Explore the top 5 emerging travel destinations in Asia for 2025, from Shanghai’s vibrant blend of old and new to Jeju’s natural beauty and more!

Looking to refresh your travel list with exciting new destinations in 2025? According to Agoda’s New Horizons ranking, these cities are on the rise in Asia and deserve a spot on your travel bucket list. From Shanghai’s dynamic blend of modern and traditional to Jeju’s serene natural beauty, here are the top 5 emerging destinations in Asia that should be on your radar:

1. Shanghai, China

Shanghai has officially emerged as the top emerging travel destination in Asia, according to Agoda’s latest ranking. Known as the “Paris of the East,” this buzzing metropolis is a stunning combination of ultra-modern skyscrapers, ancient traditions, and vibrant street life. Recent visa easements have made the city more accessible than ever. Whether you’re marveling at the iconic skyline from The Bund, exploring hidden alleyways filled with street food, or immersing yourself in its art scene, Shanghai offers endless discoveries. Don’t miss the traditional tea houses and the serene Yu Garden for a peaceful retreat amidst the urban rush.

2. Jeju, South Korea

Jeju Island, often described as South Korea’s paradise, is quickly becoming a must-visit destination. Famous for its volcanic craters, picturesque waterfalls, and clear beaches, Jeju is perfect for nature lovers and those seeking cultural exploration. Hike up Hallasan, a dormant volcano, or relax on beaches like Hyeopjae and Jungmun. Jeju’s mix of natural wonders and rich folklore, alongside temples and heritage sites, makes it an ideal escape for those wanting both adventure and tranquility.

3. Paris, France

Paris needs little introduction, but its post-Olympics glow brings a new spark to this already iconic city. Paris is the quintessential romantic getaway, home to stunning landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. But beyond the obvious attractions, the city’s charm lies in its charming neighborhoods, like Montmartre and Le Marais, full of quaint cafés, art galleries, and boutique shops. This year, Paris also boasts new cultural events, art exhibitions, and modern architectural marvels, making it an even more dynamic destination. Enjoy a picnic by the Seine, shop in the high-end boutiques of the Champs-Élysées, or sip coffee in a cozy café as you watch the world go by.

4. Nha Trang, Vietnam

Looking for a tropical beach getaway? Nha Trang in Vietnam should be at the top of your list. Known for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife, this coastal city is gaining international attention. Whether you’re snorkeling in the clear waters of Mun Island or exploring the historic Po Nagar Cham Towers, Nha Trang blends beach relaxation with cultural experiences. The thriving local food scene, filled with fresh seafood and street food delights, also adds to the city’s charm. Nha Trang’s laid-back yet lively atmosphere makes it an unforgettable retreat.

5. Fukuoka, Japan

Fukuoka, located on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, is rapidly becoming a top destination for travelers seeking a unique Japanese experience. Known for its rich history, stunning temples, and delicious food, Fukuoka offers a balance of modern urban life and traditional Japanese culture. Fukuoka’s street food scene is famous for dishes like tonkotsu ramen, yakitori, and mentaiko (spicy cod roe), with food stalls lining the city’s lively streets. Beyond the food, the city is home to beautiful parks, ancient shrines, and the Fukuoka Castle ruins. For those looking to immerse themselves in a more relaxed but authentic Japanese setting, Fukuoka’s warm hospitality and vibrant atmosphere make it a perfect destination.

These cities are not just rising stars—they’re transforming the way we travel. Whether you’re looking to explore ancient cultures, enjoy stunning nature, or indulge in mouthwatering cuisines, these emerging destinations are ready to offer unforgettable experiences. Pack your bags and get ready for your next adventure in 2025!

Traveling in 2025 will be exciting with technological advancements and a focus on sustainability, but travel-related stress can still be a challenge.

Traveling in 2025 promises to be thrilling, thanks to advancements in technology, improved systems, and a focus on sustainability. However, the excitement of visiting new places can sometimes be overshadowed by travel-related stress. Long airport lines and unexpected delays can quickly change a perfect getaway into a frustrating ordeal.

There are numerous ways to make your journeys easier and more enjoyable. Here are five helpful tips for a relaxed travel experience in 2025:-

1. Invest in Smart Luggage and Tech-Friendly Packing

A well-planned packing strategy is essential for a stress-free trip. In 2025, smart luggage will greatly enhance your travel experience. Consider getting suitcases equipped with GPS tracking, biometric locks, and built-in chargers. These features can help prevent lost luggage and make your time at the airport more efficient. With lighter and better-organized bags, you can breeze through check-ins and security checks.

