if i could travel anywhere in the world

If I Could Travel Anywhere, I Would Go To…

If you go anywhere in the world, right now, where would you go?

It’s a question that travelers have asked each other for generations – so, where next? Once you have the bug for travel, there’s truly no going back.

In this article, we’re going to give you some of the best answers to this age-old question and our top bucket list destinations for your next trip. If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…

Table of Contents

From the temples of Japan to the beaches of Mexico, here are the top places I’d love to visit this year!

If I had the chance to travel anywhere in the world, my top choice right now would undoubtedly be Japan.

From ancient shrines and elegant temples to the futuristic glitz of modern Tokyo, Japan is a country that offers something for everyone.

Japan is home to some of the most unique and beautiful landscapes in the world. From the tranquil beauty of Lake Kawaguchi to the majestic snow-capped peaks of Mount Fuji, Japan is a land of breathtaking scenery.

You can also explore the country’s many shrines and temples, which offer a glimpse into Japan’s fascinating history and spiritual culture.

The Japanese people are also a major bonus. Friendly, welcoming and incredibly polite – they’ll help you get the most out of your trip.

With the understated ancient culture and the exquisite culinary delights Japan has to offer, I have never seen a country that captivates me quite like this one.

Honestly, it is no wonder why so many people are drawn to its shores.

Why Travel to Japan?

I was lucky enough to visit Japan in 2019 and filmed the below video series for my YouTube channel.

It’s become one of my favourite countries to explore and will be somewhere I’ll visit countless times over my lifetime.

The absolute highlights of the trip had to be:

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to India.

There is something so unique and captivating about this country. India boasts a vast range of culture, wildlife, and landforms that offer an incredible way to experience the world.

With its warm and inviting climate, India’s beauty is definitely worth exploring. The country boasts immense monuments spread all over the country, with vibrant cultures embedded in each region – it’s no wonder that India captivates travelers from all around.

Not only that, but there are also some of the most exotic adventures available in India – from touring through Taj Mahal and Indian temples to exploring its magnificent nature reserves, spiritual culture and local antiquity.

From treks into hidden villages in Rajasthan for an incredible experience of history and art to attending traditional festivals with locals – there would be so much more opportunities than just sightseeing and taking picturesque landscapes!

Why travel to India?

During my travels, I have been fortunate enough to visit India on a number of occasions.

This huge country is too diverse to choose an absolute favourite thing about it, it’s just somewhere you need to experience yourself to truly understand.

If I was pressed to pick out a few of my favourite things to do in India, they would be:

3. Sri Lanka

If I could travel anywhere, it would have to be the land of happiness, Sri Lanka.

There are so many reasons this place stands out for me – its beautiful landscapes, incredible cuisine, and soft friendly people are all major draw cards.

The natural beauty of Sri Lanka is something out of a fairytale; dotted with secluded beaches, lush national parks and wildflower-filled mountainsides it is a traveler’s paradise.

Stroll through tranquil tea plantations that offer far-reaching views of misty hills or take a dip in wild, scenic waterfalls that lead you to some of the most picturesque spots imaginable.

Most importantly though, Sri Lanka offers such an authentic and diverse cultural experience – immerse yourself in the colonial past by exploring colonial-era cathedrals in Colombo or witness traditional Kandyan dances in Kandy.

All these reasons make Sri Lanka an ideal bucket list destination.

Why Travel to Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka is one of my favourite countries in the world. There’s so much to do here, it’s simply impossible to get bored.

The island has a mix of the most beautiful beaches in the world, some of the best nature available anywhere and also the friendliest people – it almost seems unfair to other countries!

Here are some of my favourite things to do in Sri Lanka:

• Driving a Rickshaw around the Island with Large Minority.
• Climbing Adam’s Peak for sunrise
• Going on an Elephant or Leopard safari.

4. Costa Rica

The next country I would choose to visit if I could travel anywhere right now is Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has everything that makes a destination new and exciting – lush rainforests, sun-kissed beaches, active volcanoes, and rich culture . Not only that, but it is also home to some of the happiest people on the planet .

By immersing myself in this environment, I hope to experience a sense of contentment and connection that cannot be found elsewhere.

I am drawn to Costa Rica because of its vibrant atmosphere; it is truly a place bubbling with joy. My days here would consist of me exploring this land and its wildlife through activities such as zip-lining, hiking and other popular adventures that the locals enjoy partaking in.

Costa Rica’s famous beaches will make you feel at peace with both nature and yourself; it’s truly an immersive experience where all your worries will disappear.

READ MORE: Our Costa Rica Digital Nomad Guide

Why Travel to Costa Rica?

I was lucky enough to visit Costa Rica in 2021 and it quickly became one of my favourite nature destinations.

The country feels like a natural Disneyland. There’s just so much to take in.

After traveling through Costa Rica for one month, these were my favourite activities:

READ MORE: Top Things To Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

If I could travel anwyhere, I would go to Mexico every year.

Mexico is such an ideal destination for your next bucket list vacation. With its white sand beaches, tropical climate, and colorful sunsets, it’s the perfect place to explore.

For those who are looking for a culture fix, Mexico is the perfect destination. From ancient Aztec and Mayan ruins to colonial European architecture, Mexico is a country steeped in history.

You can also explore the country’s many vibrant cities, where you’ll find colorful markets, fascinating museums, and lively music and art scenes.

Also, don’t forget that the cuisine of Mexico (aka authentic Mexican Food!) is one of the best in the world, encompassing a variety of flavors that you may have never tasted before.

Mexican cuisine is a delicious blend of indigenous ingredients and spices, and you can find everything from street tacos to haute cuisine. The country’s many markets and street stalls are also a great way to sample the local flavors.

Mexico is also a great location for exploring the ocean, from snorkeling to scuba diving and deep sea fishing.

With its stunning landscapes, fascinating culture, and delicious food, Mexico is the perfect destination for a memorable and unforgettable holiday.

READ MORE: How Much is a Taco in Mexico?

Why Travel to Mexico?

Mexico has become my second favourite country in the world, which you’ll understand is a big statement once I tell you my first.

There’s so much to see, do, taste and explore all across the country.

I’ve spent over six months living in Mexico in the past couple of years, in Tulum, Mexico City, Chiapas and Oaxaca. Here are a few of my favourite things to do:

Our Complete Tulum Digital Nomad Guide

6. Tanzania

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Tanzania for Safari.

Tanzania should be on everyone’s list of places to visit. This incredible country has so much to offer, from its breathtaking landscapes to its diverse cultures and wildlife.

From the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro to the rolling plains of the Serengeti, Tanzania is a land of stunning beauty.

The wildlife in Tanzania is simply breathtaking. From the majestic elephants and lions to the rare and exotic birds, Tanzania is home to some of the most incredible creatures on earth.

If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable experience, you can take a safari to the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater to see these animals up close.

Tanzania is the perfect destination for those who want to experience a unique and unforgettable African vacation.

Why Travel to Tanzania?

I spent one month backpacking through Tanzania in 2018 and it was an experience I’ll never forget.

I went from a school project in Arusha, to the Serengeti across to Zanzibar, before finally flying back across the country and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Here are a few of the highlights:

• Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
• Ngorongoro Crater 2-Day Safari
• Sunset boat cruise in Zanzibar

7. Indonesia

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Indonesia. ..

If you’re looking for an exotic destination, then look no further than Indonesia. This lush, vibrant country is home to some of the most remarkable sights in the world.

From the bustling cities of Jakarta and Surabaya to the spiritual temples of Yogyakarta and Bali, Indonesia has something for everyone. One of the best reasons to visit Indonesia is the sheer variety of landscapes, cultures and activities that await.

Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, explore a bustling city, or hike through the jungle – and this sounds like a cliche but – Indonesia truly has it all.

The country’s rugged, mountainous terrain is perfect for trekking or mountain biking, while its many beaches and coral reefs are ideal for snorkeling and diving. There’s also something for culture vultures, with traditional villages, ancient temples, and colorful markets to explore.

The Indonesian people are also a major draw. Friendly and welcoming, they’ll help you get the most out of your trip.

From the friendliness of the locals to the beauty of the country, it’s easy to see why Indonesia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

READ MORE: Best Places in Indonesia (outside of Bali)

Why Travel to Indonesia?

So we’re finally there – Indonesia is my favourite country in the world, which is why I have chosen to make it my home.

There are over 17,000 islands to explore – and every single one of them is incredible! How could you not love that!?

I have spent many years in Indonesia and so it’s difficult to choose my favourite things here, but here are a few suggestions:

• 3 Day live-aboard boat in Komodo National Park
• Hike Mount Rinjani in Lombok
• Raja Ampat for Scuba Diving

If You Could Travel Anywhere, Where Would You Go?

The truth is that no matter where you choose to travel, it’s sure to be an experience you’ll never forget.

Whether it’s a bustling city, a tropical beach, or a remote mountain village, each destination has something unique to offer and will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime.

So, if you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Let us know in the comments below.

READ MORE: What are the Top Places for Digital Nomads ?

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My name is Jordan Simons and over the past few years I've learned how to travel the world continuously. Now I want to show you how to do the same.

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If You Could Go Anywhere: 10 Bucket-List Travel Destinations

World traveler, adventurer, author, and TV host

A change of location can feed both body and mind. There is so much to see and do around the globe. The only question becomes where to begin. Attributed to Augustine of Hippo, "The world is a book, and those who don't travel read only one page." Start the next chapter of your journey today.

Begin Your Travels

Whether its adventure seeking or inspiration that is sought, these destinations are sure to leave a lasting impression.

1. Mendenhall Glacier Caves of Tongass National Park, Alaska Adventure seekers should fly to Juneau and make their way over to the caves via kayak and climb. In the interim you will be experiencing wild and pristine nature in America's largest forest. The Glacier itself runs 12 miles long and requires an escort. Intrepid visitors should fly to Juneau, kayak to and climb over the glacier to access this feature with a guide. The Mendenhall Glacier Caves are exposed to changing climactic conditions and accessibility changes.

2. Angel Falls, Venezuela This waterfall ranks as the world highest at 3,212 feet. Visitors will be surprised that the water that begins at the top takes an unusual journey and atomizes into a fine mist, never to reach the bottom.

3. Bora Bora, Tahiti This "romantic island" of a number of islands within French Polynesia is 18 miles long with white sandy shores surrounded by a lagoon. The best of those beaches is at Matira Point.

4. Anse Source d-Argent of La Digue, Seychelles Islands Often photographed, the Anse Source d-Argent invites visitors to unwind on its pale pink sand. Enjoy shallow turquoise waters and a protective reef.

5. La Samanna Resort on Baie Longue, St. Martin If a little pampering is called for, join the jet set at La Samanna. The area is secluded and the resort itself seems unreal with striking white architecture, beautiful beaches and plenty of eye candy.

6. Forter Castle, Scotland Originally built in 1560, the castle has since been restored using traditional materials. Enjoy horseback lessons, famous local greens for golfers or journey to the Nae Limits for kayaking, whitewater trips, cliff-jumping, canyonning and climbing. Visit during the Highland Games to sample Scottish hospitality and culture.

7. Belize Barrier Reef This reef remains one of the most diverse reef ecosystems and is home to rays, whale sharks, manatees and spiny lobsters. It is part of the almost 700-mile-long Mesoamerican Reef and suffered a 50 percent loss to its coral in 1998. Journey International offers a "Cayo and the Caye" journey with stops in Belize's rainforest. There will be a 3 day stay on an island in the reef with side trips to the Mayan ruins and Guatemala.

8. Madagascar Home to unique species of plants and animals found nowhere else. It is the fourth largest island in the world with a forest ecosystem under peril. There are endemic species that have yet to be recorded.

9. Florence, Italy This romantic city is residence to breathtaking artwork and was once the place where the 'renaissance' flourished. Spectacular sunsets and bright cheerful buildings will have visitors wanting to make their own creative contributions. Culinary delights, the beauty of the city and the spirit of the people revive weary souls.

10. Budapest, Hungary Budapest is known as the "Jewel of the Danube" and has European flair but a truly laid-back atmosphere with fewer tourists than Prague. Visit Buda Hill Castle at night for spectacular views of the city. Unwind in traditional thermal Turkish baths from the 16 and 17 centuries such as Rudas in this "City of Baths.

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If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Samoa because I’d like to see where and how my husband was raised and to experience the place he called home for the first 13 or 14 years of his life before moving to Hawai‘i. Understanding his background, culture and genealogy would not only allow me to gain knowledge of his past, but it would allow us to share an experience with our nephew whom we are raising. That would be priceless.

– Jaimee-Linn Shaw

If I could go anywhere in the world, I would want to go to Africa. People always say the people there are poor or they have diseases but I don’t care about that. I like to help people when they are in need. There are so many things that I would want to do.

First, I would want to bring them fresh water and food. Sometimes they don’t get the meals that they need, and it takes a toll on them. We have so much food here in the United States, and we should send them some. They barely get enough water so to bring them bulks of bottles would be a great help.

I would also like to bring them clothes. People throw out their clothes nowadays if there’s even a tiny hole or stain on it. Some of the people in Africa don’t have any clothes. Parents can give away their kidsʻ clothes to people in need instead of throwing them away.

It’s the small things that people don’t think about that matter the most. We dump food and waste water like it’s nothing, but some people don’t even get anything most days. If we just stopped and thought about what we are doing, it would make a difference.

– Kylee Nishimura

If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to Utah. It’s not an ideal spot for vacation, but I would go solely because most of my closest friends have moved there. What’s fun about Australia, Paris or Tokyo if you don’t have fun companions? It’s been awhile since I’ve seen my friends, and I can just imagine how fun it’d be to reunite one time. It’ll be just like the good old high school days, being young and reckless. Life’s changed a lot since they left too, so I’d want to catch up for sure. Texting is great and all, but nothing beats face-to-face interaction. I’m sure we’d go on some crazy adventures there.

–  Ivan Joseph Garo

I would want to go to Japan to visit. I think I have this ambition or dream to one day take a vacation there because I watch anime where they have beautiful mountains and snow. Not only that, but a spooky haunted forest. I’m into the paranormal so I’d like to experience it at night. Either that or go to a very haunted location with friends all around the world, kind of like Ghost Adventures.

– Spencer Pahulu

Greece because they are in economic decline and the houses there are going for less than $300,000 for a gigantic house. And the beaches are so much more beautiful.

– Connor Bennett

Since the first time I laid eyes on the wonderful metropolis that is New York City, I knew that it was the only place where I belong. It continues to be my life’s dream to make it there one day. New York City to me is the center of the entire world. It is the global epicenter for music, art, fashion and commerce. No other city, country or place symbolizes that in my mind and captures my intense fascination. I’d be perfectly content if someone told me I had to be confined to Manhattan for the rest of my life. To me, if there is a heaven in the afterlife, it’s the streets of Time Square. I cannot emphasize enough the warm feeling I get just thinking about one day roaming around the city, taking in everything from the subway, the hot dog carts, the Empire State building, Broadway and more. Even the loud busy street filled with angry cab drivers doesn’t faze me. I love it. New York City will always be the one place on this earth I need to be.

– Christian Sylvester

If I were to travel anywhere in the world, I would probably go home. I have seen enough of the world to know that being with my family is more important than going to New Zealand (or anywhere). I have found myself on the other side of the world once and to be able to see my family and friends would be more rewarding than any traveling experience I could have.

– Joseph Farrell

If I could travel anywhere in the world, it would be somewhere less developed, low population, simple government and with beautiful nature. I’m not sure if a place like that exists or where that may be, but some place to escape the materialistic industrialized America. Something that is a major concern of mine is the state of the environment around the world. I’d love to visit somewhere with minimal human manipulation of nature. Our environment is something bigger than any human made issues, economics, foreign affairs or everything we stress about will be quite pointless the day we run out of resources and can’t survive.

– Paige Simkins

If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would travel to Venezuela. Although this is currently not the best place to go, due to political uprisings, Venezuela has always fascinated me. It’s one of those South American countries that you really wouldn’t hear about on a day-to-day basis. Venezuela has a very rich culture that contains a very deep history. The people are passionate but they have gone through all the challenges of a hard life that we only see on TV. However, as Gandhi said, “To understand another person is one of the greatest things one can do and is more than most manage to do in their life.” So I want to go to Venezuela so that I can understand and celebrate a people who are much different than I am and who come from a much different place than I do because to me, that is beautiful and something worthwhile.

– Ethan McArdle

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The 22 best places to travel around the world in 2022: where to go next.

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Where to travel in 2022? What are the best places to travel during Covid? Where should I travel next? These are the questions that everyone is asking now that international travel is coming back to life, thanks to the loosening of travel restrictions in many destinations around the world and a pent-up demand for all those far-flung vacations that were put on hold during the pandemic. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council , travel numbers will reach pre-pandemic levels in 2022, the CEO of Expedia predicts that this summer will be the busiest travel season ever and the airlines are encountering unparalleled demand.

Note: This story is from 2022. To read about the best places to travel right now, see “The 23 Best Places To Travel Around The World In 2023, Chosen By The Experts”

Every year, I round up the best places to visit. This year, in honor of Women’s History Month in March, I tapped into a handful of women travel experts and influencers to find out the destinations that they have on their radar around the globe for 2022. The choices for where to go in 2022 range from cutting-edge urban capitals to dreamy Caribbean islands to African destinations worthy of a bucket-list vacation.

Tanzania—one of the best places to travel in 2022.

One thing to remember, though: The world is still in a state of flux. So if you’re planning a trip anywhere these days, you should check travel restrictions for the destination you are hoping to visit and consider warnings from the State Department and the CDC . And even if you decide not to plan a trip right now, consider this your ultimate travel bucket list for 2022—and beyond.

Want to stay closer to home? For more ideas of where to travel in America, check out “The 22 Best Places To Travel In The U.S. In 2022.”

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Best covid-19 travel insurance plans, best places to travel in 2022: mexico.

Overlooking Mexico City.

Where to Go: Mexico City

Chosen By: Nneya Richards is a speaker and travel blogger at ’N A Perfect World , a curated intersection of travel, food, fashion and geopolitics inspired by the global-citizen lifestyle of the millennial. Nneya aims to empower young people, especially those of color, to travel, as she believes it is through exploring the world that we will bridge cultural gaps and misunderstandings.

Why: A long time destination for notable creatives like Joan Didion and Jack Kerouac, Mexico City is experiencing a resurgence on the travel scene in 2022 with in-the-know travelers flocking there for its vibrant food, art and nightlife. “Mexico City is the kind of place you visit once and immediately start planning how you’re going to relocate,” says Richards. “While Americans have continued going to Mexico during the pandemic, travel has been more escapism. People looked to get away from city life when they traveled. Nightlife, restaurants, theatre, the pulses of cities were shuttered. As the world re-emerges, Mexico City has this in spades.”

One of the best places to visit in the city, Bosque Chapultepec is undergoing a major renovation this year. “President Obrador is hoping to make it the biggest and largest cultural center in the world, adding an aquatic center, skate parks and updating the soccer fields,” says Richards.

