Top 10 Hype-Worthy 2009 Travel Trends

10. Eastern European resort towns

What it is: Defined more by culture than geography, Eastern Europe is generally recognized as the area that encompasses the easternmost part of the European continent. With cultures that vary greatly from those in the West, countries such as Estonia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Poland have long been overlooked as vacation destinations, but with prices much lower than those in big-name tourist hot spots, the allure of Eastern Europe has never been greater.   

Why it will be big in 2009: Provided you’ve never seen the movie Hostel, Eastern Europe is appealing for its seriously cheap, credit crunch-defying thrills. Not only that, but the scenery is generally beautiful, the cultures are usually rich and the nightlife is mostly pumping. Add to that dirt-cheap food and drink, and you’ve found yourself a slice of heaven! Cities such as Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and Tallinn in Estonia are on the rise, with a host of design-driven hotels to stay at and a wealth of intoxicating architecture to take in. 

9. Dependable vacations

What it is: While hot new destinations may have been all the rage last year, this year it’s all about revisiting classic destinations: places you vacationed at as a kid, the city you spent yourhoneymoon in, where you spent Christmas with your folks, that kind of thing. When something becomes routine it no longer becomes fun, but travelers have generally been breaking free and trying new hot spots in the last couple of years. However, as with everything new and exciting, the shine soon fades and your old faithfuls start to seem appealing again. Call it nostalgia travel.

Why it will be big in 2009: As tried-and-tested places, classic destinations -- such as London, New York City and Paris -- will always be a comfortable fallback for travelers wary of experimenting in these uncertain times. With the credit crunch forcing us to tighten our belts, we need to be wary of splurging our resources on places that might not be as good. New places may be fresh, but travelers are starting to remember why their favorite places are what they are. Familiarity is key with this travel trend for 2009.

8. Euro train travel

What it is: It started with the EuroStar (a low-cost, high-speed train that enabled passengers to move effortlessly between cities like London, Paris, Brussels, and Lille) all those years ago. Now, thanks to the credit crunch and carbon footprints forcing people to reconsider the way they travel, trains in Europe have never been so big.

Why it will be big in 2009: Train operators have recognized the need for low-cost, high-speed travel and have introduced more connections between hot-spot cities as a result. By reducing the price of tickets and decreasing journey times, the operators have snagged an emerging sector of tourists who want to experience the conscience-free, old-world glamour of train travel. Companies such as Germany-based Deutsch Bahn AG have made the best possible use of this emerging form of travel, offering luxury night trains that provide passengers unreserved luxury as they are transported from city to city.

7. W South Beach, Miami, USA

What it is: The Starwood-owned W brand knows a thing or two about luxury hotels, and its newest location is slap-dab in the middle of Miami’s showy South Beach. Built next to the thundering waves of the Atlantic, the W South Beach will have 419 hotel rooms and residence units, an in-house Bliss Spa, on-site Mr. Chow and Serafina restaurants, two infinity pools, and nifty beach access. 

Why it will be big in 2009: Set to compete with the likes of The Delano and The Setai -- which have long held a monopoly in the area -- the W South Beach will offer visitors the same chic interiors, world-class service and movie-star treatment for a little bit less. What’s not to love?

6.Hip cruises

What it is: Cruises have traditionally been vacations for old people who want to die at sea, and because of this stigma they are largely avoided by the young, trendy crowd with money to burn. Not so in 2009, thanks in large part to forward-thinking Celebrity Cruises’ super-stylish Solstice. The first in a fleet of five, Solstice ups the glamour stakes with a futuristic, 1,400-seat restaurant complete with a 2,000-bottle wine tower and an eco-friendly half-acre lawn on the top deck that enables guests to picnic or play croquet.

Why it will be big in 2009: Cruises always seem like a good idea, but young people are fed up of nostalgia-filled boats that would rather pretend they were still in an different era than cater to contemporary customers’ needs. Style will become an important part of cruising in 2009, with more chic interior design, more relevant stop-offs and more luxury choices on board. 

