland with vibrant cities of Aarhus and Aalborg, and with Legoland theme park of Billund.

From Aarhus city to Billund Legoland: Attractions of Jutland

Forming the mainland of Denmark also known as Jylland, Jutland is a large peninsula filled with astonishingly many fascinating touristic sights. You could start from the city of Aarhus (Århus), which hosts interesting museums, refreshing parks and lovely restaurants, as well as Denmark’s best entertainment facilities and the best place for nightlife in Jutland. Also worth seeing is the charming Danish countryside with its small towns with fascinating castles, ancient rune stones and lovely atmosphere of the old-fashioned meeting the modern. Visit for example Ribe that is the oldest town in Denmark, Skagen with its beautiful beaches and artist community, or Silkeborg with its beautiful nearby lakes.

The Egeskov Castle in Jutland

The Egeskov Castle in Jutland


Nature and sports. Jutland is also home to refreshing coastal dune areas where pine forests and sand dunes form ideal surroundings for hiking, mountain biking, or simply enjoying the scenery on an outdoor picnic, or lying on the beach sunbathing on a sunny summer day. If you care for water sports, kayaking and sailing are enjoyable in Jutland’s coast, and many try also golf in Jutland, or birdwatching in Jutland’s Wadden Sea marshes.

The Egeskov Castle in Jutland

The Egeskov Castle in Jutland


Famous theme park Families with small children should definitely not want to miss the fairytale world of Billund Legoland theme park, which is arguably the oldest theme park of the world and one of the most attractive sights in Denmark. It is a well-maintained tourism destination with restaurants and shops to entertain also those who have problems diving into the wonders of the Pirate World, Knight’s Kingdom, or Adventure Land offered by the park.Shopping in Jutland is at its best in cities like Aalborg and Aarhus.

Legoland Billund theme park in Jutland

Legoland Billund theme park in Jutland

Jutland, a hospitable Scandinavian touring destination

Weather in Jutland is changeable with warm, short summers and long, cold winters. While summertime temperatures (June-August) are around 20°C, winter temperatures in Jutland drop to zero degrees or less.

Although annual rainfall in Jutland is quite moderate, it rains throughout the year. Therefore, if you want to see Jutland at its best, come here between April and October.

A large house with a thatched roof and exposed wooden beams. On the Jutland Peninsula, in Denmark, east of Jels.

A large house with a thatched roof and exposed wooden beams. On the Jutland Peninsula, in Denmark, east of Jels.


How to get there Traveling to Jutland is easy by air through Aarhus and Billund airports, which offer flights to Jutland from European destinations. Additionally, the busy Copenhagen airport is located within reasonable driving distance from Jutland. There are good road, train and ferry connections to Jutland from elsewhere in Denmark and Germany. Rental cars in Jutland are the best alternative for moving around in the region, although public transport in Jutland is also quite efficient. If you want to get an extra large proportion of the fresh Danish air, biking in Jutland could be a could idea as well.

A brick church on the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark

A brick church on the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark


Visitor services Denmark is a popular tourism destination that is well prepared to meet the needs of international visitors. Jutland is no exception to the rule, offering excellent hotels in Jutland, efficient tourist information centers, as well as varied resources of restaurants in Jutland. Many people in the area speak some English. Adding the pleasure of your stay, Jutland is a very safe destination that is well suitable also for families with small children.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Top 10 Destinations for Independent Travelers in 2011

Top 10 Destinations for Independent Travelers in 2011

The start of a new year means lots of people are making lists – travelers are jotting down notes of the places they want to go, and at BootsnAll we’re publishing our 4th annual list of the 10 destinations we think independent travelers should consider visiting. It’s a perfect match, don’t you agree?

This year, as in the past two years, we solicited nominations from readers like you as well as from BootsnAll staff members, but unlike in previous years there were actually some BootsnAll articles that inspired our choices for 2011. When an article prompts us to stop reading and start searching for airfare before it’s even been published, we remember that kind of thing.

