CNN: World's top destinations for 2011

December 28, 2010 | By A. Pawlowski, 
CNN Where on Earth will you find yourself in 2011?
Here's wishing it's somewhere unforgettable -- and the time to plan your journey is now, as the New Year brings the customary yearning for a fresh start and the promise of new people and places. To set your itinerary in motion, we sought out recommendations from three travel experts: Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet; Pauline Frommer, creator of Pauline Frommer's guidebooks; and Martin Rapp, senior vice president of leisure sales at Altour. 
Here are nine of their top destinations for 2011:

1. New York

2. New Zealand

3. Peruvian Amazon

4. Barcelona, Spain

5. Norway
6. Albania 
The top pick on Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries for 2011 may be a surprise for many people, but Albania gives travelers a taste of the Mediterranean without the crowds and the prices, Reid said. The real rising destination is Gjirokastra, a city whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, he added. "It's this cobbled town with Ottoman-era mansions," Reid said. "It's a very atmospheric place that has a lot of history." With picturesque beaches, good food and a number of heritage sites, Albania won't be off the beaten track for much longer, Lonely Planet says in its review. 
7. Japan

8. Guatemala
9. Bulgaria
* http://juridiksi.e-monsite.com/blog/news-in-english/cnn-world-s-top-destinations-for-2011.html