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<br /> The year 2013 is on its way out but are we really planning a blast to ring in the New Year? The good news is – Indians are still undeterred by the falling <keyword id="6355302" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rupee">rupee</keyword> and looking forward to outbound travel in the coming holidays, just like they did this summer. But the way they travel is definitely changing, according to a senior executive of a Delhi-based <keyword id="6607315" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="OTA">OTA</keyword>. Overseas travel no longer means the ritual rush through <keyword id="6357117" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="bangkok">Bangkok</keyword> or <keyword id="6356662" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Singapore">Singapore</keyword> – the global destinations closest to home and perhaps the least expensive. Of course, these places are not yet marked off the list, but the experienced and the well-heeled seem to have caught the travel bug of a different kind.<br />
<br /> <keyword id="1960912" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Offbeat-destinations">Offbeat destinations</keyword> are getting increasingly popular among Indians, says Saurabh Srivastava, vice-president (marketing &amp; product strategy) at ixigo.com, a travel planning site and search engine that aggregates and curates travel information to help consumers.<br />
<br /> “Of the 2.5 million visitors coming to our site month on month, we see some very clear and emerging trends. While the <keyword id="1960914" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Regular-overseas-travellers">regular overseas travellers</keyword> are increasingly looking at offbeat destinations to try out something different, first-timers or those who haven’t ventured outside the country too much, are still looking at <keyword id="1960915" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Popular-destinations">popular destinations</keyword> like Bangkok, Singapore, <keyword id="8695" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Malaysia">Malaysia</keyword> and <keyword id="6355478" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Australia">Australia</keyword> – the main attractions being <keyword id="6396451" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="beaches">beaches</keyword>, <keyword id="60543" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Water-sports">water sports</keyword> and <keyword id="6368952" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="shopping">shopping</keyword>,” he observes.<br />
<br /> We have talked to a number of <keyword id="722880" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel-agencies">travel agencies</keyword> and rounded up 12 out-of-the-ordinary (but up and coming) places that people are closely following (and booking) these holidays. Here is a quick look at each of them with a glimpse of the local flavour and the basic cost per person on a twin-sharing basis. However, costs are only indicative and are bound to change, depending on your <keyword id="472754" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tour-schedule">tour schedule</keyword>, quality of <keyword id="6358762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Package">package</keyword>, customisation and service provider. Also, prices may fluctuate as dates get closer.<br />
<br /> Try planning a holiday if you love these destinations too. Just remember, sometimes, the best travel happens farthest from <keyword id="823132" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="home-and-away">home and away</keyword> from your everyday ambience. Catch the sun on a <keyword id="1553372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="foreign-soil">foreign soil</keyword> this New Year and bon voyage!

<b>Want To Vacation Abroad? These 12 Places Are Creating The
Buzz These Holidays</b>

