The Metropolitan Opera premiered its new production of Bizet’s Carmen on New Year’s Eve, starring the dynamic Russian mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshinain the title role. Her performance has won over critics and fans all over the world.
27.12.2023 - 07:38 / forbes.com
Where do you find spectacular and life-changing destinations that are without the hordes that have become commonplace in so many destinations worldwide, particularly in Europe? Last week in Forbes, I asked some travel experts about where people are going. This week, I asked the same gurus about their choices for where to go next. I was looking for off-the-radar destinations they love, places to go before they get discovered.
“I almost don’t want to ruin it for myself, but the Canary Islands,” said Christopher Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises. “There’s warm weather and sun in a location infused with African and European culture. There’s much to offer, but it is still under the radar, especially for American travelers. This destination has it all – beaches, volcanoes, exceptional food, and culture, and it’s easier to get there now with direct flights from New York. Windstar has some new sailings in 2024, with additional offerings in 2025.”
For Tom Hall, Lonely Planet’s Vice President, that destination is Uzbekistan in Central Asia. “It has some of the best-preserved historical remains of the Silk Road, plus dramatic mountains and a lively, up-and-coming capital in Tashkent,” he said. “It’s easy to get around by train, affordable, and several direct flights per week from New York, plus connections through Seoul and Istanbul.”
The “Stans” also ranked high in the estimation of Shannon Stowell, CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. For Stowell, it’s “Kurdistan, a super special place still on few people's life lists. The authenticity and kindness of the people with an astounding history make it a wonderful place to go. I've been in 2009 and 2017, the latter trip with my 16-year-old son.”
Andy Levine, President of DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., singles out South Africa, which he says “ features that rare combination of amazing scenery, over-the-top luxury hotels, and a dynamic food and wine scene. There's a vast diversity in landscapes with beaches blending seamlessly into mountains and vineyards.”
Asia remains high on the list of travel professionals seeking new horizons.
“We were smitten with nearby South Korea on a trip there this past June,” said Lisa Leavitt of Active Travels, a Boston-based Virtuoso travel agency. Leavitt says that she and her family enjoyed “exceptional food and visits to 15th-century places in Seoul, wonderful seaside food markets in Busan, charming historic villages like Jeonju, and the requisite overnight in the mountains at a Buddhist monastery to meditate at sunrise. The K-culture and beauty products are a big draw too. The South Koreans were also incredibly gracious and welcoming.”
India, a bucket list destination for some, also holds a lot of surprises, even for
The Metropolitan Opera premiered its new production of Bizet’s Carmen on New Year’s Eve, starring the dynamic Russian mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshinain the title role. Her performance has won over critics and fans all over the world.
Nevada is getting a brand-new state park this month. It’s one every would-be Indiana Jones (or maybe more like the Ross Gellers among us) will love, and as a bonus, it’s within a quick driving distance to The Strip.
Iceland's glaciers, black sand beaches, and the chance of catching the Northern Lights attract well over a million visitors a year. But it wasn't until November that I visited the tiny island nation for the first time, on a reporting trip.
As it prepares for the launch of 19 new properties in 2024, Singapore-headquartered Banyan Tree Group is embracing a sleeker image, rebranding itself as the Banyan Group.
Obsessed with visiting national parks in the US?
Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, January 10. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Junebug Weddings revealed the winners of its annual wedding photography contest in December.
Starbucks has something special going on in Switzerland: its prices.
Some airlines have begun issuing waivers in anticipation of what is expected to be a major snowstorm in the Northeast United States this weekend.
The next time you fly to the United Kingdom, you might be able to leave your passport safely tucked away in your bag. The nation’s airports will reportedly begin testing new facial recognition technology at “eGates” for arriving passengers, which would replace border control's standard physical passport check.
The new year brings travel predictions that cover everything from where we’ll be vacationing in 2024 to how we’ll be getting there, plus the new hotels that are worth getting excited about. But what about the travel trends that are falling out of fashion?
In 2023, travel came back with a vengeance, with travel bookings climbing to near pre-COVID-19 numbers, according to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey. But many destinations struggled to manage the heightened influx of tourists, and some governments actively took measures to limit the quantity of visitors. Among the changes: new or increased tourist taxes, campaigns aimed at discouraging problematic visitors, and attendance caps at popular attractions.