As self-proclaimed “travel geeks”, the staff at Lonely Planet strives to introduce the most exciting travel experiences to their readers. As such, the travel guidebook company recently announced, “the cream of [2015’s] travel picks in its annual Best in Travel 2015 guidebook.
In the process of putting together this book, hundreds of places are recommended by staff, bloggers and tweeters from around the world. A panel of travel experts, however, narrows the choices down based on a number of agreed-upon criteria. The final list is comprised of just 10 countries, 10 regions and 10 cities
But to make it on the top 10 isn’t easy. According to Lonely Planet Editorial Director, Tom Hall, a destination needs to have a certain “x factor” (elements ranging from topicality to overall experiences) to make it stand out from the rest. Which places boast it all? Without further ado, here are the “Best In Travel” picks for 2015, courtesy of Yahoo! Travel:
The 10 “Best In Travel” Cities
1. Washington, D.C.
2. El Chaltén, Argentina
3. Milan, Italy
4. Zermatt, Switzerland
5. Valletta, Malta
6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria
7. Salisbury, England
8. Vienna, Austria
9. Chennai, India
10. Toronto, Canada
El Chaltén, Argentina: Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
10 “Best In Travel” Countries
1. Singapore
2. Namibia
3. Lithuania
4. Nicaragua
5. Ireland
6. Republic of Congo
7. Serbia
8. The Philippines
9. St. Lucia
10. Morocco
Singapore’s Skyline: Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
10 “Best In Travel” Regions
1. Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
2. Rocky Mountain National Park, USA
3. Toledo District, Belize
4. Tasmania, Australia
5. Northern Norway
6. Khumbu, Nepal
7. Copper Canyon, Mexico
8. Flores, Indonesia
9. Atacama Desert, Chile
10. Macau, China
Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey: Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
According to Hall, another important category for many readers is the “best-value destinations.” In today’s economy, it’s tough for people to find the time and money to go abroad.
Yet,“People still want to travel, even when circumstances are difficult.” That’s why Lonely Planet also comprised a list of places that will allow any traveller to get the best bang out of their buck.
10 “Best In Travel” Values
1. Tunisia
2. South Africa
3. Shanghai
4. Samoa
5. Bali
6. Uruguay
7. Portugal
8. Taiwan
9. Romania
10. Burkina Faso
Tunisia: Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
