BEST BEACH BAR
1. Ku De Ta
A Balinese shrine to the simple life. Think of a beautiful French woman reared in Shanghai and transplanted to Bali, lounging on a poolside bed, listening to sultry grooves spun by famous DJs. Indian Ocean surf pulses off the deck, with double-overhead rights on five world-class breaks just a walk down the beach. Eat fresh sushi and drink lethal martinis alongside celebs like Bono and Erykah Badu. When the spirits take hold, stumble off to your beachfront bungalow—next door. It's Ibiza in the making, only better. kudeta.net
BEST AIRPORT HUB
2. Portland International
Rumor has it that locals come to Oregon's inviting PDX just to shop and eat. Among the draws are the Rose City Café & Wine Bar (with about 80 wines by the glass), Powell's Books (with its big used-book section), free Wi-Fi, and a Nike store. There's easy public transportation to downtown, valet parking, free bike
racks, and complimentary jump-starts and flat-tire assistance. You might not want to fly away. pdx.com
BEST ROMANTIC ECO-TOUR
3. Venice, Italy, Ecology Walk
If you've ever wondered how Venice—a city built on mud in the fifth century, with 61,000 residents, rising water levels, no sewage-treatment system, and an annual onslaught of 20 million tourists—hasn't disintegrated, hook up with Jane da Mosto, co-author of The Science of Saving Venice, for her unconventional, two-hour tour. You'll go deep into the city's sludgy infrastructure, learning about crumbling facades and 500-year-old canal-dredging techniques. At the end of the day, you'll appreciate the miracle that Venice truly is. $585 (for a group of six), $50 of which will be donated to the U.K.-based charity Venice in Peril; venice.contexttravel.com
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Nokia N95 8GB; Oakley Hijinx (Trevor Pearson)
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BEST TRAVEL PHONE
4. Nokia N95 8GB
Like Apple's ubiquitous device, Nokia's N95 is a phone, audio player, and camera all rolled into one. Unlike the iPhone, though, the N95 is also a video camera. Plus it takes better pictures (with a 5.0-megapixel sensor and Carl Zeiss optics), and with its integrated GPS receiver, you won't get lost. $780; nseries.com
BEST TRAVEL SUNGLASSES
5. Oakley Hijinx
Of course they look cool.But we picked the Polarized Hijinx because they dish up distortion- and glare-free vision wherever you go—be it on water, snow, or the road. $145; oakley.com
BEST SECURITY SYSTEM
6. KenaKai DataSafe Passport Wallet
Theoretically, the new radio-frequency-ID-equipped e-passports will speed passage through immigration queues. But the micro–
chipped passport is also vulnerable to anyone holding a portable RFID scanner. Your best defense: KenaKai's DataSafe Passport Wallet wraps nine sheer layers of nickel-impregnated mesh—which blocks radio-wave transmission—inside a classic, unassuming Italian-leather exterior. Slim enough for a back pocket, it fits a passport, seven credit cards, cash, and a boarding pass. $80; kenakai.com
BEST EXCUSE TO CARBO-LOAD
7. Cycling in Tuscany
Giro d'Italia winner Andy Hampsten and his crew lead this eight-day cyclepalooza, a perfect combo of hard riding and serious eating. Pedal 300-plus miles and learn how to make local specialties like stewed and roasted wild boar, courtesy of chef Chicca Maione. Base camp is a family-run hotel in Castagneto Carducci, a hilltop village overlooking the Mediterranean. $3,500; cinghiale.com
BEST PLACE TO HABLA ESPAÑOL
8. La Mariposa Language School and Eco-Hotel
Set off the twisting road between Ticuantepe and La Concha in Nicaragua, this inland hotel/school feels more remote than it actually is. Tropical trees and birdsong are the backdrop for one-on-one Spanish lessons and meals harvested from Mariposa's four organic gardens. When you're not conjugating verbs, volunteer for community projects in nearby villages. Hotel facilities are powered by the sun—which is in no short supply here. All-inclusive Spanish- school packages, $260 a week; spanishschoolnica.com
BEST FARE POLICE
9. YAPTA
Your Amazing Personal Travel Agent tracks fares for you—and follows the price after you've purchased a ticket. Should the fare drop, you can get the difference refunded from the airline, provided you purchased directly from its site. yapta.com
