27 August 2008

Destinations That Are Hot, Hot, Hot!

The Real Estate market may be on a downward spiral. But there are always ways to turn a profit on a property. Your best bet is to follow the creative community. Follow a local poet, painter or thespian home and youÃ¢â¬â¢re sure to find your next investment, the next hot spot for real estate.

As the value is driven up, the creative community is driven out in search of their next creative oasis. They are seekers by nature. So, they will seek and find.

The same is true in travel. Every one is looking for the next Prague or the new Costa Rica, the great oasis that was once wildly affordable.

Backpackers, artistic types, travelers and seekers by nature are always the first to discover the new Ã¢â¬ÅâœitÃ¢â¬~ destinations that the rest of the world and eventually the jet set will be visiting in several years time.

They were sailing Croatia in the 90s, the first in when China opened their doors and tucking into sushi restaurants before the rest of the world knew raw fish was a delicacy.

Through their clever booking system, Hostelworld, a Dublin based company is able to tap into the backpackerÃ¢â¬â¢s brain and track where theyÃ¢â¬â¢re headed.

So, as you plan your next get away, you may want to stay ahead of the curve and the pack and plan a get away in one of the soon to be global hot spots. By the time you get there, the backpackers may have moved on.

In todayÃ¢â¬â¢s economic climate, it may be the best investment you can make.

Below is a list of top ten cities on the rise, with a % increase in this yearÃ¢â¬â¢s growth since 2007. Start packingÃ¢â¬~¦

TOP 10 UPCOMING DESTINATIONS
1. Essouria, Morocco Ã¢â¬' up 103%
2. Aswan, Egypt Ã¢â¬' up 105%
3. Bratislava, Slovakia - 66%
4. Kyoto, Japan Ã¢â¬' up 160%
5. Puerto, Iguazu, Argentina Ã¢â¬' up 82%
6. Livingstone, Zambia- up 100%
7. Cascais, Portugal Ã¢â¬' up 68%
8. Zagreb, Croatia Ã¢â¬' up 90%
9. XiÃ¢â¬â¢an, China Ã¢â¬' up 100%
10. Amman, Jordan Ã¢â¬' up 89%

Honorable Mentions:
Miami, USA Ã¢â¬' showing explosive growth Ã¢â¬' up 122%
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Ã¢â¬' new to the list

Essaouria, Morocco, a coastal fishing village is still in the very early stages of tourism, meaning visitors are guaranteed an authentically local experience.

Enclosed in a bay, the town is renowned for kite and windsurfing. With a beautiful curling beach and charming alleyways, Essaouria is laid back and relaxed with a semi-tropical climate all year round. The unique architecture draws from French and Portuguese influences, as does the central Medina, is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed area.

Aswan, Egypt is EgyptÃ¢â¬â¢s sunniest southern city; Aswan is positioned on the east bank of the Nile around 80 miles south of Luxor. Renowned for its bustling market, Aswan is also one of the driest cities in the world.

Aswan is closely located to Nubian villages, offers travelers the opportunity to experience true African culture. The Nile is at its most beautiful, flowing through amber desert and granite rocks, round emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. The Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple are two major tourist attractions.

Bratislava, Slovakia is dubbed Ã¢â¬Åâœthe new PragueÃ¢â¬~ by travelers in the know, Bratislava; the capital of Slovakia is both affordable and beautiful. Locals boast of BratislavaÃ¢â¬â¢s relaxed, Mediterranean feel, cultural events and numerous recreational activities.

By Karen Loftus