Travel
The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist
Slide Nr 1The confetti has settled, the Champagne is all gone, and it’s time to get real with 2017. But we don’t mean resolutions and detoxes. We’re talking destination inspiration. From paradisiacal islands to buzzing big-city districts, click through to see what will be hot this year.
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 2Aarhus, Denmark – It may be a pretty small country, but Denmark is not one to be overlooked. Even if Copenhagen is on your radar, you may not be aware of Aarhus, which can rival the capital in everything but size. The low-key cool of the country’s second city is about to have its moment in the spotlight, as it launches into its year as European Capital of Culture. – Fiona Brutscher [Photo: Tree of Codes, Joel Chester]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 3Almería, Spain – Almería is a hidden gem in the southeast of Spain, providing an authentic Spanish experience with delicious tapas, sun, sand and history. Despite being a backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters since the 1950s, it’s escaped much widespread notice. However, with more airlines flying direct in 2017, Almería will soon be THE place to experience the Spanish lifestyle. – Sonja Thomson, migratingmiss.com
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 4Astana, Kazakhstan – In 2017, Astana will become the first Central Asian city to host the world’s fair and – believe it or not – this is the first time the fair will be held in a majority Muslim nation.Tackling the topics of energy and sustainability, the event is sure to look to the future in more ways than one, and to continue the forward-looking theme, discover futuristic sites like the Metropolitan Circus, designed as a flying saucer, or Khan Shatyr, which – featuring an indoor river, monorail and even a beach – is the largest marquee in the world. Until 31 December 2017, the citizens of a number of countries benefit from relaxed visa restrictions, and can get a visa on arrival. – Matt Baron (travelgeekuk.com) and Fiona Brutscher
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 5Astypalea, Greece – This butterfly-shaped Aegean island might be the perfect getaway from all other touristy Greek isles. With pristine waters, fantastic history, mouth-watering gastronomy, heart-warming locals and vivid, authentic culture, Astypalea should be on your 2017 list of dreamy places to visit. From 12-17 April, join the celebration of the Greek Orthodox Easter, filled with local traditions, food, fireworks and the opportunity to experience this holiday in a different way. – Allane Milliane, packingmysuitcase.com [Photo: Allane Milliane]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 6Canada: Ottawa – No one parties like a Canadian, eh? And for the country’s 150th birthday, what better place to celebrate than in its vibrant capital city where fun isn’t just limited to Canada Day (1 July). From new museum exhibitions to concerts, and even a bridge picnic, Ottawa shows off her age for 365 days. – Kimberley Lovato [Photo: Ottawa Tourism/Flickr]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 7Canada: National Parks – Also in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, admission to the country’s national parks will be free in 2017, meaning now is the time to visit stunning nature reserves like Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. Indulge in breathtaking mountains, lush forests, turquoise lakes and natural hot springs. – Alannah McEwan, itchyfeetravel.com [Photo: © Parks Canada / Scott Munn]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 8Cape Town, South Africa – On 23 September, The Mother City will see the opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA): 9,500 sqm and nine floors of the world’s largest museum of contemporary African art. Furthermore, The Silo, a new five-star hotel located just above the museum, will open 1 March for an unforgettable view of Cape Town’s waterfront. – Livia Formisani
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 9Chantilly, France – Chantilly has always been an ideal day trip from Paris, but now, the French horse-riding capital has fashioned itself into a stand-alone destination. As of 2016, the Domaine de Chantilly plays host to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, as well as the annual Prix du Jockey Club and Jumping Chantilly. For those who travel for food, a stop at the Table du Connétable in the 5-star Auberge du Jeu de Paume will be a must since the new head chef Clément Leroy, formerly Guy Savoy’s right hand man for a decade, took over the kitchens in August 2016. And the best part? It’s all a 25-minute train ride from Paris’s Gare du Nord station. – Lindsey Tramuta, lostincheeseland.com [Photo: R&B Presse, Chantilly Office de Tourisme]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 10Cook Islands – If recharging on a tropical island is a goal for 2017, these 15 Pacific pearls deliver the batteries with turquoise lagoons, coconut-palm beaches and welcoming locals, and are easier to reach than you’d think, thanks to daily and weekly flights from New Zealand, Tahiti, Los Angeles and Sydney. – Kimberley Lovato [Photo: