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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BadGirlPerk" data-source="post: 22495654" data-attributes="member: 556692"><img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iHM6ZJvn4vhc/v0/1400x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Inside the Vank Cathedral in Isfahan, Iran.Photographer: Guenter Guni/Getty Images/iStockphotoIRANFor  intrepid travelers, the question is not whether to visit Iran; it’s  how  to get there before an influx of tourists taints the experience.  This  is no casual undertaking. The visa application process is lengthy  and  complex; citizens from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. must be on   escorted tours; and travelers have to abide by a government dress code. Take  our word for it, though. The hassle is worthwhile. Since 2015’s   historic nuclear deal was brokered, several companies have launched   itineraries and major European airlines have resumed their flights.On trips such as Cox and King’s <a href="http://www.coxandkingsusa.com/product/itinerary/heart-of-persia-onboard-the-golden-eagle/" target="_blank">Heart of Persia</a>,   you’ll get to roam the desert bazaar of Kerman, ogle Moorish palaces   and mosaic-tiled mosques in Isfahan, and see ancient sites like the   royal city of Persepolis, which dates to roughly 500 B.C. “These are the   kinds of sites that you can’t find elsewhere—and which, in places like   Afghanistan and Syria, have been tragically destroyed,” said Brian   Allen, Asia specialist for <a href="http://www.mtsobek.com/" target="_blank">Mountain Travel Sobek</a>, which has been leading tours to Iran for four years.<img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/i7JOVXz.3VFI/v0/600x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Source: Google (hotel prices)Then  there’s the legendary Persian food and hospitality. “There is a   cultural norm in Iran that guests are from god,” Allen said. “I   frequently hear people say they’ve been all over the world and never   received a welcome like they got there.” As always, please check your government’s travel alerts website (like <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html" target="_blank">this one</a> for the U.S.) before going to a country that shares complex diplomatic relations with your own.When to go: Late October or early November, when the climate is just right for outdoor sightseeing.When not to go:  Iranian holidays clog the streets with traffic,  and Ramadan makes a  trip extra-complicated; this year, avoid the last  two weeks of March and  the month of June. Whom to call: <a href="mailto:gmorgan-grenville@redsavannah.com">George Morgan-Grenville</a> of Red Savannah.  <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iQMVA.HNj0LM/v0/1400x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Nightfall on Villa Marie, one of the stunning new hotels in St. Barts.Source: Villa Marie – St. Barts/L. BenoitSAINT BARTHÉLEMYThe  Caribbean’s ritziest island is showing its laid-back side this  year,  with several long-in-the-works openings set back from the posh  Gustavia  port.<img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/ijYhRHdH0FVw/v0/600x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Source: Google (hotel prices)Of  the bunch, <a href="http://saint-barth.villamarie.fr/fr/#!caraibes/accueil" target="_blank">Villa Marie</a>   is the most intimate, giving a French plantation house a vibe that   skews more gypset-boho than buttoned-up. After a four-year-long, $40   million renovation, <a href="https://leguanahani.com/" target="_blank">Le Guanahani</a>   has put the focus on fun, barefoot luxury. It’s on a private, 18-acre   peninsula with 67 guest cottages, all done up in a riot of colors with   teak floors that blend seamlessly with the lush landscape. And the old   St. Barts Beach Hotel has given way to <a href="http://www.lebarthelemyhotel.com/en" target="_blank">Le Barthélemy</a>,   where the high/low lifestyle includes an option to take the house car   to your preferred beach for no-fuss picnic lunches, with or without   Champagne.It gets even better the farther you get from the yacht crowd. Case in point: At the privately-owned <a href="http://www.letoiny.com/" target="_blank">Le Toiny</a>,   catch a jeep from the hotel in the hills to a pop-up restaurant on the   sand. Dishes such as black truffle pasta and lobster linguini are  ample  proof that you don’t have to be aboard the Seven Seas to live  large in  St. Barts.When to go: May and June. Amazing weather without the high-season price tag.When not to go: September, when everything is closed for hurricane season. Whom to call: <a href="mailto:marla@leadersintravel.com">Marla Schaffer</a> of Leaders in Travel, Ltd.       <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/i_h.fnD6yTJo/v0/1400x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Gorillas on view at Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.Photographer: Russel Friedman/Wilderness SafarisRWANDA<a href="http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/" target="_blank">Wilderness Safaris</a>   is like the Tesla of African tourism. They’re safari trailblazers at   the top of their game, leading the industry in both conservation and   community work and offering <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-29/best-new-luxury-safari-lodges-kenya-tanzania-south-africa-zimbabwe" target="_blank">no-holds-barred luxury</a>   out in the field. So when the company announced it would move into   Rwanda this year, Africa enthusiasts immediately took notice.That’s  not to say Rwanda is hurting for tourism: It’s one of the few  places  where you can go gorilla trekking, and a new joint-visa program  with  Kenya makes it easy to come here after a few days in iconic Masai  Mara. <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/idiMoew11quE/v0/600x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Source: Google (hotel prices)Still,  Wilderness Safaris’ Bisate camp, which will debut in a secluded  stretch  of Volcanoes National Park in June, will make it easier than  ever to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-silverback-gorilla-safari/" target="_blank">spot silverbacks</a>   without sacrificing a single creature comfort. The complex comprises   six dome-shaped forest villas, each designed to evoke a traditional   Rwandan domicile; inside, you’ll find 1,000 square feet of private   space, all swathed in traditional local textiles and animal throws. Stay   tuned for more: Wilderness already has plans to open a second lodge   nearby in 2018.When to go: Dry season spans from mid-December to early February. Hit the tail end, when early rains attract tons of gorillas and chimps.When not to go: Gorilla treks are tough enough when the trails aren’t covered in mud, so avoid the rainy stretches in the spring and late fall. Whom to call: <a href="mailto:cherri@exploreafrica.net">Cherri Briggs</a> of Explore Africa.  <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iAhl_nKGtHWM/v0/1400x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />The Herzog & de Meuron-designed Elbphilharmonie arts complex, in Hamburg.Photographer: Iwan Baan/ElbphilharmonieHAMBURGAfter more than a decade of controversy and a budget that ballooned tenfold, Hamburg’s <a href="https://www.elbphilharmonie.de/en/" target="_blank">Elbphilharmonie</a>   is now complete. The striking Herzog & de Meuron-designed   performing arts complex—built out from a mid-century brick warehouse on   the city’s historic harbor—isn’t just an eye-popping landmark, it’s the   symbolic crescendo for HafenStadt, a massive, new neighborhood that’s   been unfolding across 400 acres of unused docklands.<img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/ijovxnMFa3Wk/v0/600x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Source: Google (hotel prices)There, you’ll find luxury apartments, shiny office buildings, and destination restaurants such as <a href="http://carls-brasserie.de/" target="_blank">Carl’s Bistro</a> and <a href="http://carls-brasserie.de/" target="_blank">Kaiser Perle</a>.   You’ll want to check out a concert at one of Elphilharmonie's three   stages; the inaugural lineup includes celebrated dancer Sasha Waltz and   contemporary jazz pianist Brad Mehldau. And feel free to spend the   night: The just-opened <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3579&language=en_US" target="_blank">Westin Hamburg</a> has 244 rooms and an elaborate spa right inside the building. You’ll be even more comfortable at the upcoming <a href="http://www.thefontenay.de/en/" target="_blank">Fontenay</a> hotel, which will open next summer, with views of stunning Alster Lake from its 131 sumptuous rooms.When to go: May or June, when you can cruise the city’s canals. When not to go: February and November. Rain, rain, go away. Whom to call: <a href="mailto:virginia@culturetrip.de">Virginia Giorgdano</a> of Culture Trip.  <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iS9hpFME7ytI/v0/1400x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />The pristine shores of Tayrona National Park, on Colombia’s northern coast.Source: ProColombiaCOLOMBIAOn  the heels of an historic peace agreement, Colombia is finally  shedding  its security concerns once and for all. That means this should  be the  year that travelers discover its <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2016-07-20/colombia-coffee-triangle-and-medellin-travel-guide-photos" target="_blank">extraordinary countryside</a>,   from the Corcora Valley—home to the tallest palm trees in the world—to   the little-known Tatacoa Desert, an ochre-colored expanse of  wind-carved  dunes. (Stay at Tatacoa’s cutting-edge <a href="http://www.bethelbioluxuryhotel.com/" target="_blank">Bethel Bio Hotel</a> for its egg-shaped pod rooms: They have retractable roofs for stargazing.) <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iAjo8CnprJus/v0/600x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Source: Google (hotel prices)The  natural splendor makes it easy to understand why Colombia was the   birthplace of magical realism—which you’ll definitely tap into if you   visit the mystical tribes of Tayrona National Park or Cartagena, where a   <a href="http://www.tcherassihotels.com/en-us/" target="_blank">stylish inn </a>by fashion maven Sylvia Tcherassi has just flung open its doors.Don’t  disregard the capital, either. Bogotá is embracing its position  as a  booming financial hub and has become deft at catering to the jet  set.  