Leading tour operator Kuoni has released its Travel Trends Report 2013 and it reveals that hand-picked hideaways, secluded villas, pampering hotels and private islands are the order of the day, in destinations spanning the exotic Far East and Africa, magical Indian Ocean, and colorful USA, Caribbean and Mexico.

A sure sign that the economy is on the mend: summer vacation spending is predicted to be up this year. According to Orbitz's annual Insider Index, 53 percent of consumers plan to spend more than $1,500 on summer vacations compared to 39 percent in 2011.

The five countries that make up the Mundo Maya region expect to welcome 50 million tourists over the next 10 years, thanks to big marketing campaigns this year and expanded cooperation, Salvadoran Tourism Minister Jose Napoleon Duarte said.