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Travel writer and photographer Michelle Gross has been traveling solo for over 20 years.</li><li>She's been to every continent and says Japan, Switzerland, and Vietnam are among her favorites.</li></ul><p>The first time I traveled solo, I was 15 years old. A shy and budding tennis player, I spent two months crisscrossing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/eurail-pass-train-travel-europe-better-than-flying-2023-3"><u>Austria, Switzerland, and Germany via Eurail</u></a> on a junior tennis tour.</p><p>While my dreams of going pro are behind me, that trip left an indelible mark on my life. I've spent stints living in Paris, Prague, and Istanbul and have traveled solo to countless cities and every continent in the years since — for both work and pleasure. I find traveling alone to be one of the most rewarding and empowering experiences a person can have.</p><p>As much as I love traveling alone, I'd still prefer to return to some places in a group or with a travel buddy. Here's a shortlist of some of my favorite cities I've traveled to solo, including a few I wouldn't travel solo to again.</p><h2><strong>1. Okinawa, Japan</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Michelle Gross on a solo trip to Okinawa in the spring." height="1452" width="2032" msid="103716041" hostid="261"></div><p>I've traveled solo to Japan a few times over the years. From hot spring hopping in Beppu to a self-guided food tour in Osaka, I've found that getting around Japan by bus and train is incredibly safe and efficient, which is why I consider it to be an ideal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-moving-to-japan-safety-affordability-2023-7">solo travel destination</a>. This year, I traveled solo for the first time to Okinawa.</p><p>Less than a two-hour <a target="_blank" href="http://insider.com/dos-and-donts-traveling-in-tokyo-japan-american-expat-2023-7"><u>flight from Tokyo</u></a>, this subtropical island is a designated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/okinawa-blue-zone-and-its-longevity-secrets-2023-9"><u>Blue Zone</u></a> and has some of the most beautiful scenery and kindest people I've ever met. Ideal for adventure lovers and anyone interested in spirituality, history, hiking, scuba diving, and the great outdoors, I would return solo in a heartbeat because of the safety and kindness of locals here.</p><h2><strong>2. Bad Ragaz, Switzerland</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Michelle Gross standing outdoors in Switzerland with snow-covered mountains in the background. " height="1536" width="2048" msid="103716042" hostid="261"></div><p>Switzerland has maintained a reputation for being <a target="_blank" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/safest-travel-destinations-violence-terrorism-b2307278.html"><u>a safe destination</u></a> for solo travelers, and after ten days <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/zurich-switzerland-travel-short-trip-photos-what-its-like-to-visit-2023-1"><u>circumnavigating Switzerland</u></a> by train, I can confirm that reputation is true. While visiting Bad Ragaz, Switzerland I felt incredibly safe, which is always a priority to me as a solo-traveler.</p><p>Home to some of the best health spas and natural hot springs in the world, Bad Ragaz is a quiet and idyllic thermal spa town. I loved hiking around the five lakes on Mount Pizol, and I would go back alone. My stay at a traditional thermal hotel in town remains the best spa experience I've had to date.</p><h2><strong>3. Hanoi, Vietnam</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Michelle Gross on a solo trip to Hanoi, Vietnam." height="1080" width="1920" msid="103716043" hostid="261"></div><p>I spent the better part of a summer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/what-to-pack-traveling-in-southeast-asia-singapore-thailand-bali-2023-9"><u>backpacking across Southeast Asia</u></a>. I'd never been to this part of the world, and I was intimidated about traveling here alone for the first time. I'm so glad I pushed through my fears.</p><p>I challenged myself in ways I never thought I would, and the experience was so rewarding. I spent the bulk of my time solo in Hanoi, Vietnam. I would spend less than a few dollars a day on meals and fell in love with Vietnamese iced coffee. In addition to the cost-effectiveness of traveling solo here, I found the locals to be incredibly welcoming.</p><p>I've traveled to Hanoi solo twice, and wouldn't hesitate to travel here again by myself. Still, no matter where I visit, I always check <a target="_blank" href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/"><u>travel advisories</u></a> and share my location services with close friends and family.</p><h2>4. Phucket, Thailand</h2><div type="image" title="Michelle Gross practicing yoga on her solo trip to Phuket, Thailand." height="720" width="960" msid="103716045" hostid="261"></div><p>The first time I traveled to Phuket, Thailand, was on a solo trip for work. I had an amazing time practicing yoga, visiting a monkey temple, and eating delicious Thai food to my heart's content.</p><p>Phuket is a popular party and honeymoon destination, and unless I go back with my husband, some friends, or on a yoga retreat — which a good friend of mine loved — I wouldn't go back to Phuket alone. Many of the luxury beach resorts, including Sri Panwa where I stayed, caters to couples and families.</p><p>I would rather share the experience with my husband on a romantic vacation or with a group of friends to experience the island's party scene, next time.</p><h2><strong>5. Dublin, Ireland</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Michelle Gross at a parade in Ireland." height="960" width="960" msid="103716047" hostid="261"></div><p>One of my first major travel assignments <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-do-in-dublin-ireland"><u>landed me in Dublin, Ireland</u></a>. I've traveled to Ireland before with my family and was excited to go back and experience it on my own terms. I was excited to dig into the local culture and visit places like the library at Trinity College and stroll through St. Stephens Green.</p><p>One of my favorite things about traveling solo here (or anywhere, really) is slipping into an atmospheric pub for a pint. I found people in Ireland to be extremely approachable and always keen for a chat, which is one of many reasons why I'd return to this city alone.</p><p>One afternoon, I signed up for a literary walking tour of Dublin and ended up meeting a fellow writer at a historic pub called The Palace Bar, and we've kept in touch ever since.</p><h2><strong>6. Istanbul, Turkey</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Gross taking pictures in Turkey with her camera." height="1366" width="2048" msid="103716051" hostid="261"></div><p>I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-work-from-home-remote-abroad-in-istanbul-turkey-2022-10"><u>lived and worked in Istanbul, Turkey</u></a> for a few months during grad school, and it remains one of the most formative experiences of my adult life. I loved my neighborhood and apartment in Beşiktaş and spent most of my weekends exploring the city and greater Turkey.</p><p>Istanbul has changed considerably in the years since I lived there, and while I would consider traveling solo to Istanbul again, I wouldn't travel around the country as liberally by myself <a target="_blank" href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/turkey-travel-advisory.html"><u>due to ongoing safety issues</u></a>.</p><h2><strong>7. Tel Aviv, Israel</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Michelle Gross traveled to Israel in her 20s and returned solo to Tel Aviv, Israel a few years later." height="922" width="1229" msid="103716052" hostid="261"></div><p>The first time <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/best-foods-to-try-when-visiting-israel"><u>I traveled to Israel</u></a>, I was solo, single, and in my mid-20s. I ended up meeting some of my closest friends to date on this trip, including a good friend who lives and works as a tour guide in<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/secreturbanhistory/"><u> Tel Aviv</u></a>.</p><p>An incredibly vibrant city, Tel Aviv's art scene, restaurants, and nightlife is second to none, and while I found it safe to walk around and explore, it's a city that I think is much more enjoyable in the company of friends.</p><p>Uber's weren't reliable and taxis getting around town were expensive. Because of the high costs of transportation, and since it's more fun going out and experiencing the nightlife with friends anyway, I'd rather return to Tel Aviv with a group.</p><h2><strong>8. Port Douglas, Australia</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Michelle Gross on a helicopter as she makes her way from Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia." height="540" width="720" msid="103716054" hostid="261"></div><p>One of the coolest towns I've ever been to, Port Douglas in Queensland, Australia, blends lush rainforest, beautiful beaches, laid-back restaurants, and waterfront bars all into one. The town is best known for being a jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef, and while I loved my solo visit, I wouldn't go back alone.</p><p>Port Douglas was a place that really won my heart thanks to its abundance of natural beauty. It's a place that has so many cool things to do, but I would want to share it with a travel companion next time. There's a <a target="_blank" href="https://nautilus-restaurant.com.au"><u>restaurant tucked away in the jungle</u></a> in Port Douglas where everyone from Mick Jagger to David Bowie has been to, and it's far too special of a place not to share with my husband if I ever go back.</p>

