The Curious Global Traveller

A race to be the first, a desire to live like a local, and a continued focus on value for money - Booking.com reveals what's driving travellers into original homes, tree houses, boats and beyond.

From accommodations that float, to stays up in the trees, unique property types are a growing trend, with over one third of global travellers (37%)* planning to book a stay in an alternative accommodation in 2019.

Living like a local is key for almost half (49%)** of global travellers, who believe that staying in a home-type accommodation lets them see areas of a city or parts of a country that they wouldn't have otherwise explored.

Keeping a close eye on the travel budget is a top priority, with almost half (45%)** of global travellers stating that staying in a home-type accommodation allows them to feel that they are getting the most value for their money.

Olivier Grémillon, Vice President at Booking.com, explains: "We are seeing a clear trend among travellers to try unique types of accommodations and we understand that the perfect stay may look different for each of them. So, whether it's an icy igloo, a cozy cabin or luxury villa you're after - Booking.com offers more than 5.8 million instantly bookable homes, apartments and other unique places to stay to make sure that your next special experience is just a few clicks away."


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Ride the Waves

A new data-driven report by InsureMyTrip, the largest travel insurance comparison site, and Cruise Critic, the largest cruise community, reveals that more travelers prefer to book a cruise during late January than any other time during the year. Data shows online searches for cruise deals typically spikes in early January.

In addition to a new buying cycle expected for 2019, cruisers can expect the following trends:

Technology Enhancements — Travelers can look forward to improved internet capabilities and technologies being rolled out across brands like Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and MSC in the upcoming year.

Longer Time In Port, Less At Sea — More cruise lines will provide additional time in port and less time at sea, giving cruisers more time to explore destinations. Also, many cruise lines are planning port enhancements and upgrades.

More Personalized Experiences — Expect more cabin upgrades and perks for suite passengers, like personal concierges and private dining.

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Aussies seek more from their ski holidays

AUSTRALIANS are seeking holistic snow holidays with unique experiences and cultural immersion alongside thrilling snow sports, according to sales insights released today by Club Med, in-line with the all-inclusive provider’s #ski season opening. 

An increased number of Australians are signing up for the emotions that you can only experience on a snow holiday, such as the liveliness that comes with fresh mountain air on your face, the freedom of smooth ski runs, the wonder during après ski adventures, and the content from feasting on delicious, well-earned, mountain fare. 

Almost all rooms in Club Med’s newest Japanese resort, Tomamu Hokkaido, have been booked through to March 2019, with a huge 37% of those Aussies who skied Japan with Club Med last year returning for 2018. And Club Med’s European resorts are more than 75% full at the start of ski season.

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Adventure Travel Trends for 2019

AS experts in adventure travel, K E Travel have weighed in what we think will be popular in the year of travel ahead. We've seen rises and falls and our iexperts have identified 10 travel trends for 2019 

1. Cosmic events will be in the spotlight - More and more travellers are visiting the most distant reaches of the planet, and the chance to see the rare event of a solar eclipse is now more accessible than ever, with a 34% increase in bookings to the Polar Regions and Patagonia in 2018.

2. More travellers will take on the self-guided challenge - In the last year, tour operators have seen a 20% increase in self-guided holidays. Adventurers want to take the reins, pick their own departure dates and go at their own pace, with the assurance help is on hand if needed. 

3. Adventure travel will embrace the new ‘slow travel’ trend - With daily life only ever becoming more hectic and well-being at the forefront of the modern zeitgeist, travellers are increasingly seeking adventures which allow them to enjoy a leisurely pace, relax, and reconnect with the idea of exploration and travel.

4. Cruises will offer more active options - Whilst more travellers want to slow down, they don’t want to stand still either. Active cruises are the answer, which offer the opportunity to intersperse a relaxing journey with options for adventure.

5. Solo travel will continue to rise - Google searches for “solo travel” were at the highest they've ever been in 2018. Travel companies are now building catered products to not only accommodate, but celebrate the solo traveller. 