When it comes to travel in Mexico City, Richards recommends taking a Xochimilco floating gardens tour . “You might think the colorful music and booze-filled rides through the canals of the Xochimilco floating gardens only attract tourists—but you’d be wrong,” she says. “When I posted on my insta-stories, friends from Mexico City replied, “Yes! That’s the way to do Mexico City!”

Also on her radar: a hot air balloon over the Teotihuacan pyramids and a Temazcal ritual performed by a shamana in your hotel. “Life in Mexico City seems to really be lived, composed of a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that become a way of living,” says Richards. “As a New Yorker, I get it. Bucket-list living.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: The Caribbean

A rooftop pool at the O2 Beach Club & Spa in Barbados.

Where to Go: Barbados

Chosen By: Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, founder of Jet Set Sarah , where travel, fitness and style meet.

Why: “I love Barbados (I’m half Bajan),” says Greaves-Gabbadon. “I am looking forward to returning in 2022 to enjoy some familiar favorites (a fish cutter from Cuz's food truck on Pebbles Beach is definitely a priority) and new-to-me places such as the O2 Beach Club & Spa .”

The South Coast of Barbados is traditionally known for barefoot hotels, but now this gorgeous region is seeing a spike in luxe hotels and restaurants, including the Sea Breeze Beach House, Sandals Barbados and O2 Beach Club, where you'll find three pools (including one of the only rooftop pools on the island), six dining experiences, seven bars, a teen lounge and a spa with panoramic ocean views. The resort tapped Caribbean designer Michelle Leotaud to give 02 a true sense of place.

The South Coast’s culinary scene is buzzing, too. The open-air Worthing Square Food Garden is a new street food hall with live music and 20 pop-ups serving global flavors from sushi to jerk. Foodies can also head to new Buzo for pizza, Cocktail Kitchen for light bites or Champers for waterside dining. New cocktail bars include Tabú, Mimosa , Chill Bar & Café and Tiki Bar, which has amazing sunset views. Also not to be missed: the beachfront Barbados Boardwalk , with pools and stunning views of the open sea.

Grenada's Grand Anse Beach.

Where to Go: Grenada

Chosen By: Diane Bair (@dianebairtravel), travel writer and author of more than two dozen books on travel, outdoor adventure, and wildlife.

Why: “My goal is to eventually visit every island in the Caribbean, but darn you, Grenada! You keep enticing me back,” says Bair. “Snapshot moments—like paddling a clear kayak in an aqua lagoon while nibbling a local chocolate bar—sum up what is amazing about this three-island nation.”

Bair says she encounters something new and terrific on every visit. “Besides the burgeoning bean-to-bar chocolate business (five chocolate factories), Grenada’s food scene is a vibrant mashup of fresh seafood and aromatic, locally grown nutmeg and other spices,” says Bair. Dining hotspots include The Aquarium , La Luna and Rhodes Restaurant . “Any foodie worth the label should discover Grenadian specialties, like oildown (a breadfruit stew with meat and coconut milk) and lambie (conch),” she says. “Sample those, and more, at the Dodgy Dock at True Blue Bay Resort , which feels like a lively island version of a church supper.”

Grenada will celebrate Spicemas 2022 (Carnival) this August, a sure sign that festivities are revving up again. And ferry service is once again available to Grenada’s sister islands Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Besides stellar beaches (Carriacou’s Paradise Beach was recently named best in the Caribbean), Grenada claims bragging rights to the first underwater sculpture park in the world. “Recently renovated, the park features 82 life-size sculptures, modeled after local people. Snorkeling or diving alongside them is always a joy,” says Bair. “Waterfalls and rainforest also make this destination a slam-dunk for me.”

If you’re inclined to add to your time in paradise with some feel good deeds, Grenada’s newly launched Voluntourism initiative is something to check out. And more good news: “Grenada’s Simple Stays program highlights 16 affordable accommodations, making it easy for more travelers to experience this incredible island,” says Bair.

Nneya Richards in Martinique—one of the top travel destinations for 2022.

Where to Go: Martinique

Why: “Do you guys look at Rihanna’s Crop Over looks every year and promise that one year you’ll do a Carnival? If you’re not quite bold enough for a full-on Crop Over and want to ease into Carnival life, head down to Martinique,” says Richards.

“This beautiful island’s annual Carnival is the perfect place for you and your tribe to do your first Carnival, as it’s the only one that’s really participatory: there are no barriers separating the spectators and marchers,” she says. “Everyone is encouraged to participate and everyone does.”

Martinique was recently named the top emerging destination in the world by Tripadvisor—and it’s no wonder. Beyond Carnival, travelers will love exploring Martinique’s verdant mountains and spectacular white and black sand beaches. Some big news for the island: UNESCO recently named the entire island a World Biosphere Reserve (the second UNESCO distinction for the island). Another tip from Richards: “This year JetBlue has well priced flights there.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Canada

A panorama along Bow River Parkway in Alberta's Banff National Park.

Where to Go: Alberta, Canada

Chosen By: California Chaney, global travel writer, DJ, photographer and editor at Fathom . Follow along on her travels at @californiastarchaney or californiachaney.com

Why: Alberta holds wonder around every bend and corner, from the spectacular Canadian Rockies to the Badlands to the culturally rich cities. Perfect for travelers with passions for learning and the expansive outdoors, Alberta offers a wide variety of festivals and museums, rich and interactive history, exquisite provincial parks, delicious cuisine with small batch spirits and an impressive number of daylight hours to maximize time. In early July, the sun rises before 5:30 and sets close to 10 p.m.

Explore the newly expanded Metis Crossing , an interpretive destination offering immersive and authentic Indigenous Métis experiences. For city culture, the Edmonton Queer History Project has launched its new interactive website and walking tours that map 27 historically significant landmarks. For those who like to travel slow, Vacations By Rail has routes through the Rockies and the cities. “It’s the most spectacular way to truly experience the Rocky Mountains and unplug while taking the scenic route, winding through the mountains and valleys with luxury sleeper cars, dinner on board and cozy nooks to get lost in the passing scenery,” says Chaney.

For adrenaline, cycle the windy and scenic Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise. Chaney also recommends taking a river tour with Urban River Adventures , which “leads trips to the secluded islands in the North Saskatchewan River with overnights in geodesic glamping tents.” Dine in a 360° Dome , surrounded by panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies and a 132-year-old castle or join a “ peak nic ”—part interpretive-guided hike, part backcountry cooking lesson and part gourmet picnic. Some other tips: “The Dark Sky Festival in the fall hosts under the illuminated sky,” says Chaney. “While the winter is all about being in the mountains, the summer is focused on Alberta’s bounty of cerulean-blue lakes and cascading rivers.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Central and South America

Peggy Bree in Huacachina, Peru.

Where to Go: Huacachina, Peru

Chosen By: Peggy Bree, a part-time digital nomad from Toronto, has been working remotely and traveling since she was 23. She is a remote project manager, podcast host of Branding Gems and the owner of Blank Room (find everything here ). Follow her on Instagram for her faith, digital nomad and brand/business life.

Why : Peru is known for Machu Picchu, but 200 miles south of Lima and 10 minutes from the busy city of Ica, you’ll find the latest place to explore: Huacachina, an arid coastal desert town that is home to the world’s second highest sand dune. “This is a new find that people should flock to when they think of Peru. A true oasis in the desert,” says Bree. “There is just no other place like this one—it’s a hidden gem of a find where I fell in awe of the change of scenery.”

Adventurers come here from all over the world to check out 3,860-foot Cerro Blanco’s desert thrills, from riding dune buggies to sand boarding. “The Jeep rides are so fun and adventurous. Imagine a wild ride with no roads and no set direction,” says Bree. “You can also just look over the desert in deep thought—whatever floats your boat. Personally, I had such a grand time just in reflection of how beautiful Huacachina is.”

Whatever you do, be sure to wake up early. “You’ll have the oasis to yourself before the tourists come,” says Bree. “The sunrise and sunset view is also a gem.”

Placencia beach in Belize.

Where to Go: Belize

Chosen By: Stephanie Vermillion , a travel journalist and photographer covering stories at the intersection of culture and adventure for publications like Outside Magazine, National Geographic and Travel + Leisure . Follow her work and adventures on Instagram .

Why: Home to mystical Maya sites, wondrous aquatic habitats and lush national parks, Belize is one of Central America’s most biodiverse countries, touting tropical jungles, wildlife reserves and cascading flora and fauna. “There’s a reason Belize is buzzing this year: new hotels like sustainable glamping oasis Hills and Valley promise the ultimate Central American immersion, while a host of new nonstop flights make getting here a breeze,” says Vermillion. “But these tourism additions are merely supporting characters in my ultimate reason to visit Belize right now: connection. It’s something we all crave after two odd years of paused travel; it’s also where Belize shines.”

“There’s connection to wildlife via dive and snorkel trips along the awe-striking Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-largest coral reef system in the world. The new Marriott Autograph Collection property Alaia Belize , the country’s first and only luxury resort to offer PADI dive certification, gets you outside your comfort zone and into the heart of the Caribbean Sea action via its onsite dive shop,” she says.

The Belize Tourism Board is increasingly building pathways for travelers to connect with and support indigenous communities, especially on the southeast coast of Belize, where a blend of culture and adventure provides a perfect getaway for culture enthusiasts, thrill seekers and beach lovers. The charming laid-back villages and seaside communities of Dangria and Hopkins are the cultural heart and pride of the Garifuna people, who invite visitors to join in cultural dances and musical drums at Lebeha Drumming Center and delicious exotic foodie indulgences at the female-owned Tugucina Gloria . Belize is home to the world’s only jaguar preserve in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, spectacular jungle vistas, ziplining and waterfall rappelling in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park . And then there’s Placencia, the traditional Kriol (Creole) fishing village, which is known locally as “Barefoot Perfect.” It’s the ideal location to enjoy 16 miles of unspoiled beaches.

Galapagos sea lions sunbathing at the beach of Espanola island in the Galapagos Islands.

Where to Go: Ecuador

Chosen By: Katie Jackson has somehow made a living as a full-time travel writer since 2015 when an African safari turned into seven years of living out of a suitcase. In between trips, she can be found recuperating in Montana. She shares her adventures, and misadventures, on IG @katietalkstravel .

Why: In January, Jackson had the pleasure of sailing on Hurtigruten’s first Galapagos Islands expedition . “I returned with a newfound appreciation for wildlife, especially for birds, which I never thought would happen,” she says.

Also in January, the president of Ecuador established a new reserve that will triple the size of the Galapagos Islands’ protected area. It will extend all the way to Costa Rica, effectively creating a superhighway for fragile marine life. Among the unique species travelers can only see—or perhaps better said, encounter—in the islands are marine iguanas (the only seafaring iguanas), Galapagos tortoises (who can live to be 150 years old) and Darwin’s famous finches (essential to the theory of evolution).

“There’s nothing comparable to the thrill of snorkeling alongside utterly adorable—and equally playful—sea lions,” Jackson explains. “They were so curious and comfortable around us. One even hopped aboard our ship and tried to be a stowaway.”

Of course, mainland Ecuador—one of the most bio-diverse places on earth—is also worth checking out, whether your ideal destination involves volcanoes, rainforests, beaches or all three. Then there’s Quito, the first city to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated high in the Andes at an elevation of 9,350 feet, it’s also the highest constitutional capital in the world.

Jackson says she has heard phenomenal things from her travel writer friends about Mashpi Lodge : “It has won numerous industry awards and boasts a sky bike, an open-air cable car and a hummingbird garden.” She’s also eager to try Zazu —a Michelin-star worthy Relais & Chateaux restaurant in Quito. “The chef handpicks the fishermen he sources from and uses produce grown in his personal greenhouse.”

A pool at the Met Hotel in La Paz.

Where to Go: La Paz, Bolivia

Chosen By: Canela Ugalde, cofounder of How To La Paz , experience designer for Salar Art+Travel and gallery owner.

Why: While the Salar de Uyuni salt flats remain Bolivia’s top tourist attraction, La Paz—the city that touches the clouds and is the gateway to this natural wonder—has proven to be much more than a mere stopover. “Before the pandemic, La Paz was well under way to becoming the region’s top destination,” says Ugalde. “I truly believe we are picking the ball right up where we left it and coming out stronger than ever.”

New hotels, restaurants and experiences are popping up that reflect the culture’s values: authenticity and uniqueness. “ Met Hotel is a good example—a hotel built during the pandemic,” she says. “It will honor different cultural aspects of contemporary Bolivia. The hotel doubles as an art platform for local artists, which focuses on giving the visitor a taste of Bolivia through its architecture, design and cuisine.”

Other projects on the horizon that will be delivering unforgettable and unique experiences include the Panorama Hotel and Casa Gastón. “These will be one-of-a-kind spaces, unlike any other place you’ve ever visited, where you’ll feel the sense of wonder that only the Salt Flats can offer,” says Ugalde.

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Europe

Le Comptoir at The Ritz Paris.

Where to Go: Paris

Chosen By: Lindsey Tramuta is a travel and culture writer based in Paris and the author of the bestselling book The New Paris and the newly released The New Parisienne . Follow her on Instagram .

Why : “This city is super resilient,” says Tramuta. “You have this reawakening of the city, which is really beautiful.” For starters, there was the recent opening of the Hôtel de la Marine museum. “It’s extraordinary—it was closed to the public since the 1800s,” says Tramuta. “And its new museum restaurant, Mimosa by Michelin-starred chef Jean François Piège, is also a huge new reason to visit.” More cultural highlights: the reopening of the Musée de la Chasse et de La Nature (“super eclectic and super funky,” says Tramuta) and the new Bourse de Commerce art museum. And everyone’s talking about the reopening of Samaritaine , the Art Deco and Art Nouveau department store. “Even if you’re not necessarily in the market to shop for anything, architecturally it’s worth seeing, both outside and inside,” says Tramuta.

Tramuta also notes that there’s a lot of buzz happening at the Ritz Paris . “François Perret, their extremely talented pastry chef, has opened Le Comptoir , which is a dedicated pastry shop and tea salon where you can go and try pastries exclusive to this space—and it’s beautiful.” More big news from the Ritz includes the opening of the new astrologically inspired Ritz Bar and the upcoming reconcepting of the Ritz Club Spa.

Some other new culinary hotspots on Tramuta’s radar include Jugaad (“a terrific modern Indian restaurant”) and La Petite Epicerie de la Tour , a gourmet grocer from La Tour d’Argent, one of the most iconic restaurants in the world. “If you don’t want to take the time or the money to eat at the restaurant, you can have a taste of it here,” says Tramuta.

Another noteworthy development in Paris is the extraordinary extension of all of the bike lanes. “It really changes the way we navigate the city, and from a traveler’s perspective, it means that the pedestrian and the bike rider are all kings of the road,” says Tramuta.

Calton Hill in Edinburgh.

Where to Go: Edinburgh and Fife, Scotland

Who : Emily Goldfischer, London-based writer, hotel lover and founder of the website hertelier .

Why : A five-hour direct flight from the East Coast of the United States, those looking to dip their toes back into travel can look no further than Edinburgh and Fife in Scotland. “You’ll fall in love with the compact, hilly and history-filled capital of Edinburgh and the stunning peninsula of Fife, considered the Hamptons of Scotland but better known as the birthplace of golf,” says Goldfischer.

The big news in Edinburgh is St. James Quarter , a hub of shops, restaurants and hotels like the W Edinburgh (which will add a contemporary twist to the ever-changing skyline) and Roomzzz (a boutique living experience). Other Edinburgh hotel news includes The Gleneagles Townhouse (opening in St. Andrew Square) and 100 Princes Street Hotel (a bold statement by Red Carnation set to breathe new life into one of the city’s more important addresses). “You will be spoiled for choice of ways to spend a few glorious days,” says Goldfischer. “Edinburgh is perfect for strolling and there’s a burgeoning food scene with amazing farm-to-table options.” Check out Edinburgh’s first food hall, the Bonnie and Wild Scottish Marketplace , and the new Johnnie Walker Princes Street , which brings to life the story of the brand and its makers.

Beyond the city is Fife, a 50-mile drive along the Scottish coastline. “St. Andrews is perhaps the most glorious of all the towns in Fife, with its West Sands Beach, a two-mile stretch made famous from running scenes in the 1981 movie, Chariots of Fire ,” says Goldfischer. Its seven golf courses include Old Course (where the British Open will be held in 2022) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (founded in 1754 and considered the birthplace of golf). “Even if you have no interest or never played golf, don’t miss the Himalayas , a manicured 18-hole undulating putting course that changes every week,” says Goldfischer. “Stay at the Old Course hotel , home to the only Kohler spa outside the U.S. and a Mecca for golfers.”

A view of Porto in Portugal.

Where to Go: Portugal

Why: Once the most underrated country in Western Europe, Portugal is now on every traveler’s radar—and for good reason. It’s more affordable than neighboring Spain and France, its home to the world’s first demarcated wine region and its comfortable climate makes it a year-round destination.

“In April, my girlfriend and I are sailing to Portugal on the maiden voyage of Celebrity Beyond , captained by Kate McCue, America’s first female cruise ship captain,” says Jackson. “It’s our second trip to Portugal since August—we can’t seem to stay away.”

New nonstop flights from the U.S. on Azores Airlines mean it’s never been easier to reach Madeira , a stunning subtropical archipelago off the coast of Africa and basically Portugal’s answer to Hawaii. Thanks to new nonstop flight service from United, Americans can also conveniently island hop in the Azores , where dolphin and whale watching is practically an Olympic sport. Other Insta-worthy beaches can be found in the always-sunny Algarve , or if you’re a surfer, in the north, where the world’s largest standing wave attracts surfers from as far away as Australia.

For the past few years Jackson’s home-away-from-home in Portugal has been Onda Pura Surf Center in Porto . “Their local instructors—who speak perfect English—had me catching waves in the very first class.”

As far as accommodations go, booklovers will think they’ve died and gone to heaven in Obidos at The Literary Man whose collection includes more than 65,000 titles. In Lisbon, all the buzz is about the newest hotel, The Ivens , and its culinary offerings including a crudo bar, gastro bar and Rocco , an elegant Italian restaurant complete with a red carpet entrance.

Rooftop with a view at Six Senses Rome.

Where to Go: Rome

Chosen By: Laura Itzkowitz , a Rome-based travel writer.

Why: With a treasure trove of artistic, cultural and architectural wonders, Rome is coming back to life in 2022—and then some. “In addition to welcoming a handful of exciting new hotels, including Six Senses Rome , the Eternal City is creating new museum and pedestrian walkways that will give visitors an up-close view of the Sacred Area of Torre Argentina , the ancient site where Julius Caesar is believed to have been assassinated,” says Itzkowitz.

Set in a palazzo in the center of ancient Rome, just blocks away from the Fontana di Trevi, the new Six Senses is the brand’s first property in Italy and will have an emphasis on wellness and sustainability, from local, seasonal food to interiors from designer Patricia Urquiola. One of the highlights is the rooftop terrace, showcasing 360-degree views of Rome.

