Making the New Year’s resolution to travel more, or just to get away at least once, is easy. Deciding where to go is the difficult part. There are countless destinations at your disposal, all offering their own unique cultures, food, sights and experiences.
Since you set this resolution for 2016, why not fulfill your goal in one of the best places to travel this year? Check them out.
Havana, Cuba
Right now, for the first time in 60 years, it’s possible to take a trip here directly from the U.S. Airlines now have non-stop charter flights to Havana in addition to cruise lines setting sail to this island. Despite the loosened travel restrictions, you still need to fall within 12 approved categories to legally travel to Cuba. Visit the capital and the architecture and cobblestone streets —you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time. In anticipation of a significant uptick in tourism, new upscale restaurants, bars, hotels, museums and more have been popping up all over the city. For the authentic experience, it’s best to go now, before the city changes too much
Costa Rica
There are few other destinations with the biological diversity Costa Rica has – take in the sights and sounds of its wetlands, cloud forests, and thousands of unique flora and fauna. In addition to the beauty in nature, Costa Rica has experienced a wave of luxury development, including Las Catalinas’ beach club, new all-inclusive resorts, and plans for even more boutique hotel and resorts.
Liège, Belgium
This town used to be known for its coal and steel mines – but now it’s an up and coming destination for food and art, especially with the Boverie art museum scheduled to open in the spring, showcasing the best Belgian art. It also boasts a huge curated exhibition of works by Renoir, van Gogh, Manet and more.
This city offers up all the culture, arts, food and sight-seeing you could hope for in South America. Oh, and it’s the host of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in August! The upcoming Olympic Games has triggered a significant building spree of hotels, cultural centers and museums.
Lille, France
Paris is well-known for its fashion and design, but a couple of hours away lies Lille, a charming town with its own draw on the fashion and design industry. It’s become known for providing emerging fashion designers with retail space and business mentorship, not to mention delectable restaurants, cafes, bistros and an exciting nightlife.
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Yes, that illusive place you learned about back in school when you learned about Charles Darwin and natural selection. The island chain 600 miles from mainland is also known for its amazing biodiversity, but now’s the time to see it for yourself – there are more Galápagos penguins, among the rarest penguins in the world, today than in the past 15 years. Go for a hike on the island’s volcanic formations, kayak with sea lions, bird watch, snorkel with penguins, and see more dolphins, whales, giant tortoises and iguanas than anywhere else in the world outside of a zoo.
Douro Valley, Portugal
Enjoy sipping on a glass of wine? Forget Napa Valley – this destination was the world’s first officially designated wine region. If you travel here, you’ll find rolling plush hills and copious wineries.
This Central American city is home to some of the purest natural beauty in Latin America, complete with dense tropical rain forests, coral reefs bursting with aquatic life, savannas and beautifully deserted beaches – so much so you’ll feel like you’re in Bali!
What’s on your list?
Photo from Puerto Viejo Satellite.
