Burma is enticing to many people, and seen by many as reminiscent of what Southeast Asia was like thirty years ago. ; With the country on the road to democracy and tourism infrastructure increasingly being developed, people around the world are attracted to a country that is friendly, vibrant, and up until now, relatively uncrowded by western tourists. ; Some other Asian hot spots include Sri Lanka and Singapore, with Sri Lanka recently making top position on Lonely Planet's "Top Ten Countries for 2013" list.
Sri Lanka's growing tourism industry is also being developed on the back of increasing infrastructure investment and a growing sense of openness and optimism. ; With a messy civil war keeping people away between 1983 and 2009, and the devastating Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 certainly not helping, Sri Lanka has only recently become a viable travel destination. ; Sri Lanka is now seen as a beautiful and accessible country, and is becoming widely recognised as one of the best value travel destinations of 2013. ; There are also some European destinations creating a buzz, including Montenegro, Slovakia, and Iceland. ;
The tiny country of Montenegro came second on the Lonely Planet list, due mostly to its amazing natural attractions and steadily growing network of hiking and biking trails. ; The currency crash in Iceland has also made it more popular with tourists in the last few years, although with the currency slowly mending, now is the time to experience what some consider to be the most mind expanding scenery on the planet. ; When it comes to city destinations, Rio de Janeiro is still getting a massive amount of buzz, something that is not likely to stop in the lead up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics. ;
Choosing a travel destination can be confusing, although surely it is one of the most enjoyable kinds of confusion. ; While individual expectations, interests, and budgets are likely to play the biggest role in your decision making process, the buzz surrounding some of these popular destinations might be able to help steer you in the right direction.