Also, use packing apps or digital checklists to ensure you have everything you need. Many apps now provide AI-driven packing advice tailored to your destination, trip length, and weather conditions.

2. Utilize AI and Travel Assistants for Easy Planning

Planning your travel can often be overwhelming, but in 2025, AI travel assistants will simplify the process. These tools can help with everything from booking flights to planning daily schedules. They can suggest the best travel times, find affordable options, and keep you informed about real-time changes in flight schedules or weather updates.

Apps like Google Trips and TripIt already offer these features, and new AI tools are continuously being developed. By using these resources, you can sidestep the usual troubles of managing complicated itineraries, giving you more time to enjoy your travels.

3. Adopt Digital Health Passports for Easy Border Crossings

In the wake of the pandemic, health and safety will remain a priority for travelers. Digital health passports will be vital for smooth travels. These secure IDs contain your vaccination records, test results, and other health information, making it easier to enter countries with health regulations.

By 2025, many airports and border agencies are expected to use these systems to cut down on paperwork and reduce waiting times. Make sure your travel provider or health app has your digital health passport updated and ready for use when you travel.

4. Prepare for Unforeseen Events with Travel Insurance and Alerts

Travel hiccups, from flight cancellations to unexpected weather, can occur. However, in 2025, the travel industry is adapting to help you navigate these situations. It’s wise to get travel insurance that covers a variety of issues, such as delays, cancellations, medical needs, and trip interruptions.

Additionally, consider signing up for travel alerts from your airline and following local travel advisories. Some insurance companies offer real-time support through their apps, reassuring you that your trip can continue smoothly despite any surprises.

5. Stay Connected with Reliable Internet Access

Finding dependable internet access while traveling can be stressful. In 2025, global Wi-Fi hotspots and new SIM card technology will make staying online easier and cheaper. Look into travel SIM cards that provide worldwide coverage, or think about renting portable Wi-Fi devices to connect multiple gadgets at once.

Many airports, hotels, and even rural areas are now offering free or low-cost internet options, so it’s smart to do a little research ahead of time. Having a steady internet connection will help you find your way around, manage reservations, and keep in touch with loved ones, easing travel worries.

Traveling stress-free in 2025 comes down to preparation and using the latest technology to enhance your journey. By adopting smart packing methods and AI travel tools, you can focus on what truly matters: enjoying your adventure. Embrace these tips, and you’ll discover that travel can be more about exploration and less about stress. Safe travels!

Alaska is home to seventeen of North America’s tallest peaks (including the tallest in North America, Denali), 30,000 square miles of glaciers, 60% of the country’s total national park lands (including the largest, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park), and a total area bigger than Texas, California, and Montana – combined! With all of this greatness, it’s easy to see why planning a trip to Alaska is high on many travelers’ lists, and why it can feel a bit overwhelming. The good news is, no matter when or where you go, you are sure to have an incredible Alaska adventure. Our insider’s tips will help you get a head start on planning your next Alaska vacation.

When to Go

Your first decision is when to visit Alaska. While most visitors come to Alaska during the summer season, from June – August, every season and month offers its own unique experiences. Summer is best for the warmest temperatures, longest hours of daylight, best wildlife viewing, and the most tours, activities, cruise options, and accommodations available. However, if you’re looking to get away from the crowds and find better deals, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons in spring (April – May) and fall (September – October). Another big bonus for traveling in fall: the chance to witness Alaska’s incredible autumn colors.

Winter is the best time to visit Alaska for one of our top natural phenomena: the northern lights, or aurora borealis. This incredible colorful display is viewable from late August through April. You’ll also find an array of fun winter outdoor recreation activities like skiing, dog sledding, snowmachining, and more – plus some of the best festivals the state has to offer.

How long to go

Next, decide how long you can go. You could spend a lifetime exploring this great state, but you can plan a memorable and exciting visit even if you have just a few days. Most visitors spend seven to fourteen days in Alaska. Much of this decision depends on where you want to go and how you’re getting around.

Cruising is one of the most popular ways to visit Alaska – especially for first-time visitors – with most cruises lasting seven to ten days. Peak cruise season is June through September, but many cruise lines are extending their seasons to start as early as April and end in October. If you have the time, we recommend adding on a post-cruise land tour (typically several days by train or motorcoach) so you can experience the Inside Passage by sea and go on to explore the Southcentral and Interior regions by land.

