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It's that time again. Pundits have dusted off their crystal balls and are weighing in on everything from the future of the stock market to the likelihood of a Brangelina wedding. And, of course, where we'll vacation this year.

So far, magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler have given nods to Umbria, Grenada and the Andaman Islands. TripAdvisor lists the seaside resort town of Budoni in northeastern Sardinia and the ancient city of Petra in Jordan as its top hot spots. And Concierge.com's "it list" includes Tel Aviv, Bolivia, Utah — and, yes, even Toronto.

"There's no gift in predicting hot spots. You can either see them coming from a mile away (we've all been saying China for years), or you can see changes taking place, like in South America, which is now perceived as safe," says Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet travel guides.

"Alternatively, you can get them wrong because of something completely unexpected. You'd have been spot-on predicting bigger things for India until the events in Mumbai in November."

Okay, so it's not exactly a hard science. But with 12 months ahead to hop around the globe, we figured some notable travellers and travel experts could at least point us in some interesting directions — before they hit other people's radars.

Herewith, their predictions for the year's must-see destinations.

PAUL BRADY

JAUNTED.COM

The cred When you run a pop-culture travel blog, you get nstant feedback on what's hot and what's not. Still, that doesn't keep this Uruguay-based editor from leaving his desk now and then to explore for himself. Recent trips have included the Mendoza region in Argentina and the Finger Lakes in New York.

The pick Colombia. Particularly Bogota and Cartagena.

The rationale It's relatively close for North Americans, there are non-stop flights from Toronto on Air Canada and it's got plenty of musical and architectural history. Oh, and it's cheap: a Canadian dollar buys 1,800 pesos — which means you can splurge on a lot of ruanas (Colombian ponchos) and colourful woven hammocks.

The inside scoop There are travel advisories for rural areas and Cali. But if you stick to the city, you'll probably be just dandy. To go urban like a local, take a spin around Bogota's huge system of bike paths — or take to the roads on one of the city's designated peddler/pedestrian-only days. "Bogota has occasional Car-Free Days that have now been copied by other cities," Brady says.

DANIEL BOULUD

LUMIÈRE AND DB BISTRO MODERNE (VANCOUVER)

The cred Call him the Frenchman who conquered New York: His four Manhattan restaurants have earned him accolades including "Outstanding Restaurateur," "Best Chef of New York City" and "Outstanding Chef of the Year." He's also unveiled new eateries in Palm Beach, Las Vegas, Beijing and Vancouver. And when he gets out of the kitchen he restaurant-hops in Paris and Dubai and drives vintage Ferraris in Mont Tremblant.

The pick His hometown: Lyons, France The rationale Lyons may be France's second biggest city, but Boulud calls it the country's "culinary capital." Famed dishes include Lyons sausage, quenelles and tripe Lyonnais. The city is also home to a restaurant owned by Paul Bocuse, one of the world's most famous chefs. "Clearly I'm biased, but my native city is truly a vibrant culinary centre and home to incredible one-of-a-kind artisans," Boulud says. If you're in Lyons at the end of January, you may even bump into the man himself. "I'll be there for the Bocuse d'Or international culinary competition."

The inside scoop Ditch the tacky tourist shops and treat yourself to something authentically Lyonnais. "Look for products made by members of the Comité Bellecour, an association of unique luxury-goods makers ranging from couturiers to glass blowers, jewellers, silk weavers, chocolate makers, book binders and more."

CRAIG NATTRESS

NATTRESS + COMPANY

The cred He has visited 55 countries and his Toronto company designs custom trips for other travellers. His own recent treks: Morocco, Geneva and the Atacama Desert in Chile.. He also takes his own advice in his spare time: Recent trips include Morocco and Chile's Atacama Desert.

The pick The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, by way of the Amazon River. "I'd call it the new Galapagos."

The rationale In the past, an Amazon experience meant staying in a remote jungle lodge. But now there's another option: Sail on a small, luxury river boat deep into the rain forest, then explore protected wildlife areas from a home base that amounts to a floating boutique hotel with air conditioning and great chefs.

The inside scoop There are two seasons: Dry (May-November) and wet (December-April). "The river level changes dramatically between seasons. Those hoping to do more exploring on foot should aim for the dry season, while those happy to explore by small launch will love the wet."

ILANA WEITZMAN

ENROUTE MAGAZINE

The cred The winner of more than 350 awards, enRoute is Air Canada's in-flight magazine. Montreal-based editor Ilana Weitzman is at the helm, directing her team of insiders to scope out the latest trends — plus the revival of places such as Armenia and Tunisia. Her favourite trip last year: The Yukon, where she predicts a boom in luxury travel.

The pick Vancouver will be Canada's "it" city this year and in 2010.

The rationale The food scene is vibrant (both Daniel Boulud — see his travel tips above — and Jean Georges Vongerichten have new restaurants) and there's a whole new crop of hotels. "Travel this spring or summer and you'll get all the benefits of the infrastructure going in for the Olympics without the crowds. Or go in 2010 and cheer on the Jamaican bobsled team."

