Day two of the Travel Show kicked off Saturday morning with none other than the emperor of excursion, the maharajah of movement, the tycoon of travel himself, Arthur Frommer, and his spawn of sightseeing, Pauline Frommer, who presented their top budget destinations for 2010.

Arthur’s number one destination this year is Las Vegas where, he noted, just this winter there were close to 6,000 rooms dumped on the marketplace as a result of the opening of City Center, the massive condo/hotel/shopping complex. Consequently, Arthur’s been watching rates plummet as the recession-hit city has had to cope with this extra supply, with luxury rooms beginning at $150/night, and basic rooms at some of the less desirable locations (ahem — Circus Circus) coughing up rooms for under $50 (with even more discounts to be had by picking up coupons on the strip). (more…)

Something you hear alot of this time of year (especially in New York) is: “I’m heading down to Boca for the weekend.” Chances are they’re probably not referring to Bocas del Toro, the Panamanian archipelago located in the Caribbean near the Costa Rica border.

Besides having a rich history (literally — guess where the Spanish exported their plunders from?), this 68-island chain is perfect for exploring unique wildlife — above ground as well as underwater in its coral reefs — as the SMH explores this week.

The islands were formed 10,000 years ago, when the polar ice caps melted. Rising sea levels separated the islands from the rest of Central America, creating a unique ecosystem with several endemic species. There is a red poison dart frog here that is found nowhere else in the world. Seagrasses, the perfect habitat for endangered sea turtles and manatees, brush against the bottom of my kayak.

What’s better than amazing wildlife and pristine tropical waters? How about really cheap flights. I remember this time last year when flights into Panama City were around the low-$300 range, and a quick check with Kayak shows prices have only risen slightly from that range for trips in the next couple months.

Bus rides from the capital to the archipelago go for only $20 (this is why we love traveling in Latin America) and get ready to settle in for an 8 1/2-hour trip. That’s not that bad, come on. When’s the last time you did anything sedentary for 8 1/2 hours that didn’t involve unconsciousness or alcoholic beverages?

Lonely Planet’s doling out accolades to these ten countries as being very topping, with El Salvador being the toppingist of them all. Okay, they don’t really elaborate as to what this list mean, other than being the “hottest countries for next year,” but I assume they mean destinations that are, or have been, under the radar and are just coming into their own as hot spots for travelers. Which usually means one thing: Get there now before they’re firmly on the tourist trail.

Rounding out the top five are Germany, Greece, Malaysia and Morocco. And at number 10, experiencing a little Obama bounce, the U.S.A., which given the likelihood of a an anemic dollar for the near-term future, will likely be at the top of the list for many visitors, especially those carrying the enviably strong euro.

So what’s missing here? I may sound like a broken record, but let’s give a shout out to Colombia, a country whose culture and diversity, not to mention accessibility, makes it a great “top” country in 2010. A few of my own honorable mentions: Panama (have you seen how cheap it is to fly there in the winter?), Ireland (see Panama), and Namibia (everyone I met in Africa who was visited the country raved about the outdoor adventures that can be had there).

Kuna Yala, the coastal area of Panama along some of the most picturesque parts of the Caribbean that you’ll ever see, is home 72,000 Kuna, the native people that call this piece of paradise home. In actuality, most of the Kuna live on one of the 365 islands off shore, a chain of coral atolls where everyday life seems light years away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Panama City, as was experienced in this article in the UK Times.

Travelers here have the opportunity to explore the many islands. Take heart though, you won’t be overrun by tourists in these parts. “Anyone expecting the bland luxury of a Four Seasons-style resort will be disappointed. The few lodges on the islands are made of the local materials, thatched in palm with walls of bamboo and shutters which are simply planks of wood.” Sounds good to me, now if we could only do away with the other Four Seasons . . .

Brendan over at Jaunted has posted his first blog entry from his journey through Panama, beginning with his stay in Kuna Yala Islands, the 400-island archipelago off of Panama’s southern tip. Brendan wistfully describes the islands as an “obvious stop for a beach bum, drop-out-of-life vacation,” which is kind of the goal of most people’s vacation, right?

Lonely Planet lists the number one thing to do in the region is: “Interacting responsibly and sustainably with the Kuna, a fiercely independent people who maintain their traditions in a changing world.” I suspect that most PR agencies leave out “interacting responsibly and sustainably” in their travel brochures, but perhaps that will change soon.

Has anyone else noticed how cheap it’s become to fly to Panama? (I found rates as low as $336 from New York City). My friend’s heading down there for New Year’s this year and I suspect there will be plenty more travelers discovering this nation of 3 million so long as prices stay so low.

Also, did you know that the U.S. Dollar is accepted everywhere you go in Panama in addition to their own currency, the Balboa, which is pegged to the dollar? Bad new for those Americans who enjoy doing complex division while traveling; good news for the rest of us.

Here’s a recent video from Lonely Planet exploring Panama City. Good video — annoying host. Oh man, please don’t tell me I come off like this guy in my videos, or I promise, for the good of the world, I’ll quit doing them this instant.