Episode 48: Hot Destinations for 2024 with Paula Twidale - Part I

Angie Orth:

It's time to get out the planner, top off your beverage of choice, find a cozy spot to curl up, and start dreaming up where you want to go in the coming year. Today's episode is going to help ignite your imagination and inspire you to start making plans for 2024.

My guest is Paula Twidale, the senior vice president of Travel at AAA. Paula has been nominated 5 times as one of the most powerful women in travel by Travel Agent Magazine, so she has a wealth of information about the destinations on our list today.

In part 1 of our “Hot Destinations for 2024” episodes, we are talking about the latest trends in travel and revealing some of the most sought-after places we’re going in the coming year. So, make sure your passport is up-to-date and gift yourself some new luggage because why not, right? It's time for some destination dreaming.

Paula Twidale, thank you so much for joining us on Traveling With AAA. We are so glad you're here.

Paula Twidale:

Thank you so much for having me. Happy to be with you.

Angie:

You have over 35 years of experience in travel and tourism, so I have a feeling you have a lot to share with us and you have your finger on the pulse of what's coming. I’m curious to know what people are looking for in a destination for next year and if there are any trends that you're noticing already.

Paula:

We're seeing more people looking for unique destinations, off the beaten track, sustainable features. People can have bragging rights and be part of something special or someplace special that really matters. We talk about identity travel and really that kind of travel has to align with their own ideals and values. In terms of really trending, a lot more small group touring, independent day trips, extra free time to really explore on their own. They like that freedom and flexibility.

Angie:

I love that, the small tours and also identity travel. There's something to be said about going to a place that calls to you, having those bucket-list places.

Do you think the pandemic shifted the way people travel and how they plan trips?

Paula:

Yeah, absolutely. I think people try to do a lot of things on their own, and then when the pandemic happened, they didn't have the advocacy piece. Many travelers now know quite a bit about travel insurance and the value of travel insurance, as well as the knowledge base that travel advisors provide. They know the ins and outs, and they create an advocacy piece that is just invaluable. I have an expression, “If something happens and you've done everything on your own, who are you going to call? Ghostbusters.” At least you can call your travel advisor and they have tools at their disposal so that they can make arrangements, they can re-book, they can really help you navigate the challenges that you may face. I think it's a different world post-pandemic and more people using travel advisors, and more people certainly buying travel insurance.

Angie:

How great to have somebody back home who can have your back while you're away if something comes up.

We're here to talk about destinations for 2024 and we've put together a list of a few. What stands out to you about this list?

Paula:

Experiences stand out; that appeals to the senses. From the diversity in destinations that you have on this list clearly appeal to the senses, the topography, the architecture, the people, the art, the cuisine. They all stand out to me in a lot of these places, and that's what people love, to be able to connect with locals and the local culture. That's what resonates here.

Angie:

Yes, I love how you put that, and I love that we're going to talk a lot about food because that is one of my favorite reasons to travel. Without further ado, let's dig into our top destinations for 2024.

First up, Portugal. What's great about Portugal? Why are people going there next year?

Paula:

Well, it is a great destination. It's been popular for a very long time. Portugal has old-world charm. The freshness of the food, the colorful patterns, the pottery, the linen, so much more. The region is lush with full-bodied wines. There's so much here that's attractive. Whether it's the area of Porto, the Douro river, and Lisbon, there are a few destinations to zero in on. It has a lot to offer culturally.

Angie:

Now, if you had to pick between Lisbon or a river cruise on the Douro, can you pick? Or do you have to see the whole country when you go?

Paula:

I think you can do both. Lisbon is an area where the city center is fantastic. It's perched on a hill, it makes a unique city with a lot of charm. The architecture is Manueline, which is a lavish style of architecture. It's ornamental and indigenous to Portugal. There's a lot to see artistically and historically there.

