Lonely Planet, the trusted travel brand celebrating its 50th anniversary, recently released the annual Best in Travel 2024 – a comprehensive list of 50 must-visit destinations for the upcoming year and some key trends that are taking over travelers’ bucket lists.
From movie themed getaways to sustainably focused sojourns, below is a list of travel trends taken from Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2024.
- Silver Screen Sightseeing: Thanks to seasons 1 and 2 of the White Lotus, Hawaii and Sicily tourism boomed, but there’s so many other movies and TV shows that inspire travelers to book their next trip. Yellowstone binge watchers would love to visit Montana, named the BEST region for travelers to visit for its stunning scenery and food scene. With White Lotus season 3 to be set in Thailand, Southern Thailand also made the Regions to Visit list, so fans can venture out into the jungles and try unique and tasty cuisine all before the new season starts. The list goes on from Oscar-winning film RRR in India, named on the Countries to Visit list and Netflix’s Emily in Paris to family favorite film National Treasure in Philadelphia, with both Paris and Philly on the Cities to Visit list.
- Slow Sojourns: More travelers are looking to immerse themselves in the destinations they visit rather than ticking off activities from a packed itinerary. A Best Value destination, the European Night Trains allow travelers to experience European scenery rather than rushing to the next European excursion. New Zealand’s Southern Lakes and Central Otago made the Best Value list as adventurers can take their time to explore the Kiwi wilderness, biking the 80 miles of the Queenstown Trails Network, sailing on Wanaka’s lakes and touring Central Otago’s sleepy towns. Caminho Português de Santiago (The Portuguese Way) made the list for Best Sustainable destinations as the 385-mile trail from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela allows visitors to travel by foot, bike or train and take in the changing scenery of Romanesque churches, rivers and ancient villages.
- Planet-Friendly Pilgrimages: From traveling during off season to reducing carbon footprints by opting for trains and biking over airplanes and cars, travelers are choosing destinations that align with their environmental mindsets. Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel dedicates a whole section to the Best Sustainable Destinations and include places like Hokkaido, Japan for its undiscovered wilderness and eco-friendly activities, South Africa for its crop of ecolodges and pure savanna wildlife, and Spain for its flight-free transportation options and commitment to boosting off-season travel.
- Wellness Wanderings: With a rising emphasis on self care, people are opting for more relaxing vacation options focused on rejuvenation. Restorative locations with ample options to enjoy nature, disconnect from daily life, and indulge in spa treatments, such as St. Lucia and Mexico, – both on Lonely Planet’s Best Countries List – are becoming more popular than ever.
