Latest news with #Travelbag
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
Australia just beat the Maldives as one of the world's top three bucket list destinations
Anyone who loves travel surely has a bucket list – a wish list of once-in-a-lifetime places and wild adventures just waiting to be ticked off. And when it comes to unforgettable experiences, Australia delivers in spades – think snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, watching the sunset at Uluru or climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. So it comes as no surprise that Australia has landed in the top three in a 2025 study on the ultimate bucket list destinations in the world. Now, it's important to note that this research by Travelbag is based on a survey of more than 1,000 people across the UK. So, while it doesn't fully capture the bucket lists of travellers globally, Australia's rep as a dream destination is backed by plenty of previous international tourism data. Aussies are obsessed with Japan, so we totally get why it ranked as the number one bucket list destination for Brits, with almost a third (32 per cent) putting it on their hit list. Social media plays a huge role in this wanderlust, with that figure jumping to 43 per cent for Gen Z (ages 16-28). Canada took second place with 31 per cent of people eager to visit, closely followed by Australia at 30 per cent. According to the researchers, 'The appeal of the country lies in its contrast between iconic natural wonders and vibrant urban experiences. From snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef and relaxing in the Whitsundays, to exploring cosmopolitan hubs like Sydney and Melbourne, Australia offers something for every kind of traveller." A trip to Australia is most in demand among Gen X (ages 45-60) – but if you've reached that age and still haven't made it Down Under, you're doing something wrong. Of Brits actively planning holidays, Australia came in second only to the US, with five per cent currently organising a trip Down Under. That figure almost doubles (9.6 per cent) for Millennials – but fair warning: a trip Down Under has a way of turning into a one-way ticket. Here are the most popular bucket list destinations of 2025 1. Japan 2. Canada 3. Australia 4 Maldives =4. USA 5. Seychelles 6. Bali =6. Mauritius 7. Mexico =7. Thailand 8. St Lucia =8. Dubai 9. South Africa 10. Sri Lanka 😂 A scientific study just ranked Australia as the world's 7th funniest country 💗 Australia's largest lake is one of the world's strangest natural wonders
Time Out
6 days ago
- Time Out
Tokyo ranked as one of the best cities in the world for nighttime tourism
While Tokyo is great to explore any time of day, it truly comes alive at night – it's a 24-hour city through and through, as we explored in our latest 24 Hours in Tokyo issue. The capital is widely praised for its safety, stunning night views and affordability, making it a top-tier choice for travellers worldwide. The folks over at UK-based travel booking site Travelbag seem to agree, as they've just listed Tokyo as one of the top destinations for evening tourism in their ranking of the most beautiful cities come sundown. Responding to growing interest in nighttime tourism, Travelbag compiled the ranking by evaluating factors such as Instagram hashtag volume, light pollution levels, safety after dark, and the number of late-night venues across cities worldwide. On their list of the ten most beautiful long-haul cities (as seen from the UK, presumably) at night, Tokyo came in at number two, trailing only New York City. According to the survey, Tokyo is a great place to spend an evening thanks to its lively alleyways like Shinjuku's Golden Gai, a plethora of local izakaya, and a stunning cityscape that blends futuristic lights with traditional aesthetics. Tokyo was also praised for its plethora of options when it comes to hanging out at night, with nearly 1,000 venues open late into the evening. Additionally, the city scored a respectable 75 out of 100 for its nighttime safety. Along with Tokyo, Kyoto made the list in sixth place. The old capital doesn't have nearly as many late-night venues, with just over 110 spots, but it scored impressively high on the safety scale, earning an 83 out of 100. Here's the full top ten ranking: New York City, USA Tokyo, Japan Dubai, UAE Singapore, Singapore Muscat, Oman Kyoto, Japan Sydney, Australia Seoul, South Korea Toronto, Canada Melbourne, Australia For more information on the ranking, visit the website. More from Time Out Tokyo The Fuji Rock timetable for 2025 is here The timetable for Summer Sonic 2025 is out now 4 Tokyo bars named in the World's 50 Best Bars 2025 list Embark on a creative journey through time and space at the Leiji Matsumoto exhibition