6. Adventure travel will go cross-borders  - With Europe’s most popular destinations only getting busier, adventure travel is looking to lesser-visited countries and seeing what else is out there.

7. New visa regulations will give rise to emerging destinations - As a booming adventure travel industry puts the spotlight on lesser-visited destinations, countries are taking note and making it easier for them to get there.

8. Travellers will look for smaller guided groups- KE has seen more travellers seek low-impact, small group numbers, with trips of less than 12 passengers selling most in 2018. 

9. Travel destinations will make a comeback - When once popular destinations suffer the threat of terrorism, or recover from a major disasters or events, reductions in the number of visitors are inevitable. However it’s when these situations start to settle that travellers are itching to return. In 2018 compared to 2017 KE has seen bookings to Turkey increase by a staggering 475%.

10. Non EU countries in Europe more popular than ever  - With only a few months to go until Brexit, the information of how it will affect travellers is still not clear. The uncertainty of EU travel has no doubt influenced travel to non-EU destinations such as Georgia, Albania and Norway. 



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Top five leisure trends for hotels

THERE is no doubt that global leisure travel has been on the increase over the past decade and there are no signs of slow down. According to howmuch.net, the five countries that spend the most on #travel are China ($164.9 billion), the US ($145.7 billion), Germany ($106.6 billion), the UK ($79.9 billion) and France ($59.4 billion). Independent hotels are fantastically placed to capitalise on some of the hottest leisure trends. Below we review the top five trends that independent hotels should be considered as they develop their sales and marketing plans.

1. “Bleisure”: With the frequency of business trips increasing, corporate travellers have had enough to being stuck in the endless cycle of the hotel to office and back to the hotel. More and more, we are seeing corporate guests opting to extend their business trips by adding on some time for leisure.

2. Millennials: This demographic is causing titanic shifts in all industries, so of course, they are also changing the very nature of leisure travel. Contrary to popular belief, according to a new report by Merrill Edge, millennials are saving money, with 81% say they are more likely to spend that money on travel.

3. The quest for new experiences: The World Travel & Tourism Council reported that the countries showing the strongest international travel and tourism growth in 2017 were: Myanmar, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Sao Tome & Principe and Sri Lanka. These are probably not the places that came to mind immediately when you were planning your last holiday but, it’s crucial to remember that a key driver of today’s leisure travel is travellers looking for adventure and new experiences.

4. Female travellers: Forbes reports that women account for 80% of purchases related to travel and tourism. From deciding on the place to visit and why type of holiday to booking the tickets and reserving the hotel and restaurants, women are making these decisions.

5. Responsible travel: The United Nations designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organisation, said, “This is a unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued.”

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Top trending summer travel spots

ONE of the fastest growing online travel agents Agoda, has revealed the top trending summer travel spots, globally, for independent travelers in 2018.
The allure of Japan with its combination of unique culture, temples, mountains and beaches, proves too much to resist as Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa and Kyoto all feature in the top ten Asia Pacific destinations this summer.

• Bali is the top Asia Pacific destination for UK travelers.
• Australians are the biggest international travelers to Bali, followed by South Koreans, Chinese, Singaporean and Malaysian travelers.
• Top summer destinations for Taiwanese independent travelers are Tokyo, Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto and Seoul.
• American travelers' top three Asia Pacific destinations are Tokyo, Kyoto and Bangkok.
• Most popular African destinations are the Seychelles, Johannesburg (South Africa), Durban (South Africa), Mauritius and Cape Town (South Africa).
• Dubai tops Middle East travel followed by Medina and Mecca, which receive huge numbers of pilgrims for Hajj (19-24 August 2018).
• Despite being the Southern Hemisphere winter, Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast are in the top five Pacific Ocean destinations and still receive their fair share of tourists during the June to August period. Guam and Saipan also feature.

