What's In, What's Out for 2013

In: Northern lights. Out: City lights. The year ahead is filled with up-and-coming travel trends to watch. Find out Travel Channel's picks for what's hot (and what's not) in 2013.

By: Valerie Conners

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Photo By: Thinkstock

Photo By: Levent Konuk

Photo By: Thinkstock

In: MeetAtTheAirport.com
Out: Meet at the Airport Bar

Forget sidling up to the airport bar alone, hoping to make that magical connection with someone during the doldrums of an hours-long layover. The new website MeetAtTheAirport.com gives tech-savvy travelers the chance to, er, hook up with a possibly special someone in advance of bellying up to the bar. Simply register on the site in a few simple steps, and you'll be able to discern other singles traveling through the same airport you're flying through. You'll be able to meet over a coffee or cocktail, or heck, why not really turn things up a notch, and grab a few slices from the food court Sbarro?

In: Cruise to Exotic Destinations
Out: Cruise to the Caribbean

No longer are discerning travelers content to sip a mai tai on the starboard deck while watching tried-and-true ports of call like St. Thomas slip by. In fact, cruisers are looking toward destinations once rarely frequented by cruise lines, like the western coast of South America, Northern Europe, India, Africa and the Middle East -- and the cruise industry is responding in kind. In the midst of a definitive spike in the popularity of exotic cruise destinations, for 2013 companies such as Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean have more exciting destinations on the docket than ever before.

In: Myanmar
Out: Laos

Where once-upon-a-time backpackers to Southeast Asia once heralded Laos for its lush environs, Buddhist culture and fascinating temples, today the nation has become more of a frat party for ill-behaved backpackers getting wasted on a variety of substances and partying along riverbanks. Today, smart travelers are setting their sights elsewhere. In fact, you can barely discuss intrepid travel destinations without someone crying out "Myanmar!" these days. With the lifting of a travel ban imposed on rights activists to the once-fiercely ruled country, travelers have been pouring in.

In: Eastern Europe
Out: Western Europe

Oh, we know that Western Europe will never actually lose mass popularity among travelers, nor should it, but at times its prices can be staggering for Americans dealing with a weaker dollar. As 2013 approaches, more and more travelers are seeking out wonders beyond the Roman ruins and Parisian museums. Eastern Europe, once avoided during periods of extreme political upheaval and unrest, is now bubbling up as the go-to destination for many travelers. Take for example, mountainous Slovenia; it's being touted by travel and adventure publications as the new Alps.

In: Hammams
Out: Spas

Scores of travelers take advantage of their vacation downtime to indulge in a spa treatment, typically a soothing Swedish or aromatherapy massage. And yet, that's so 2012. The next trend in restorative treatments is hammams, often referred to as Turkish baths. The traditional hammam experience typically involves stripping down, donning a small towel, loosening up in a steam room and getting the living daylights scrubbed and rubbed out of you by your treatment provider while lying on a marble slab. The whole ordeal is often capped off by a refreshing (albeit, startling) dunk in icy cold water.

In: Foraged Cuisine
Out: Non-Organic Foods

Ever since the Copenhagen restaurant Noma was named 2011's World's Best Restaurant by Restaurant Magazine, foodies have been turning a keen eye toward chef René Redzepi's unique twist on dining: forage cuisine. Wondering what on earth that means? Basically, the chef forages through the region to unearth, obtain and cook unexpected ingredients found in their natural habitats, like mosses, lichens and pine needles. Now, come 2013, it's not unusual to find restaurants such as Elizabeth in Chicago and Atera in New York City following suit. Best part: In this heightened embrace of nature, there's no space for pesticide-sprayed foods.

In: Philippine Islands
Out: Thai Islands

Once upon a time, long, long ago, the young Leonardo DiCaprio starred in The Beach, filmed on Koh Phi Phi, and Thailand's beaches and islands would never be quite the same. As Thai islands have become overrun with backpackers, jacking up prices and leading to oft-crowded party zones on once-secluded beaches, travelers are seeking respite in as-yet-encroached places, such as the Philippine Islands. Head to the Palawan region but head there soon: As tour providers discover the area's growing popularity, more airlines are offering flights to the region, and we'll be again looking for the next epically isolated island experience.

In: Northern Lights
Out: City Lights

Catching a glimpse of the Northern Light's ethereal, dancing lights display, also known as aurora borealis, is the highlight of a lifetime, much less a vacation, for many travelers. The lights can be seen during periods of heightened solar activity, which happens to peak cyclically, every 11 years. Astronomy experts have predicted the lights will reach their next apex between now and April 2013. While a Northern Lights-spotting trip cannot guarantee a successful sighting -- there are certain Northern Hemisphere locations where sightings are more successful than others, such as Greenland, Iceland and parts of Canada.

In: DIY Vacation Rentals
Out: Pricey Hotels

Tired of paying out the wazoo for hotel stays that don't even include the cost of parking, Wi-Fi, breakfast or resort fees? We are too. Luckily, in 2013, there are alternatives for travelers with an open, DIY mindset. Rather than forking over the steep nightly rates of many hotels, travelers, and families in particular, are seeking accommodations through sites such as Airbnb and VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). These sites allow vacationers to rent furnished condos, apartments or houses directly from their owners. While you might not get daily maid service, you will get steeply discounted rates, sometimes as low as $30 per night.

In: Sleeping at the Mall
Out: Ignoring the Mall

Leave it to the opulent mindset of Middle East hotel developers in places such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to recognize a possible trend and blow it up, large scale. Today, many hotels are opening in or adjacent to malls, making them an epicenter of tourism and commerce. One of these malls, Abu Dhabi's Yas Mall, is expected to house or be in close proximity to 7 hotels. In fact, at least 9 mega-malls (beyond UAE, in countries such as Lebanon and Qatar), are expected to be built across the Middle East by 2014, with hotels springing up in and around them.

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What's In, What's Out for 2013

Related To:

Shop This Look

In: MeetAtTheAirport.com
Out: Meet at the Airport Bar

In: Cruise to Exotic Destinations
Out: Cruise to the Caribbean

In: Myanmar
Out: Laos

In: Eastern Europe
Out: Western Europe

In: Hammams
Out: Spas

In: Foraged Cuisine
Out: Non-Organic Foods

In: Philippine Islands
Out: Thai Islands

In: Northern Lights
Out: City Lights

In: DIY Vacation Rentals
Out: Pricey Hotels

In: Sleeping at the Mall
Out: Ignoring the Mall

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What's In, What's Out for 2013

Related To:

Shop This Look

In: MeetAtTheAirport.com Out: Meet at the Airport Bar

In: Cruise to Exotic Destinations Out: Cruise to the Caribbean

In: Myanmar Out: Laos

In: Eastern Europe Out: Western Europe

In: Hammams Out: Spas

In: Foraged CuisineOut: Non-Organic Foods

In: Philippine IslandsOut: Thai Islands

In: Northern Lights Out: City Lights

In: DIY Vacation Rentals Out: Pricey Hotels

In: Sleeping at the Mall Out: Ignoring the Mall

More from:

In: MeetAtTheAirport.com
Out: Meet at the Airport Bar

In: Cruise to Exotic Destinations
Out: Cruise to the Caribbean

In: Myanmar
Out: Laos

In: Eastern Europe
Out: Western Europe

In: Hammams
Out: Spas

In: Foraged Cuisine
Out: Non-Organic Foods

In: Philippine Islands
Out: Thai Islands

In: Northern Lights
Out: City Lights

In: DIY Vacation Rentals
Out: Pricey Hotels

In: Sleeping at the Mall
Out: Ignoring the Mall