Here are your where-to-go lists for 2008

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Christine Sarkis

December is inspiring a number of up-and-coming destinations lists. On Monday, we published our Destinations to Watch in 2008 article, and I want to round up a few of the others that have been published in the last few days.

CheapTickets.com’s Value Travel Cheapometer focuses on budget-friendly destinations for 2008. Destinations are grouped by the month when you’ll see the most affordable rates. For instance, Paris and Athens will offer the best value in January, while Venice will be affordable in March. Las Vegas in June is on the list, as is Aruba in November.

The New York Times’ 53 Places to Go in 2008 lists cities and countries all over the world. Destinations range from mainstream (South Beach, Miami) to very off-the-beaten-path (Iran).

ResponsibleTravel.com predicts that Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia will become more popular in the New Year. The list is based on reader interest on the ResponsibleTravel.com website, and in cases such as Colombia, features places that are increasingly accessible as more tour operators begin to offer trips there.

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