29 destinations to visit in 2009

Place:San Elijo State Beach

Why it’s hot in 2009: On a sun-splashed beach north of San Diego, California state park officials in 2005 launched the nation’s largest deployment of Wi-Fi access for park visitors, adding to the ever-growing outdoor trend known as “glamping” or “glamour camping.”

But wireless Internet service is not the only comfort from home offered to campers at San Elijo State Beach, about 40 miles north of San Diego. This 171-site park is one of the state’s most well-appointed camp sites, with real flush toilets, hot showers, pay telephones, laundry facilities and a camp store where visitors can buy groceries, firewood and ice. >> Read more

-- Hugo Martín  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Place: Uruguay’s wine country

Why it’s a hot ticket for 2009: Uruguay’s emergence as a wine tourism destination and exporter of fine wines is no accident. Since the late 1980s, vintners in this nation of more than 3 million people -- a population far outnumbered by cows -- have been replacing Muscat and Labrusca grapes used for locally consumed jug wines with the more worldly Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Merlot and their best-kept secret, Tannat.

Atlantic breezes keep the Juanicó region’s vines well-ventilated despite the moist, subtropical coastal climate, and the combination of well-drained clay soil and 220 days of intense sunshine annually produces growing conditions similar to those of France’s Bordeaux region.

On the whole, Uruguayan wines have a lower alcohol content and are often described as “softer and more approachable” than their French cousins. Read more on Uruguay’s wine region.

Information: www.vino-uruguay.com and www.winesofuruguay.com.

-- Claudia Capos

Pictured: Juanicó Winery  (Claudia Capos / For The Times)

Place: Cambodia

Why it’s a hot ticket for 2009: Yes, take in the Angkor temples; their silent majesty as they endure the ravages of time and humanity will resonate with even the most jaded visitors. But Cambodia is more than just Angkor Wat. Take the road less traveled in Cambodia and go on one of the many buses through the heart of the countryside. Visit the northern provinces, like Ratanakiri, home to mostly ethnic minority groups. There, you can rest in a lakeside hotel room for a pittance, swim in the pristine Yeak Loam Lake that sits atop a dormant volcano, and visit hidden waterfalls. Or stop by the small town of Kratie to catch sight of the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River.

Whatever you do in Cambodia, just be a conscientious traveler and keep your eyes open for signs of exploitation: Increasingly, ethnic minorities are tricked into giving up their land to rapacious developers and sex tourism is an open secret in the country.

Information: www.tourismcambodia.com

-- Chi Vu

Pictured: Angkor Wat  (Paul Watson / Los Angeles Times)

Place: Cape Town, South Africa

Why it’s a hot ticket for 2009: The dollar has strengthened considerably against the South African rand since the beginning of last year. In 2009, get the most out of your dollars with a trip to Cape Town, host of the 2010 World Cup. As the city readies for the tournament, visitors can expect improved infrastructure, including a planned high-speed rail, and increased security.

When you’re in Cape Town, don’t miss the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the District Six Museum (which tells the story of forced displacement during apartheid), and be sure to explore Bo Kaap, a religiously diverse area that’s home to the first mosque in South Africa. (Ask at the Bo Kaap Museum for a tour guide.) There are beautiful and manageable hikes up Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. Neighboring Simon’s Town, an hour by train, is home to wild penguins.

If you are here in late June or early July, consider taking a daytime bus up the Garden Route, a scenic stretch along coastal South Africa, to the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Talented musicians, singers, actors, filmmakers and dancers come to this festival from all over Africa. It is unforgettable.

Information: www.southafrica.net.

-- Catherine Sweetser

Pictured: The ‘Tweede Nuwe Yaar’ (second New Year) carnival in Cape Town  (Nic Bothma / EPA)

Place: Doha, Qatar

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: Dubai may be all the rage in the Middle East, but if you’re looking for a more low-key excursion along the Persian Gulf, Doha may be more to your liking. Though currently low on people’s radar, Qatar’s capital shows promise of becoming a leading Middle Eastern destination. Luxury hotels akin to those in Dubai are quickly rising in the city. By the end of 2010, four Starwood hotels and resorts are expected to open. This spring, the Grand Hyatt Doha is set to begin welcoming guests.

