Top 10 Cities : Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 includes ... Glasgow!

November 18, 10:35 AMSeattle Travel ExaminerSue Frause

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Men in kilts spotted in Glasgow. Photo by Sue Frause.

There's a new travel book on the shelves, and it looks like a winner. Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2009 is a fresh volume of hot travel trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead. It's a result of the expertise of Lonely Planet authors, staff and travelers.

One surprise: Glasgow made the book's Top 10 Cities  --  the only UK destination to make the cut. I was in this Scottish city several years ago and found it to be a fresh and rumble-tumble alternative to the oh, so picture-perfect Edinburgh.

According to Lonely Planet, the city was chosen because of its exciting, contemporary image: “Forget about castles, kilts, bagpipes and tartan – you come to Glasgow for the cocktails, cuisine and designer chic (plus the legendary native wit).”

The book also cites world-class designers and architects (think Charles Rennie Mackintosh) and even actor James McAvoy as elements that make the city a “capital of cool”.

Along with the Top 10 Cities, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2009 includes more than two dozen travel lists, from the Happiest Places and Best Ecotrips to Top 10 Places to Steal a Kiss.

Top 10 Cities (in alphabetical order)

Antwerp, Belgium

Beirut, Lebanon

Chicago, USA

Glasgow, Scotland

Lisbon, Portugal

Mexico City, Mexico

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Shanghai, China

Warsaw, Poland

Zurich, Switzerland