These 10 Destinations Are on the Rise, According to TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor released its list of trending travel destinations on the rise for 2018 for the US and beyond — and our bucket list of must-visit places just got a little bit longer. Every year, the travel company releases this list based off traveler's reviews and ratings of accommodations, restaurants and attractions and they pair that with increases in searches and booking interest over the course of a year. The result is a mix of under-the-radar destinations which offer something for travelers of all interests and budgets as well. Below are TripAdvisor's destinations on the rise in the United States.
1. Kapaa, Hawaii
This Hawaiian city tops TripAdvisor's list of trending destinations in the US and the world so you know it's a true gem. Kapaa is on the island of Kauai, nestled at the base of the Sleeping Giant Mountain, Nounou. Kapaa is very tourist-friendly and has a ton of hotels and restaurants for visitors to choose from. The pristine beaches have plenty activities to offer visitors of the island from snorkeling and kayaking to waterskiing.
2. Waco, Texas
Waco is located in central Texas and is home to a variety of museums, one most notably for its hometown hero, Dr. Pepper. It also has a fossil site — turned into a National Monument — with the bones of the Columbian Mammoth. Visitors should also explore the Brazos River and check out the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.
3. Wilmington, North Carolina
When traveling to Wilmington, you'll want to make the most of the great outdoors. Check out the riverwalk along the Cape Fear River and stop in some of the city's charming shops, cafés and nightlife options. There are plenty of waterfront hotels and parks located on the river too, and a stop at the Port City Marina is a must. If you're lucky, your trip will coincide with one of the many festivals that take place here, like the Wilmington Beer Week or the world-famous North Carolina Azalea Festival.
4. Bend, Oregon
Bend is for all the adventure-lovers out there. Located on the Deschutes River, tourists can hike, fish and bike here and even ski at Mt. Bachelor. There are a ton of famous breweries and restaurants to visit after working up an appetite on the trails or slopes, and Bend is also a great family vacation spot, with many no-fee museums and ski areas for children under 12.
5. Boulder, Colorado
With over 30,000 acres of unspoiled land, 200 miles of trails and walking/biking paths that run along the river and through the city center, Boulder is a must-do for adventurers. For those feeling up to it, Boulder is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains so skiing and snowshoeing are obvious highlights of this Western city.
6. Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles (or "Pass of the Oaks") is located in Central California, close to mountains, beaches and deserts. It also has thermal hot springs, said to have healing powers and is home to more than 170 wineries, 26,000 acres of vineyards and 40 varietals of wine. Indeed, Paso Robles is the wine-lover destination you didn't know you needed to visit.
7. Richmond, Virginia
Walk down the cobblestone streets and riverwalks of Richmond and soak up history: It's one of the country's original colonial settlements and is now Virginia's capital. The city is lined with dozens of monuments and offers a brief education on the significant people that have called Richmond home throughout history. It's not only for the history buffs, visitors can also whitewater down the James River and hike along the river or up in the hills.
8. Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville has a thriving art scene which, paired with hundreds of restaurants, shops and boutiques, makes it an up-and-comer. With plenty of annual festivals and a number of historic sites and museums, this city based at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains has scenery that's hard to beat. Be sure to check out Greenville's "floating" suspension bridge when exploring the city.
9. Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is where small town and big city intersect, and down-home meets urban chic in this city with a plethora of local breweries and a thriving art and music scene. History buffs shouldn't feel left out here, there's the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and a museum where tourists can learn about Omaha's pioneer history.
10. Lexington, Kentucky
The epicenter of bluegrass and the horse capital of the world, you don't have to be a thoroughbred fan to enjoy Lexington. With an abundance of hiking trails that wind through forests, meadows and creeks — not to mention the numerous historic landmarks within the city limits — travelers should be sure to include Henry Clay's former residence at the Ashland estate when visiting.
These are TripAdvisor's 2018 trending destinations across the world:
1. Ishigaki, Japan
2. Kapaa, Hawaii
3. Nairobi, Kenya
4. Halifax, Canada
5. Gdansk, Poland
6. San Jose, Costa Rica
7. Riga, Latvia
8. Rovinj, Croatia
9. Nerja, Spain
10. Casablanca, Morocco
All images courtesy of TripAdvisor.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.