Each year puts a new destination under the spotlight: Vietnam was hot a few years back, then Greece, Portugal and other European countries. Meanwhile, Asian hotspots like Thailand and Singapore continue to be preferred destinations for those seeking an inexpensive holiday. If you need help planning a trip, here are some countries that deserve attention.
It’s not a traveller’s first choice when visiting Europe or even Eastern Europe. However, Poland has all the charm of a European country with an extra dose of history and culture added in. It is also a hospitable, friendly and safe country. “There is so much history, diversity of climate and things to do. More than anything else, it is really affordable,” says independent writer Aarti Kapur Singh. Above all, Poland, which turns 100 this year, is a must-visit for anyone interested soaking in some culture. It has 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including museums, castles and historical spaces that weren’t destroyed by the Second World War (some that were destroyed, like the Royal Castle of Warsaw, have been rebuilt). No other country can give such an accurate representation of the horrors of WWII, best realised at the Auschwitz concentration camps.
Figures published by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s annual tourism report highlight that Palestine is the fourth fastest growing destination in the world. The country saw a 25.7 per cent rise in tourists in 2017. Travel writer and editor, Supriya Sehgal believes 2019 will be about travelling to a seemingly difficult nation, and Palestine fits the bill. There’s more to the country than just the headlines—it has a rich culture, fascinating history, great food and is a profound pilgrimage spot (for all faiths). You can take a go at local food (especially the stretchy ice cream) at Ramallah, take a guided political tour, hike along Abraham’s Path and enjoy Middle Eastern delicacies. “Beyond the West Bank, other places to explore are the towns of Nablus and Jericho: Nablus for the old city, its markets and street food, and Jericho for the fact that it is the lowest city on earth (400 metres below the sea level),” she adds.
A recent survey by the Lonely Planet magazine ranked Uzbekistan as the second best tourist destination in Asia. Much of this is owed to the changes in the country’s tourism sector – visas (30-day) are obtainable online, new schemes allow for transit visa-free entry up to five days, there are new air routes and the rail network is expanding too. “Tashkent is now a four-hour direct flight away from Mumbai, courtesy Uzbekistan Airways. You can get a visa in merely two days now,” says freelance lifestyle writer Priyanka Agarwal. She advises visiting the country’s blue-shaded mosques, Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand, which is said to be a prototype of the Taj Mahal and also exploring the underrated vegetarian dishes of their cuisine.
Europe’s most sparsely populated country is enjoying a surge of popularity thanks to shows like Game of Thrones. On its own, Iceland is a treasure trove of natural attractions. “It has so much diversity – glaciers, mountains, hot springs, geysers, volcanoes, waterfalls – it will appeal to any nature lover,” says Divyakshi Gupta, a travel blogger and social media consultant. Her suggestions include visiting the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, and going diving/snorkelling in the Silfra Fissure—a rift between two tectonic plates with the clearest water in the world. “The primary reason to visit is the dynamic changes in airfare (Iceland’s budget transatlantic airline Wow Air has been offering cheap introductory fares). Earlier accessibility was an issue but with airlines offering affordable fares, things have changed,” she adds.
The sparsely populated country has breathtaking scenery, from fjords and forests to hot springs and volcanoes. It offers a unique South Pacific blend of cultures, focused on the Maoris, besides good food and great wine. Tripadvisor ranks it as second best in the world for travel experiences, which include a four-hour food tour of Auckland and a half-day kayak tour from Taup to the Mori Carvings. Beyond it all, New Zealand is famed for its adventure tourism. The newest adventure activity is the Catapult in Queenstown, which involves being hurled 60 miles per hour through the air across the Nevis Valley. If looking for something tamer, there is a tandem parasail flight over the Bay of Islands, white water rafting on the Kaituna river and rolling down Mt Ngongotaha in a giant inflatable ball.