Travel destinations

Travel destinations – When the year nears its end, you may be starting to think about resolutions for next year. One of those goals might involving seeing more of the world, but how do you decide where to go?

Luckily, the team at travel-guide publisher Lonely Planet just released their annual survey, rounding up the must-see destinations and experiences for the new year.

“Best in Travel highlights not the places travelers are headed to next year, but the places our team determined they should visit,” said Tom Hall, Lonely Planet’s editorial director in a released statement. “We picked a mix of up-and-coming destinations and places we anticipate will have buzz around them, based on special events and attractions, anniversary celebrations, new openings and more.”

Booking.com

The travel media company sends its experts to scour the globe discovering the ins and outs of locations and came back this year with some surprising suggestions. Sure, booking a trip to Paris or Fiji is always a safe bet, but how about venturing to Transylvania? It was named the No. 1 region to visit.

Lonely Planet reveals the list of top travel destinations: Transylvania

Transylvania

“Transylvania is experiencing a renaissance, with cutting-edge art scenes, emerging nightlife, excellent skiing and rich wildlife watching including bison, wolves, lynx and bears,” said Hall. “More and more, there’s a charming mix of old and new — visitors will still see horses and carts in the countryside, but soon they will be sharing the road with Uber drivers as the company launches in Bucharest.”

Botswana

And Kotor, Montenegro, was named the No. 1 one city for its tasty food, charming alleyways, and postcard-worthy views. “With its dramatic landscapes, historic city walls and much-loved, stunning sapphire bay, Kotor deserves to be recognized and we believe it is a must-see for any traveler,” said Hall. “This year is the time to see this stunning city — get there while you can still experience its traditional way of life.”

Kotor bay, Montenegro

The United States makes the list as well as the third best country to visit, with Nashville named the ninth best city in the world to take a trip. TripAdvisor simultaneously recognized the country music haven as being one of the leading U.S. cities gaining popularity among international travelers. There are a few national other winners this year including Hawaii as No. 7 in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions and New Mexico as No. 4 in their Best Value Destinations.