When planning a vacation, it can be easy to focus on the iconic and unchanging destinations and tourist hotspots that have always fascinated us. However, while every traveler should visit some of these classic locales, it is also a good idea to seek out locations that are still developing and transforming. While 2015 is only a few weeks old, it has already promised to be a dynamic and exciting year for travel as new destinations take the stage and old favorites show signs of new development.
Those looking for something new this year will find that the strong dollar has given them a wider choice of affordable options. For example, travelers to places like South Africa will find their money going much further. Other destinations are simply growing in prominence among trendsetters and travel experts. Samoa seems poised to become the next great island vacation, while Romania has risen to greater prominence thanks to improved infrastructure. Thanks to newly forged political realities, other new vacation opportunities have gained popularity, including the once-again safe Tunisia or the newly reopened Cuba. Of course, many places have simply just reached the critical mass of development necessary to gain the attention of travel writers. South Korea’s Seoul, Macedonia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Baku in Azerbaijan were all wonderful destinations before 2015, but vacation experts are just now beginning to recognize their myriad virtues.
Of course, 2015 will also bring changes to the quintessential destinations that will continue to dominate vacationers’ lists. The historically minded may want to drop in on one of the many interesting anniversary celebrations happening around the world, such as the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta or the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War in the United States. Other places are simply enjoying continued growth and regrowth, like New York City’s Lower Manhattan or the revitalized New Orleans. This year should be a wonderful time to see something new in the world, even in places seemingly untouched by time.