Other big news for the Eternal City: “Last year, the Mausoleum of Augustus —the world’s largest circular tomb—reopened to the public after an €8 million restoration,” says Itzkowitz.

Big Ben and Westminster Bridge in London.

Where to Go: London

Chosen By: Melissa Klurman —travel expert and contributor at Reader’s Digest , The Points Guy and Travel Awaits .

Why: “It’s been more than two years since I was in Europe, a length of time I couldn’t have imagined pre-pandemic,” says Klurman. “And I’m excited to cross the pond again and visit London, one of my favorite cities, which is easy to visit in 2022 since Great Britain no longer has Covid-testing requirements for entry.” One big highlight in 2022: the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. There will be royal watching and events and, in June, a weekend of pageants and parades worth a special visit.

“In addition to lots of royal excitement, there are some creative new theatrical offerings I’m excited to explore, including outdoor Shakespeare at the Globe and museum exhibits like the Van Gogh Self-Portraits at the Courtald Gallery,” says Klurman, who is also looking forward to taking advantage of GoCity passes, which are completely digital now. “So we can pop into iconic spots like Tower of London without having to spend our time queuing.”

Where to stay: The Nhow London on the fringes of trendy Shoreditch launched during the pandemic and is now primed for its first fully active summer. This is a hotel for design lovers, which is evident as soon as you step into the lobby and spot the 10-foot-tall statue of a rocket-ship Big Ben trailing tennis balls or the Day-Glo green centerpiece bar where you can grab a craft cocktail or a pint any time of day or night. Up in the rooms, the theatrically lit halls feel like you've stepped onto a London street with brightly painted doors resembling the entrances to British homes, complete with large brass knockers. Rooms sport fun details big and small from hanging bowler hat lamps to wall-size portraits of British Kings in the, ahem, throne room, to get you fully in the mood for a Royal Jubilee summer.

Barcelona with a view of La Sagrada Familia.

Where to Go: Barcelona

Chosen By: Alyssa Ramos, founder of My Life’s a Movie and a solo female travel blogger, content creator, entrepreneur and social media influencer who travels the world full-time and seeks to showcase unique destinations through her unique photography style and honest, detailed travel tips. Her motto is “Dreams Don't Work Unless You Do.”

Why: “There’s just something about Barcelona that attracts everyone and draws them in like a moth to a flame,” says Ramos. “Even the way the name rolls off your tongue is alluring, and once you arrive, you’ll never want to leave. I know this for a fact because I’m now based there, and even when I have an epic travel lineup, it’s still hard for me to pry myself away.”

Barcelona welcomes all types of travelers, from solo to couples, and even pets—Spain now considers dogs part of the family. When you’re visiting Barcelona, you’ll want to try some local cuisine; Ramos’s top recommendations are Bar Cañete or 7 Portes for paella, and Bar del Pla or Cerveceria Catalana for tapas. “If you’re looking for fun bars, Paradiso and Dr. Stravinsky are some of the most famous in the world,” says Ramos. “But there’s also some local secret spots that are less touristy, like Somnia .”

While the Gothic Quarter (or Barri Gòtic) and El Born are most popular for tourists to stroll along the many cobblestone streets, also check out Eixample for a local vibe, as well as Gràcia. “La Barceloneta, the main beach area, is a lot of fun with its many restaurants and chiringuitos (little bar/restaurants right in the sand), but if you walk further north, there’s also a strip of restaurants that turn into day clubs then night clubs,” says Ramos. “My favorite is Carpe Diem .”

Rooftops are also a glorious thing in Barcelona, and you can go up to most of them as long as you order at least a drink. “ Ohla and GHotel are a couple of my favorites, and Ayre Hotel is most famous but nearly impossible to get a reservation (it overlooks La Sagrada Familia),” says Ramos. “After you’ve seen all the main sites and neighborhoods, you can keep exploring by doing a hike up to Montjuïc or even Tibidabo, the castle-looking church you can see atop a massive hill from anywhere in town.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Africa and the Middle East

Female Rangers in Mghahinga National Park in Uganda.

Where to Go: Uganda

Chosen By: Christine Chitnis is a writer, photographer and author of four books, including Patterns of India . She is currently at work on her fifth book, Patterns of Portugal. Follow her colorful interpretation of life at @christine.chitnis .

Why: Uganda shares the Virunga Mountains with Rwanda, and thus the same quality of gorilla trekking experiences can be found in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. Luckily for travelers, permits are more than half the cost of permits in Rwanda.

The great ape experience doesn’t have to end with gorillas. Uganda has many parks for chimpanzee trekking, the Kyambura Gorge being one of the more unique. Located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can trek a family of 32 chimps in a sunken forest by morning and go on a cruise safari down the Kazinga Channel River, where sightings of elephants, buffalo, alligators, hippos are seen from this unique vantage point.

“I recently traveled with Go2Africa as I wanted to explore the intersection of travel and conservation in East Africa,” says Chitnis. “The country is brimming with impactful conservation work by inspiring leaders like Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka of Conservation Through Public Health and Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris , a pioneering great ape tourism company that couples world-class lodges with community-minded initiatives including a women-run coffee cooperative, a wetlands restoration project and the construction of a community center in a local village.”

Another thing not to miss in Uganda: a private island on the Nile River. Wildwaters Lodge sits on a rainforest reserve on 16 protected acres and is an adventure seeker’s paradise with access to white-water rafting, horseback riding, ziplining and more.

Where to Go: Zanzibar and Tanzania

Why: Tanzania is an ideal African country to visit, from safaris in the Serengeti where you can see the Big 5 (leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino) to the crystal-clear waters of Zanzibar. “If you’ve never done a safari before, prepare to be awestruck by the amount of animals you’ll see from the safety of your safari vehicle,” says Ramos. “Now is a really great time to go to Tanzania, because with the lack of tourism, the amount of animals has drastically increased.”

“After long game drives, you’ll then retire to fabulous glamping lodges, many of which are in the actual parks,” says Ramos. Some new places for 2022 to put on your radar: andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge (which has an ideal location for experiencing the thrilling river crossing and vast herds of the Great Migration) and Usangu Expedition Camp (where you can have a hands-on conservation experience at the first tourism operation in the wild and uncharted Usangu wetlands of Ruaha National Park).

“If bucket-list checks or personal challenges are your thing, I’d highly recommend going for the Mount Kilimanjaro climb,” says Ramos. “I did it for International Women’s Day one year with an all-female group, and it was absolutely amazing.”

A quick flight or ferry will get you to the exotic island of Zanzibar. “But before you head off to enjoy the many tantalizing beaches, be sure to stop in Stone Town to learn about the dark history of the island, and how the slave trade markets originated there,” says Ramos. “One of my favorite boutique hotels in the entire world is located in Zanzibar; it’s called Tulia and it has its own jungle waterslides, plus an entire garden where they source their produce for the restaurant.”

On the balcony of Singita Lebombo, overlooking the N’wanetsi River.

Where: South Africa

Chosen By: Hannah Freedman, a former travel editor and current content strategist for Travel + Leisure . Follow along on her trips at @hfreed11 on Instagram and @awaywithhannahj on TikTok.

Why: With history, culture, awe-inspiring animal sightings, bustling cities and a stunning wine region, South Africa is the best of all worlds. It even brings the romance. “I recently visited South Africa for my bucket list-worthy honeymoon and it was truly the ultimate mix of adventure and relaxation. It’s a transformative trip you’ll never forget,” says Freedman. Plus, South Africa just recently relaxed its Covid testing requirements, making it easier for vaccinated travelers to visit.

United offers direct flights between New York City and Johannesburg, making Joburg a good place to start your journey. Get a history lesson by visiting the Apartheid Museum (which reopens following Covid shutdowns April 1), the Mandela House and the Hector Pieterson Museum . Then continue in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela with a stay at the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa . “You’ll feel a world away from the chaotic city streets thanks to its manicured garden grounds and multiple pools,” says Freedman. In addition to Mandela living at the property for six months, other notable past guests include the Clintons, Will Smith and even Oprah.

“Of course, you can’t visit South Africa without spending a few days in Kruger National Park,” advises Freedman. And a stay at all-inclusive Singita Lebombo or Singita Sweni is just the way to see epic wildlife and sleep in style. The two properties are right next to one another on a private concession of 33,000 acres within the park. “Singita has thought of every last detail to make this place a serious spoil,” says Freedman. “The wildlife is next level, the guides are incredibly knowledgeable, and the rooms are stunning.” The best animal encounter she experienced? Swimming at the on-site pool when a wild elephant came right up to munch on a nearby tree and steal a drink of water.

Round out your adventure with a last stop in Cape Town and the Winelands. Hike up Table Mountain for incredible city and ocean views and then head to Boulders Beach to spot the iconic penguin colony. For a luxe stay that includes plenty of culture, check in at estate-turned-boutique-property Ellerman House . “The private art collection here alone is worth it,” notes Freedman. The Winelands are just a 45-minute drive from the city, making it an easy day trip. Freedman recommends visiting Babylonstoren for delicious farm-to-table food with your wine and Delaire Graff Estate for romantic vista views.

Sunset over Wadi Rum in Jordan, one of the top places to travel in 2022.

Where to Go: Jordan

Chosen By: Kay Kingsman, travel writer and blogger at The Awkward Traveller .

Why: If you’re looking to dip your foot into solo travel in the Middle East, Jordan is the destination to do it. Over the past year, Jordan has heavily invested in repaving highways and improving access to tourist sites. “Plus, to better meet the needs of solo female travelers in Jordan , there are more women-led and women-operated tour guides and experiences,” says Kingsman. Whether you join a group trip or set off driving in Jordan on your own, your journey should start in Amman. “Amman is a whirlwind,” says Kingsman, who spent her days weaving in and out of the bustling sidewalks.

As you leave the city, head south to the Dead Sea, where you can float in the lowest point on Earth. “Insider’s tip, though,” Kingsman notes, “Don’t get the water in your mouth. Just trust me on that.” Another tip: “You might want to go sooner rather than later, as the Dead Sea is predicted to disappear in the next few decades.” If you’re interested in the Holy Land, just a short drive from the Dead Sea, you can visit the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ .

But of course, you can’t leave Jordan without heading to the desert. “If you’ve never camped under the stars, Wadi Rum is the place to do it,” says Kingsman, who suggests staying at Captain’s Camp , where you can experience sleeping in a cave, eating authentic Jordanian BBQ and getting in a dance battle with the staff. Then, in the morning, visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Petra. “Make sure to get an early start at Petra,” says Kingsman. “It can get hot in the middle of the day, so bring water and walking shoes.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Asia and Oceania

Jessica Nabongo in Kyoto, Japan. Image from her forthcoming book, "The Catch Me If You Can. "

Where to Go: Kyoto, Japan

Chosen By: Jessica Nabongo , travel expert, writer, photographer and author of The Catch Me If You Can , which goes on sale June 14 and will be available wherever books are sold; pre-order it now on Amazon or your preferred retailer.

Why: “Tokyo is such an important city for so many things, but what Kyoto does is show you the heart of Japanese culture,” says Nabongo, who lived in the ancient capital for one year. According to Nabongo, 2022 will be a great time to visit. “When Japan does open its borders, there will be a narrow window of time to see Kyoto without the crowds before visitors start coming back,” she says.

Even though borders have been closed, Kyoto has not stopped moving forward. New hotel openings include the luxurious Hotel the Mitsui , The Shinmonzen and the Marufukuro Hotel (in the old Nintendo headquarters building). Throughout the pandemic, the city of Kyoto also made a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050, and initiated steps to curb overtourism in the city, including developing a consulting arm of the tourism board to provide tech support and social media training in the hopes of building awareness of less-visited stores and neighborhoods to reroute crowds away from high-volume areas.

Kyoto City is looking forward to a new point of view on tourism in 2022 and beyond. The Kyoto City Tourism Association installed live cameras around the city’s hotspots, including the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Nishiki Food Market, so that locals and tourists alike can check the congestion levels before venturing to those areas.

“Kyoto’s history as the ancient capital shines through, too. The city has a beautiful golden palace called Kinkaku-ji that makes for a super interesting visit,” says Nabongo. “And the food scene is incredible; you’ll find cool izakayas everywhere. If you’re looking to do a cultural deep-dive of Japan, Kyoto is the place to do it.”

V Villas Phuket in Thailand.

Where to Go: Phuket, Thailand

Chosen By: Content creator Shelbi Okumura of Bucket List Bums . Follow her on @bucketlistbums .

Why: “Thailand was one of the first destinations in Southeast Asia to open back up to tourists, and that early buzz now has everyone wanting to visit,” says Okumura. “Phuket particularly seems to be on everyone’s bucket list, and for good reason. It caters to everyone from high-end luxury travelers to backpackers on a budget.”

Travelers to Phuket in 2022 will experience the vibrancy of the island with fewer crowds, and starting April 1, without the requirement for proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel via three entry schemes, including Test & Go, Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine (AQ).

“There’s so much to see and do on the island—remote beaches, sunset bars, cheap eats, high-end restaurants, offshore islands and so much more,” says Okumura. “It’s the perfect place to start (or end) a week of island hopping in Thailand.”

Phuket offers options for all types of travelers looking to experience its pristine sea glass–colored water, and the island’s luxurious side is finally getting the attention it deserves. The new V Villas Phuket offers a curated selection of villas with private pools and one of the newest rooftop bars, AKOYA Star Lounge , serving craft cocktails and 360-degree ocean views. Phuket Old Town is a cultural hub for distinct street art, street vendors and live music at the Sunday night market, inventive eateries such as farm-to-table Torry’s Ice Cream and daring night performances at the Junkyard Theatre , which recently launched a weekly Saturday night show.

The Melbourne skyline with bathing huts in the foreground.

Where to Go: Victoria, Australia

Chosen By: Oksana St John is a travel writer and founder of an award-winning sustainable travel blog, DrinkTeaTravel.com . Together with her husband, Max, she’s on a mission to explore the world in a responsible way. You can follow their journey on their blog and see behind the scenes of their travels on Instagram and YouTube .

Why: “After being closed to international tourists for almost two years, tourism in Australia is coming back in full force in 2022 and if you are looking to escape the crowds while visiting, then Victoria is the place to go,” says St John. Victoria —the state that’s home to Melbourne, once called the “Paris of the South”—is welcoming a number of new accommodations and local experiences. A few standout hotel openings for 2022 include the Ritz Carlton Melbourne (the tallest hotel in Australia, complete with a sky check-in on level 79), Peppers Richmond (set on the historic Bridge Road in Melbourne’s lively inner-city suburb) and the Shangri-La Hotel, Melbourne (part of a stunning new development, Sapphire by the Gardens).

Want to check out the city’s insider spots? The best way to do it is on a tour with Hidden Secrets Tours. “There is always more to discover and make new memories each visit,” says founder Fiona Sweetman. “You just have to know where to look.”

If you only have a few days to spare, take a day trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island. “Stay in the charming Oak Tree Lodge , have a fabulous meal overlooking the ocean at The Cape Kitchen , go for a hike at Cape Woolamai and don’t miss the Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach,” says St John. If you have a bit more time, go on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, or if you are fit, join the 12 Apostles Lodge Walk with the Australian Walking Company . “You’ll stay in environmentally conscious luxury accommodation, eat fabulous locally sourced meals and enjoy a foot spa at the end of each day,” says St John.

Cap off your visit with a few days in the Yarra Valley, Victoria’s lush wine country just an hour outside of Melbourne. “Enjoy a stay in a picturesque setting and pop by some cellar doors for a taste of great Australian wines. Don’t miss a stop at De Bortoli and try their comprehensive tasting menu perfectly matched with a selection of local cheese,” says St John.

Some other can’t-miss Victoria experiences include Alba , a new luxurious thermal spring and spa coming to the Mornington Peninsula. Grampians Peak Trail is a once-in-a-lifetime 13-day hike, complete with new roofed huts and campgrounds available for booking this spring. And at Sea Bounty Mussels in Portarlington, guests can harvest mussels fresh from the farm and have them cooked on the boat for a truly bespoke experience.

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Travel By Carla Vianna

Travel and Adventure Inspiration

How to Plan a Trip Around the World

April 16, 2020 · In: RTW Travel

Wondering how to plan an around the world trip ? Learn from someone who’s already done it! Here is everything you need to know before tackling around-the-world travel. In this post, I break down the round-the-world trip planning process into 7 actionable steps.

Soon after graduating college, I realized there were little pleasures to be found in the traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle. I felt swallowed whole into the bottomless pit of Corporate America, despite not having a very “corporate” job. I found that working in a newsroom doing what I loved — reporting local news and writing articles I was proud of —came with a few strings attached. Namely, little to no vacation time.

You get three sick days … but don’t you dare use them up.

Ten paid vacation days, but don’t take them all at once.

Six company holidays, if you’re lucky.

—Corporate America 

I loved the industry I was in, but having no more than 10 days of vacation, at least for the next five years, didn’t sit well with me. How would I manage to travel to the countries on my bucket list; visit my parents in their respective home states; and also see my family in Brazil with only a few days off?

It was impossible.

I realized that working for a company in the U.S. meant little to no travel time overall. If I wanted to see the world in longer than five- to 10-day increments, I had to make something drastic happen. That’s when I started plotting my escape, which eventually led to my around-the-world trip .

In 2017, my boyfriend and I quit our jobs to travel around the world for 10 months, visiting countless cities across 22 countries. I know that planning an around-the-world trip can be incredibly exciting, but also super overwhelming. That’s why I’m sharing the exact process I used to plan my round-the-world trip.

Plan Your Dream Round-the-World Trip in 7 Steps

It’s not easy to plan a trip around the world, but I promise you it’s worth it. When I first thought of quitting my job to travel, I had no idea where to start.

After some online research, I found a small but thriving community of full-time travelers who were living a life that appealed to me far more than that tied me behind a desk.

Many of these travelers had started their journeys with an around-the-world trip. There was even a term for it, “round-the-world travel” or “RTW” for short.

I didn’t need any more convincing. I told myself that if they could do it, I could too. So I started planning my dream around-the-world trip.

Around The World Trip Planning Process, At a Glance :

• Decide where to go
• Create a backpacking route
• Determine how long the trip will last
• Identify a trip budget 
• Create a savings plan
• Let go of current commitments
• Buy that one-way ticket!

Step 1: Choose Your Destinations

This was probably the most fun part of planning a trip around the world, as the opportunities are endless!

The very first step was to write down every single city or country I’ve ever dreamt of visiting. Aside from obvious dream destinations like Paris and Machu Picchu, I read a ton of travel blogs to come up with incredible ideas like the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia and Koh Tao in Thailand .

Since I was traveling with my boyfriend, he did the same.

We later compared our lists and circled all the destinations we had in common. Then we went over the differences on each and debated whether or not the other person would like to go there, too. After all was said and done, we had one giant list of cities. From this list, we’d create our around-the-world trip itinerary .

Step 2: Create Your Around The World Trip Route

Aside from saving enough money to make this trip happen, creating a feasible round-the-world trip route was the second most difficult task.

