Why this Wisconsin city is seeing a surge in Airbnb bookings for 2020

Oct 11, 2019

2 MIN READ

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Alex Butler

Writer

Dublin

I’m a packing-cube enthusiast, always trying to cram one more thing into my backpack before I hit the road. My dream trip would start in an amazing city where I can soak up the culture, followed by some relaxation in nature. Some of my favourite destinations have been Sri Lanka and Croatia. I'm originally from Canada, but since joining Lonely Planet in 2016 I’ve called Dublin home - or at least my home-base between trips.

Already run out of vacation time for 2019? You can start planning next year’s holiday to the most up-and-coming destinations, according to Airbnb. The home rental site compared its data on bookings for 2020, as of September 2019, compared to bookings made for 2019 as of September 2018, to find out just want spots are surging in popularity with travellers.

Milwaukee, WI, US

This Wisconsin city will host next year’s Democratic National Convention, which might help account for a 729% year-over-year increase in interest from guests on Airbnb. While it may be a small city, it still packs in plenty of bars, restaurants, a Calatrava-designed art museum and plenty of scenic bike trails.

Bilbao, Spain

Whether you want to stop by the incredible Guggenheim Museum or show up for the 2020 Euros football championship, Bilbao is ready for visitors. The Basque city has seen a 402% increase in interest over this year.

Buriram, Thailand

Thailand is a perennial travel favourite, but even repeat visitors might find something new in Buriram, which has had a 383% boost in interest. The rural region is home to some of the country’s most amazing Khmer relics – and boasts the Phanom Rung complex, which is an alternative to the more famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Sunbury, Victoria, Australia

Not far from the more popular city of Melbourne, this sunny suburb offers up plenty of benefits like wineries and Victorian-era architecture – and has seen a 356% increase in interest from Airbnb users.

Romania

Europe makes it way onto every traveller’s bucket list – but if you’re looking for a country that gets you off-the-beaten-path, why not try Romania? With a 298% boost in interest, there’s no doubt people want to explore its beautiful villages, ancient forests and hip cities.

Xi’an, China

Xi’an has long attracted travellers looking to see the incredible terracotta warriors. But a 255% boost in interest may come from the ancient city’s plans to offer 30 nighttime tour routes in 2020.

Eugene, OR, US

Portland’s food trucks may get all the attention for travellers in Oregon, but Eugene has been making a name for itself as a hub of organic food. The city has also committed to going carbon-neutral next year – which may account for a 213% boost in interest.

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