Research reveals that nearly half of global travellers (47%) want to take more trips in 2018, including city getaways full of history and culture (41%) to foodie havens (41%) and beach breaks (50%) reveals Booking.com in a new survey. Nearly half of those (45%) want to be more adventurous in their choice of destination and 60% want to do as many activities as possible, so whether you’re a night owl, sun worshipper, foodie or culture vulture there’s something for everyone to enjoy for next year’s getaway.
Sapporo, Japan
Many travellers visit Japan for the bustling nightlife of Tokyo or temples of Kyoto, but in 2018 travellers will switch to explore the dynamic city of Sapporo. This city is a great base for exploring the mountains and hot springs of Hokkaido and offers great restaurants, being known best for its variety of seafood. Sapporo’s top endorsements by travellers include food, seafood and gourmet food, and with four in ten global travellers planning on taking a food and drink trip in 2018, Sapporo is certainly a destination to consider for its thriving food scene alone.
Nashville, USA
Nashville may be famous for its legendary country music scene, but it’s also great for family activities and outdoor pursuits. Music fans will want to browse the museums dedicated to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, and catch some live music in bars across the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods. Nature lovers will want to explore the city’s many parks, easily accessible by foot or bike. In 2018, 17% of travellers are planning to take a music concert or festival trip, and 36% of travellers will be inspired to visit a destination having seeing it on TV.
Bucharest, Romania
The elegant city of Bucharest is new to the alternative city break scene and a great option because of its museums, parks, trendy cafés and a combination of art nouveau and modern architecture. In the summer make sure you rent a boat in CiÅŸmigiu Gardens and come winter, tuck yourself away in one of the city’s many cosy coffee shops. The top endorsements for Bucharest are architecture, food, museums and the old town. Research revealed that 41% of travellers are planning to take a city break in 2018, so make sure you add Bucharest to your list.
Zakopane, Poland
The stunning mountain resort of Zakopane has always been popular for ski holidays but it’s attracting more and more travellers for its summer hiking in Tatra National Park. The trend for wellness getaways isn’t slowing down for 2018, with almost double the amount of people planning to take a health and wellbeing trip in 2018 compared to 2017. The new health and wellness trend for 2018 is set to be more about travelling on two feet with 44% of travellers saying they want to go walking in 2018 and 33% hiking.
Taitung City, Taiwan
You may not have heard much about Taitung City, the relaxed coastal town of Taiwan, but with its modest charm, cultural diversity and the mix of mountains, hot springs, temples and ocean activities, it’s on the rise for travellers in 2018. Head to Green Island for diving, snorkelling and hiking, buy seafood from Fugang Port, relax in Jhihben hot springs and visit Taitung night market to indulge in the local delicacies.
Brisbane, Australia
When you think of Australia, it’s usually the popular cities of Sydney and Melbourne that come to mind, but on your next trip down under, why not try the metropolitan city of Brisbane, an up and coming destination for 2018. Travellers will love its restaurant and bar scene, vineyards – and the fact it’s surrounded by beautiful beaches. With half of travellers planning to take a beach trip in 2018, Brisbane is a great option. Go surfing at Ocean Beach, soak up the sun at Sylvan Beach, spot dolphins at Red Beach or hang out at the beach style lagoons such as Streets Beach and Settlement Cove. As well as beach life, Brisbane is great for shopping, restaurants, relaxation and entertainment.
Bogotá, Colombia
Colorful street in Bogota, Colombia
Beautiful Bogotá is on the rise for 2018, being the hectic heart of Colombia and a great base for exploring the wider country. Travellers will appreciate the new restaurant openings and boutique hotels set amongst 300-year-old houses, street art murals and museums. Visitors can explore the city by railway, taking in the sights and sounds of the Colombian capital, and it’s essential to try some authentic Colombian coffee from one of the many cafes dotted around the city.
Portland, USA
The fact that the city’s unofficial slogan is “keep Portland weird” should get you suitably intrigued, but if that doesn’t do it Oregon’s largest city offers a buzzing nightlife, fantastic food (you’ll find food trucks on every corner), culture and the great outdoors. Best explored by bike, take a trip to one of the city’s many infamous breweries and nature lovers will love Forest Park and ‘City of Roses’ at the International Rose Test Garden.
Hannover, Germany
The charming city of Hannover is on the up for its choice of museums, cultural sites and green spaces such as the Herrenhäuser Gärten, Lake Maschsee and Europe’s largest urban forest, the Eilenriede. It’s a great city break for culture vultures, so with 31% of travellers planning to take a culture and arts based trip in 2018, Hannover is one to visit.
Lima, Peru
Travellers will need high energy levels to take on Lima – from paragliding to partying, and sunbathing to surfing, where do you start? The city is becoming more popular for travellers in 2018 and is a great place to spend a few days exploring thanks to the delicious food, rich history and museums. Lima is known as the gastronomic capital of Latin America – so make sure you try some local delicacies by taking one of the tasty food tours.
Visit Bookings.com for further advice
Last modified: June 10, 2021
