A holiday at home

The search for that unique exotic holiday destination may end up taking you thousands miles away from home with no mobile phone  reception and lost luggage. Is this really what you want?

Mladen Petrov

Cambodia's first private island resort, biking in Jordan, checking in at St Regis in Lhasa, exclusive camping in Laos, trekking in Bhutan or ballooning in Burma. What's it going to be? There are lots of places you can go to this year without sacrificing luxury and having to spend the night in a tent. The travel sections in the newspapers are full of creative ideas for your trip of a lifetime in 2011. But the likes of 'The Financial Times' and  CNN Traveller are also trying to identify emerging destinations capable of attracting the hippest crowds with their durable Louis  Vuitton travel bags. This year countries such as Peru, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Albania have all made it on to this prestigious list. The message is clear: demanding travellers need a break from the more obvious destinations, such as the south of France.
I have also decided to pitch a few ideas for 2011. As Central and Eastern European countries are much more than merely fiscal difficulties, austerity measures and rising unemployment, I have come up with a couple of suggestions that may lead you to decide to stay in the region.
Sailing in Estonia. Did you know that Estonia has around 1,500 islands? Yes, 1,500 - as in one thousand five hundred. The country is the perfect sailing destination. But make sure your boat is well-stocked with food and other essentials, as the majority of these islands are uninhabited. But there are, of course, also such magical places as Saaremaa, Estonia's largest island, and Muhu, another beautiful island, which also happens to be the location of Pädaste Manor, a small luxury spa resort within a 15th century estate that once belonged to Frederik II, the King of Denmark. No more words are necessary.
Concerts and exhibitions in Budapest. The 200th anniversary of Ferenc Liszt provides us with an excellent opportunity to go to Hungary. Been there done that, I hear you saying, but after all any reason to go to Budapest is a good reason. Just as last year was all about Chopin in Poland (when the country and the world celebrated his 200th birthday), this year belongs to the celebrated Hungarian composer. Make sure you are in Hungary for World Liszt Day on October 22nd, for a concert at the stunning Szent István Bazilika in Budapest. The rich year-long programme provides a compelling argument to book a flight to Budapest even earlier. And if you really need to extend your trip, just tell your boss that you are also in Budapest for one of the WAMP events - the design fair that exhibits the best in Hungarian design all year long.
Golfing in Croatia. Croatia is more than just over-crowded  Dubrovnik. As the country attempts to reinvent itself as a luxury destination, the offer for high-end travellers is getting ever more sophisticated. The Golf Club Adriatic in Savudrija in the Istria region, which features a five-star Kempinski hotel, is now a tempting option. Time to take the golfing clubs out and start working on that perfect swing.
Country living in Bulgaria. By country living I don't necessarily mean keeping animals and milking cows as a way to put the stress of the city behind you. That, however, doesn't mean you can't board a plane to Sofia and find yourself, only three hours later, in the village of Dolen way up into the magnificent Rhodopi mountains in the very south of Bulgaria. On the way to the perfectly preserved village with its traditional houses, as well as a church and a mosque symbolic of Bulgaria's ethnic diversity, make sure you stock up with red wine - all the other things you might need (e.g. home-made food) will be waiting for you when you arrive. Still not convinced?  Bansko, the skiing capital of the Balkans, is just around the corner.
Montenegro. The absolute must-see of 2011. Rafting, sailing, showing off, doing nothing - you name it. These delights are all on offer in the Aman Sveti Stefan resort on the picturesque isle of Sveti Stefan. Don't believe me? Ask the British Queen or Liz Taylor. They got here first way back.
Rafting in Český Krumlov. For most tourists a day trip to the Czech Republic means mostly endless visits to pubs and local breweries. 'Eurobuild CEE' readers, however, are better than that. Get in a boat and start exploring the UNESCO world heritage town from the level of the Vltava river. 

The word count tells me this page is full, but I have more  suggestions for you. Please feel free to drop me an e-mail at  mladen@eurobuildcee.com.  Have a safe trip!