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CNN Live Today

'Getaways'

Aired February 16, 2004 - 11:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Every year the travel experts at "Lonely Planet" put their heads together and come up with the hot destination of the year. 2004, it's New Zealand, again. Don George is global travel editor for "Lonely Planet." He's in San Francisco for our Monday's "Getaway" segment. We like the folks at "Lonely Planet." They give us a different take than from some of those she- she magazines that we have on from time to time.
Good morning.

DON GEORGE, "LONELY PLANET" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Why is "Lonely Planet" loving New Zealand?

GEORGE: Well, I think "Lonely Planet" loves New Zealand for the same world most of the world is loving New Zealand these days, "Lord of the Rings," probably the most spectacular global advertising campaign in history. But of course New Zealand has a rich range of attractions. It's perceived as safe, which is really important these days. It's relatively inexpensive, wonderful cosmopolitan cities, a rich indigenous culture. So all things considered, New Zealand is just the top choice.

KAGAN: All right, now here's where it gets interesting, because New Zealand was on the list last year, correct?

GEORGE: It was indeed.

KAGAN: OK, but these other four were not, and they're not your mother's travel plans, let's just put it that way. "Lonely Planet" also likes Peru.

GEORGE: Right.

KAGAN: But when you go on your Web site, they talk about the positives. But you also talk about things, well, yes, there's this little terrorist organization called Shining Path you might want to avoid.

GEORGE: Well, exactly. And it points out the fact you really need to be well prepared before you go anywhere these days. You need to read up and know where is safe to go and where is not safe to go. But Machi Pichu (ph) is certainly one of the world's great, great sites, great destinations, and I think that propels Peru up into the top five. And then the Andes are spectacular, and there's also a wonderful local culture there as well. So I think Peru is really gaining. The infrastructure is growing. The tourism infrastructure is very much stronger than it was a couple of years ago. So Peru is very much a comer on the travel scene.

KAGAN: And also probably not in most people's top five list, Croatia. But as you point out on the Web site, watch out for some of those land mines. They haven't picked all of those up yet.

GEORGE: That is true. Croatia, I was in Croatia last year, and what a spectacular place it is. I especially was moved by Debrovnic (ph). What we say about Croatia is it has all these delights of the Mediterranean and about half the costs. But Debrovnic in particular is truly a world-class city with cobbled streets and beautiful kind of honey-colored, gray stone buildings.

The most inspiring thing is that tourism is helping to rebuild the city after the bombings of the early '90s. You can see these red roof tiles on buildings. There will be shattered red roof tiles right next to new, pristine red roof tiles. And you can see that the tourism dollars are actually helping to build those new roof tiles. It's a really inspiring site, and it's a beautiful city with wonderful, very friendly, gregarious people, highly recommended.

KAGAN: Those pictures do give you a different picture of what we've seen lately. Also on the list is Australia, and finally, Thailand. But on your Web site, where you looked, you mentioned land mines, bandits, smugglers and rebels, not exactly what I'm looking for in a vacation destination.

GEORGE: Well, I think the thing is, wherever you go, you have the possibility to have a wonderful vacation, or you have the possibility to get into trouble. The more you know before you go, the better you'll be prepared to stay out of trouble.

Australia, of course, Ayers Rock is a wonderful place to go. Australia is a very safe country. And Thailand just offers such a rich range of things, from Changlai (ph) in the north culturally to Kosamaui (ph) and wonderful, secluded beaches in the south. So I think Thailand is a great place to go.

KAGAN: And you do make a good point, no matter where you're going, whether it's Thailand or San Diego, the more you've educated yourself, the better time and the safer time you're going to have.

Don, thank you for your time.

GEORGE: Thank you very much, Daryn. My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 16, 2004 - 11:49   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Every year the travel experts at "Lonely Planet" put their heads together and come up with the hot destination of the year. 2004, it's New Zealand, again. Don George is global travel editor for "Lonely Planet." He's in San Francisco for our Monday's "Getaway" segment. We like the folks at "Lonely Planet." They give us a different take than from some of those she- she magazines that we have on from time to time.
Good morning.

DON GEORGE, "LONELY PLANET" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Why is "Lonely Planet" loving New Zealand?

GEORGE: Well, I think "Lonely Planet" loves New Zealand for the same world most of the world is loving New Zealand these days, "Lord of the Rings," probably the most spectacular global advertising campaign in history. But of course New Zealand has a rich range of attractions. It's perceived as safe, which is really important these days. It's relatively inexpensive, wonderful cosmopolitan cities, a rich indigenous culture. So all things considered, New Zealand is just the top choice.

KAGAN: All right, now here's where it gets interesting, because New Zealand was on the list last year, correct?

GEORGE: It was indeed.

KAGAN: OK, but these other four were not, and they're not your mother's travel plans, let's just put it that way. "Lonely Planet" also likes Peru.

GEORGE: Right.

KAGAN: But when you go on your Web site, they talk about the positives. But you also talk about things, well, yes, there's this little terrorist organization called Shining Path you might want to avoid.

GEORGE: Well, exactly. And it points out the fact you really need to be well prepared before you go anywhere these days. You need to read up and know where is safe to go and where is not safe to go. But Machi Pichu (ph) is certainly one of the world's great, great sites, great destinations, and I think that propels Peru up into the top five. And then the Andes are spectacular, and there's also a wonderful local culture there as well. So I think Peru is really gaining. The infrastructure is growing. The tourism infrastructure is very much stronger than it was a couple of years ago. So Peru is very much a comer on the travel scene.

KAGAN: And also probably not in most people's top five list, Croatia. But as you point out on the Web site, watch out for some of those land mines. They haven't picked all of those up yet.

GEORGE: That is true. Croatia, I was in Croatia last year, and what a spectacular place it is. I especially was moved by Debrovnic (ph). What we say about Croatia is it has all these delights of the Mediterranean and about half the costs. But Debrovnic in particular is truly a world-class city with cobbled streets and beautiful kind of honey-colored, gray stone buildings.

The most inspiring thing is that tourism is helping to rebuild the city after the bombings of the early '90s. You can see these red roof tiles on buildings. There will be shattered red roof tiles right next to new, pristine red roof tiles. And you can see that the tourism dollars are actually helping to build those new roof tiles. It's a really inspiring site, and it's a beautiful city with wonderful, very friendly, gregarious people, highly recommended.

KAGAN: Those pictures do give you a different picture of what we've seen lately. Also on the list is Australia, and finally, Thailand. But on your Web site, where you looked, you mentioned land mines, bandits, smugglers and rebels, not exactly what I'm looking for in a vacation destination.

GEORGE: Well, I think the thing is, wherever you go, you have the possibility to have a wonderful vacation, or you have the possibility to get into trouble. The more you know before you go, the better you'll be prepared to stay out of trouble.

Australia, of course, Ayers Rock is a wonderful place to go. Australia is a very safe country. And Thailand just offers such a rich range of things, from Changlai (ph) in the north culturally to Kosamaui (ph) and wonderful, secluded beaches in the south. So I think Thailand is a great place to go.

KAGAN: And you do make a good point, no matter where you're going, whether it's Thailand or San Diego, the more you've educated yourself, the better time and the safer time you're going to have.

Don, thank you for your time.

GEORGE: Thank you very much, Daryn. My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com