If you only have a long weekend or a few days, we recommend using Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau as your home base and taking day trips from there. These are the state’s largest cities and home to our main airport hubs. You’ll find plenty of activities and accommodations in these communities, along with countless adventures available in the surrounding areas.

For visitors staying over a week and traveling to more than one of Alaska’s five regions (which we highly recommend), our biggest piece of advice is to plan for enough travel time between destinations. If you put the state of Alaska over a map of the Lower 48 states, Alaska stretches east to west from Savannah, Georgia to Los Angeles, California, and north to south from North Dakota to the Texas panhandle. Meaning – Alaska is a big state! Traveling between some communities can take a good part of the day (or more) depending on your mode of transportation. Many communities are not along the road system or railbelt and are only accessible by plane or boat. Make sure to account for travel distances and build in extra time to stop and smell the Arctic roses along the way! In Alaska, the journey is truly part of the adventure, and you’ll have just as much fun and see some of the most beautiful sights while traveling around the state as you do in your final destinations.

You could easily spend an entire vacation in just one of the state’s five regions: Interior, Southcentral, Inside Passage, Southwest, and Arctic. However, if you want to explore more than one region, plan to stay at least a week. Don’t try to pack in too many destinations when planning your trip. We recommend picking your top destinations and planning at least 2-3 days around each spot to give you enough time to travel and enjoy the area. Make sure to visit both large and small towns to get a sense of the breadth of Alaska communities and culture – from urban centers like Anchorage to remote villages only accessible by bush plane. Learn more about our regions, communities, and national parks & public lands to start planning your route – weather you’re interested in visiting the top sights or getting off-the-beaten-track.

How to get around

In a state as big as Alaska, figuring out how to get around is just as important as deciding where to go. The main modes of transportation are boat (cruise or ferry), plane (commercial jet or bush plane), road (self-drive or bus/motorcoach), or train. We recommend mixing and matching your transportation so you can see Alaska from a few different angles. Taking a cruise? Add on a train or motorcoach land tour after you disembark. Fancy a road trip? Explore Alaska’s road system and then take your car onboard the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system to connect to 35 ports of call. Flying to Alaska? Plan your itinerary around the many exciting day-trip opportunities, like flightseeing, train trips, and day cruises.

If you like to leave the planning to the experts, consider a cruise, motorcoach tour, or package tour for exciting itineraries to some of the state’s top destinations. If you prefer to get off-the-beaten-track, road tripping, the Alaska Marine Highway System, and bush planes are the best ways to access more remote destinations. The Alaska Railroad is a great option for any visitor to Southcentral and Interior Alaska, whether you’re looking for a day trip or a multi-day adventure. The train travels from Seward to Fairbanks with stops along the way in destinations like Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park. And don’t forget Alaska’s other scenic railroad in the Inside Passage region – the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, which connects Skagway to Fraser, B.C.

Each mode of transportation offers its own unique vantage points and highlights different aspects of Alaska’s communities and stunning scenery. Learn more about getting to and around Alaska.

When to book

We recommend booking your Alaska vacation around four to six months in advance. If you’re booking a package tour or reserving for a bigger group, it’s best to book at least six months early to ensure availability for the itinerary you’re looking for. Book your hotels as early as possible since those tend to book up quickly, especially in the more popular destinations during summer. While it is possible to book a last-minute trip to Alaska, we highly recommend booking early to ensure your top picks for accommodations, tours, and activities – especially if you are visiting from June through August and around popular festivals and events.

Ways to Save

Consider visiting during the shoulder seasons in spring and fall for cheaper prices on flights and accommodations. Some tour companies, accommodations, and cruise lines offer early booking discounts and cheaper rates for booking early, so it pays to plan ahead and book as early as possible. Visit hotel and tour company websites to look for specials and packages and to book directly for better rates.

These tips can improve your safety and comfort in frigid temperatures.

In the dead of winter, there’s nothing worse than getting outside and realizing you’re not dressed warmly enough to handle the frigid temperatures. Not only can it be a day ruiner—making it hard to think about anything other than how cold you are—but it can be dangerous, too.

Dressing inadequately for winter weather can increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. So, when you want to work out in extremely cold weather (or simply build a snowman with your kids), it’s important to put extra thought into what you’re wearing and make sure you’re adequately covered from head to toe.

