Today 's travel editor, Peter Greenberg, says you've got to take a contrarian approach to finding incredible destinations and travel experiences—pick a place that's off the beaten path, go off-season and understand that Plan A will never work. With these key principles in mind, Peter shares with Nate his top travel hot spots for 2008:
Anywhere off-season: Peter says he's a big fan of the Caribbean or Colorado in the summer, not the winter. Similarly, he suggests Alaska in the winter, not the summer. When you travel off-season, Peter says you can avoid long lines, crowds and higher prices.
South America: The continent is one of Peter's favorite destinations—in particular, he loves Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina. "The U.S. dollar is still king down there—it's almost a 3:1 exchange rate," Peter says. While you're there, Peter recommends a visit to Mendoza, western Argentina's wine country. "They have over 880 wineries that make Napa almost pale in comparison and they've got great wines," he says.
Canada: Peter says there's so much to see in Canada, from Vancouver Island on the western side, to Prince Edward Island on the eastern side. "Most Americans still operate under the mistaken notion that Canada is not a sexy destination, and they're wrong—it's great, and the people are great and it's our neighbor to the north and easily accessible," Peter says.
Turkey: Peter says Turkey is often a better travel option than neighboring Greece because it's similarly situated on the Mediterranean but much less expensive.
Wisconsin: This state isn't just about cheeseheads rooting for the Green Bay Packers, Peter says. Cities like Madison and Milwaukee also offer great food, culture, people and greenery. "People just ignore the Midwest, and they're wrong!" he says.
Nicaragua: Peter says the people of Nicaragua are eager for tourism to expand in their country. "They realize more than ever that travel and tourism is going to save their economy—now's the time for you to go down and see it," he says.
Montenegro: Emerging republics in central and eastern Europe are also just starting to open up to tourism, Peter says. "This is the time to go see it before it gets overrun," he says.
Greenland: The largest island in the world, Greenland is more than just a place to study global warming, Peter says. With a population of only 56,000 and two street lights in the entire country, Greenland is a great place to see nature at work.
