5 places to go in 2024

We say this every year, but it is ridiculous to think that someone would be able to go to 52 different leisure destinations in one year. Heck, even 25 or 10 places would be unrealistic. And that glossy magazine that offered up 100 places to travel in the next year? Do they even still do that? We don’t know. We got exhausted and stopped reading.

But we think five destinations is a good number. If you were ambitious, you could perhaps do all five, but if you’re just taking one or two trips next year, we’re not overwhelming you with options.

Sardinia

For the past two years, post-pandemic, we’re finding that people were going back to their tried-and-true destinations. We were sending lots of people to London, Paris and Greece, and when people were going to Italy, they were sticking mostly to the Rome-Venice-Florence triangle. That started to change a little bit when we started to see inquiries about Sardinia trickling in. If you want beautiful landscapes, terrific beaches and amazing food, we think that Sardinia is the perfect off-the-beaten-piazza destination in Italy. It’s attracting more interest, but the floodgates for Sardinia haven’t fully opened, yet, so it’s not a destination that is over-touristed, but with enough luxury tourism infrastructure to ensure that you’ll have an incredible experience. So, if you’re ready to branch out in Europe — think about Sardinia for your next Mediterranean vacation!

The Philippines

We started getting our first inquiries for The Philippines earlier this year, and most of them were clients of our newest advisor, Jesús. Jesús sort of got thrown into the deep end of the pool with his first few bookings, because the Philippines isn’t the easiest destination to plan, but hey — that’s why you’re using a travel advisor, right? This archipelago is full of incredible beaches, breathtaking landscapes and hidden coves, and incredible cultural riches. And it’s not ridiculously expensive either! If you’re looking for an alternative to Phuket or Vietnam that’s packed with value, think about The Philippines. We’d love to send you there!

Estonia

Keeping with the theme of branching out and discovering less-traveled destinations in Europe — we’d love to send you to Estonia. We’ve absolutely fallen in love with this small Baltic company (no dis to Latvia and Lithuania), and we think it deserves your attention. Estonia is just a couple of hours away from Finland by ferry, so it’s easy to get there, especially if you’re exploring Scandinavia as part of your trip. It’s a terrific food destination, and you’ll definitely want to explore the sauna culture of Estonia while there. Ever thought that you’d find incredible natural beauty in a bog? Well, let us send you on a bog walk, and we’ll open your eyes to something extraordinary. We’ve already got clients looking at visiting Estonia’s winter markets next year, so if you’d like to jump on this bandwagon, we’re happy to slow it down for you!

An Arctic Expedition

Expedition cruises are all the rage, right now, and while we’re seeing great deals on Antarctica, a polar expedition in the Arctic is closer to home, and (we think) a spectacular value. This summer, we took an Arctic expedition from Iceland up to Jan Mayen Island and Svalbard, where we saw polar bears nearly every day while north of the Arctic Circle. Aside from Svalbard, you can visit Greenland, the northern reaches of Scandinavia, and even do a Northwest Passage sailing through the Canadian Arctic at the top of North America! The wildlife, natural beauty and fascinating history of the Arctic is unparalleled, and we have more than a few supplier partners that will take good care of you, at a range of budget points. Let’s explore the Arctic!

South Africa

The world is a very big place, and Africa is a very big part of that very big place. We love sending clients to Namibia, Botswana, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, not to mention Egypt and Morocco, but for the best introduction to the continent, we really don’t think you can do better than South Africa. The safari experiences in the private game reserves near Kruger National Park are a great first safari experience, if you’ve never done one. But aside from safaris, you can explore the beautiful wine country, just outside of Cape Town — one of the most cosmpolitan cities in the world. The gorgeous. natural beauty of the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon is a must-see, and there’s incredible history to explore in Soweto and at the Apartheid Museum. Compared to its neighbors, South African safaris are a real value, as well. Let’s go to Africa!

Ready to start planning?

Well, we’re ready to start helping! Starting early is the best way to make sure you’re maximizing value, so drop us a line to get us started on planning your next great adventure!