If you live in the United States, it's probably cold this time of year. If you're lucky enough to live in a temperate place, you're probably bored because the rain just keeps on drizzling. Sigh. Regardless of your situation, December drags long and bleak, and really, what could be better than a vacation during that holiday work hiatus?

Since there's a wide world at your disposal, our friends at Frommer's have picked the best vacation spots of 2011. Here are a few:

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. Puerto Viejo has beaches, rainforests and rivers, but surprisingly, very few visitors. If you can negotiate travel to this remote Caribbean coastal village, why miss it?

Taipei, Taiwan. Taipei is the newest hotspot of Asia, combining elements of old-school China and extreme modernity. For old-school fans, visitors to Taipei can eat Japanese sushi, watch a Chinese opera and visit the National Palace Museum to see Chinese art. For lovers of modernity, visitors can check out the nightlife or ride to the top of Asia's tallest building.  

Ponza & the Pontine Islands, Italy. These islands are far enough away from Italy's mainland, so you're not sifting through throngs of tourists to see the beautiful sites. Frommer's suggests renting your own boat, swimming in grottos and drinking fancy cocktails. Sounds like a little bit of summer heaven.

Kent Coast, England. The Kent Coast seems like a perfect day-long excursion for visitors travelling to London who want to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city for awhile. The Kent Coast is only two hours away and offers literarily-inclined visitors tours of the Dickens Museum and of the house that was the inspiration for his novel, Bleak House. It also has seaside restaurants galore and plenty of shopping.

Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm hasn't been a tourist destination for a while because of flashier European vacation spots like Venice and Vienna. But that's good for you. Stockholm still has as much to offer as its neighbors: world-class museums, palaces and great restaurants. And with European tourists who are heading elsewhere, you'll probably be able to snag a table spot that much more easily.

Doha, Qatar. Doha is the richest place in the world because of the oil reserves underneath the city, so if you want to go for a luxurious place vacation, Doha may be your best bet. Still undiscovered, Doha has white sand beaches, gourmet restaurants and a man-made island with a slough of five-star hotels. Sounds pretty swank to me.