The term ‘up and coming’ is used a lot. You want to hear about the up and coming musicians? Sure, why not. The up and coming actors and actresses? Of course! The up and coming fashion designers, comedians, TV chefs, photographers and artists etc? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes again.

Up and coming is unfamiliar, it’s unknown, it’s fun, it’s new, and there’s a glorious sense of satisfaction that comes with knowing about the next big thing before anyone else does.

So would you like to know the up and coming travel destinations that we think you can’t afford miss out on? Yep, we knew it. In no particular order, here they are…

The Temples of Bagan help Burma make the cut

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A Round the World trip is The Dream. Ask anyone who’s ever thought about strapping on a backpack, and they’ll tell you that if they were handed a Round the World ticket, they’d be off in a flash. And it’s easy to see why.

A jaunt around the world is the ultimate journey; your opportunity to travel through countless countries, experience different cultures, and see what this big ol’ globe of ours has to offer.

It’s the kind of trip where you could be lazing on a beach in Thailand one week and trekking through the Amazon the next. You could find yourself munching on an In-N-Out burger in LA on Monday, and chowing down on nshima in Zambia on Thursday.

From deserts to mountains, beaches to backwaters, savannas to skyscrapers – a Round the World trip can pack them all in, and then some.

This could actually be you. Yep, you. Right there.

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In 2011, I set off on an epic round the world trip that would take me through Egypt, Nepal, India, South East Asia, New Zealand, the USA and, most excitingly for me, Fiji.

Having worked at STA Travel for 2 and a half years before I decided to take a 6 month sabbatical, I was very aware of my options when it came to my own round the world trip and I had been inspired to include a 10 day stop in Fiji from the very beginning of the planning stage.

Constantly writing about the beautiful beaches, turquoise lagoons, and laid back vibe made me desperate to experience it for myself – I wanted to be as far away from London as I could – both geographically and metaphorically. So, Fiji was catapulted straight to the top of my sabbatical ‘hit list’ and I built the rest of my trip around my time there.

I’m a bit of a ‘doer’ at heart, so I was a little worried that 10 days might be too much if all I was going to be doing was sitting around on the beach all day (however stunning that beach may be). But I needn’t have worried, after 10 days, when the time came to head off to LA, I wasn’t ready to go! I wanted to stay longer and continue with the things I hadn’t had time to do yet!

Fiji’s a pretty incredible place, and while I have this blog at my disposal, I’m going to spend 5 minutes telling you why I loved Fiji – and why I think you have to have to go. So don’t be jealous – just be on your way…

Not a bad way to soothe my hangover on Fiji party island Beachcomber

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Part of the fun of travelling the world is all the weird, wonderful, and completely random situations that you get yourself into.

One minute you’re saying a tearful goodbye to your mum at the airport (the tears are hers not yours of course) and then next you’re on a plane to some far flung destination, before hopping onto the back of a moped taxi, with all your worldly belongings strapped to your back; and that’s where the journey really begins…

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This week the Travel Gauntlet is back and we’re about to pit the knowledge and experience of one of our Travel Experts against that of one of our well-travelled blog readers.

If you’ve long dreamed of sharing your unbridled travel stories with our 1000s of travel fanatics from around the world via the Travel Gauntlet send us an email, and you could find yourself standing on the bloggiest looking soapbox you’ve ever seen.

This week, we’re being whisked off on a journey around East Africa, New Zealand, Fiji and Australia, with two of our keenest ever Gaunleteers. Let’s see who comes out on top.

In the red corner it’s…

STA Travel Expert, and co-host of our weekly #AskSTA Twitter travel session (every Friday at 3-4pm incase you were wondering), Lynne Templeton, from our Goodge Street store in London. Here she is in the lovely titled, Chinese Garden of Friendship, in Sydney.

Here's Lynne enjoying some time at the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney.

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