cookislands.travel]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 11Eastern Cuba by Kayak – It’s no surprise that Cuba is on every current travel wishlist. Compared to Havana in the west and Varadero in the north, however, eastern Cuba is a little raw and a lot less travelled – precisely the reason to go. Hook up with Row Adventures for Cuba’s first-ever guided kayak odyssey that reveals crystalline bays, winding rivers and vibrant cities pulsing with local culture. – Kimberley Lovato [Photo: Kimberley Lovato]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 12Edinburgh, Scotland – With 70 years of Edinburgh International Festival and Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology coinciding in 2017, next year is a great time to visit the Scottish capital. While you’re at it, don’t forget to visit one of the city’s trendy whisky bars to wash down the haggis with a dram (you’ll thank us later). – Livia Formisani
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 13Finland – You may recently have chuckled at Helsinki’s major social media win, when a welcome banner congratulating winter visitors to the city on being “badass,” went viral. However, a self-deprecating sense of humour isn’t the only reason to visit Finland. The Scandinavian country is celebrating the centenary of its independence in 2017, and all badasses are invited to join the party! – Fiona Brutscher
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 14Goa, India – Goa is India’s most visited destination from Christmas to New Year, but the best time to go is in the month of February, when the streets come alive with colour and music for Goa Carnival. Started in the 18th century by the Portuguese colonialists, the festivities are officially only three days long, but in reality last an entire week. While you’re in town, visit the HillTop music festival – a completely different experience based around the Goa Trance genre that originated here in the ‘60s and ‘70s. – Sonal & Sandro, drifterplanet.com
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 15Hawaii, USA – In recent years, any national cuisine that happens to be served in a bowl can have its moment in the sun. Poke has emerged as the hottest new contender, but the raw fish bowl’s popularity is bound to peak in 2017. Before it jumps the shark, follow the trend to its origin in Hawaii, where the latest foodie fad is authentically (read: unpretentiously) prepared, with fresh fish straight from the Pacific. – Fiona Brutscher [Photo: Michael Saechang/Flickr]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 16Hobart, Tasmania – Already an emerging destination for lovers of arts and culture, Hobart’s hospitality sector has a number of exciting new hotels in the pipeline for the coming years. Debuting in June 2017 is MACq 01, with upmarket boutique digs right on the Hobart waterfront – any closer and your toes would get wet! It will be the perfect base from which to explore both the dangerously seductive Dark Mofo festival and the best restaurants in Tasmania. – Andrew & Karen Strikis, forkandfoot.com [Photo: Andrea Schaffer/Flickr]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 17Ireland – Donegal was recently called the coolest place on the planet in National Geographic Traveller, and with good reason. The visually captivating region in the northwest is best known for the Wild Atlantic Way, an enchanting route that showcases rugged coastlines and colourful villages. And this enthralling county isn’t the only place in Ireland worth visiting: take a road trip along winding Irish roads to experience the jaw-dropping Cliffs of Moher in the west, the cultural landmarks of Dublin in the east, and the magical Blarney Stone in the south. – Sally Elbassir, passportandplates.com [Photo: Iain Miller]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 18Kassel, Germany – Kassel, a sleepy city pretty close to the middle of Germany, is transformed into a buzzing art capital for 100 days. Every five years, documenta, one of the most important contemporary art shows in the world returns to the oldest purpose-built museum in Europe. – Fiona Brutscher
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 19Kiev, Ukraine – As Eurovision host city, Ukraine’s capital is sure to seize upon this fantastic opportunity to shake off the grim image of recent years and show the young, open and creative side of the country, which has been thriving ever since the Orange Revolution. – Fiona Brutscher
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 20Koreatown, Los Angeles – The city’s densest neighbourhood acts as a crossroads between a booming downtown and the traditional wealth of Hancock Park. As “K-Town” transforms via rich high-rises and trendy bars, now’s the prime time to enjoy the eclectic mix of Latino heritage and Korean culture in a district that has just as many old-school BBQ haunts as it does neo-hipster restaurants. – Geoff Nudelman [Photo: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 21Lima, Peru – Sushi is dead, long live Nikkei. New York’s first Nikkei restaurant, Sen Sakana, will open in mid-January 2017, an unmistakable sign that the Japanese/Peruvian fusion cuisine is quickly gaining momentum. Don’t wait: head to Lima, where the movement was born, to taste delicacies like acevichado rolls – sushi topped with Peruvian ceviche. – Livia Formisani
