11 Places To Visit Now Before They Get Too Expensive

Looking for a bargain in 2018? Who isn’t? We’ve got you covered with this guide to the places you need to see before they become too expensive.

Havana, Cuba

Since Cuba and America resumed their international friendship, prices on the Caribbean island have slowly but surely started creeping up. If Havana is on your list of places to see in 2018, you’d better do it quick.

If you don’t mind sharing a car with other customers, shared taxis are a good, cheap option to move around Havana

Johannesburg, South Africa

Taipei, Taiwan

Like other cities with burgeoning creative communities, Taipei is enjoying unprecedented growth and attention. But this also means that the city will soon become less attractive for tourists looking for a cheap getaway.

You might also like: How to Spend 24 Hours in Taipei

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Krygyzstan used to be a stopover for people heading further East but, recently, has become a popular destination in its own right. Visitors are coming to see life in a post-soviet city and to explore the wild hiking trails and mountains nearby.

Bucharest, Romania

Romania is a destination that has flown under the radar for a long time. But with its growing popularity among young internationals, expect prices in Romania’s capital to start reflecting this shift.

Palawan, Philippines

Although still a bargain, prices across the Philippines have slowly started to rise. A steady flow of international visitors from Australia, Europe and the USA has encouraged vendors to cash in. Palawan is still somewhat undeveloped but, after topping lists as the world’s most beautiful island, that could soon change.

You might also like: What It Was Like Growing Up On the World’s Best Island

Muscat, Oman

As one of the least oil-rich Gulf nations, Oman has turned its attention to tourism. It enjoys a healthy relationship with India and has started to see more visitors from Britain and across Europe. With the number of visitors growing year on year, go and see this unique city while it’s still affordable.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

When one of the world’s biggest hotel groups says Colombo is a destination to watch in 2018, you’d better take notice. Wyndham Hotels is putting the spotlight on Sri Lanka’s capital not only as a place to find some winter sun but as a country looking to shed the baggage of it’s violent past and head towards a brighter future.

Khartoum, Sudan

Luxury hotels began to establish themselves in Khartoum after Africa’s longest civil war ended in 2005. And ever since President Obama eased US sanctions on Sudan, the capital city has experienced a new wave of interest.

Astana, Kazakstan

In 2017, Astana was thrown into the spotlight as the host city for the International Expo, an exhibition in which nations from across the world can showcase their achievements (the 2017 theme was ‘Future Energy’). Astana is quickly becoming a popular destination with those looking for a city break with a difference and seems to be growing with the same fervour as Dubai a decade ago.

Tallinn, Estonia

This hidden gem on the Baltic coast won’t stay hidden much longer. The approximately four million visitors to Estonia last year convinced British Airways to launch new routes to the country’s capital, which offers a city break with unbridled natural and coastal adventures on its doorstep.

You might also be interested in 15 For the Bucket List: Europe’s Top Hidden Destinations from Travelettes!

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.