When winter is in full swing, it is pleasant to dream of warm countries and begin to plan your vacation for body and soul. So the editors of Bloomberg at the beginning of 2019 chose top travel destinations, preferred countries and cities for tourism. And we, in turn, selected ten of the best of them.
Among the main advantages of these areas are:
- well-developed tourism infrastructure;
- the rapid growth of cultural property;
- opening of large hotels and new restaurants worth visiting.
To help you get the most out of your holiday, recommendations are made for each item based on exclusive Google data and travel tips.
10. Bhutan
When to go: from mid-November to February - the number of guests in hotels is small, and the sky after the monsoons is clear. In spring, the forests of rhododendrons are amazingly beautiful, and the weather is nice.
When not to go: showers and foggy skies can overshadow the prospects for relaxation in the summer months. And in April and October it is crowded.
Top 10 destinations that should become a priority this year according to Bloomberg opens the world's only Buddhist kingdom. Previously, it was visited mainly by connoisseurs of temple architecture and antiquities.
But a large number of hotels and the recently expanded airport mean that Bhutan is confidently gaining a place among the best countries for tourism. It combines the spirit of the new time with originality, serenity and religiosity, without its fanatical manifestations.
It is curious that in addition to temples and dzongs (half-fortresses-half-temples) in Bhutan there are a lot of images of male genital organs. According to legend, they bring good luck. They are associated with Lama Drukpa Künle, who tried to direct others on the true path using rather strange methods. For example, if a demon met on the path of a lama, he hit him on the head with a phallus, and the demon turned into a good spirit.
You will not find crowds of travelers in Bhutan, the fact is that you can get into the country only by paying a tour at one of the licensed agencies. And the cost of the tour is quite high, for one person it is $ 290 per day. Cheaper to book a group tour.
9. Houston, USA
When to go: In spring and autumn, the city has excellent weather, and in March, azaleas bloom.
When not to go: July, August and September are hot and humid months, and there is a risk of hurricanes at this time.
Houston is ready to start. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Americans landing on the moon (if they were there), the Johnson Space Center restores everything inside the original Mission Control Center, right down to consoles and garbage cans, to look exactly the same as it did in July 1969, during the flight of Apollo 11.
Closer to the city center is the Museum of Fine Arts, which has grown with impressive funding of $ 450 million. Now he has a roof garden and an amphitheater.
8. Turkey
When to go: Istanbul is charming in April, during the international tulip festival.
When not to go: in July and August, during the busiest tourist months, hotel prices are as high as air temperature.
Three years after the surge of terrorism, which seriously worsened the tourism industry in Turkey, the country triumphantly returned to the top 10 priority tourist destinations. But the Russians did not leave this rating. We have already written in detail about Alanya, Kemer and other best resorts in Turkey, where there is all the entertainment that only the soul desires.
And history buffs can visit the port city of Canakkale, where the Troy Museum is located with more than 5,000 exhibits, including copies of the Iliad and the Poliksen sarcophagus (500 BC).
Bloomberg experts recommend choosing Istanbul Edition Hotels for your stay. With its picturesque pools overlooking the Aegean Sea, celebrity-approved beach clubs, spa with steam hammams and olive groves, this popular holiday destination is a worthy alternative to Saint-Tropez and Mykonos.
7. Madhya Pradesh, India
When to go: if you need to choose one month, let it be February, when you can watch wildlife and local cultural events without having to bump elbows with other tourists every minute. Otherwise, you can go at any time between November and March.
When not to go: in mid-April, air begins to heat up, and national parks are closed during the monsoon season, from June to October.
India has the largest wild tiger population in the world. For travelers, this means that these magnificent animals are almost guaranteed to be seen in India, especially in the state of Madhya Pradesh, during a safari in the national parks of Bandhavgarh and Kanha.
Not only does the state have more protected parks than neighboring Rajasthan, it is also less crowded. And Madhya Pradesh is famous for its ancient temples with carved stone erotic sculptures.
6. Balearic Islands, Spain
When to go: May, June, September and October are ideal, especially if you want to relax on the beach. And in September in Mallorca, a fun grape harvest festival takes place.
When not to go: Wet, cold weather from November to April can ruin your trip.
After several turbulent seasons, when Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca were inundated with tourists, Spain took steps to restore a sense of lazy, languid idyll on its islands. The country's authorities banned rental housing through Airbnb and put an end to new hotel licenses in the hope of curbing their excessive development.
In the Gothic city center of Palma de Mallorca, you will find Es Princep, a modern five-star hotel with ocean views, as well as the cozy Can Bordoy with a spacious private garden that is rich in lush vegetation.
Of course, getting to the archipelago is half the fun. If you are driving through Madrid, you can visit the Prado Museum, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Or head to Barcelona, in the local temple of culinary elBulli 1846, which was founded by Ferrand Andria - the best chef of Catalonia.
5. Paris, France
When to go: from April to June or from September to October. You will find the city in all its glory, with a minimum number of tourists and optimal weather
When not to go: in July and August, when the city is hot and there are many tourists.
