The pandemic has certainly taught us a lot about ourselves and the world, but we’ve unlearned quite a few things as well—like how the “work hard, play hard” ethos might not be the healthiest of mantras. We’ve rediscovered balance and the truly important things in life, and travel is very much a part of that, whether it’s voyaging across oceans to see family we’ve missed or venturing across continents to reconnect with places we’ve so enjoyed before.
Work and play are no longer mutually exclusive as we look toward a future with hope. We’re not going full digital nomad, but we’re certainly keen to check off a greater number of destinations in the upcoming year than we have over the last two. As such, we’ve organized this list—22 places to see in ’22—to suit every version of travel you can cram into your calendar: small hops for a quick weekend or midweek jaunt (and a handful of hassle-free choices if COVID variants continue to crop up), longer leaps for when you want to spend seven or 10 days with real palm trees as your Zoom background, and finally, far-flung adventures perfect for that well-deserved sabbatical; your reward for powering through what is hopefully the last of these strained and stress-filled years. Because let’s face it, a Catch-23 doesn’t make a whole lotta sense.
Small Hops
Easy lifts—accessible by car or a short flight, and without much red tape, if any, to enter or exit—when you need a few days to recharge your batteries.
1.
Québec, Canada
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Perhaps the biggest reward for the smallest hop in all of North America, Canada’s province of Québec feels like thousands of miles away, despite being only an hour’s flight from the American Northeast. A favorite during fall foliage and the warm summer months, the French region is now riding the rise in the geographical dispersion of ski tourism away from the Rockies. The just-opened Club Med in Charlevoix blends luxury amenities with all-inclusive ease. Québec City, nearby, never fails to charm with the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac—an icon of Canadian luxury—towering over the Old Town’s cobbled streets. Gritty, artsy Montréal is the perfect antidote should you decide to extend your visit; stay even longer with a sojourn at Manoir Hovey in Québec’s Eastern Townships, largely considered to be Canada’s best hotel. Combined, you’ll need a full week to check off all of the above, or use the aforementioned as fodder for three weekenders.
2.
Washington State
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Although the National Park Service celebrated its centennial back in 2016, it felt like 2021 was the year of the national park, with millions of Americans flocking to classics like Acadia and Zion. Many of the parks, however, went overlooked, especially in Washington where places like Olympic and North Cascades saw only a fraction of the traction. For a journey into the wild without having to traverse the globe, look no further than the aptly nicknamed Evergreen State, then kick off your hiking boots with an Airbnb’d cottage on Orcas Island followed by a visit to Walla Walla, whose wine region is gaining notoriety as the next Willamette Valley.
3.
Barbados
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Barbados deserves a look as it adeptly mixes a workaday urban vibe, unfussed with the tourism veneer, with seaside resorts on pearlescent sand. A trip to the island means you can luxuriate in both: Start at a high-end retreat, then head into capital city Bridgetown. The newly opened O2 Beach Club has enlivened the south side of the island, Saint Lawrence Gap, too; the quiet neighborhood is now becoming the choice hideaway for the vacationing elite.
4.
The Berkshires, Massachusetts
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With the Catskills almost back to their Dirty Dancing bustle, thanks in large part to the regional travel renaissance spawned by the pandemic, it’s now the Berkshires’ turn. Western Massachusetts has long been a bastion of the Gilded Era—the hilly retreats of New York and New England’s elite families—the Blantyre, one of the most lavish of these estates, has begun an ambitious renovation set to be completed in fall 2022. The project will rival Hyatt’s recent transformation of the Cranwell into the luxury wellness getaway, Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa. The smaller hotel portfolio Life House is also taking a big swing in the area, renovating the Wheatleight by spring, opening the retro-inspired Life House Lenox for May, and redesigning the Rookwood Inn in time for 2022’s fall foliage season.
5.
Montana
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The opening of the Montage Big Sky has solidified Montana as the next great destination of the American West, with the help of two buzzy television shows, Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, and Big Sky, from showrunner David E. Kelley. It won’t be long before Hollywood movie stars start colonizing Bozeman and its surrounding areas, much like they already have in Aspen and Park City.
6.