The city’s improving infrastructure is also making it a more alluring destination for tourists. Doha introduced a public bus service in 2005, the city’s first mode of public transportation.

When you’re in Doha, check out its many malls. You may find lower prices in Doha’s shops than in Dubai. And if you’re up for a desert excursion, trek to its nearby singing sand dunes, named for the humming noise that emanates from the fine grains.

Information: www.experienceqatar.com

-- Jason La

Pictured: The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha  (Hassan Ammar / Associated Press)

Place: St. Maarten/St. Martín

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: St. Maarten and St. Martín, two independent states, one tiny Caribbean island. The island carries the distinction of being the world’s smallest land mass (about a third of the size of Washington, D.C.) shared by two independent states. Amid fears of declining Caribbean tourism, visitors to each of these tropical locales can expect to find deals this year.

St. Maarten hotels are offering a special on spring and winter travel. Spend seven nights or more at one of seven participating hotels and resorts and get 15% off each night’s stay plus a $100 voucher for use at island spas, restaurants and entertainment venues. Hotels must be booked by the end of January for stays from now to April 30.

Over on St. Martín, the newly opened Radisson St. Martín Resort, Marina & Spa is offering a “Winter Warm-up” sale that includes 20% off select rooms and 36% off select suites plus complimentary buffet breakfast. Rooms and suites must be booked by the end of February for stays between now and April 18.

Information: www.st-maarten.com and www.stmartin.com/

-- Jason La

Pictured: A harbor on St. Martin  (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)

Place: East Timor

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: For the avid eco-tourist or whale watcher, 2009 may be the year for East Timor. At the end of 2008, scientists discovered a hotbed of whale and dolphin activity off the waters of the Southeast Asian nation. The researchers identified at least 1,000 of the marine mammals in one day alone. The finding helps confirm the existence of a migration route for marine animals in the deep oceanic waters off East Timor. Diving is already a popular activity for tourists to the country.

Though East Timor has been marred with violence since its independence in 1999 from Indonesia, the U.S. State Department reports that social and political tensions in the country died down in 2008. It does warn tourists to be careful around sites associated with past violence, including Dili, East Timor’s capital.

Information: www.easttimorgovernment.com/tourism

-- Jason La

Pictured: East Timorese students perform a traditional dance during an independence day ceremony in Dili.  (Antonio Dasiparu / EPA)

Place: Tibet

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: In an effort to revive Tibet’s tourism industry, China is stepping up efforts to draw more visitors. The Chinese government plans to invest 350 million yuan ($51 million) in 2009 and 2010 to improve roads and tourist facilities in Tibet, according to state media. In 2006, the Qinghai-Tibet railway was completed, providing rail access to Lhasa from Beijing.

Often referred to as “the roof of the world,” Tibet resides north of the Himalayas, its average elevation almost 16,000 feet. A land steeped in religion, Tibet houses many holy sites, including Potala Palace, a sacred site for Buddhist pilgrims and former home of the Dalai Lama.

Although tensions in Tibet have died down since the protests in March, travelers should be mindful that 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the defeat of the country’s independence movement and the exile of the Dalai Lama.

Information: www.xzta.gov.cn/yww/

-- Jason La

Pictured: Potala Palace in Lhasa  (Susan Spano / Los Angeles Times)

Place: Tasmania

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: A relatively unspoiled island, Tasmania is a prime destination for eco-tourists. Protected areas such as forests, parks and reserves comprise roughly a third of the island. UNESCO recognizes the Tasmanian Wilderness as a World Heritage Site. Australia’s smallest state, the island’s size makes its sights more accessible. Popular activities on the island include hiking, biking and other outdoors activities.

