Favorite Places, Best Picks

Sports:Argentina is the undisputed world capital of polo. The best players and the best horses come from the surrounding pampas, where polo is played year-round. For a glimpse of the sport of kings at its absolute finest, head to the Palermo Polo Fields in the southern hemisphere spring for the Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine Open Polo Championship), the most prestigious tournament on the planet (Nov. 17- Dec. 8). Look for Adolfo Cambiasso, the Roger Federer of polo, to lead his team, La Dolfina, to their third title in a row.

--Brian Byrnes

Correspondents' Picks: Malta

Barbie Nadeau has lived in Italy since 1996, enjoying la dolce vita and reporting on politics, culture and travel for NEWSWEEK and a variety of travel publications and guidebooks. Having thoroughly explored the southern coast of Italy and Sicily, the tiny islands of Malta and Gozo seemed like the natural place to go for a beach holiday. Here's what she found over the summer:

Sleeping
Malta is tiny—just 316 square kilometers—so traversing the island on the labyrinth of narrow stone-walled roads is simple. Base yourself on the waterfront near Mellieha Bay or St. Paul's Bay or better yet, sleep on Gozo nearby to get the full feel of Maltese life. Consider renting a private villa or old farmhouse (a great selection at www.holiday-malta.com) since the hotels tend to be buffet-food havens with little character.