In terms of the Douro river, you certainly can take a cruise and see all the vines, colorful houses, and taste some fantastic wine. You can visit this by land or cruise. You could do a land and cruise combination or you can do all cruise. There's a lot in this area to experience. You have an opportunity to explore the wine cellars and the Douro and Rioja Valley regions. You get a really eclectic view and have so much to choose from. That's what makes it very unique.

Angie:

I've never done a European river cruise, but that is top, top, top of my bucket list. I was just watching videos of the Douro, it's just so lush and it looks very quiet and very old Europe. I love that in so much of Europe, that's what you get. You get these big amazing historic cities, and then a few miles outside, it's countryside just like it used to be.

OK, let's head over to South America and talk about Peru. What's magical about this high-altitude destination? Why do people go there?

Paula:

Well, it's historic, right? Lima itself is a gastronomy capital of Latin America. There's fresh fish, whole grains, and that really fuels the soul. Great food that's good for you, and it's really unique to the area. It's the birthplace of ceviche. The best places to eat are in the trendy Barranco and Miraflores neighborhoods, so that's in the Lima area.

But people always go to Machu Picchu and Cusco, so you want to look at the ideal time, right? There are less crowds in March-May and September-December after the rainy season. So, you want to focus on those times.

One of the questions that I get asked so many times is about altitude and can they navigate this? It's moderate to difficult. There are no flat areas, but hiking trails vary, so you have to be in fairly good shape. But again, dispel the myths and understand the altitude of where you are and the activity you're going to do, so the hikes might be moderate. Machu Picchu is approximately 8,000 feet, the Sacred Valley is about 9,500 feet, and then Cusco is 11,000, so the main thing is to keep hydrated, know your own capacity, and just enjoy the area because this is really a must-see.

Galapagos and Machu Picchu are often coupled together because you're in a region where you can go to Lima, you can go to Ecuador, and then go out to the Galapagos, too.

Angie:

Yeah, that's a good spot to do a lot of things. You're close to Bolivia too, with the salt flats, so you could really make a huge trip out of that. Or just see one thing at a time if you have limited vacation time. You could do Lima and Machu Picchu or just Machu Picchu depending on how you want to see it. Because there are different ways to do it, right? You can hike it or I think there's a train maybe that gets you there. There’s a variety of ways.

Paula:

Absolutely, you have some options.

Angie:

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Let's go now to Japan. Not too long ago, they just lifted the 2-year entry restriction, so people have always wanted to go and couldn't go for several years because of the pandemic. Japan is open. Japan is ready for visitors, so that makes sense that it's on our hot destinations list for 2024. What should people do in Japan?

Paula:

You're right, it is on so many people's bucket list. It's a hotpot for foodies, especially in Hakata, and it's famous for B-kyu gurume, which translates to B-grade gourmet. It’s famous for small open-air food stands known as yatai that serve street food like ramen, people are familiar with that; gyoza; and spicy caviar omelets. You can get an eclectic flavor of things. The pork broth style of ramen is from this area of Fukuoka and is still a local specialty.

Angie:

We recently did an episode featuring Don George who lives in Japan some of the year, and we learned so much about how many islands there are, how they're all different, and how the different cities have such different characters. So it's not just Tokyo, it's not just Kyoto, there's so much more. And if you want to see it all, you really do have to plan in advance. It's not a destination you just sort of rock up to and see the whole thing.

Let's talk about Croatia. The coastline is what Croatia is mostly known for. Why do you think this makes it a great destination for 2024?

Paula:

I've been to a couple of different destinations within Croatia and it's cool architecture, friendly people, nice wine, lovely olive oil. It has something for everybody. It's still affordable—more expensive than its neighboring countries, but still affordable compared to other EU cities. You can look at Dubrovnik, Split, or Zagreb, the coastline is absolutely magnificent

Angie:

Because there's such a beautiful coastline. There are quite a few cruise ports, right? I imagine those get pretty busy, especially in the summertime.