We also wanted to note that a couple of places that we featured in previous years (Iceland and British Columbia) are still hot for 2011, and yet we didn’t include them again. Why? Because we’ve turned them into their own complete travel guides – WhyGo Iceland and WhyGo Canada.

We hope you enjoy BootsnAll’s 2011 list of indie travel destinations!

How many of these spots will you add to your 2011 must-see list? How many of these places have you already visited? Tell us in the comments.

10. United States National Parks

United States National Parks

Some very well-traveled people have skipped over the United States for years – either because it was too expensive or the security-related barriers to entry seemed too high. The security issues may not be any better these days, but the U.S. dollar is such that it makes the country an affordable vacation destination for many people – foreigners and residents alike.

The variety of landscapes in the U.S. is undeniable; and while places like New York City, Hawaii, Miami, andLos Angeles rise to the top of most visitors’ must-see lists, the country is full of excellent (and often much cheaper) destinations worth seeing – in particular, the U.S. National Parks.

Ken Burns and his recent TV series on the National Parks went a long way to remind Americans how unique the parks system is, but the parks include some bucket list-worthy spots that any traveler can appreciate – places like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Denali, and Yosemite. Independent travelers will also appreciate the National Parks passport they can get to collect stamps for each park they visit.

9. Qatar

Qatar

Before the name “Qatar” was drawn from the envelope declaring the host of the 2022 World Cup, Dubai was the undisputed heavyweight in the category of futuristic Middle Eastern destinations. Although Qatar may be the little sister in the region for a long time to come, it won’t take until the 2022 World Cup for Qatar to be more of a player on that list. Even if football/soccer isn’t your thing, it’s hard to ignore the appeal of visiting a place before it’s splashed all over TV screens around the world.

By some standards, Qatar boasts nicer beaches than Dubai – and its high-end restaurants, shops, and clubs are (at least for the moment) far less crowded than their Dubai counterparts. There’s no getting around the expense of visiting Qatar, but a 30-day visa is relatively cheap and you can stretch your travel budget by taking buses to get around the country and doing your shopping and dining in the souqs and at take-out stands. And because we’re talking about a country roughly the size of Rhode Island, that 30-day visa gives you plenty of time to see quite a bit of the country.

Summers in Qatar can be unbearably hot, so if you can afford to visit in the winter months (Qatar’s high season) you’ll be less overwhelmed by the heat. For those of you who can handle higher temperatures (and are more budget-minded), the spring and fall shoulder seasons will usually offer a good combination of lower prices and more moderate weather.

8. Indonesia (Besides Bali)

Indonesia (Besides Bali)

Sure, Bali’s been on the independent traveler’s radar for years – and while it still makes a great budget destination, there’s more to Indonesia than just Bali. In fact, by avoiding the heavily touristed areas (like Bali), your travel budget goes even further – and you’ll get to retain more of that precious indie traveler cred.

Indonesia’s economy has been on the upswing in recent years, while other nearby countries are suffering through recession, and yet it remains incredibly cheap to travelers who are willing to get away from the regular backpacker circuit. The tourist infrastructure outside Bali is a far cry from what visitors to Bali are used to, but people who do venture beyond the usual travel hotspots in the country are rewarded with natural beauty and far smaller crowds. And if you want something of an easy few days at the end of your Indonesia vacation, you can always retreat to one of the high-end hotels in Bali – you’ll pay more than you will for accommodation elsewhere in the country, but it’s still an affordable luxury for most travel budgets.

With more than 18,000 islands to check out and a three-month visa available to most travelers, Indonesia is well worth the time it takes to get away from Bali and really dig your teeth in.

7. Portugal

Portugal

For a country that shares a peninsula with one of the biggest nations in Europe, Portugal seems to consistently fly pretty far under the radar when it comes to European vacations. This could be partly due to the fact that it was ruled by a dictatorship until the 70′s and was largely cut off from the rest of Europe, leaving far more of those coveted “undiscovered” (or at least under-discovered) areas in Portugal than in neighboring countries.

