Do you really need to revisit a holiday spot that you’ve been to before?
Repeatedly travelling to your all-time favourite destinations is like never stepping out of your comfort zone.
We know it must have been amazing, but wouldn’t it be better to spend that hard-earned cash on a fresh experience and adventure?
Instead of fighting your way through the crowds of tourists in the ‘most-instagrammable’ places, how about switching your attention to some less talked about destinations before everybody else catches on?
We at KAYAK analysed data from millions of searches to gain an insight into what’s driving our users and where they’re most interested in travelling. Behold, our report for travel trendsetters in Singapore – revealing the top ten emerging destinations that deserve a top spot in your year-end and 2018 travel checklists.
The report looks at destinations outside of the usual top-searched destinations*, focusing instead on the holiday hotspots showing the greatest increase in interest amongst Singaporean travellers.
Cast your eye on this list of destinations, and you may find a few ideas you may not have thought of, but may have heard a few of your friends or relatives mentioning recently. Think Athens, Kathmandu and Tel Aviv, just to name a few.
The KAYAK “Better-Now-Than-Later” Report of Trending Holiday Destinations
10. Tel Aviv, Israel
Dubbed as the ‘Manhattan’ of the Mediterranean, Tel Aviv is ultra modern, cosmopolitan and fabulous. The crowds are chic, the beaches are gorgeous and there’s always something to see, including historic Jaffa, the UNESCO-listed Bauhaus buildings, cafes, restaurants and art galleries.
9. Dhaka, Bangladesh
As a city that’s bursting with 17 million people, Dhaka has plenty to offer, from folk museums to art museums, to modern buildings. If the hustle and bustle of the city gets a bit overwhelming, try taking a boat across the Buriganga River, where you can soak in some history and spiritual charm of a different sort.
8. Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Also known as Ulaanbaatar, this city is the world’s coldest capital, located in north-central Mongolia. It is connected by rail to both the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia and the Chinese railway system, for those who are keen to travel on land. The city was founded in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastic centre and also possesses Soviet-era buildings within its skyline.
7. Madrid, Spain
Art and culture are exclusively intertwined in this magical Spanish city. From the remains of the old Arab wall, to small Gothic churches and early Renaissance works, Madrid boasts a multitude of rich and varied works of art. Stemming from the Arabic word Mageri, meaning ‘mother of waters’, Madrid also boasts must-visit spots such as the Royal Palace, Sabatini Gardens, and Campo del Moro Gardens.
6. Kaohsiung, Taiwan
This Taiwanese city is peaceful, scenic, convenient and modern. There are also two swimming beaches within the city area, as well as a large area covered in lush forests right on its doorstep, making it the perfect weekend getaway for busy and stressed-out Singaporeans.
5. Kathmandu, Nepal
You’ll be treated to a sensory overload the moment you step foot in this city. From medieval Buddhist and Hindu temples to its narrow backstreets and markets, to its UNESCO-listed Durbar Square, Nepal’s capital city is also good for mountain trekking, shopping and various other outdoor activities.
4. Hyderabad, India
The Old City of Hyderabad is home to some of Islamic India’s most impressive architecture, in varying states of repair. Most visitors concentrate their time in this area, though the magnificent Golconda Fort should not be missed either.
3. Nanjing, China
Located on the south bank of the famous Yangtze River, this capital of Jiangsu Province is one of the most interesting destinations in China. Known as the capital city of six or ten dynasties in ancient Chinese history, it has a rich cultural heritage and a booming metropolis with plenty of modern attractions and skyscrapers.
2. Athens, Greece
Who wouldn’t want to visit the iconic Acropolis and Parthenon? The capital of both modern and ancient Greece, Athens boasts delectable stories dating from the first settlements in the Neolithic age, to its massive archaeological sites, to the works of Sophocles, to the Ottoman Empire.
1. Hobart, Australia
Hobart is Tasmania’s capital city and the second oldest capital in Australia, after Sydney.
With its captivating history, pretty waterways, rugged mountains and variety of dining experiences, this laid-back city exudes its own understated charm dating back to the 1830s. It’s no wonder Hobart has emerged on top of the trending holiday destination list for Singaporean travellers.
We analysed our search data to find these aspirational destinations, but besides this list, there are many other cheap holiday destinations that are accessible and worth exploring by travellers. With our free tools such as Explore and KAYAK Trips, travellers can easily find their next destinations based on specific budget, travel period, weather, and other preferences.
*The flight prices (including taxes and fees, excluding baggage fees) are for one return economy seat and were collated on 14 September 2017 for travel in September 2017 from Singapore to the destination listed, unless specified otherwise. Prices are in SGD, may be subject to change and offers may no longer be available.
**The report filtered out the top 30 most searched destinations by Singapore travellers on KAYAK.sg in during the search period 01/01/2017 – 31/07/2017 for any travel dates in 2017, and ranked the rest of the destinations by highest year-on-year growth in searches.
***The Asia Pacific analysis is based on KAYAK’s own search data across its 12 APAC locales, including (in alphabetical order) Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