The top 5 best cities for tourists in 2019 opens the city of kings and yellow vests. It does not need a special introduction, but this year will bring several cultural events that can distract you from typical Parisian attractions.
This year, Gabrielle Chanel will open on the lower floor of the Palais Galliera with 200,000 pieces of clothing. She will be the first to feature the creations of several renowned clothing designers.
Also in 2019, the Pinault collection will be presented at the City Museum of Modern Art. It will include 3,000 items from the personal collection of Francois Pinault, a well-known businessman, collector of paintings and philanthropist.
4. Norway
When to go: if you need more sunlight, visit the country from May to August.
When not to go: From October to January, the weather is cold, humid and quickly darkens. On the other hand, these are the best months to see the northern lights or ski in the fjords.
As travelers, with time and money, increasingly seek isolation and peace, the path to the north of Europe is rapidly gaining popularity in the tourism industry.
However, Norway has not yet benefited from this trend. Mainly because there are few places to relax; high salaries make Norwegian hospitality a very expensive business proposition. Slowly but surely, entrepreneurs find workarounds, namely, creating small hotels with a minimum of staff.
One of these places is Lyngen Lodge Hotel, known as the best place to see the northern lights, has eight well-appointed rooms in which noisy neighbors will not disturb you. And this year, the Amot countryside estate, located north of Bergen, will move from exclusive villa status to boutique hotel status. This means that you can book one of eight apartments instead of the whole house. This is a great place for fishing and kayaking in the harsh landscape of mountains and ice rivers.
3. Costa Rica
When to go: the beginning of December and May, the beginning and end of the high season. You get excellent weather and do not overpay for a hotel.
When not to go: during the rainy season, from June to October, when the morning is clear, but heavy rainfall occurs almost every day.
A large number of good hotels, a pleasant climate and amazing biodiversity of the country make it a convenient place for nature lovers in the coming year. Thrill-seekers can go kayaking past caimans along the Canyo Negro River or take a stroll along the frozen lava flows on the active west side of Arenal Volcano.
And for those who appreciate a relaxing holiday, we recommend Manuel Antonio National Park, which has tidal pools, beautiful beaches and well-groomed walking paths. Or the Corcovado National Park with its beautiful flora and diverse fauna. And there is also a cave in which, according to legend, the treasure of corsair Francis Drake is buried.
2. Poland
When to go: in April or October, when the weather is nice and there are few tourists.
When not to go: skip July and August when cruise ships “flood” Gdansk.
Focus on the capital of Poland - Warsaw; it is the largest cultural center of the country. There are nightly beach clubs along the Vistula River, and there are cozy and inexpensive coffee houses near the City Museum of Modern Art.
One of the oldest countries in Europe boasts a large number of magnificent castles. The most famous of them are the Royal Castle (visit, if you want to see, in what chambers the kings of the past lived), the Malbork Castle, turned into a museum of medieval artifacts and the Wawel Castle, combining styles of different eras.
And in Poland, there is one of the most terrible evidence of how far a person can go in destroying their own kind. We are talking about the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is now turned into the State Museum.
1. Vietnam
When to go: December, before the Christmas fever. The rainy season is ending (although it can still drizzle in Hanoi), it’s cool at times, and the crowds of tourists have not arrived yet.
When not to go: Christmas, Easter and the Vietnamese New Year (early February) can be quite crowded. And if you are heading to central Vietnam, skip October - this is the typhoon season.
Vietnam often stays in the shadow of its popular neighbor, Thailand. And completely undeserved, because in this country there is something to see. One of the most famous sights (with a distinctly eerie hue) are the Kuchi tunnels in Saigon. With the help of this underground system, Vietnamese guerrillas inflicted covert attacks on American troops.
More peaceful Vietnamese attractions include the Hoan Kiem Green Water Lake, Fongya Kebang National Park and the Marble Mountains, which have amazing temples and viewing platforms that offer stunning views. And, of course, we must not forget about the delicious street food and strong coffee, which Vietnam is famous for.
Do Russians expect Egypt to open in 2019?
As for one of the most popular destinations among Russian tourists - Egypt, there is still little clarity.
Ivan Shkarubo
CEO of Scanner.Travel - an online travel booking system.
“The issue of charter communication between the countries was discussed at the highest level in October 2018 in Sochi, at a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah Khalil. The Egyptian side stated that it had complied with all the conditions of the Russian authorities to restore air traffic. Recall that it was discontinued in November 2015.
We are preparing to restore full direct communication between the countries by May 2019. Provided that this scenario is realized, the number of tourists will increase by several times and may well return to the figure of 3 million people a year - against 120 thousand at the end of 2018. It can be assumed that travelers "missed" the country for a period of a sufficiently long ban and Egypt could enter the TOP 5 popular destinations for a short time.
On the other hand, Russian tourists have already found alternative destinations, and the Egyptian side will need to be reminded of itself with interesting offers for the period of the tourist flow buildup. ”
