Top Vacation Destinations 2019

2019 is right around the corner, which means it is time for a very important list, and Airbnb has released it’s list for 2019 top vacation destinations. By analysing Airbnb searches, bookings, and wish list growth data, the house-sharing website was able to forecast which regions, cities, and town users are eager to explore in 2019. The destinations are located across six continents. Some are spots that you may have heard of, while others may be new discoveries. Though you likely won’t be able to make it all 19 destinations travellers are wanting to visit in 2019, Airbnb does have plentifulness of rental listings in and around each spot. Ahead, we’ve listed each place and some popular rentals available in the areas. With so many dream destinations, you might be tempted to make your one and only 2019 New Year’s resolution to travel more.

Topping this year’s list is Kaikoura, New Zealand, which showed a 295% increase in year-over-year bookings. The coastal town on New Zealand’s South Island was heavily damaged by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2016. Transportation services to the historic whaling town have re-emerged following the disaster. Visitors are flocking there for nature activities such as seal-sighting and whale-watching .

Next on the list is Xiamen, China. The port city has become an aviation hub where travellers are likely spending some more stopovers these days. Airbnb notes booking increases of 283% year-over-year thanks to attractions like local pub crawls, a strong food scene, and the charms of nearby Kulangsu, a pedestrian-only UNESCO-listed island just off the coast.

Coming in at number three is Puebla, Mexico, a colonial city with over 300 churches just a three-hour drive from Mexico City. Instead of the typical Mexican beach vacation, visitors are traveling here to take cooking classes, see lucha libre matches and help out with recovery efforts after the 2017 earthquake that rocked the city. In fact, the city enjoyed a 220% bump in year-over-year searches and a 206% increase in wish-list inclusions.

Normandy, France, is attracting history buffs and beach goers alike thanks to its dramatic English Channel coast. 2019 will mark the 75^th anniversary if the D-Day landings, which is probably partially behind a 229% increase in bookings and a 120% increase in searches. Airbnb also points to the popularity of architectural tours, a cheese trail and the area’s World War II history.

Rounding out the top five are the Great Smoky Mountains in the United States. The area includes the country’s most-visited national park and 800 miles of trails are reopening after devastating wildfires two years ago. No exact numbers were given about whether visitors were also including a stop at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in nearby Pigeon Forge. However, year-over-year bookings were up 191%.

Here are the complete listings of this year’s top 19 destinations, according to Airbnb.

1. Kaikoura, New Zealand
2. Xiamen, China
3. Puebla, Mexico
4. Normandy, France
5. Great Smoky Mountains, United States
6. Buenos Aires, Argentina
7. Accra, Ghana
8. Mozambique
9. Outer Hebrides, Scotland
10. Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
11. Catskill Mountains and the Hudson Valley, United States
12. Santa Catarina State, Brazil
13. Batumi, Georgia
14. Winnipeg, Canada
15. Pondicherry, India
16. Uzbekistan
17. Calabria, Italy
18. Andalusia, Spain
19. Taiwan

The list is indeed diverse, but almost all the destinations are driven by an interest in unique, host-led experiences and a desire to get beyond more traditional cities and countries.