England's coastline

It’s the perfect time to start planning where to go on a single traveller holiday in 2020, but with beautiful destinations across the world to choose from, it can be difficult to pick. Lonely Planet has made choosing your holiday destination plenty easier, as they’ve recently announced the top countries to travel to in 2020.

According to The Guardian, the list is based around “topicality, unique experiences and wow factor.” Taking the first spot on the list is Bhutan, the Himalayan country filled with Buddhist art, monasteries and extraordinary mountain views. One of the key reasons Bhutan secured Lonely Planet’s top spot is because of the country’s ‘high-value, low-impact’ policy, which makes it one of the most exclusive tourist destinations in the world. As part of the policy, tourists must pay a high fee to enter the country, followed by a nightly surcharge. This leaves the beautiful country unspoilt by crowds and commercialism.

England has secured the second spot in the list of best countries to visit in 2020. Visit England Director tells the Evening Standard: “It’s fantastic to see England scoring so highly with Lonely Planet – and with travellers. And it’s no surprise it’s a favourite global destination with our breathtaking and varied coastline, vibrant cities, stunning countryside, heritage and cultural gems, amazing visitor attractions, enchanting green spaces and outstanding range of quality accommodation. England truly is packed full of incredible experiences that visitors can only have here.”

Lonely Planet explains on their list: “English coastline these days is a peaceful place where locals and visitors can enjoy more tranquil pursuits. Taking a bracing walk on a windswept pier, eating delicious fish and chips, searching for marine life in rock pools, finding fossils in ancient cliffs, building sandcastles and dolphin-spotting on picturesque beaches are just some of the activities offered by the English seaside.”

Another must-visit destination in 2020 according to the list, is Morocco, the place tourists flock to if they want to see beautiful architecture, golden beaches and, of course, experience the tasty cuisine. Lonely Planet explains Morocco is “having a moment, with time-honoured attractions complemented by sustainable-yet-stylish lodging, restaurants serving up seasonal produce and coastal wellness retreats mixing up yoga and surfing.”

Here is a full list of Lonely Planet’s top 10 countries for 2020 travel:

  1. Bhutan
  2. England
  3. North Macedonia
  4. Aruba
  5. Eswatini
  6. Costa Rica
  7. The Netherlands
  8. Liberia
  9. Morocco
  10. Uruguay