As the world prepares to wrap up 2023, Airbnb has shaken the magic eight ball to unveil what travel in the New Year will look like. For the holiday planners, the data reveals some of the top trending domestic and international destinations as well as some interesting insights about how people are travelling.
Big Greek getaway: International destinations South Africans are searching
The following countries and regions are just some of the locations with the highest increase in searches when comparing January 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023 for future travel during the full 2024 year.
The Greek island of Cephalonia, with its sandy coves, limestone cliffs and the famous Myrtos beach, has everything one could want from an island escape. Adelaide, South Australia’s coastal capital, meanwhile offers a world-class urban experience and is home to some of the region’s very best wineries, while Sorrento in Italy offers both old-world charm with a relaxed coastal atmosphere.
- Cephalonia, Greece
- Adelaide, Australia
- Sorrento, Italy
- Val-d’Isère, France
- Vienna, Austria
- Grand Baie, Mauritius
- Tofo Beach, Mozambique
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Nashville, United States
- Salzburg, Austria
Country with a touch of coastal: Trending SA destinations
For South Africans travelling locally, destinations in the Western Cape come out at the top.
The list below includes the trending spots for next year, based on searches by users living in South Africa, from January 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023 for future travel during the full 2024 year:
- Wellington, Western Cape, South Africa
- Tulbagh, Western Cape, South Africa
- Montagu, Western Cape, South Africa
- Pringle Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
- Cape Saint Francis, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Buffels Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
- Caledon, Western Cape, South Africa
The top three, Wellington, Tulbagh and Montagu, have wonderful wine farms, glorious scenery and a vibrant culinary culture in common. These towns are also conveniently close to bigger centres like Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Paarl, making it ideal for a weekend getaway.
From country to coast, Pringle Bay, Cape Saint Francis and Buffels Bay all offer a slice of seaside delight for those who prefer ocean views and breathtaking sunrises.
Embark on a global adventure: 24 places to visit in 2024
It’s clear that 2024 is shaping up to be the year of globetrotting – with many exciting international destinations appearing in the list of trending destinations. The first stop on the 2024 world tour is Japan, where guests are seeking the unique blend of tradition and modernity in Japan – seeing Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto all appear among the most trending destinations for travel in the new year. As the city of love prepares to host the 2024 Olympic Games, Paris is more attractive than ever, with searches for July 26 – August 11, 2024 increasing by over seven times compared to the year prior.
Meanwhile – across the Atlantic, the vibrant Carnival is encouraging guests to dance with the rhythm of samba all the way to Brazil, with Rio de Janeiro making an appearance in the trending list, and Brazil seeing an increase in searches of 136 percent for Carnival weekend.
Above: Panoramic view close to Quebec City
Guest Favourites: Great ratings and reviews, easy to discover on Airbnb
For guests who are yet to finalise 2024 travel plans and need help finding the cream of the crop, Airbnb has launched Guest Favourites, a collection of the 2 million most-loved homes on Airbnb based on ratings, reviews, and reliability. Guest Favourites have excellent reviews and are rated above 4.9 stars on average. These homes also receive high marks for ease of check-in, cleanliness, listing accuracy, Host communication, location, and value.
Below are some of the most wishlisted Guest Favourite homes from around the world to inspire new-year travel:
Whether guests are travelling to a trending destination internationally, or in the UK, Guest Favourites make it easy for guests to find the best place to stay to make the most of their trip.
Head to Airbnb to explore the Guest Favourites filter further when planning your next trip.