See Tokyo in style and go warp-drive in Sri Lanka: travel deals 10 February 2013

Salalah, Oman

We love a 'top 10' and the Lonely Planet's top 10 cities is always good for a spot of cultural biffo.

I'm going to be a snob and say up front that London is a rather ho-hum choice for the number one city to visit out of all the world, and Orlando in the US leaves us cold, but hey, Australia's always got Darwin. Yes, Darwin. Land of jumping crocodiles and topless barmaids. Sorrrrryyyy, that's SUCH an awful picture of Darwin. We like our most northern capital.

Happy to see the entire Middle East hasn't been written off, and we're big fans of Oman and Hong Kong is perpetually fabulous. Of course, the game is to see how many you've already ticked off before the Lonely Planet got there...

Here's the list in its entirety:
1. London, UK
2. Muscat, Oman
3. Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
4. Cadiz, Spain
5. Stockholm, Sweden,
6. Guimaraes, Portugal
7. Santiago, Chile
8. Hong Kong
9. Orlando, USA
10. Darwin Australia.

In the top 10 countries, Uganda is the 'too cool for school' number 1, with Taiwan and gorgeous Jordan in there. Ukraine? Horses for courses, man, and Cuba's still a goer while the Castros remain in power, with the ever-powerful tagline, 'go before it changes irrevocably'.

The top 10 regions include coastal Wales, La Ruta Maya (central America), northern Kenya, Arunachal Pradesh (India), Hvar (Croatia), Sicily (Italy), Maritime Provinces (Canada), Queenstown and southern lakes (New Zealand), Borneo and Poitou-Charentes (France).