12 of the trendiest international destinations you should really visit in 2020
DAVID OLIVER AND MORGAN HINES |USA TODAY | 2:48 pm EST December 12, 2019
A list of some increasingly popular countries to visit in 2020.
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Trendy destinations may vary from year to year or season to season, but often the biggest hot spots remain the same.
Or do they?
Recent data suggests people are beginning to explore other parts of popular regions.
Companies including
Expedia,
Vbro,
Scott's Cheap Flights,
Lonely Planet, Contiki and others have all released travel trends for 2020. And some reports showed an uptick in travelers' willingness to take trips to different areas of popular countries, though European countries tended to dominate.
"When we looked at where travelers went in 2019, we saw that the biggest growth in demand was happening for destinations that aren’t the usual tourist hot spots," Christie Hudson, head of PR for Brand Expedia North America, said in a release.
Italy
It may seem obvious to highlight Italy as a trending travel destination given cities like Venice, Rome and Florence are often on travelers' European itineraries. But according to Expedia analysts as a part of the booking site's
2020 Travel Trends report, Sardinia and the Italian Riviera were the top trending destinations in the country. In
Sardinia, explore coves across the coastline. As for the Italian Riviera: You'll catch your breath admiring the the beautiful villages in
Cinque Terre, not to mention surrounding beach towns. The data came from flight demand.


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The charming villages of Italy's Cinque Terre
Italy also popped up as a must-see destination on other lists as well, including social travel company
Contiki's top Insta-worthy destinations for 2020 as well as
Lonely Planet's best regions to visit (Le Marche).
France
In the wake of the
Notre Dame fireearlier this year, it's a perfect time to visit Paris and other locations in the country to appreciate the culture, history and more. Travelers can enjoy everything from
medieval castles to wineries to a host of museums.


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Notre Dame: What to do in Paris while cathedral is out of commision
Scott's Cheap Flights includes France as one of the cheapest places to visit next year, thanks to new flight routes amid increased competition, if that piques your interest.
Japan
The country has been buzzing with anticipation ahead of the
2020 Tokyo Olympics — but that's hardly the only thing to do in the
largest megacity in the world, let alone the country.
If you're in
Tokyo: Visit busy sidewalk Shibuya Crossing (approximately 3,000 people cross at once); nearby Mount Fuji (Japan's tallest mountain); and world-renowned animal cafes.
Japan is full of natural beauty, but for those wanting a hands-on experience will want to visit an animal café.
SAVANNAH BROCK, USA TODAY
Outside of Tokyo, there's Kyoto, which has nearly 2,000 temples and shrines and shopping district Kamakura.
Expedia named Tokyo a trending city in the country, though Naha/Okinawa, Sapporo and Osaka have also gained in popularity according to flight demand data. Speaking of flights: Scott's Cheap Flights lists the country as one of the
cheapest places to travel to next year, so get to booking.
Portugal
The "
destination of your Instagram dreams," Portugal has consistently been ranked a hot place to go. Three of the country's beaches snagged slots on
Vrbo's list of hottest international beaches for American travelers. Additionally, the country is cheap and quickly growing its tourist offerings.


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Portugal: Lisbon, Porto and more in photos
One of the top things to do in Lisbon is to peruse the miradouros – or lookout points. The city rests on hills and is made up of endless small, winding streets that lead to staircases and force you to hike up to see the area from various views.
The brightly painted buildings and nearby Tagus River make for picture-perfect Instagram photos, which makes the best miradouros crowded spots at sunset with hordes of people trying to get the best shot.
England
Cheerio! There's always some inherent fascination to visiting a country steeped with rich
royal history, but no time like the present to see for yourself. Flights to London should be cheaper in 2020, according to
Scott's Cheap Flights, thanks to many airlines flying between London and the U.S. (American, Delta, United, British Airways, Virgin, Norwegian and Icelandair, to name a few).


View | 51 Photos
British English words and phrases Americans just don’t get
London may be the most famous city in the country, but don't discount the
White Cliffs of Dover or a beach day in Brighton, which are a train ride away.
Czech Republic
One of the destinations on Scott's Cheap Flights' destinations list is the
country where beer is cheaper than water: the Czech Republic.
While the country itself is inexpensive compared to its Western European counterparts, flights have traditionally been rather pricey. However, according to Scott's, because of varying factors, deals on flights to Central Europe are going to become more frequent.
While a few days in Prague are certainly in order on any trip to the Czech Republic, the country has a lot more to offer in addition. Just a bus ride away from the capital, Český Krumlov, makes for a great day trip, as does Kutná Hora, which lies to the east of Prague – both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kutná Hora features the
Sedlec Ossuary chapel, called the Bone Church, is filled and decorated with the bones of 40,000 people.