Unfortunately for travel lovers, it's a bit unwise to fly to overseas destinations due to the COVID-19 outbreak. For now, it's best to keep your wanderlust at bay to keep safe. What you can do for the meantime, instead, is to look out for more destinations you can add to your travel bucket list. This way, when the health crisis is contained and travel restrictions are brought down, you'll have a whole new list of places you can explore. Not sure where to head off? For its 2020 Travelers' Choice Awards, Tripadvisor rounded up emerging travel hotspots you need to visit.
The world's largest travel platform determined trending and emerging destinations with a complex algorithm. For the Tripadvisor 2020 Travelers' Choice Awards, they measured traveller interest through reviews, searches, and saved data. And ahead, we list down off-the-radar spots everyone will be talking about the next year.
Kaliningrad, Russia
Much of the city's charm lies on the verdant parks interspersed with the stunning edifices
Winning the top spot of Tripadvisor 2020 Traveler's Choice Awards is the Russian city situated between Lithuania and Poland. Formerly known as Königsberg, Kaliningrad showcases the Prussian and Soviet legacy with its architectural wonders like the Königsberg Cathedral that speak much of the city's history. The city is also home to a wide array of museums: from a museum dedicated to philosopher Immanuel Kant to the Museum of the World Oceans featuring the latest technologies on sea research. The destination has also long been known for having the most of the world's harvestable amber lying off its coast. Aside from all that, another must-see is the Curonian Spit, sand dune peninsula recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the calm Baltic sea.
Saranda, Albania
Enjoy the sea breeze in the Mediterranean coast right across Greece's famed island of Corfu
Consider yourself a sea-loving folk? Another currently underrated destination you can keep in mind is the town of Saranda in Albania. With its stunning white-sand coast, it's a definite must-visit for beach bums looking to enjoy the warmth of the sun. When you visit, you can enjoy the natural environment of Saranda, starting off with its vast olive groves and the mesmerising Blue Eye Spring. For those looking to learn more about the culture and history, the Mediterranean destination is also home to a number of archaeological sites including the Lëkurësi Castle and the ancient city of Butrint.
Beirut, Lebanon
The Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque is just one of the most breath-taking structures in Beirut
Hailed as the "Paris of the Middle East", Lebanon's capital is another up-and-coming destination for travellers of Tripadvisor. It's a thriving hotspot for those who want to dine, shop, and sightsee. Witnessing many years of unrest, Beirut has been rebuilt over and over. As a result, through the mix of French, Colonial, and Ottoman architecture, it gives explorers a peek into the city's past, which you can dig deeper into by visiting Beirut's National Museum. Enjoy the day enjoying Lebanese cuisine, when the sun sets, you can stroll along Corniche, a seaside promenade. But the fun doesn't stop there — you can enjoy the bustling nightlife by going on a bar crawl in the neighbourhood of Gemmayze.
Luxor, Egypt
Go on a temple run and visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh that reigned in ancient Egypt
On the east bank of the Nile River is the city of Luxor. Formerly the site of Thebes, the pharaoh's capital in the ancient times, the city is now transformed into the world's greatest open-air museum. Here, you can discover national treasures such as the Tomb of Tutankhamen and explore majestic temple complexes. Enjoy the city differently, by going on a cruise along the Nile, or viewing the Valley of Kings from up above on a hot air balloon. Tripadvisor notes, however, that as their emerging hotspots lists were compiled before Egypt's political unrest, do consider risks and keep track of travel alerts regarding the destination.
Naoussa, Greece
The small village of Naoussa is famous for its crystal blue seas, as well as for its bountiful orchards
Done visiting Santorini? See another side of Greece by booking a visit to Naoussa. The picturesque fishing village surrounded by vineyards in Paros offers a quaint charm left undisturbed despite the increasing stream of visitors. See Naoussa's traditional character as you navigate the labyrinth-like stone-paved streets, lined by flowered white houses. Its golden beaches are definitely worth checking out, but more than that, it's also nice to pay Church of Agios Antonios and the Naoussa Byzantine Museum a visit for more of the town's culture. Those looking to indulge their tastebuds, meanwhile, can join in wine tasting tours and cooking classes.
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