1. London, England
Ladies, don your gowns; gents, start pressing your ties. Afternoon tea at the Ritz is a splendid formal affair: silver pots and fine china chink at 4 p.m. sharp under the vaulted glass and chandeliers of the Palm Court. It’s not cheap, but you’ll be in good company — this venerable hotel has served exotic infusions to everyone from King Edward VII to Charlie Chaplin. If the budget won’t stretch, try alternative institutions: the organization Classic Cafes champions the formica-countered greasy spoons of the 1950s, a dwindling number of which are still serving brews in vintage surrounds. Tie not required.

With smaller, regional carriers making up half the air traffic at some of the country’s biggest airports, how you previously prepared for a flight may no longer apply. Below, the new rules.

1. Bring food
Regional flights can be as long as four hours, and food isn’t sold on most of them.

Waiting. That’s the worst mistake a traveler can make these days.

It’s what Femi Adenuga did after buying tickets for his parents to fly from Lagos to Pittsburgh through Travelocity. “A week after the purchase, while e-mailing the itinerary to my dad, my eye caught a single letter error in my mother’s first name,” said Adenuga, a college student. He contacted Travelocity, which got in touch with Delta Air Lines, which urged him to cancel the ticket and buy a new one.

Poised to claim their time in the spotlight, destinations around the world are taking center stage with big festivals or anniversaries, massive new developments, or just particularly good deals. If you’re looking to be where the action is in 2010, consider a trip to:

Germany

Been waiting for the right time to visit Germany? Then dust off your passport and practice your "Guten Tag!" 2010 stands out as a year chock-full of memorable, unique, and rare events. And increased air service from the U.S. puts it all closer.

"Kids may forget who gave them that toy, but they will definitely remember taking a train to the ‘North Pole’ with their grandpa or riding in a horse-drawn carriage with their Nana," says Elizabeth LaBan, author of The Grandparents Handbook: Games, Activities,Tips, How-Tos, and All-Around Fun (Quirk Books, $16.95). She shares places with Kathy Baruffi for USA TODAY where grandparents and grandchildren can connect during the holidays. (Check websites for dates and times.)

MAP: Zoom in on these family-friendly attractions
ARCHIVE: Read more ’10 Great’ columns

Zoolights, Calgary zoo
Calgary, Canada