5.Washington, D.C., USA

What it is: Forget frivolous trips to Los Angeles and New York; the U.S. destination for 2009 is Washington, D.C. The capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., is bordered on one side by Virginia and by Maryland on the other, and is where the undisputed action is at this year. Having garnered unprecedented publicity thanks to the presidential elections in 2008 -- even more so when the Barack Obama was inaugurated as the world’s first black American president -- Washington’s hospitality is at its very best right now, with hotels aplenty and sights galore. 

Why it will be big in 2009: You wouldn’t think it to look at it, but Washington, D.C., is actually one of the world’s great budget cities. Now that the millions of visitors have left following the inauguration, city-breakers can enjoy all the bargains it has to offer in peace and quiet. Almost all major attractions in the city are free -- including the National History Museum and the National Zoo -- while great deals can be snagged on hotels looking to fill their rooms when businessmen leave on weekends.

4. Travel packages

What it is: Travel packages may be a thing of the ‘90s, but with the recession threatening to crack into everyone’s piggy banks, they’re making something of a triumphant comeback. Dining, leisure activities and cocktail hour can soon get out of control at pay-as-you-go resorts, so the best option for 2009 certainly points toward the package deal.

Why it will be big in 2009: While they may have a tacky reputation, travel packages are the best way to vacation through the recession. The rational behind this is that travelers want to know exactly what they’re going to be spending when they holiday, without the added financial pressure of mounting bills and hidden costs.

3. Jumeirah HanTang Xintiandi, Shanghai

What it is: Named Shanghai’s “Most Anticipated Hotel” by a panel of travel industry insiders, the Jumeirah HanTang Xintiandi is being built by the same Dubai-based team that erected the world-famous, sail-boat-shaped Burj Al Arab. The hotel is located in the up-and-coming area of Xintiandi and has been designed by New York architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox with Japanese interior design firm Super Potato (no, we’re not kidding).

Why it will be big in 2009: With more and more Western visitors opting to go East for their vacations, it makes sense to pump funds into a luxury hotel at this increasingly popular destination. As you’d expect from Jumeirah Resorts & Hotels, the property will host every creature comfort well-heeled visitors will need during their stay, including 309 gorgeously designed rooms and suites, an on-site Talise Wellness Spa, a purpose-built wedding pavilion, a destination restaurant and bar, a retail and entertainment complex, stylish office space, and high-end residential complexes -- all under one beautiful roof.

2. Budoni, Sardinia

What it is: A stunning resort town on the Italian island of Sardinia, Budoni has been tagged by the official 2009 TripAdvisor Survey as 2009’s hottest destination -- and they’re not just talking about the gorgeous Mediterranean climate. Found on the northeastern coast of the island, 106 miles from the capital of Cagliari, Budoni has miles upon miles of pristine white beaches, shimmering turquoise-colored waters, picture-postcard landscapes, and exquisite new hotels and resorts. Indeed, it’s not hard to see why this holiday hot spot will be the No. 1 place to be in the next 12 months.

Why it will be big in 2009: While we’d all like to jet off to the Caribbean at the drop of a hat, rising prices in destinations that have been popular for quite some time make it near-impossible to visit islands like Barbados in style. That’s where Budoni comes in; having only just come up on the radar, the town offers its visitors the same beaches and luxury hotels found in the Caribbean at a third of the price. In this economy, who can argue with that?

1. Shoestring vacations

What it is: With the recession well and truly underway, we just don’t have the funding for luxury travel like we used to. But that’s not to say we still can’t enjoy a jet-set lifestyle. In response to the crumbling economy, five-star hotels are offering sumptuous suites at cut rates, restaurants have created “recession menus” and airlines are selling even more discounted flights to long-haul destinations than usual. And for those of you who’ve seen The Holiday, you’ll know that house exchanges -- a low-cost alternative to expensive accommodation -- are on the up.
 
Why it will be big in 2009: When society no longer has any money, life’s little luxuries are the first to go out the window. Unfortunately, that includes travel. Enabling travelers to get from point A to point B on a shoestring budget is the only way to ensure that the travel industry stays afloat.

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