Where To Go On Your Summer Travels
Some say the hardest part about travel is deciding where to go. And the editors at Travel and Leisure magazine know that only too well. They have put together a new book, "The Best of 2006," that is meant to be a definitive guide to the best destinations both here and abroad.
The book includes more than 500 ideas, compiled with the help of both the editors and the magazine's readers. The suggestions include a wide range of luxury hotels and resorts, each chosen for location, quality of the accommodations and value.
Nilou Motamed, senior editor at Travel and Leisure joined The Early Show with some of her favorite destinations.
Miami
Miami is a particularly great choice during the off-seasons. Prices drop during the spring and summer, making it a good value for a beach getaway. The pools and beaches will fill your days, and the nightlife can't be beat.
Where to stay: The Standard: This hotel is away from busy Collins Ave., and Motamed says the spa is outstanding, offering a variety of water-themed treatments. She says the hotel is luxurious without being stuffy and that it offers a good value compared to some of the pricier options.
Alderbrook, Wash.
Located about two hours outside Seattle, this is a stunning outdoor getaway in the summer season. You'll find breathtaking views of Olympic mountains and a wide range of activities like hiking, fishing, crabbing, kayaking, and much more. This is a great destination for active families and Motamed points out that the Pacific Northwest is still relatively undiscovered as a vacation spot.
Where to stay: Alderbrook Resort & Spa. The resort features a 1,500 sq. foot dock, perfect for dinner or a drink, as well as a glassed-in pool and outdoor bonfire. Motamed describes this resort as a way of experiencing the outdoors without roughing it.
Italy
Europe is always a popular summer destination, and Italy continues to be high on travelers' lists. Despite the exchange rate, there are places that offer surprising value and Motamed says readers continue to be enthralled by Italy's charms, from the culture to the food.
Where to stay: Tuscany's Badia a Coltibuono "wine resort." This 1,000-year-old former abbey is outside of Florence and the 10 guest rooms are former monks' cells. The resort features not only a winery but a cooking school.
Germany
Hosting the World Cup this summer, Germany is expected to gain in popularity as a travel destination. Cities like Munich and Berlin are experiencing a cultural revolution in both art and dining and design and architecture are a strong draw. Hamburg is considered the Venice of Germany for its canals and general atmosphere.
Where to stay: Hotel q! in Berlin, a mod but functional hotel. Or,in Hamburg, East Hotel. It's in the city's red light district, but the area is being gentrified and is now described as hip.