Just look at its <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/bogotacm/" target="_blank">two new Four Seasons hotels</a> and the countless chefs waking up to the country’s edible biodiversity.When to go:  Colombia is a year-round destination, but February  and March are  particularly appealing because peak season has died down  and the weather  is still top-notch.When not to go: October and November are slightly rainy—but not terribly wet.Whom to call: <a href="mailto:marc@amakuna.com">Marc Beale</a> of Amakuna. <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iBUlBJcXnDPo/v0/1400x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />This year, you can have the pyramids of Giza all to yourself.Photographer: Pius99/Getty Images/iStockphotoEGYPTWant  to get the pyramids all to yourself? Now’s the time to go to  Egypt,  which has shed its years of social and political unrest but has  yet to  regain the crowds that long plagued its iconic sights. "Locals  are now  more inclined to talk about their lives, hopes, and fears,"  said  Geoffrey Kent, founder of luxury tour operator <a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/" target="_blank">Abercrombie & Kent</a>,   which is launching two itineraries here in 2017. "Travelers will find   the country offers a more rewarding experience than ever before."<img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iqFVfTTO9HrI/v0/600x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Source: Google (hotel prices)In addition to heightened safety, many brand-name hospitality firms have started recommitting to Egypt. In 2015 <a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/middle-east/cairo" target="_blank">Ritz-Carlton</a> opened right on the Nile, and more recently, Oberoi <a href="https://www.oberoihotels.com/nile-cruise-philae/" target="_blank">launched a luxury river cruise</a> between Luxor and Aswan. This April, <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3340&language=en_US" target="_blank">St. Regis </a>will   open a 39-story hotel—also overlooking the Nile—in a Michael   Graves-designed, mixed-use complex. Plus the government is finally   opening the lush tombs of both Queen Nefertari and Pharaoh Seti I, after   years of closed-door restorations. When to go: March. Even in high season—with its perfect temps in the low 70s—there’s amazing value to be found. At least for now.When not to go: August. Because who does deserts in August?Whom to call: <a href="mailto:malaka@authentescapes.com">Malaka Hilton</a> of Authentic Escapes.  <img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iSmHNdmOR_NU/v0/1400x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Turks and Caicos’ signature blue waters, as seen from the new Sailrock resort.Source: SailrockTURKS AND CAICOSBest  beaches in the world? Check. Amazing luxury hotels? Check.  Non-stop  flights from major U.S. cities? Turks and Caicos already had  it all, but  the arrival of its first new luxury properties since 2009  is injecting a  family-friendly energy to a tried-and-true honeymoon  spot.In January, <a href="https://sailrockresort.com/" target="_blank">Sailrock</a>   opens on largely undeveloped South Caicos, where you’ll find three   nature reserves and the world’s third-largest coral reef. It’s a plush   retreat for adventure-packed days: Think whale watching, scuba diving,   and secluded fishing trips.<img src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iuMZ3b0wXoGw/v0/600x-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Source: Google (hotel prices)Then there’s the <a href="http://theshoreclubtc.com/" target="_blank">Shore Club</a>,   the only hotel on turquoise-watered Long Bay Beach in southeastern   Providenciales. It’s a riff on the plantation-style resort so commonly   seen in the West Indies—except its kids club is in a treehouse, and its   light-filled rooms ditch colonial-style shutters in favor of modern,   glass-walled terraces. It promises a no-need-to-leave experience.Finally, for the multi-gen set, there’s <a href="http://www.beachenclave.com/" target="_blank">Beach Enclave</a>,   a collection of four- and five-bedroom homes on a seaside cliff just   west of powdery Grace Bay Beach. It couples the privacy (and square   footage) of a vacation rental with the amenities of a resort—such as   snorkeling classes for the little ones and family outings on a Hinckley   Picnic Boat.When to go: May, for nice weather and great value. When not to go: September and October, when the risk for tropical storms outweighs all else.Whom to call: <a href="mailto:jim@perfecthoneymoons.com">Jim Augerinos</a> of Perfect Honeymoons.</blockquote>

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