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HUNCHES...

BEST IN TRAVEL 2014

WHAT WILL THE LONELY PLANET SAY?

WHAT’S NEXT IN TRAVEL...

About this time every year, the Lonely Planet announces its top ten countries to visit in 2014.

So, what’s next in travel? Good game, right?

I’ve been keeping my ear to my passport, and here are my educated and not-so-educated guesses...

Ready? Consider tea at this point.

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

1. ALGERIA

2. BANGLADESH

3. CANADA

4. GEORGIA

5. GREENLAND

6. KRYGYZSTAN

7. OMAN

8. PERU

9.RWANDA

10.SIERRA LEONE

1. EL SALVADOR

2. GERMANY

3. GREECE

4. MALAYSIA

5. MOROCCO

6.NEPAL

7. NEW ZEALAND

8. PORTUGAL

9.SURINAME

10. USA

1. ALBANIA

2. BRAZIL

3. CAPE VERDE

4. PANAMA

5. BULGARIA

6. VANUATU

7. ITALY

8. TANZANIA

9. SYRIA

10. JAPAN

1. UGANDA

2. MYANMAR

3. UKRAINE

4. JORDAN

5. DENMARK

6. BHUTAN

7. CUBA

8. NEW CALEDONIA

9. TAIWAN

10. SWITZERLAND

1. SRI LANKA

2. MONTENEGRO

3. SOUTH KOREA

4. ECUADOR

5. SLOVAKIA

6. SOLOMON ISLANDS

7. ICELAND

8. TURKEY

9. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

10. MADAGASCAR

9.RWANDA

10.SIERRA LEONE

THE LP TOP TEN ARCHIVE

The world is your lobster...

So let’s get guessing....

Here we go...

Why?

Consistently ranked as one of the friendliest places in the world by Lonely Planet readers, it’s time this explosion of culturally diverse and beautiful islands got the top spot.

Next up...

Why?

Costa Rica packs a mighty punch for a miniscule country! Volcanoes, beaches, rainforests AND great coffee! It hasn’t made the list for the last 5 years and eco-tourism is going strong, so I predict great things for this little land.

Also on the podium...

Why?

The Rainbow Nation has been more welcoming than ever since the World Cup AND it’s the 20th Anniversary of SA’s first democratic election in 2014. Go and support diversity!

Moving it along...

Why?

Well, the unexplored dramatic landscapes and volcanoes of Kamchatka have been creating rumbles in the press lately. The Winter Olympics will also help Russia wander into the spotlight during 2014.

Pull the other one! It’s only...

Why?

Yes, it’s our humble little island and I believe we might just get a look in. It’s the 100th anniversary of WW1, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and I’m pretty sure there will be a nationwide 1st birthday party going on....

Let’s all move to....Why?South East Asia is now seen as reaching backpacker-saturation point, so independent travellers looking for sun, fun and adventure are beginning to head further East. Oh, and they’re opening the biggest arena in the world there in 2014.

And now for something different...

Why?

Well, the home of Vlad might be something of a stab in the dark, but Romania has all kinds of great things going on. The thick forests, untrodden mountains paths and Transylvanian history make it far more than a walk in the hills...

My wildcard (in more sense than one)...

Why?

Gabon is now being billed as the ‘Costa Rica’ for Africa due to the sheer diversity of its wildlife and the beaches are rumoured to be magical. Snug to the West African coastline, it’s the real unknown ie. begging to be explored!

Two spots left...

Why?

Crumbs alive, Colombia is so full of life! Think scarlet macaws, brightly painted buildings and rich green hills. Vivid doesn’t even begin to cut it, and it’s attracting more independent travellers than ever before.

Last but oh-so-far from least

Why?

2014 is being billed as an epic year for the Northern Lights, so head north to Sweden! More than that, Sweden is wonderful for summer wilderness, one of the safest places to travel, AND it’s just been named the best place to grow old!

That’s it. What would your guesses be?

A few of the countries that didn’t quite make my cut...

Latvia, Puerto Rico, Samoa, the Maldives...

Now. Go forth and make your own list! And share me, please :)www.cloudforestcontent.co.ukCreating inspiring, fresh-thinking HUMAN content for the travel industry.