Pack your bags! As 2018 comes to a close, one thing you can already start to plan for the year ahead is travel. You might find some inspiration from Airbnb’s predictions of the 19 most popular travel destinations for 2019.

There’s a location to suit everyone’s tastes, with experiences ranging from hiking the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, learning the beer brewing history of Brazil, and enjoying the lively nightlife in Batumi, Georgia. But topping the list is our beautiful Kaikoura.

There has been a nearly 300 percent increase in bookings year of year for Airbnb, but that shouldn’t come as any surprise. Our coastal town offers plenty of stunning sights. Go kayaking with the Fur Seals or take a helicopter ride over the town to take in all of the natural landscape and marine life including their famous population of sperm whales. Airbnb says the coastal town has had the biggest increase in bookings and search on its list.

Airbnb’s list is based on a combination of search, booking and wish list data used to forecast the hot spots around the world. According to the site, our choice in travel destinations has become increasingly socially-conscious. Places to look out for that benefit residents as much as locals include: helping rebuild communities damaged by natural disasters in Kaikoura; & supporting environmental sustainability.

So get organising those 2019 travel plans, if you need any help feel free to book us in for a chat here or flick us a message here.