Las Teresitas beach and San Andres village, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Where can you find a spectacular, life-changing destination without the huge crowds that have become commonplace in many destinations around the world, especially in Europe?Last week in Forbes magazine, I asked travel experts that people asked where he was going. This week, I asked the same gurus about their choices on where to go next. I was looking for lesser known destinations that they love, places to go before they are discovered.
“We don’t want to ruin it for ourselves, not the Canary Islands,” said Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog. “A blend of African and European cultures, it has a warm climate and sun. It has a lot to offer, but is still relatively unknown, especially to American travelers. This destination has beaches, Volcanoes, great food, culture and more, all now easily accessible with direct flights from New York, Windstar has several new sailings scheduled for 2024 and 2025. We are planning additional flights.”
Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum in Uzbekistan
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For Lonely Planet Vice President Tom Hall, that destination is Uzbekistan in Central Asia. “We have some of the best-preserved historic sites of the Silk Road, as well as dramatic mountains and a vibrant, up-and-coming capital, Tashkent,” he said. “Trains are easy and affordable, with direct flights from New York several times a week, as well as connections through Seoul and Istanbul.”
Stance was also ranked highly by Adventure Travel Trade Association CEO Shannon Stowell. For Stowell, it is “Kurdistan, a very special place that is still on the life list of few people. The authenticity and kindness of the people, with its amazing history, makes this place a wonderful place to visit.” I traveled in 2009 and 2017, the latter with my 16 year old son.
Cape Town and the 12 Apostles, South Africa.
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Andy Levine, president of DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., cites South Africa as “an unusual combination of stunning scenery, top-of-the-line luxury hotels, and a dynamic food and wine scene.” The landscape is very diverse, with beaches blending into mountains and vineyards. ”
Asia remains high on the list of travel professionals looking for new horizons.
Roof of Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju City, South Korea
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“I fell in love with nearby Korea when I traveled in June of this year,” said Lisa Leavitt of Boston-based travel agency Active Travels. Levitt and her family travel to “extraordinary meals and her 15th-century locations in Seoul, to Busan’s amazing seaside food markets, to charming historic villages like Jeonju, and to meditate at sunrise.” I thoroughly enjoyed my night at a Buddhist monastery in the mountains.” K Culture and beauty products are also a big draw for her. The Koreans were also incredibly polite and welcoming. ”
India is on everyone’s bucket list, but even the most seasoned traveler has a lot to offer.
“More than 400 Backroads staff members and I recently returned from our annual staff bike ride, this year in the Indian state of Rajasthan,” said Backroads President Tom Hale. “Riding a bike in India allows you to experience India in a different way.”
Asia aside, Hale also said Backroads is planning two new off-the-beaten-path trips to the Azores and Tasmania in 2024.
“They’re both a bit under the radar, but they’re also big attractions for people looking for active adventure travel,” Hale says.
Sossusvlei Sand Dunes in the Namib Desert of Namibia.
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“My personal bucket list includes exploring the Namib Desert with a Bushman guide, climbing the great red dunes of Sossusviel, and visiting behind the scenes,” said Jennifer Tombaugh, president of Tauk Tours. It includes a trip to Namibia.” -Including interacting with baby baboons at Naankse Wildlife Sanctuary. ”
Flockhill Lodge, New Zealand
Flockhill Lodge
Gray & Co.’s Cari Gray takes the world’s most well-travelled to destinations that are truly out there, around the next corner, or otherwise off the beaten track. Because you have the last word. Her short list for 2024 travelers includes “Spain’s tranquil Priorat vineyards, perfect for cycling and hiking, and staying at the new Mas Her Den Bruno” . Gray also points to a mountain village just an hour’s flight north of Athens that offers “stone bridges, clean water to raft to, truffle dogs, and horseback riding in native forests.” She likes the new Vestige Son Vell and Menorca Experimental hotels in Menorca. She also gives a nod to the Southern Hemisphere, particularly “the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, where the new Flockhill Lodge is receiving rave reviews.”