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Top 10 digital detox destinations

WELLNESS tourism is a growing trend where travelers are seeking health and spirituality on their trips. According to the Global Wellness Institute, international and domestic wellness tourism accounted for $563 billion in 2015, up 14 percent from 2013, and is expected to grow to $808 billion by 2020. The trend continues, with 25 percent of travelers saying they plan to take a wellness trip in the next 12 months, according to a recent poll of TripAdvisor's global Facebook community.

Top 10 Global Destinations for a Digital Detox:

1   Bali, Indonesia
2   Rishikesh, India
3   Sedona, Arizona, U.S.
4   Hepburn Springs, Australia
5   Ko Samui, Thailand
6   Costa Rica
7   Goa, India
8   Zermatt, Switzerland
9   Maldives
10 Ibiza, Spain

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Solo travel: to do or not to do?

A recent women's travel safety survey revealed that 45 percent of female travelers feel less safe or much less safe about traveling than they did five years ago. Results of the travel trends survey, commissioned by AIG Travel, a worldwide leader in travel insurance and assistance services, also show that safety is top of mind for women while they are evaluating potential destinations as well as during their travels.

As solo travel rises in popularity, especially among females, increased reports of violence or geopolitical turmoil in some regions may heighten awareness of individual security and impact women's decisions on where and when to journey. To help minimize risks that females may face when traveling, AIG Travel recently launched a Women's Travel Safety initiative, which shares advice on how to research travel destinations, become familiar with local laws and customs, and leverage tools in the event of adverse situations, such as kidnappings or other crimes.

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Travel and tour the world

FOLLOWING the current trend of peer-to-peer user experience platforms, Tourme allows travelers to connect with local experts for a memorable and personalized experience no matter where they are in the world.

Tourme began as a dream: a father-daughter quest for pineapple picking farms in Maui that became a blockbuster-script-worthy adventure. With the help of a friendly local, the duo not only found their pineapples, but shared an experience that would live in their hearts forever. It was this memory that sparked the idea for the peer-to-peer touring platform, Tourme.

From the sandy beaches of Lahaina to the drawing room floor, the vision for Tourme eventually led to a fully realized #travel #app and website with 10,000 potential tour guides in 150 countries around the world.

Tourme offers 4 types of tours to help travelers find the right guide for their next adventure. Take a bar crawl through Barcelona, learn to Salsa in Santo Domingo, or pick pineapples in Hawaii; with Tourme, it's up to you. Available to download now in the App Store and Google Play.

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UK holiday makers set to opt for all-inclusive

A new research study highlighting the key consumer trends in the UK holiday market has been added to the vast repository of Market Research Hub (MRH). The report offers holistic analysis on major factors that are shaping the holiday market in the UK.

On account of the growing inflationary pressures, UK consumers are likely to opt for those deals that offer all-inclusive packages. The preference for all-inclusive deals is likely to increase during the summers, as a high percentage of consumers are expected to focus on reducing expenditure on foreign travel. The pressures on consumer spending are also likely to result into a preference for those destinations that are cheaper to visit.


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Travel Trends

APL Media Limited is set to launch Travel Trends, a new portfolio of publications created to provide the travel trade with unique targeted destination and market information in April 2018. The first edition, Travel Trends Latin America, will be published in association with LATA, the Latin American Travel Association.

Combining the latest travel industry trends and analysis — written by experienced travel writers and accompanied by inspirational photography — with an A-Z travel directory highlighting the best places to explore and stay around the world, Travel Trends will be presented in a beautiful, high-quality format and sent directly to a named database of tour operators, travel agents and tourist boards.

Issue one, Travel Trends Latin America, will report on key trends and developments in the region and include analysis, new routes and itinerary ideas. Together with custom content created in partnership with hotels and operators across the region, this will give the trade the ability to sell the destination with confidence and authority. The new launch will be supported with a weekly email newsletter. 

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Interesting travel trends from 2017

LOOKING back on 2017, this year was a brilliant year of growth in user-generated content for TripAdvisor. Since reaching the half billion reviews and opinions milestone in April 2017, TripAdvisor has continued to grow with over 570 million contributions now published on the site, covering the world’s largest selection of travel listings – with 7.3 million accommodations, airlines, attractions, and restaurants. As the year comes to an end, we have compiled some interesting global and local trends about the most reviewed and booked places in 2017.


