Need a vacation? Check out Lonely Planet’s top picks for places to go in 2019
The 1962 Space Needle stands tall on the Seattle skyline.
If you need a little vacation inspiration, the travel guidebook gurus at Lonely Planet have come up with the top 10 cities, countries, regions and value destinations for next year.
“These are the places to experience in 2019,” Lonely Planet destination editor Trisha Ping said in press materials announcing the picks. “They might be coming into their own, celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime event or simply have been overlooked for too long — whatever the reason, now is the time to plan a trip.”
All of the top picks — plus topics like best places to stay, best food experiences, best new openings and best attractions for kids — are compiled in the just-released “Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2019.” The book dives into why the destinations are special and includes helpful tips for visitors.
As for top travel trends for 2019, Lonely Planet predicts dark-sky destinations will be big — places to get away from light pollution and see the stars, planets and other astronomical sights. (Keep your eyes peeled for a Chicago Tribune travel story on the topic coming in December.)
“Augmented attractions” that use technology to get an immersive, 360-degree experience from home or a museum will be increasingly popular, according to Lonely Planet prognosticators, and more destinations and car rental companies will go electric for envinronmentally friendly road trips.
As DNA testing has become better and more widespread, people increasingly are getting in touch with their roots. Lonely Planet says this will continue to inspire people to visit the places and cultures linked to their ancestral past.
And with the problem of “over-tourism” in places like Machu Picchu and other spots making headlines, people will be more focused on sustainable tourism, Lonely Planet says. That may mean visiting popular spots in the offseason or venturing off the beaten path to discover lesser-known gems.
Top alternative sights and underrated destinations, according to Lonely Planet: Humayun’s Tomb in India, Canada’s national parks (and Toronto for those wanting an urban escape), the Faroe Islands in Denmark and Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Click through the slideshow to see Lonely Planet’s picks for the best cities, countries, regions and value destinations — and start planning.
