We made it through January. That means it’s time to ditch the resolutions you won’t keep and develop the habit of traveling more.
Health and wellness experts have determined that taking multiple vacations a year is beneficial to your overall health. However, to actually decompress, you need to go somewhere with breathing space. Paris, Rome and Tokyo are crowded, especially during high season.
To help you plan a trip away from the world, we asked industry experts for their favorite lesser-known destinations. We also considered group travel, emphasizing opportunities to observe wildlife, sample local cuisine, relax by the water, and connect with nature.
Story continues below ad
Story continues below ad
Bracciano, Italy
Italy remains one of the most desirable destinations for Americans, meaning popular spots (Rome, Amalfi Coast, Lake Como) remain crowded and expensive. Step into Lake Bracciano, a scenic destination that has fallen off the radar of Americans since Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes married there in 2006. “There’s a really rich medieval and Renaissance history, and yet no one goes there,” says Rome-based cookbook author and tour guide Katie Parra. You can easily reach and transfer from Rome to Bracciano in about an hour.
Do not miss it. Another often overlooked gem, Viterbo is located about 48 kilometers north of Bracciano. It is less than 2 hours away from Rome by direct train. “It’s just a vast, beautiful, haunted, magical medieval city,” Parla said.
Sunny day on Lake Bracciano near Rome.
Fukui prefecture
If the past few months are any indication, Japanese tourism could surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024. To escape urban sprawl and see one of the country’s most spiritual places, go to Fukui. Naomi Mano, president and CEO of Tokyo-based travel agency Luxurique, says Tokyo is a destination for temples, hot springs, art and food (especially Echizen crab). A new bullet train is scheduled to open in March, allowing travelers to travel from Tokyo to Fukui in about three hours.
Don’t miss: Mano sends visitors to Eiheiji, one of the most important sites for the Zen sects. “This is the temple where all Zen monks go to train to become high priests,” she said.
Eiheiji is an important training ground for Zen monks.
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville strikes the difficult balance of catering to sophisticated tastes while remaining down-to-earth. The western North Carolina restaurant is a regular on the James Beard Awards circuit. Two of his breweries won medals at last year’s World Beer Cup. A steady stream of independent hotels are opening in repurposed buildings, including Zelda Dearest, Radical, and Flat Iron. But when you want to get back to Asheville’s roots, take a walk through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Darmi, Albania
Over the past few years, Albania has been quietly gaining traction as Europe’s next big beach destination. Crystal clear waters, rugged coastlines, and affordable accommodation all attract tourists. And unlike its Balkan neighbors, it’s “unspoiled,” says Emma, an anonymous Albanian travel journalist who runs an award-winning magazine and Instagram account, Ema’s Light. She rents a car and heads to the Albanian Riviera. It is home to small towns with perfect beaches, such as Dalmi.
Don’t miss: The capital Tirana is a must-see, worth at least two to three days of your trip to enjoy its restaurants and history, says Emma.
Darmi Beach in Darmi, Albania.
Popayan, Colombia
This UNESCO City of Gastronomy is full of restaurants, outdoor markets and street vendors. His two prides in traditional cuisine are empanadas stuffed with pipian (a puree of potatoes, peanuts and spices) and desa marga do valluno, a dessert made from candied fruit peels. The capital of Cauca state is also known as “La Ciudad Blanca” due to its pure white buildings.
Don’t miss: Colombian Ecotravel’s Daniel Buitron Jaramillo serves classic empanaditas and champu, a drink made with pineapple, corn and tart lulo fruit, at Mora Castilla, a small cafe in the historic center. is recommended.
View of the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Popayan, Colombia in the morning.
Story continues below ad
Story continues below ad
orkney islands, scotland
The Orkney Islands are at least more uninhabited than occupied by humans. Of these 70 islands off the north coast of Scotland, fewer than 24 of her islands are developed. Gray seals outnumber humans by hundreds of times, and flocks of puffins, murres, and seaweed-eating sheep dot the rocky coastline. Papawestray Island, one of the smaller Orkney Islands, has around 60 ruins, and North Ronaldsea Island is illuminated at night, creating a dark sky. It becomes.
Don’t miss: The heart of Neolithic Orkney, part of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail, is home to settlements with stone furniture and monuments such as the Stones of Stenness, a henge of upright monuments some 20 feet high. A collection of ancient ruins.
Standing Stones of Stenness, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Neolithic Orkney.