There are a few factors to consider when creating the smartest, most cost effective around-the-world travel route:

• The number of transcontinental flights you’ll need to purchase
• Following one global direction
• The weather in each destination

Transcontinental Flights

The first is to determine how many transcontinental flights will be needed during your around-the-world trip. In other words, how many continents do you plan on visiting? Flying from continent to continent will eat up a big chunk of your budget. The more continents you visit, the more expensive your trip will be.

WHAT I DID: My boyfriend and I settled on three regions of the world for our trip: Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. Then we looked at that list of dream destinations and narrowed it down to places that were located in these three regions.

The Global Direction

The second factor is to plan an around-the-world travel route that follows one global direction: East or West. For example, since I’m based in the U.S., I decided to start in Europe. From there I’d continue onto Southeast Asia and then to South America and back — literally circumnavigating the globe.

One of the most common rules for around-the-world travel is to avoid backtracking . Backtracking leads to spending more money on transportation. Use this rule to choose your entry and departure point in each city, country and continent. Your route should always be moving toward your exit point.

WHAT I DID: Although I had originally planned to travel east around the world, my route took several unexpected turns. Guil and I started our trip later than we had hoped due to a delay in his citizenship process. We started in Europe as we had originally intended, but a promise to spend Christmas with our families in Brazil took us to South America after. From there we returned to the U.S. for an opportunity to work a two-week gig and make more money to fuel another three months in Southeast Asia. Crazy route, I know!

The third factor you’ll want to consider is weather. Lightweight summer clothes are the easiest to pack for an around-the-world trip , which is why so many people choose to chase summer around the globe. Stuffing a big winter jacket in your backpack is not ideal. Check the weather of each region you’re visiting to see how that may affect the direction of your route.

WHAT I DID: I visited Europe in the fall, South America in the summer, and Southeast Asia during the “hot/wet season.”

Step 3: Determine The Duration of Your Round-The-World Trip

How long do you want to travel for? The duration of your around-the-world trip will depend on how many places you want to visit, the pace at which you’re traveling through them and your travel budget.

Once you’ve created a general route, the next thing you need to consider is how much time you want to spend in each desination. The pace at which you move from one place to another depends on what kind of travel experience you’re looking for.

Slow Travel vs. Fast Travel

Slow travel means spending weeks, if not months, in a single city or country.

Slow travel allows travelers to truly get to know a destination and get a sense of what it would be like to live there. This kind of around-the-world travel allows you to interact with locals on a regular basis, find a local cafe to call your own and settle into a slower routine.

Some slow travelers pick a city as a base and explore more of the country from there, while others spend weeks in the same city. This is definitely a more cost-effective way of traveling around the world, as you’re not moving around as much. But you’re also not seeing as much as you could at a quicker pace.

Fast travel is the complete opposite.

These are travelers looking to see as much as they can in a set amount of time — which was me at the time. Fast travel means spending no more than a few days in each city in order to maximize your experiences around the world. It means visiting several countries in one month by hitting the top sites in each. It can mean sensory overload — like visiting Machu Picchu and the Salar de Uyuni within the same month, as I did in 2018.

You can also incorporate a mixture of both: I traveled to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague and Budapest in one month and then spent a few weeks exploring just Italy.

It’ll Also Depend on Your Budget…

The duration of your trip will also depend on how long you can make your money last. While I initially planned to travel abroad for six months, I was able to stretch my budget to make it 10.

I knew that I eventually wanted to return to the U.S. and continue working in journalism — so traveling around the world indefinitely wasn’t the plan. As my trip grew longer, though, I was able to add more destinations to my itinerary or travel a bit slower in places like Italy and Peru.

| TRIP PLANNING TIP: Make a spreadsheet of all the cities you want to visit in the order of your desired around-the-world trip route. Write down the number of days you want to spend in each city, ensuring to calculate transportation time between each. Then start putting in some actual dates to give yourself a general idea of the itinerary you’ll be following. The sum of the number of days is the duration of your trip, and the last date on that spreadsheet is the day you’ll fly back home.

Step 4: Identify Your Around-The-World Trip Budget

Coming up with a budget for an around-the-world trip can be overwhelming.

To make things simpler for you, the first thing you should do is figure out your average daily cost. This figure will depend on your traveling style: Are you a budget backpacker, luxury traveler or somewhere in the middle?

On average, most around-the-world travel guides suggest a baseline budget of $50 per day .

To put things in perspective, Guil and I spent an average of $62 per day per person . This includes every single expense such as transportation, food, accommodation and daily purchases averaged out over the entirety of our 10-month trip.

We’d fall under the budget backpacker category, though we did splurge on nice hotels and meals every now and then. We typically kept our accommodation at $30 per night or lower, so $15 each. We often traveled by land to save on transportation costs, including a lot of overnight journeys to save on hotel nights.

Your personal daily budget will depend on what you’re willing to sacrifice in order to afford more travel experiences.

| READ MORE: For a detailed cost breakdown of my around-the-world trip, head over to this post: True Cost of Backpacking Around the World .

Step 5: Create a Savings Plan

Now that you have a budget in mind, it’s time to create a savings plan . Your financial plan will depend on how much money you already have saved and when you’d ideally like to leave for your round-the-world trip.

My initial trip budget was $15,000. I knew I wanted to leave within 1 1/2 to 2 years from when I began planning. So I set a goal to put away $1,000 per month so that in one year, I’d have $12,000 saved. 

I had to considerably change my lifestyle to achieve that. I stopped spending money on clothes, restaurants and gym memberships. I also cut back on social activities unless they were free, like a friendly gathering at someone’s house. Still, cutting down my monthly expenses wasn’t enough. I began working odd jobs like brand ambassador gigs to make up the rest.

One point I cannot stress enough is the importance of having a return fund. Your return fund is the money you’ll use to settle back into “normal” life after returning home. This fund should cover the costs of finding a new apartment and keep you afloat while looking for a new job. In addition to the $15,000 I wanted to save for my trip, I wanted to have $10,000 set aside for my return fund.

I know this all may still sound overwhelming — and that’s completely fine! It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when planning such a big trip. But all your sacrifices will be well worth it when you’re traveling the world .

Step 6: Relieve Yourself of Current Commitments

Leaving for an around-the-world trip means pressing “pause” on life as you know it.

Consider all your current life commitments, such as your job, your home, your car lease or your pet. Traveling long-term means leaving all of the above behind, albeit temporarily.

As you approach your departure date, start thinking about when to put in your two-week notice at your job. If you have a pet, this would be the time to begin making arrangements to leave it behind with someone you trust. Apartment and car leases will have to either be terminated, or you can plan your departure date around their end dates.

Unless you own your home, you’ll most likely have to move out and store your belongings somewhere. Guil and I rented a storage unit for our furniture and clothes. Whatever we didn’t need anymore, we sold. More money for the trip!

This is when things start to feel real .

It can be scary to load your life away into the back of a U-Haul truck without knowing when you’ll see your belongings again. In a few months, though, I promise you that you won’t remember half of what’s in that storage unit. And you certainly won’t be thinking about what you left back home when you’re experiencing the greatest freedom you’ve ever felt. Around-the-world travel has a way of making you forget about the less important material things and focus on the beautiful present.

Step 7: Buy That One-Way Ticket!

The last and final step is to buy your first one-way ticket. This is probably the most exciting moment in all the round-the-world trip planning process.

This is when everything you’ve been working toward becomes reality.

Based on my personal experience, I find it best to purchase plane tickets as you go. This gives you the liberty to make changes in your itinerary, as well as extend your trip if you’re able to. Air travel in places like Europe and Southeast Asia can be incredibly affordable, even if you buy a ticket the week of.

As for traveling between cities, most of that will be done by land anyway. Bus and train tickets are also easily purchased the day of, and you’ll find that many times it’s best to book them in person rather than online. Same goes for accommodation; we booked most of our stays the week of.

I hope this guide on how to plan an around-the-world trip has inspired you to hit the ground running! As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

If you found this post helpful, you may also enjoy:

• The True Cost of Backpacking Around The World
• The Ultimate Around The World Itinerary
• What to Pack For An Around The World Trip

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You’ll Also Love

April 18, 2020 at 1:41 pm

OMG your quote about corporate America and vacation days is SO spot on! Sadly, I think that is also the case for many people in America who aren’t even in corporate America. Your post is inspiring!

May 13, 2020 at 7:23 pm

Ahh I know. The vacation policy in the U.S. is really a bummer.

April 18, 2020 at 5:47 pm

Oh my goodness, this has given me MAJOR itchy feet – haha. Great blog though! Very encouraging to what could be an overwhelming task.

April 19, 2020 at 2:02 pm

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!!

April 18, 2020 at 6:30 pm

I just quit my job in Dec 2019 and took this year of 2020 off to travel the world and work on my blog 🙁 … so go figure how frustrated and sad I am with all the changes on the world. I am saving your post, as I may need to take another better year off to travel the world. Thanks for your inspiration

April 19, 2020 at 2:06 pm

Oh wow—no way! Guil and I have often asked each other what we would do if our trip was planned for 2020. I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure that you will be able to reschedule your trip. You’ve come this far already!!!

May 1, 2020 at 2:19 pm

Such a great post Carla! Your pictures are always impeccable. Congrats! I cannot wait to be able to travel again, and I’d love to consider buying that one-way ticket.

May 1, 2020 at 2:23 pm

Thank you May!!!

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I Want to Travel the World—Where Do I Start?

Jhasmine is a travel and lifestyle blogger promoting personal growth and development through trav...

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Have you ever said to yourself, "I want to travel the world, but where do I start?" Well, believe it or not, simply by having the desire to travel and asking questions, you are already off to a great start! We’ll share international travel tips, inspiration to travel the world , and insight on how to make money while traveling around the world.

Where will you begin your international adventure?

There is no right or wrong way regarding how you travel as long as you have done your research and a little planning. The idea of traveling around the world may seem overwhelming at first, but once you start to put things into perspective, you'll begin to ask yourself why you do this years ago!

Is it possible to travel the world and make money?

Yes, it is possible to travel the world and make money. Nomads have been doing it for years, and there are endless opportunities to earn income while you travel the world. Take some time to develop your skill set, identify your interests, then determine your niche.

Research what services are in high demand worldwide or gain an online certification that can allow you to make money from anywhere in the world. The opportunities are endless once you identify all that you have to offer and how to make it work to your advantage.

Believe it or not, you may find that making money abroad is easier than working a regular job in the United States! Nomads are said to have more flexibility, affordable costs of living, and better work-life balance once they finally take the leap to travel the world and find ways to earn an income.

READ MORE: Leave the Office Behind: 12 Best Places for Digital Nomads

Where to start if you want to travel around the world.

An easy solution when asking how to travel is just to get started! Spend less time fantasizing about travel and more time planning out your trip . That doesn't mean run out and start shopping for the cutest travel outfits and matching luggage sets. Although that part is exciting, there are more essential things to arrange first.

For example: Figuring out how you’ll actually *get* there.

1. Obtain proper documentation

Your passport is your first step to getting around the world, but in addition to your passport, you may need to obtain a visa depending on the country you visit and how long you plan to be there. Visas must be applied for and have various application requirements. You can obtain a visa by making an appointment at the embassy of your desired country.

READ MORE: International Visas: What You Need to Know

2. research the culture.

It's a good rule of thumb to understand the social norms and familiarize yourself with the language of the country you plan to visit. The last thing you want to do is accidentally offend a native person by not understanding their customs. Learn as much as you can to avoid culture shock .

For example, hot water may be a standard expectation where you're from, but that may not be the same in the country you're visiting. You'll also want to know how public transportation works, the currency difference, and the country's cost of living.

Lastly, determine the best time of year to travel to your destination. Planning a trip during the hottest time of year or the rainy season can impact your travel experience.

3. Create your budget

Dreams are great to have—but you’ll need a budget to make them a reality!

Believe it or not, you don't have to have thousands of dollars saved up to travel the world! Some people left their home country with less money than you and are thriving abroad. Consider starting a GoFundMe or FundMyTravel account to create a fundraiser to support your travel expenses.

Budget your flight, accommodation, transportation around your destination, and general spending, then start your saving and funding plan. Don't allow costs or a lack of funds to discourage you! There will always be a way to make it work with what you have if you want it bad enough.

READ MORE: 10 Cheapest Countries to Live and Work

4. book your flight.

Flight costs can be expensive, but you can potentially cut costs by purchasing your flight far in advance. Also, keep a lookout for advertised flight deals. There are even apps that help you find the lowest flight price possible, such as Skiplagged and Hopper. If you have a friend who works for an airline, ask them for a buddy pass. A buddy pass is not a confirmed seat, but it is a cost-effective way to get to your destination.

5. Find accommodations

Finding accommodation is an essential part of travel. You'll need a safe place to lay your head at night. Need a few international travel tips for finding accommodations around the world? Facebook Marketplace has countless rentals listing. You're able to filter your search to the exact area you want to stay in, your price range, and the type of rental.

Hostel? Hotel? Airbnb? Choose the right accommodation for you.

It isn't wise to pay for anything online until you have arrived and set eyes on the property if you go this route. Depending on your length of stay, Airbnb can be a cost-effective option. They even offer monthly stays if that fits into your budget.

Lastly, as a solo traveler, hostels provide a sense of community where travelers from all over the world reside during their travels. Hostels can be very affordable, and some even offer private rooms.

6. Understand credit cards and cell phones

Before you take flight, it's a good idea to review your bank policies on foreign transactions. Most banks charge international fees when using a foreign ATM or making a transaction abroad. However, other banks offer lower or no transaction fees abroad. Some Credit Unions provide low rates and even rebates for ATM fees.

Also, check with your cellphone provider for international travel plans. You may consider getting an unlocked phone and purchasing a local SIM card so you can have access to a working network throughout your travels. WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are great ways to keep in touch with family and friends if you only have wifi access.

7. Utilize social media

The great thing about social media is that it connects people from all over the world. You can use Facebook groups to find travelers just like you who have been where you are going and who are willing to give you free advice on how to travel.

The online travel community is an excellent resource for all aspiring travelers. Speaking directly to people living out your dreams can help you gain first-hand knowledge and excitement for the experience!

Ready to take the next step? Talk to our FREE Online Advisor and get 5 personalized travel program matches

Learn how to travel the world—and make it a lifestyle.

Did we mention to pack appropriately for the weather?

Have you ever heard the quote, "Your mind must arrive at the destination before your life does”? Believe it or not, having the right mindset can take your travel experience from a constant daydream to a reality.

The best way to get started traveling around the world is to surround yourself with those who can keep you motivated to achieve your goal. Traveling the world is a lifestyle for many individuals and families.

As you get closer to your travel goals, you'll learn so much and develop your own way of doing things. One thing is for sure—you can apply your knowledge anywhere in the world, even if you never traveled abroad before.

Be confident in your abilities and knowledge. Your purpose should be to find what you need and thrive while walking your path.

Sign Up for GoAbroad.com’s 20 Days of Travel Inspo for a Daily Dose of Positivity

This article was contributed by Jhasmine Wade . Jhasmine is a travel and lifestyle blogger promoting personal growth and development through travel. She has traveled extensively and shares her experience on her travel & lifestyle blog, Sincerely J. Wade. In her stories, Jhasmine highlights alternative ways of living and shows the world that the lines between travel, living, and working are no longer blurred. As an HBCU graduate, Jhasmine proudly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, where she discovered her passion for writing and travel.

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Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

How to Travel Anywhere in the World for $1,000

Wouldn’t it be great to travel anywhere in the world for $1,000 or less? And I don’t mean just the cost of getting there. I mean your entire vacation from the time you step out your door to the time you get back. How great would it be to take a one- or two-week trip anywhere for that?

Decades upon decades of marketing by expensive hotels, cruises, and resorts has left us with the cultural notion that travel is expensive . Despite all the blogs, apps, websites, and Instagram accounts out there, too many people still don’t believe that travel can be cheap.

I get that. We’ve been conditioned by big brands and companies for ages to believe this repeated message, and it takes awhile to shed that belief.

But we’re currently in a golden age of travel, thanks to cheap flights , points and miles as well as the sharing economy . We are seeing a revolution in travel that is allowing people to bypass the traditional travel gatekeepers of old — the ones who kept prices high — and travel frugally without sacrificing comfort.

It’s no longer a stark choice between cheap backpacker hostels and fancy resorts.

In fact, it’s actually really easy to travel well on a budget these days.

Today, I want to introduce the concept of the $1K trip. A thousand dollars can get you far — no matter where you want to go.

While there are many ways to travel cheaply (like using points and miles or extreme budgeting), this concept is about something more middle-of-the-road. It’s not about going away with no money or traveling on $10 or $20 a day. It’s for those of us in the middle, who have day-to-day jobs and want to travel more but always feel like we lack the resources to do so.

A thousand dollars is a lot of money, but it’s not an impossible amount of money for most of us. It’s saving $2.74 per day for a year. Most of us can save $2.74 a day.

So how do you begin?

First, flip the script . I know I’ve said this before, but if you wake up today and tell yourself, “I can’t travel because of X,” you’ll never look for ways to start traveling. You will only see roadblocks: bills, flight costs, car payments, other obligations, or whatever your “But…” is. I’m not trying to be patronizing — and I definitely recognize not everyone has the means or desire to travel — but you have to ask yourself in earnest, “How do I make travel a reality?”

You need to wake up tomorrow and say, “Yes, I can travel, too — and I am going to make it happen!”

Once you start believing it’s possible, you start looking for ways to make it possible . I’m not talking about that BS from The Secret , where you manifest a winning lottery ticket. I’m talking about thinking of the practical steps you can take from day one that will bring you closer to your travel goals.

Look at your day-to-day spending and the spending choices you make.

How much would you save if you bought a Brita filter instead of a daily bottle of water? Or gave up Starbucks, cooked more of your own food, and drank less alcohol? What if you gave up cable? Downgraded your phone plan? Walked to work? Sold your unneeded stuff on eBay?

Even if it takes you a year to save, it’s better to start today than tomorrow.

I always look at expenses and go, “I can have these new jeans or another fancy dinner — or I could have another week on the road.” I have friends who complain about not being able to travel then go buy $300 sunglasses. Not everyone can save a ton of money or even has the means to travel all the time, but with enough time and dedication, the majority of us can get somewhere. When I worked with Dianne during our case study program , she was a big casual spender but prioritizing travel in her mind helped her dramatically increase her savings.

Second, it’s important to remember that traveling on a limited budget requires planning.

For example, a few years ago I took a trip to London for $700 . I knew I had ten days, didn’t care where I slept, and was content with drinking only a little, taking public transportation, and sticking to the free attractions. I only cared about eating and having fun with friends. Everything else was secondary. Knowing myself allowed me to make the most of my limited funds — and figure out how much I needed in the first place. I could plan the exact amount I needed to save because I had a rough idea of how much I would spend.

