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East Nusa Tenggara? Madhya Pradesh? The average American vacationer might not have heard of these exotic, far-flung destinations - located in Indonesia and India, respectively - but iconic travel guide Lonely Planet says they're among the best values for holidays around the world.
The publication's list of 10 " Best Value" destinations for 2020, part of its Best in Travel 2020 rankings, also includes more familiar places, such as Budapest, Athens and - perhaps surprisingly - American-as-apple-pie Buffalo, New York. (In addition to value destinations, the Best in Travel series also ranks the world's top 10 cities, countries and regions.)
Tourism authorities in Buffalo, a once-moribund Rust Belt city now undergoing a bit of a renaissance, were chuffed at making the list but cautioned against misreading the ranking. "Don't let the word 'value' mislead you," regional tourism board Visit Buffalo Niagara warned in its blog. "While you can make your way through the best of Buffalo for a fraction of the cost of some other places, you'll be treated to world-class experiences."
More from Personal Finance:Evan Godt, director of content operations at Lonely Planet, agreed. "The quality of an experience is not always attached to a price tag," he said. "It's definitely possible to enjoy a fantastic vacation experience while sticking to a budget."
Where and how much Americans spend, especially when abroad, is no small concern for global destinations, however. According to a 2017 report from Get Going Travel Insurance using United Nations data, U.S. travelers are the second-largest international-travel cohort, after the Chinese, and spent $135 billion abroad that year, a 9% increase over 2016. Their favorite destinations are Mexico, Canada, the U.K., Dominican Republic and France.
However, for all that spending, most Americans are not willing to go into debt to facilitate travel. According to the 2019 U.S. Traveler Survey from travel website Vrbo and research firm Ipsos, only 15% of baby boomers, 27% of Gen Xers and 37% of millennials would take on debt to visit a dream destination (which for Americans in 2018 was Australia, Vrbo found).
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2020 rankings, its 15th annual collection of hot destinations and experiences worldwide, this year "places particular emphasis on the best sustainable travel experiences for 2020 - ensuring travelers will have a positive impact wherever they choose to go," according to a statement.
"We firmly believe that travel is a force of change and has a significant positive impact on people's lives and outlooks," said Godt. "It's worth it."
He noted that Lonely Planet's ranking of "best value" destinations doesn't rely on low costs alone. "While some of these destinations may be expensive to visit, travelers' money will go farther there compared to similar destinations, or than it may have in previous years," Godt said. "For example, our No. 1 best value destination, East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia, is often overlooked in favor of Bali."
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Here are Lonely Planet's 10 Best Value destinations for 2020.
2. Budapest, Hungary: Elegant, sophisticated capital city of European Union member Hungary."Of all the grandes dames of Central Europe, Budapest is one of the most rewarding on your pocket, while serving up highlights memorable enough to rank high on continental explorers' lists of big-hitters."
4. Buffalo, New York: The Empire State's second-largest city, a stone's throw from Niagara Falls."Buffalo's resurgence continues. Plan a visit now to take advantage of expanding budget air routes and a fast-growing hotel and restaurant scene."
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