U.S. Virgin Islands
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Navigating the always-changing COVID health protocol has been one of the most exhausting aspects of the pandemic and a palpable travel deterrent for many. With the future still uncertain, the U.S. Virgin Islands are a more carefree Caribbean option. Start with St. John: Often overlooked in favor of St. Barts or Anguilla, the chic island was once the Rockefellers’ playground and is now blanketed in jungly national park that leaves room for only a few well-appointed resorts. Stay at Lovango, which opened during the pandemic just offshore on its own islet. It’s a 20-minute boat ride to raucous St. Thomas, which promises adrenaline sports and nightlife in equal measure. Additionally, the freshly redesigned Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas has brought a more upmarket vibe back to the island. Round out your stay with a stop on sleepy St. Croix and find your way to the secluded beach where they shoot those legendary Corona beer commercials.
7.
Columbus, Indiana
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The recent supply chain issues have made us grapple with our rampant consumption—fast fashion is largely taboo; fast furniture is becoming a swear word as well. So it may not be surprising, then, that of all the places Dominic Bradbury, author of Atlas of Interior Design, is excited to visit in 2022, it’s a little town in Indiana that’s on the top of his list. “Columbus is home of Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard’s Miller House, which is now open to the public and can be visited, along with some other prime examples of mid-century architecture, including Saarinen’s iconic North Christian Church,” he writes.
Bigger Jumps
Carve out a week for these beauties: worthy escapes from the grind or ideal “bleisure” destinations to mix work and fun.
8.
Iceland
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Before the pandemic, it seemed like everyone took advantage of the bargain-basement airfares (so low they bankrupted the airline offering them) for a long weekend of fun under the midnight sun. And just as rocketing visitor numbers became unsustainable for the little nation of less than 400,000 inhabitants, the global pause in travel gave the island a rare opportunity to push the reset button on how it wanted to present itself to the rest of the world. No longer for the mass market, Iceland is scaling back its crowds and focusing on its cardinal tenet of wellness—hot springs—to entice the jet set for longer, more indulgent stays.
Major investments will amp up Iceland’s luxury spa offerings over the next few years; in the meantime, start your soaking at the Retreat at Blue Lagoon, a lavish resort seemingly birthed from volcanic ash and rubble, then fly up to Akureyri—northern Iceland’s biggest town—for a small circuit that includes Geosea in Húsavík, Hofsos’s infinity-edge pool, the lapis waters of Myvatn Nature Baths, and the brand-new Skogarboðin set to open in 2022 with fjord views and plenty of pines to block the wind. End up in Reykjavík with one last swim at Sky Lagoon, best enjoyed in the evening with the capital’s glittering lights in the distance, and stay at the newly opened Reykjavík EDITION, which is helping establish the city as Europe’s next see-and-be-seen hangout for the jet set.
9.
Maldives
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The Maldives is making a bid to be the world’s premier resort destination—a hundred properties and counting, most situated on their own private atoll. The last two years have proven just how far luxury travelers will go for optimal COVID-free conditions: halfway around the world, where isolation’s a cinch in one’s overwater bungalow with little else to do besides swimming in the infinite blue. And even if new variants cause further travel sanctions and closures, a holiday in the Maldives still seems like a sure bet.
Practically every major hotel brand has planted its flag in the Maldives’ sand over the last few years, giving guests the choice of any type of high-end experience they desire. Recent openings include the Ritz-Carlton Fari—with an oval of mod bungalows, all designed using conch shells as inspiration—and the Patina Maldives—part of the Capella hotel brand where found materials and slatted wood decorate the minimalist villas. Joali Being opened only weeks ago, focusing on sustainable practices and embracing the surrounding nature. And Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa is set to open in 2022 with beachside and overwater villas, and a strong Balinese wellness angle.
10.
Paris, France
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Faithful readers of our annual travel list will spot the City of Light among our picks practically every year. That’s because France’s capital continues to find ways of reimagining itself—always an icon; a modern city in spite of its museumified Haussmannian boulevards. With “Grand Paris” plans in full swing—a massive urbanization project aimed at widening the breadth of the metropolis beyond the 20 arrondissements—the eye of tourist storm has relaxed its focus as visitors spread out among the truer neighborhoods around town. And a spate of new hotels has followed suit, from the hotly anticipated Cheval Blanc Paris in the geographic center of town, then snailing outward to brand-new Bulgari Hotel Paris, the 1 Hotel Paris, and the portfolio of quartier-inspired boutique stays by Orso Hotels.
11.
