This post was part of the AOL Money & Finance Best & Worst of 2007 feature. The voting has now closed and readers have chosen the Dubai as the breakout city of the year. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you are pleased with this result.

What are breakout cities? Cities that seemed to pop up in news stories with uncommon frequency, that have developed a cachet, that appear on the itinerary of early adopters. For your consideration here are four outstanding, very different candidates for this honor. Which whets your travel appetite?

Dubai City, U.A.E.
Nothing helps build a city quicker than petrodollars and a monarchy devoted to world-class projects. Dubai has all of that and more. The city that calls itself the "City Built For Tourism" is known as the home of the world's largest free-standing hotel, the Burj Al Arab. This ultra-ultra-luxury, 1,000-ft. tall hotel with a profile evoking billowing sails has quickly become the symbol of Dubai.

Under the vision of the ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai has used its free-trade zone status to also develop into a world center for business. Having the world's largest manmade harbor and an airline that serves as a hub for the Persian Gulf region (with a new one under construction) helps, too. Dubai's acceptance of other culture's mores has helped turn it into a popular tourism destination, as well.

Macau, China
For those who say there is only one Las Vegas, we invite you to turn your eyes east, to Macau. The city is in one of China's Special Administrative Regions, where atypical (for China) economic development initiatives are allowed to thrive. In Macau, that means gambling and glitter, Vegas style.

All the big players are here. Wynn Resorts' (NASDAQ: WYNN) Wynn Macau opened last year. Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) just opened the Venetian Macau and has other huge projects underway on the nearby Cotai Strip. The MGM Mirage's (NYSE: MGM) MGM Grand Macau opened this year as well. In fact, last year Macau for the first time passed Vegas in total dollars gambled.

With that dough comes celebrity, and the town has become the spot for Vegas-quality entertainment. In the hot Chinese economy, no place is hotter than the felt in Macau. Look for some of the crowd heading for the Beijing Olympics next year to take a side trip to the Vegas of the East.

Dubrovnik, Croatia
Our third breakout city is as old as the others are new. Dubrovnik, founded in the 7th century, was once part of the Byzantine Empire, and later the primary competition to Venice as the cultural center of the Adriatic Sea. The quaint seaside town still features ancient architecture and a rich cultural history that blends the influences of the west and east.

It also offers the relaxing scale of a town of under 50,000 residents. Although Dubrovnik suffered dreadfully through a seven-month siege by the Yugoslav People's Army during the war of the 1990s, it has been rebuilt in the spitting image of its traditional form.

Today, visitors are drawn by the town's summer festival and film festival, historical sites such as the old fortress, and access to beaches and the nearby mountains.

Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
Austin is our fourth candidate for breakout city of 2007. The city of half-a-million has thrived on a combination of cutting-edge business and an eclectic social scene.

The local economy is anchored by the state government and the development of a strong computer-related industry that has given Austin the sobriquet "Silicon Hills." The television show "Austin City Limits" has cued the rest of the nation in to the robustness of Austin's cultural scene, which is also expressed in its official slogan, "The Live Music Capital of the World."

Austin offers more than music, however. Numerous theater venues are in constant use, and the presence of the University of Texas at Austin's cinema department gives rise to opportunities for devotees of movies and television. A number of art and nature museums also dot the Austin landscape.

While Austin is the largest American city without a team in one of the four big pro sports, it offers a wealth of choices for recreation. Cyclists might even find themselves sharing the road with Tour de France champion and Austin resident Lance Armstrong.

Four great cities, with four very distinct personalities -- which one suits you?

Share the reasons for your pick for the breakout city in the comments, or let us know about any contenders we overlooked. Also be sure to see the rest of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst of 2007.