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 22Little Havana, Miami – Named after the Cuban capital, Little Havana is the very definition of a melting pot. This historic Miami neighborhood draws over a million visitors for the annual Calle Ocho street festival, a celebration of Hispanic culture that celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Grab a Cuban coffee at the nearest restaurant’s ventanita (walkup window) and join the fun. – Geoffrey Anderson & Dianne Rubin, MiamiFoodPug.com [Photo: stu/Flickr]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 23Lyon, France – France’s second city is certainly worth a visit for its charming Old Town, featuring narrow streets and buildings with centuries-old inner courtyards, but if you’re a foodie, Lyon is an absolute must. Many consider it the French gastronomic capital, thanks to its – count them – 15 Michelin star restaurants, charming outdoor markets, and high-quality regional products. Lyon was named Europe’s Leading City Break Destination at the 2016 World Travel Awards, so expect to keep hearing about this gourmet paradise in the months to come. – Pola Henderson, jettingaround.com
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 24Marrakech, Morocco – The colourful Jardin Majorelle is one of Morocco’s most visited attractions. Purchased by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge in 1980 to preserve it, locals have christened it “the Yves Saint Laurent gardens” – a name that becomes even more fitting next year when the Musée Yves Saint Laurent opens next door, showcasing part of YSL’s impressive fashion oeuvre and hinting at the lasting impression Marrakech left on the late designer. – Irene de Vette [Photo: Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech – Studio KO]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 25Melbourne, Australia – Melbourne has long been a foodie capital. Now it’s being recognised as such, with the World’s 50 Best Restaurants award holding its 15th Birthday edition in the capital of Victoria. The events surrounding that self-congratulatory celebration would be reason enough to visit, but also confirmation of the city’s status as a culinary destination. – Fiona Brutscher [Photo: Curtain House, Swanston Street, Melbourne. Photographer: Robyn Lea]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 26Mérida, Mexico – Didn’t get tickets for Noma’s Mexican popup? Fret not, only a short hop and skip away from the Tulum location of 2017’s most-hyped culinary event lies Mérida. The American Capital of Culture for 2017 may just be the real foodie gem of the Yucatan Peninsula: its unique location and history makes it a melting pot offering Mayan, European, Caribbean and Middle Eastern fare, as well as excellent Mexican cuisine. – Fiona Brutscher
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 27Muscat, Oman – 2017 marks the opening of the New Muscat International Airport, and on 1 May, Oman Air will start operating daily flights from Manchester to the Sultanate’s capital – a great occasion to visit this ancient port city that combines tradition with modernity, breathtaking landscapes and Arabian hospitality. – Livia Formisani
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 28Naples, Italy – Naples is not only for the lionhearted traveller. At street level, take in the hustle of daily life portrayed in the four-book Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante, with overpowering wafts of ground coffee, fried pizza and clean laundry among baroque palaces and crumbling façades. Head underground to the renewed subway stations housing art installations by many of the world’s most heralded contemporary artists. – Gina Tringali, italyfoodandwinetours.com [Photo: Maritè Toledo/Flickr]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 29Nashville, Tennessee (USA) – Thanks to the recent US elections, media interest in Middle America was at an all-time high in 2016. On August 21st 2017, the solar eclipse offers as good an excuse as any to visit. Nashville, the largest U.S. city in the path of the first total solar eclipse in 99 years to cross the entire US, is celebrating with – no surprise there – lots of live music! – Fiona Brutscher [Photo courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 30New Zealand – In 2017, travellers will be bolder and explore destinations further afield from the mainstays of Europe – like New Zealand. A country that not only offers astounding landscapes and natural beauty, New Zealand is also one of the safest places to pursue experiential travel. It may also see a surge in visitors next year as host of the 2017 World Masters Game in April at the City of Sails, Auckland. – Jean Carmela Lim, holysmithereens.com
