If somebody said to me, “Quick . . . name ten travel treasures you’d recommend!”

In no particular order . . . the first five that come to mind:

 

Cappodocia, Turkey –

This place had been on my “list” for probably twenty years. I recalled that it was somewhere in central Turkey with lots of pointy rock outcroppings and cave dwellings. Last September I finally had the opportunity to visit. It’s one of those “can’t-stop-taking-pictures” kind of places. Stupendous, spectacular, breathtaking.  The best place EVER to do a hot air balloon ride. And I would highly recommend a hotel called Argos. Magical.

Jaipur, India –

If you know me, you know about my love of India. A place of chaos, color and contrast. When I think of India, I recall a memory of driving through the countryside in autumn, where fields of golden wheat were ready for harvest. Women (who typically do the majority of the work in the third world – but that’s another blog post for another day) were bent over, slashing fistfuls of stalks with their sickles. They wore brilliantly-colored saris and armloads of bangle bracelets. Emerald green, fuschia pink or royal blue against the golden grain.  Consider that a sari is a six-meter piece of cloth wrapped around the body, tucked and folded so that the last length of cloth drapes over the shoulder and hangs down the back to about knee level. These hard-working, resilient women would straighten up as we drove past, shielding their eyes at the curious sight of foreigners. I would wave, and they would always wave back.

 

Soller, Island of Mallorca, Spain –

A short flight from Barcelona, or a hydrofoil ride, lands you in Palma … with a beautiful marina and a spectacular cathedral. Spend a few hours to see the sights of Palma, and then find the century-old narrow-gauge railway that winds its way up the mountain, past almond groves, over bridges and viaducts and through tunnels. The end of the line is a lovely small town called Soller (pronounced “soy-yer”). Walk through the square to the Gran Hotel Soller, a 38-room boutique hotel dating from the late 1800s. Later in the day, after all the day-trippers have left, enjoy a glass of sangria and a wood-fired pizza or tapas at a casual café overlooking the central plaza, where kids play in the fountains, lovers smooch on the benches and elderly couples take their evening stroll. Captivating!

Anywhere in Puglia, Italy –

This is another destination that had intrigued me from the first time I read about it years ago in Andrew Harper’s renown Hideaway Report. But get there quick – I cannot imagine that scouts from Sheraton and Hilton and European chain hotels are not drawing up plans for massive developments here. It’s just too good to be kept a secret from the American market, and once well-known, Puglia will be forever changed – not always for the best. For now, it’s a treasure of picturesque towns, olive groves, vineyards, gorgeous coastline, intriguing architecture and down-to-earth, friendly locals.

Where is it? It’s the “heel of the boot” of Italy. I’m taking the WOW! Travel Club to Puglia this October, and still have a few spaces open!

 

Hoi An, Vietnam –

Before you visit Vietnam, you expect that the highlight will be Halong Bay. When you return, you’ll have fallen for Hoi An. I’ve already written a blog post about its many charms. Not sure how this town, which is on every visitor’s itinerary, manages to feel so unspoiled and appealing – but, thankfully, it does!

 

Kinsale, Ireland –

To single out any particular treasure in Ireland is a challenge – there are so many from which to choose! But Kinsale, which I visited for the first time last summer, is a stand-out. Located on the south coast, in County Cork, it is regarded as the “Culinary Capital” of Ireland. Brightly colored, walkable and delightful. I recommend Don & Barry’s historic walking tour, which provides a colorful narrative of the town, from its medieval roots to the sinking of the Lusitania. According to Michael Breed, Member of PGA.com Advisory Board, “The Old Head Golf Links sits on possibly the single prettiest piece of property in the world. The golf course will test you but the scenery will move you.”

 

Coming next week, the Final Five:

Rio, Guilin and… can you guess the last three?