During these troubling times we find ourselves thankful to have family to quarantine with until it’s safe to travel again. The allure of the road is ever present in our minds and even though we grow restless, it’s our responsibility to stay put for now. Making the best of our downtime from traveling, this is the perfect time to plan out future travels to the top travel destinations.
Sure, you can’t book exact dates, but you can start mapping out a tentative trip. This way all you’ll have to do is book the dates when the time comes. We’ve put together a short list of the top locations on our bucket list. Some of them we’ve already visited and others we’ve researched thoroughly with the intent to go in the future.
1. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is rated as one of the top travel destinations in the world for good reason. It’s famous for great beaches, excellent scuba diving, and perfect waves for surfing. The accommodations vary to match any budget. Stay in a modest hostel or a five star resort.
Search for hostels with Hostelworld’s website here.
If you want a break from the beach fun head into town to explore one of the beautiful temples. Or if you prefer, enjoy the high-end restaurants, bars, or world class shopping venues.
2. Paris, France
Paris is one of our favorite cities in the world. It has something for everyone including shopping, art and history museums, the theater, concerts, and more. Not to mention the amazing architecture and historic buildings scattered throughout the city.
We inevitably end up walking the streets for hours finding new hidden secrets in the most unexpected places. Even if you don’t enjoy tourist attractions, the views from the Eiffel Tower are spectacular, and attempting to see everything in the Louvre Museum is a worthwhile venture. To top it all off, you’re rewarded to the best restaurants and terrific wine. Everyone should treat themselves to a trip to Paris at least once.
3. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
We had the pleasure to visit Angkor Wat right before the pandemic broke out. You’ll get caught just standing in awe at the complexity and beauty of the architecture and artwork throughout the temple. While Angkor Wat is the central temple that people gravitate towards, the ancient city of Angkor is home to hundreds of other temples. Many of them were equally impressive to Angkor Wat and make the journey worthwhile. After multiple days we barely scratched the surface.
The nearby city of Siem Reap has beautiful hotels, restaurants, and incredibly kind people. Due to the economic hardship caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, it will be especially important to have an increase in tourism when it’s safe to travel. Not only will you enjoy the trip, you’ll help a small economy get back on track.
4. South Africa
Who’s ready for an African safari? South Africa has several game reserves that offer day trips or multi-day safaris to satisfy your inner explorer. See some of the most majestic animals in their natural environment, instead of the iron bars of a zoo.
If you visit Cape Town you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the heavily praised restaurant scene, go whale watching, and visit Robben Island. It’s important we learn the history of apartheid so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Also, it will help you better understand the ongoing calls for equality worldwide.
We had our reservations booked to go to South Africa, but had to cancel due to Coronavirus. We will definitely try to book again relatively soon.
5. Petra, Jordan
Petra is a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan. It was once the central city for the Nabataeans, a group of nomadic Arabs. This city stands out since it’s carved into the stone of the cliffs. It has become the face of Jordan’s tourism industry as their most visited site. Every year around a million people flock to this UNESCO World Heritage Site to soak in the beauty.
The threat of erosion and building collapse mean it’s a site better explored soon. While they are of course providing upkeep to this historic marvel, you’ll want to see it in its original state before more significant deterioration occurs.
6. Machu Picchu, Peru
I’m not sure if you’re catching the theme or not, but we enjoy historical sites. Machu Picchu is a 15th century Incan Citadel in Peru, situated on an almost 8,000ft tall mountain. Abandoned during the Spanish Conquest the site became hidden from the world. Locals of course still knew of the sites existence, but it didn’t gain significant attention abroad until the early 1900s.
In order to visit such an isolated site, visitors can book a bus shuttle ticket or hike up the mountain. While it is relatively safe, visitors have been known to face severe altitude sickness. In fact they have had deaths related to altitude sickness, flooding, and hiking accidents. The terrain can be treacherous, but the view from the top is pretty persuasive.
7. Grand Canyon, USA
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep in some portions! I was working an internship a few hours away and decided to go on a whim one weekend to see what all the commotion was about. Honestly, I was skeptical of the hype and expected it to just be a boring hole in the ground.
I left a firm believer that everyone should make a trip out to see this wonder. It’s breathtaking and pictures don’t do it justice. I hope to return again since I only spent a day there, and I would love to partake in a guided hiking excursion. It will continue to be one of the top travel destinations in the USA.
8. Antarctica
Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent. It demands your respect as the constant threat of the most dangerous weather on the planet looms. Have I sold you on it yet?
There is also a beauty in the desolate loneliness. It’s hard to imagine being more isolated and off the grid than here. While it is desolate from the trappings of people, you’ll be rewarded with unique views and a variety of wildlife. The price tag on this trip isn’t for the feint of heart, but it’s definitely a once in a lifetime trip with nowhere else like it on Earth.
9. Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are located about 1000km off the coast of Ecuador. They have long been regarded as one of the top travel destinations for wildlife viewing. The wildlife diversity is second to none for animal lovers. Respect natures beauty from a distance as you get a chance to observe iguanas, sea lions, giant tortoises, penguins, and more.
Additionally, you can take a walking tour to one of the volcanoes, or take the underwater route on a snorkeling excursion.
10. New Zealand
Life in New Zealand is reportedly looking a little more like normal thanks to their tremendous efforts and leadership in being proactive with safe health practices. This has always been a bucket list destination for me in large part because of my love of The Lord of the Rings. Who can resist a stroll through Hobbiton to fulfill our inner nerds.
It is known for having some of the most extraordinary landscape in the world. You can bike, hike, raft, or go on a relaxed cruise. Anyone on Instagram or Reddit will instantly recognize the beautiful landscape of Milford Sound. Some of the most popular pictures on the internet come from here so bring a camera!
11. Santorini, Greece
Santorini is a Greek island located in the Aegean Sea. The island is one of the top travel destinations in all of Greece. It’s famous for it’s white houses perched side-by-side on the cliffs. Enjoy the relaxed pace of this Greek paradise.
Visitors are treated to delicious Mediterranean cuisine, wine, and fantastic weather from May to September. Cruises around the island are a great way to capture pictures, or hike to scenic viewpoints. Make time to catch the sunset as they are out of this world. If the flights to the island seem too expensive, check out the ferry from Athens.
12. Thailand
Southeast Asia’s economy is getting hit hard by the pandemic. Tourism is a major component of Thailand’s economy and they will look to recuperate quickly afterwards. This means it will be the perfect place to visit. Thailand is already a cheap vacation spot where your dollar goes a long way.
Enjoy the wild nightlife in Bangkok, the relaxed atmosphere of Chiang Mai, or hit the beach in Phuket. All of these cities have international airports making them very accessible. You’ll be treated to ornate temples and delicious Thai food. Plus, it has a wide range of accommodations to match your desired comfort level and budget. Stay in an affordable hostel or five start resort, it’s your choice. Thailand is one of our top travel destinations when we need to get away and immerse ourselves in a different way of living.
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