Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2016" is a roundup of hot destinations and experiences. Its top country recommendation for next year is Botswana, home to Mashatu Game Reserve.
Lonely Planet top countries for 2016: No. 1: Botswana —
Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2016" is a roundup of hot destinations and experiences. Its top country recommendation for next year is Botswana, home to Mashatu Game Reserve.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
More than 15 million tourists visited Japan in 2015, and 2016 is set to be another bumper year. With sights like <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F03%2F24%2Ftravel%2Fgallery%2Fmost-beautiful-japan%2F">Kawachi Fuji Garden </a>in Fukuoka, they're onto a good thing.
LP top countries for 2016: No. 2: Japan —
More than 15 million tourists visited Japan in 2015, and 2016 is set to be another bumper year. With sights like Kawachi Fuji Garden in Fukuoka, they're onto a good thing.
K. Fukunaga/JNTO
The <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fspecials%2Ftravel%2Fusa">50 states</a> have plenty to offer, from road trips to beaches, from deserts to high peaks, like the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
LP top countries for 2016: No. 3: USA —
The 50 states have plenty to offer, from road trips to beaches, from deserts to high peaks, like the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Ben Adkison
Palau's diving and snorkeling opportunities have led some to call it "the underwater Serengeti."
LP top countries for 2016: No. 4: Palau —
Palau's diving and snorkeling opportunities have led some to call it "the underwater Serengeti."
Ippei Naoi/Getty Images
With Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south, Latvia is "the meat of the Baltic sandwich," says Lonely Planet, and "loaded with colorful fixings." Riga (pictured) is the country's cosmopolitan capital.
LP top countries for 2016: No. 5: Latvia —
With Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south, Latvia is "the meat of the Baltic sandwich," says Lonely Planet, and "loaded with colorful fixings." Riga (pictured) is the country's cosmopolitan capital.
ILMARS ZNOTINS/AFP/Getty Images
There's more to Transylvania than vampire lore, Saxon villages and fortified churches. Corvin Castle is one of the largest castles in Europe.
LP top regions for 2016: No. 1: Transylvania, Romania —
There's more to Transylvania than vampire lore, Saxon villages and fortified churches. Corvin Castle is one of the largest castles in Europe.
Courtesy Romania Tourism
"West Iceland offers everything from windswept beaches to historic villages and awe-inspiring terrain in one neat, little package," says Lonely Planet. In summer, the fishing hamlet of Arnarstapi attracts hikers to its beaches and lava fields.
LP top regions for 2016: No. 2: West Iceland —
"West Iceland offers everything from windswept beaches to historic villages and awe-inspiring terrain in one neat, little package," says Lonely Planet. In summer, the fishing hamlet of Arnarstapi attracts hikers to its beaches and lava fields.
David Noton/Lonely Planet Images
"One of Cuba's most magnificent natural settings," says Lonely Planet. This limestone karst valley "offers opportunities for fine hiking, rock climbing and horseback trekking."
LP top regions for 2016: No. 3: Valle de Vinales, Cuba —
"One of Cuba's most magnificent natural settings," says Lonely Planet. This limestone karst valley "offers opportunities for fine hiking, rock climbing and horseback trekking."
Mark Read/Lonely Planet Images
"Friuli's Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia are the darlings of smart wine lists the world over," says Lonely Planet. Monte Lussari (pictured) is a ski resort in winter and offers cable car views in summer.
LP top regions for 2016: No. 4: Friuli, Italy —
"Friuli's Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia are the darlings of smart wine lists the world over," says Lonely Planet. Monte Lussari (pictured) is a ski resort in winter and offers cable car views in summer.
Mauro Grigollo/Getty Images
Earlier this year CNN sung the praises of Waiheke's sheltered beaches, emerald bays and boutique wineries in a roundup of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F02%2F10%2Ftravel%2Fromantic-destinations%2F">romantic destinations</a>. Delamore Lodge's heated infinity pool has incredible views over Owhaneke Bay.
LP top regions for 2016: No. 5: Waiheke Island, New Zealand —
Earlier this year CNN sung the praises of Waiheke's sheltered beaches, emerald bays and boutique wineries in a roundup of romantic destinations. Delamore Lodge's heated infinity pool has incredible views over Owhaneke Bay.