With its vast tracts of protected land, Tasmania is home to many unusual animals, including the Tasmanian devil and the now extinct Tasmanian tiger. Since 2006, a facial cancer has wiped out half of the devil’s wild population. The disease has driven the bear-like marsupial, popularized by the cartoon character, the Tasmanian Devil, to the precipice of extinction.

Information: www.discovertasmania.com/us/

-- Jason La

Pictured: Port Arthur, Tasmania  (Clive Rose / Getty Images)

Place:Beijing

Why it’s hot in 2009: It was hot in 2008. Now that Beijing has had its moment in the Olympics spotlight, it has cooled way off, as Olympics cities often do. Plus it’s winter in a city that experiences 132 days of freezing temps each year, and when the wind blows off the Mongolian Plateau, you can feel those icicles in your bones. And speaking of a big chill, the economy isn’t helping either; tourism is said to be off by as much as 10%.

All of which makes it an ideal time to see the capital. The America Asia Travel Center has a seven-day package that centers on Beijing, including Olympic sites, that begins at $998 (taxes and other fees are not included). See www.americaasia.com/tour.aspx?locale=en-US&tourid=810.

Information: www.cnto.org.

-- Catharine Hamm

Pictured: The Place in Beijing’s Central Business District  (Chien-min Chung / For The Times)

Place: Las Vegas

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: Bargains, bargains, bargains. Remember when Sin City was synonymous with “cheap getaway”? It seems like ages ago. After the gambling mecca went glam and morphed into a chic adult playground, some weekend rooms on the Strip zoomed past $200 and into the stratosphere (the atmospheric zone, not the casino-hotel).

No more. The economic downturn has humbled Vegas, which toward the end of 2008 was logging about 10% fewer visitors than the year before. Average hotel rates were down more than 9%. >> Read more

-- Jane Engle

Pictured: The fountains of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino  (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Place: Thailand

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: Because it’s as beautiful and exotic as ever, and there are some good deals being offered to woo back tourists after political unrest shut Bangkok airports for a week late last year and drew protesters into city streets.

With a new government coalition, strengthened by a good showing in parliamentary by-elections, the situation was recently stabilizing, and the State Department removed a travel alert from Thailand.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand has launched a campaign, called Thailand Super Deal, to offer free room nights and other discounts at dozens of hotels.

Information: Thailand’s official tourism website

-- Jane Engle

Pictured: A night market in Chiang Mai, Thailand  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Place: Yosemite National Park

Why it’s a hot ticket in 2009: You can always bet on Yosemite to get crazy busy on summer weekends. But if you can get to Yosemite Valley any other time -- and score overnight accommodations -- you have a chance at some beautiful solitude, especially in the hours before and after the day-trippers come and go. The number of park visitors who stay overnight has been heading downward in the last decade. And with the National Park Service’s Nov. 21 move to close 233 tent and solid-wall cabins for safety reasons (falling rocks from Glacier Point), only 1,503 hotel rooms, cabins and campsites remain in Yosemite Valley. (In 1996, before several rockfalls, floods and planning decisions prompted reductions, there were 2,353.) If you’re up for a winter visit, it’ll be lonelier still: The park gets five July guests for every one it gets in January.

Information: Book campsites at www.recreation.gov, hotel rooms and other park accommodations at www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations.aspx.

-- Christopher Reynolds

Pictured: Cook’s Meadow in Yosemite Valley  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Place: London

Why it’s a hot ticket for 2009: You’ve wanted to go to London for years now, but it would have been too painful to see your precious dollars obliterated when they’re exchanged for pounds. Guess what? You’re in luck. The dollar has gained against the pound. Now when you hand over $10, you get 7 pounds back, about 2 more than you would have gotten in July. This is the most favorable exchange rate the dollar has seen versus the pound since 2002. And you better hurry too. Some currency forecasters expect the pound to rebound within a few months. Break open your piggy bank and go see Big Ben, the London Eye and Harrods while they’re still within reach.

-- Jason La

Pictured: Fireworks light up the London Eye during New Year’s  (Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images)