With the New Year barely a few days away and the holiday list for 2019 already out, this is a good time to decide which places you’d like to visit in the upcoming year. If you’re still undecided then let this article be a starting point to spark your curiosity. These are countries I’ve been to and can vouch for. Rest assured, you’ll have a swell time whichever country you decide to visit from the list below. Start planning your 2019 vacations now.
Vietnam
Vietnam has a special place in my heart because it was my first foreign destination. The fact that I could survive there for a month without knowing the language or carrying a phone should tell you just how easy it is to travel through the country. I started in Saigon ad went up along the Mekong Delta before crossing over to Phu Quoc island, an offbeat destination to this day. Back in the mainland, I went up to Hanoi via Hoi An, Dalat and Hue. The wonders of Halong Bay and rice terraces of Sapa capped off one of the most enchanting places I’ve visited anywhere.
Vietnam is still much the same in terms of connectivity and friendliness of locals even as the list of places to see has just kept going up, the Freedom Bridge inaugurated last year being the latest example.
Also Read: Why I Chose Vietnam As My First Foreign Destination
Jordan
I landed in Jordan when the Syrian war was almost at its peak and the Hashemite kingdom had taken in more than a million refugees. Yet, the smile of everyone’s faces was just the same, making it one of the friendliest places I’ve been to as an Indian. Bollywood works like magic on the local populace I tell you.
And then there are places you will never find anywhere on earth – the Mars-like landscape of Wadi Rum, the floating Dead Sea and the Rose City of Petra to unleash your inner Indiana Jones. Jordan is also one of those countries that don’t need too many days to visit and you can see most of its highlights in a week to 10 days. All you need to do is just get there to marvel at the magic of the place.
France
There’s so much that France has to offer that I fell short of seeing the country despite spending five weeks there. I went to the North to see places like Mont St Michel and the cities of Bayeux and Rennes. I stopped at Tours to admire chateaus before spending time along the French Riviera starting from Bordeaux and ending in Monaco. Finally, I spent 10 glorious days in Paris and still wondered if it was enough. To anyone looking to go someplace in Europe to immerse in a particularly country, I can only suggest France. With the amount of places and options on offer, there’s hardly any chance you’ll go wrong with picking this destination.
Hong Kong
One of the few places that is perhaps livelier after sunset than during daytime, Hong Kong is much more than the vertical buildings of Central and Kowloon. The now-Chinese territory has many known places to visit but it’s the Tao temple at Aberdeen and the hiking trail with students barbecuing food on weekends and discovering cute red pandas at Ocean’s Park that makes Hong Kong stand out in this list. If you give yourself a little more time and expand your horizons slightly, Hong Kong has the power to dazzle you with relatively unknown sights as well.
Turkey
Turkey deserves all the tourism it gets. It is a gorgeous country full of warmhearted people and some incredible history and landscapes. From its opulent days during Ottoman times to the horrors of the First World War at Gallipoli, from its sublime beaches in Antalya province to underground cities in Cappadocia, and from the fine Turkish coffee during the day to its incomparable Yeni Raki at night, Turkey has many layers to itself that only a prolonged visit can unravel.
Also Read: 7 Important Things Every Traveller Must Know Before Visiting Turkey
Portugal
Portugal is a destination that will make you fall in love with it without you even trying. The tiny country is packed with European charm but its seafaring glory days, special green wine and unique feeling of saudade can’t be felt anywhere else in the world. The more you travel through Portugal, the more it’s unique history comes straight at your face. For example, do you think the Knights Templar buried the secrets of their clandestine group at an obscure church off Tomar? The Portuguese seem to think so. And the only way for you to know is by going to the church and looking at the clues hiding in plain sight.
Madagascar
If you want to be truly adventurous, book a ticket to Antananarivo straight away. Madagascar isn’t only about the movie series but a real-life island where you can spot different types of lemurs in the wild, swim along some of the bluest waters in the world, spot whales who come from Antarctica to breed and learn about a population who are yearning to break out into the world.
Don’t go with any preconceived notions and let the natural beauty and unique habitat of the country catch you by surprise. It’ll be the best thing to happen to you in a while I promise.
Bhutan
What’s the literal version of the Pharrell William song Happy? Bhutan – the land of happiness of course! The tiny Himalayan country packs a punch when it comes to nurturing its people and nature. The only carbon positive country in the world scores high on traditions and festivals held from time to time. Capping a visit with a climb up Paro’s Nest is just the perfect icing on this beautiful cake of a country. If you need a country to cheer you up in 2019, look no further than Bhutan.
Read More: When In Bhutan, Don’t Miss This At Any Cost
Ireland
Walk down the main street of Dublin and you’ll have at least five friends by the time you reach the end of the road. Walk some more and another couple of them will invite you to their favourite pub straightaway. All this without you doing anything extraordinary. Outside of its capital city, Ireland is filled with stunning coastline, unbelievable amount of green and some gorgeous castles – one of which you have to climb and kiss to receive the gift of gab. I’m not even kidding. Just get to Ireland before the Brexit mess is all too real.
Georgia
The upcoming hero of the Caucasus mountains, Georgia is poised to be a major travel destination soon. With a vibrant nightlife in capital Tbilisi, ancient capitals, homemade wine, mountain cave complexes, Svan culture, thermal pools, Soviet hangover and so much more, 2019 may be the last time you get to see them all without crowds jostling with you. My only advice would be to triple check the visa requirements lest you’re sent back from the airport because of vague bureaucratic issues.
Cover image by Priyanko Sarkar. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest news. Subscribe to my email list on the right to stay in touch and grab exclusive deals.
