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Got a passport? Lonely Planet just announced its picks for the hottest travel destinations, trends and experiences for 2019 — and it’s enough to inspire a severe case of wanderlust.
“These are the places to experience in 2019,” Lonely Planet destination editor Trisha Ping said in a news release. “They might be coming into their own, celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime event or simply have been overlooked for too long – whatever the reason, now is the time to plan a trip.”
Sri Lanka, Germany and Zimbabwe topped the top 10 countries list. Egypt’s Southern Nile Valley took the top spot on the best value destinations ranking. And Copenhagen — Denmark’s capital of cool, according to Ping, thanks to its vibrant food and design scenes — was No. 1 on the best cities roster, with China’s answer to Silicon Valley, Shenzhen, ranked second. Two U.S. cities — Miami and Seattle — made the cut, as well.
As the travel site’s editors and researchers work on the various “best of” lists — top countries, regions, cities, family-friendly attractions, food experiences, hotels and so on — they’re also looking for trends travelers are likely to run across in the new year.
For 2019, the top travel trends include astrotourism or Dark Skies experiences, from stargazing tours and dark-sky designated parks to eclipse travel. Last year, some 7 million people traveled across the U.S. to experience the total solar eclipse. Next summer’s South American eclipse on July 2 is expected to draw similar crowds.
Also trending: Augmented reality attractions that give museum visitors, for example, superimposed glimpses of another time or place. You’ll see 14th-century rooms as they once were when you stroll through Avignon’s Papal Palace with an iPad museum guide. Peer through a Timescope in Paris to see the city in 1789 or 1628.
Browse the trends, destinations, experiences and more at www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel.
Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Shēnzhèn, China
- Novi Sad, Serbia
- Miami, Florida
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Dakar, Senegal
- Seattle, Washington
- Zadar, Croatia
- Meknès, Morocco