My Top 3 Most-Wanted Family Escape for 2010

After whining like a baby and having a mini-meltdown, my loving, generous, supportive, and wonderful husband(!) finally agreed to "take a chance" on my life-long dream: an RTW (round-the-world) trip for a minimum of 6 months with our two girls. It may have been the crazy-hot Indian food we had here on New Year's Day, but the wheels in my head had been ceaselessly turning since. How will we save up? How much do we need? Where will we go? But while the RTW trip won't probably happen until 5 years from now (when this one on the way is at least that old), we're still planning annual vacations, since I - as many of you would know - suffer from a condition known as "having itchy feet".

2010 is no exception. We still have to go on our annual family pilgrimage, ahem, vacation. Here are my top choices for a family escape this 2010. Oh, would you, could you, help us decide? Note that we'll be lugging around a months-old infant.

*Please feel free to click on the links to get an idea of some of the gorgeous places...

1. The Garden Route and Madikwe Reserve, South Africa
South Africa was our original choice for a most-wanted family escape for 2010, but tastes and preferences seem to evolve much quicker than the ocean tides. If we do decide to go to South Africa like originally planned, it would start at Cape Town, staying at the child-friendly Beaumont House. Then we'd take our rental car around the the Cape Winelands, visiting and dining around Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschoek, and perhaps, staying a couple of nights at Le Quartier Francais (if we want to splurge) or Auberge Clermont (if we want to save some bucks). We will then stay at Hermanus for some whale watching, then proceed to Arniston and Mossel Bay before heading to Knysna where we base ourselves to visit the ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves and Wildlife Ranch. A stay at Plettenberg Bay is also a possibility before we finish up at Port Elizabeth, where we catch a flight for Johannesburg via Cape Town. Once in Jo'burg, we take a private car to malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve for our safari dose, staying at a family suite with a private plunge pool at andBeyond's Madikwe Safari Lodge.

Cape Town, South Africa

Boutique estates of the Cape Winelands

2. Guatemala
First, we fly to the main airport in Guatemala City and head straight to Antigua - Central America's most well-preserved Spanish colonial town. We base ourselves in Antigua for a few days, staying at the child-friendly El Convento (for a splurge) or at the equally charming Meson Panza Verde (for a cheaper but similar alternative). We would then take a short day trip flight to climb the mystical ruins of Tikal. Afterwards, we head over to the peaceful Lake Atitlan, staying at one of the gorgeous open-to-nature suites of Laguna Lodge and Eco-Reosrt - a child-friendly boutique bolthole on the banks of the lake. We'd probably spend a few days here, visiting adjacent towns, kayaking, hiking, or simply relaxing amidst the Alpine-like scenery. En route back, we make an early stop at the Thursday or Sunday markets of Chichicastenango. Finally, we would return to Antigua for some Mayan cooking classes - a great way to end the trip.

Antigua, Guatemala

Lake Atitlan by 3Neus

3. Syria
I've always been fascinated by the Middle East, so UNESCO-Heritage-rich Syria is on top of my list. Contrary to popular belief, Syria is actually a family-friendly place to visit. Like many have pointed out, it is not a country full of terrorists and suicide bombers! We'd start our Syrian adventure in Damascus, staying in a traditional inn or a boutique guesthouse like Beit Al Mamlouka within the Old City. In Damascus, we'd hit the Umayyad Mosque, wander through Straight Street and Souk al-Hamidiyya, and spend days discovering wonderful Damascene houses and delicious restaurants around the Old City. A day trip to Bosra, 2-hours away from Damascus, should be an easy excursion; however, a 3-hour trip to the ancient ruins of Palmyra might warrant an overnight stay in the area. We'd most likely rent a car in Damascus and drive through the fertile plains between the Jebel al-Ansariye and the Mediterranean Coast, where we visit the well-preserved Crusader castles near the towns of Homs, Safita, Tartus, Baniyas, and Latakia. We'll keep driving north to the ancient city of Aleppo to witness the magnificence of its citadel, its covered souks, and the country's best mezzes. In Aleppo, staying at the romantic Dar Zamaria is a must.

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus by Ai@ce

Aleppo Citadel by martijn munneke

Of the 3 most-wanted family escape for 2010, which one speaks to you the most? Which one will you recommend us to take? I am seriously torn!