Where To Go Next: 10 Best Places To Travel In 2021 !!

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Where: Egypt 

Why: After traveling to every country in the world, Egypt is one of the countries that I would consider one of the most underrated. Egypt harbors such immense, well-preserved history and a unique culture that can only be discovered in this forgotten corner of North Africa. The country is finally beginning to receive the recognition it deserves after being named the world’s fastest-growing travel destination by the World Tourism Organization. In 2021, the Grand Egyptian Museum—the largest archaeological museum in the world—will open to the public and the exhibits will include thousands of ancient Egyptian artifacts that have never been seen before. The best way to discover everything this astonishing country has to offer is by taking a Nile River cruise with Abercrombie & Kent. 

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Where: The Greek Islands

Why: The Greek Islands are the latest hot spot for avid travelers. Take a flight directly into Santorini and be whisked into the magical white and blue architecture of Oia. Make sure to book one of the Blue Dome Cavehouse Rentals overlooking the water to see amazing sunset views. For 2021, the Santorini Council has made plans for new roads and parking areas to make the town more accessible. Several new hotels are opening, including Eco Hotels and Oia’s Saint Santorini. Rent ATVs from Vazeos for the day to explore the entire island by buggy or plan a day of wine tasting by stopping by the beautiful Santos Winery, Gavalas Winery and Venesantos winery. Walk the narrow streets at night and have a private dining experience at Canavas Oia Suites Panaroma Balcony—but be sure to book this at least six months in advance. Plan a day of yachting around the Aegean sea with Explorer 1 and stop at the famous red beach in Akrotiri and have a sunset dinner cooked on board. 

To continue exploring the Greek Islands, book a ticket with Seajets to take a two-hour ferry ride over to Mykonos Islands. Seajets has added 17 ships to its fleet for 2021 and is the largest high-speed fleet of the Aegean. Once in Mykonos, stay in a beautiful rental, The Villa Astra, within walking distance to Mykonos town. You can find several other rental options through Kid & Coe, which makes it much easier to find accommodations with family amenities. If you want to stay in one of the newest hotels developed this year by Myconian Collection Resort, book a room at its new Panoptis Escape. Easily find available ATVs and four-wheelers for rent on any nearby street to explore the island and hop around to the popular beach clubs. Reserve beach chairs at Nammos in the morning, then scoot over to Scorpios for dinner and a sunset ritual experience. Mykonos plans to add a few more restaurants overlooking the water in the main area next year, but don’t miss the infamous cobbled-street restaurant, Kastros—which you’ve surely seen all over social media.

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Where: Rwanda

Why: If you’re looking for a destination that will take you out of your comfort zone and into the heart of nature, consider Rwanda. Gorilla tourism is alive and well in Rwanda and remains the biggest draw for visitors to the region. As Rwanda becomes increasingly more popular, it has also become known as a luxury safari destination, much like Kenya and Tanzania, its eastern neighbors. Travelers to Rwanda will likely fly into the country’s capital Kigali, a vibrant and exciting city. From there, journey to one (or more!) of the many luxury lodges that await to please and pamper in between gorilla treks. Travel northeast from Kigali to Wilderness Safaris’ new Magashi lodge in Akagera National Park for game drives to see the Big Five. Singita’s new Kwitonda Lodge is set on the edge of Volcanoes National Park and One & Only’s much-anticipated Gorilla’s Nest lodge, located in a lush, fragrant eucalyptus forest, just opened in the region. One & Only’s Nyungwe House rounds out the safari experience—there, guides take guests to the protected jungle in surrounding Nyungwe National Park to spy troops of colobus monkeys and chimpanzees. Micato Safaris can string all of these experiences together (the company’s knowledge of the region and attention to detail make it second to none). But even more important than that is the fact that Micato educates an African child all the way through secondary school for every safari it sells through its One for One commitment.

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Where: Brazil

Why: This time last year Americans needed a visa to visit Brazil. Now, since the government lifted its visa requirements in June, all we need is a valid passport and our thongs (flip flops and/or bathing suits). Not only is it easier than ever to visit Brazil’s 2,000+ beaches, but it’s also more affordable. The Brazilian real reached an all-time high in November, so the U.S. dollar is going further than ever. If the idea of exploring South America’s largest country—and the world’s most biologically diverse—is intimidating, consider going with Naya Traveler. The travel outfitter works with the best local guides everywhere, from the Amazon rainforest to Rio de Janeiro. Speaking of Rio, UNESCO selected the “Marvelous City” as the first World Capital of Architecture for 2020. Expect Rio to be celebrating with special events all year. And that’s in addition to hosting the world’s largest party, Carnival, and in November, the Brazilian Grand Prix. To catch all of the city center action and still be within walking distance of Copacabana Beach, stay at the JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro. Its rooftop pool boasts spectacular views of Sugarloaf Mountain.

