Each year, Frommers’ editors, authors and experts from around the world sit down to talk about the best cities, islands, beaches and other vacation destinations for the coming year. They aim for a list that steers clear of too-hot spots or places that are so under the radar you’ll find yourself lost. Here’s their list of top 10 for 2011:

A view of downtown Doha, Qatar as seen from the Corniche.
Photo by gwilson/Frommers.com Community

Doha, Qatar
Doha doesn’t attract the hoards of beer-swilling British tourists or the sheer number of hotels that the U.A.E.’s Dubai does, but its beaches are more beautiful and its gourmet restaurants are less crowded. The Al Jazeera news network is what put Doha on the map a decade ago, although a different sort of camera — the movie kind — is what’s drawing tourists for the Doha-Tribeca Film Festival. Next year marks its third installment. Doha is concentrating on beefing up its presence on the international stage by following up its world-class, I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art with a bid for the Olympics in 2016 and the Fifa World Cup in 2022. Plus, the city is hosting professional soccer’s Asian Cup in January.

Rio’s crowded Ipanema Beach.
Photo by Queensue/Frommers.com Community

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Although hardly a secret destination, Rio de Janeiro is shedding its image as a sun, sea, and samba town and going for glamour and sophistication. Join the friendly Cariocas for an innovative 10-course Amazonian dinner at Rio’s top Le Pré Catelan restaurant or some delectable “brapas” (Brazilian tapas) at hip eatery Oui Oui. Even Rio’s magnificent beaches are better than ever before; from Leme to Leblon, new outdoor cafés boast fabulous seaside patios with comfortable bathroom facilities. As host of the 2014 Soccer World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city is abuzz with exciting developments that will be sure to attract huge crowds. Beat the rush and see how the Girl from Ipanema is all grown up.

A reflection in the helmet of a Stockholm Palace guard.
Photo by foehner/Frommers.com Community

Stockholm, Sweden
Best-selling writer Stieg Larsson has rocketed Stockholm to the top of the list of most popular European cities through the exploits of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, better known as the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It’s high time: Stockholm has always been a city of under-appreciated surprises and discoveries. Every visitor should see the main sights (like the Royal Palace and the winding cobbled streets of medieval Gamla Stan), but then hop on the 1900 steamboat that takes you past hidden creeks and marshland to the royal family’s palace on Drottningholm. Swim in a restored 1904 Art Nouveau pool, tuck into reindeer or arctic char in a gourmet food market, or try a distinctly different guided walk over the rooftops. And of course, follow in the footsteps of Lisbeth Salander on the former working-class island of Södermalm.

Atlanta skyline from Piedmont Park.
Photo by Jay Filter/Frommers.com Community

Atlanta, Georgia
As the gateway to the New South, Atlanta has certainly come a long way since it burned to the ground during General William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea in 1864. And while remains of the Civil War are still a big draw for visitors — the Kennesaw Mountain/National Battlefield Park and Cheatham Hill specifically, there is much more to this great city than 150-year-old confrontations. Atlanta boasts the world’s largest aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola museum, a world-class zoo, an impressive botanical garden, and Federal parks highlighting the life and works of native son Martin Luther King, Jr. Reinvigorated neighborhoods scattered throughout the city, such as Virginia-Highlands, Midtown and Buckhead, are easy to navigate on foot and boast great shopping, dining and nightlife. Progressive yet rich in history, Atlanta truly has something for everyone.

Broadstairs Stone Bay Beach Huts along the Kent Coast in England.
Photo by Jill Emeny

Kent Coast, England
Less than two hours from London by train, the Kent Coastline offers long stretches of clean, sandy beaches, secluded coves, and bustling seaside towns. There’s plenty to keep visitors going over a long weekend, from quirky independent shops to worthy eateries to stylish boutique hotels. A focus for visitors is the area from Whitstable to Ramsgate, taking in the colourful beach huts of Herne Bay and the traditional seaside resort of Broadstairs, with many beaches to be discovered along the way. Walkers can take off on a bracing cliff top ramble whilst exploring the 27-mile-long Viking Coastal Path, taking in smugglers haunts, and some of the oldest churches in England.

Spring colors in Hokkaido, Japan.
Photo by Wend In Leong/Frommers.com Community

Hokkaido, Japan
The northernmost island of Hokkaido was the final frontier for the citizens of Japan, so it’s only fitting that it’s the final frontier for visitors as well. Hokkaido confounds expectations at every turn. While the mainland of Japan has a reputation for being tiny and crowded, Hokkaido is expansive and sparsely populated. While the mainland features typically Asian architecture, the major cities of Hokkaido have a distinct, almost European feel. And while Japan is known as a technological paradise, Hokkaido overflows with natural wonders, from fields of alpine flowers in the summer to breathtaking ice-scapes in the winter months.