Despite Portugal’s former dictatorial government, the cities in Portugal aren’t anywhere close to time capsules like you might expect in a place like Cuba. Lisbon bustles on its proverbial seven hills and has a well-documented nightlife. Porto is a modern industrial city with an historic center that dates back to Roman times and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Coimbra is home to one of the world’s oldest universities, and near the largest Roman ruins in Portugal. Historic Sintra (another UNESCO site) is overlooked by a 9th century Moorish castle. And pretty Évora is home to one of the creepiest bone churches in Europe.

For foodies (or wannabe foodies), Portuguese cuisine bears some resemblance to Spanish cuisine in parts of the country, predictably features seafood prominently along the coast, and is finished off by the famous port wine from the city of Porto. Sun-seekers will appreciate Portugal’s temperate climate. Adventure travelers have forests, beaches, and mountains to explore. And with all of these perks, it’s still cheaper to get around, stay, and eat in Portugal than it is in much of Spain, making it a great European destination for travelers who want a little luxury on a smaller budget.

6. Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Central American countries have been gobbled up by indie travelers for years. Costa Rica was an early and obvious target, and in recent years Guatemala and Panama have risen up the ladder as well. While Nicaragua isn’t exactly undiscovered, however, it doesn’t tend to be as popular with travelers – making it an ideal “next stop” on your Central American tour.

Like other countries in Central America, Nicaragua is an excellent destination for eco-tourism – between two long stretches of coastline on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea there are volcanoes to hike and huge lakes to enjoy, not to mention places like the famous Corn Islands just offshore. Nicaragua’s capital of Managua was severely damaged in a 1972 earthquake, but the gorgeous colonial cities of Granada and León more than makes up for whatever Managua lacks. Granada is Nicaragua’s oldest colonial city, and León has some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country.

While the price of travel in many parts of Central America remains fairly low and you won’t lure anyone to Nicaragua solely because of the promise of cheap travel, Nicaragua is far cheaper to visit than Costa Rica or Panama. It’s one of the best bargains in the region, and with tourism numbers increasing exponentially in recent years it’s not likely to stay that way forever.

5. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The days of Croatia being anywhere close to “off the beaten path” are behind us. Sure, it’s less touristy than Italy, but what country isn’t? If you’re hunting for a piece of the former Yugoslavia that’s got plenty to offer the independent traveler but is still playing catch-up with Croatia, however, look no further than Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The person who nominated Bosnia and Herzegovina captured our imagination with descriptions of a country “still politically recovering from the Balkan war of the 90s,” a place where “the war is still palpable,” and a country that has “risen gloriously from the crumbles.” We always like the idea that a place can “revolutionize the way you see your impact as a tourist and make you proud you braved the indie travel path.”

To be sure, there are more challenging places to travel than Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s actually fairly easy to be a traveler there. But ease of mobility (or lack thereof) isn’t the only factor that determines whether a place appeals to independent travelers. In this case, a country with a decent infrastructure where being a visitor is still affordable – and where being the kind of traveler who talks to people and learns the local history can offer rewards that don’t show up on any map – fits the bill as a fantastic indie travel destination in our book.

And if that isn’t enough to appeal to you, the person who nominated Bosnia and Herzegovina also mentioned that the country is “curved amorously with mountainous landscapes.” That description alone made us want to buy a plane ticket.

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The countries of Southeast Asia have long been indie travel hotspots – especially Thailand – and many of the people flying in or out of the region may have had a connecting flight through the next city on our list – Kuala Lumpur – without ever stopping to visit. Two people who filled out our nomination form think that’s a mistake.

