100 holiday ideas for 2010: Destinations

South Africa (southafrica.net) wins the prize for this year's pick of the destinations as the host of the Fifa World Cup 2010 from 11 June to 11 July.

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England fans can double their pleasure with some world-class tourism as well as footie in Cape Town (cover picture), Rustenburg and Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, the venues for the Group C games. Meanwhile, less familiar spots such as Polokwane and Nelspruit will be hoping the tournament puts them firmly on the tourist trail. Vancouver vancouver2010.com) is the other sporting choice for 2010. All eyes will be on Canada's laid-back west-coast city during the Winter Olympics, from 12 to 28 February. Yet the party really extends from 22 January to 21 March with a programme of theatre, music and art at the Cultural Olympiad.

Shanghai (en.expo2010.cn) is gearing up to host another event of global proportions, World Expo 2010. China's most dynamic commercial city has been throwing up buildings to cater for the 70 million people who are expected to visit between 1 May and 30 September to see this showcase of future urban environments.

Istanbul (en.istanbul2010.org) will celebrate its moment in the spotlight as one of this year's European Capitals of Culture (Pecs in Hungary and Essen in Germany share the crown) by adding a programme of special events to its already formidable list of attractions. Not that Turkey (tourismturkey.org) seems to need much help in drawing in the crowds. Last year, more than 2.5 million British visitors travelled to its cities and beaches, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year despite, or perhaps because of, the recession. For the Turkish lira continues to make the country a bargain alternative to the euro-zone for those changing sterling – latest figures from British tour operators predict Turkey can expect another 12 per cent jump in visitor numbers from the UK in 2010.

It's the Year of the Nation in Mexico (visitmexico.com), according to President Felipe Calderon. The country marks two major anniversaries in 2010. It's the 200th anniversary of its independence from Spain on 15 September and, on 20 November, it's 100 years since the revolution to overthrow the dictator Porfirio Díaz began. The celebrations come just as British visitors are returning after the damaging swine-flu outbreak, and the Mexican government has spent $75m (£47m) on the beaches of Cancun (pictured here), to help bring back the fly-and-flop crowd.

Dubai (dubaitourism.ae) will take a break from its troubles to celebrate its latest ostentatious flourish at tomorrow's opening of the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. But those financial woes won't go away, which could mean the world's glitziest destination will be just the place to find a luxury holiday at a bargain-basement price this year, with prices already dipping 7 per cent since Dubai World's huge debts were revealed last November.

Back on its way up, Beirut (lebanontourism.gov.lb). Since the end of the civil war in 1990, we've heard too often that the capital of Lebanon is regaining its party spirit, only to have hopes dashed by more conflict. But now this battle-scarred city really does appear to be making a comeback with the redevelopment of the city's central district and the recent opening of Le Gray by the doyen of the super-stylish hotel, Gordon Campbell Gray.