Lady’s List of Where Not to Travel in 2018

For the last three years I’ve written blog posts about where not to travel in the new year. They’ve gotten such overwhelming responses that it’s become an annual tradition. So today I want to share A Lady in London’s guide to where not to travel in 2018. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll avoid these 5 places in the coming year.

1. Antarctica

From 2018 Argentina’s LADE airline is said to be starting the first regular commercial flights from Ushuaia to Antarctica. The weekly flight will take 90 minutes, which is slightly less time than most boats take. But why would we want to fly to Antarctica when we can face sea sickness, shipwreck, and all kinds of other excitement if we go by water? And why would we want to visit the frozen continent at all, for that matter? We have ice at home and last I checked there were penguins in most zoos.

2. Malta

Malta’s capital Valletta is a European Capital of Culture for 2018. Which is surprising given how little culture there is in Malta. I mean, it’s an island in the Mediterranean. It’s not like it’s been of strategic importance to every empire from the Phoenicians to the French. Or like those empires have left the legacy of beautiful architecture, amazing food, and rich history. Nope, let’s not visit Valletta in 2018.

3. The Netherlands

Leeuwarden in the Netherlands is the other European Capital of Culture for 2018, and it sounds pretty crap. Literally. I mean, how do you even pronounce Leeuwarden? The tourism board’s website refers to the town as “the historic capital of a hundred names”, which seems to suggest they should choose one of the more pronounceable ones. Like something in English.

On top of that, the website says to “bring along your swimsuits” and “grab your sunglasses”. As a Californian, I can personally vouch for how overrated sun and fun are. Let’s give Leeuwarden a miss.

4. Australia

Next year will see the first direct, non-stop flight from Europe to Australia. The Qantas flight will travel from London to Perth in 17 hours. Which is too bad, because I love back-to-back long-haul flights, especially in economy class. The cramped conditions, the jet lag, the stress of missing connections, the feeling that the journey is interminable and I will probably die before I ever reach my destination…ah, the joys of antipodean travel. So I won’t be going to Australia in 2018, and I hope you’ll join my boycott of this new flight.

5. New Orleans

Next year will mark New Orleans’ tricentennial. In celebration of its 300th anniversary, the city is planning a year’s worth of events and festivities. But I’m a bit worried, because New Orleans isn’t exactly known for throwing parties. It’s not like everyone flocks there the day before Ash Wednesday or anything. So let’s give this one the slip and save a remarkably calm city the embarrassment of trying to put on a fete.

Where to Travel in 2018

If you want to know where you should travel in 2018, Lonely Planet has just launched its annual Best in Travel 2018 book. You can get it here. It makes a great Christmas gift for the travel lover in your life, even if that person is you (hey, sometimes you have to be your own best Santa).

How about you? What destinations would you include on a list of where not to travel in 2018?

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