What are the Top Holiday Destinations in 2019?

Are you looking for your next big trip away? According to Booking.com, nearly half of global travellers (45%) are trying to be more adventurous when choosing their next holiday destination. And those numbers rise to 58 per cent for ambitious millennials. With technology all around and travellers desperate to get their hands on untouched – and un-Instagrammed – destinations, more and more hidden gems are becoming uncovered.
 
But when looking at your dream holiday destination for 2019, do you worry about the health implications of travelling abroad? Are current illnesses potentially preventing you from grabbing the bull by the horns and stepping outside of your vacation comfort zone?  Well, wonder no more, as Insurance Choice are here to help take any pre-holiday stress away with a handy guide of the top 10 holiday destinations for 2019 and the chance to get fully covered with pre-existing medical travel insurance.
 
It’s a safe assumption that in the midst of all this travel exploration, the last thing you want to be worrying about is your health or a pre-existing illness that could end up costing you more than just a perfect social media shot. Whether you’re a dedicated sun worshipper, seeking a little culture or hoping to embrace the dream trip of a lifetime, we’ve got you covered – quite literally.
 
So, let's take a look at where you could be jetting off to this year...
 

Calabria, Italy

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Lapped by the blue Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and packed full of sun-baked beaches, Calabria – sitting snugly all the way down at the toe of Italy’s well-known boot – is a southern Italian slice of heaven. Coastal beauty blends with historic sights, crumbling 15th-century castles and a whole array of spicy culinary delights. Not to mention pizza that is out of this world!
 
With 500 miles of coastline and lush green plains lined with fragrant lemon trees, it's the perfect place to fly off the radar but still enjoy a touch of unspoilt luxury. It's also ideal for long weekend jaunts, which is handy, as over half of global travellers report they plan to take more weekend trips in 2019, according to Booking.com.
 
Why now? Not one to make a fuss in the hottest holiday destination lists, this beachy beauty is starting to make waves with holidaymakers, likely due to its Caribbean-like qualities. As a secluded part of the Southern coast, you can wander the back streets of Tropea for shopping heaven and spend time dipping a toe or two into the stunning waters of Parghelia and Costa Degli Dei – translated as the ‘Coast of the Gods’. If you choose carefully, you may even end up chilling out in a deserted cove. Pure and utter bliss.
 

Belarus

 
For a uniquely European experience, Belarus is making itself known as a serious holiday destination for 2019. It’s also a pretty unexpected travel destination – perfect for those wanting to up their holiday game. The capital city of Minsk, with its impressively restored Old Town, is becoming more and more cosmopolitan, with bars and restaurants popping up among Stalinist buildings.
 
It also offers up Bialowieza forest, which stretches along the border with Poland. As the largest forest in Europe housing the largest animal on the continent - the European bison - it’s also an ideal location for wildlife lovers. With purse-friendly prices, it also doesn’t hurt that they have pretty relaxed visa requirements, making this mysterious landlocked country quite enticing to holidaymakers from afar.
 
Why now? After years and years of being a closed country to travellers, Belarus has come rising up through the top destination ranks, even being picked out by travel-pros, and cropping up in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2019. With a focus on welcoming eager holidaymakers, Belarus has upped its game in the attractiveness and ease of travel stakes. And they’re also hosting the 2019 European Games between 14-30 June. What better way to discover this quietly cool country?
 

Denver, Colorado

 
If you want to marvel at the Rocky Mountain ski slopes, hike through crisp, fresh air and set up your camping tent in the middle of nowhere, Denver, Colorado is the place for you. It also helps if you’re a foodie fan, as it offers up some superb culinary hotspots and local craft breweries to indulge in. Happen to be a sports fan, too? You’re in luck, as Denver is home to not one, not two, but four major sports team, from the Denver Broncos to the Colorado Rockies.
 
Why now? As “travel with experiences at its core” was one of 2018’s major travel trends, according to Booking.com, 2019 is “seeing travellers packing in many different and authentic experiences, such as enjoying their favourite sports game with an emphasis on creating moments that will bring us joy and comfort long after the fact.” It’s also high up on the list of ABTA's Travel Trends for 2019.
 
Just make sure you’re fully covered when it comes to any illnesses with pre-existing medical travel insurance. If you suffer from a medical condition, there is a high chance you may need to seek treatment whilst abroad and this can end up being seriously costly. An air ambulance from the USA alone could cost you around £50,000! So not what you want when visiting your dream holiday destination.
 

Japan

 
Japan’s creative capital of Tokyo is one of the world’s best and brightest cities, fusing modern designs with eccentric fashion, architecture and classic cultural activities. As Lonely Planet puts it, “Japan is truly timeless, a place where ancient traditions are fused with modern life.”
 
And if that’s not enough of a reason to start throwing your belongings into your suitcase, Japan is also one of the countries at the forefront of a brand new trend of ‘homeware hotels’. As Condé Nast traveller describes, “At the beginning of 2018, Japanese brand Muji opened two 'anti-gorgeous, anti-cheap' properties in Shenzhen and Beijing, to be proceeded by one in Tokyo’s Ginza in the spring of 2019.” Time to get packing and see what all the minimalist fuss is all about, then.
 
Why now? In 2019, Japan firmly gets its colourful glad rags on to celebrate the Rugby World Cup in the Autumn - between September to November. And then just a few months later, it will be time to cheer on sporting heroes as the 2020 Olympics roll into town. Both of these huge sporting events will not only result in a fantastic show but it also means that the country’s investment in tourism has never looked so good. If you book your trip in 2019, you won't be disappointed, especially as British Airways will be offering direct flights to Kansai airport from spring 2019.
 

