Ready to book your holidays for 2019? It doesn’t matter that you’re still feeling the lag from your 2018 vacay. The easiest way to get over back to work blues is to book your next holiday right? Here’s TripADeal’s Hot Travel Destinations List 2019.
Uzbekistan
Its Silk Road history and UNESCO-listed ancient cities of Ichan Kala, Shakhrisabz, Samarkand and Bukhara make Uzbekistan the place for history buffs. Previously, tourism was limited in areas, and the tourist visa was for half the amount of time. The border has recently opened to Tajikistan, and a high speed train extension has made access to the Karakum Desert a whole lot easier.
Lebanon
A thoroughly contradictory landscape of the modern and tradition, Lebanon is a surprise package which leaves the traveller with plenty of food for thought. The Land of cedars. A crossroad of religion, culture, hedonism and purity. Limestone caves, cedar forests, snow-capped mountains and the fun of the gondolas of the Teleferique aerial cableway with views of the bay of Jounieh. The capital Beirut hosts ritzy beachside glamour with superb restaurant options, on-trend nightlife and museums galore. No trip to Lebanon is complete without tasting the plethora of delicacies on offer – falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, and shawarma to name a few. Oh and the honey drizzled on baklava and fruit salads. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a very proud people – devoted, un-phased, and stoic.
Brisbane
Currently experiencing a renaissance of sorts, Brisbane’s food, shopping, culture and lifestyle are booming. Hugged by the Brisbane River, and under the protection of Mount Coot-tha, the Brisbane CBD has all the offerings of a world-class city – art galleries, impressive architecture, late night drinking dens, and Michelin star-rated chefs! The locals are friendly, and why wouldn’t they be with on average 282 days of sunshine every year? As far as travel destinations go, Brisbane is scorching hot for that quick domestic getaway.
To travel is to live – Hans Christian Andersen
Cyprus
This island country, though small, is divided by the Troodos mountain range and has an enduring political divide between Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities. Ancient histories, art, and mythology blend – Alexander the Great and Cleopatra fell under the island’s intoxicating spell, while it is said that Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, chose Cyprus as her home because its beauty was a match for her own. Under a bright blue sky, a trip to either north or south is a happy mish-mash of the Greek, Turkish and Middle-Eastern cultures. The Northern Turkish part of Cyprus receives only a fraction of tourists each summer, as the rest bunker down at the southern coast’s beach resorts. The slow-paced lifestyle and modest tavernas are great for travelling families, where Middle-Eastern meze-feasts leave everyone satisfied. And the luxury villas on offer in the south paired with the perfect Mediterranean climate are perfect for couple getaways.
Trinidad
Life, colour, music, it’s hard not to get swept up in the pulsating beat of this Cuban town. Its brightly-coloured colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, the cocktails and salsa, the palm trees and sunsets, the golden tiled buildings, the market plazas – it’s easy to understand why Trinidad has UNESCO World Heritage status. Hike to the top of Museo Historico Municipal Hill, and drink it all in.
Malta
This archipelago has sheltered bays, and stretches of golden coast twisting amongst limestone cliffs. This is the place to go sailing, whether it be by leisurely yacht or speedboat. And the locals are so friendly that they’d probably take you for a spin in their boat if you asked. The fortified city and capital Valletta, is one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world and home to the Baroque St John’s Co-Cathedral. The city has been prominent in civil, religious, military, design and artistic functions over the centuries, but it is a living and alluring city – as soon as you feel you’ve stepped back in time, you’re thrust forward into a thriving modernity. Traditional Maltese food is a mix of Sicilian and Middle Eastern flavours, there are street festivals lasting into the night like Notte Bianca, and music and carnival festivals to be devoured like the Three Palaces Festival and Karnival Ta Malta.
Wuxi
Dwarfed by its neighbours, this ‘small’ Chinese city in Eastern China has a population of 6.5 million or so. That’s why you’ve probably never heard of it. But the city has been pinned to be a high-tech city, with coal-fired power plants being decommissioned in favour of green energy, wide city boulevards, and rejuvenation of the Lake Tai shore, China’s third largest freshwater lake. Liyuan Garden on the shore of Li Lake embodies all the beauty of a traditional Chinese garden, with classic pagodas, ornate bridges, lily pads and lotus flowers.
Tonga
The Kingdom of Tonga is rich with all the treasures of an untouched paradise – coral islands, gorgeous bays, rugged mountains and abundant reefs. Simplicity and authenticity – travellers come to frolic with whales and spirited locals. There are few places in the world where you can swim with humpback whales as they journey from the Antarctic to the calm waters of Ha’apai Island to breed. And with the short flight time from Australia, it doesn’t take long to find paradise.
Keep an eye on our website for the hottest deals to these travel destinations and more in 2019 here.
Image: Love Bridge, Kryou Nerou, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
