Top 5 Holiday Destinations to Watch Out for in 2019

These days, it’s not enough just to see a place. We want to immerse ourselves in its culture, and get under the skin of a destination through the most authentic local experiences we can find. Experienced guides are local experts who know their destinations inside out, and its experiences are carefully curated to make every trip truly unforgettable. Here, are top destinations for a holiday with wow-factor in 2019, and the experiences that bring them to life.

  1. Santorini and Mykonos, Greece:

While the starriest Greek islands such as Santorini and Mykonos grapple with over-tourism, forward-thinking visitors are heading to the mainland and discovering the wide-open spaces of Greece off-season. The Peloponnese has been bubbling just below the radar since Costa Navarino opened in 2010. Soon afterwards, the local airport at Kalamata opened up to international flights, shaving off several hours’ driving time from Athens and boosting arrivals to the region by 15 per cent last year.

In 2019, the rail service linking the port of Patras with the town of Pyrgos, in the south-western Peloponnese, will resume after a seven-year halt. A train ride is the perfect way to explore this laidback region which has been a destination for wellness and fitness since Hippocrates prescribed therapeutic olive oil massages and athletes limbered up in Olympia. After a 1.9km swim in the Ionian Sea, competitors will cycle through olive groves before embarking on a half marathon that runs alongside Voidokilia beach, a perfect semi-circle of burnished sand.

  1. Ouarzazate, Morocco:

Known as the gateway to the Sahara, Ouarzazate is a city south of Morocco’s beautiful Atlas Mountains and home to the impressive fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou where you can head to the ancient Kasbah to watch the spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Many locals recommend visitors quad bike along the dusty roads to explore the region.

No trip is complete without a stay at the Riad Ouarzazate – a Kasbah style Riad located in the center of Ouarzazate and offering stylish rooms with traditional Moroccan décor and an outdoor terrace where guests can enjoy the traditional cuisine. Best time to travel is March, April, May, October and November as the months have the perfect temperature for exploring the region.

  1. Alberta, Canada:

Jasper and Banff’s rugged, powdery trails should be enough reason to add Alberta to your winter travel wish list. But this year, happenings off the ski runs have made the Canadian province more exciting than ever. If you’re flying into Calgary, make a detour before hitting the slopes to see the month-old Snøhetta- and DIALOG-designed Calgary Central Library. Covered with 460 white hexagonal panels, it’s set to become an architectural icon. Culture hounds should visit Edmonton’s new Royal Alberta Museum, a $375-million, 419,000-square-foot institution featuring collections on indigenous cultures, a gallery dedicated to insects, and more. Away from the cities, Kananaskis Nordic Spa, the first of its kind in the province, just unveiled a collection of hydrotherapy pools right in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. And if you’re in Banff National Park, keep an eye out for bison. Due to overhunting, the animals haven’t been spotted in the area for over a century, but in June 2018, a herd of 31 was released on Banff’s eastern slopes. It definitely deserves to be in your travel list.

  1. Phu Quoc, Vietnam:

Grab your travel backpack, it’s time to head to Vietnam. Situated off the southern coast of Vietnam in the Kiên Giang province, the tiny island of Phu Quoc is the tropical paradise you’ve been seeking and easily qualifies as one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit. With its white sand beaches and palm tree shorelines, it’s easy to see why it leads the top travel destinations 2019 list. Unlike most small islands with limited activities, Phu Quoc has quite a bit to do if you’re up for it. The mountainous inner part of the island is home to the Phú Quốc National Park which features dense tropical jungle habitat and abundant hiking and sightseeing opportunities.

Phu Quoc has been put on the map due to its digital nomad scene where the relaxation of the inexpensive quiet island allows people to get their work done while living in a tropical paradise. Duong Dong is the largest city on the island and offers several shopping and night markets to get a bite to eat or grab an adult beverage. It is a cheap place to stay away from usual hustle and bustle. It comes under the category of budget destination. Royal Travel is a budget travel agency in London which offers you comfort and accommodations too. You can rely on it for good travel experience.

  1. Tohoku, Japan:

Japan continues to fascinate and entice culturally inquisitive travelers and for 2019. Travel Experts are focusing on the lesser known region of Tohoku. Only 90 minutes north-east of Tokyo, Tohoku offers incredibly varied natural landscapes perfect for hiking. Step back in time to the Edo period and visit the village of Kakunodate that’s home to Samurai legends and artisan workshops. In August 2019, the Northern town of Amori will be brought to life with the famous Amori Nebuta festival.