1. Over 820,000 properties worldwide received their first TripAdvisor review in 2017 

2. London received just over 1 million reviews – more than any other city in the world 

3. The Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana received more reviews than any other hotel in the world 

4. Japanese travellers wrote, on average, more reviews than any other nationality 

5. Pasteis de Belem, a specialist bakery in Lisbon, received over 10,000 reviews 

from hungry travellers this year – more than any other eatery in the world 

6. The country with the fewest number of reviewers this year was Eritrea with just 9 TripAdvisor reviewers – contributing a total of 17 reviews 

7. Burj Khalifa in Dubai was the world’s most booked attraction on TripAdvisor 

8. However, the most reviewed attraction was the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona – with nearly 30,000 reviews 

9. Australian reviewers submitted 17,881 reviews to TripAdvisor in one day – 11th July – more than any other day of the year

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Design your own experience

WHILE the hyper-competitive Experience Economy is nothing new, it is clear that we haven’t yet seen the full impact of the Instragram effect. Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), in partnership with global trends analysts Trendwatching, has today launched a luxury trends report that looks ahead at what will be shaping the luxury boutique hotel experience in 2018.

In 2018 travellers will be looking to get their luxury hands ‘dirty’ by helping to design their own experience. 

700,000 Hours wandering hotel, brought to you by the brains behind Dar Ahlam in Morocco, will allow guests to choose its location each year. 

Guests can also get a true ‘scents’ of place at Hotel Magna Pars Suites Milano where they can choose the fragrance of their room in this old perfume factory, and at The VIEW Lugano in Switzerland where the smell is not the only choice to make in advance of a stay but the colour of their toilet paper, brand of toiletries and linens, as well as when to have their bag unpacked are all ways guests can customise their experience.

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Sydney makes it to the top

IT'S official – #Sydney is one of the best places to visit in the world, according to global travel magazine, National Geographic Traveler, which today revealed its hotly anticipated ‘Best of the World’ list of 21 unmissable global destinations for 2018. Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the accolade cemented Sydney’s reputation as Australia’s most exciting and vibrant visitor destination. 


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Travelbag reveals top travel trends for 2018

WITH nearly 40 years of experience creating tailor made holidays to long haul #destinations worldwide, the experts at Travelbag always have their finger on the pulse of what’s next in travel.  From blockbuster breaks, party pilgrimages and ‘skip-gen’ #holidays, here are Travelbag’s top seven predictions for 2018 travel:

Into the Blue (Planet II) - David Attenborough’s masterpiece Blue Planet II is doing anything but floundering. Travelbag is seeing an increase in bookings to Borneo to encounter gentle green turtles and to Tanzania for a jaws-dropping look at whalesharks in their natural habitat. Since the programme aired, Travelbag experienced a zing in website traffic to its Australia packages from holidaymakers keen to explore Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef on the planet.

Foodies Go Four Wheels - Travelbag reports a growing interest in tailor made self-drive tours to South Africa, Australia and the USA, especially for the more discerning foodie looking to travel to all ends to taste the next culinary craze. These travellers know exactly where they want to travel, and what they want to eat, but they want the expertise of a Travel Expert to handle the logistics, such as flights, car hire and multiple hotel bookings, and to also provide the all-important support and booking protections. Travelbag recommends America’s Deep South where the culinary curious can hit the open road to sample all sorts of delights, such as fried okra, honey baked ham, pecan pie and seasoned fried chicken.#

Blockbuster Breaks - 2018 is set to be another blockbuster year in film and will once again motivate holidaymakers to walk in the footsteps of their favourite on-screen characters. Travelbag predicts the Tomb Raider reboot, starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, will see cinema buffs booking a ticket to South Africa where the film was shot. The spotlight shines on India’s tangled jungles for a second year in a row with the new live-action remake of The Jungle Book, directed by Andy Serkis and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Rohand Chan, Matthew Rhys, Christian Bale and Tom Hollander.

