It is crazy how one year can make such drastic changes in what was popular in travel.
Last year for my ‘Most Popular Destinations for 2019‘ the top five were Wynwood (Miami), Da Nang (Vietnam), Santorini (Greece), Bali (Indonesia) and Jamaica (the whole island).
Four of these are no longer what was most popular for 2020 in requests, and one of them actually moved up a spot.
#5: New York, New York
This one probably isn’t a big surprise to people, especially Torontonians. You have to visit NY at some point right?
There was a lot of itinerary requests this year for people going to New York, and more specifically, going solo. I’m always a big fan of solo travel and I could totally see why people want to go to NY solo. There is so much to do and see, it is a busy place and I find it pretty damn safe as a traveler.
Back in October even I went to New York with my friends.
Just remember if you want an itinerary for New York, you better have the damn budget for places to stay there. Although we have pretty cheap options for buses, trains and planes to get there – a clean hotel in New York? Shit I hope you saved up.
#4: Honolulu, Hawaii
I still don’t understand this one fully.
The islands in Hawaii look incredible, don’t get that confused. I think the pictures I always see from there are amazing and they must be even more beautiful in person. But the costs to get there (sometimes) and the cost of a hotel or resort (all the time)? I don’t know about all that.
Luckily, there are some decently priced AirBnB’s in Honolulu.
Back in December I had posted a group trip for under $1100.00 per person to go to Honolulu for a week, with flight and stay. This post was VERY popular. So on top of all the requests I had received for personalized itineraries going to Honolulu, the public post was just as popular.
Visiting Hawaii will always be a dream for a lot of people and I feel that I will continue to get requests for honeymoons and family vacations there. Sure. I’ll still do them up, but, like New York – have that budget LOOKING BIG.
#3: Multi-Trip Europe
Europe is awesome because as long as you get to the continent, you can move around cheaply. This year had an abundance of requests that were London-Paris-Amsterdam or London-Barcelona-Venice. Whatever it was, it probably began in London though.
As someone who has done multiple trips to Europe that involved no less than five countries in one go, I 100% understand these motives.
I suppose the observation I have to make is that the aforementioned combinations are some of the most expensive to make in Europe. I always think to myself like why did you choose the SUPER expensive places to stay? London, Venice, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam – all cheap if you stay in a hostel. If you want a nice hotel? Even an AirBnB? Oh boy. Yeah it’ll cost you more than if you were to choose Prague or Lisbon.
The only one of these I haven’t been to myself is Lisbon, but I do enough itineraries going through there than I know the prices are way more tolerable.
One of the coolest itineraries I posted in 2019 that was for 2020 and had a multi-trip in Europe was ELEVEN countries for $2200.00. This is the reason you go to Europe. You get to see all this!
Keep doing multi-trips to Europe everyone. I’m all for it. Just try to maybe do outside the ‘typical’ if you can. Other places could shock you at what they have to offer as well.
#2: St. Lucia, but for Carnival
What a rise!
Although St. Lucia is a very popular island for trips in general, the rise in Carnival requests for this beautiful place skyrocketed for 2020.
I published my St. Lucia Carnival 2020 post back in August of 2019. In hindsight I guess it may have been a tad bit early for something that takes place in July? Maybe. But I always post when the pricing is best! I want you all to get the best deal.
There must have been at least two itinerary requests weekly for St. Lucia Carnival 2020 since then.
I’ll take this moment to shout out Global Carnivalist and The Maneater aka LaFleurrRebelle aka Cinelli here. I don’t know about the rest of you but their posts before, during and after St. Lucia Carnival 2019 are what had ME paying close(r) attention. Globey had a blog post giving a recap of the whole experience for herself and Cinelli had an amazing vlog about her experience as well. I won’t go crazy and say they are responsible for 100% of the rise and intrigue for St. Lucia Carnival, but they sure as hell convinced me you know? Pictures and videos inclusive.
If I didn’t have Trinidad Carnival to pay for this year, I would have definitely gone back to St. Lucia to check this carnival out myself.
#1: Bali, Bali and more Bali
Well this was the one that moved up a spot.
Yes, it went from #2 to #1.
People really want to go to Bali. They continue to want to go to Bali. To be completely transparent, I probably promote everyone going to Bali the most as well. I get it.
It is expensive to get there from this side of the planet but once you get there? BLESS. Do you know how shitty our Canadian dollar is? Imagine being in a place you don’t constantly feel broke and undervalued in. It is an amazing place and will likely continue to be just that, amazing.
Last week I posted a group trip to Bali on the blog and people ate that shit up. Every time I post any kind of trip to Bali, it becomes pretty damn popular. I always include my ‘Things to Do’ post with it, so that you can see some of the beautiful options available to you once you arrive.
I love Bali and I understand why everyone else does too. In 2020 I expect even more and more itinerary requests to come in for this magical place.
The best part of writing this piece annually is that I have no idea what is going to be popular in the near future. I just do itineraries and see what people prefer and what is being requested more and more. Probably should also give a slight mention of South Korea here as well, I had a lot of requests for trip to there for 2020.
Thank you for reading and I look forward to a WHOLE NEW batch of awesome places to tell you about next year. Hopefully you choose me to help you out with the trips!
- Mirna