Jordan

 
As a holiday destination that can often feel a little misunderstood, holidaymakers can be put off by Jordan’s Middle Eastern location. But once you step foot onto this luxurious land of lost cities, you needn’t be worried ­– these days, the country is relatively safe and the locals are incredibly welcoming and there is plenty to see and do. Jordan is also in the unique positions of offering up two types of sea – the scuba diving and snorkelling reefs of the Red Sea and the salty depths of Dead Sea. Perfect for water babies.
 
Why now? As one of ABTA’s travel destinations to watch for 2019, in 2019, both easyJet and Ryanair have announced they will be launching new flight routes to Jordan to make it easier for holidaymakers to visit its sparkling jewel in the city’s crown, the ancient Nabatean city of Petra, as seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
 
Make the most of this unique holiday destination by taking out non-standard pre-existing medical travel insurance for the ultimate peace of mind. The last thing you'll want is to reach the jewel and wind up paying a fortune for any unplanned medical mishaps.
 

Kvarner Bay, Croatia

 
Say hello to Split’s lesser-known sister, Kvarner Bay. Nestled in the north of this paradisiacal country, it boasts white, sandy beaches and corners of untouched perfection, which are welcome to all types of traveller. One of the highlights of this bright blue bay is that it houses pods of bottlenose dolphins. After a day of blissful island-hopping, travellers can make their way inland to the many bars, winding back alleys and historic bell tower. It’s also a hiker’s paradise with tucked-away lakes sitting within the picturesque mountains, so ideal location if you’re into walking.
 
Why now? It's only in recent years that Croatia has become somewhat of a tourist hotspot, so the fact that hidden gems such as Kvarner Bay are beginning to creep out of the beautifully unspoilt cracks shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Solo travelling is one of the hottest trends for 2019 and Kvarner Bay is the perfect place to unwind, focus on your health and relax into its welcoming topaz waters.
 

India

 
If you’ve been asking yourself how you can travel more in 2019, you may want to consider putting India on your own personal map. As a beautiful blend of bustling cities and crumbling old ruins to serene temples, beckoning beaches and picturesque mountains, you can find pretty much everything you’ve been looking for in one breath-taking country.
 
It’s also easy on your wallet. According to the biennial World Economic Forum (WEF) Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, India comes out as 10th best for “price competitiveness”.
 
Why now? India is a country full of diverse sights and activities, but in 2019, something special comes its way. October will mark 150 years since the birth of Gandhi - making a modern-day trip all the more historic. With events focusing on health and wellbeing, taking place in the North Zone Cultural Centre in Patiala and an exhibition on offer at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, there’s never been a better time to make your South Asian escape.
 

Panama

 
Wondering where you should go for summer 2019? Well, it turns out Panama has got some pretty hot offerings, especially if you’re an avid partygoer looking to mix things up. Housing a mix of African, Spanish, and Native Panamanian cultures, it’s no surprise that this happening hotspot is also known as the “Miami of Central America.”
 
But alongside the parties and the hustle and bustle, this small country houses a huge amount of history and a whole host of protected wildlife, with new eco-resorts also focusing on Panama’s foray into sustainable tourism and some rural communities setting up small-scale eco-tourism undertakings.
 
Why now? 2019 holds a glorious secret for Panama City. As the oldest city set up by the Spanish on the Pacific coast of the Americas, in 2019, Panama City will mark its 500-year history with a huge party. Think fiery fiestas, diverse culinary dishes and partying until the sun comes up. Just make sure you’ve got your travel insurance in place before you head off. Especially with all that partying you’ll be doing.
 

Costa Rica

 
Touted as another one of ABTA’s travel destinations to watch for 2019, the pristine paradise of Costa Rica offers its nature-loving travellers a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life. As a global pioneer when it comes to conservation and hosting a landscape steeped in a diverse range of flora and fauna, not only is there rich beauty to uncover but various activities to indulge in, from hiking and trekking to sport-fishing, canopy touring and zip lining through the cloud forest.
 
Why now?According to research conducted by Booking.com, modern holidaymakers are a new breed of traveller, with a special focus on seeking personal fulfilment from their carefully booked trips. The research highlighted that 56% of global travellers gained invaluable life skills from their holidays, from learning something new to embracing volunteering opportunities.
 
Costa Rica offers a diverse display of plant and animal life, which provides the ideal landscape for an overwhelming majority of global travellers (86%) who say they are keen to spend more time on activities that would offset the environmental impact of their stay. More to the point, over a third of modern-day holiday makers would be willing to clear plastic and litter from a beach or other tourist attraction, and as Costa Rica offers up special volunteering opportunities aplenty – in particular, the chance to help with sea turtle conservation – it provides an invaluable chance to gain skills and give back at the same time.
 
Before you head off on the trip of a lifetime, you’ll need to make sure you’re adequately covered for such unique activities. Insurance Choice understand the challenges you face when trying to get covered for dream trips, so we make it easy for you to get one step ahead of the travel game.
 
As specialists in providing non-standard travel insurance, we can arrange policies for all kinds of medical conditions. So, whether you’re travelling up and down the country or staying in one spot, you can rest assured that our pre-existing medical travel insurance is here to help you enjoy your top holiday destination. Don’t waste any time – get a quote today.