Fodor names unique travel experiences

Set among an ancient forest yet only 200 metres from the beach, Blue Jay eco-lodge, Mal Pais, Costa Rica, suggests exclusivity.

But like the nine other hotels to make it onto Fodor Travel Guide's choice list for 2006, it has been selected not because it is one of the world's most famous or most expensive hotels, but because of the unique and unusual experience it offers its guests.

With rooms starting from just over £45 per night in the high season, and little over £30 per night in the low season – based on two people sharing – expensive it is not.

Fodor asked its editors and writers for their top picks for hotels, restaurants and sites/experiences and has come up with a variety of options for different sized budgets.

For those wishing to spend a bit more on accommodation, the Coral Reef Club, Barbados, also makes the list. Its prices range from about £120 per night for a single garden room to £1,271 per night for the luxury plantation suite.

And for those who truly want to splash the cash, the Esperanza, Los Cobos, Mexico has rooms ranging from £365 per night to £2,800 per night.

The Carnaval de Quebec in Canada's Quebec City heads the list of not-to-be-missed sights and experiences, which also includes diving in St Eustatius in the Caribbean, Kayaking in the Bahia Mosquito, Vieques, Porto Rico, and skiing at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

A visit to the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a trip to Australia's Red Centre to see Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta; and stargazing atop Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island also make the list.

As for restaurants, Fodor's top ten are spread all over the world from Hunter's Vineyard, Blenheim, New Zealand, to Casa Picasso in Ambergris Caye, Belize, and Findlerhof in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Fodor's Choice 2006 list

Hotels

Blue Jay Lodge, Malpais, Costa Rica

Chakrabongse Villas, Bangkok, Thailand

Coral Reef Club, St. James, Barbados

Esperanza, Los Cabos, Mexico

Faena Hotel + Universe, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ho'oilo House, Maui, Hawaii, US

Mala Mala, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge, Playa Ocotal, Nicaragua

Parador de Malaga Gibralfaro, Malaga, Spain

Red Setter Inn, Greer, Arizona, US

Sights/Experiences

Carnaval de Quebec, Quebec City, Canada

Diving in St. Eustatius, St. Eustatius, Caribbean

Kayaking in Bahia Mosquito, Vieques, Puerto Rico

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana, US

Poas Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Skiing at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Stargazing atop Mauna Kea, Big Island, Hawai'i

Uluru & Kata Tjuta, Red Centre, Australia

Valley of the Temples, Sicily, Italy

Restaurants

Bukhara, Delhi, India

Casa da Feijoada, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Casa Picasso, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Chef Mavro, O'ahu, Hawaii, US

Chez Pascal, Antigua, Caribbean

Findlerhof, Zermatt, Switzerland

George's at the Cove, La Jolla, California, US

Hunter's Vineyard Restaurant, Blenheim, New Zealand

Per Se, New York, New York, US

Wahso, Park City, Utah, US