Only last month Yorkshire was declared the best place in Europe. Now it's been declared one of the best regions in the world. Better than Texas, Mallorca and Hunan in China according to Lonely Planet's annual hotlist, the Best in Travel, which has declared Yorkshire the third best region in the world, after the Kimberley in Australia and Sikkim in India.
Despite being one of Britain's most popular holiday destinations, the guidebook publisher says the region is underrated: "It's only a matter of time before this rough-around-the-edges gentleman of the north gets the traveller attention it deserves."
It points out that Yorkshire's athletes helped the region clock up more medals in the 2012 London Olympics than entire countries such as South Africa, Spain and 2016 hosts, Brazil. Even before accolades started being bestowed on the region, locals were feeling pretty chipper - a poll last year revealed Harrogate to be the happiest place in Britain.
Lonely Planet also points out that "Bradford has become the world's first Unesco City of Film, a new state-of-the-art gallery in Wakefield [The Hepworth Wakefield] is giving London a run for its money, and Yorkshire now has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other county [sic: it's actually made up of four counties] outside London. In 2014, this welcoming region of rugged moorlands, heritage homes and cosy pubs will be able to hold its head even higher when the Tour de France begins its grand départ from Leeds."
Sikkim in northern India – the country's cleanest state – topped the best regions list for "setting new benchmarks for responsible travel in the country", while the Kimberley, Western Australia, is described as the one of the most starkly beautiful places in the world.
Brazil topped the list of best countries, with next year's World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympics only adding to its already huge allure. In second place was Antarctica (actually a continent), where 100 years ago next year, Shackelton began his attempted crossing. Scotland takes third place, thanks to a massive regenetation programme with new sports venues, improved transport links and a revamp of Glasgow harbour ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Anyone wanting to visit these regions is going to have to start planning now. The cost of flights and hotels to Brazil have gone through the roof, and availability of accommodation in Yorkshire during the Tour de France and Glasgow during the Games is going to be extremely tight.
If these hotspot regions don't appeal, Lonely Planet's lists of best value destinations may be more tempting. According to the guidebook publisher, a fall in visitor numbers to Greece has meant prices have come down and the country now tops the list of best value destinations, while southern Italy (Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria) is in second place with "arguably the best beaches, hilltop towns and ancient sights in the country", and of-course simple, cheap food; and if you want Latin American exoticism without the price tag, in third place is Nicaragua, where travellers can still get by on $20 a day, according to Lonely Planet.
Top 10 countries
1 Brazil
2 Antarctica
3 Scotland
4 Sweden
5 Malawi
6 Mexico
7 Seychelles
8 Belgium
9 Macedonia
10 Malaysia
Top 10 regions
1 Sikkim, India
2 The Kimberley, Australia
3 Yorkshire, UK
4 Hokuriku, Japan
5 Texas, USA
6 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe & Zambia
7 Mallorca, Spain
8 West Coast, New Zealand
9 Hunan, China
10 Ha'apai, Tonga
Best value destinations
1 Greek Islands
2 Italy's heel
3 Nicaragua
4 Bulgaria
5 Portugal
6 Fiji
7 Mexico
8 Karnataka, India
9 Palawan, the Philippines
10 Ethiopia
Best family destinations
1 Denmark
2 Thailand
3 Belize
4 Kerala, India
5 New York City
6 Hawaii
7 Prague
8 Italy
9 Iceland
10 Lapland