Break your trip down into small manageable goals. Don’t think about the 1,000 steps it takes to get to where you want to go. Think about the step right in front of you. What is ONE thing you can do today to get closer to your trip? What about the ONE thing you can do tomorrow?

Once a trip is broken down into smaller steps it becomes a lot more doable .

I want to use two example trips — a week in French Polynesia and two weeks in Australia — to illustrate the concept of the $1K vacation. (I’m picking expensive places so no one thinks I’m trying to cop out by using cheap destinations!) The same techniques I used to go to London for $700 are the same ones that apply to the trips below.

Example 1: French Polynesia

But where there is a will, there is a way.

Flights The cornerstone of budget travel is collecting points and miles. Reducing the cost of a flight to zero is the best way to reduce the cost of your trip. And, for any expensive destination, you will definitely need to use them. With flights running $1,600-1,950, French Polynesia under $1K is impossible without using miles to cover your expenses.

( Note : I won’t go into much detail in this post on how to get airline miles for your flight because that’s a whole other long post, which can be found here or here or here . I talk a lot about points and miles on this website, and while the idea can be intimidating, it’s quite easy to do in relatively few months — even if you don’t fly a lot! For the purpose of this article, I’m going to assume you have or know how to get miles .)

To get to French Polynesia from the US, you can fly one of two airlines: Air France or Air Tahiti Nui (both have direct flights).

The only downside to using miles: award availability isn’t abundant on these flights. The above numbers are for “saver” awards (award tickets that need fewer miles) but sometimes only regular award tickets with higher mileage requirements are available, so you’ll need to keep that in mind.

Accommodation Hotel award redemptions are often expensive in French Polynesia because the resorts are so luxurious. Therefore, I’d suggest lowering your overall accommodation costs by mixing up your stay with hotels, Airbnbs , or B&Bs. After all, you’re not going to French Polynesia without at least spending a night or two at a fancy resort, so we have to include at least a few nights there! Here are the typical award prices (you earn these points the same way you do as airline miles):

After a couple of nights redeeming hotel points for a fancy bungalow (if you have tons of hotel points, then by all means, keep staying for free!), I would switch to an Airbnb. Airbnb private rooms cost 4,000-6,000 XPF ($40-60 USD) per night, while an entire apartment (most come with pool access) will only cost you 6,000-9,900 XPF ($60-100 USD) per night. The only thing is, the Airbnbs are pretty much all located in and around the capital, so you’re not going to get too many luxurious beachfront places.

How this would apply elsewhere: Use a mix of points, hostels, Airbnbs, Couchsurfing, or even house sitting to lower your costs. More information can be found here.

Food Food isn’t cheap in French Polynesia since most has to be expensively imported and those who visit tend to have money to burn. If you eat at the resorts and hotels, you’ll pay at least 2,500 XPF ($25) or more for a meal. At an upscale restaurant, expect to pay around 4,500 XPF ($45). A meal in a casual restaurant will cost around 2,200 XPF ($22 USD). A fast-food meal is about 1,000 XPF ($10) while a beer is around 600 XPF ($6 USD). However, by eating from the local snack bars on the road, you’ll only pay around 1,000 XPF ($10 USD) per day for food. If you plan on buying your own groceries, expect to spend at least 8,000-10,000 XPF ($80-100 USD) per week on food.

I’d avoid drinking, stick to as many local snack bars as possible, make picnic lunches, and eat out only at dinner to keep costs down.

How this would apply elsewhere: Drink less, eat local food, grocery shop, skip fancy restaurants, and avoid eating in touristy areas. More information can be found here.

Activities Not surprisingly, activities in French Polynesia are not cheap either. Diving and other single-day water activities start at 11,000 XPF ($110 USD), with a two-tank dive costing 14,900-18,900 XPF ($150-190 USD). Surfing lessons, which generally last a few hours, cost around 13,000 XPF ($130 USD). Bike rentals are available almost anywhere and will cost 1,500-2,000 XPF ($15-20 USD) for a day. Whale-watching tours will cost around 11,500 XPF ($112 USD). I’d focus on one or two activities while here.

You could save more points, drink less, and even add more money to your food budget. Point is: French Polynesia suddenly became a lot more affordable! It’s pretty easy to go to French Polynesia for $1K. By using points and miles, eating at local restaurants, staying in Airbnbs, and doing only a few activities, you can visit here without sacrificing comfort.

Example 2: Australia

Flights First, I would use points for the flight the way I would for French Polynesia. That takes care of your flight, and even though award flights are not abundant, you can still find some availability. Here is a list of airlines — and the miles needed — to fly directly to Australia:

In reality, saver award tickets for direct flights to Australia are hard to come by. They aren’t there often. You might be better off going indirectly. There are a lot of ways to get to Australia if you look at having a connection than going direct. I connected through Abu Dhabi, while a friend connected through Hong Kong, and another through Japan. I even had a friend fly via Chile once to save on miles.

Accommodation Accommodation in Australia is pricey: even hostel dorms can be as high as 30-40 AUD ($24-32 USD) per night. Luckily, once you get out of the big cities, prices drop, and there are a lot of Couchsurfing hosts in the country. If that’s not your jam and you don’t want dorms, you can find rooms on Airbnb for 44-75 AUD ($35-60 USD) per day.

To keep your accommodation costs down, I would use a mix of hostels, Couchsurfing, and Airbnb. If you’re traveling in a group, Airbnb will allow you to really lower your per person costs the most. You can find entire apartments for as low as 164 AUD ($132 USD), and if you can squeeze 3-4 people into that, your per person price is only 41 AUD ($33 USD)! If you’re alone or a couple, then I would try to Couchsurf as much as possible (plus you get a kitchen too!)

Food Food isn’t cheap in Australia, and keeping this cost down is going to be the hardest part of your trip. However, if you lower your food (and drink) expenses, you can stay under $1K. Most decent restaurant entrees cost at least 20 AUD ($16 USD). Grab-and-go places cost around 8-10 AUD ($6.50-8 USD) for sandwiches. Fast food is around 15 AUD ($12 USD) for a meal (burger, fries, soda). The best value foods are the Asian and Indian restaurants, where you can get a really filling meal for under 10 AUD ($8 USD).

The best way to reduce your costs is to cook as many meals as possible. If you do so, expect to pay 100 AUD ($80 USD) per week for groceries (pasta, vegetables, chicken, and other basic foodstuffs). Moreover, with drinks running 8-15 AUD ($6.50-12 USD) each, I’d avoid drinking out if possible. Buy beer at the store.

Transportation Traveling around the country is tough given the long distances. The easiest way to get around the country in such a short period of time is to fly. There are often some last-minute flight deals on Tiger Airlines and Virgin. But even regular fares are pretty good. For example, Brisbane to Cairns is only 107 AUD ($86 USD) and Melbourne to Sydney is only 67 AUD ($54 USD).

Compare that to bus fares via Greyhound:

• Brisbane – Cairns: 320-374 AUD ($258-300 USD)
• Melbourne – Sydney: 120 AUD ($96 USD)
• Sydney – Cairns Unlimited Pass (i.e., the whole eastern coast, 44 stops): 429 AUD ($345 USD)

If you had more time and could stop often along the way, the unlimited pass would be better — but you don’t have that time, so cramming that $429 USD into two weeks doesn’t make sense.

I’d also consider ridesharing via websites like Gumtree or Jayride, or hostel message boards. Lots of people rent vans and are always looking for people to split the cost of gas. You can also drive yourself. Campervan rentals start at 60 AUD ($48 USD) per day and can also double as places to sleep (thus saving more money). If you are traveling with friends, it’s smart to buy a used car or campervan (or rent a new one from one of the many rental companies) and split the cost of gas.

I’d probably take a few flights and then a few rideshares. If I were in a group or liked driving, I’d rent a van to lower the cost per person. That way you save time on the long distances and still enjoy the country from the ground too! As much as I love driving across Australia, it’s better suited when you can break up the journey when you have more time.

Activities Activities will really ruin your budget in Australia. For example, a one-day trip to the Great Barrier Reef can cost 230 AUD ($185 USD), while a two-night sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands can cost upwards of 540 AUD ($435 USD). A three-day trip to Uluru from Alice Springs is around 480 AUD ($386 USD). Luckily, there’s a bunch of free walking tours and activities in cities, but if you’re looking for that once-in-a-lifetime adventure, you’re going to pay for it!

To lower costs, I’d do a lot of solo hiking and trips, free walking tours, and one or two big-ticket items.

Again, this is a sample budget and it takes a little more effort to watch the pennies in Australia, but it’s doable to travel there and not spend a lot of money. There are incredible free activities, cheap groceries, and ways to get around on a budget. I’m not saying it will be easy, but I am saying it’s not impossible.

When you travel like you live, you can visit anywhere. Taking an entire vacation for less than $1,000 is completely doable. Stop thinking about travel as this big, expensive thing and start thinking about it more practical terms. Think about the steps to make your trip happen. A thousand dollars isn’t nothing – and it may take a long time to save that amount – but it’s not the multiple thousands the media makes travel out to be!

“I don’t have the money to go” is a limiting belief.

When you start looking for ways to say yes, when you start breaking travel down step-by-step and look for ways to save, the world is truly your oyster.

Matt’s Addendum: After some feedback, I want to clarify something: Yes, this requires points and miles that have to be earned prior to your trip. However, since those can be earned without spending extra money, I don’t view that as an added cost since it doesn’t require to spend more money than you would to get them. Additionally, I picked two expensive destinations that require points and miles but if you were to go closer to home or to a cheaper place, the need for points would be far less. I recently saw a $450 R/T flight from the US to Thailand. At $50 a day, you could still go for 12 days, use no points, and not break the $1k barrier.  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Saira Mueller

How to Navigate International Travel Now—and in the Near Future

Planning for a trip right now can be overwhelming—even more so when you factor in international travel, with most countries having different rules, restrictions, and testing requirements to deal with Covid. If you’re thinking of taking a trip soon or already have a destination booked, here’s how to make sure you comply with local regulations and prepare as much as you can in advance.

Globally, international tourism arrivals declined 76 percent in 2021 compared to 2019, according to the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations. While some people are choosing to remain at home—putting off their dreams of island getaways and visiting relatives overseas—many others are starting to pack their bags, thanks in part to the Covid vaccines.

Even though people are planning trips again, the thought of traveling overseas right now can seem daunting. In April last year, I had to unexpectedly leave Seattle to do a new work visa. It was a nightmare to plan at pretty much every stage, as regulations were constantly shifting. It often felt like I was going down the internet rabbit hole, following link after link, until I finally found the information I was looking for, sometimes even resorting to desperately calling or emailing various embassies and consulates to get the latest info. Even worse? I had to do this for five countries—my home country of Australia plus Iceland, England, Germany, and the US—over the span of three months.

Luckily for you, I learned a lot in the process (and even put it to good use for my upcoming trip back home to Australia), and it’s become slightly easier to find the information you need. Here’s how to minimize your stress and make sure you’re prepared for every stage of your travel itinerary.

This is, by far, the most important step. Gone are the days where you could just throw a dart at a map or book a last-minute trip anywhere in the world. And while you probably have some bucket-list countries in mind, it may not be possible for you to travel there right now ( cough , Australia, cough ). To avoid a headache at the airport or upon arrival, here’s the best way I’ve found to choose your next holiday destination.

Every country has its own entry requirements, many even for returning citizens, permanent residents, and visa holders. Now is the time to check your country’s reentry requirements—and all the potential forms, testing, and quarantining that come with it—so you don’t get stuck overseas or with a hefty fine. Thankfully, the same government and airline websites often list these requirements.

To start, make a ranked list of the countries you have in mind for your trip. From there you have two options. First, you can check each destination’s government website—many have a page specifically for Covid information and travel requirements—to see what the entry requirements are. Second, you can check your country’s government website, as they often have the most relevant information for citizens looking to travel overseas. Here is the one for US citizens .

Eric Ravenscraft

Adrienne So

Chris Haslam

When I had to leave the US last year my first choice was to go home to Australia, but that was near-impossible at the time (even for citizens) due to extremely tight restrictions. My next choice was Canada, which was also closed, and then Mexico, which was open but had a fairly high number of Covid cases, which had me worried. I decided on Iceland because there was a relatively short direct flight, it had a US consulate that handled visa appointments, and the country had great testing and quarantine measures in place—PCR testing at the airport on arrival, with around a seven-hour turnaround time for results, and a mandatory five-day quarantine and retesting for those who aren’t vaccinated or who test positive.

If you’re having trouble finding the destination country’s relevant website or your local government’s information page, check the airline’s website. Not only do they have the most up-to-date information, for obvious reasons, they also are more customer-focused, so the information is often easier to find and parse. Delta, for example, has its Discover Map , which allows travelers anywhere in the world to input their origin and destination airports, nationality, residency, and vaccination status to get information relevant to them. This was handy while planning my upcoming trip and was infinitely easier than trying to navigate multiple government websites. The site also lists testing requirements, any quarantine information, mask mandates, and whether you need to fill out a passenger entry form before arrival.

Nearly every country requires a negative Covid test before you even arrive at your departure airport to board your plane—even for citizens and residents. The amount of time before departure and the type of test, however, varies. Some require an antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure, others require a PCR taken within 48 hours. Make sure you note exactly which test you need and the time frame, and book your test in advance if you can. If your destination also requires additional testing on arrival, make sure you mark down the closest PCR site to you or, if they accept antigen results, try to stock up and bring them with you. If the country has a dedicated app (for example, Fiji has one ) or website for submitting your results, make sure you download or bookmark it in advance and sign up.

As of December 2021, all inbound travelers to the US must have proof of a negative Covid test (either PCR or antigen) within 24 hours of their departure flight—or documentation saying they have recovered from Covid in the past 90 days—sign an attestation, and provide their info for contact tracing. Non-citizens must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated. If you skip even one of these steps, you will likely be denied boarding.

The amount of time you'll be on a plane and the number of airports you’ll travel through  is another thing to consider when booking. All airports and airlines have mask mandates in place, as do some destinations, and you should be wearing an approved mask type (usually either a KN95 or N95). These can sometimes be uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time, so plan your trip accordingly. I’ve opted to break my upcoming trip home into three legs with multiple days in each destination so I’m not on a plane for longer than six hours at a time. If you’re not sure what mask to get or from where, we have an updated masks guide for you. Make sure to stock up before departure, as you want to switch them out fairly regularly (if not daily).

No one wants to go into a mandatory quarantine or miss a flight, but the reality is that you may have to. In the event that you get Covid, there are some steps you can take before your trip to minimize your stress.

First, make sure you have enough readily-accessible money to quarantine five to 14 days (depending on the requirement) either at your destination or—if you don’t live alone or somewhere you can quarantine safely at home upon arrival—at a hotel or Airbnb. Also, this should go without saying, but if you get to the airport and are denied boarding because you tested positive, don’t get angry at the security and airline staff for not letting you on the plane or being prepared to quarantine. Yes, this actually happens; on my cousin’s recent flight from Tanzania back to the US, during the airport exit testing a wife tested positive and the husband did not.

If you do have to cancel or reschedule a flight, thankfully most airlines will let you do this for free (or they’ll provide a travel voucher for the dollar amount). Just make sure you know what your airline’s policies are and how to reschedule or cancel. Travel insurance can help cover any incidental costs, so it’s worth considering—and if you have a credit card with good travel benefits, it might include travel insurance if you book your flight with it, so you don’t have to double-up.

Last year, when I was leaving England for Germany to attend my visa appointment (it was the only place I could get an appointment in a decent time frame due to also being a German citizen), I knew I would have to go into a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival, despite having a negative test. This was because the UK was going through a surge, and Germany had taken it off its green list. While this was unexpected for my overall plans, I looked up an apartment hotel that had a kitchen and researched grocery deliveries so I wouldn’t have to order every meal. (It also happened that they weren’t doing room service due to Covid.) As the Scouts say, be prepared and you’ll be a lot less stressed if quarantine becomes your reality.

That two-week quarantine in Germany was, frankly, one of the worst things I’ve ever had to do. Not only did my anxiety medication run out at the start of it due to being overseas longer than originally planned (another thing to keep in mind before you travel), but it felt isolating in more ways than I ever imagined, despite living by myself during the lockdowns in 2020.

There have been multiple studies over the past few years linking quarantine to negative psychological impacts, none of which surprises me after going through it myself. One study published in The Lancet says that “most reviewed studies reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger,” due in part to frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, and financial loss.

To combat anxiety and depression, make sure you have activities to keep you busy, stay connected to family and friends while in lockdown, and plan your quarantine site accordingly.

I opted to read a ton of books, catch up on movies and shows that I’d missed, and ramp up my German lessons with my tutor (via a video call).

Isolating might be slightly easier for us to do now, given the past year, but factor in time differences and that’s where it gets harder. Let your friends and family know as soon as possible that you have to quarantine, and plan a call or check-in every day to keep yourself as connected as possible—even if it’s just watching a movie together over Zoom or talking about a book you’re reading. Any little bit of interaction helps.

Make sure you plan your hotel room or Airbnb with a quarantine in mind—a kitchen, big windows (maybe even one that opens) or a balcony (if you’re allowed) so you can get fresh air, and air conditioning if it’s a very hot destination. Not seeing sunlight or feeling a breeze for two weeks can affect you more than you know.

So, now you’ve got your destination, you know what you have to do to get there—and back—and in case of a mandatory quarantine. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is the potential benefit of traveling right now, and that’s a lack of other tourists. While I was in Iceland last year, there was a significant difference in the amount of people around whenever I went to a tourist spot compared to when I went in 2019 for my 30th birthday. At some spots, I even had the entire place to myself. It was bliss. Just keep in mind that some activities and attractions may be closed or have limited entry due to restrictions, so if there’s something you really want to do, research it to make sure it’s open before you book your flight.

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The learning network | if you could go anywhere, where would you want to travel.

If You Could Go Anywhere, Where Would You Want to Travel?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

• See all Student Opinion »

Imagine money and logistics are no problem.

If you could go anywhere in the world in 2013, where would you want to travel?

The Travel section published its visually arresting “The 46 Places to Go in 2013″ last weekend. Skim through the list and see if the photographs don’t inspire wanderlust, like the one of Rio de Janeiro above. Below, the top 10 destinations with thumbnail descriptions:

1. Rio de Janeiro… Because the whole world will be there in 2014. 2. Marseille, France… On the Mediterranean, art and plenty of it. 3. Nicaragua… It’s eco! And the food is good. Enough said. 4. Accra, Ghana… A buzzing metropolis ready for business, and pleasure. 5. Bhutan… A pristine Buddhist enclave opens, with care. 6. Amsterdam… A decade later, museums reopen, fancier than ever. 7. Houston… What’s big in Texas? Culture and food. 8. Rossland, British Columbia… Fasten your skis. A quiet peak joins the big leagues. 9. New Delhi… Come for the new Metro, stay for where it takes you. 10. Istanbul… Next Eurail stop: culture central.

