DECEMBER 2019 Issue 1
LOOK Â THE travel DESIGNERS MAGAZINE
The 2020 HOTLISl issue
LOOK
DECEMBER 2019 Issue 1
what's HOT IN 2020
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BHUTAN
JAMAICA
EGYPT
ISRAEL
SWEDEN
ZIMBABWE
CHILE
The USA MONTENEGRO
Look magazine DECEMBER • 2019
THE 2020 HOT LIST
Here at Travel Designers we've consulted our crystal balls and can officially say that we predict a year of luxury holidays, off-the-beaten-track adventures and extraordinary experiences for you in 2020. We've also done some real research and narrowed down the countries we think will be the most talked about and sought-after destinations of the year. After all, with everything from a total solar eclipse to a new James Bond film happening in 2020, it's sure to be an exciting year. We can't wait to see where it will take you......
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
BHUTAN
High in the Himalayas, Bhutan is one of the world’s most serene and genuinely unspoilt nations Visitors have to pay a daily tourist tax, which helps limit tourist numbers and maintain exclusivity, and while other countries are just starting to think about conservation, Bhutan is already the world’s first carbon-neutral country and due to become 100% organic on its food production by 2020. One of our favourite ecoconscious hotel brands, Six Senses, is also set to open its fifth and final new hotel in Bhutan this year – meaning visitors can enjoy a tour of the country’s natural beauty in upmost luxury.
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Look magazine DECEMB ER 2019
EGYPT
Never has a museum opening been so hotly anticipated as Cairo’s Grand Egypt Museum It has kept us all waiting but promises to be ready in October 2020. Set to be the world’s largest archaeological museum and house incredible, never-before-seen Tutankhamun treasure, this is every Egyptophile’s dream. For those who like to pair their culture with some R&R, the news that Sharm El-Sheikh has been officially declared safe for travel again means you can soak up some sun in the newly reinvented beach region.
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
SWEDEN
THE COOLEST HOTEL OPENING While everyone else discusses the world’s hottest new hotel openings, we want to draw your attention to the coolest – Swedish Lapland’s soon-to-be Arctic Bath. With ties to the criticallyacclaimed Treehotel, this equally quirky architectural masterpiece will open its doors (which float over the River Lule) in January. Couple this with the newly-coined Greta Thunberg effect and we predict all eyes will be on Sweden in 2020. Get there now and enjoy your Allemansrätten (Right To Roam) in this beautiful country before everyone else does.
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
CHILE
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE December 2020 might seem like a long way away, but we suggest booking early to avoid missing what is sure to be one of the major travel highlights of this year – watching a total solar eclipse from a luxury mobile camp in Chile’s lush Lake District. With the notion of second-city travel (travelling to a country’s lesser known destinations to avoid issues of over-tourism) really taking off in 2020, we think this is also the perfect opportunity to forgo the more popular Torres Del Paine National Park and instead focus on exploring Northern Patagonia - whether on a road trip along the Austral Highway or from one of the adventure lodges in the scenic Lake District.
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
JAMAICA
BOND IS BACK Bond is back in 2020, and this year he’s coming out of retirement in Jamaica. While the thrill of MI6 might be enough of a pull for Daniel Craig, we’d much rather do as Ian Fleming did and stay put on the sandy shores of the Caribbean. Our hotel of choice? The newly opened S Hotel in Montego Bay. Having just won Conde Nast Traveller’s ‘Top Hotel in the Caribbean and Central America’ award, this chic beach base is bringing something totally new to the island, with its classy Mykonos-meets-Miami vibe the breath of fresh air Jamaica needed.
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
ISRAEL
BUSTLING BEACHSIDE CAPITAL Thanks to Virgin’s recently introduced daily flights to Tel Aviv, Israel has firmly marked its place on the travel radar. The bustling, beachside capital is already home to a swathe of cool new restaurants and bars, but tourism in the rest of the country is also set to really take off in 2020 too. Most notable is the imminent opening of Six Senses Shaharut, in the heart of the beautiful, biblical Arava Valley. Whether looking for a history focused holiday, city fun or simply stunning scenery, Israel is one of those countries that really does offer it all.
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
ZIMBABWE
CONSERVATION CHAMPIONS A country that was off the radar for many years, we predict Zimbabwe will make a real comeback in 2020. Conservation championing properties and anti-poaching success stories are on every safari-goers radar these days, and some of our favourites can be found in Zimbabwe. Take Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve for example, which (thanks to the work of lodges like Singita Pamushana) now has one of the highest density of white rhinos in Africa and 2% of the world’s population of black rhinos. It helps that the mighty Victoria Falls can be easily ticked off your bucket list on safari here too…
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
NICARAGUA
OFF-THE-BEATEn-TRACK For those looking for off-the-beaten-track adventure and warm local charm, Nicaragua is a great choice. Having recently come off the FCO no-go list the country is slowly but surely building its tourism, and we are incredibly excited to see what 2020 will bring. With lush tropical rainforest, palm-fringed beaches and towering volcanoes, the parallels between Nicaragua and Costa Rica are clear; add pretty colonial cities like Granada and Leon to the equation and Nicaragua arguably has the edge – and that’s without considering the lack of crowds and significantly lower prices.
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
MONTENEGRO
SIMPLY STUNNING Twinning two countries in one trip is no doubt a fantastic experience, but for too long Montenegro has been considered simply an add-on to neighbouring Croatia. Thanks to the opening of One & Only Portonovi in Spring 2020, we’re predicting that this will be the year it finally gets recognised as a stand-alone destination. By pairing One & Only Portonovi with the country’s existing Aman Sveti Stefan, visitors can (for the first time) enjoy exploring two of Montenegro’s beautiful regions without compromising on accommodation.
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Look magazine DECEMBER 2019
USA
THE HISTORY OF THE U.S.A 2020 marks 100 years since women were granted the right to vote in the U.S, and the capital is hosting various special exhibitions to celebrate. Coincidentally, a few hours north, Maine is also celebrating an anniversary – its bicentennial, or 200 years of statehood. So why not combine the two in one history and food packed holiday? While San Francisco and New York tend to steal the limelight, both Washington and Maine’s foodie-capital of Portland have really taken off in recent years and now boast innovative food scenes and pretty architecture aplenty. Plus, there’s no better excuse to visit than a party…
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Look magazine December 2019
FEELING INSPIRED FOR 2020 ?
CALL NICK, BEVERLEY oR NICK on 020 7720 8484 or email nick@traveldesigners.co.uk
Travel Designers, is a boutique travel agency offering a vast range of holiday experiences to some of the most exciting destinations in the World We have years of experience offering the finest holidays and offering authentic travel experiences. We have handpicked our featured tour operator partners and journeys. We are all about amazing service from the start of the conversation all the way to departure and beyond
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