Courtesy Delamore Lodge
The coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro was recently named by Royal Caribbean cruise ship captains as having one of the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F10%2F07%2Ftravel%2Fcruise-ship-captains-best-views">world's most beautiful harbors</a>.
LP top cities for 2016: No. 1: Kotor, Montenegro —
The coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro was recently named by Royal Caribbean cruise ship captains as having one of the world's most beautiful harbors.
Georgios.giannopoulos at gmail.com
High in the Andes, the Ecuadorian capital is "warm and relaxed," with a "vibrant and sophisticated culinary and nightlife scene." The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
LP top cities for 2016: No. 2: Quito, Ecuador —
High in the Andes, the Ecuadorian capital is "warm and relaxed," with a "vibrant and sophisticated culinary and nightlife scene." The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kate Whitehead/CNN
After being hit hard in the global recession, modern Dublin has a revitalized confidence.
LP top cities for 2016: No. 3: Dublin, Ireland —
After being hit hard in the global recession, modern Dublin has a revitalized confidence.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Not only is George Town a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.cnn.com%2Fgeorge-town-penang-asias-greatest-street-food-city-657636">street food haven</a>, it has a vibrant street art scene.
LP top cities for 2016: No. 4: George Town, Malaysia —
Not only is George Town a street food haven, it has a vibrant street art scene.
Childhood, By Wksetor .R.M. Nunes/Shutterstock
The super-modern <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F10%2F13%2Ftravel%2Frotterdam-markthal-food-hall%2F">Rotterdam Markthal </a>-- a mammoth fruit and vegetable market -- opened last last year. Its promoters describe it as a "Valhalla of food."
LP top cities for 2016: No. 5: Rotterdam, the Netherlands —
The super-modern Rotterdam Markthal -- a mammoth fruit and vegetable market -- opened last last year. Its promoters describe it as a "Valhalla of food."
Steven Scholten/Cimon.nl
The capital city of Tallinn and its UNESCO-protected Old Town is now one of Europe's "most captivating cities," while the "sparsely populated countryside and extensive swathes of forest provide spiritual sustenance for nature lovers."
LP best value destinations: No. 1: Estonia —
The capital city of Tallinn and its UNESCO-protected Old Town is now one of Europe's "most captivating cities," while the "sparsely populated countryside and extensive swathes of forest provide spiritual sustenance for nature lovers."
SeanPavonePhoto/Lonely Planet
Ho Chi Minh City is "Vietnam at its most dizzying," says Lonely Planet.
LP best value destinations: No. 2: Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam —
Ho Chi Minh City is "Vietnam at its most dizzying," says Lonely Planet.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
"East Africa is ... a wild realm of extraordinary landscapes, peoples and wildlife," says Lonely Planet. The <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F10%2F19%2Fafrica%2Fkilwa-rhapta-felix-chami%2F">Great Mosque of Kilwa Kisiwani</a> (pictured) is the oldest standing mosque on the East African coast.
LP best value destinations: No. 3: East Africa —
"East Africa is ... a wild realm of extraordinary landscapes, peoples and wildlife," says Lonely Planet. The Great Mosque of Kilwa Kisiwani (pictured) is the oldest standing mosque on the East African coast.
The "captivating windswept dunes" of White Sands are a "highlight of any trip to New Mexico," says Lonely Planet. It's a land of "mud-brick churches filled with sacred art," "ancient Indian pueblos" and "real-life cowboys and legendary outlaws."
LP best value destinations: No. 4: New Mexico —
The "captivating windswept dunes" of White Sands are a "highlight of any trip to New Mexico," says Lonely Planet. It's a land of "mud-brick churches filled with sacred art," "ancient Indian pueblos" and "real-life cowboys and legendary outlaws."
Shutterstock
In July, CNN gave you <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F07%2F21%2Ftravel%2F10-reasons-to-visit-bosnia-and-herzegovina%2F">10 reasons to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina</a>, including the Stari Most bridge in Mostar, a relic of the Ottoman era.
LP best value destinations: No. 5: Bosnia & Herzegovina —
In July, CNN gave you 10 reasons to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Stari Most bridge in Mostar, a relic of the Ottoman era.