海角大神

Another year, another collection of lists purporting to know the best, cheapest, or weirdest places for your next vacation.

So which list do you listen to? Which publication knows best? Which locale do you visit?

To help find an answer, we鈥檝e compared all the best-of lists and best-on-a-budget lists we could find. We also rounded up the unique travel lists 鈥� in case you鈥檙e traveling for a tattoo or want to travel back in time.

Best of the best

We consider these eight hotspots the best of the best because they appear on multiple best-of lists.

1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

This capital city made three lists for 2013:聽Fodor鈥檚聽Go List,听Lonely Planet鈥檚聽Top 10 Cities, and聽Travel + Leisure magazine鈥檚聽Hottest Travel Destinations.

Amsterdam鈥檚 2013 milestones include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra鈥檚 125th anniversary; Van Gogh鈥檚 160th birthday; the Artis Zoo鈥檚 175th anniversary; and the 400th anniversary of the Canal Ring, designated a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Rijksmuseum also reopens after a 10-year restoration.

So, Fodor鈥檚 says, 鈥淭he city is ready to celebrate with concerts, exhibits, festivals, and sport events designed to embrace the spirit and culture of Amsterdam.鈥�

2. Marseille, France

France鈥檚 second-largest city also made three lists: Fodor鈥檚, Travel + Leisure鈥檚, and聽National Geographic magazine鈥檚聽Best Trips聽鈥� plus the European Union鈥檚聽European Capital City.

Travel + Leisure calls Marseille France鈥檚 edgiest city: 鈥淪tyle seekers browse the racks in the Cours Julien district; artists are colonizing the Le Panier area; and trendy types hole up at Philippe Starck鈥檚 Mama Shelter.鈥�

But, National Geographic says, 鈥淔or all the new energy, Marseille鈥檚 old pleasures remain as alluring as ever: a stroll along the narrow lanes of the Panier Quarter, the lusty aromas of a good bouillabaisse, a boat ride into the fjordlike inlets called calanques. It鈥檚 no wonder that visitors are becoming fadas (big fans) of France鈥檚 southern gateway.鈥�

3. Montenegro

This European country made Fodor鈥檚 and聽Lonely Planet鈥檚聽Top 10 Countries.

Fodor鈥檚 calls Montenegro 鈥� wedged between Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, and the sea 鈥� the new Monaco at half the price.

But despite the small Mediterranean country鈥檚 size, Lonely Planet says, 鈥淣ature has been prolific and creative鈥�producing such iconic draws as the bewitching Bay of Kotor and the buzzy beaches along its Riviera. But be sure to pack a pair of hiking boots along with your swimsuit, for Montenegro鈥檚 beauty is no less intense in the wild and rugged interior. A new 鈥� and steadily growing 鈥� network of hiking and biking trails and improved infrastructure is making this glorious quilt of nature ever more accessible.鈥�

4. Palawan, Philippines

Palawan, on聽Lonely Planet鈥檚聽Top 10 Regions, is another secluded locale to visit before crowds of tourists arrive.

鈥淧alawan incorporates thousands of sparkling, rugged islands and is fringed by [more than 1,200 miles] of pristine coastline. So far Palawan鈥檚 natural marvels have only been sampled by plucky backpackers. Not for much longer,鈥� says Lonely Planet. 鈥淭he trail these pioneers have blazed is set to explode, with regional airlines waking up to Palawan鈥檚 potential and clambering to schedule direct flights to the capital.鈥�

Travel + Leisure also listed the Philippines.

5. Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic

JetBlue started offering direct flights to this less-visited part of the Caribbean country in November, Fodor鈥檚 reports.

鈥淪ecluded beaches, small hotels, friendly locals, and plenty of natural wonders 鈥� including great whale-watching from January through March 鈥� await in an area that has not (yet) experienced massive development,鈥� they say. 鈥淪o go now before the megaresorts follow.鈥�

Lonely Planet also listed the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispanola with Haiti.

6. Quito, Ecuador

鈥淔or too long, travelers have neglected Ecuador鈥檚 capital city en route to the nation鈥檚 marquee attraction, the Gal谩pagos Islands [which didn't make any of the aforementioned lists]. Though its Spanish colonial center has been enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978, the area has more recently undergone a renaissance warranting longer stays,鈥� say National Geographic.

Lonely Planet also listed Ecuador.

7. Istanbul, Turkey

鈥淪tunning historical sights and urban style define the city that straddles two continents,鈥� Fodor鈥檚 says. 鈥淚stanbul has an irrepressible energy that constantly propels it forward with exciting new hotels, restaurants, and art galleries, even while the culture maintains a firm grasp on the traditions of the past.鈥�

Lonely Planet also listed Turkey.

8. Bagan, Myanmar

鈥淭he best Burmese travel experiences require a bit of planning, but the rewards are great鈥攅specially in Bagan, the arid, pagoda-studded plain along the Ayeyarwady River in Upper Burma where the first Burmese Buddhist kings, their courtiers, and other merit-seeking patrons built thousands of religious monuments from the 11th to 13th centuries,鈥� says National Geographic. 鈥淎ccording to Burma scholar Donald Stadtner, these 16 square miles鈥�rank among Southeast Asia鈥檚 most significant sacred ancient sites.鈥�

Fodor鈥檚 also listed Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

Best of the best on a budget

If you want to travel in style without breaking the bank, consider one of these destinations. They all made a best-of list as well as one of these money-minded lists:聽Lonely Planet鈥檚聽Best Value Destinations,听TravelZoo鈥檚聽Wow Deal Destinations, and聽鈥淏udget Travel鈥� magazine鈥檚聽10 Best Budget Destinations.

9. Slovakia:聽Its capital has remained 鈥渟urprisingly affordable鈥� despite this country having one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union, according to Budget Travel. Plus, this year also mark鈥檚 the 20th anniversary of Slovakia鈥檚 independence (from Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic), and the city of Kosice made the E.U.鈥檚 European Capital of Culture 2013.

10. Slovenia:聽This European country is 鈥渁s picture-perfect as聽Switzerland聽or other Alpine areas to the north, but much smaller and easier on the wallet,鈥� says Lonely Planet.

11. Portland, Oregon:聽鈥淐heap food! Free things to do!" raves Lonely Planet. 鈥淵es, budget-conscious but still fashionably minded travellers may have reached the promised land in Portland.鈥�

12. Nepal:聽It鈥檚 possible to live for a day on the price of a Starbucks latte or two in this tiny landlocked聽Asian country, if you鈥檙e willing to stick to budget accommodations and meals and avoid the capital of Kathmandu, according to Lonely Planet.

13. New Zealand:聽Thanks to the 鈥�Lord of the Rings鈥� and now the 鈥淗obbit鈥� movie series being filmed on this island nation, TravelZoo says more flights to the home of Middle-earth should result in more competitive prices.

Best of the rest

If you鈥檙e looking for something a little more specific or spunky, check out these unique best-of travel lists for 2013.

• Best Winter Trips 2013, National Geographic
• 10 Best Ethical Travel Destinations for 2013, Outside
• The World鈥檚 Best Hotels 2013, Travel + Leisure
• Legendary Last Stands, Lonely Planet
• Marvellous Meteorological Sites, Lonely Planet
• Best Capital Cities Built From Scratch, Lonely Planet
• Best 鈥淏ack-in-Time鈥� Entertainment, Lonely Planet
• Best Places to Do Something New, Lonely Planet
• Best Places to Hunt for Buried Treasure, Lonely Planet
• Best Places to See Elephants (up close), Lonely Planet
• Best Places to Get a Tattoo, Lonely Planet

Renee Morad is a writer for聽, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.