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 31Pafos, Cyprus – Across the continent, co-capital Pafos gets an opportunity to show Cyprus as a country of cultural innovation, despite its economic woes. The second European Capital of Culture of 2017 will juxtapose its ancient history, historical legacy and cultural heritage with the modern face of the contemporary city. – Fiona Brutscher [Photo: Foto LARKO, Pafos]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 32Riga, Latvia – Make 2017 the year you try sparkling birch sap wine, and see what other flavours surprise you during a foodie trip to Latvia’s Riga-Gauja region, a European Region of Gastronomy for 2017. Talented chefs have been reinventing Latvian cuisine, best enjoyed in the city’s restaurants and manor houses outside town. – Lelde Benke, lifeinriga.com [Photo: Live Rīga/Flickr]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 33San Francisco, California – In 1967, tens of thousands congregated at the corner of Haight and Ashbury Streets and flower-powered a cultural revolution during the Summer of Love, creating an era of unforgettable music, fashion and literature. Fifty years on, San Francisco’s still feeling groovy and celebrates its hippy heritage at museum exhibitions, shows, concerts and beloved bookstores. – Kimberley Lovato [Photo: Dominic Simpson/Flickr]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 34Santa Monica, California (USA) – First-time visitors to Santa Monica tend to be surprised to discover that A) It’s not a part of Los Angeles, but a separate city and B) Getting from some parts of to L.A. to the Santa Monica Pier can feel like inter-city travel. The second part has improved somewhat since the metro line to Santa Monica was opened, and with the cities continually working on public transport, the beach will be even easier to reach. – Fiona Brutscher [Photo: Santa Monica Travel & Tourism]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 35Santo Stefano Di Sessanio, Italy – Hidden in the rugged Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga Apennines, Santo Stefano di Sessanio sits forty minutes east of L’Aquila, in Abruzzo. Abandoned for half a century, the fortified medieval hamlet was recently brought back to life thanks to the efforts of an enlightened local community and a young philanthropist. – Eleonora Baldwin, aglioolioepeperoncino.com [Photo: Eleonora Baldwin]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 36Seoul, South Korea – The greenification of the South Korean capital continues with the Seoul Skygarden, to be unveiled in late 2017. The project will transform a highway overpass 17 metres tall and 938 metres long into an urban arboretum replete with hundreds of endemic Korean plant species. Located next to the city’s central train station, the elevated park will offer a leafy oasis in the heart of buzzing Seoul. – Jessica Keller [Photo: © MVRDV]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 37Shanghai, China – From the Long Museum West Bund to the extensive Yuz Museum, Shanghai’s museum scene for the contemporary arts has been booming in recent years, driven by private collectors setting up new galleries and exhibition spaces. Next up: HOW Art Museum in Pudong New District, to open in May 2017. Covering 7,000 sqm, the museum will showcase contemporary art from around the world, starting with the opening exhibition Lettres du Voyant featuring works by German conceptual artist Joseph Beuys and Korean-American artist Nam June Paik. – Jessica Keller
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 38Speyside Highlands, Scotland – It’s no secret that whisky has exploded in popularity recently, with Scotch appearing among the frontrunners. As the category emerges, guided tours of some of the region’s smaller distilleries are earning their rightful place on the map. Bypass the major names and hit places like Cragganmore for an up-close and personal look at Scotch as well as a chance to meet the makers behind it. – Geoff Nudelman [Photo: VisitScotland]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 39Tel Aviv, Israel – The latest chef craze is turning up the heat on the most important meal of the day: breakfast. Book a night at the 65, one of Tel Aviv’s hot new boutique hotels, to wake up for a feast of imaginative dishes like balsamic-drizzled pineapple carpaccio and a make-your-own sabich bar. – Inbal Baum, deliciousisrael.com [Photo: Hotel 65]]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 40Willamette Valley, Oregon – For the oenophile, Oregon’s central valley has emerged as one of the country’s best winegrowing – and tasting – regions. Now that a number of publications have given it the “Best Of” title, it’s a good idea to visit early this year before the crowds hit during the summer and fall harvest season. – Geoff Nudelman [Photo: Willamette Valley Vineyards]
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The 2017 Trend Destination Hotlist.
Slide Nr 41Zagreb, Croatia – Thanks to celeb visitors like Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Croatia is now on the radar of many travellers, but not everyone is heading straight for the coast. Instead, sightseers are moving inland to capital Zagreb. An easily walkable city said to have more museums per square metre than anywhere else, Zagreb has proven itself to be an inviting destination. And not just for summertime: consider travelling over the holidays to see a Christmas market that’s been voted the best in Europe two years in a row. – Marissa Sutera, littlethingstravel.com [Photo: Hrvoje Pilić, Zagreb Tourist Info]
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