No matter how much we hate to admit it, we all have a love/hate relationship with summer. We love to go on holiday of course, but sometimes just the thought of researching a destination for our much-needed summer break is time-consuming (and don’t get us started on those last few pounds we’ve got to lose before we jet off or how to fit in shopping for a brand new resort wardrobe in our jam-packed diary!). Often we only manage to think of countries we’ve already visited or cities so obscure that no airline will fly within 200 miles of the hotel we’ve already fallen in love with.
Thankfully, this year, the online travel agents, HolidayGems.co.uk, is saving our sanity. After interviewing 33 travel influencers, all consumed by wanderlust, Holiday Gems has compiled a list of the best-loved destinations – the ultimate bucket-list, if you will – to help us out of this vicious cycle. From writers to bloggers, these travel influencers have used their expertise and personal knowledge to pick their favourite holiday destinations so that no one misses out.
In third place, the travel influencers awarded Cuba, New Zealand and the Antarctic with a joint bronze medal. All three countries are considered to be dream destinations, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the travel influencers could not speak of these countries highly enough!
For many, Cuba had been a country that had long awaited being discovered and it is, without a doubt, the tropical greenery, golden sands and succession of beautiful coves that make it a desirable holiday destination. Victoria from Pommie Travels, was just one of many that labelled it a fantastic place to visit this summer!
New Zealand, on the other hand, secured its bronze medal due to its incredible variety of activities on offer. Charlotte from Tickets and Travels, was fascinated by the white sandy beaches at Cathedral Cove, the stunning mountains and the beautiful hikes at the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. New Zealand is an ideal holiday destination for solo travellers and families alike and the beautiful nature and active lifestyle just prove that it has something for everyone.
Although, perhaps an unexpected choice, the Antarctic has also been included on this list. Dan, owner of Dan Flying Solo, says that it was the Antarctic’s raw nature that appealed to him the most. He believes that as long as the continent continues to be respected by tourists and travellers, this dream destination will remain an incredible place to explore. A trip to the Antarctic is undoubtedly a unique experience and guarantees to be a holiday so vastly different to any before.
Next on the list, in a close second place, was the popular travelling destination, India. Clare, owner of Suitcases and Sandcastles, revealed that it was her love for the Indian state, Kerala, that enticed her back to the country. If you, too, want to wander the temples with elephants and lounge on Kerala’s beautiful beaches, then India is the perfect place to spend your holiday this year.
Finally, the top spot on the bucket list went to Japan. Almost 20% of the interviewees rated Japan’s uniqueness, cultural diversity and cuisine as best in the world.
Many of the travel influencers were fascinated by how culturally different Japan was from any other country on earth. The Travel Bunny and Untold Morsels were all in awe of its landscapes and food traditions, making it a deserving winner of the number one spot. If you love immersing yourself in countries very different to the UK, be sure to visit Japan this summer.
Whether you’re looking to explore somewhere slightly further afield, longing to immerse yourself in an unfamiliar culture or just dreaming of sunbathing a million miles from your computer screen, we hope this article helped spark your wanderlust.
Book an adventure today at www.holidaygems.co.uk!