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Where: Cape Town, South Africa

Why: Most pilgrimages to the Rainbow Nation begin in Cape Town, a progressive, colorful mélange of culture, nature, and music, gracing the cusp of Africa. The past is present in the future at renowned Robben Island, where former president Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 27 years. Weekends are reserved for multi-sensory experiences feasting on global and traditional fare at The Old Biscuit Mill. Cape Town’s downtown is concentrated in the City Bowl neighborhood, with venues such as Green Market Square, housing an eclectic African souvenir market. There is also the illustrious Long Street, lined with restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and quirky yet luxurious accommodations such as The Grand Daddy Boutique Hotel with seven vintage trailers parked on the roof. Cape Town is also home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches, phenomenal for people watching, or catching a lekker (South African lingo for “cool”) wave. The newly renovated Cape View Clifton hotel has iconic views from private balconies of the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, silhouetting the temperamental Atlantic below.

Traveling as a family to Cape Town is even easier come 2021: Minors visiting the destination will no longer need to provide Unabridged Birth Certificates or consent letters when accompanied by parents and carrying valid passports. This makes it easier to joll (party) in this vibrant city crowned by the emblematic Table Mountain.

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Where: Slovenia

Why: Slovenia may be in the news over its border dispute with Croatia, but it’s a perfect place to explore. This beautiful former part of Yugoslavia is a country mixed with adventures from the sea to a mountainous part of the country dotted with old world towns. Plus, it’s an affordable destination option for 2021.

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Where: Nikko, Japan

Why: Japan will get a lot of attention in 2020 because of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which will be spectacular. There’s so much to do in Tokyo, but it will get very crowded during the Games. Fortunately, Japan offers so much variety outside its capital. An easy escape is Nikko, less than two hours north by train.

In the Nikko area, you get a broad swath of history as well as a beautiful natural setting. The town and nearby Lake Chuzenji are part of a national park that is well preserved, with scores of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Keep your eye peeled while driving up to the lake from the downtown area for monkeys on the side of the road and beautiful foliage. As one of the earliest places where Buddhism was established, there are temples aplenty to visit. You’ll also want to go for a hike around the lake and relax in one of the hot springs. Luxury hotel Nikko Fufu will open in 2020, and each room will come with its own hot spring. The atmospheric Nikko Kanaya Hotel, which dates back to 1893, has a wonderfully small, intimate bar with dozens of whiskeys. And opening in May 2020, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, set along the stunning Lake Chuzenji, will be a prime spot to hike over to Kegon Falls, a spectacular and thundering waterfall that everyone should see. Nikko is the perfect place to get away from the mayhem of Tokyo during the 2021 Summer Games and commune with the Japanese love of nature and some of the ancient spirituality practices

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Where: British Columbia, Canada

Why: Descending over cerulean lakes and endless pine forests, Kelowna welcomes you to a lesser known landscape of British Columbia—one where neatly stacked vineyards line the mountainsides that plunge into the glacially-fed basin below. This is the Okanagan Valley, informally referred to as “Canada’s wine country.” Thirty years ago, the first vine was planted which put the Okanagan Valley on the map, and perhaps that’s what makes this corner of Canada so special; its wines don’t have hundreds of years of history, but rather the region is in the midst of writing its own history. 

A trip to the Valley wouldn’t be complete without familiarizing oneself with the wineries of Von Mandl Family Estate. With Mission Hill Winery as one of the oldest wineries in the region, proprietor Anthony Von Mandl leads by example with his commitment to organic farming and innovative winemaking techniques that allow for a grape’s natural characteristics to shine (like the 100 percent gravity-fed Martin’s Lane Winery). The region also embraces the style of farm-to-table dining, relying on local suppliers for everything from charcuterie and cheese boards to fresh fish dishes. In downtown Kelowna, restaurants like Waterfront, Oak + Cru and RauDZ showcase regional and seasonal ingredients alongside local wines, while Micro Bar & Bites offers an alternative menu for craft cocktails and international tapas.

Outside of city limits, many wineries offer their own spin on Pacific Northwest cuisine, like Terrafina restaurant at Hester’s Creek as well as Von Mandl’s seasonal restaurant Terrace at Mission Hill Estate and his latest opening of Home Block, a year-round restaurant at CedarCreek Estate winery. Stay at Delta Hotels or the Royal Kelowna and you’ll be at the center of the region’s best food and wine offerings.

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Where: United Arab Emirates

Why: The United Arab Emirates is the destination where luxury meets the future. Dubai is home to not only the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, but also the largest artificial islands in the world, the Palm Islands. The nearby capital city, Abu Dhabi, welcomes visitors to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful mosques ever created. This year will be a particularly special time to visit the UAE since the Expo 2020 will be held between the two cities, making it the first World Expo held in the Middle East. The theme of the event is ”Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” and over 130 countries will be participating in the pavilions and events. Event organizers predict that anywhere from 25 to 100 million travelers from around the world will be visiting from October 20, 2020 and April 10, 2021, so be sure to mark it on your calendar

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Why: Cold, gray, and full of potatoes, goes the stereotype of Lille. How unfair! This northern French city is actually one of the most charming in the country, with a brimming joie de vivre and a booming arts scene. The most in-the-know crowd is already aware of Lille’s growing reputation; it was recently crowned the 2020 World Capital of Design. Check into the newly opened, boho-chic Mama Shelter Lille—the ideal base for exploring Lille, and home to the city’s best brunch. Gorgeous museums like La Piscine and LaM will give you a good artistic overview of the city, while new restaurants (such as Coke and Big Mama) and shops will keep you full and happy. Expect plenty of shows, performances, workshops, art installations, and more, to coincide with Lille’s new design crown.