To make the process of getting dressed for the winter easier, we researched the best cold-weather clothing tips and tapped the CDC for expert advice. Below, find all the tips you need to get adequately bundled up during the winter and stay safe amidst below-zero temperatures.

Warm Clothing You’ll Need

Part of dressing safely for cold temperatures is being intentional in making sure that every part of your body is adequately covered and kept dry. When getting dressed in the winter, use this warm clothing checklist below as a guide.

• A hat
• A scarf or knit mask to cover the face and mouth
• Sleeves that are snug at the wrist
• Mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
• Several layers of loose-fitting clothing
• Water-resistant coat and boots

Mitten Tips

While it may be tempting to swap the mittens for an easier-to-use pair of gloves, mittens tend to be a warmer choice. According to REI, this is because fingers generate more heat when they’re not separated from each other by fabric, as they are with gloves.

Look for mittens that include down or synthetic insulation, a waterproof design, and fit your hands properly. A properly fitting mitten will have about ¼ inch of material at the end of your outstretched fingers.

Winter Hat Tips

As far as the best hat for winter weather, you can choose a style that suits you, but it’s important to consider the material to determine what option will keep you warm and dry. According to Skis.com, microfleece and wool materials are both great at retaining heat and wicking away moisture.

How to Layer Warm Clothing

When it comes to dressing warmly, it may seem that simply packing on the layers is a safe bet, but there’s a bit of science to doing it right. Here’s how the CDC says you should be layering in cold weather for optimal warmth.

Inner Layer

Wear shirt fabrics that will hold more body heat and don’t absorb moisture. Wool, silk, or polypropylene will hold more body heat than cotton.

Insulation Layer

An insulation layer will help you retain heat by trapping air close to your body. Slip on a pair of warm tights underneath jeans or pants. Natural fibers, like wool, goose down, or fleece work best. Wool socks are a great choice to keep your feet cozy and dry.

Outer Layer

The outermost layer helps protect you from wind, rain, and snow. This winter weather garment should be tightly woven and preferably water and wind resistant to reduce loss of body heat. Think wool coats, down jackets or full-length parkas.

Best Fabrics to Wear in Cold Weather

When preparing to face the cold, keep in mind the fabrics you are choosing as they play a significant role in keeping you warm and comfortable. Your fabrics should work to trap in heat, wick moisture, and block out the winter elements. These fabrics will help you stay cozy all season long even in winter’s harshest conditions.

Wool

Well-known for its excellent insulation, wool efficiently traps in heat even when damp, making it the perfect choice for base layers, socks, and sweaters.

Fleece

Fleece is good choice for your insulation layers as it’s both warm and lightweight. It’s a great option to trap in heat without feeling weighed down.

Flannel

Soft, warm, and breathable, flannel is a versatile fabric great for all types of cold weather. It’s cozy feel makes it perfect for casual winter shirts, pajamas, and even lined pants, offering maximum comfort without sacrificing warmth.

Cashmere

Luxuriously soft and lightweight, cashmere provides exceptional warmth without all the bulk, making it an ideal option for layering under your winter coat. It’s smooth, gentle feel makes it both a functional and fashionable choice for any winter occasion.

Synthetic Fabrics

Synethetic fabrics such as polyester, polypropylene and GORE-TEX are premier for wicking away moisture and keeping you dry. These fabrics are lightweight, durable, and often use as base layers and outerwear designed for active cold-weather activities.

How to Prevent Overheating

When dressing for cold weather, it’s important to find the balance between keeping warm and avoiding getting overheated. Unfortunately, excessive sweating will cause your body to lose more heat. So make sure to remove extra layers of clothing whenever you start to feel too warm.

Layer Strategically

Choose layers that will be easy to remove as your body temperature increases. Opting for zippered items allows for quick and easy adjustments.

Ventilate

Look for outerwear with ventilation features, such as underarm zippers or mesh-lined vents, as these can help regulate your body temperature without having to completely remove a layer.

Avoid Overdressing

If you’re going to be participating in high-energy activities such as shoveling or hiking, it’s best to start light and add on extra layers as needed.

Hypothermia Signs to Watch Out For

Shivering means your body is losing heat, and constant shivering is probably a sign that it’s time to go inside and warm up.
When venturing out into the cold, it’s also important to know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite. In adults, the signs of hypothermia include:

• Shivering
• Exhaustion
• Confusion
• Fumbling hands
• Memory loss
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness

In babies, the signs are bright red, cold skin, and very low energy.