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Travel trends for 2016 are as varied and eclectic as ever – with many special events and anniversaries beckoning visitors far and wide. Ranging from natural surroundings to urban jungles, there are a handful of local and exotic destinations that appear repeatedly on top travel lists.

With access to new places becoming easier and more frequent, travelers literally have the world at their feet. Trips of all kinds to the Arctic – Iceland, Greenland and Norway, and to America’s national parks (marking the centennial of the National Parks Service), along with US cities – New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia make an exciting year for new adventures. The Iberian peninsula – Spain and Portugal are also high on travelers’ minds, while many people continue to take advantage of Cuba’s semi-open door policy. Islands of all kinds have a special place in the hearts of travelers with Hawaii’s archipelago a top destination and Madagascar piquing much interest as well. Botswana, France and Iran round out top spots for 2016.

Those who prefer taking ethical holidays continue to multiply. For DIYers, hiring and traveling with a local and going off-the-beaten path is becoming a bigger trend for adventurous travelers looking for experiential travel more than the must-see sights.

The impact of our travels ripples beyond our experience. It enriches not only our lives, but the lives of the locals and fellow travelers. That cross-pollination, for me, makes every experience unique and memorable.

Let’s get going.

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From the expert trekkers at Lonely Planet come the best places in the world to explore in 2016.

1. Botswana
2. Japan
3. USA
4. Palau
5. Latvia
6. Australia
7. Poland
8. Uruguay
9. Greenland
10. Fiji

For regional travel, Lonely Planet’s experts select unique areas boasting the best in scenery and culture.

1. Transylvania
2. West Iceland
3. Valle de Viñales, Cuba
4. Friuli’s wine regions, Italy
5. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
6. Auvergne region, France
7. Hawaii, USA
8. Bavaria, Germany
9. Costa Verde, Brazil
10. St Helena, South Africa

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From their expert authors, who have traveled to 65+ countries and penned 58 guides, Rough Guides picks the best locale from each (top 10 only).

1. Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado, Bolivia
2. Lake Natron, Tanzania
3. Île aux Nattes, Madagascar
4. Tryfan, Wales
5. De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa
6. Metéora, Greece
7. Gondar, Ethiopia
8. The Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal
9. Lago de Nicaragua, Nicaragua

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There’s much to look forward to on Fodor’s Go List for 2016 as picked by their globe-trotting experts. Don’t forget to check out the number one pick as well (top 20 only).

1. America’s National Parks, USA
2. Sicily, Italy
3. Guadeloupe
4. Abu Dhabi, UAE
5. St Helena, South Africa
6. Guam
7. Ecuador
8. Adelaide, Australia
9. Faroe Islands
10. Bavaria, Germany
11. Fez, Morocco
12. San Sebastián, Spain
13. Cuba
14. Lithuania
15. Taipai, Taiwan
16. Palm Springs, California, USA
17. Normandy, France
18. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
19. North Loop/Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
20. Stratford-upon-Avon, England, UK

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The best of the best must-sees from National Geographic span the globe.

1. Côte d’Or, Burgundy, France
2. Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
3. Bermuda
4. Danube River, Austria
5. Eastern Bhutan
6. Capability Brown’s Gardens, England, UK
7. Glasgow, Scotland
8. Greenland
9. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, USA
10. Hokkaido, Japan
11. New York City, New York, USA
12. Okavango Delta, Botswana
13. Philippines
14. Masurian Lake District, Poland
15. Seychelles
16. Tangier and Smith Islands, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, USA
17. San Diego/Tijuana, USA/Mexico
18. Uruguay
19. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
20. South Georgia Island

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Travel + Leisure offers these under-the-radar gems and once-overlooked spots as its top places to go in 2016 (top 10 only).

1. Bocas del Toro, Panama
2. Guadalajara, Mexico
3. Richmond, Virginia, USA
4. Lille, France
5. Iran
6. Lanai, Hawaii, USA
7. Hangzhou, China
8. Douro Valley, Portugal
9. Frankfurt, Germany
10. Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

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The New York Times spotlights these top destinations as the places to go this year (top 20 only).

1. Mexico City, Mexico
2. Bordeaux, France
3. Malta
4. Coral Bay, ST John, USVI
5. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, USA
6. Mozambique, Africa
7. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
8. Abu Dhabi, UAE
9. Skane, Sweden
10. Viñales, Cuba
11. Guadeloupe
12. Park City, Utah, USA
13. Aarhus, Denmark
14. Cesme, Turkey
15. Road of the Seven Lakes, Argentina
16. Hangzhou, China
17. Korcula ISland, Croatia
18. San Sebastián, Spain
19. Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
20. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

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At the Los Angeles Times, this roundup of hot spots are beckoning in 2016.

1. Botswana
2. Bozeman, Montana, USA
3. Cartagena, Colombia
4. Dublin, Ireland
5. Harlem, New York, USA
6. Iran
7. Myanmar
8. Natchez, Mississippi, USA
9. Orange County coast, California, USA
10. Paris, France
11. Penang Island, Malaysia
12. San Sebastián, Spain
13. Seattle, Washington, USA
14. Stratford-Upon-Avon, England
15. Washington, DC, USA
16. Williamstown, Kentucky, USA

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US News + World Report combines expert analysis with reader votes to find the world’s best places to visit (top 10 only).

1. London, England, UK
2. Bora Bora
3. Barcelona, Spain
4. Paris, France
5. Sydney, Australia
6. New York City, New York, USA
7. Maui, Hawaii, USA
8. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
9. Cape Town, South Africa
10. San Francisco, CA, USA

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With the help of pros who thrive on travel to new frontiers, CNN presents its group of emerging destinations for 2016.

1. Mongolia
2. Papua New Guinea
3. The Arctic: Iceland, Greenland and Norway
4. Madagascar
5. Iran
6. Taiwan
7. India’s national parks
8. Uganda
9. Georgia
10. North Cascades National Park, Washington, USA
11. Patagonia Corridor, Argentina
12. Palau
13. South Georgia Island and Antarctica
14. Honduras
15. Gabon
16. Romania

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Looking for the best bang for your buck? These top 10 spots on Budget Travel’s long list are places you want to go soon – before they are discovered and built up – and become unaffordable (top 10 only).

1. Iceland
2. San Antonio, Texas, USA
3. Cuba
4. Los Angeles. California, USA
5. Greece
6. Vietnam
7. Martinique
8. Galápagos Islands
9. Portugal
10. Isla Holbox, Mexico

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Ethical Travel states that while no country is perfect, it’s important to honor those that strive to build a better, more sustainable society. Its top 10 looks like this.

1. Cape Verde
2. Dominica
3. Grenada
4. Micronesia (Federated States)
5. Mongolia
6. Panama
7. Samoa
8. Tonga
9. Tuvalu
10. Uruguay

There’s a place for every interest and every budget in 2016. What are you waiting for?

What’s your top travel spot for 2016?

Map design + animation: © 2016 Janet Giampietro

Photos from top: Iceland and Madagascar, © 2015 + 2006 Janet Giampietro; Theodore Roosevelt National Park, USA North Dakota, Janie Osborne for The New York Times; Cuba, Sheri Giblin; Iran, from LA Times; Lisbon, World Wanderista

This entry was posted Monday, January 18th, 2016 at 11:27 pm and is filed under culture, travel. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.