Best foreign holiday spot is named and it may not be where you'd expect

16 July 2023 , 17:15

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Medellin, in Colombia, is the place to visit in July 2023, say experts (Image: Getty Images/Collection Mix: Subjects RF)

A city once known as the most violent in the world and where bombings and shootings were an everyday occurrence has been revealed as the best holiday destination for July 2023, according to a new study.

MoneyTransfers.com considered various factors including weather, average hours of sunshine and costs of accommodation, food and transportation for the best holiday conditions for each month. The experts have named Medellin, in Colombia, as one of the most underrated spots in the world and the place to visit in July 2023.

The city was once infamously known as the home town of drug lord Pablo Escobar, when the homicide rate was five times higher than in New York City and bombings, assassinations and shootings were daily occurrences.

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A view of the city at dusk (Getty Images)

But today the city is a far cry from the dark days under the Medellin Cartel.

Jonathan Merry, CEO of MoneyTransfers.com, said of the destination to Express.co.uk : “It’s clear every continent has its draws, and while it’s easy to fall into a rut of visiting the more traditional holiday resorts every year, this list opens up so many more possibilities.

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"People may not in the past have considered Medellin in Colombia due to its chequered history, but the city has spent decades repairing itself, and the country now attracts millions of tourists from around the world who are drawn to its pristine rainforests and beaches.”

Best foreign holiday spot is named and it may not be where you'd expect

A colourful bus drives by in the city (Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images)

In July, Medellin "endures its low season, likely due to the volume of rainier days". The experts said, however, that "as a tropical destination this is expected" and the city still enjoys highs of up to 27.6C.

The average daily costs are "incredibly low" at just $56 (£43) so tourists can enjoy everything the city has on offer "without worrying about spending a fortune".

People wave rainbow flags during the 2023 Medellin Pride Parade (Getty Images)

On Tripadvisor, hundreds of visitors recommended the Metrocable in Medellin, a gondola lift that links the city centre with the surrounding hillside communities

One explained: "We visited an area up on the hills which was fascinating."

A view of houses on the hills of Comuna 13 in Medellin, Columbia (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Visitors agreed the city was a great place to visit (Getty Images/EyeEm)

Another one said: "This was a terrific experience with excellent views. Be aware that you must have local currency in order to buy tickets."

The best holiday destination for August, according to the travel gurus, is Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

A street in Guatape, a colombian village near Medellin (Getty Images)

They explained why: "Whilst many countries in August are experiencing their prime weather, with beaches filled from coast to coast, no beach can quite outdo those in Brazil.

"The city's most famous beach Copacabana is the perfect setting for tourists with a stunning backdrop of Sugarloaf Mountain."