Students: Tell us …

• If you could go anywhere in 2013, where would you want to travel? Why there?
• Who would you go with? What would you do there? How long would you go?
• Is there any place on the “46 Places to Go” list that caught your interest? Why?
• Do you think you will ever be able to take your fantasy trip, or will it just be something you can dream about?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

If I could go anywhere in 2013, I would want to go to Paris. No reason, just want to go. I would go on my own for about three weeks and go to random places. On the “46 Places to Go,” France caught my attention because I like art and there’s plenty of it there. I will be able to go there one day. I’m already starting to save for it so hopefully 2-3 years from now, i’ll be able to go.

I have not been out of the country yet but i would love to travel with my family to Puntacana because my mother wanted to go there for a vacation for us and i feel like she deserves to go somewhere she wants to go becase i think being with my family is enough even if were at home so that just makes me happy so i would choose to take my mom to Puntacana

If I could go anywhere 2013 I would go to Dubai. I want to go there because it looks like a really interesting place to visit. I would go with my dad and sisters. I’ve seen people ride four wheelers or camels in the desert. Amsterdam, Montenegro, Lens and the Republic of Congo look interesting. They have a very exotic look to them but at the same time I’m attracted to tropical and urban places. I think by the time I graduate college I will have visited at least three of these places.

If I could choose anywhere to travel to in 2013, I would definitely choose Europe. I want to visit Italy, Greece, and Albania. To be honest I am actually going this summer with my best friend. When we visit Italy we’re going to stay with my relatives, and when we visit Albania we’re going to stay with my best friend’s relatives. I want to visit the monuments, and capture the beauty of a different place. I want to know how it feels to live right on a clear water beach. I want to explore my roots, meet new people and maybe even learn the language. We are going to stay for a month. Montenegro really caught my eye on the 46 places to go in 2013 list. That is such a beautiful part of Albania, my best friends boyfriend is from there. There is so much to do. My fantasy trip is in June, and I am SO excited to have the privilege to see such beauty with my best friend.

students tell us 1. The place I would travel to is Amsterdam because its very beautiful there in the summer I heard. 2. I would go there with my girlfriend and go sight seeing for about a week. 3. Another place that caught my eye was Bhutan it looks like a place to fully relax in and not worry. 4. I feel that my dream trip would be something for me to do but might be costly but so worth it.

If you could go anywhere in 2013, where would you want to travel? Why there?If i was able to travel any where in the year 2013 i would travel to mexico, and because i would like to visit family their and get to know more about mexico. i would like to go with some family and friends. i would like to stay all through my summer break. In the “46 Places to Go” listed i would like to go to the Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, British Columbia, because i would really like to snowboard down the mountain. I think if i really want to go i will be able but i would just have to work hard to reach my goal and i can also still dream about it for now as i wait to find the opportunity to go.

If there was any place I would travel to, it would be Miami, Florida. My reason would is to watch my favorite basketball team “miami heat” play a game. I want to actually see them play in person and feel the energy in the crowd after every basket scored. I would take my close friends with me. Most likely we would got to the malls and probably spread jokes at home. We would stay there for about 3 weeks to one month. The place that caught my attention was Montenegro. The setting seems son calm and gracefully. The water and houses really stand out, making the place look like a vacation place. I do believe that when I am older, I will travel to other places of the world. It is not impossible, it just takes time.

If I could go anywhere in 2013, I would go to Italy with my best friend Jai. I want to go there because there is a lot of good foods and many sights to see. I would stay there for at least one week and I would go visit famous monuments and go to Rome. On the list of 46 places, Rio de Janeiro caught my eye. It seems like a very interesting and “alive” place. I don’t think I would ever have this dream trip because I probably won’t have the time or money.

If i could travle any where in the world i would go to Nicaragua. I would go here not just because it is a beautiful country but the fact that it was where someone dear to me was born there. That person is my mother. I would go with my family to see where my mothers birthplace was and meet my moms side of the family. I would go there for about a month so that i am able to meet all of my family. Besides Nicaragua another place that would be very nice to visit would be Rio de Janeiro. They have beautiful festivles and have wonderful food. They have very unique and amzing traditions. I think that one day i would be able to vist my dream place but probably not in 2013. Maybe in the future.

If I could go anywhere in 2013 I would go to France. I always wanted to go there & because it’s a place I am interested in. I would go with my family. I would look at there sites , go look at their art gallery , try there food and much more. I would want to go there for about 3 weeks. Yes, on the 46 places to go Australia the Kimberley region, looked amazing! I thought it was beautiful. I will be able to take my dream trip, I am looking to be very independent and get a really great job so that I could travel.

If i could go anywhere in 2013 I would got to Paris. I would go there because it looks amazing and I think it would be an amazing experience. I would go with my friend Alyssa, Jillian, Stephanie, Alisha and Chris. We would stay there for a week. I think my fantasy trip would actually come true, if i had enough money to bring the people i wan to bring. I would probably invite more people just incase.

If I could go any where in 2013, I would go to Japan. I love Japan, samurai, anime, video games and so on. If i where to go i’d be sure to check out the Tokyo tower and go to Akihabara which is the electronics center of Japan. Though I have been told that if I go to Japan, I should avoid going to Osaka. Apparently Osaka is the equivalent of stereotypical Brooklyn. Off of the list of 46 places i say that Montenego looked better good. Montenego’s nice food and hotel’s have me sold. I think that i would have no problem going on my fantasy trip as long as I have enough money.

If i was to go any where in the world i would go to Bora Bora because it is a beautiful place,. The waters are crystal clear and i am going to enjoy catching some sun. I would bring my friend Alyssa and Brandon because they would enjoy participating in the activities i like, We would swim with the dolphins and fishes and we would stay for about 2 weeks but i do not think i would wanna leave. Rio de Janeiro caught my eye because it reminds me of the movie Rio , and the exotic animals in the rainforest would be a wonderful sight to see. If i was to win the lottery or become very successful i think i would be able to go to Bora Bora, but until than i dont think i would go. it is my fantasy trip because the beautiful things there.

I’ve always wanted to go to Paris only because it is one of the fashion capitals. I always see Americas Next Top Model and they always go to Paris. I want to learn the language they speak , French. I would either go with my family or my close friends . I would rather my friends so that I could have more fun. I would shop a lot there . Most famous brands are in Paris. I always wanted to visit the Eiffel Tower . This trip would probably take a month to fully enjoy. One place that I really liked in the 46 places to go in 2013 was the Philippines. The pictures and description gives a calm setting. My dream trio will come true soon . I will make this dream a reality in the near future.

If I could go anywhere I would go on an island vacation travel a whole bunch of small islands and see how people live the simple life. I would go with a group of friends to enjoy the experience with the people I keep close to me. We would beach it all day and party like crazy. I would love to go for 2 weeks or so, I feel if you go on vacation you should enjoy everything not have to rush through any part of it. The Big Island in Hawaii caught my eye because I would like to go there after graduation and it looks so beautiful, I know there is so many little islands throughout Hawaii but that one is obviously popular for a reason so it must be just a bit more special. I KNOW that I will be able to take my fantasy trip because its one of the things on my bucket list and Its just a must for me. Personally if you dream about something and it can be accomplished I feel that you should go for it. I was always taught shoot for the moon and if you miss you’ll still land upon the stars, so even if you don’t go exactly where you wanted maybe you’ll go somewhere else and wind up having more fun than you might have in your dream place.

If I could go anywhere in 2013 I would go to Mexico because most of my family is from there and I would like to know more about where my family came from. I would go with my closest friends for at least a month or two and travel all around Mexico to see all the beautiful sights. Based on the list “46 Places to go” I would love to go to either Rio de Janeiro, Nicaragua, British Columbia, or the Philippines. They all seem like beautiful, fun, and peaceful places to be in. I’m not sure if I would ever be able to actually go to any of these places, but its something I would definitely try to do and it will take time but I hope to be able to go to one of these places at some throughout my lifetime.

During Spring 2014 I would love to visit Amsterdam, Germany. I would go with my best friends Russell, Fadi, and Anthony. I want to visit Germany mainly because of there amazing chocolate. Fascinating monuments and sights. I want to discover their culture and what it’s like to live in Europe, every thing is more fancier and exquisite compared to where I live now . Also I’ve heard there aren’t speed limits on specific highways, so that seems cool since they mostly drive fast luxurious German cars. If I could I would try and stay there for at least 4 weeks, to make the best my journey and have the most fun as possible. I don’t just dream about this trip, I actually plan on going during my break from a college semester sometime next year.

I have always wanted to travel to Marseille and to Amsterdam. They have always sounded like great vacation spots to me, and according to the article, they have a lot of museums opening up, so now would be the opportune moment to go. I think I would want to go by myself, because I have always gone somewhere and done things with people, so I want to see what this would be like on my own. Although Marseille and Amsterdam are on the Places to Go list, what stood out to me was Montenegro, because I have never heard of it. I think I would be able to go to Amsterdam one day, and maybe Montenegro, but Marseille seems like a place I can only dream about, mainly due to the fact that hotels there can be very expensive.

If I could go anywhere in the world I would like to go to Nicaragua. Its seem like a vacation where you can get away from the world we live in everyday and go to a different one with no worries. I would go there with my parents and my siblings. We have not had a family vacation in a very long time. We would explore the scenery and see what the country has to offer us. I have seen pictures of the country and it looks beyond beautiful. I would spend no more then 10 days because it would be enough time to enjoy the country but not enough to get home sick. Another place that caught my interest was Texas. I always wanted to know how the other other side of the country lives since I was born a ” City boy”, I think I will be able to take my fantasy trip. I just need to work hard to get what I want in life.

If I could go anywhere in 2013, I would like to go to Spain. I want to go to Spain because I want to be able to experience an official Spanish basketball league game with my own eyes. The Spanish basketball league has a ton of basketball players that we rarely get to see in the United States. Also, the crowds tend to be more lively and into the game, adding more to the experience. I would go during the summer when the NBA season is over so that I can still watch competitive basketball. On the “46 Places to Go” list, one place that caught my interest was Amsterdam. Amsterdam is home to many museums and one of their biggest museums Stedjelijk recently reopened after being closed for renovations for almost a decade. I will be able to take my fantasy trip to Spain one day, it may be expensive, but it will be worth it.

If I could go anywhere in 2013, it would be Italy. I think the country is beautiful and energetic. One aspect I admire most about Italy is the food. Meeting an authentic Italian chef would be intriguing. I am also very curious as to how the Italian- American version of Italian cuisine differs from genuine Italian cuisine. If I were to visit Italy, I would bring my family with me. I think it would be a memorable experience to have. As a tourist, I would go on multiple tours and would visit many restaurants. I would also love to observe the unique architecture of the cities. Time wise, I would visit Italy for one month to ensure that I experience every aspect of the culture. This would also give me plenty of time to meet new people and learn more about Italian traditions. When reviewing the list of possible places to travel, I found Nicaragua to be astonishing. Just the scenery alone made the country look appealing. It is easy to imagine the resorts matching the mood of Nicaragua. The country is a place to relax and unwind from stress.

If I could go anywhere in 2013, I would want to go to Paris.Paris just has so much culure, muesums, food, and many other great things. I would go with my cousin Josue because we are so close and we enjoy each others company. On the “46 Places to Go,” RIo Dio Janerio caught attention because I like the are it has amazing weatherand there’s plenty of it there. I will be able to go there one day. I’m already starting to save for it so hopefully 2-3 years from now, i’ll be able to go

If I could go anywhere in 2013, It would be Ireland. from pictures it seems nice, I would like to try the food, and it’s very green there. I would stay there for 2 weeks and have my girlfriend come with me and show her how nice it is there and how good the food is there. We would have a very good time in Ireland and might have a honeymoon in Ireland. It would be the best days of our lives.

IF I COULD GO ANYWERE IN THE WORLD I WOULD GO TO HAWII ,PERRIS,AFRICA..I DONT KNOW.EVERY WER SEEMS FUN.

I would like to travel to New York City , because it’s an amazing place to go to visit , and I would have a really great experience. I want to see all the beautiful stores , resturants , shopping malls , hotels , and also all the wonderful lights. I would have a really great view of it. I also want to know what things they have there , if they have good food , I would also like to interview people about New York City to get to know the state.

What's Next

Poll: Where In The World Would You Like To Travel?

If you could travel anywhere in the world, let’s say during the upcoming summer, I want to know where it is you would choose to visit.

As I’ve hinted in a previous post a couple of months ago, I’m working on organizing some informal ‘tours’ in which I will take a small group of people around a particular country. The idea is to not only explore the destination, but more importantly, to offer a hands-on introduction to independent travel. By the time the experience comes to an end, you’ll be fully confident and prepared to create your own life of travel and to hopefully sustain it for as long as you wish.

There will be more details about this project to come soon but for now, I just want to know which part of the world you want to explore most ! This will help give me a better idea of where I should organize my first couple of tours.

Below you’ll find a very short poll (only two questions!) and I hope you’ll take a few seconds to participate. Even if my tour idea is not for you, please vote anyway. I think that feedback from as many people as possible will still be useful and interesting.

[poll id=”5″] [poll id=”6″]

*The above are destinations that I’ve both been to and that I think would be ideal for such a hands-on experience. This is why I have not listed every country I’ve visited over the years. If you have other suggestions, please let me know in the comments.

And that’s it. I appreciate you taking the time to participate and I shall share the results along with more details of this project very soon.

On a side note, it’s been a busy week of travel as I left New York City and have spent the past five days exploring some more of Istanbul. And I’ll be traveling back to Bucharest, Romania on Saturday, a city that will be my general ‘base’ for the next few months. If anyone happens to be passing through that area, please do let me know!

New blog posts, honest updates from my 21 years of constant travel, personal recommendations and the best of travel from around the world.

69 Comments

I can see in your posts that you are avoiding Croatia for some reason. You’ve been from Slovenia to Romania, everything near that nice and small European country but you have never even mentioned going there. And I think that is wrong. Croatia is “a must visit”. I have been living there for two years and I think I will be back soon. P.S. First visit there should be in summer, the coast and islands are just amazing.

Hello Emma – Actually, I am not avoiding Croatia at all and if you looked properly, you would find that I wrote a post from my short visit to Zagreb last year. Also, my previous visit to Croatia (when I went along the coast) was before I had this blog, which is why I have not written about my experiences yet. And everyone has different experiences as well, so even though I had a great time in Croatia, there are other countries that have stood out as more memorable to me. That’s just how travel goes…not everyone has the same experiences/impressions of a country 🙂

Earl, I am so happy that I could come across your so interesting and full of useful and curious info 🙂 I can not be even closely comapred with your definition for being a permanent nomad, which I enjoy so much though 🙂 And gave my votes for the countries I wish I cud visit too, as my travel dreams so far are focused on Asia and Africa- I never been on none of these continents and am still amazed to hear that you could visit so many places! Cheers!

[…] First Place Posted on May 2, 2012 by Earl Let me begin by thanking everyone who participated in the travel poll over the past week. There were over 500 voters as well as a few dozen comments in which many of you […]

BRILLIANT IDEA! I may be Malaysian but if you ever come to do a tour here (please, please, please?) I will most definitely sign up for it! It’s always intriguing to see your country through another person’s eyes 🙂 In any case, I’d LOVE to be able to go to India and Turkey and just about every country on that list 😉

Hey Claire – Haha…Malaysia would be another ideal place for such a tour 🙂 And I’m sure it would be intriguing for us to have a Malaysian join us and share their own insights on everything we see and experience. Let’s see what happens!

Where in the world would I like to travel? This summer there is only one place that is practically a must-do. London.

With the Olympics going on the place is going to be buzzing. You can go anywhere else at any old time but witnessing the Olympics in London is going to be special. I’ve got my ticket booked!

Hey Simon – I’m sure the Olympics will be an incredible time! Such large gatherings are not for me exactly but for those interested in such an event, you certainly can’t beat the Olympics/London combo!

Earl I’m glad you placed Slovenia on the list. It’s such an intriguing hidden country everyone should explore! I’m looking forward to your new project. How do we sign up!!

Hey Cristina – Within the next month I will write another post where anyone interested in this idea can sign up and stay informed of upcoming trips. It will be wonderful to hopefully have you join!

Excellent array of choices, if I could choose more than four I would. High on my list is the Balkans (a cheap, beautiful, historic part of Europe), and Guatemala (a cheap part of beautiful Latin America which I would consider retiring to). Either way Earl, count me in for the tour. Hopefully the tours dont sell out too quickly

It seems to me that what you would be passing on is a state of mind, a way of thinking and exploring. An all-purpose approach that would be applicable for any place, developed or otherwise. That seems to be your point of difference, compared to a traditional guide. Of course you haven’t properly detailed what you’d do but thats what immediately comes to my mind.

What about Greenland? Summer is when it is tolerable, and there is no place I would rather be than Nuuk (the capital)

@Arctic Theory – I’m sure Greenland is a great destination but the idea is to take people to a country/region that I’m familiar with and I’ve never been to Greenland 🙂

¡Que EXCELENTE idea! Everyone has said “great idea” so I resorted to my first language 😉 Voted, excited to see what new project blossoms. You are awesome Earl, keep up the great work! -Creativity flows

Gracias Maria! Thanks for voting 🙂

Sounds fun! Asia is high on my list. I’ve been to Goa and Karnataka in India but that is it so Asia is very high on my bucket list. I spent 5 weeks in Turkey in the 90s and loved it so much. I cant wait to get back there.

I’m digging your blog. Thanks for being a beacon of light. It’s good to hear people can stay on the road for so long!

Thanks so much for reading Ian!

Where is Belgium!?

Hey Didier – Western Europe is a lot easier for people to travel around which is why I didn’t include any countries in that region. The idea is to bring people to countries that they might not travel to on their own. But Belgium is a great destination for sure!

having lived in both s. korea and presently china.. of course am in love with asia. unfortunately have left the rest of the world out of my travel plans. reading this blog makes me want to go to so many new places. earl definitely sounds like great dude and certainly would be supreme tour guide. hopefully i will make it to many of the places where he has been. travelling certainly does give us added senses of freedom and responsibility. rock on earl! u sound like pretty amazing person!

Thanks for that Jake and I’m quite confident that if you stay focused on your travel goals, you’ll visit all of the places you want to see in this world!

Goodness but a poll like that – offered to we who have wanderlust in our DNA, is like giving candy to a baby. Shame on you Earl! 😉

As for me – given that I recently moved lock, stock ‘n barrel to Southeast Asia, preeeeecisely to be able to explore the whole of it at my leisure – the “continent” question was of course a no-brainer.

But the “country/region” proved a tougher choice. Mainly ‘cuz I presently am enchanted with heading to Mongolia and alas, it’s not on your list. So I settled on Cambodia ‘cuz I’m already planning to whiz there in a couple of weeks – with Nepal a close second.

Ah… ’tis deeee-licious just to dream about the possibilities…

So true. Just reading the poll was a tease. Now my mind is wandering again – but I need to be in this chair writing!

Hey Dyanne – Haha…it sure is delicious 🙂 And Mongolia sounds like a great destination to me, one that I’ve always wanted to visit myself. Haven’t made it yet but perhaps soon…I’ll let you know and perhaps you’ll be headed that way too!

