10 great places to strike a swimsuit pose

We can't all look like a swimsuit model, but that doesn't mean we can't travel like one. Diane Smith, editor of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue (on newsstands now), shares great locations from current and past issues to strut your stuff.

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Whistler, Canada
This wintry wonderland is better known for snow than sand, but it proved to be an Olympics-worthy setting in which to shoot the U.S. ski and snowboard teams in their swimsuits. The crew spent its days at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler pool with Lindsey Vonn and her teammates, then explored the area by night. "Whistler has a very special restaurant, the Bearfoot Bistro, where our crew learned how to saber Champagne bottles," Smith says. whistlerblackcomb.com

Naples, Italy
Naples' best-kept secret? Its beaches, according to Smith. "We were thrilled with the diversity of the beaches when we shot there last year," she says. While visiting this Italian city, let your taste buds be your guide. "Being the city that invented pizza, we shot a model in a swimsuit in a pizzeria." italia.it/en/home.html

Atacama Desert, Chile
The magazine tapped four models to travel to northern Chile for this year's issue. The Alto Atacama Hotel served as a base while two of the models acclimated to the altitude before venturing to 14,000 feet to pose near some of the world's highest active geysers. "There's a great restaurant in the charming village San Pedro de Atacama named Cafe Adobe," Smith says. "After a long day of shooting, it was a great place for our crew to relax and have a fantastic dinner." visit-chile.org

Alwar, India
Bathing beauties aren't the only scene-stealers on the photo shoots that go into the annual swimsuit issue. This year's locations proved no different when the magazine's team set up shop near the Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan state. "The Amanbagh Resort has a pool that is a private oasis with world-class poolside service," Smith says. "The veranda restaurant that borders the pool is perfect to wrap a towel or cover-up over your swimsuit and enjoy the surrounding mountain views." alwar.nic.in

Lisbon, Portugal
"Lisbon has great beaches minutes from the city," Smith says. But the crew also sought out local flavor. "When we were shooting this year's issue in Lisbon, we loved the restaurant Mezzaluna, where we were hosted by the chef and owner, Michael Guerrieri. We also devoured the warm, fresh pastries from Casa Pastéis de Belém, the most famous pastry shop in Lisbon," she says. visitportugal.com

Harbor Island, The Bahamas
Beaches and bikinis may go hand in hand, but Smith faces the challenge of finding a sandy spot like no other. "Harbor Island is one of the only pink sand beaches anywhere," she says. These beaches played host in 2006 when the magazine shot its all-star cover featuring eight former cover girls. "The light here makes everyone look even more beautiful," Smith says. bahamas.com

Las Vegas
Editors didn't have to gamble much when they chose the adult playground of Sin City as a backdrop in both the 2001 and 2006 issues. "The pools defy the imagination and are the perfect settings for the sexiest suits," Smith says. visitlasvegas.com

The Maldives
The imagination doesn't have to work to picture supermodels splashing along the shore in the Maldives. So when editors had to narrow down locales for this year's issue, including a shoot with cover model Brooklyn Decker and 2009 cover model Bar Refaeli, these exotic islands in the Indian Ocean were an obvious choice. "The water in the Maldives is like a swimming pool with the finest baby powder white sand," Smith says. visitmaldives.com

Palm Springs, Calif.
Keeping these photo shoots under wraps until publication is no small feat, so editors have to aim for discreet locations. "The pool at the Viceroy hotel is a great hideaway from the paparazzi," Smith says. "You can also visit the Palm Springs Air Museum in swimsuits, like we did this year." Unless you're a supermodel, we recommend more conventional attire. visitpalmsprings.com

Cappadocia, Turkey
Passport stamps are one of the perks of Smith's job, and she relishes visiting unusual locations, including this Turkish town. "Some of the clearest water in the world surrounds this beautiful country," Smith says. "Boats, beaches and docks are all part of the culture there – perfect for swimsuits. The historical and natural wonders of Cappadocia were a magnificent background for our shoot." Models took off in a hot-air balloon for a bird's-eye view of the area. tourismturkey.org

Drinking isn´t just about kicking back and relaxing – it also can provide a window into another culture. So says comedian and professional drinker Zane Lamprey, Fine Living Network host of Three Sheets and author of the new Three Sheets: Drinking Made Easy! 6 Continents, 15 Countries, 190 Drinks, and 1 Mean Hangover! (Villard, $15). As for the morning after, he still hasn´t found an effective hangover cure. “I´ve done 52 different episodes, and I´m still looking.”