2009 Travel Outlook: mojitos, bargains and walking shoes

The consensus is that 2009 will be the year of the travel bargain. Instead of emerging destinations in Asia and Central America, travelers will return to old favorites, like Western Europe, to reap lodging discounts and take advantage of a strengthening US dollar.

A global drop in oil prices will make flying and driving cheaper, so the road trip is back and the transatlantic flight will once again be within reach of the average traveler.

But it’s not just all about the bargain in 2009. A world — both real and virtual — is waiting to be explored by you.

So, here, in no particular order, are my travel predictions, trends, destinations, people and websites to check out in 2009.

Best old website that looks new: Worldhum.com

Always a respected, reliable source for travel news, blogs and advice, worldhum.com (founded in 2001) was hampered by a cluttered homepage that made navigating a task. Well, no longer. Worldhum.com is now totally redesigned with a clean, user-friendly interface. And their cutting-edge content remains the very best on the web. Check out the web’s preeminent travel site today.

Best new website: Jaunted.com

From the folks who launched the popular website hotelchatter.com, comes the travel-meets-pop-culture site jaunted.com. Jaunted.com gives a cheeky take on all things travel, especially the snarky crossroad where travel and pop culture meet.

Traveler to watch in 2009: Matt Gross, Frugal Traveler for The New York Times

Perhaps I’m partial because Matt and I worked together at a travel magazine from 2004-06, but he is undoubtedly the travel writer who you’ll want to read in what should be another lean year.

From Europe to Asia to Mexico, Gross travels the world looking for the best bargain hotels, freebie entertainment and cheap eats (that probably won’t induce indigestion). With everyone’s wallet feeling the pinch, travelers need look no further than the Frugal Traveler to plan a budget vacation.

Emerging trend: Slow Travel

Its ethos set along the lines of the slow food movement, slow travel emphasizes mass transportation, walking and learning about people and their communities. Take your time. Don’t squeeze too much into one trip. Proponents of slow travel seek a smaller carbon footprint and a respite from the bustling, neurotic modern world. Slow travel means having a greater appreciation for walking interesting neighborhoods and gathering experiences rather than things.

Destination that needs your travel dollars: Thailand

Everyone’s favorite Southeast Asian destination is reeling from months of political turmoil. Travelers are opting instead for Thailand’s more stable (okay, less unstable) neighbors Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam. Despite the unrest, which included a protest that shutdown Bangkok’s international airport, Thai people remain some of the most gracious on earth and Thailand is still the most tourist-friendly, budget-oriented destination in the region.

Newly affordable destination: London

Inextricably embroiled in the global credit crisis, the cultural and financial heart of jolly old England is fast becoming within reach of the middle-class traveler. The value of the British pound has dropped considerably in the last few months as investors convert their savings into trusty greenbacks. Just six months ago, one American dollar got travelers barely half a pound, but now a dollar buys almost three-quarters of a pound — a significant jump once you start swilling nine-pound pints in Piccadilly Square.

Destination of the Year: Cuba

That’s right I’m calling it: The nonsensical Cuban embargo will end or, at the very least, be relaxed to the extent that Americans will once again be free to choose their travel destinations. Current US policy prohibits spending money in the dastardly Caribbean bastion of Communism. That will change in 2009 (okay, perhaps 2012 during Obama’s second term). And it’s about time. I, uh, I mean a friend, who happened into Cuba during a Caribbean romp, found it teeming with optimistic locals, white-sand beaches, jungle mountains and mojitos that will leave you shamelessly slurping your glass to the very bottom. The allure of the relative unknown and the unconditional friendliness of Cuban people will allow Cuba to quickly supplant Jamaica and Puerto Rico as America’s favorite Caribbean destination.

Best thing about traveling in 2009: Admitting you're American

There is no way to calculate the damage the Bush Administration has done to the American image abroad. All that changed on Nov. 5 when Americans wisely chose not only the smartest and most politically savvy candidate, but the candidate best able to repair our international standing and show the world we are an inclusive nation. No longer will Canadians be obliged to stitch maple leafs onto their rucksacks to prevent being misidentified as their southerly neighbor. Americans will travel in 2009 and we will do so with our heads held high.

What’s on your travel list this year? E-mail to rmoulton@summitdaily.com