Skip-gen Travel - Marcel Proust said, ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.’ Active and adventurous grandparents with extra cash and endless free time are taking the grandkids along for the ride in 2018. Travelbag predicts that Vancouver, South Africa and Queensland will be the top long-haul destinations for skip-gen holidays because they are easy to explore independently, there is no language barrier and they offer abundant wildlife viewing to make memories that last a lifetime.

Party Pilgrimages - With Chile’s 200th year of independence, New Orleans 300th birthday, the Winter Olympics in South Korea and Mauritius’s 50-year anniversary, 2018 will be the year of epic world parties. Voted the best place to go in 2018 by Lonely Planet, Chile has so much to offer intrepid adventurers. After experiencing Santiago’s roaring food and arts scene, Travelbag recommends a night in the Atacama Desert, famed as a stargazing mecca, a winery tour to taste some of the world’s best Cabernet Sauvignon, and an outdoor adventure in remote Torres del Paine National Park.

Long Haul City Breaks - Culture vultures are avoiding Europe’s overcrowded and frenzied capitals in the summer months and heading further afield. Travelbag’s Travel Experts say larger and newer planes have made the longer journey more comfortable for travellers, while new low-cost airlines are making long haul city breaks more affordable than ever. 

World wanderers can coffee-shop crawl in New York, get their art fix at the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town and shop ‘till they drop in Toronto’s trendy Queen West neighbourhood.

Cheap Thrills - With never ending changes to exchange rates across the globe, money saving, savvy travellers want to find a destination where they will be guaranteed the most bang for their buck. In a surprise take-over, Tokyo was voted the cheapest destination in this year’s Post Office Long-Haul Holiday Report, in partnership with Travelbag. There has never been a better time to visit the Japanese capital.

www.travelbag.co.uk

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Domestic leaisure travel leads in the U.S. despite Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

DOMESTIC leisure travel led all travel segments in September 2017 despite the destructive hurricanes that pummeled U.S. states and territories during a normally busy season, according to the latest Travel Trends Index (TTI).

The increase marked the 93rd consecutive month of travel growth. However, overall travel volume grew at a slower year-over-year rate in September than in August.

Domestic business travel dipped modestly, likely due to a calendar shift in Jewish holidays and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.



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Belfast and the Causeway Coast take the lead

BELFAST and the Causeway Coast have been named the Number One Region in the world to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet – coming in ahead of places like Alaska, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France and the Aeolian islands in Italy. The accolade was unveiled in the prestigious Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 – its collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the coming year. 

Tourism Ireland plans to take every opportunity to maximise this accolade for Northern Ireland over the coming weeks and months. Its promotional campaign will roll out in 14 different markets – including Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Nordic region, Australia, New Zealand, India and the GCC.

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Whats hot for 2018 from Abercrombie & Kent

WANT to know what’s hot in the world of travel? Just ask the experts at Abercrombie & Kent who have put together their Hot List for 2018. It’s the definitive go-to inventory for discerning travellers who want to stay ahead of the game and rack up new experiences. Whether it’s a wildlife-focused adventure, an off the beaten track discovery, cultural engagement or a must-see natural phenomenon, there’s a journey to suit.

Argentina Home of the tango and engrained with a deep-seated Latin vibe, Argentina is richly romantic and hauntingly beautiful. Its landscapes are vast and its beef world famous. The gaucho culture is an integral part of the estancia experience and the cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires, is European sophistication with more than a dash of Latin zeal.

Bedouin camping in Morocco Channel your inner Lawrence of Arabia when bedding down in A&K’s unique Bedouin camp which is set up exclusively for guests in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes near Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara.

Georgia It’s a little known fact that Georgia was one of the first countries to adopt Christianity and, as a result, this former Soviet Republic boasts some magnificent Orthodox churches in the most unexpected locations, many of them dating from the 10th and 11th centuries.