Beach along the Cesme peninsula, Turkey.
Photo by Spiterman/Flickr.com

Cesme Peninsula, Turkey
The picturesque villages with crumbling Greek facades and enormous stretches of sparsely populated beaches that were once the hidden playground of Izmir’s working class have developed into a veritable international holiday sensation. Today, relaxation can be found at more than a dozen deluxe thermal spas and visitors can find lodging at opulent bayside resorts, romantic boutique hideaways, or even a stately Pasha’s manse. Step back in time at Erytrai, the city of antiquity peeping out from under the Mediterranean brush, and pass into the medieval era in Çesme’s hybrid Genoese-Ottoman fortress before returning to the 21st century in one of the many elegant streetside cafés of Alaçati or the white-glove restaurants at Dalyan cove.

Mason’s Rock near Virginia Falls in Nahanni National Park.
Photo by Mike Beauregard/Flickr.com

Nahanni National Park, Canada
If there’s such a thing as a quintessential Canadian wilderness experience, paddling down the Nahanni River may be it. While the remote Nahanni National Park in the Northwest Territories has always had a degree of recognition — it was the world’s first-ever UNESCO World Heritage Site — its profile increased dramatically in 2009 when the park underwent a massive expansion to become more than 11,500 square miles of protected land (nearly the size of Switzerland). While the park’s remote nature means that this is not a budget trip, you also don’t have to be a grizzled outdoorsman to enjoy it — warming in the north means that the season gets a little bit longer every year, and many people choose to float comfortably down the river in a whitewater raft, enjoying the abundant wildlife.

Boats and swimmers in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
Photo by Kim Mazzucco/Frommers.com Community

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
A tiny town fronting a small protected harbor on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo offers up a laid-back environment, spicy food, palpable tropical heat, and streets filled with the rhythmic lilt of patois and reggae music. From the shore right in town you can watch surfers tackle Salsa Brava, a steep reef break reminicent of Hawaii’s treacherous Bonzai Pipline. Just south of town are white sand beaches backed by thick rain forest and protected park lands. If you decide to do more than sunbathe, you can hike the trails of the nearby Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge and Cahuita National Park. You’ll almost certainly hear the roar of howler monkeys, and watch parrots fly by.

The island of Ponza, off Italy’s western Mediterranean coast.
Photo by bitter like a coffee/Flickr.com

Ponza and the Pontine Islands, Italy
The principal island in Italy’s Pontine archipelago is one of the most naturally gorgeous and downright fun islands of Italy, and just far enough from the mainland to be an impractical destination for mass tourism. So much the better for those who do go to the trouble of making a trip here, because what you’ll find is a rare Mediterranean gem that has kept its Italian identity intact and undiluted. It’s not that Ponza is “undiscovered.” On the contrary, it’s a summertime escape that enjoys feverish devotion among the bella gente of Rome and Naples. If you want to avoid the holiday scene altogether, just come in the gorgeous shoulder months of May, June, and September — locals will tell you this is when their island really shines.

A Zen parable says: “When a fish swims, it swims on and on and there is no end to the water. When a bird flies, it flies on and on and there is no end to the sky.” Here on this ancient island, one enters into a Blue Zone.

I travel for a variety of reasons. But when I have a true quest, my trip becomes a mission, and the whole damn thing takes on a totally different dimension. That long flight becomes the crusade, the hotel takes on the feel of base camp and every bus or taxi becomes an intrepid conveyance pushing me further to the Holy Grail. Sound a bit Indiana Jones? Well, maybe.

From Big Ben to Buckingham Palace and Sherlock Holmes to Shakespeare, London is drenched in majesty, history and lore. Explore its endearing customs and age-old traditions. Witness the pomp and circumstance of the Changing of the Guard; sip traditional afternoon tea; ride a double-decker bus, take in the theatre and a pint at the pub. You’ll not want for diversity in this colorful metropolis.

World-Class Culture

London is one of the greatest cultural destinations in the world. With 70 large museums, more than 30 major art galleries and almost 150 theatres, not to mention hundreds of years of fascinating stories behind its monuments, palaces and historic houses, this capital city is the perfect location for a culturally enlightening vacation. The crowning glory of Trafalgar Square, London’s National Gallery is a vast space, filled to the rafters with Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. In this iconic art gallery you can find works by masters such as Van Gogh, da Vinci and Renoir, as well as the renowned English artists, Gainsborough and Turner. The National Theatre, in addition to stellar performances on stage, hosts music concerts, lectures, backstage tours and exhibitions. Fans of the Bard should check out the Royal Shakespeare Company, which frequently stages seasons in London, or head to Shakespeare’s Globe, a magnificent open-air playhouse. The Royal Opera House is home to the Royal Ballet, Royal Opera and Royal Opera House Orchestra.