As one person put it, “there’s so much to see in Malaysia, it’s almost a pity that the capital is such a nice city.” Despite its size and importance to the country and its status as a regional air hub, Kuala Lumpur is a pretty city – “jungle trees peek out unexpectedly and the architecture is varied enough to include art deco buildings, Islamic spires, and sleek, huge towers.” It’s navigable on foot and its highlights can be explored in a couple of days, but it’s also possible to spend a more leisurely week in the city visiting the many parks in addition to the city sights. The foodies at BootsnAll were also happy to see that the food in Kuala Lumpur is listed as a “highlight” of any visit, with the “juxtaposition of Indian and Chinese culture” making the food scene in the city interesting, eclectic, and delicious.

Of course, once you’ve gotten to Kuala Lumpur it’s easy to use it as a springboard to check out other parts of Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia. But if you’re contemplating a trip to the region, you might want to plan for a Kuala Lumpur layover of at least a couple day.

3. Algeria

Algeria

Thoughts of Mediterranean beaches usually bring up thoughts of a European vacation – followed quickly by thoughts of how such a getaway is too costly. But a quick peek at a map is all it takes to remember that the Mediterranean has another coast along the northern edge of Africa, and that Algeria is actually the largest country on the Mediterranean Sea.

Algeria suffered like many African nations from a long period of unrest, and while it remains on the U.S. State Department’s list of travel warnings today, it’s been a far safer country to travel in since roughly 2003. This is a country that definitely fits the bill in terms of being a place that’s difficult to travel in as an outsider, but the intrepid traveler will appreciate how budget-friendly Algeria is – especially for a country with so much to offer.

There are a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Algeria (including Roman and even Phoenician ruins at Tipasa, Djémila, and Timgad), some French colonial architecture in Algiers and other cities along the coast, and the vast southern portion of the country that’s part of the Sahara desert. Algeria is a country where you can enjoy a Mediterranean holiday (albeit a different one than you’d get in Spain or France, of course) and a day later set off on a trek into the Sahara. What European country can offer you that?

2. Albania

Albania

Astute readers and list-watchers will note that the top destination on Lonely Planet’s list of places to go in 2011 is Albania – but before you think we just phoned this one in, let us remind you that an article appeared on BootsnAll in November describing the top eight reasons to visit Albania. All it took was a read-through of that article to make Albania shoot to the top of our travel wish lists.

In fact, our editor was looking up flights to Albania before she’d even hit “publish” on the article.

The author of our Albania article summed it up this way: “The mountainous country is filled with pristine rivers and sparkling mountain springs, bustling cities and charming towns, and its rocky coastline stretches hundreds of kilometers along both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, providing stunning beaches that rival those of its better-known neighbors like Greece, Italy, and Croatia.” And all of this comes at a bargain price. Albania is likely to remain extremely cheap to visitors until (and if) it becomes part of the EU, offering even shoestring travelers the opportunity to book a nice hotel room for a tiny fraction of the cost of a similar room in nearby European countries.

Albania is a country with vibrant cities, Roman ruins, gorgeous beaches, cheap food and beer, and – particuarly appealing to indie travelers for whom personal interaction is a primary reason for traveling – a population that is eager to welcome visitors and show off their country.

1. Curaçao and Sint Maarten

Curacao and Sint Maarten

Among the independent travelers we know, a conversation about “how many countries you’ve visited” is all it takes to light up a face and get even the most taciturn talking. What’s the best news, therefore, for anyone who collects passport stamps? The creation of a new country, of course.

As of October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles are no more – the islands still exist, but they’re no longer a collective autonomous region of the Netherlands. Some of the islands became “special municipalities” of the Netherlands, but two of them – Curaçao and Sint Maarten – are now their own so-called “constituent countries” under the umbrella of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Do you need to understand what’s behind these legal definitions? Of course not. All you need to know is that the move means Curaçao and Sint Maarten are, for all intents and purposes, brand new countries you can add to your passport.

Both Curaçao and Sint Maarten are already extremely tourist-friendly, and that doesn’t mean there won’t be an even bigger explosion of big chain hotels in the coming years as these new countries attempt to lure yet more tourist income. In other words, you might want to book that island trip sooner rather than later.