Paula:

Absolutely, and the best time to tackle the crowds if you will, is to walk or take a taxi or bus. And you want to visit before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. You can take a water taxi to escape the crowds and get a chance to see the botanical gardens and visit the ruins of the Benedictine Monastery.

There's so much in the coastal beauty because it's built on Roman ruins, places like Split. Game of Thrones ended up filming the series there and Diocletian’s Palace; there were quite a few locations within Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik being the walled city, right? Croatia has lovely wines, great olive oil, so you're going to have a great trip no matter what you do.

Angie:

Doing either a yachting or a sailing trip around the Croatian coast has been on my bucket list for a while. Because it is so pretty. When you see those aerial images of the old walled city and you can go back and superimpose it with Game of Thrones scenes. It's really cool to see what the inspiration was is in real life.

Paula:

If it's still on your bucket list, you better do it.

Angie:

Let's go to the land Down Under, Australia. What's good in Oz next year?

Paula:

What's not good in Australia next year? You really can spend weeks there because it's so massive. First of all, keep in mind Australia's opposite season. If you want to escape the cold here during the wintertime, you want to get to Australia. Our wintertime is their summer, so that's really cool.

People don't realize that Melbourne has a famous brunch culture. It's also known for its art district, museums, and it's a favorite for cricket. Australia is a must-see and you really have to have the time. I would go out on a limb here and say, if you're going to go to Australia, you're there and you do the transpacific, and it's a bucket list: Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. You get a little bit of respite on the end before you come home back to the U.S., right?

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. It's beautiful. You get on a boat and get over the Great Barrier Reef, it's a lot of fun. Visitors can ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway through Queensland’s ancient rainforest or soar on the sky rail over the rainforest on a cable car. So, Cairns offers quite a bit.

Farther north, you have the Daintree National Park, one of the few places in the world you can see rainforests, white sand beaches, coral reefs all together from the shoreline. It's really magnificent what you can take in.

I would advocate a huge trip to Australia and maybe save it for when you can make that long journey, do it right, and see many locations other than the ones that we're highlighting.

Angie:

That's a really good point because from North America, it's a hike. That is not a flight that you want to take too many times, unless you just love long flights. That's not my favorite thing.

Paula:

The west coast is not too bad, but for the east coast of the country, it's a 23-hour flight. It's a long flight, but worth the journey. You want to get rest when you get there, but just see everything and then really make it worth your while. That's what I'm advocating, anyway. That's the world according to Paula. Take it for what it's worth.

Angie:

It makes a ton of sense. If it's a more difficult place to get to, then save up that vacation time and see as much as you can at once. It's actually what I did. I did Fiji, then New Zealand, then Australia and I still didn't have time to see it all. Australia is massive. Not to mention all the animals, they have so many cool different animals that you can see all over the place. There are literally kangaroos walking down the road. There are koalas just up in the eucalyptus trees and it's really exciting to see these things, and the wallabies! We talked about the Daintree National Park, and I think that's the only place in the world you can see cassowaries. They're kind of ostrich-looking, ugly bird things, but they keep the whole rainforest running and I think that's one of the only places you can see them.

That is an incredibly rich, diverse area that takes you from the rainforest into Great Barrier Reef, just all in this one beautiful area. It's awesome, it's worth seeing it. It rivals any national park anywhere and is definitely a good one to see.

Angie:

Today, we've explored the best of Portugal, Peru, Japan, Croatia, and Australia but that's not the end of our list, dear listeners. In our next episode, Paula will be back to tell you about 5 more hot destinations to consider adding to your 2024 bucket list. So, be sure to tune in.

Paula Twidale, thank you for joining us, and thank you to our listeners for being with us. If you're planning a trip, please be sure to connect with a AAA Travel Advisor, check out AAA.com/travel, or visit your local branch.

This podcast is a production of Auto Club Enterprises. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe and leave us a review. I'm Angie Orth, thank you for traveling with AAA.