Hottest travel destinations of 2012

From an unexpected art-laden town in Arkansas to the historic and exotic shores of Greece, Travel + Leisure's Nilou Motamed reveals which locations around the world you should check off your places-to-see list.

By Jennifer Chen, Travel+Leisure

Imagine lazing in a hammock on a remote beach in Panama, where boldface names like Angelina Jolie and Michael Jordan have been spotted. It?s a trip within reach ??rustic-but-stylish hotels start at $99 ? and a country that?s remaking itself for 2012.

Slideshow: Hottest travel destinations of 2012

Discovering new destinations might seem next to impossible, but one of the wonders of travel is that there?s always someplace new on the horizon. And even when you think you know a place, there?s a hidden side ripe for exploration. To uncover 2012?s most exciting destinations, Travel+Leisure crisscrossed the globe, bringing back everything from Toronto?s new hot spots to secluded resorts in northern Mozambique.

Whitney Lawson

Some of the picks reflect travelers? increasing thirst for adventure and desire to immerse themselves in local ways. ?Our clients are interested in remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations that still retain their traditional culture,? said Scott Wiseman, president of Abercrombie & Kent USA.

Take Xishuangbanna, at the foot of the Himalayas in China?s southern Yunnan province. Though often overlooked in favor of Lijiang and Tibet, it?s home to an ethnically diverse population that still follows age-old customs ? making it the place to get a cultural fix without the crowds. And a luxurious new Anantara resort means roughing it is not required.

Looking for something even more remote? It?s hard to top Corumbau in Brazil?s southern Bahia. The original inhabitants named it "far from everything" for good reason: a sojourn requires a bone-rattling, four-hour drive from the nearest airport. The rewards ? deserted beaches, super-fresh seafood ? make up for the journey.

For each destination, T+L provided a breakdown of the kind of traveler it?s well suited to, the best time to go, and how to get there. Not all the destinations for 2012 are exotic and far-flung. Cutting-edge architecture and youthful creative energy are driving a renaissance in Guimar?es, one of Portugal?s oldest cities.

Culture is also making over places such as Bentonville, Ark., which Walmart heiress Alice Walton has graced with a free world-class museum of American art on 120 wooded acres.

Whether you?re a jet-setting sybarite, a design buff, or a thrill-seeking flashpacker, these places will inspire you to make 2012 a year of new discoveries.

Sarah Spagnolo, digital projects editor at Travel + Leisure magazine, shares great travel deals and must-see places for 2012.

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Source: http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/22/9639185-hottest-travel-destinations-of-2012

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