Two Islands You’ve Got To Visit In 2017

From CARIBBEAN360

LONDON, England, Friday October 28, 2016 – They are both small islands, but they’ve made a big impression on the travel scene.

Dominica and Bermuda have been featured in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017, a collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the year ahead.

The travel yearbook from the world’s leading travel authority highlights the top ten countries, cities, regions and best value destinations that Lonely Planet’s experts recommend travelers experience in 2017.

And Dominica was at number four in the top ten countries, while Bermuda was at number six on the list.

“Locals joke that if Christopher Columbus rose from the grave and returned to the Caribbean, Dominica is the only island he would still recognize. One glimpse of its prehistoric ferns and deserted shores, and you’ll see what they mean,” Lonely Planet wrote of the Nature Isle.

“For decades, an absence of shiny white beaches has helped keep at bay the resort development that has swept through other parts of the Caribbean. Coconut palms are the only skyscrapers you’ll see here. Visit before Dominica gets its first large-scale          chain resorts in 2018, which will pave the way for a new era of tourism.”

Of Bermuda, Lonely Planet said visitors would get “a bit of Britain mixed with island flair”, adding that temperate climates and favorable winds make the British overseas territory the perfect location for the historic America’s Cup which it will host next June – and for your next trip.

Top 10 Countries

Canada – Turning 150 in 2017 and making no apologies for it
Colombia – South America’s ultimate comeback kid
Finland – Get ready for parties to celebrate 100 years of independence
Dominica – The Caribbean’s ‘Nature Island’ opens its doors next year with first resorts
Nepal – Witness its road to recovery from the devastating 2015 earthquakes
Bermuda – Eyes will be on this quietly elegant island for the 2017 America’s Cup
Mongolia – Both the rapidly growing capital and nomadic culture are living strong
Oman – Epic sights for such a small nation, and there’s never been a better time to go
Myanmar – Continues to open up to the outside world with political change
Ethiopia – Step back in time in a land of ancient mystery and dramatic mountain
Meanwhile, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation of Belize was number six on the list of Best Value Destinations, with Lonely Planet noting that while it is often thought of as one of Central America’s pricier options, that’s not necessarily the case.

“Here you can dive or snorkel as though you’re in the Caribbean and tour Mayan ruins such as Caraco, found deep in wildlife-packed jungle that could only be in Central America. And you won’t face long journeys: Belize is the same size as Wales or Massachusetts. Belize’s proximity to Mexico and the Caribbean has ensured a lively and exceptionally good-value street-food scene, making budget meals effortless. Yes, there are big-ticket resorts on Ambergris Caye, but head south to Placencia and Hopkins for laid-back beach culture that’s still making its way onto the map,” it said.

Lonely Planet’s writers and experts spend time on the road in almost every destination on Earth, and each year they report which destinations are set to take off, offering travelers the best experience available.

The destinations selected meet specific criteria: it could be that something special is going on in the year ahead or there’s been recent development and a lot of buzz about the place; that it offers travelers new things to see or do; or that the Lonely Planet team of experts thinks it’s been overlooked and underrated and suggests travelers visit before the crowds do.

IMAGES:

BERMUDA’S CRYSTAL CAVE OFFERS VISITORS A WALK THROUGH GEOLOGICAL HISTORY. (PHOTO CREDIT: RUSS HAMILTON/SHUTTERSTOCK. REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM LONELY PLANET’S BEST IN TRAVEL 2017, © 2016 LONELY PLANET)

UNDEVELOPED DOMINICA IS A HAVEN FOR HUMMINGBIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. (PHOTO CREDIT: GYDYT0JAS / GETTY IMAGES. REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM LONELY PLANET’S BEST IN TRAVEL 2017, © 2016 LONELY PLANET)

EXPLORING TINY TROPICAL ISLANDS SUCH AS TOBACCO CAYE IS ONE OF THE CHIEF PLEASURES OF A VISIT TO BELIZE. (PHOTO CREDIT: MARK READ / LONELY PLANET. REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM LONELY PLANET’S BEST IN TRAVEL 2017, © 2016 LONELY PLANET)

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