Hot spots for 2007

Tropical magic
Madagascar
Feeling adventurous? Or maybe you've seen the film, fallen in love with the animals, so now you have to go? Trips to the stunning African island, the world's fourth largest, are on the increase as news of the island's animal kingdom spreads - all of its mammals, 225 of its 257 reptile species and almost 80 per cent of its plants cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. You can see Madagascar's national animal, the lemur, in abundance in the Berenty forests. Organised tours are the best way to visit Madagascar and usually take in sights such as the last Royal Palace, the beautiful Isalo National Park, lush rainforests and the tropical island of Ile Sainte Marie.
For more information: visit the Wild Madagascar website www.wildmadagascar.org/

Landscapes to remember
Vietnam
Travelling is easy in this land of beautiful contrasts. Natural wonders include the mountains of Sapa and the breathtaking limestone islands of Halong Bay in the north The country's capital Hanoi is a joy of a city with its elegant French colonial architecture, tube houses and serene Hoan Kiem Lake. Go south and find the lush Mekong River providing fertile soil for paddy fields and delta towns. In the middle, there's the charming river town of Hoi An, the imperial city of Hue on the Perfume River and the beaches of Nha Trang and Mui Ne. And, of course, the madcap affair of whizzing motorbikes and street life that is Ho Chi Minh City.
For more information: visit the Vietnam Tourism website www.vietnamtourism.com/

Rugged ruins
Romania
The largest state in the Balkans, Romania's striking mountain landscape, romantic castles and Black Sea coastline are destined to make it a top draw. Admire the Belle Epoque buildings of the country's medieval capital, Bucharest, picturesquely situated on the River Danube, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. The city is also home to the world's second largest building (after the Pentagon) - the 12-storey Palace of Parliament and the open-air Village Museum in Herastrau Park. In the country's most famous region, Transylvania, where rugged peaks and dark forests form the legendary homeland of Dracula, you can visit Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle) and medieval gems like Brasov and Sighisoara with its hilltop citadel.
Find out more: at the Romania Tourism website www.romaniatourism.com