To the Palace, Please

Buckingham Palace is a symbol and home of the British monarchy, an exquisite art gallery and an awe-inspiring tourist attraction. Behind the gilded railings and gates is not only the weekday home of the Queen of England and Prince Philip, but also the London residence of the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The State Rooms of the Palace are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection – paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Vermeer; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey, splendid examples of Sevres porcelain and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Though the Palace is only open to visitors from late July to September, you can see the ceremonious Changing of the Guard on alternate days year-round.

Dear Abbey

An architectural masterpiece, Westminster Abbey is the tallest Gothic building in the British Isles. The structure was deliberately designed in the shape of a cross, its pointed style strongly influenced by contemporary French cathedral architecture. More than 3,000 people are buried or memorialized inside these walls, among them, some of the world’s greatest kings, queens, scientists, musicians and poets. The Abbey has held every English coronation for the last 900 years. Today it is a living church dedicated to daily worship as well as a living pageant of British history for visitors to explore. If you “time” it right, you’ll likely hear the resounding gongs of Big Ben echoing throughout the city streets; the name “Big Ben” refers not to the famous clock tower, but to the 13-ton bell hung within.

Hop-on, Hop-off

Bright red double-decker buses seem to be everywhere in London, offering a variety of mix and match tours. These guided excursions are an ideal way to get an informative, entertaining and comfortable overview of the city. Depending on your choice of routes, you can visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London and even take a narrated cruise on the scenic River Thames. By the time you’re done, you will probably know more about London’s  history than some of the locals!

Hit the Streets

London may be one of the world’s most easily navigable cities, either by foot or via the Tube. Be sure to explore Covent Garden, a delightful jumble of eclectic shops, eateries, cultural venues and entertainment, from street performers to live performances at its plethora of theaters. Piccadilly Circus is the London equivalent of Times Square; a busy, colorful junction and popular gathering spot. From here it’s a short walk to Soho, Trafalgar Square and the fashionable shops of Carnaby Street. Discover more fine finds at the upscale shops along Oxford, Regent and Bond Streets, replete with designer couture. Don’t miss Harrods, the world’s most famous luxury department store and a destination in itself!

While you’re out and about, climb aboard the London Eye for a breathtaking experience. The world’s highest observation wheel, it presents panoramic views of the city and more than 55 of London’s most famous landmarks. It’s a thrilling way to start or end your Dream Vacation in this marvelous city.

A land of poets, painters and pure romance, Paris is one of the world’s most beloved cities. Stroll the shady tree-lined streets of the Champs-Elysées. Sip café au lait at a sidewalk bistro as a mime captivates passers by.

Of all the countries in the world, there is perhaps none more magical than Italy. This dream destination is blanketed in a rainbow of colors; from lush vineyards and snowcapped mountains to golden sands and deep blue seas.

Little did I expect my e-saver ticket to Frankfurt would lead to Wiesbaden. I was looking for a historic city with impressive architecture, parks, culture, good food and wine. Also, spas and some shopping would be nice. Of course, I only had three full days.

For an art lover, Canal & Company’s seven-day autumn riverboat cruise on France’s Oise River may be the perfect getaway for viewing the quaint villages and tranquil landscapes of France. It’s a relaxing way to become immersed in the creations of the Impressionist artists, who glorified nature’s light and color.

Your pass to low cost airfare and convenient flights throughout Europe.

We arrive in time for traditional afternoon English tea, unaware that The Dorchester was recently named London’s top tea venue by the Tea Council of Great Britain. I also admit I didn’t know this hotel was among the top ten in the world when I booked our rooms. They say you’re either smart or lucky. If that’s true, I’m on a Royal roll.

It was all arranged in a bit of a hurry. We postponed this trip several times, finally deciding to “just do it” -  two and a half days each in London and Paris . Stolen time; from work, from family, from friends. But it was now or never.

And now, I’m flanked by waiters serving Earl Gray and finger sandwiches. My husband joins me in The Promenade with our good friend Lowell, who quite coincidentally is visiting Europe at the same time. His wife Deborah is soon seated beside me sipping tea from Wedgwood cups of eggshell-thin bone china, and nibbling on scones and petit fours.

The Promenade is the focal point of the Dorchester, a sweeping lobby with potted palms and towering fountains of flowering plants. Marble columns the color of apricot parfait rise from the floor, crowned by gilded Corinthian capitals. A pianist serenades us as we sink into plush couches with pillows as soft as marshmallows. Just off the lobby is The Dorchester Bar — designed by Parisian designer Alberto Pinto in a soothing combination of natural light, mirrors, bleached wood, pale leather chairs and blue and white La Morinerie ceramic tile murals. An exuberant glass and rhinestone baby grand, previously owned by the late Liberace, gleams in the corner. The hotel’s award-winning Oriental Restaurant and traditional Grill Room restaurant are also off The Promenade, as is the Art Deco full-service spa.