What? Doesn’t anybody want to go to Timbuktu? Watching the Coup might be exciting! Maybe too exciting. Maybe next summer.

Hello again Earl!

What a great idea! As for me, I have a long list, and my next long-term plan is Central and South America (starting before this year ends), but as far as where I want to go this summer, I am planning more around seeing people! I have many friends from when I lived and traveled abroad spread out all over the world now. I have a close friend living in Abu Dhabi, UAE (he has already visited me twice in Boston, so it is my turn), and another (both of which lived in Korea when I did) in Salalah, Oman (and still another in Kazakhstan) and I am hoping to get to visit them and a bit of that region this summer via Europe. I want to do a stop-over in London which will allow me to see friends in London, but also travel to see friends in Scotland, Ireland, and Brussels, Belgium.

Though I have traveled extensively on my own and normally turn my nose up at anything that even remotely resembles a tour, I certainly doubt you would be a typical tour guide with the regular list of sites. Also, though I traveled alone and found great freedom in making my plans at my pace, some of the best times I had doing so were actually with other travelers, whether for a dinner, a day, a week or a month. I am still in touch with many people I met while traveling alone and really enjoyed their company. With all of that said, I would have to consider a tour with you and other like-minded travelers were you to do one in a place and time that worked for me.

As to where that would be? Oddly enough two places I have wanted to see for YEARS that I would prefer to have a travel companion (or several) are India and Turkey, both of which seem to be on your list of faves. The knowledge and passion you have for those places would have to make you a wonderful guide for those of us who haven’t been. Also on your list interest to me are parts of Eastern Europe. The whole region is on my ‘list’ and I have yet to step foot in even one of the countries there.

I see Guatemala got the least amount of votes, which is really too bad. I lived in Antigua, studying Spanish for about 5 months and it is a wonderful and beautiful place to be. The people are so friendly and hospitable. I will go back there one day! I will look for more info on your blog as you make your plans and if I can’t join, I am sure our paths will likely cross one day. Thanks for all the inspiration!

Travel safe & happy, Christine (TravelDish)

Hey Christine – The aim of the ‘tour’ is definitely to be as little tour-like as possible! We certainly won’t be wearing stickers with our names on them and we certainly won’t be taking tour buses or anything like that. And both India and Turkey are indeed great places for such an experience and I get excited just thinking about the possibilities in those two countries!

And looks like you have a wonderful summer of travel ahead of you 🙂

Just missed you in Istanbul! Ill be there next month. Do you have a post on things to do there?

Thanks! Daphne

Hey Daphne – Shame we missed each other but I’m happy you’re heading there! It’s a difficult city to leave so we’ll see how long you end up staying 🙂 I don’t have a ‘things to do’ post for Istanbul yet but I am working on one about my personal favorite places in the city. Hopefully I’ll have that finished in the next couple of weeks.

Great idea Earl. Better hurry though as I’m leaving my career of 20 yrs. behind me at the end of this year to start my travels and would be interested in this informal “tour” before I get street smart on my own. Thailand and Phillipines are first, then India (subject to change). Keep up the good work!

@TravelingFirefighter – I’ll definitely be ready by them…I’m hoping to have the first tour up and running at the end of the summer! Will be great to have you join one of them and it does seem like it would be ideal timing considering the new (and exciting) direction you’ll soon be heading in!

Very good Idea Earl,hoping to her more of your small group tours.Yes, I voted!

Thanks for voting Charmine and I shall post more information about the tours within the next month!

Vietnam wasnt on your list, but that is definitely where my next trip is taking me.

Hi Kelly! I loved Vietnam! It was my favorite Asian country I visited (others being Thailand, Malaysia, The Philippines, living in Korea for 3 years and a visit to Beijing to climb the Great Wall of China). It was also my favorite place for food. One of my favorite locations was an unexpected surprise. I intended to stay for a couple of days and ended up being there for a week–Hoi An. It is a short drive from Danang and I highly recommend it! What are your plans?

Hey Kelly – Vietnam is definitely a rewarding destination but when I went, everything just happened to go wrong for me (buses broke down, bridges collapsed and we were stranded, small motorbike accident, etc.) and so I didn’t stay too long in the end. It happens every now and then but it certainly has nothing to do with the country and culture…I just got tired and decided to move on at the time. I really should go back there for another try!

Love this idea!! I’m planning to set out no later than Christmas 2013 for no less than 3 years I hope. Starting the “detanglement” process 🙂

Hey Colleen – And that process can be quite enjoyable! Every step, even the smallest ones, that you take towards your goals should widen the smile and get you even more excited about your upcoming travels!

I made sure to cast my vote! While I didn’t vote for Asia, if you haven’t been I HIGHLY suggest you go. Making plans to go back hopefully soon for more of a living type of situation. Cheers all!

Thanks for voting Adam and naturally, I agree with your thoughts on Asia!

Disappointed that Slovenia not getting more love. Maybe that’s a good thing for the rest of us who don’t want it to be overrun with tourists. 🙂

Hey Jeremy – I think that it will get more love eventually but it’s still so unknown to most people. And don’t worry, if I do lead a tour there, I will make everyone sign a contract that states they will not tell anyone else about this destination 🙂

I chose these locations because they are somewhere I would actually consider living. But Columbia is cool too. It’s the cost of a plane ticket too.

Hey Brenda – The plane ticket is of course an added expense but using certain methods can reduce the cost and in the end, when you average it out over the course of your trip, it can be quite a reasonable expense.

Egypt… Egypt & more Egypt!!! I will be going back very soon for a few more months & can’t wait. So excited. Have you been to Egypt?

Thats so cool to read, never seen any of the travelers THAT excited about Egypt 😀 let me know when you’re in the region, would love to finally find some one who can talk about travel! (my friends get bored so quickly when I start imagining my travel plans :P)

Hey Jaime – I have been to Egypt although I don’t know it as well as I do a place like India. But I loved my time there and can certainly see why you are having trouble staying away for too long!

Honestly, wherever that picture to start the post is, looks pretty awesome. Excuse my naiveté but what city is that?

Hey A – That is the wonderful city of Istanbul, where I am right now for a week. And you’re right, this certainly is an awesome place to explore!

Just curious. But is there any reason you have never visited Israel? Israelis are huge backpackers themselves and are very open to newcomers. I don’t think I have to tell you all the ancient sites and battlegrounds they have to offer.

Hey Greg – There’s no real reason I haven’t visited Israel. I’d love to go but just haven’t made it there yet. At the moment, with my passport full of stamps from all of its neighboring countries, I think I’ll have to wait until I get a new passport.

For me I would say – Middle East, possibly Iran or Oman. These are the countries that I feel having a guide/being part of a tour would be beneficial.

@SoloFemaleNomad – Those seem to be two excellent options as well, although I have not been to either of them so I wouldn’t be comfortable taking others there. But I do want to visit both of them at some point soon!

Colombia. So many interesting birds.

I absolutely loved Colombia last year; I was only in Bogota for a few months, but I’ll be going back later this year with a friend (we just talked over dinner last night about shooting for September) for some more research and to check out some new places/go hiking. I would highly suggest anyone who wants to come to South America to put it high on their list 🙂 The people are incredible, the food is amazing and the scenery is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. My 9 hour bus-ride from Bogota to Manizales still stands out as one of the most precious views I have racked up over the past 13+ years of traveling. Unbelievably lush.

And then there’s salsa. Hands down…Colombia = epic 🙂

Also, there is a writer I know who lives in Bucharest and I could put you in contact with him if you end up wanting to look for something to do with locals. He’s married to a Romanian woman.

Hey T.W. – I’m always looking to meet new people so that would be great to be put in touch with the writer your know in Bucharest!

Earl: I sent you a message on Facebook regarding his contact info. Cheers.

Hey T.W. – Excellent! Thanks for that.

No worries; despite all my time in Bulgaria, I didn’t spent much time in Romania; instead, I was in Turkey, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, mostly sticking to Bulgaria out of all the years in the region, so I don’t now much about Romania. My friend should hopefully be able to give you some local information since you will be spending so much time in the region.

Have fun! Beautiful part of the world, for sure.

If you end up wanting to spend more time in Bulgaria, let me know. I’ve got a lot of information for the country, as well as some local connections should you head to Sofia for any length of time.

As far as my own plans go…I’m keen on more South America presently. I see myself in the region until around 2017/2018, at which point I’ll probably head over to Asia for the next leg of my journey. I’ve seen a lot of the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe over the past 8 years, and while I plan on going back to Bulgaria if only to set up a small vineyard at some point in the next half dozen years or so, I don’t plan on ever living there as a nomad again…more of just “one of many places I’ll repeat visit at least once a year”.

I’ve only scratched the surface down here. Cancun has been great for me over the past year and a half, and Bogota was epic for the time I was there last year, but there’s a lot more ground to cover 🙂

This sounds GREAT! It will be amazing for the people it works out for to get to learn from you. I plan on heading out this Summer, finalizing getting my house up for rent now, maybe I’ll see you around lol 😀

Nice idea Earl! 🙂

Sounds like a greeaatt idea Earl! Can’t wait..:D

Great idea Earl!

Great idea Earl. Pass on some of that magic travelness you got 🙂

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• North America
• 17 Incredible Places To Visit...

17 Incredible Places to Visit If Money Were No Object

Got piles of spare cash and looking to quench some seriously exclusive wanderlust? Then worry not because there are plenty of divine destinations throughout the world where you won’t have to rub shoulders with raucous and unruly budget travelers.

1. bora bora, french polynesia.

Those after a ritzy tropical island escape need look no further than Bora Bora , a picturesque French Polynesian island considered by many to be the finest in the South Pacific. Here, all-inclusive US$1000-a-night overwater bungalows are pretty much the norm.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Find places to stay with our partner, Hotels.com

Bora Bora | © tpsdave / Pixabay

A Round the World Cruise

Let’s face it: one-week cruises are the plaything of the proletariat. Those with real money would surely prefer to circumnavigate the entire globe on an epic journey lasting three months or more. With a typical voyage taking in dozens of port calls across six continents, an RTW cruise is the only way to travel the world in style.

The Russian Space Agency has already taken a handful of billionaire tourists to explore the final frontier, while American company SpaceX is planning to be the first private venture to offer trips around the moon in 2018. Although SpaceX is remaining quiet about exactly how much their interstellar journey will cost, some estimates are as high as US$175 million. It’s just as well since money is no object.

Only accessible on a multi-day cruise from Ushuaia in southern Argentina, a trip to the world’s most isolated continent will typically add up to US$10,000 or more. For this reason, those who do make it to this incredible winter wonderland will be surrounded by little more than penguins, icebergs, and fellow millionaire tourists.

2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A small fishing village just a few decades ago, Dubai has undergone a miraculous transformation to become the international epitome of wealth and affluence. Stay in the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab for a truly opulent seven-star hotel experience.

Burj Al Arab | © Free-Photos / Pixabay

3. Tuscany, Italy

We’ve all heard of the ancient sites of Rome and the picturesque canals of Venice, but Tuscany in central Italy is where the millionaires go to holiday. With extravagant country manors to rent and endless rolling hills to explore (preferably in a Ferrari), Tuscany is a decidedly upmarket destination best enjoyed with huge sums of excess cash.

Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany | © Francesco Carrani / Flickr

4. Safaris in South Africa

Leading the way in the upmarket safari industry is South Africa, home to a myriad of elegant lodgings that cater to the world’s economic elite. The best of the lot may well be Richard Branson’s very own Ulusaba , which charges a cool US$6,000 per night for what one would hope to be a truly unforgettable wildlife-spotting experience.

South Africa

Safari in South Africa | © Sumarie Slabber / Flickr

5. Laucala Island, Fiji

There are plenty of stock standard resorts in Fiji offering shabby accommodation to the economically challenged. And then there’s Laucala , a private island owned by Red Bull billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, which has become a lavish playground for the rich and famous. A favorite of many celebs is their in-house submarine, which allows guests to explore under the sea without the hassle of having to learn how to SCUBA dive.

Laucala Island, Fiji

The submarine at Laucala | Courtesy of Laucala

6. Mount Everest, Nepal

Natural Feature, Hiking Trail

7. Cocoa Island, Maldives

Overwater bungalows are synonymous with the Maldives, the best of which are on the Cocoa Islands, where opulent rooms lie just meters away from the aquatic life below. But get in quick: if climate change predictions are correct, these tropical digs might be fully submerged in the not-too-distant future.

Cocoa Island, Maldives

Cocoa Island | © Chi King / Flickr

A European River Cruise

For a unique and decidedly upmarket perspective of the old continent, hop on a river cruise down the Rhine or the Danube. With packages stretching into the tens of thousands of dollars, river cruising is a luxurious alternative to traveling Europe, which feels a world away from those stuffy bus tours.

8. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

9. Las Vegas, United States

Las Vegas is pretty lame if you’re broke. But for the wealthy and reckless, this “Disneyland for adults” is chock-full of fancy hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, glamorous clubs and non-stop 24-hour gambling. Just remember the old saying, “What happens in Vegas …”

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Vegas | © zzim780 / Pixabay

10. The Mediterranean Sea

Sailing around the Mediterranean is a favorite pastime of Europe’s financial elite who dine on lobster for breakfast while exploring the region’s crystal clear waters. Don’t have your own super yacht? No worries, just rent one for a mere US$646,000 per week .

Mediterranean Sea

Sailing | © Airvideopl / Pixabay

11. The French Riviera, France

The southern coast of France is extravagant, to say the least. Well-to-do socialites descend on the region during the warmer months in droves, seeking sun and fun as part of their endless luxurious lifestyle. While you can visit the Côte d’Azur on a modest budget, a few extra million in spending money certainly wouldn’t go astray.

French Riviera, France

Monaco | © tpsdave / Pixabay

12. New York, United States

Ever tried booking a hotel in New York ? Then you’ll understand why it’s on this list. Thankfully, the Big Apple’s energetic vibe and countless attractions make such outrageous hotel prices seem almost worth it in the end. Almost.

New York, NY, USA

New York | © FrankWinkler / Pixabay

Okay, we might be jumping the gun a little here. But give it a few more decades and Mars may well be the solar system’s hottest travel destination. Of course, a trip to our red neighbor is going to be pretty expensive, so best start saving ASAP.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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A new survey asked Americans where they’d go if all constraints were removed.

The first ever Vrbo U.S. Traveler Survey asked more than 1,000 respondents and Australia was the top dream destination.

However, the country was only the 18th-most-visited destination by American travelers in 2018, according to Expedia data.

The survey concludes that the disparity between dream and reality signals that barriers of time and money are the deciding factors for whether Americans will take that dream vacation.

The survey said millennials were the group most likely to go into debt for travel (37%) compared to Generation Xers (27%) and baby boomers (15%).

According to the report, domestic travel destinations topped the list for all survey respondents, but there was a variation between age groups when it came to international travel.

For millennial travelers ages 18 to 34, the report said the top dream destination was Italy by more than 9%.

Respondents 35 and older chose Australia as their dreamiest destination.

Travel | IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions with Sample Answers

In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics ( travel)  and sample answers.

Please remember that in the actual test you should give honest answers and talk about your own experiences, thoughts, feelings and opinions.  Do not  try to memorise answers , as the examiners will probably be able to guess and you will lose marks.

However, you are able to make up information to extend your answers, but be sure that you are confident  when speaking about the chosen topic and that it is believable.

TIP >>  Each answer should be at least 2-3 sentences long.

TIP >>  Listen carefully to the question so that you answer in the correct tense. 

TIP >>  When answering a yes/no question  – answer then give your reasons for your answer. You must extend your answer to gain more marks. 

TIP >>  Just relax and think of it as a regular conversation you are having, make eye contact and be positive. 

Take a look at the questions and sample answers  below on the topic of ‘travel ‘ >>

Q: What do you do on your vacation?

A: Depending on the location when I go on holiday I like to relax, see the sights and take photographs. I also like to go shopping, visit museums and galleries. I am very interested in art and architecture, so love to see as much as I can when I go on holiday. 

Q: Do you think vacations are becoming more and more important?

A: Yes, I think that many people are working longer hours and have more stress than ever placed upon them. taking a break is necessary to unwind and recharge so that they can let go of the stress and focus on their own well-being. 

Q: What kind of places do you want to travel to?

A: I really want to visit the USA more and explore cities like New York, Chicago and Boston. I would also like to visit Canada to go skiing and perhaps in the spring to visit Italy, to see some galleries. 

Q: Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group?

A: I prefer to travel in a group, as I think it is more fun being able to share experiences with friends or family. Travelling alone is not always safe and in some places could be very risky. 

Q: Who do you usually spend your vacation with?

A: I always go on vacation with my husband, we travel a lot mainly around Greece either to the mainland or to other islands. We also like to visit cities like London, Barcelona, Rome and New York to experience various cultures. 

Q: Why are vacations important to you?

A: They are much needed during certain times of the year, for example when the weather becomes too hot to bear or I feel as though I need a break from work. They help me to relax and de-stress from everything. 

Q: If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

A: I would like to visit a pretty place with snow, lots and lots of snow, somewhere like Canada or maybe even in the mountains in Greece during the winter months. I would like to go skiing, try snowboarding and stay in a well-decorated log cabin, with a large real fireplace. 

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test . If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook , then follow us on Instagram  and  Pinterest . 

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GBC: If I could go anywhere in the world...

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? What would you do there? Why there and not some other place?

Use the basic structure of a strong argument in your answer. (See Examples and hints.)

Practice writing a strong argument. The basic elements of a strong argument are:

• Responding right away; and
• Giving a clear claim.
• anecdote (a story that happened to you, or that you heard about);
• analogy (comparison);
• expert or eyewitness testimony (an official source);
• facts, statistics or data.
• So you can (verb)
• So that means... 
• The (comparative), the (comparative); e.g., " The more you study, the better your English will be!"
• If the answer is long, then use a transition phrase to lead into your conclusion, e.g., "So to wrap up..." or "All in all..." 
• Clearly and simply repeat your claims. (This should be very short.) 
• Add a "so what?"—a recommendation, prediction, hope or future action. (This step works on most, but not all, questions.)  

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If You Could Go Anywhere In The World, Where Would You Go?

in Make Money , Travel

Hack The System started as an experiment.

I wanted to see it it was possible to travel the world, make passive income and live an exciting life in my 20’s. I wanted to break out of my own comfort zone.

Since 2008, I’ve been in constant motion — and many of you have followed my pursuits.

But if you think life as a digital nomad is all about traveling aimlessly, you’re wrong.

The freedom to travel at a moment’s notice or make money from anywhere in the world has always had a deeper meaning and fulfilled a special purpose for me. That’s why even when I settle somewhere, I’m never truly “idle.”

Everywhere I go, I start something new. I create a new project and leave a piece of myself behind.

My goal is always to leave something better than when I found it. I want the world to benefit from having me in it — and dammit, I want to have fun.

Whether it’s building a completely outsourced business on the back of a an ass or founding an NGO in India…

Hello. Step into my office.

