10 worldwide hot spots to visit in the new year

Here are our choices for 10 hot international destinations in the new year.

Athens

Sure, the Summer Olympics are coming Aug. 13-29, but we're more excited about the much-needed, long-lasting improvements to the city's transportation system.

Details: We can't really say whether Athens will be ready for the Games — and we can't say we're that concerned. The Games will go on, clogged subways, heinous traffic jams and all. We're happier that a difficult-to-navigate, traffic-filled city will become friendlier to tourists post-Olympics because of subway extensions and upgrades, new light rail and trolley systems, a new airport and better traffic management. What does it all mean to those who venture to the Grecian capital next fall and beyond? "You get more for your money, because you can do more in a day," said Peter Tarlow, an international travel security consultant.

Where to stay: During the Games, we suggest you sleep on a yacht — no joke — because that's about the only place left for lodging. Daily rates start at $750 for 12 people through Alpha Yachting (011-30-210-968-0486, www.alphayachting.com). During the non-trying times, stay at the renovated Grande Bretagne (Vasileos Georgiou A'1, 888-625-5144; from $372) with Acropolis views, or use the improved transportation to reside on the coast in Glyfada — 10 miles from downtown Athens — at the hotel Emmantina (33 Possidonos Ave., 011-30-210-898-0683; from $112).

Info: Athens 2004, www.athens2004.com; Greek National Tourist Organization, 212-421-5777, www.greektourism.com.

Great Exuma, Bahamas

Now that U.S. travelers are realizing there's more to the 700-island country than the well-worn resorts of Nassau and Freeport, tourism experts say the Exumas are North America's next warm-your-toes destination.

Details: Much of the 500-mile long Bahamian archipelago is pristine and untouched, with mainstream development isolated to the two towns for which the Bahamas are best known. But the Exumas are next on the growth list, thanks to the opening of the Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay in January and a greater number of flights from the United States (the best connections are via Miami). Once you have one high-end hotel, others tend to follow, and already a number of boutique hotels and other properties have started jockeying for the best spots on the sand.