The New Year is a popular time to make resolutions, and “travel more” is sure to top many people’s lists of goals for 2017. The start of a new year is also a popular time for travel magazines and websites to publish their predictions for the top travel destinations that will be popular with tourists this year.
Their lists vary, of course, depending on the magazines’ audiences and editors. But several destinations for 2017 seemed to show up across websites for publications such as Lonely Planet, Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. These include:
- Canada. The country is holding a year-long celebration to mark 150 years since the birth of the country, or its confederation. That milestone and a weakened Canadian dollar, which is pushing down prices, are good reasons to visit Canada in 2017.
- Bermuda. Bermuda is about 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina, making it an easy flight from many East Coast cities. In 2017, Bermuda will host the America’s Cup, a yacht race that boasts the oldest trophy awarded in an international sport.
- Finland. Finland is celebrating 100 years since it declared its independence from the Russian Republic in 1917. Finland also will host the World Figure Skating Championships and Nordic World Ski Championships in 2017, so expect a festive atmosphere if you visit.
- Cartagena, Colombia. Colombia seems to have put more than five decades of war behind it. Travel guides praise its beauty and charm of its old town, and Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, is scheduled to visit this year.
- Jerusalem. Jerusalem makes several lists for its cultural offerings, contemporary art scene and outstanding restaurants. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler named Jerusalem one of the six best cities for art in 2016. Of course, Israel’s capital city is also known for its religious and cultural significance.
- The American Midwest. Cities such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Minneapolis should be big draws this year. Indianapolis will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Kurt Vonnegut, who was a native of the city, while Minneapolis will see the opening of the estate of the late musician Prince as a museum.
- Kanazawa, Japan. It takes only 2.5 hours to reach Kanazawa from Tokyo by bullet train. Kanazawa is a UNESCO Creative City, and popular sites for visitors include its preserved samurai districts, old wooden teahouses and the city’s contemporary art museum.
- Cape Town, South Africa. This destination has made “top travel” lists for several years and is expected to remain popular this year because of its innovative restaurants and hip markets. This year will mark the opening of the $38 million Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), which according to Lonely Planet will be “the world’s largest museum of contemporary African art.”
If you live in the United States, travel to all but a few of these top travel destinations will require a passport and plane reservations. In addition, people traveling outside the United States should make sure they’re up-to-date on their vaccines and that they’ll have an adequate supply of prescription medicines to take while away from home. They should also take a few minutes to learn about travel insurance and to identify an international medical transport company they can rely on in the event of an emergency or accident.
When International Medical Transport is Necessary
The top travel destinations of 2017 offer culture, entertainment, history and acclaimed restaurants. Some also have very different medical systems than U.S. residents are used to. If a traveler becomes sick while abroad, the best care available may be at a medical center in the United States. In such situations, patients and their families often work with an international medical transport company to arrange and manage transportation to the United States.
SentinelMED provides domestic and international medical transport, medical repatriation, and medical escort services to help navigate the complexities of long-distance travel. SentinelMED works closely with medical providers, commercial airlines, family members and travelers to arrange for safe and comfortable travel for people who are sick, have long-term health concerns, or are elderly. The SentinelMED team can arrange door-to-door care and transportation for patients from discharge at a hospital or medical facility to a receiving health care facility, or to a family member who is able to assume their care.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
