Maybe we’re biased because we live here, but Australia has a lot of bests - world bests, that is. It has some of the best natural scenery, the weirdest wildlife, the most brilliant scuba diving and snorkeling, the best beaches, the oldest rainforest (110 million years and counting), the oldest human civilization (some archaeologists say 40,000 years, some say 120,000; whatever- it’s old), the best wines, the best weather (give or take the odd Wet season in the north), the most innovative East-meets-West-meets-someplace-else cuisine - all bathed in sunlight that brings everything up in Technicolor.

Atlanta is a city constantly reinventing itself, from reigning as the nation’s conventions capital, to hosting the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, to emerging as one of the hottest new vacation spots in the South. Today, visitors to this fine city are greeted by a new landmark structure: the Millennium Gate. Though it didn’t rise into the sky until several years after the turn of the new century, the city’s 73-foot-tall Millennium Gate was constructed in honor of Atlanta’s many philanthropic families.

Athens may have the Parthenon, that most exquisite symbol of achievement, but this free, anarchic city is more than just a monumental collection of 5th-century-B.C. landmarks. Beside the ancient sites in the compact, historic center lie pedestrian walkways lined with modern bars, cafes, and tavernas, where the food is piled high, the barrel wine flows freely, and the patrons are animated. Kicking dance clubs and luxurious post-Olympic hotels down scenic streets are only a short walk away. And then there’s the shopping, from the latest shoes to classical craftsmanship.

So many islands, so little time. With all the tropical paradises you could visit, why would you pick Aruba for your Caribbean vacation? Well, there’s the reliably near-perfect weather. If you have only a week away from the job, why not guarantee yourself 7 days of ideal tanning conditions - unwaveringly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and cooling breezes. And because the island’s more of a desert than a rainforest, the humidity’s low and it hardly ever rains. Hurricanes? Schmurricanes. There’s rarely one within hundreds of miles. Aruba is far south of the tropical-storm belt.

Despite the sluggish economy and general reluctance on the part of many people to travel, Arizona has remained a very popular vacation destination. Sure there have been the inevitable closings, but the state has also bucked economic trends by opening three huge new mega-resorts in the Phoenix area. Here are some of the highlights on the Arizona travel scene.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer: - Insider tours that take you from the tango halls of Buenos Aires to the snowy peaks of Patagonia; - Outspoken opinions on what’s worth your time and what’s not; - Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget; - Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

So many of my favorite moments in Amsterdam are outdoors. Even in midwinter this city bustles with an infectious energy on its narrow streets, long canals, and many humpbacked bridges. Whichever time you choose to visit, you’ll be struck, I’m sure, by how lively and bright this city really is. Here are some of my favorite moments, both outdoors and indoors, that have placed Amsterdam so close to my heart.

Planning a trip to a region as large and diverse as the American South-west involves a lot of decision making, so in this chapter we’ve tried to give you some direction. We’ve chosen what we feel is the very best the region has to offer - the places and experiences you won’t want to miss. Although the sights and activities listed here are written up in more detail elsewhere in this book, this chapter gives you an overview of the highlights and gets you started.

Experience the best a place has to offer on the cruise that’s right for you. Frommer’s. Your trip begins with us: - Exact prices, including brochure rates, with tips on how to find deep discounts, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget; - Extensive descriptions of all the major ships sailing in Alaska, with information on everything from cabins and ship facilities to shore excursions and recreational activities; - Comprehensive ship ratings that grade the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children’s programs, public areas, cleanliness, and overall enjoyment) from “poor” to “outstanding.”

As a child, when my family traveled outside Alaska for vacations, I often met other children who asked, “Wow, you live in Alaska? What’s it like?” I never did well with that question. To me, the place I was visiting was far simpler and easier to describe than the one I was from. The Lower 48 seemed a fairly homogeneous land of freeways and fast food, a well-mapped network of established places. Alaska, on the other hand, wasn’t even completely explored. Natural forces of vast scale and subtlety were still shaping the land in their own way, inscribing a different story on each of an infinite number of unexpected places. Each region, whether populated or not, was unique far beyond my ability to explain. Alaska was so large and new, so unconquered and exquisitely real, as to defy summation.