100 Countries, 5000 Ideas offers a wealth of ideas on today's most inspiring places to visit around the world. This large-format, lavishly illustrated, softcover travel planner zeroes in on the top 100 most fascinating places, providing 300 images; 100 original, detailed maps; and evocative text to inspire your next trip. Each country is thoroughly reported on and vetted —from Brazil, Belgium, and Bulgaria to Thailand, Turkey, and Tanzania —describing each country's highlights and ideas on what to do there. Valuable reader service sets this book apart, including a section that helps travelers select a destination based on their interests—whether they're looking for a three-week dream vacation, a weekend excursion, or something in between. 100 Countries, 5000 Ideas is an irresistible blend of practical travel information and inspiration to help fuel the wanderlust in all of us.

• Softcover
• 400 pages; 300 color photographs, 100 maps
• 7 1/8" x 9 1/4"
• © 2011

View Selected Photographs from the Book

Unforgettable Nights
The time when travelers paid little attention to the ambiance of their hotel room beyond wanting to sleep well is gone. Nowadays, the quality and originality of lodging play an ever greater role for tour planners. Original and unusual types of lodging in far off places can be costly, but many exotic accommodations guarantee—besides the cultural and sociological aspects—unforgettable experience by themselves.

The following is a survey of the latest novelties in lodging worldwide. Besides the options listed, there is a vast range of other possibilities—from spending a night in various converted palaces, pagodas, and monasteries to staying in buildings of the Salvation Army, missions, or youth hostels. Th e last few are not only inexpensive but sometimes attractive alternatives..

For extravagance, the ice hotels of Canada and Finland take first place, as much for location as price. These hotels are an evanescent luxury; they have to be rebuilt year after year. To provide 50 rooms, the builders need 20,000 tons of snow and 3,000 tons of ice. The design of these hotels is unique in that everything, from floor to ceiling, including the beds, is made of ice. Of necessity, the temperature inside seldom reaches even 32ľF. On average, travelers should budget for $400/£260 a night.

Other interesting nighttime refuges are caves. This kind of lodging has been popular for some time. In some regions—for instance, in Matmata, Tunisia, and Cappadocia, Turkey—they are a kind of trademark. Less well known are the cave lodges in western France. The caves are often cool and damp, but have a wonderful atmosphere and can be fairly reasonable at about $500/£325 per week.