Holbox Island, Mexico
Holbox is a cure for what ails Mexico’s resort-heavy Yucatan Peninsula. The 42km long island north of Cancun has no traffic jams due to a ban on cars and height restrictions on skyscrapers. The primary means of transportation is bicycles or golf carts on dirt roads. To cross from the mainland, it takes 25 minutes by ferry (or private his jet) from Chiquila. Holbox, which means “black box” in Mayan, is part of the Yambalam Reserve. One of the biggest returning visitors is the whale shark.
Don’t miss: On moonless nights, head to Punta Cocos Beach to swim or paddle with bioluminescent plankton that illuminate the water like hundreds of fairy lights.
Cars are prohibited on Mexico’s Isla Holbox.
Sisto village, Portugal
Tucked away on a mountainside, through scenic valleys and meandering rivers, the Villages of Sisto (Ardeias do Sisto in Portuguese) is made up of 27 quaint towns. The history of this village dates back to his 12th century and was named after the stone used in its construction. This village is especially popular with hikers, bikers and nature lovers. There is accommodation to suit every budget, including luxury properties such as Casas do Côro in Marialva and Cerdeira Home for Creativity, his collection of nine restored schist houses.
Don’t miss: Miguel Andrade, a Lisbon-based journalist and culinary expert, says Tarasnar is the highlight of the lush Lousa Mountains. One of his favorite Portuguese dishes, chanfana, is a goat stew traditionally cooked over an open fire in a clay pot with red wine.
View of a medieval mountain village in the Piodan schist in Portugal.
Tairawhiti Gisborne, New Zealand
Destination: Tairawhiti, North Island The largest town in the Gisborne region, Gisborne is touted as the first place in the world to see the sunrise. No wonder so many surfers wake up early to catch the best waves in the country. The East Coast area has a strong Maori culture. Tairāwhiti Museum houses a vast collection of indigenous art, including stonework, textiles and painted panels. The 4.5-mile Tupapa Heritage Trail is paved with history, landmarks and legends brought to life on the Tupapa app by Māori storytellers.
Do not miss it. Start your day atop Maunga Hikurangi, the sacred mountain of the Ngati Porou people. Her nine wood carvings of Maui and its whānau (families) witness the sunrise.
Wooden carvings of Maui and his family stand on the sacred mountain Maunga Hikurangi in Gisborne, New Zealand.
Story continues below ad
Story continues below ad
Fredericksburg, Texas
swimming hole. A large and open space. A funky town and fast-growing wineries. The Texas Hill Country screams road trip. Pam LeBlanc, an Austin-based travel journalist, says consider Fredericksburg for its German-Texas heritage (beer gardens, plentiful Bavarian cuisine, etc.). The town is known for its peaches, the National Museum of the Pacific War, and its many family-owned boutiques and restaurants. The chic Albert Hotel opens this year. Or you can camp at Pedernales State Park, where LeBlanc loves wading in the cypress-filled river.
Don’t miss: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is 27 miles north of Fredericksburg, where you can “hike to the top of a giant pink granite dome or go rock climbing,” LeBlanc said in an email. Stated.
The pink dome of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area attracts hikers and climbers.
Belize, Toledo area
For a taste of the Caribbean far from the crowds, head to Belize’s southernmost district. Belize birding guide Loni Martinez explores waterfalls, caves and large rainforest reserves, and learns about the mix of peoples who have called Toledo home, including Mayans and East Indian communities. He said there was much to be done.
Don’t miss: Since most of Toledo’s coast is rocky, Martinez prefers to take boat tours to nearby islands, such as the Port Honduras Marine Sanctuary, which are “picture-perfect.” We recommend visiting the white sand beaches.
A waterfall in Rio Blanco National Park in the Toledo area of Belize.
sumba island, indonesia
Bali may be the best known of Indonesia’s thousands of islands, but it’s not the only one worth visiting. Sumba, home to new hotels and herds of wild horses galloping on golden beaches, comes highly recommended by Catherine Heald, CEO of Asia-focused luxury travel company Remote Lands. Beyond Sumba’s lush rolling hills and surfable turquoise waters, the island boasts beautiful thatched architecture.
Don’t miss: Consider a side quest to Komodo National Park, home to approximately 5,700 famous dragons and world-class scuba diving. You can reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site by plane or boat.
Aerial view of Wainyapu village on Sumba Island, Indonesia.
