The beachfront El Taj in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

3 Great Travel Bets for 2012

Baseball fans gleefully work the so-called “hot stove” this time of year. Gardeners peruse seed catalogues and circle the dates in February and March for marrying seeds to soil for incubation indoors. And for chronic or casual travelers—this is our time to plan the next trip or three.

We all have our lists and budget requirements. Throughout 2012, I’ll pass along gems worth considering. Here are three for your first batch of vacation-planning folders.

1. London. The summer Olympics begin in late July, and expect the requisite madness—long lines, sold-out hotels (expensive, too) and tight security—to accompany the world’s best athletes strutting their collective stuff. I’m not saying to avoid the Games, but if you want to experience the bounce and spectacle of London without the crowds, there’s quite a bit going on before and afterwards.

First, don’t miss the London Festival (festival.london2012.com), billed as the cultural Olympiad. It kicks off the last weekend in June with a blowout concert on six stages hosted by Radio 1. Expect more than 1,000 events throughout the summer (the Fest ends Sept. 9), including special film screenings, fashion shows, culinary happenings and theatrical productions. It’s the biggest cultural event in the history of the U.K.

For those who love “Harry Potter,” good news: Beginning March 31, Warner Brothers London Studio (wbstudiotour.co.uk) opens a behind-the-scenes tour of the sets where the eight blockbuster movies were filmed. The three-hour love fest for all things Harry takes visitors to the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Dumbledore’s office, among other key movie locations.

2. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Want to save a few bucks on a Caribbean vacation—or even a quick three-day getaway? Fly from D.C. to Cancun, then head south about 45 minutes to Riviera Maya. It’s the year of the Mayan for the simple reason that the ancient cultural soothsays marked December 2012 as the end of the world. At least that’s Mexico’s tourism marketing angle; most historians argue the Mayans simply saw December 2012 as the end of a long calendar cycle.

No matter. Festivals abound in 2012, and my favorite town that isn’t so small any longer is Playa del Carmen. The 18-month-old El Taj (eltaj.com) hugs the beach and is a tropical find. Check the resort’s site frequently for deals on extra nights for free. More details, see my my story here.

And while you’re in Riviera Maya, visit a cenote—the fresh-water caves that dot the Yucatan peninsula. Get a guide, forget about your concerns (unless you’re afraid of the dark or can’t swim), and take the plunge. Here’s my experience via a quick slide show.

3. Copenhagen, Denmark. Think the Danes are all about pickled herring and hard, seedy bread? Wake up to the reality of New Nordic cuisine, which sources locally (yes, you’ve heard that claim close to a million times about other locales) but makes a point of creating wild inventive dishes. Copenhagen has reeled in a ton of Michelin stars in the past 24 months, and for good reason.

Want to see New Nordic cuisine in overdrive—and experience a late sunset? Visit the city during Copenhagen Cooking Aug. 24−Sept. 2.

My story on Copenhagen and New Nordic Cuisine.

The phenomenon has even spread to Iceland—a story from our December issue.