The inside scoop Save up before you go. "Didn't I say Vancouver is the new Toronto?" Weitzman's other prediction: "Classic will be the new exotic." People will return this year to destinations such as Paris, Rome and Hawaii.

STUART MACDONALD

TRIPHARBOUR.CA

The cred A self-professed e-business geek, MacDonald founded Expedia.ca, then went on to set up Tribharbour.ca — an online booking tool and blogging site geared at the cruise crowd. A memorable trip of his own: rescuing sea turtles near Acapulco.

The pick Affordable London. Really.

The rationale "As hard as it is to imagine, London may well be the next Buenos Aires: a big, glamorous city with tremendous ambience, but where an economic situation makes it much more affordable than previously imagined."

The inside scoop When MacDonald says affordable, he doesn't mean cheap. "Save money by taking the train or Underground from the airport. Also consider online sites like Priceline.com to score even more affordable hotel accommodation."

SCOTT WILSON DEPARTURES

The cred As co-host of the television show Departures — a weekly series on OLN chronicling the adventures of two globetrotting friends — this 29-year-old has been around. Last year's trips included Mongolia, Iceland, Madagascar, Zambia and Antarctica.

The pick "Libya offers a truly unique travel experience, probably the kind every real traveller is looking for."

The rationale The medinas of Tripoli are fantastic and "with no high-pressure vendors trying to squeeze every last penny out of you." If you have the time and the right guides and equipment, you should also drive south into the Sahara. "By the time you get into the Ubari sand sea, you'll see endless miles of rolling dunes. The only break in the beauty of this monotony is reaching the Ubari Lakes. Camp for a few days in the real Sahara and you may run into some of the last remaining Tuareg people who have lived nomadically in this area for hundreds of years."

The inside scoop Win points with Libyans by referring to Tripoli as Tarabulus.

ERIC SHEETS

LATIN EXCURSIONS

The cred One of Travel + Leisure magazine's "A-list agents," this Brazilian-born, Miami-based tour operator customizes luxury trips to Latin America. One recent trip of his own that stands out: Sao Miguel dos Milagres in Brazil. "It's a great place for snorkelling and windsurfing, especially for people looking for a beach escape untouched by mass tourism."

The pick Salta, in northwestern Argentina.

The rationale "It's a great spot for active and not-so-active travellers who have been to Argentina before and are looking for a different region to explore. Salta has the most authentic culture of all of Argentina because most of its residents have descended from Incan and mestizo tribes. It's also a centre for high-altitude wine production and has some of the finest boutique hotels in the country."

The inside scoop Salta is home to the highest salt flats in the world and has an average altitude of 2,000 metres. Be prepared for altitude sickness.

VIRGINIA JOHNSON

FASHION DESIGNER

The cred Although she's based in Toronto, this designer travels regularly to New York and Paris to attend fabric shows, and to visit her clients. She also travels for inspiration. One recent trip to the south of France is reflected in the fauvist colours and Matisse-like blouses in her summer collection.

The pick India, despite the recent attacks in Mumbai.

The rationale Last year, Johnson went to Delhi to visit the factories that produce her shawls, then down to the holy city of Varanasi on the Ganges. "It's a stimulating mix of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists — a very holy place where Buddha preached his first sermon." Just don't wait too long before planning your visit, she says. "India is changing rapidly and its cities are becoming more and more Western. There is no other place on earth as vibrant, stimulating, chaotic and thriving. It's amazing to watch its journey."

The inside scoop When in Varanasi, try the Hotel Ganges View. It's known as a cultural hub for its poetry readings, "and apparently Sting stays there because of the music performances." For guests who love silks and embroidery, the proprietor can also arrange for dealers of antique saris to visit the hotel.

TONY WHEELER

LONELY PLANET

The cred This Melbourne-based writer co-founded the guidebook company Lonely Planet way back in 1972, but he still keeps his passport full of fresh stamps. Recent trips include Liverpool, Haiti and a writers' festival in Bali.

The pick The ex-Soviet, Central Asian 'Stans.

The rationale "They're exotic, but without the dangers of 'Stans like Pakistan and Afghanistan." Kazakhstan, in particular, because it's big, has all sorts of places of interest (climb Mount Talgar) and is really unknown. There are a lot of quirky things to see there as well. "Last year, I watched a 'space tourist' head into orbit on a Soyuz launcher from the Baikonur Cosmodrome [the world's largest operational space launch facility, located in Kazakhstan's desert steppes about 200 kilometres east of the Aral Sea]. Wow."

The inside scoop In addition to the 'Stans, places that have become relative bargains are going to be popular this year: "Vietnam, because it's been on a tourist roll for years and suddenly the figures have turned against them. Iceland, because the whole country acted like an overstretched bank, the economy went into meltdown and a very expensive destination has suddenly become more affordable."

Special to The Globe and Mail