Best Travel Destinations for 2011

A look back at the 2011 Best Travel Destinations and Stories from Pursuitist.com. As a curated list of the good things in life, we’ve hand-selected our top travel stories and reviews. The below destinations are “Pursuitist Recommended” – here are the best-of-the-best resorts, hotels and luxury travel destinations for the past year. What was your favorite travel destination for 2011? Talk back and comment below!

Mark Zuckerberg’s Vacation in Vietnam Inside look at Zuckerberg and his girlfriend’s holiday vacation in Vietnam (hint: he rides a buffalo). And they stayed at the Topas Ecolodge.   Paul Carr’s Hotel Bucket List The former TechCrunch and Guardian writer answers the question “Where would you stay if you had one hotel night left on earth?”   Conrad Koh Samui Resort & Spa, Thailand A sneak preview of the brand-new and ultra-luxurious Conrad Koh Samui, a true tropical paradise full of beaches, coral reefs and amazing views.   Top 5 Views in Shanghai Erica Swallow (Mashable) shares five views you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Shanghai.   New York City with Kids The Parent’s Guide to a luxe experience in the Big Apple and the Four Seasons New York.   Lausanne’s Beau Rivage Palace Writer Gretchen Kelly (NY Post) visits Coco Chanel’s favorite lakeside hotel — and discovers a Coco secret that’s buried here.   Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, California Shandana A. Durrani (Condé Nast Traveler) visits a historic property 35 miles south of Santa Barbara that is the perfect spot for a pleasing respite.   Post Cards from Paris Journalist Vilte S. Holstad’s weekly destinations, parties and culinary adventures in The City of Light.   Inside Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Condé Nast Traveler has named the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong as the best hotel in the world in its annual Readers’ Choice survey.   Also: Inside the Uma Paro Hotel, Bhutan The Nolitan Hotel Offers Kitschy Cool in Nolita Kangaroo Island, Australia The Huntington, San Francisco The St Regis Florence with Bottega Veneta suite Disney World and Disneyland Travel Tips and Secrets Las Ventanas al Paraiso Resort, Mexico Bulgari Resort, Bali Black and White Club Luxury Hotel in Singapore Exotic Mykonos Grand Hotel in Greece The Blakes Hotel, London Soho Beach House, Miami Tea in the Sahara at La Mamounia’s New Luxe Hamman Holidays at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, a Four Seasons Hotel Cap Juluca Hotel & Resort in Anguilla Leela Palace Udaipur Hotel, India London’s New Corinthia Hotel The Plaza, New York City Review Inside The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh Intercontinental Paris Le Grand Review The Jekyll Island Club Hotel The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Scotland 45 Park Lane Debuts, London The St. Ermin’s Hotel Reopens, London Villa Scacciapensieri in Siena, Italy Dukes Hotel, London Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Review Hôtel Le Bristol, Paris Tour the spectacular Palais Garnier Inside David Lynch’s ‘Mulholland Drive’ inspired Paris Nightclub Ayada Maldives Resort Lords South Beach Hotel, Miami Beach Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong

Christopher Parr, CEO and Editor of Pursuitist, is an award-winning luxury marketing veteran, writer, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. He launched Pursuitist as a curated list of the good things in life, with guest contributors sharing their favorite luxuries.