Lake Matheson - New Zealand (sharonang)

There are many travelers who claim that traveling alone is the best way to see the world. You deliberately travel solo, they say, because you want to experience the world without the influence of a friend or partner’s tastes, prejudices, or preferences.

Kalalau Trail, Kauai, Hawaii, United States

Magical New Zealand is comprised of 8640 individual images from over 150,000 that were taken by Shawn Reeder when he traveled around New Zealand for 3 months last spring.

Mount Fuji - Japan

We could all use a little break sometimes. The hustle and bustle of the 9-to-5 life can be exhausting.

Las Fallas Festival, Valencia, Spain

Cape Town, South Africa

After feverish debate, the results are finally in. Discover our travel experts' final cut of the most essential travel experiences and destinations on our Best in Travel page. And our top 10 cities - from reinvented classics to destinations on the rise - are sure to inspire your travels in 2014...

1. Paris, France

2. Trinidad, Cuba

3. Cape Town, South Africa

4. Rīga, Latvia

5. Zürich, Switzerland

6. Shanghai, China

7. Vancouver, Canada

8. Chicago, Illinois, USA

9. Adelaide, Australia

10. Auckland, New Zealand

via Lonely Planet (all details)

waterfalls of Milford Sound

1. Ski an Olympic-sized half pipe...in August

2. Stand in awe of the waterfalls of Milford Sound

3. Witness the kiwi bird in the wild

4. Live like you're in Middle Earth

5. Seek out some seriously unique thrills

6. Mountains in the morning, beach in the afternoon

7. Eat at Fergburger

8. See plants you can't find anywhere else

9. Watch the world's most celebrated rugby team

10. Get outnumbered by sheep

via Matador (all details)

The winner, GR20 France

These 10 classic treks are for serious walkers. All of them require a sturdy pair of lungs, fit legs and a good amount of preparation. However, if you choose to go on any of these trails then you will be rewarded with experiences that last a lifetime. In no particular order:

1. GR20, France

2. Inca Trail, Peru

3. Pays Dogon, Mali

4. Everest Base Camp, Nepal

5. Indian Himalayas, India

6. Overland Track, Australia

7. Routeburn Track, New Zealand

8. The Narrows, USA

9. The Haute Route, France-Switzerland

10. Baltoro Glacier & K2, Pakistan

via Lonely Planet (all details)

The winner, Marsyandi Khol river on the around-Annapurna trek in the Himalayas, Nepal

1. Marsyandi Khol river on the around-Annapurna trek in the Himalayas, Nepal

2. Looking across Lake Kawaguchi to Mount Fuji, Honshu Island, Japan

3. The view of the Grand Canyon, from Desert Point, Arizona, USA

4. Lesser flamingos on Lake Elementaita, Kenya

5. African elephant on the serengeti with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background, Tanzania

6. Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand

7. Kata Kjuta, Northern Territory, Australia

8. Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz province, Argentina

9. Kayaking on Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand

10. Vik,Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Via SkyScanner (all details)

Video with other way to explain flight safety rules... (Air New Zealand)

Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

The newspaper NYT this week presented a list of "The 46 Places to Go in 2013 ", below you can consult all places included in this list:

1. Rio de Janeiro

2. Marseille

3. Nicaragua

4. Accra, Ghana

5. Bhutan

6. Amsterdam

7. Houston

8. Rossland, British Columbia

9. New Delhi

10. Istanbul

11. Singapore

12. Montenegro

13. White Salmon River, Wash. 

14. Hvar, Croatia

15. Mongolia

16. The Big Island, Hawaii

17. Philippines

18. Vernazza, Italy

19. The Kimberley, Australia

20. Ningxia, China

21. The Adirondacks, N.Y. 

22. Oslo, Norway

23. Constantia, South Africa

24. Lithuania

25. Burgos, Spain

26. Lens, France

27. Changbaishan, China

28. Porto, Portugal

29. Puerto Rico

30. Koh Phangan, Thailand

31. Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

32. Jackson Hole, Wyo. 

33. Bangkok

34. The Jeseniky, Czech Republic

35. Waiheke, New Zealand

36. Yucatan, Mexico

37. Charlevoix, Quebec 

38. Pecs, Hungary

39. Republic of Congo

40. Ireland

41. Getaria, Spain

42. Mergui Islands, Myanmar

43. The Falkland Islands

44. Washington, D.C. 

45. Casablanca, Morocco

46. Paris

Via NY Times (with all details)

Ben Nevis Mountains - Scotland

Top travel destinations for 2013 (via CNN)

1. Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland has seen fit to dub 2013 the "Year of Natural Scotland," and what better time to do it?

2. Rabat, Morocco

What a difference a little recognition makes.

Travelers have long overlooked Morocco's low-key capital, instead being seduced by the heady sights and sounds of Marrakech or beachside charm of Essaouira.

3. Košice, Slovakia

Thanks in part to its medieval old town and vibrant mix of Renaissance, Baroque, and art nouveau architecture, the compact yet captivating eastern Slovakian city of Košice (population 250,000) has been chosen 2013's European Capital of Culture (along with Marseille in France).

4. Sub-Saharan Africa

Multi-country African trips usual mean long, bumpy journeys on bad roads or budget-busting charter flights between destinations.

5. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States

With Daniel Day-Lewis likely getting an Oscar Best Actor nomination for his spooky good portrayal of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (the 85th Academy Awards show will be held February 24) and the 150th anniversary of the real president's famed 272-word Gettysburg Address (given in the wake of the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg, it's perhaps the most famous speech in American political history), U.S. Civil War history will take center stage in 2013.

6. Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Like birthday celebrations? Amsterdam does, and it's set to host a bunch of them to mark major anniversaries in 2013.

The 160th anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's birthday will take place on March 30 with special exhibitions and opening hours of the city's Van Gogh Museum.

7. Colombia

Magical Andes mountain scenery, bustling cities quickly getting up to international speed in the wake of a troubling past, high-end hotel openings (Hilton, InterContinental, Marriott) and new direct routes from major air carriers are quickly moving Colombia onto a lot of traveler wish lists -- including ours.

Other trending spots include:

Montenegro -- great beaches, rich history, underappreciated cuisine, stunning sites.

New Zealand -- more film-inspired sightseeing mixed with top-rate food and wine.

Miami -- reinventing itself as a hip hangout for arty types.

Japan -- offering better than ever value as the country seeks to reinvigorate travel in wake of 2011 tsunami.

Vietnam -- a wave of new resort openings planned for 2013.

Via CNN (with all details)

Video with New Year's Eve celebrations around the world

via Telegraph.co.uk