Hot destinations 2007
From Oman to Virginia, 2007 is going to be a heady year for travel. Read this to make sure you don't miss out.
Valencia
All eyes will be on Valencia later this year when the Spanish city hosts the coveted America's Cup, the world's biggest and most prestigious yachting event. Valencia is the first city in Europe to stage the race, despite the event's long history. Already a popular short break destination with savvy travellers, Valencia benefits from a great location a short hop from the resorts on the Costa Blanca and is well served by no-frills airlines. But it is a charming city in its own right, home to the original paella, and it offers an exciting mixture of old and new, with cutting edge modern architecture and traditional baroque barrios. Check out the futuristic looking Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (the City of Arts and Sciences) designed by local architect Santiago Calatrava, featuring Europe's largest state-of-the-art marine park, complete with a 30m- (98ft-) long shark tunnel, a dolphinarium, huge fish tanks, a colony of Humboldt's penguins, and a very surreal underwater restaurant (website: www.cac.es). The harbour area, Europe's largest urban regeneration project, will be at the centre of the action during the Cup (website: www.comunitatvalenciana.com).
Beijing
As the rest of the world awakens to the tourism potential of the Chinese giant, interest in the country is growing and visitor numbers to China have rocketed. But while Shanghai and Hong Kong have traditionally stolen the limelight, it is Beijing which is set to draw the crowds in the next few years.
The capital has been undergoing a breathtaking urban makeover since being named host city for the 2008 Olympics (website: http://en.beijing2008.cn), and the buzz is almost palpable. The city's facelift has spawned some amazing buildings, not least the Olympic venues themselves, and particularly the National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, designed by Herzog & de Meuron at a cost of over US$400 million. The Water Cube (aka National Aquatic Centre), Paul Andreu's new egg-shaped National Opera House and the huge new Norman Foster-designed terminal at Beijing Capital Airport will also dazzle visitors.
Old-time favourites such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, or the Temple of Heaven are being given a makeover too. The city's infrastructure has been improved, thousands of trees and shrubs have even been planted to brighten up streets and squares, new hotels are opening every week (most recently Westin, Ritz-Carlton and InterContinental), and more direct flights than ever now serve the Chinese capital. Beijing is most definitely one of Asia's most exciting cities.
Oman
Travellers to the Middle East seeking an alternative to Dubai are increasingly heading for Oman, which offers stunning unspoilt scenery (think deserts, tranquil oases, rugged mountains and peaceful beaches) and rich cultural heritage, with friendly locals and year-round sunshine thrown in for good measure. Scuba-diving, sailing, dolphin and whale watching are all popular activities here, but it is adventure travel which draws intrepid visitors. So if you fancy spending the night under the stars on a desert safari or sailing along the coast on an old-fashioned dhow, this might be just the destination for you (website: www.omantourism.gov.om)
Virginia, USA
2007 marks America's 400th anniversary, or the settling of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, in 1607. The entire state will be celebrating this turning point in history this year, with events including the sailing of a newly commissioned replica Godspeed from Chesapeake Bay up the James River, recreating parts of the original route sailed by the first settlers; a World of 1607 Exhibition; the America's Anniversary Weekend in May; and a host of other celebrations throughout the year (website: www.jamestown2007.org).
London
London is one of the most popular destinations in the world, and 2007 promises to be yet another exciting year for visitors. The new O2 (formerly known as the Millennium Dome) will be opening in July and is touted as the most technically advanced music, sport and entertainment venue in the UK (website: www.theo2.co.uk). The iconic new Wembley Stadium is also reopening later this year: it will be home to the England football team and can seat a whooping 90,000 spectators. The Grand Départ of the Tour de France, held for the first time ever in the capital, is set to draw the crowds in the summer (website: www.tourdefrancelondon.com/en), and so is the blockbuster Tutankhamun exhibition, featuring over 130 of the great pharaoh's magnificent treasures, later on in the year (website: www.kingtut.org). Meanwhile train travellers can look forward to the unveiling of the brand new St Pancras Eurostar terminal in November (website: www.stpancras.com). The Channel Tunnel Rail Link will cut the journey time to Paris down to 2 hours 20 minutes (website: www.visitlondon.com).
Bulgaria and Romania
These two countries in Eastern Europe will be joining the EU in 2007. Served by an increasing number of no-frills airlines from Western Europe, Bulgaria and Romania are popular with second home owners and ideal for those looking for a more off-the-beaten-path kind of holiday. Boasting 16 UNESCO World Heritage sites between them, as well as unique wildlife, fascinating folklore and up-and-coming ski and seaside resorts, Bulgaria and Romania offer fantastic value year round. Little wonder they are growing in popularity (website: www.bulgariatravel.org and www.romaniatourism.com).
Liverpool
Liverpool will spend 2007 celebrating its 800th anniversary before taking on its role as European Capital of Culture in 2008, so there will be lots going on in the city by the River Mersey (website: www.visitliverpool.com). A four-day extravaganza of pageantry and street entertainment will take place in late August this year to celebrate the granting of the city's first charter in 1207. Over 300 events are planned, including plenty on the city's best-known export - Beatlemania. Coincidentally, the famous Cavern Club (website: www.cavern-liverpool.co.uk) on Mathew Street, where The Beatles first made their name, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. And a brand new Hard Day's Night Hotel (website: www.harddaysnighthotel.com) is also due to open in 2007. Beatles fans take note.
Turkey
Turkey has been a popular destination with Brits on package holidays for years, but it is redefining its image and reinventing itself as a hip destination, with new trendy hotels attracting young moneyed travellers. The five-star Hillside Su in Antalya created a bit of a stir when it opened in 2004 (website: www.hillside.com.tr), as did the Adam & Eve, also in Antalya, last year (website: www.adamevehotels.com). On the other hand, the new easyJet London-Istanbul route (website: www.easyjet.com), launched in summer 2006, now puts this vibrant, fascinating city within reach of budget travellers attracted to Istanbul's rich past and culture (website: www.tourismturkey.org).
Photo credits:
Valencia © www.comunitatvalenciana.com
Imperial Gateway, Beijing © Juliet Sinclair
Oman © Oman Tourism
Romania © Romania National Tourist Office
Turkey © Hillside Su
01 January 2007
