20 of the Hottest New Holiday Spots Around the World

Nearly all travel experts, including Lonely Planet, agree that this is the year to visit Canada, with the country celebrating 150 years of existence. Also this year, Montreal celebrates its 375th anniversary. Sure, there will be crowds at the big events, but you'll find amazing, almost undiscovered places outside of our cities.

Their remoteness has kept the Andaman Islands relatively untouched, with pristine beaches and clear waters perfect for snorkelling. A new luxury yacht service between Thailand and the Andaman Islands makes this part of India more easily accessible.

Forests, rugged coastline, desert, cowboy country, vineyards and quirky towns and cities: Oregon has it all. In August, the total solar eclipse will be visible through much of the Beaver State, adding one more reason to visit.

Holiday-makers are at last discovering that Portugal is about more than affordable beach resorts. Lisbon is emerging as a must-see city and new hotels are attracting visitors to other parts of the country, including the Douro Valley.

In case you need one more reason to visit, it's been voted one of the safest countries to visit right now.

Direct low-cost flights from Canada have made Iceland more accessible and domestic flights to Akureyri mean you can get to Northern Iceland without having to travel the entire Ring Road. Charming villages, otherworldly landscapes and superb whale-watching are some of the region’s attractions — not to mention some of the best places to see the northern/southern lights!

One of the cheapest destinations in Asia, Cambodia is known especially for Angkor Wat. However, the country’s tranquil beaches make for a welcome break from the overdevelopment of neighbouring Thailand and some great new beach resorts are opening this year.

A much less risky destination than it used to be, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an increasingly popular destination for intrepid travellers. Here you can trek through the jungle to see gorillas in the wild, climb volcanoes or dance the night away in Kinshasa’s clubs.

As Tokyo is gearing up for hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics, Japan is becoming much easier to navigate, even including English on new road signs. Meanwhile, the Tsukiji Fish Market, the world’s largest, is scheduled to move to a new location next year, after more than eight decades in its current spot.

If you end up going to Japan, avoid these 19 major faux pas.

After several false starts, St. Helena’s new international airport is finally ready and scheduled services should start soon. The RMS St. Helena, the mail ship that has been the only way of getting to the island since 1990, will be decommissioned once the airport is fully operational, so now is the time to make that voyage.

Tourism is on the rise in Iran, with more international airlines flying to the country and tour operators offering trips to archaeological sites. While Canadians still need to apply for a visa in advance, the Canadian dollar is surprisingly strong there and efforts to restore diplomatic relations with Iran may make visiting easier in the future.

Colombia has been an up-and-coming destination for a while now and in November 2016 the government and guerrillas finally signed a peace accord. The upshot is a renewed sense of hope in the air, making cities like Medellín and Cartagena even more attractive to visit.

New flights are making it easier to travel to and within Botswana with its incredible game-viewing options. In recent years, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and the acclaimed Seretse Khama biopic 'A United Kingdom' have placed the Southern African country firmly on the map.

Mexico is currently one of the cheapest destinations for Canadians to visit and Mexico City is at the heart of it all. The vibrant capital had a record number of international visitors in 2016 and several big-name artists are including Mexico City on their tour schedules this year. Did we mention it's also one of the world's sexiest cities?

To celebrate its centenary as a territory of the United States, the US Virgin Islands are giving tourists who stay for at least three consecutive nights a cool $300 in spending credits. You have to book before October and visit the islands before the end of the year, though.

Finland celebrates 100 years of independence this year, with the main party scheduled for December 6. And if you’re in the country in December, you’re visiting at exactly the right time for a trip to see Santa Claus and the Northern Lights.

Forget Napa Valley: Sonoma County is California’s new foodie hotspot. Not only are the vineyards to visit but the region boasts excellent restaurants and farm stalls. It also makes a perfect and romantic honeymoon destination.

A new domestic low-cost airline will make getting from one destination to another in Chile a breeze. You can now also fly over the Atacama Desert by hot-air balloon.

The Edinburgh Festival turned 70 in August and other notable anniversaries that make 2017 the year to visit Scotland are Harry Potter’s 20th and Bladnoch Distillery’s 200th. Meanwhile, movie lovers can visit the filming locations for the new Transformers movie and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Belize’s stunning beaches have long ranked as some of the top 10 best islands in the world. Now, they boast some bona fide Hollywood glamour too. You can stay on Francis Ford Coppola’s private island, Coral Caye, while Leonardo DiCaprio’s Blackadore Caye eco-resort is in development.

Year-round beach weather has earned Sanya the nicknames "China’s Florida" and "China’s Hawaii". A growing number of hotels and resorts are opening in this city on Hainan Island and you’ll find signage in English and in Russian.