Rosario Islands, Colombia
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This winter at EMBARK Beyond, a luxury travel planning service, founder Jack Ezon is nudging his clients toward Cartagena as a worthy alternative to the islands of the Caribbean. An easy direct flight from the United States, Colombia’s coast remains upwardly trending, despite a few unsavory headlines of rising crime elsewhere in the country. UNESCO-protected Cartagena is the jumping-off point to the Rosario Islands, where the Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort has opened as the first major luxury property. “The Four Seasons is also planning to open a property next to Cartagena’s Old Town,” Ezon adds. “This is be another game changer, raising even more international awareness for the region.”
12.
Alaska
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The introduction of Northern Pacific Airways could transform Alaska from an American outpost to the epicenter of transcontinental travel. Like the new Iceland or United Arab Emirates, Anchorage is likely to become the next big layover destination as international tourists make their way from North America to Asia, breaking up the journey in the Great White North along the way. Even without new air routes, 2022 is the perfect time to experience all the touchstones of the North including world-class heli-skiing, northern lights viewing, and luxury fishing lodges that go far beyond the age-old spate of cruises.
13.
Rome, Italy
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When one thinks of Italy, it’s usually a rural Tuscan villa or the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, so it’s no surprise that most visitors make a beeline for Florence or Positano as soon as they touch down. Rome’s trying to change the dialogue, reminding travelers that the heart of Roman culture is far from being an ancient relic. Italy’s capital will welcome 16 new hotels in 2022, from a variety of acclaimed international brands like Bulgari and Six Senses. Don’t miss Palazzo Poli, once an aristocratic mansion steps from the Trevi Fountain.
14.
Ireland
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2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the constitution establishing Ireland as a free state. On this centennial year, new openings, elevated experiences, and ease of travel make the Emerald Isle an obvious destination (when traveling from the United States, you clear customs before you land). Cashel in County Tipperary has always drawn visitors to the Rock of Cashel, a dramatic grouping of medieval buildings dating back to the 900s, but the Cashel Palace Hotel, a new Relais and Chateau property that opens in March of 2022, promises to make the site more than just a day trip. The 18th-century Palladian manor has been meticulously restored with 42 rooms, a luxury spa, fine dining, and sprawling greens to roam.
Continue the castle-life cosplay at the stunning Dromoland Castle, a restored 16th-century castle in County Clare, grandly appointed but with such warm hospitality. Of the many experiences on offer, golf is surely a draw for the beautifully maintained course on its grounds, and the locally sourced food is exquisite, but try the falconry for a truly unique experience. Dublin’s food scene is worthy of a several-days-long crawl to experience the creativity, variety, and quality (particularly the seafood) on display. You will not find a better fish and chips than at Fish Shop, a tiny counter-only airy spot with a great wine selection. Between dining destinations—which you can walk to, as Dublin is small enough to cover serious ground by foot—soak up the city’s incredible literary legacy (Joyce! Wilde! Yeats! Beckett!) with a visit to the newish Museum of Literature, MoLI for short.
Long-Haul Leaps
These far-flung places are well worth the journey. Stay a while and explore before coming back.
15.
Sri Lanka
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In a rather ambitious move, the Sri Lankan government has declared 2022 the official “Visit Sri Lanka Year” as part of a five-year campaign to ramp up traveler numbers. Also announced are plans to overhaul Bandaranaike International Airport with the help of Japanese investors—a project that could establish nearby Colombo, the capital, as the next great layover destination. In the meantime, Sri Lanka’s relaxed entry restrictions and high vaccination rates makes it a worthy schlep around the globe, not to mention the continent’s worth of wonders scattered around an island about a tenth the size of Texas: rambling tea farms, sprawling leopard-filled jungles, the ancient ruins of celestial Sigiriya, and beautiful beaches scalloping the coastline. Book a circuit of stays through Resplendent Ceylon, a collection of sustainable luxury properties including a handful of tea farm residences and a tented coastal camp abutting Yala National Park.
16.
Cabo Verde & West Africa
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There’s been a reckoning in Africa’s international tourism; a shift to amplify cultural pursuits instead of merely conceiving of the continent as a safari destination. Much of the attention is pointed toward West Africa, where travel circuits tie together its many disparate cultures from the souks of Dakar to the voodoo markets of Benin. Variety Cruises has been championing the region for years with its weeklong sailings where guests can choose between exploring Senegal and The Gambia’s namesake river, or journey around Cabo Verde, an archipelago of volcanic islands just off the coast with its own distinct flavor of Afro-Portuguese culture. Now, other luxury operators are charting a course for Africa’s Atlantic coast as well including Hurtigruten, which will launch an ambitious two-week journey that ties all the aforementioned destinations together.
