Destinations to watch out for in 2020
- Kyoto, Japan
An ageless city spurring with new hotel openings, the biggest sporting event in the world and fancy shopping complexes. Kyoto is definitely a destination to look out for as the 2020 Olympics are around the corner and a number of hotels are revamping their rooms to accommodate the anticipated crowd. You will get a chance to visit izakaya pub, the feudal-era Shosei-en Garden, Aman Kyoto which is a moss-carpeted meditation garden with views across to the monastery-dusted Mount Hiei.
- Panama
photo credits @katy.anywhere llWith the opening of the Islas Secas eco-retreat in December 2019, Panama opens up to 14 rustic little islands in the Gulf of Chiriqui. The Marine Park in the island gives the opportunity for the travel enthusiast to partake in many adventures such as snorkeling, paddleboard, Seabob whilst you get to witness a variety of marine life such as eagle rays, humpback whales, hammerhead sharks and endangered Green Olive Ridley turtles. You also get a designated concierge to guide you on wild-life spotting excursions.
- Rabat, Morocco
Photo credit @backpackintheworldWith a European flare, Rabat is a UNESCO-listed is a polyglot city with bustling streets filled with cafes and restaurants, Andalusian gardens and city beaches filled with local music. You can get in to a blue little taxi and head out to the palm-lined boulevards of the Ville Nouvelle, 17th-century walled medina and the reminiscent Kasbah at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. There’s also a number of significant landmarks not to be missed such as the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the historic 19th-century Rottembourg fort and the famed Dar es Salam Golf Course.
- Lebanon
photo credits @traveladdictsAn energetic country capitalising on its culture welcoming the curious traveler to sophisticated mosaic-paved streets, rustic crusader castles and the famous Bekka Valley. The tour operators are gearing up to entertain the traveler for some amazing new restaurants, pristine beaches and preserved historic sites such as the Baalbek lies, the monumental 2,000-year-old temple to Jupiter and six towering, free-standing columns. Other experiences include the enormous hippodrome and Roman ruins of Tyre, the spice-scented farmers’ market at Souk el Tayeb and Ixsir which is also popular as ‘the highest altitude vineyard in the world’.
- Paris, France
Photo credits @danielwfernandez -
Apart from the obvious fact that Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world, it is also one of the coolest places to be, drawing fresh crowds every single year. There are several exquisite hotels to be unveiled this year starting from Bulgari Hotel Paris with a spa, expansive pool, a restaurant with a contemporary Italian menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito , the new Cheval Blanc Paris which already opened its doors on the banks of the Seine. You also get the new art space launched by the billionaire art collector François Pinault and the new modern art museum designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
- Kyrgyzstan
photo credits @ountravelaLots of tour operators are adding Kyrgyzstan on their portfolios as the country is becoming more and more attractive to the travel fanatic. It is one of the friendliest nations in Asia, home to parched deserts, mountainous landscapes, Silk Road sites and plummeting valleys. Kyrgyzstan is full of age-old traditions making it more fascinating for the tourist to explore whilst offering adventure packed excursions such as hiking and camping.
- Egypt
photo credits @nastasiaspassportMany retreats are to be unveiled in this exotic destination this year with a wealth of treasures already attracting visitors from around the world. The Grand Egyptian Museum is a must-explore attraction with displays such as King Tutankhamuns entire burial collection, bejeweled sandals, embroidered tunics and the Boy King’s death masks to name a few. Nile cruise liner Sanctuary Retreats are to feature boutique wooden boats and kitted out with art deco fixtures overlooking ancient tombs and temples of Luxor. Few others are also in the list including the St Regis with floor-to-ceiling glass doors overlooking Cairos pedestrian-friendly Corniche Boulevard.
