Remembering 2010, dreaming of 2011!

As 2010 comes to a close, I find myself reminiscing about the amazing places I visited this year, and getting excited to see where 2011 takes me! With this year's destinations including Savannah, French Polynesia, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, South Africa, and Fiji, 2010 is going to be hard to top - but I look forward to trying!

Everyone keeps asking me where I'm headed next, but I actually have no idea! With a few things up in the air in terms of travel agents conferences and my husband's vacation time, I likely won't know for a little while where my next passport stamp will come from. But as usual, I've got a wish list a mile long! So starting today, I'll be posting a few times a week with my top travel picks for 2011, including dream hotels, excursion ideas, and other destination information! First up...the Cook Islands (after the jump)!

I'd also love to hear where 2010 has taken you, and where you're going (or even just dreaming of) in 2011! 

A toast to all of you! (at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa)

And a bit more champagne on the grounds of Villa Monastero in Varenna (on Lake Como), Italy - because who can stop at just one glass?

Looking for an overwater bungalow?

The two areas in which these types of accommodations are most prevalent are French Polynesia (aka Tahiti) and the Maldives. In general, if you want the stereotypical OWB with all the bells and whistles--including crystal clear water and glass floor or coffee table, and more upscale building materials and furnishings--these 2 areas will have the most options.

There are a few exceptions, of course, one of which is a brand new resort in Fiji called LikuLiku (http://www.likulikulagoon.com/)

Another gorgeous place for an OWB is Aitutaki Lagoon Resort, in the Cook Islands http://www.aitutakilagoonresort.com/

In the Phillipines: http://www.elnidoresorts.com/

Other resorts with OWBs do exist throughout the world--just be aware that these may not all be at the same level of luxury or in as tropical of a setting as the OWBs mentioned above. Not to say they would not still be wonderful places to vacation--just perhaps somewhat different from the commonly seen French Polynesian overwater bungalow. Here are a few to consider:

Coral Lodge-- San Blas Islands, Panama http://www.corallodge.com/

Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge-- Bocas del Toro, Panama http://www.puntacaracol.com/

9 Beaches--Bermuda http://www.9beaches.com/

Hotelito Desconocido-- near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico http://www.hotelito.com/

Anthony's Key-- Roatan, Honduras http://www.anthonyskey.com/

Coconuts Beach Club--Samoa http://www.coconutsbeachclub.com/

Glover's Atoll Resort--Belize http://www.glovers.com.bz/

St. George's Caye Lodge--Belize http://www.gooddiving.com/