Rocky Mountaineer train near Exshaw in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. Photo: Brand Canada

Wondering where to travel next year? You might grab some ideas from the newly released “Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017 (www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel), a collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the year ahead.

The travel yearbook highlights the top ten countries, cities, regions and best value destinations that Lonely Planet’s experts recommend travelers experience in 2017.

Which Country Rated #1?

Canada receives the accolade of number one country in the world to visit next year. Colombia and Finland came in second and third respectively. Bordeaux tops the cities list, beating Cape Town and Los Angeles.

Which Region Rated #1?

The region which Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017 declares the number one must-see in the coming year is Choquequirao in Peru. New Zealand’s Taranaki and The Azores also make the top three. Nepal was crowned Lonely Planet’s Best Value destination of 2017. Namibia, Porto and Venice followed.

How They Voted

Lonely Planet’s writers and experts spend time on the road in almost every destination on the planet.  Each year they report which destinations are set to take off and offer ideas to travelers for the best experience available.

The destinations selected for Best in Travel meet specific criteria. It could be that something special is going on in the year ahead. Or, there’s been recent development and a lot of buzz about the place. Does offer travelers new things to see or do? Or if the Lonely Planet team of experts think it’s been overlooked and underrated, they suggest travelers visit before the crowds do.

Deciding what to include in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel annual selection is a considered process involving the whole of Lonely Planet’s community.  Writers, editors, their online family of bloggers and tweeters make up the community.

Each year, they come up with hundreds of places that are not to be missed. These are then whittled down by a panel of in-house travel experts who shortlist in line with criteria such as topicality, excitement and wow-factor.

Spotting the Trends

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017 also features five travel trends that consumers should look out for 2017. Remote working, bike packing, sustainable travel and micro distilleries were all pinpointed as ones to watch.

“Instaviduality” was also named as a trend. It’s the new buzz word for “individuals” and how they feel at a particular place and time. This may be different under other circumstances, of course. Keep up with the bouncing traveler!

Top 10 Best Places to Stay and Family Adventure Destinations Named

Lonely Planet’s experts also rank the top ten Best Family Adventure destinations and Ten Best Places to Stay in Best in Travel 2017.

The landing page, www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel, features all of the Best in Travel 2017 destinations and additional advice on visiting them. Each of the #1 destinations features interviews with Lonely Planet’s experts on why 2017 is the year to visit.

My Best in Travel Competition – Win a Trip for Two

Travelers can also enter a My Best in Travel competition to win a trip for two to the number one country, Canada, and a host of Samsung’s latest mobile technology from Best in Travel’s sponsor Samsung Electronics.

Here are the winners:

Top 10 Countries

1. Canada – Turning 150 in 2017 and making no apologies for it
2. Colombia – South America’s ultimate comeback kid
3. Finland – Get ready for parties to celebrate 100 years of independence
4. Dominica – The Caribbean’s ‘Nature Island’ opens its doors next year with first resorts
5. Nepal – Witness its road to recovery from the devastating 2015 earthquakes
6. Bermuda – Eyes will be on this quietly elegant island for the 2017 America’s Cup
7. Mongolia – Both the rapidly growing capital and nomadic culture are living strong
8. Oman – Epic sights for such a small nation, and there’s never been a better time to go
9. Myanmar – Continues to open up to the outside world with political change
10. Ethiopia – Step back in time in a land of ancient mystery and dramatic mountain

Top 10 Regions

1. Choquequirao, Peru – Get to Machu Picchu’s sister site before the crowds
2. Taranaki, NZ – This out-of-the-way spot opens new art gallery and outdoor adventure
3. The Azores – Portugal’s nine volcanic islands ready to be the hotter (and cheaper) Iceland
4. North Wales, UK – Emerging from industrial past as adventure capital, from surf to zip lines
5. South Australia – The hottest state on the driest continent on Earth is set to sizzle in ’17
6. Aysen, Chile – Patagonia’s last frontier has a budding beer scene and new national parks
7. The Tuamotus, French Polynesia – Tropical paradise with colorful coral and scenic islets
8. Coastal Georgia, USA – The overlooked jewel of the South has wild islands and charm
9. Perak, Malaysia – Ipoh’s urban renaissance open new doors for this underexplored area
10. The Skellig Ring, Ireland – The Star Wars star has a narrative of its own

Top 10 Cities

1. Bordeaux, France – New high-speed rail helps experience burgeoning food scene
2. Cape Town, South Africa – Distinct Euro-African and art culture against golden backdrop
3. Los Angeles, California – Even more accessible to locals and visitors alike
4. Merida, Mexico – The cultural and culinary capital even has ruins and sinkholes nearby
5. Ohrid, Macedonia – Imminent development could change Macedonia’s ‘Jerusalem’ soon
6. Pistoia, Italy – This overlooked Tuscan town becomes Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2017
7. Seoul, South Korea – Elevated highway will be transformed into new Skygarden park
8. Lisbon, Portugal – Famously underrated, it’s one of the best bargains around right now
9. Moscow, Russia – New museums and airport improvements to mark Revolution’s 100th
10. Portland, Oregon – The best view from the West Coast of the solar eclipse in August

Best Value Destinations

1. Nepal – Experience incredible mountainscapes for way under $50 a day
2. Namibia – Desert adventures, sand surfing and a depreciating dollar
3. Porto, Portugal – Budget flights, affordable (and incredible) food and places to stay
4. Venice, Italy – More home shares cropping up means Venice and ‘value’ can go together
5. Debrecen, Hungary – New flights offering a glimpse of traditional Europe beyond Budapest
6. Belize – Laidback beach cities south of resorts are undiscovered and budget-friendly
7. Morocco – Nowhere more exotic and accessible from Western Europe
8. Russia – Fluctuating exchange rates means it’s more affordable on-the-ground
9. Bellarine Peninsula, Australia – Easy, affordable escape outside Melbourne
10. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – The go-to vacation spot for locals is still under-the-radar