Or becoming an overnight sensation as a DJ in Berlin…

No matter if I was trekking around Italy and Columbia learning languages and getting sandwiches named after myself , or   buying an island off the coast of Canada…

The best part about living life as a digital nomad is the freedom to write your own ticket and build a life full of meaningful projects on your own time, without having to worry about clocking in to a desk job.

You already know about the technology I’m building to help you change your behavior and install positive habits — but what many people don’t realize is that my ability to start that business is a direct result of all the tools I’ve developed over the last 5 years traveling, learning and starting other micro-businesses.

So now, I want to hear from you:

• If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
• If you could start a meaningful project or business tomorrow, what would it be?

Let me know in the comments. On Friday, we’ll review all the coolest responses.

{ 35 comments… }

Maneesh—

I’m a designer working on a project which examines the effects of light and colour, so I am tardy in getting to answer the travel questions you posed . Because of my work with colour and light and the calming effects of those on people everywhere in the world, I want to go to three speciifc locations long known for the unusual qualities of light which occur there: Channel Islands UK, Patagonia/Tierra del Fuego SA, the Namib Desert in Namibia Africa. I want to stay among people living in those places to confirm what I am beginning to suspect—that the kinds of light people live with effects their temperaments and therefore that of their society. I want to live in those particular environments long enough to feel these qualities of light myself and to start to figure out how I can replicate these light—-and possibly calming —–qualities in the project I am doing.

Yes, Maneesh, I admit its a bit unusual, but I think it could have far reaching & beneficial ramifications world wide.

Yours sincerely, Annie Elkington

I’d go anywhere as long as I was leading a group of people out of their comfort zones: Take French Canadians to Calgary, Calgarians to Quebec, Cajun coon asses anywhere north of I-10.

These are adventures I can do right now! Ya wanna do it with me?

That’s great to hear 🙂 I’m from Quebec!

1-I’d want to go to Finland. I’ve heard nothing but good things about that place. 2-I want to develop some kind of revolutionary language learning method. I’ve tried so many different ways and I’ve been disappointed a ton. For first-timers or shy folks, simply making best friends with polyglots doesn’t help in the beginning. So, I want to address and alleviate these anxieties by preparing people to make basic conversations in a way that they can understand and feel confident about.

My wife and I want to visit Madagascar – we’ve seen so many beautiful pictures/videos of it that it only makes sense to visit.

My next project is to help married couples move from good to great marriages!

I’d like to travel to Paris and I’d like to start a fashion project.

1. I would travel into the wild, like Africa and make a little Safari tour. It can be scary though, but I really need to get the feeling and appreciation of not beeing in the food chain! 😛

2. Here I rather be more realisitc. I feel like I am cursed. I have so many physical products, which I can produce and create, but I do not have the marketing skills. I hope I can beat my curse soon enough so I can share my experience with other people.

I would love to start living in Florence, Berlin and Frankfurt. 2 to 3 months every location. I would love to have an independent business that I can help people to lose weight while eating food they love-online fitness bootcamp with minimum maintenance. Just emails. once a week.

I would like to go to somewhere really calm. My project -> inspire others to stop giving up on their ideals and pursue it.

Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives is where I’d go if I could travel anywhere!

I would like to start a Program for kids, high school students and early 20 somethings that was all about creating businesses. I think there is a huge lack of that around. Heck if you even take a business class in high school or college they teach accounting, supply and demand, business license and tax crap and never once actually cover creating a business. I’d like to create one that said screw all the obstacles lets build the business and then worry about that and actually help them do it.

As a serial entrepreneur since I was 9 I feel young people are getting screwed over by the system.

Granted that wouldn’t exactly give me the freedom to travel. -Richie

Yup, I’ve lived my life ass backwards too hehe, been to a few places around the world, I may check out Canada and the US one day, I have a business now, but my next move would probably be to go back to school. Though i have to say, i always appreciate coming back home to New Zealand after going overseas, we are so lucky to have what we have and thats not me showing off either >_<

1. I would travel to North Korea and go to places that I was restricted from before, and meet the Koreans that I have been cut from. I would like to go through the country and see the mountains, cities, history, and get to know my people over the border.

2. I would like to Uganda and go to an orphanage school I know and help the staff teach the children. Also, I would start a donation campaign for the school to feed the children and provide medicals.

In 2006, I was one of five people involved in a head-on collision. It was like hitting a brick wall at 120 mph (literally) and I gained some perspective on life. 1) If I could go anywhere in the world I would go? Exactly where I am. I’ve traveled to Bolivia (2010), Spain (2011), France, Italy, Andorra (all 2012), Mexico, Belize, and Honduras (all 2013) already. This May I plan to return to Spain before jumping off to Turkey and Greece. However, I try to avoid wishing I was somewhere I’m not. Rather, I try to live in the moment and be happy where I am. The accident taught me that life is too short to wait for adventure, happiness, and opportunities to find you. Instead, you must make things happen and take action. 2) If I could start a meaningful project or business tomorrow, what would it be? Here too, I have to say that I’m already doing this with the launch of http://www.CitedScholar.com . This blog and, soon to launch, podcast is dedicated to helping scholars figure out the business of being an academic. I pay my bills as a writer so I can have the location independence and freedom to follow my passions. When I found Hack The System in 2010, I didn’t know how I was going to create the life I wanted. Since then I have learned a lot from Maneesh and other bloggers. Travel hacking, extreme early retirement, and the life of a digital nomad are just three of the topics that have helped me take control of my life. In just a couple hours I will be presenting information about travel hacking to a group of twenty people. If all goes well, what I’ve learned from Hack The System will help them as much as it has helped me. Thanks Maneesh, for all you put into this blog and your other projects. I can’t wait for the launch of Pavlock!

Being 15, travel is but a pipe-dream; after all, it’s impossible to garner so much money (legal inability of owning a credit card) and I’d have to go with my parents. Nevertheless, I can start a project: I’m currently learning (“getting used to,” as Khatzumoto at ajatt.com would call it) Japanese using the immersion/SRS method. I plan to be native-fluent by the time I am 19 and plan to go to Japan upon receiving a Master’s in Mathematics. I have a passion for music as well, and am learning the ropes for FL Studio to compose and produce music. Post Script: This is my first post on this blog, and to my memory any blog. Whoopie.

Fantastic that you are learning Japanese! 頑張ってください！！ Khatzumoto’s method is certainly the way I did it as well! Best of luck on your journey!

1. Amsterdam and Mallorca, Spain. I happen to have a ticket to Amsterdam in five weeks and one to Mallorca two weeks later 🙂 2. The website that I’m launching in five weeks, http://onemonthmaster.com . Every month, I will travel to a new country and master a new skill, sharing epic how-to posts, adventure videos, and interviews with current masters. (If you are interested, the first 100 subscribers are getting something special when I launch- signup here: http://onemonthmaster.com )

1. I love to travel and to know Peru. Look at all these ancient buildings and appreciate closely the important and mysterious Inca culture. Peru stands out all traces left by the ancestors and their indecipherable signs of superior intelligence.

2. I would initiate my project to import items from China. This city is a great market with great potential for commercialization of most of the Asian products.

Also good job on all that you have accomplished!! your life has been incredibly inspiring to me ( even if I’ve been seeing it all through envious green tinted glasses!) it is always wonderful to see people living their dreams awake! Keep doing your thing maneesh! You’re doing it wonderfully:) thank you!

I want to go everywhere. Most recently I’ve been interested in African culture I love the music scene right now. 🙂 I’m with the music guy who wants to go to turkey I love world music! Most other countries sing about love and meaningful things and I am quite a fan of that. New Zealand bc it was my grandmas favorite country and my sister wants to take her ashes there and that would be a neat excursion I recently returned from china which I absolutely loved! I’d go explore further there and Korea! Russia and Ukraine (maybe not today hah;)But nowhere is off track for me I want to see it all!

I am highly interested in alternative medicines . When I say alternative I mean different options to the relatively new and widely accepted as the best version of health wih his western. I think there should be a way to explore the other options hi choir being though of as crazy. There should be a choice because westernized hacking and chopping up our bodies should never be the first choice! Health is from within not without! Health has changed dramatically recently and not in the right direction. Think about cancer “research” all that money thrown at findin a cure. Never the cause! It is absolutely frustrating and infuriating to me! I’d start a consulting company to show people there are other ways to cure yourself. Doctors are not gods. They don’t always know what’s best and the sad thing is people don’t realize this until they have put all their eggs in the western basket and it is too late for them to even consider the alternatives.

First, study traditional folk and classical music in Turkey and explore the burgeoning music scene in Istanbul. Later, Southern Spain and Northern Morocco. Then, backpack around Central Asia to research and explore music of the Silk Road cultures.

Between my late teens and early 20’s, I made opportunities to study traditional music in India, Morocco, and Senegal. I’ve been passionate about music most of my life and after discovering a burning interest in world music I decided to pursue my education through cultural immersion. After some years of continuing to study in the US, refining my craft, and creating lots of interesting music projects assimilating all the many styles I’ve soaked up, I want to take it the next level… That is I envision a business venture where I provide educational materials on world music for western musicians and do travelogue-style adventures to foreign places focused on musical folklore.

I would go to Rome & Greece if I could travel the world and do a stop over in Eastern Europe, then see the Auroras followed by winter in Hokkaido. If I could start a project, I want to be able to start a project to help people who have recently been laid off find another source of income, another vocation or job.

1) a) Next Universo Paralello party Brazil. b) Go to the same steam baths in Helsinki Finland my gramps visited during the ’52 Olympics. He obtained a certificate with quite humorous wording about having endured steam and fire etc. Would be cool if the place still exists and if I can obtain the modern version of said certificate 😀 c) Attend metal concert in Goteborg in Sweden. d) Lots of places in the East.

2) Project to bring about legislation requiring all politicians, especially presidents, to have a minimum qualification level and having obtained some certification or qualification which is specifically geared towards politics. Many professions require you to have some minimum qualification level, especially if your actions/words can have profound effect on other people’s lives or state of aliveness. Doctors, lawyers, etc…. why not politicians? Our country’s president and politicians are prime examples of where such a requirement would have been useful…

1) I’d travel with my son to Seattle for a couple of months this summer so he could train with the best pitching coach in the country.

2) Project to bring about legislation barring qualification tests for politicians. We live in an overcredentialed world that assumes the only people qualified to do a given job have some meaningless letters after their name. Teacher (for example) certification is a joke – and the peer reviewed evidence proves it.

1. Just trekked from Costa Rica to California. I would like to follow springtime along the belt of fire from Alaska to Patagonia. 2. Karmagrove.com – a project that benefits communities thru commerce 3. Continue living dream

I want to go to different places as in the past 2years i have been traveling around EU, North America, the caribean and South America..mostly with tips from you. Iwant to go to Israel to train KravMaga, Thailand and train Muai Thai, Russia and live for a few months in Paris with my girl. 2. I started a proyect that lets me work from anywhere by trading food products and agri-commodities, it had a good start ,however,not every day a client buys a container load of goods (I’m missing a passive income source but I’m already working on it) I want mu trading company ROANATURALS to trade fairtrade and healthy food products in order to cooperate with growers in developing countries and help my buyers in first world nations to buy products that will improove their health and wellbeing. PS. I still dont know how to apply many things you teach (im on my way to it) and i am following your fitness journey too, I’ve lost 20 lbs since Jan. and on my way to loose 15more …all by changing my food habits. Thx

Go: Thailand or India specifically to do a 10 day silent meditation retreat. Having a pregnant wife and a two year old makes it impossible to unplug for that long (for now). Project: tough one. As a VC I see so many amazing projects and technologies. Definitely something to help the extremely poor – perhaps with water or medical screenings. Not sure…

Brazil Help with the Start-up scene down there 🙂

Give Italy, where I am another year at most then the UAE, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Newzealand, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Mozambique and Rwanda in that order.

1. Thailand, Melledin & San Fransisco in that order (already bought my ticket).

2. I would make life 100x easier for college kids (already started a blog).

A cruise – Bahamas – somewhere warm and sunny a business to generate only about 1 to 2 grand a month to take my retired life from OK to much better – maybe writing? but definitely portable

Hawaii Housing for mentally retarded and mentally ill – think nursing homes and halfway houses – there is a better way.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?……World Tour….England, France, Spain, Ghana, Thailand…….doing it and leaving in 5 weeks. Spending the rest of 2014 traveling.

If you could start a meaningful project or business tomorrow, what would it be? Hiking the Camino de Santiago to raise money for the slave children in Ghana…..doing it!!!!!! Starting on May 22nd and then going to Ghana to build an orphanage for the children in Aug. :):):) Thanks for the inspiration bro.

I’d like to stay where I’m based in Italy and master the language before jetting off to a new destination. First off I’d like to start a business that generates me enough income to be able to live abroad freely. Then eventually I’d love to start a for-purpose company in Latin America.

Ideally all before I’m 25 because I also want to travel to South East Asia and live in Spain, learning Spanish.

Right now I’m imagining a 24-Style countdown clock, thankfully I have longer than 24 hours 😀

1. Go: Antarctica and the South Pole, why, because I need to chill & haven’t been set foot on Antarctic yet… 2. Project: Create a tool that empowers individuals to have more political influence; for example, twitter was a catalyst in allowing the Arab Spring to occur–along the same lines, I’m thinking of a project that would be hardware/software based that would convenietnly allow anyone to test the quality of their air/water/food and thereby take the power from the institutions that are supposed to be doing this for citizens and allowing citizens to hold the institutions accountable (and, when they are accountable, allowing citizens via such a quick test tool to force change)

Good idea Chris. Lets make it.

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Hi, my name is Maneesh Sethi.

I studied at Stanford, traveled the world for 4 years, learned 5 languages, founded an NGO in India, became a famous DJ in Berlin, and want to show you how to build a digital nomad lifestyle.

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Global airlines are governed by strict 'freedoms of the air' dating back 80 years. They've created some funky routes.

• Global airlines are governed by nine "freedoms of the air," drafted 80 years ago in 1944.
• These dictate how airlines can operate in foreign nations, with some more complicated than others.
• The fifth freedom can give airlines a competitive edge and help capitalize on demand.

Over the past 100 years of shuttling people around the globe in metal flying machines, the world's aviation network has grown into a vast web of intersecting routes that connect nearly every corner of the globe.

Because of the complexities of crossing international borders, commercial carriers follow what is known as the "freedoms of the air" — or the right for an airline to operate within a nation other than its own.

These building blocks of aviation make international connectivity possible. 

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO , there are five official freedoms and four other "so-called" rights, that have been outlined in agreements between countries. ICAO is an agency of the United Nations that sets standards for the global aviation industry.

Drafted in 1944 during what is known as the Chicago Convention, the laws were written as world governments relaxed their grip on airline networks and pricing. This liberalization, however, meant countries with bigger airlines would likely dominate the skies — prompting them to implement strict route regulations.

The governing freedoms not only promote more competition and choice but also allow airlines to optimize routes and increase efficiency, according to FlightRadar24 . 

Most international carriers except for a very small few follow the basic freedoms of allowing airlines of one state to fly over or land in another, and vice versa.

Open Skies agreements simplify these international routes, like the one between the European Union and the US that allows any airline registered in either market to fly between the two.

Some freedoms are more complicated, but provide interesting and diverse route options to travelers.

The fifth and eighth freedoms of the air

Beyond the first four freedoms, there is one more officially recognized right, as well as the four "so-called" rights. The latter four were not officially drafted during the 1944 Chicago Convention but are regularly accepted and practiced worldwide.

According to ICAO, the fifth freedom gives an airline of one nation the right to fly between two other countries, so long as the one-stop routes start or end in its home country and all parties agree.

Among the most well-known fifth freedom routes are Emirates' flights from New York-JFK to Milan and Newark to Athens, both flying onward to the carrier's base in Dubai.

Similarly, Singapore Airlines flies between New York and Singapore via a stop in Frankfurt , and Australian flag carrier Qantas flies between Sydney and New York via Auckland, New Zealand, according to Google Flights.

United Airlines' delayed fifth freedom route will fly between the US mainland and Cebu, Philippines, via Tokyo starting in October, the carrier told Business Insider on Monday. It was supposed to start in July — before the FAA launched an investigation after a string of safety incidents at United.

These unique routes can be efficient for airlines trying to serve destinations that a plane can't reach nonstop, like Emirates' fifth freedom between Mexico City and Dubai via Barcelona or Latam Airlines' route between Sydney and Santiago, Chile, via Auckland. 

Still, carriers will make stops on otherwise attainable direct flights because they can capitalize on the high-demand market on both legs — filling more seats and making more money.

Customers may also view carriers like Emirates and Singapore as a more luxe offering than the competing US and EU carriers across the Atlantic.

On the other hand, an airline that wants to serve a low-demand market can better fill the plane by adding a fifth-freedom leg to a nearby city, like Dutch flag carrier KLM's flight between Amsterdam and Santiago via Buenos Aires. 

Among ICAO's most interesting "so-called" rights is the eighth freedom, which gives an airline the right to fly between two cities in a country that isn't its own— but the domestic leg seats cannot be sold as the entire journey must start or end in the foreign airline's home nation.

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Qantas used to fly an eighth freedom route between New York and Sydney via Los Angeles — but only those originating or destined for Australia could fly on the domestic cross-country leg, Forbes reported.

Also no longer flying, per Cirium data, African carrier Air Senegal, for example, launched a flight from Dakar to Baltimore with a layover in New York in 2021. The domestic leg seats couldn't be sold.

Here's a closer look at the freedoms of the air.

"Five Freedom Agreements"

First Freedom

This allows an airline of one nation to fly over another without landing.

Second Freedom

This allows an airline of one nation the right to land in another territory for a technical stop. Think refueling or an inflight mechanical issue that prompted an unplanned emergency landing.

Third Freedom

This allows an airline of one nation to carry passengers to a foreign state, and vice versa.

Fourth Freedom

This allows the airline of one nation to take on passengers originating in another. The fourth freedom is simply the reverse of the third freedom.

Fifth Freedom

This allows an airline of one nation to carry passengers between two countries other than its own so long as the route starts or ends in the carrier's home state.

"So-called" rights

Six Freedom

This allows an airline to carry passengers from one nation to another via its home state. This represents the typical hub-and-spoke network used by global airlines.

Seventh Freedom

The seventh freedom is similar to the fifth freedom but takes out the limitation of where the route must start or end. Instead, an airline has the right to fly between two nations other than its own without flying onward to its home base.

The EU's single-aviation market, for example, grants airlines the right to fly to and from any EU country, like Ireland-based Ryanair that flies between Rome and Vilnius, Lithuania.

Eighth Freedom

This allows an airline to fly between two cities in a foreign country so long as all passengers originate or are destined for the airline's home state.

Ninth Freedom

This cabotage freedom allows an airline of one nation to fly between two points in a separate single country. This does not exist in the US, but it does in the EU — like easyJet's back-and-forth nonstop between Paris and Nice, for example.

Watch: Why Singapore Changi Airport was just named best in the world

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