If you are a meticulous planner and want to plan your holiday travel for 2012 much earlier than the others, here is a list of 7 cities that you might want to check out before your friends do. There might be a few cities here that might shock you, but these are the cities that hold a lot more promise than the others in 2012.
1. London, United Kingdom
With the Olympics coming up, London is bracing up for a huge influx of sports tourists along with the usual huge number of regular tourists it receives every year. Make sure you make hotel bookings pretty early if you don’t want to spend your nights under the stars in London.
2. Muscat, Oman
The capital city of Oman, Muscat is going full swing in attracting international tourists this year. The leaders of this oil rich nation have the vision to know that oil is not going to last forever and are pretty serious about making Oman a country people want to go to even if there is no oil anymore. Water sports, old souks, and Qurum’s trendy outlets should keep you entertained, and the famous Omani hospitality will ensure that you feel very welcome during your stay.
3. Bengaluru, India
Bengaluru is the new name for Bangalore, the software capital of India. For tourists wary of the hot Indian weather, Bengaluru is a place that they will like for its mild weather even in the peak Indian summer. Bengaluru offers you everything: good night life, famous Bengaluru pubs that serve gallons of draught beer, and an ambience that is both western and Indian.
4. Cadiz, Spain
The fourth place goes to the Mediterranean. Go to Cadiz in Spain if you want to experience the Andalusian way of living. What appears to be a sleepy town transforms into the raunchiest and boisterous-in-a-fun-way Spanish town once in a year when there is a 10 day carnival of drinking, singing and dancing. No wonder that this small town got the Ibero-American Capital of Culture for 2012 tag.
5. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm is as romantic as Paris but in a very Scandinavian way. This cozy, cosmopolitan city is very picturesque and offers an alternative European experience. Bohemian bars and uber-cool design shops are found all over this city, and you cannot leave Stockholm without a tinge of sadness in your heart. Not the cheapest of cities to travel to, but the experience is worth it even if it leaves a hole in your wallet.
6. Guimaraes, Portugal
Guimaraes, in northern Portugal, is astonishingly beautiful, and its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List is perfectly justified. This is the European Capital of Culture for 2012; go here if you want to experience medieval style architecture with red roofed and colonnade buildings. You can also see some of the most stunning mansions and palaces of Europe in this city. This is also a place that should interest artists, as artists from Portugal and the rest of Europe gather here to showcase their creations.
7. Santiago, Chile
Chile has been through some terrible events recently: the devastating earthquake and the mining accident that gained international exposure. However, all that is put to the backburner by the defiant and spirited Chileans and now, Santiago is posed to host quite a few cultural and sports extravaganzas. You should join the Chileans in their defiance of calamities, and explore the Andes, the valleys of Maipo and Colchagua valleys, and the vineyards of Casablanca when you are there.
Source: Lonelyplanet.com
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