Top 10 Best Countries to Visit
10. Vietnam
Wandering chef Anthony Bourdain says going to Vietnam changed his life. "It just seemed like another planet; a delicious one that sort of sucked me in and never let go," he told CNT. We'd be happy just to sip Vietnamese coffee and eat pho all day, but the adventurous can descend into the world's largest cave, Hang Son Doong, in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
9. Spain
Since Ferran Adria's elBulli restaurant rose in Catalonia, Spain has been the world's undisputed epicenter of cutting-edge cuisine. Planning an entire vacation around the fine-dining restaurants you want to splurge at and the most famed tapas spots is a good idea. A Fodor's forum suggests visiting Spain in April for the best weather. You can also catch Barcelona's food-filled April Fair then.
8. Thailand
Whether you choose to eat your way through Bangkok, island hop around Phuket, or board the glamorous Eastern & Oriental Express, Thailand will seduce you with its vibrant culture, exotic cuisine, and utopian resorts. Recently there's been a rise in holistic health and wellness resorts, where you can detox and refuel with yoga and Ayurvedic spa treatments.
7. South Africa
Cape Town ranked No. 6 on CNT's Readers' Choice Awards for the world's best cities. With the glorious Table Mountain and one of South African hotelier Sol Kerzner's luxurious One&Only resorts, it's certainly a draw, but the vineyards of Franschhoek and the safari lodges of Krüger National Park also beckon.
6. Japan
Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are a few of the hot spots to explore in Japan. Home to more than 2,000 breathtaking Buddhist temples and shrines, Kyoto was voted the No. 1 city in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine this year.
5. France
The country that gave us cabaret, Champagne, and hundreds of cheese varietals is one of the most romantic places on earth. In the springtime — an excellent season for a trip to France — the editors of CNT tout Morzine for some of the most beautiful hiking you can imagine. Under two hours by car from Morzine, Lake Annecy is an enchanting detour.
4. Greece
CNT named Athens, Greece, one of its cities to watch in 2015. In the midst of a financial disaster, a spate of new museums, hip hotels and shops, and pop-ups are spurring a cultural renaissance in the capital city. For travelers, the turquoise waters and salty air of Mykonos will always be a draw.
3. Turkey
Go to Turkey to see the gorgeous mosques, majestic castles, and natural wonders such as Pamukkale (aka "Cotton Castle"), a plethora of white travertines filled with mineral-rich water. Also go for the newly built Soho House in Istanbul’s romantic Beyoğlu district.
2. The Netherlands
Go to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other crannies of this gorgeous country for the incredible museums, unparalleled coffee, and stunning countrysides. We suggest splurging on a stay at the newly built Waldorf Astoria — a collection of six townhouses with a Guerlain Spa — on Amsterdam's oldest and most storied canal.
1. India
From the sandy beaches of Goa to the ancient Buddhist caves of Ajanta, the sites to see in the second-most populous country in the world are endless. Far from the crowds of Mumbai, northern Kashmir is often described as India's Switzerland, where the pace is slower and the skiing is quite good.
Where's Australia?
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