Imagine standing before the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by landscaped gardens and Paris’ iconic Haussman buildings. And in the next hour, you’re watching the sunlight streaming through a stained glass window in a 13th century cathedral where French kings were once crowned. This transition from a tourist hot spot to a historical gem isn’t a travel day dream – it’s the kind of experience that more travellers are embracing, and a trend that could shape how we plan our holidays in 2025.
According to travel tech company Expedia’s annual travel trends report, Unpack’25, 68 per cent of Singaporeans are likely to visit a lesser-known, less-crowded destination when travelling. Based on the increase in flight searches to these destinations on the platform, these “detour destinations” include places such as Reims in France, Krabi in Thailand, Waikato in New Zealand, and Fukuoka in Japan.
Using major cities as gateways to lesser-known destinations offers travellers more than just hidden gems to discover. It means trading in tourist crowds for quaint neighbourhoods, finding better value on accommodations and uncovering places before they hit mainstream travel feeds.
Here are eight destinations close to major tourist hot spots that offer unique experiences without the crowds.
Detour destination: Reims, France, from Paris
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