I've traveled solo for over 20 years. Here are the cities I would go back to alone, and the ones that would be better with a travel buddy.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3739" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Thailand">Thailand</keyword> is now allowing visitors to complete their quarantines aboard <keyword id="613151" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="yachts">yachts</keyword>.</li><li>The new program is meant to bolster its ailing tourism industry.</li><li>The country previously announced it would allow travelers to complete quarantines at golf resorts. </li></ul><p>If you happen to have a yacht, you're in luck: Tourists who can afford the high life are welcome to use their yachts to <keyword id="58679" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Quarantine">quarantine</keyword> off the coast of Thailand, the Thai government announced on Tuesday. </p><p>A pilot yacht quarantine program was <a href="https://www.royalphuketmarina.com/blogs/onboard-quarantine-for-yachts-approved/">originally announced</a> in November but has now been launched more widely.  It currently applies to the Thai tourist haven of Phuket, which has long been a destination for its pristine beaches and party atmosphere.</p><p>Yacht tourists previously had to spend 14 days aboard their yachts in quarantine before spending 14 days in a hotel, the <a href="https://www.thephuketnews.com/air-transit-passengers-now-welcome-yacht-quarantine-proposed-79127.php">Phuket News</a> reported. </p><p>The new program is much simpler: Yachters must show proof of a negative PCR test and agree to have their health and location monitored in order to participate in the quarantine program. Members of the Royal Thai Navy based in Cape Panwa will monitor and track the boats.</p><p>Once visitors have completed their 14-day quarantine aboard a vessel, they'll be allowed to moor at a dock in Phuket and travel around the island.</p><p>Around 100 yachts are expected to participate in the trial run, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56329806">BBC</a>.</p><p>Thailand hopes the program will bring more visitors back to the country, where tourism accounts for around 20% of the country's GDP, <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-trends/COVID-wave-crushes-Thailand-s-already-hobbled-tourism-sector2">Nikkei Asia</a> reported. In 2019, around 40 million people traveled to Thailand and the tourism industry brought more than $62 billion into the economy.</p><p>Tourism slowed to a trickle in March 2020 after the government declared a state of emergency over COVID-19 and <a href="https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/03/26/thailand-closes-border-bans-entry-for-foreigners/">banned international travelers</a>. More than one million people have lost their jobs since.</p><p>In recent weeks, Thailand has been loosening its COVID-19 restrictions, allowing entertainment venues to reopen and gyms to operate as normal, the <a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2073267/covid-19-restrictions-eased-at-airport-entertainment-venues">Bangkok Post</a> reported. </p><p>In a bid to ramp up its ailing economy, the country also recently launched a golf quarantine program, which allows visitors to complete their two-week lockdown while staying at a golf resort. The first group of <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/thailand-golf-quarantine-covid-19-south-korea-tourists-14279994">41 golfers from South Korea</a> just completed their quarantine. </p><p>"Think of 41 Koreans golfing as you roam around the course, served by over 100 employees. It's like emperor's golfing," golfer Heo Kwang-eum told <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/thailand-golf-quarantine-covid-19-south-korea-tourists-14279994">China News Daily</a>. </p><p>Thailand saw very few COVID cases in-country until December when an <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/12/20/thailand-reports-548-new-covid-19-cases-highest-daily-spike">outbreak among migrant workers</a> drove numbers up. </p>

Thailand is enticing tourists back to its beaches by allowing travelers to quarantine aboard yachts

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Want To Vacation Abroad? These 12 Places Are Creating The Buzz These Holidays

Sanghamitra Mandal

I've traveled solo for over 20 years. Here are the cities I would go back to alone, and the ones that would be better with a travel buddy.

Michelle Gross

Thailand is enticing tourists back to its beaches by allowing travelers to quarantine aboard yachts

Julie Gerstein

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