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- News.com.au
World's ‘most tranquil' destination just three hours from Australia
Our friends over the ditch live in a country home to the most tranquil city in the world, with three surprising Aussie locations also on the list. If there was ever a reason to visit New Zealand, it would be now, with Queenstown topping Travelbag's 'Most tranquil destination for 2025' study. The UK-based long-haul travel specialists analysed 36 global destinations using key indicators such as noise and light pollution, cleanliness, the quality of green spaces, and levels of local congestion. The popular adrenaline destination, known for its unparalleled landscape on the South Island, scored the highest overall average across each category noting its impressive cleanliness score of 92 out of 100 and green space quality of 94, reflecting its pristine surroundings. It scored 25 for noise and light pollution levels, ensuring peaceful days and starry nights, and 88 in low travel congestion. In fact, the small coastal town of KaikÅ�ura, on the South Island, officially became an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, making it the 22nd location globally and the third sanctuary in New Zealand, alongside Aotea Great Barrier Island and Rakiura Stewart Island. The achievement supports New Zealand's goal of becoming a dark sky nation. The hotspot is where most tourists visit, with 43 per cent of Aussies visiting Queenstown and 58 per cent flying direct to the South Island, according to a Tourism New Zealand study. It also helps it's just a three-hour plane journey. 'Often referred to as the adventure capital, the variety of experiences on offer proves popular among Australians,' Andrew Waddel, General Manager – Australia, Tourism New Zealand, previously told 'From exploring local award-winning wineries, gliding down the luge at Skyline Queenstown, taking in the view on a scenic cruise to mountain biking through world-famous trails, there's something for everyone.' Queenstown was also previously ranked one of the most loved destinations in the world in 2023 – so it's definitely a destination high on travellers' lists. Meanwhile, its sister city Auckland located on the north island ranked sixth on the tranquil list with a noise and light pollution ranking of 44, cleanliness of 68, quality of green spaces 82 and travel congestion 166. Three Aussie locations on the list Coming in second place was Seychelles in East Africa followed by Cairns in Australia, sharing equal third with Kyoto, Japan and Banff in Canada. Travelbag described Seychelles as an island paradise that blends unspoilt natural beauty with serene ambience, 'making it an ideal retreat from urban life'. 'The islands boast the lowest noise and light pollution score of just 16.7, with the most tranquil spots being La Digue, Praslin, and Silhouette Island,' it stated. Cairns, which is considered the gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, had a surprisingly low noise and light pollution score of 25. 'Cairns also stands out for its cleanliness score of 69.9 and a green space quality score of 78.5, reflecting its well-maintained, nature-rich environment,' Travelbag said. It also sits in second place with golden sands and tropical waters. 'Its beaches boast an impressive rating of 4.7 stars, supported by a strong cleanliness score of 69.6 and low water pollution (34.3).' Meanwhile, the Gold Coast also made the cut, ranking fifth with a score of 42 for noise and light pollution, 73 for cleanliness and 85 for green spaces. But for low travel congestion it scored 180. Sydney ranked seventh with a score of 40 for noise and light pollution, 69 for cleanliness, 80 for green spaces and parks and 192 for low travel congestion. Rounding out the top 10 were Whistler, Canada in fourth, Orlando, Florida in eight, Tokyo Japan in ninth and Cape Town, South Africa in 10th.
