Overseas holidays may be off the agenda for a while but that doesn’t stop us looking! Tripadvisor has released a list of trending global travel destinations that have seen the biggest recent increase in people bookmarking them for future trips. We take a look at a few of them here – to add to our travel bucket list when travel resumes.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
This American mountain town comes in at number five on the global travel destinations wishlist. It’s a great base for visiting the famous Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While there, you’ve got to visit the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America; not only is it well over 200 metres long, but it has glass panels in one section for seeing the ground far below.
Chengdu, China
The capital of Sichuan Province is famous for two things: pandas and peppercorns! You can see the black-and-white beasts up close at the Chengdu Panda Base, and you can try the region’s famously spicy food at countless restaurants. Don’t miss Huanglong or Yellow Dragon National Park, with its terraced rock pools in stunning hues.
Guadeloupe
Set in the South Caribbean, this French archipelago consists of five islands: Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and La Désirade. They’re less than an hour’s ferry ride apart – perfect for island hopping! You’ll soon discover why the native Arawak people referred to their home as Karukera, “Island of Beautiful Waters”.
Göreme, Turkey
This small town in Cappadocia is carved into volcanic rock and is known for its moonlike landscape and fairy chimneys. Mustsees include Göreme National Park and Pigeon Valley. There are more than 25 registered companies offering hot-air ballooning adventures here, and the area is known for iconic images of a sky filled with balloons.
Matera, Italy
History buffs will love this one! Located in the remote region of Basilicata in Southern Italy, Matera is known for Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a stunning series of cave dwellings. People have occupied these homes for 9,000 years, and continue to do so today.
Natal, Brazil
Located in the country’s northeast, Natal is the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte. Known as “Cidade do Sol”, or City of the Sun, it’s home to the world’s largest cashew tree. This giant has a circumference of – wait for it – 500 metres, and was said to have been planted in the 1880s by a fisherman.
Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands
This Caribbean paradise is famous for its gorgeous beaches. Its port city of Charlotte Amalie is a great base to explore the surrounding islands. Magens Bay is the island’s most popular beach, with white sand and plenty of water sports to enjoy. St Thomas has a population of around 50,000 – approximately half the total of the Virgin Islands.
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