Travelling the world
Where to go in 2013? It seems that tourism has reached many corners of the world, however, there are still some great places, untouched by commercialisation, as well as some that are continuing to grow in popularity, that we highly recommend for a holiday in 2013.
8 Must-Visit Destinations for 2013
Changsha, China
yakobusan, Flickr
As everybody knows, China will be the next superpower and its tourism is shooting through the roof. Although Beijing and Shanghai dominate the markets, the city of Changsha, in the Hunan province, has decided to join the game.
The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, will be topped by China’s Sky City by March 2013. Although the plans have come under some criticism and many suspect that the building will not be ready in time, China is constantly fast moving and still the place to be for 2013.
Tallinn, Estonia and Riga, Latvia
While Prague and Budapest became the alternative European cities for the past few years, they have slowly become a standard destination and, well, a bit predictable. Although not discrediting the capitals of Czech and Hungary, for those looking to be one step ahead of the game, Tallinn and Riga are the places to be.
Although fairly small cities, they offer a good collection of European staples, such as art, food and architecture, with fairly cheap prices and a lack of mainstream commercialisation.
Abu Dhabi, UAE
While everybody flocks to Dubai, be the one to try out its alternative bigger brother, Abu Dabhi - United Arab Emirates’ capital and the world’s richest city. Quickly developing, both physically and culturally, the city holds back from the glitz and glam of Dubai, offering more sophistication.
Singapore
Well, in a quick summary, Singapore is astonishing. The accolades for the country go on and on. The city-state is the third richest country in the world, it is one of the least corrupt and has the world’s highest percentage of millionaires. However, the country also boasts a democratic and healthy welfare system and has very low poverty and unemployment rates.
Singapore is culturally diverse and widely accepts tourists, with just over 10 million visiting each year. With low infancy rates, the Singaporean government are calling out for immigrants, so if you like it enough, you may just decide to stay.
Astana, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan hardly ever enters the conscience of western tourists and is unfortunately most famous to us from the film Borat - none of which was actually filmed in Kazakhstan, but in Georgia.
Astana, its capital city, however, boasts futuristic architecture, a varied culture and a strong economy. Drop the perceptions of carts and rickshaws and experience a country that is firmly in the 21st century.
Masai Mara and Nairobi, Kenya
East Africa’s most important city has had a checkered past, but its political and economic stability is growing, allowing for safer tourism. With its historical British connections, adapting to the surroundings and culture is often comfortable and the ability to explore both city and safari without too much difficulty puts Nairobi high on the list for wildlife destinations.
Delphi, Greece
While Greece goes through financial meltdown, its history, culture and tourist attractions remain the same. There have been reports of social conflicts, but they are often few and far between and isolated in particular areas. Tourists should take advantage of cheap packages and fly out for budget family breaks.
Also, with your tourism, comes your money, so local restaurants and businesses will appreciate your presence that little more, so you can expect a good service.
Istanbul, Turkey
Although Turkey is already a popular tourist destination for Brits, the recent filming of blockbusters, Skyfall and Taken 2 in its capital has reignited a flame for many of us to go revisit Istanbul.
Unlike many other entries on this list, Istanbul’s tourism is already established and stable, but with many of us choosing other European destinations in recent years, it’s about time we rekindled our love affair with Turkey.
Where are you travelling to in 2013? Tell us about your travel plans in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst
James Mellan @jamesmellan1