Gulf Today
15-07-2025
- Gulf Today
Abu Dhabi world's safest city to explore at night, Dubai in third position: Study
Abu Dhabi tops the list as the safest city to walk alone at night, scoring 87 out of 100, according to a new global study by UK-based long-haul travel specialist Travelbag. With its modern infrastructure, well-lit streets, and low crime rates, it provides a secure environment for both residents and visitors. The city's strong public safety measures make it ideal for confident nighttime exploration, especially around landmarks like the beautifully illuminated Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Taipei, Taiwan, ranks second with a safety score of 85 for walking alone at night. Known for its clean streets, good lighting, and low crime, the city's lively night markets and urban areas are safe for locals and tourists alike. Visitors especially enjoy Taipei 101 after dark, when the iconic tower is beautifully lit and offers stunning nighttime views. Dubai and Kyoto tie for third place, each with a safety score of 83 for walking alone at night. Dubai offers modern infrastructure and strong security, while Kyoto is known for its low crime and peaceful streets. Both cities provide safe and welcoming environments for nighttime exploration. New York leads as the most scenic city at night, boasting 40,800 Instagram hashtags, a safety score of 46, and 2,302 late-night venues, making it a favorite destination for night owls. Muscat ranks number one for stargazing, with a light pollution score of 30 and a pollution index of 10.0, offering pristine desert skies and minimal artificial light. Singapore ranks as the most scenic city in Southeast Asia, with 16,500 Instagram hashtags highlighting its vibrant and dynamic nightlife. The survey results revealed that 93.6 percent of residents felt safe walking alone at night, reflecting the emirate's continued recognition as the world's safest city in 2025, according to global indicators. The Happiness Indicator also recorded an increase, reaching 7.74 out of 10, compared to 7.63 in the third cycle. More than 100,000 individuals from 190 different nationalities participated in the survey, which covered 14 key social wellbeing indicators: housing, job opportunities and income, family income and wealth, work-life balance, health, education and skills, personal security and safety, social relations, civic participation and governance, environmental quality, social and cultural cohesion, social and community services, quality of life, digital happiness, and wellbeing. Danny Hugill, Destination Executive for the Middle East and Indian Ocean at Travelbag, commented: 'Once the sun sets in Dubai, the city transforms. You can head to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood for an atmospheric evening walk, then catch the Dubai Fountain show before ending your night with drinks at Cé La Vi or a rooftop dinner at Paros. It's also a lot cooler after dark, even in the summer, so it's the perfect time to explore the city.' Google search volume data reveals that interest in nocturnal travel is on the rise. In the last three months alone, there has been a 164% increase in demand for night festivals and a 33% surge in stargazing tourism, highlighting a growing desire to explore destinations after dark.
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Time Out
Sydney has ranked as one of the best cities in the world for nighttime tourism
Sydney's nightlife gets a bad rap. But since the lockout laws were repealed back in early 2020, the Harbour City has been clawing back its reputation as a place that knows how to party. Last year, a Sydney night club was the only Australian club to make a prestigious list of the best clubs in the world, and now, Sydney has ranked as one of the best cities in the world for nighttime tourism – outranking all other Aussie cities. Heck yeah: Sydney recently ranked among the best cities in the world for culture. After noticing an increase in the popularity of nighttime tourism, travel booking site Travelbag did some digging into the best nighttime destinations in the world for travellers. To discover which destinations shine the brightest after dark, Travelbag assessed a number of factors including Instagram hashtag volume, levels of light pollution, perceived safety after dark and the number of venues that stay open late. Based on the data, they put together a guide to the prettiest cities at night, and Sydney ranked at number seven. Unsurprisingly, the highest-ranking city was New York. With sparkling sky-high towers and a huge selection of late-night venues, 'the city that never sleeps' earned its title, with 2,302 late-night venues and a deafening hashtag volume of 40,800. Tokyo came in second place with 996 late night venues and a considerably higher safety score (75.28 compared with New York's 46.25), followed by Dubai, Singapore, Muscat and Kyoto. Our very own Emerald City ranked in seventh place, with an Instagram hashtag volume of 13,000, a relatively low (read: good) noise and light pollution score of 40.19 and a safety score of 53.80. Where the Harbour City fell down was on the late-night venues front, with just 325 late night venues (lets hope the NSW Government's plans to support Sydney's nighttime economy will boost those numbers). The only other Aussie city to rank among the top ten was Melbourne, which came in at number 10 with 291 late-night venues (that's 34 less than in Sydney) and a safety score of 43.10. here.