17.
Botswana
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For Americans, forays to southern Africa are usually a multi-country affair—see as much as possible after traveling such a great distance. But COVID protocols have made destination hopscotch almost impossible, Elizabeth Gordon, cofounder of travel planning service Extraordinary Journeys, notes. Instead, she’s been encouraging her high-end clients to avoid the extra tests and quarantining, and explore a single nation in a deeper fashion.
Botswana is emerging as the region’s prime candidate, especially with the launch of United’s direct flights from the United States to Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, from where it’s a quick hop to Maun, the jumping-off point to explore Botswana’s vastness, either along the wildlife-filled Okavango Delta or the wild and isolate salt pans of the Makgadikgadi Basin. Don’t miss Wilderness Safari’s newly opened DumaTau Camp, which aptly means “the lion’s roar.” Vumbura Plains, also a Wilderness property, is set to be stripped to the studs and rebuilt from scratch before the end of the year. Then take your pick of the luxurious Jack’s Camp or San Camp, both part of the coveted Natural Selection portfolio, and venture out into the soundlessness of the Kalahari in search of sacred baobabs.
18.
José Ignacio, Uruguay
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“There are few places more chic than José Ignacio,” Tom Marchant, the cofounder of luxury travel service Black Tomato, says. “It’s certainly the poshest place in South America.” For years, the bolt-hole has quietly grown both in size and reputation as a design enclave; its modish villas stretching along the sand. And now, the brand-new Posada Ayana has lifted the area to international acclaim with its very own Skyspace, one of James Turrell’s much-lauded light installations. Stop in the village of Garzón nearby before you leave to check out Campo, an artists’ retreat; the area is also home to one of famed chef Francis Mallman’s restaurants.
19.
Northern Thailand
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Southeast Asia’s land of consummate hospitality was one of the first nations in the region to experiment with innovative COVID protocols, allowing travelers in and trying to keep the virus out. The so-called Phuket Sandbox kept inbound tourists on the large island under quasi-quarantine before they were allowed to venture further beyond. Now, with broader entry, we’re most excited about venturing north, where ancient forests and ruins sprawl across the Land of Smiles. Both Smiling Albino and InsideAsia Tours have prepared new spates of tours that blend cultural awareness with responsible animal care among the borderlands’ elephant sanctuaries.
20.
French Polynesia
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With Hawaii trying to repel its onslaught of tourists in an attempt to restore its identity, French Polynesia is also reimagining itself as another cultural bastion of Polynesia and as the great custodian of the wild Pacific seas—arguably the last great unexplored realm of the planet. Limited carrier service has long kept traveler numbers low relative to the 50th state, but most of the tourism has centered around Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. There are four more archipelagos to explore, including the crushed coral atolls of the Tuamotus (think the Maldives before they were completely developed) and sacred volcanic spires of the Marquesas, where luxury small cruise operators Lindblad Expeditions and Paul Gauguin intend to travel later this year.
21.
New South Wales and Victoria, Australia
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While pandemic peaks and troughs have opened and closed myriad borders around the world, those around Australia’s shores have remained firmly shut since COVID began to spread in earnest. We’re eager to get back, and rumor has it that the country will start rolling out its reopening in a state-by-state fashion, likely starting with New South Wales and Victoria. Home to Sydney and Melbourne respectively, Australia’s most populous states make a worthy holiday in their own right, even if their neighbors remain shuttered. You’ll get all the Aussie touchstones—incredible turquoise beaches, desolate orange outback, world-class wineries, and plenty of flat whites and avo toast, not mention first dibs on the new Ritz-Carlton Melbourne and W Sydney; the brand’s largest property worldwide.
22.
Everywhere at Once …
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Ultra-exclusive private jet itineraries have long been the choice way to travel for those short on time but big on budget—imagine hitting a handful of the world’s wonders in less than two weeks. But now, these six-digit excursions are becoming the preferred way for the glitterati to see the world: Leave the logistics to someone else, go to sleep at the Taj Mahal, and wake up in Angkor Wat. We’re most excited about Abercrombie & Kent’s slate of 2022 trips, especially the itinerary handcrafted by A&K founder Geoffrey Kent, which includes stops in Japan, Brazil, and Eritrea.
Where to Travel in 2022
Source: Filipino Journal Articles
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