It’s tempting to spend the rest of the day ensconced in this opulence, but the clock is ticking – in this case Big Ben; though the name refers not to the famous clock tower, but to the 13-ton bell hung within. The resounding gong echoes through the streets just as we step through the Great North Door of Westminster Abbey, the tallest Gothic building in the British Isles. This architectural masterpiece was designed in the shape of a cross, its pointed style strongly influenced by contemporary French cathedral architecture.

Over 3,000 people are buried or memorialized inside these walls, among them some of the world’s greatest kings, queens, scientists, musicians and poets. The Abbey has held every English coronation for the last 900 years, a tradition that began with William I on Christmas Day, 1066. Today it is a living church dedicated to worship and to celebrating great events.

We celebrate our fortuitous reunion with our friends at Rule’s, London’s oldest restaurant. Its convenient Covent Garden location in the heart of the theatre district makes it perfect for pre- or post theatre gatherings. Established in 1798, the restaurant still specializes in game, oysters, pies and puddings. Not quite ready for venison, quail, rabbit or partridge, we share a variety of Irish and native oysters, unfamiliar in both appearance and taste, but quite savory. “We do not recommend the drinking of excess alcohol with oysters,” the menu clearly states. Interesting disclaimer.

The ambience is that of an upscale lodge … quiet, dignified and sporting, so much so that we feel like mounting our horses and trotting off to the hunt. But instead, we don our capes and scarves and take a brisk walk to the theatre for an ingenious production of the current hit, “Stones in His Pockets.”

The next day we spontaneously hitch our American stars to “The Big Bus Company,” a hop-on hop-off bus tour of the city. The bright red double-decker busses seem to be everywhere, offering a variety of mix and match routes and attractions. A bus tour is not normally my cup of tea, but for an informative, entertaining and comfortable tour of the city, this one hit the spot. We hop off at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and the Thames river cruise. By the time we meet our resident English friends, Mike and Dee for dinner, we are more expert than they in London history and lore.

Ah, dinner. The Dorchester’s Grill Room offers traditional British cooking in a sumptuous Baroque setting. We decide to sample all the wonderful fresh ingredients from around the British Isles … succulent Scottish beef, sweet Welsh lamb, firm-fleshed wild salmon from the Severn and the Dee; crabs and lobsters from the rocky coasts of Cornwall, superb farmhouse cheeses from all over the islands. And apéritifs, digestifs and properly paired wines with each course.

The following morning, we share tea and crumpets in our extra long claw foot tub while reading the London Times; declining Mike and Dee’s invitation to join them back at their English country home, declining Lowell and Deborah’s invitation to spend a day in Greenwich. Instead, we hit the streets of the city. Like veterans we navigate our way through town via the Tube, finding our way from Hyde Park, across from our hotel, to Covent Garden to the marvelous shops along Bond Street. Evening finds us quite unexpectedly at the National Theatre, enjoying a production of “Noises Off,” thanks to George at the Dorchester’s Theatre Desk who miraculously found front row seats at this “sold out” performance. Good show.

The Chunnel, a high-speed, clean and efficient train delivers us from London to Paris within three restful hours. Our hotel, the Royal Monceau, is just off the Champs Elysees. We stroll the avenue and pick up some vin, fromage and a baguette to tide us over until our dinner cruise with Les Yachts de Paris. The hotel concierge had recommended this company above others for an intimate gourmet dinner and tour of the City of Lights.

The Eiffel Tower presents an hourly halogen light show, like sparkling fireworks reflecting on the waters of the Seine. Between courses of foie gras, lobster salad, filet mignon and lamb medallions, we stroll the teak deck of what feels like our private yacht, and revel in this true, life highlight. Paris may be the only city built on a river, and there may be no better way to experience it than from a luxury yacht under a canopy of stars. And don’t forget that snifter of Armangnac before disembarking.

Montmatre, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, The Left Bank, Latin Quarter, The Louvre, the Musee D’Orsay, we fit it all in. What a romp – London, Paris, Sarasota. Full, fast, fabulous, fatiguing.

Worth it? You bet.

If you go:

For rates, information and reservations at the Dorchester, call 44 (0)20 7409 0114 or visit www.dorchesterhotel.com. For rates, information and reservations at The Hotel Royal Monceau, call 01 42 99 89 90 or visit www.royalmonceau.com.

Reprinted from Style Magazine