Helena Bay, New Zealand Three kilometres of pristine coastline, four private beaches and your choice of secluded coves, that’s what awaits at Helena Bay, New Zealand’s newest addition to the luxury lodge scene.

Istrian Peninsula Shared by Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, the Istrian Peninsula is a stunning coastal area in the northern Adriatic littered with medieval walled cities, Roman monuments and atmospheric tavernas.

Norway With year-round appeal, Norway is one of those magical destinations with endless natural attractions and a rich heritage. It is achingly beautiful in any season and in summer and spring, one of the best things to do is take a drive along the Atlantic Road, one of the world’s most scenic coastal routes. Oslo is jam-packed with museums and galleries as well as great restaurants dishing up fine Nordic cuisine.

Portugal Thanks to its incredible diversity and the hospitality of its people and their lifestyle, Portugal is entirely entrancing. It has a rich design heritage, ancient walled towns and mountaintop palaces, it also has magical Mediterranean landscapes, delicious food, earthy wines and is one of Europe’s sunniest spots.

Rwanda One of the most outstanding wildlife experiences open to adventurous travellers is gorilla tracking and Rwanda’s Parc National des Volcans is one of the best places to do it. Once on the brink of extinction, the mountain gorillas of Rwanda have increased in number thanks to the conservation work begun by Dian Fossey. 

Sri Lanka With a raft of new hotel openings, Sri Lanka is hotter than ever. Its compact size belies the wealth of its fascinating ruins and it lays claim to no less than seven World Heritage sites dotted throughout the country.

West Africa Properly off the beaten track, the West African countries of Ghana, Togo and Benin are steeped in mystery. Voodoo is still practiced widely and attending a trance dance conducted by a village witch doctor is one of the most memorable experiences a traveller can have there. Voodoo markets are full of magic charms and ancestor worship is commonplace. Ghana’s art scene is flourishing too with its flamboyant fantasy coffins exhibited in museums the world over and a thriving textile industry producing the brightly coloured wax printed fabrics widely admired in European fashion houses.



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New Zealand in Lonely Planet 2018 Best of Travel Top 10

LONELY Planet has named New Zealand in the Top 10 countries to visit in 2018 in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 201. #NewZealand is ranked fifth on the book’s list of Top 10 Countries 2018. 

It is the second time that New Zealand has appeared on the list with the last appearance in 2010 Best in Travel 2018 is Lonely Planet’s 13th annual collection of the world’s hottest destinations, experiences and trends for the year ahead.

The best-selling inspirational travel yearbook highlights the top 10 countries, cities and regions that Lonely Planet’s experts recommend travellers experience in 2018. 

Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Countries 2018 are: 

1. Chile 

2. South Korea 

3. Portugal 

4. Djibouti 

5. New Zealand 

6. Malta 

7. Georgia 

8. Mauritius 

9. China 

10. South Africa

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British Airways reveals its ‘Top 18 For 2018′ travel predictions

BRITISH Airways has revealed its annual #travel predictions for the year ahead, selecting the top 18 must-see #destinations for 2018. Highly-anticipated sporting events, new routes and TV programmes all influence the top travel predictions. The latest season of Game of Thrones has put Croatia firmly on the map, and a number of far-flung destinations rank among the top picks, including Barbados and Muscat. As one of the most desirable holiday destinations, the Seychelles is a must-see for 2018 and from 24 March 2018, British Airways will be the only airline to offer direct flights from the UK.

1.   Barbados
2.   Copenhagen, Denmark
3.   Croatia
4.   Inverness, Scotland
5.   Lisbon, Portugal
6.   Malta
7.   Mykonos
8.   Nashville, Tennessee
9.   New Orleans, Louisiana
10. New York
11. Muscat, Oman
12. Oakland, California
13. Russia
14. Santiago, Chile
15. Seoul, South Korea
16. Seychelles
17. Tallinn, Estonia
18. Toronto, Canada

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