Most of us work at STA because we love to travel. You can’t really expect us to talk about visiting all of the amazing destinations and not visit any of them ourselves right?

So where do we want to go in 2010?

Cristo de Redentor in Brazil

Brazil – I took Portuguese in college and my professor was from Rio. The tales of the food, the beaches and the people have been ingrained in my psyche ever since and I can’t shake the thought of relaxing among the locals on Copacabana. – Patrick

Greece – Who wouldn’t want to go hit up the beaches of the Mediterranean? After seeing the World Traveler Interns living it up on the Greek Isles last year, I’ve got to get myself there this year. – David

New York City – I would love to visit NYC again for a quick weekend.  My fiance and I want to visit all the great delicatessens, SoHo, little Italy, the Moma and catch a show on Broadway.  Perhaps this time I would even catch a view of some more of the even more touristy areas such as the Statue of Liberty. – Josh

Sydney – The Harbour, the fun-loving Australians and Bondi Beach. No more need to be said. – Olivia

Puerto Vallarta – My favorite beach town. I love staying in the old town, chilling on the beach and watching the sunset from some amazing beach front bar. – Robert

Dubrovnik, Croatia – This place is on the cusp of becoming an amazing superstar international destination and I’d like to experience it right before the place goes crazy. Dubrovnik is for 2010 what Prague was for the “early” 2000s. – Kara

Tell us in the comments where you want to go in 2010.

Prague

Bohemian Rhapsody!

I dare you to not start humming the tune.  Wait for it, wait for it.  Yep, now your head is bobbing a la Wayne and Garth.  Consider that wonderful tune in your head all day my first gift to you.  I know you like it.

Speaking of Bohemian and Rhapsody, go ahead you can keep humming, let me tell you about a trip I took that is every bit Bohemian and with out a doubt causes a good deal of Rhapsody.

Ok, let me start with…

Three of my very favorite cites in the world:

• Prague
• Krakow
• Budapest

Two of the most magical natural landscapes that you have never heard of:

• Zakopane, Poland
• Plitvice National Park, Croatia

One place that everyone must visit in their lifetime:

• Aushwitz and Birkenau

To visit all of these amazing places I trusted the services of a local adventure company. There is something to be said about joining up with a group and getting the inside track from expert and local guides.  That and I really enjoy leaving the transportation and accommodation details to someone else.

Here are just a few highlights from my trip to hopefully inspire you to go and discover the rest.

Prague: Which came first, Bohemian the region or bohemian the life style?  Give it a day or so and I think you will figure it out.  Oh and in Prague, find U Fleku, trust me.

Krakow: There are lots of places to travel too, spend a few days and move on.  You will not want to leave Krakow.  This college town is always alive and vibrant whether in a club or people watching from a Café in the main square.  Our guide took us to an underground Salsa club, nothing beats dancing with the locals.

Budapest: Two cities on the banks of the Danube, Buda and Pest, each with its own unique landscape and feel.  Get on a bike to see the best of both.  Visit the markets, eat some of the best food in Europe and spend at least one day chilling at the thermal baths, especially in winter.

Zakopane: Nestled high against the Tatra Mountains, Zakopane is Poland’s Alpine paradise.  Hike or Ski from Poland to Slovakia and be sure to have one of the local craftsmen carve and show you how to use the regions traditional ax, Hei!

Plitvice National Park: Plitvice National Park is arguably one of the most beautiful and enchanting places on Earth.  Here a series of mountain lakes cascade down through the rolling mountains of the Plitvice Plateau producing 1,000’s of waterfalls.  Throughout the park paths and walk ways take you past over, and under gentle and rushing torrents of crystal clear water.  If Rivendell, from the Lord of the Rings films, were to be a real place, Plitvice would still be more breath taking.

As you all know, it’s our birthday and you only turn 30 once! The truth is everyone loves a good party, so it’s time to let loose, have a “yagabomb” and check out some of the best party cities in the world!

1. Ibiza, Spain - This Spanish Island is notorious for its debauchery. Home to a number of foam parties and bars, including Privilege, the largest club in the world (it can hold ten times the number of people that went to my high school) how could we not put it at number one?

“Hear no evil, speak no evil - and you'll never be invited to a party” - Oscar Wilde

2. Florianopolis, Brazil – Less known than its amigo Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis is the epitome of paradise. 42 beaches, check. Beautiful people, check. Awesome nightlife, check plus.

3. Ios, Greece – The island of Ios is MADE to party. When they don’t even serve breakfast until noon, you know it’s a good time.

4. Hvar Island, Croatia – With a number of waterfront bars for the night owl and beaches to explore during the day, Hvar Island is one underrated party destination that begs to be experienced.

5. Koh Phanang, Vietnam – Full moon party is what you get when you add gallons glow in the dark body paint, one beach, buckets of booze, and 20,000 people from all over the world. Just don’t mistakenly get literal and expose your backside.

6. Istanbul, Turkey – Istanbul offers a range of party options for any student on holiday. Check out the clubs on the waters of the Bosporus during the summer that don’t stop till 4am or later.

7. Prague, Czech Republic – With pints for around a euro, the city of Prague is the one of the cheapest places to get silly. The party goes on till 4 am so plan to stumble around until the wee hours.

8. Melbourne, Australia – Hands down, the best partying I have ever done has been with a group of Aussies. With a lion’s share of pubs, chic lounges, and raving clubs, Melbourne reminds you that Oz is more than koalas and Fosters.

9. Beirut, Lebanon – Beirut has become a decadent spot for merry making. Just be sure to check the local guides for the best places to go, as sentiments on party palaces change almost daily.

10. Shanghai, China - Frequented by many famous DJ’s, Shanghai has many districts that have awesome clubs all within stumbling distance: great for the expat who can throw back a drink or five.

Let me know your take on the best city to get schwasty face in!

I can’t remember the last time I went to an Italian toga party, went caving in Slovenia, drove 10-hours on a dirt road in Albania, or experienced the beauty of Dubrovnik. Oh wait. I hadn’t done any of these things before, so it was all a new and enlightening experience.

Beautiful Dubrovnik, Croatia

Flotilla sailing was amazing. As a Cape Codder, I think you can tell I get a little crazy around boats. Well, when I got the chance to skipper my own flotilla from Plataria to Corfu, I was ecstatic. That feeling that you get when you lose five pounds or win the lottery or find a parking spot in New York. That excited. My crew was fantastic (did I mention it was five beautiful ladies?). Move over Gilligan, there’s a new islander in town.

But after the boating, our trip from Albania to Montenegro to Croatia to Slovenia was unreal. Each country has similarities, but also vast differences. Albania was probably the most rugged of them all – since it’s borders had only been opened recently to the world, you could tell there was a lot of international disconnect. With 700,000 bunkers still in tact from communist times and half the population skeptic of democracy, it was a cultural exchange.

I would really recommend visiting though. You hear such gripping stories about how the people were constantly under watch of the government and thought that their way of life was the only proper one. As you move further north to Montenegro (keep in mind, this is all on dirt roads), you can see the slow Westernization of eastern Europe – except for the rolling blackouts that trapped little old ladies in an elevator.