Experts share places where you can have a great vacation without crowds in 2024
Impressive places without crowds, which have become common in many countries around the world. Several travel experts told us where people go.
Christopher Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises, says that the Canary Islands are a popular vacation destination. The weather is warm, and it's imbued with African and European culture. It has a lot to offer, but it's still overlooked, especially by American travellers. This place has it all: beaches, volcanoes, exceptional food and culture, and now it's easier to get there with direct flights from New York. Windstar is planning several new flights in 2024 and additional offers in 2025. This was reported by forbes.com.
For Tom Hall, vice president of Lonely Planet, that destination is Uzbekistan in Central Asia.
"It has some of the best preserved historical remnants of the Silk Road, as well as spectacular mountains and a vibrant and developing capital in Tashkent. It's easy to get around by train, reasonably priced, with several direct flights a week from New York, as well as connections via Seoul and Istanbul," he said.
The "stan" also ranked high according to Shannon Stowell, CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. For Stowell, this is Kurdistan, a very special place that is still on many people's bucket lists.
"The authenticity and friendliness of the people with an amazing history make it a great place to visit. I was there in 2009 and 2017, the latter trip with my 16-year-old son," Shannon added.
Andy Levine, President of DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co, highlights South Africa.
"It is characterized by a rare combination of amazing scenery, extremely luxurious hotels, and dynamic food and wine. The landscapes are very diverse, with beaches merging seamlessly with mountains and vineyards," he says.
"We were impressed with neighbouring South Korea on a trip there last June," said Lisa Leavitt of Active Travels, a Virtuoso Boston-based travel agency. Leavitt says she and her family enjoyed exceptional food and visits to 15th-century sites in Seoul, wonderful seaside food markets in Busan, charming historic villages like Jeonju, and a requisite night in the mountains at a Buddhist monastery for sunrise meditation.
India, which is a favourite destination for some, also holds many surprises even for those who have travelled extensively.
"More than 400 Backroads staff and I recently returned from our annual bike ride, and this year it was in Rajasthan, India. Cycling in India gives you a different way to experience India," said Tom Hale, president of Backroads.
In addition to Asia, Hale added that in 2024, Backroads will offer two new voyages that will take place off the beaten path to the Azores and Tasmania.
"Both are a little off the beaten path, but they also appeal to people looking for active adventure travel," Hale said.
Jennifer Tombaugh, president of Tauck Tours, says a new trip to Namibia is on her personal list, which includes a walk through the Namib Desert with bushmen, a climb up the great red dunes of Sossusvlei, and a behind-the-scenes visit - including a meet and greet with baby baboons - at the Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary.
Carrie Gray of Gray & Co. takes some of the world's most travelled people to places that are really close by. She has a short list for travellers in 2024 that includes the quiet Priorat vineyards in Spain, which are great for cycling and hiking, as well as staying at the new Mas d'En Bruno. Gray also highlights mountain villages located just an hour's flight north of Athens, with stone bridges, clear water for rafting, dogs, and horseback riding in the old forest. She likes the new Vestige Son Vell and Menorca Experimental hotels in Menorca.