What's hot in travel trends for 2012

By Ellen Creager

Detroit Free Press

I can see it now. The travel crystal ball for 2012 shows amazing destinations, interesting price trends and, wait, is that Myanmar? Here's a look at where travel is headed this year — what's hot, what things will cost and must-dos for people who want to be on the cutting edge.

Hot destinations for 2012:

Uganda

Myanmar (Burma)

Ukraine

Jordan

Denmark

Cost of U.S. travel:

Coach airfare: Will go up 2 percent-5 percent

Business class: Will go up 5 percent-7 percent

Car rentals: Will go down as much as 1 percent

Hotel rates: Will go up 1.5 percent-6.5 percent

We plan most trips:

4 or fewer weeks ahead: 21 percent

5-7 weeks ahead: 15 percent

8 or more weeks ahead: 64 percent

Best deals:

Costa Rica — still cheap

Japan — needs visitors

Mediterranean — ship glut

Orlando — many deals

Thailand — still cheap

Don't go here:

Syria. Danger and conflict destroyed fragile tourism efforts

Or here, either:

Republic of South Sudan

Cote d'Ivoire

Afghanistan

North Korea

Iran

Iraq

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