Conde Nast Traveller: October 2007

Party planner 2008

Guidebook gurus Mr & Mrs Smith highlight 12 of the biggest events coming up next year

01 ST MORITZ

24-27 Jan: Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow.  Around 20,000 people attend.  Fly to Zurich and drive to St Moritz (three hours) - or go by train and enjoy the scenery properly.  Avoid the chintzy hotels: stay in a luxury chalet at The Chesa Albertini (www.descent.co.uk).

02 CANARY ISLANDS

1-10 Feb: Tenerife Carnival.  BA (www.ba.com) and Monarch (www.flymonarch.com) have direct flights.  Stay at the lovely Hotel San Roque (www.hotelsanroque.com) in Garachico.

03 VALENCIA

12-19 March: Las Fallas.  One of Europe's biggest street parties.  Las Fallas is a pyromaniacs paradise.  Valencia becomes a whirl of flaming effigies, fireworks and torchlit parades.  Iberia (www.iberia.com) and easyjet (www.easyjet.com) fly direct.  Brave the all night revelry and book into the Palau de la Mar.

04 AMSTERDAM

30 April: Queen's Day.  The head of the state's birthday is a 24-hour party.  Book into the canalside Dylan Amsterdam if you want a haven from the crowds.

05 MONACO

22-25 May: Monaco Grand Prix.  The route, around which the fast and the furious speed 78 times, hugs the water's edge before leading the drivers past the principality's key landmarks.  Co-owned by David Coulthard, Columbus Monaco is a hip designer den with a chi-chi bar open into the small hours.

06 BASEL

4-8 June: Art Basel.  This huge exhibition and trade fair is a must for art lovers.  The Swissotel Le Plaza (www.basel.swissotel.com) is the best in town.

07 SIENA

2 July: Palio Di Siena.  The city's vast Piazza Del Campo becomes a dangerously competitive racetrack as professional jockeys ride bareback across its treacherous cobbles.  Stay at Villa Scacciapensieri (www.villascacciapensieri.it) or Hotel Certosa Di Maggiano (www.certosadimaggiano.com), both a short drive from the city.

08 ISLE OF WIGHT

2-9 August: Cowes Weeks.  The world's premier sailing event.  Stay at Seaview in the village of the same name; for details see www.mrandmrssmith.com.

09 IBIZA

26-28 Sept: Ibiza closing parties.  The last Sunday of the season at Space is probably the cream of the crop; there's a fabulous open-air terrace and the party runs for a mind-bending 22 hours.  Airlines including BA and EasyJet operate several flights a day.

10 MUNICH

20 Sept-5 Oct: Oktoberfest.  Begun by Prince Ludwig in 1810, the famous beer festival attracts six million visitors a year.  Stay at Hotel Cortina (www.cortina.com).

11 KENT

1-2 November: Leeds Castle Fireworks.  The floodlit turrets of Leeds Castle are a handsome backdrop for arguably the most thrilling skyful of November fireworks in the south-east.  Warm up afterwards with a stay at the Hotel du Vin & Bistro, a 40-minute drive away in Turnbridge Wells.

12 EDINBURGH

29 Dec-1 Jan: Hogmanay.  Ring in the New Year with 10,000 of your closest friends.

Mr & Mrs Smith's new European events guidebook, SMITH 52 (Spy Publishing, £21.95), is published on 15 September.  See www.smith52.com