Las Vegas, USA

Why it's heating up
For much of the 1990s, Las Vegas was the antithesis of cool. Sharp-suited gangsters sipping Martinis had been replaced by velour-tracksuited OAPs slurping two-pint pots of cola. But in time for its centenary this year, the city has performed a dramatic turnaround with big-name chefs, designers and architects adding some serious class. Mix 2 has food by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse and a 24ft-high chandelier designed by French architect Patrick Jouin. Later this month Selfridges starts a Vegas celebration, bringing showgirls, crooners, poker tables and a wedding chapel to London's Oxford Street. Last year when the store chose Brazil for a similar sales stunt, the country soared to the top of fashionistas' destination list.

How to do it
Prices vary hugely according to the days of the week and what conferences are in town - the same room at the Mandalay Bay costs $149 on 1 June,and $399 the following week. Virgin Holidays (0871 222 0306; www.virgin.com/holidays) offers seven nights in the Bellagio, setting for Ocean's Eleven, with direct flights and car hire for £999. Flight-only from £456 return.

Cape Verde Islands

Why it's heating up
Tropical islands from the Caribbean to the Pacific are favourites of affluent tourists, but Cape Verde is only now hitting the trendy traveller's radar. This tiny archipelago of islands just off West Africa wants to rebrand itself as an upmarket destination with luxury holiday homes for well-heeled Brits. They're busy expanding the airport and plan to court the major airlines. The islands are quiet, unspoilt and boast dramatic green volcanic scenery, but the consistent warm winds off Africa in the winter months have made it a mecca for windsurfers, ensuring it's a young and funky crowd moving in, rather than just rich, rotund and retired. The island of Sal is known for white sand beaches, Sao Vicente for music and Santo Antao for scenery.

How to do it
TAP Air Portugal (0845 601 0932; www.flytap.com) flies from Gatwick via Lisbon to Sal from £370 return. Cape Verde Travel (01964 536 191; www.capeverdetravel.com) has a week on Sal, including flights and B&B from £706, or a fortnight hopping between three islands from £965. Cape Verde Airlines (www.tacv.cv) will fly you between islands.

Galle, Sri Lanka

Why it's heating up
Despite the fact that the coastline around Galle suffered some of the worst tsunami damage in all of Sri Lanka, the town's 16th-century Dutch fort survived thanks to its three-metre thick walls. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1988, the fort contains a tiny community of 400 houses, a church, two mosques, a Buddhist shrine and, as of January, two very fancy hotels Amangalla (www.amanresorts.com) and the Galle Fort Hotel (www.gallefort.com). For years it has been a hideaway for celebrated interior designers, intellectuals and ageing playboys who have been surreptitiously snapping up the most beautiful of the merchants' villas and converting them into palatial retreats. It has all the hallmarks of becoming the new Marrakesh.

How to do it
Sri Lankan Airlines (020 8538 2000; www.srilankan.aero) has direct flights from Heathrow to Colombo from £544. From there it's a 75-mile taxi ride south to Galle, or you can transfer by private seaplane for £320 (per eight-seat plane, each way, book via Sri Lankan Airlines as before). For packages, try ITC Classics (0870 751 9400, www.itcclassics.co.uk).

Rimini, Italy

Why it's heating up
A playground for the Dolce Vita glitterati in the Fifties, Rimini fell from grace and became Italy's answer to Blackpool. Thanks to a progressive mayor, big plans for regeneration and a little help from Ron Arad, who is transforming the duoMo hotel into a state-of-the-art design hotel within the medieval city, it's set to become a glamorous beach resort once more. June sees the opening of the new club Pascia (www.pasciariccione.it) featuring chill-out terrace and classy restaurant. Just outside town, fashion designer Alberta Ferretti has transformed the 13th-century Castello di Montegridolfo into a luxurious retreat centred around the Palazzo Viviani hotel (00 39 0541 855350; www.montegridolfo.com).

How to do it
The duoMo hotel (00800 3746 8357; www.designhotels.com) is due to open in July but the tourist office (00 39 0541 430123; www.riminiturismo.it) has many cheaper options. Ryanair (0871 246 0000; www.ryanair.com) flies from Stansted to Forli (20 minutes away). For tailor-made packages, try the Italian Connection (01424 728900; www.italian-connection.co.uk).

Itacar¿, Brazil

Why it's heating up
Bahia in north-eastern Brazil fits most people's idea of a tropical paradise: miles of palm-fringed beaches backed by lush jungle. There's no shortage of sleepy fishing villages to choose from but one town seems to be screaming 'come now before it's too late' louder than the rest: Itacar¿. Equally popular with surfers and the smart weekend set from Sao Paulo, the village, which is a regular haunt of Sean Penn, Jade Jagger and Gisele Bundchen, will soon be home to Brazil's most exclusive resort: Warapuru, which boasts a private landing strip and accommodation in futuristic cabanas. The Footprint guide to Brazil claims it has yet to be discovered by the Cond¿ Nast Traveller set. It can only be a matter of time.

How to do it
Journey Latin America (020 87478315; www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk) has flights from £499 to Salvador, from where it's a long bus ride or a short flight to nearby Ilheus. JLA can arrange a seven-night stay at the sophisticated Txai resort just outside Itacar¿ for £1,025, including full board and transfers. Accommodation is in bungalows built on stilts in the rainforest.

Cooling off

Croatia
So hip two years ago but already a dinner party bore

Mykonos
One boutique hotel too many and when P Diddy turns up, it's time to move on

Ibiza
Last summer's Manumission 10th birthday spectacular had all the atmosphere of a Yates wine lodge

Tallinn
Stag-dos and hip will never mix

Marrakesh
We've all been there - now try Fez