For me this is a no brainer...It's Bangkok. I was just at the bookstore and the 2005 list for Travel&Leisure is out and Bangkok was voted number 2 (city) in the world. Sydney got number 1. Happy Travels!

My vote's for Bali! I can't think of any other location on the planet (except Tuscany, perhaps) that better combines profound natural beauty, intensely spiritual culture, focus on all of the arts -- both performing and object-making. There is a wide range of activities within a small geographic area. Wonderful resorts and luxuriant spas in all price ranges. A graciously hospitable population.

On the food scale, Bali's not up to Thailand or China, but there are many inexpensive and aesthetically excellent choices.

Last time I was in BKK was in 1996!! Since then, we have been to Thailand, but not to BKK...When we were there in 1996 it didn't seem so great...So we never really had the urge to go back..But I have read so many reviews from so many people on how great it is, I have just got to go and see for myself..So I have bumped it up a notch on my where to go next list and we will try to fit it into our next vacation after Kerala and the Maldives...My curiousity has got the best of me....Is it that great???

Tracy, everyone like different things. I'm a city person, and Bangkok is a fabulous city. The wats, the river life, the food, the wonderful hotels, the shopping, and of course, the people. In my experience, people either love Bangkok or hate it. I've also heard from a number of people whose first expereince of Bangkok was to stay in a hotel in the middle of town that they didn't like it. I believe that staying by the river gives an entirely different feel to Bangkok. But again, everyone is different.

I've been going to Asia for more than 20 years. I love lots of placces in Asia, many that have been named by others, some that have not. Bangkok feels like coming home to me.

Thailand
China
Japan
Top 3 destinations in Asia

At the risk of appearing to be politically incorrect, I have kept my feelings about Bangkok to myself.

To me, it's one of the hottest and noisiest places ever visited. True, the palaces and temples are wonderful, the river traffic is fascinating, and the people are friendly.

But I felt that my shoes were filling with my own sweat and I could only be heard by my wife if I spoke directly into her ear when we were on the street. Without air-conditioning, the city would be unliveable.

Bali!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Krabi, Thailand

We will be going to Bali/Java in October so I may change my response.

I've been in Thailand/Malaysia/Bali/Singapore, but Bangkok is still number one as far as I'm concerned. I've been there many times. On the first trip in the late 90s,and second trip, I stayed in the heart of town at the(no longer) Siam Intercontinental Hotel(next door to the Siam Discovery Shopping Center) with lots of land(The most land of any hotel in BK) and peacocks walking around on the property and I loved it. I didn't stay at a river-side hotel until last summer's trip...2004...where I spent 2 nights on the river and then back into the heart of the city I went for the remaining 4 or 5 nights. Happy Travels!

Guen- do you change countries like you change hotels?

Beijing! It made me re-think everything my American education had taught me about China.

Well, Bill, I've been on all of the continents except Antartica...I don't do cold weather...and after seeing that penguin documentary...I'm definitely not doing Antartica.I was cold in the movie theater just watching it! But what's great about jumping around to different countries is that you can experience a lot and then eliminate a lot of places you have little or no desire to return to and then room is left to return to those places you found really great...the same goes for hotels! Plus remember that variety is the spice of life...although too much spice can give you heartburn! Happy Travels!