Posted on 22 January 2020

Looking for an on-trend destination this year? Here are four destinations that really do live up to the hype. 

Japan

Interest in Japan has been on the rise for some time, but 2020 is sure to be a bumper year for tourism. The Land of the Rising Sun is hosting the Olympic Games this summer - in Tokyo - and hotel capacity has been increasing in anticipation. There are some unique new places to stay in Tokyo, such as Book & Bed - where you can secure yourself a bunk bed in a capsule hotel filled with English and Japanese books.

Interesting accommodation will doubtless be overshadowed by the Games, but the new sleeping options will ensure Tokyo continues to be an especially attractive destination long after the world's top sportsmen and women have departed.

Exciting dining choices include the Robot Restaurant, located in Shinjuku. Take in the increasingly famous robot show while enjoying your evening meal - but be warned, you'll need to book in advance!

More traditional attractions include the historic Sensō-ji temple and the famous Meiji Jingu Shinto shrine.

Rijeka, Croatia

Are you planning another jaunt down to Croatia's Dalmatian islands this year? Why not balance things out with some gritty urban chic, and visit the nation's third largest city, Rijeka?

Expect clean city beaches, fascinating monuments, a swathe of different festivals and some seriously alluring Italian-style architecture. The city has an industrial elegance - it's home to various shipbuilders, as well as the country's first ever rock n roll club, Husar.

Don't miss the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the fresh fish restaurants and the new arts quarter, built on an old industrial site. No wonder Rijeka is the European Capital of Culture for 2020, alongside Galway.

New Orleans, USA

Those fascinated with New Orleans often cite the variegated assault on the senses that the city delivers - the aromas can be as fantastic as they are overpowering (think scents of chicory and rum - and stale cigarettes). Thankfully, you can embrace the unexpectedness of the days while enjoying ‘no-surprises' comfortable nights - in one of the New Orleans' numerous new, clean and very well managed hip hotels.

This year, Hotel Peter & Paul in Marigny opens, notable for its high ceilings and airy rooms - and lots and lots of aromatic gardenias. Another newcomer is Maison de la Luz, located in the Warehouse District and pedaling a little peace and quiet for those seeking respite from debaucherous nights. Additionally, over in the French Quarter, the old Times-Picayune printing press has been transformed into a vintage boutique hotel with ruby red sofas and a long bar that means business.

Georgia

Georgia is the perfect place to escape in 2020 - blessed as it is with the mighty Caucasus mountains that rival the best in Europe for beauty. The tallest peak is Mount Shkhara at 5,068 metres (16,627 ft), but exploring the pretty foothills will bring reward enough on the off-chance you're not a mountaineer. For coastal relaxation, head to the wide pebble beaches of Batumi - the St. Tropez of Georgia - but much cheaper!

When it's time to return to civilisation, the capital Tbilisi is sure to delight, bustling as it is with innovative architecture, cafes, bars and eateries offering hearty Georgian cuisine.

It's cheap too - with three star hotels costing less than £25, and tasty street food - such as the "khachapuri" cheese bread - available for about a pound.

Georgia has risen to prominence in recent years as a safe, low-cost and very unique destination - and this year could be one of its busiest yet!

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