As we begin to transition into a post-COVID society, there is a lot of curiosity about what holidays will look like in the future.
For the year 2021, things are looking up. As individuals begin to plan their first holidays in a long time, there is a lot to consider for your trip in 2021. While many parts of the world remain off-limits, an increasing number of countries are beginning to open their doors, and they’re doing so with health and safety standards in place. Airlines and hotels are also contributing to the development of systems that allow consumers to travel safely and confidently. As a result, travel planners report an increase in vacation bookings.
We hope you’ll retain this list as a reminder to stoke your wanderlust and keep the small flame of optimism going.
Kyrgyzstan
People are increasingly seeking to travel entirely off the grid, digitally detox, and experience the kind of nature that is still pristine, untamed, and unadulterated by tourism. ‘Kyrgyzstan checks all of the boxes; it’s a country on the verge of discovery, but only for a short time.’
Kyrgyzstan is one of Central Asia’s friendliest and most picturesque countries. Unlike Uzbekistan, which is known for its dry deserts and bustling towns, Kyrgyzstan is dominated by mountains, with distant prehistoric and Silk Road monuments, dizzying passes, and plunging valleys dotting the terrain.
Its traditions are nomadic – the word Kyrgyz literally means “40 tribes” – and most towns, including the capital of Bishkek, were made up of yurts before Russian occupation in the 1870s. One of the finest ways to experience the Kyrgyz way of life and learn about the country’s intriguing traditions is to stay in one of the country’s well-established homestays.
The Issyk Köl Trail Network, a 506-mile lattice of paths that allows trekkers to blend ear-popping mountain views with living nomadic tribes, is located on its stark, rugged mountain ridges. During the summer, local shepherds bring their animals to graze at lively yurt camps and high-altitude jailoo meadows. Hardy souls can climb to the top of an 11,000-foot pass, then descend to drink shots of vodka or a mug of fermented mare’s milk with the local herders.
The alpine meadows of Sary-Chelek Lake are not to be missed, and the decaying mausoleums of the Karakhanid monarchs in Uzgen are too thrilling to be missed.
Greenland
Greenland’s beautiful paradise is known for its fjords, icebergs, and glaciers. The country’s otherworldly beauty, particularly in the districts of Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay, making it a photographer’s dream location.
Greenland has enough to offer even if you aren’t a photographer. Whale watching is the most popular activity in the area, with tours departing from places such as Qeqertarsuaq, Nuuk, and Aasiaat. You can also take an Aurora Lights tour if you are willing to wait long enough. If you’re interested in learning more about the Vikings, visit the National Museum, where you can see their hunting gear, kayaks, sculptures, and artefacts.
The Caribbean
With some of the greatest, socially remote villas in the area and a gorgeous makeover of Amanyara’s iconic resort pavilions, Turks and Caicos has emerged as a serious rival for the vacationing elite during the pandemic. What is its most significant flaw? The island chain is only a single, straightforward trip from the mainland United States, whereas St. Barts and other perennial favourites, such as Anguilla, are two albeit made easier by shuttle carrier Tradewind’s efficiency and ease.
St. Lucia, which is also a direct route from the United States, deserves special recognition for its commitment to COVID control. The island is nearly entirely reliant on tourism, and it has established a good balance between allowing visitors in while preventing the illness from spreading. Choose to stay at Sugar Beach, the island’s absolute jewel of a hotel. Alternatively, stay at Jade Mountain, which is most known for being the location of many a celebrity honeymoon and was created with distance and airy spaces in mind, all of the modernist suites have a wall open to nature, allowing island breezes to flow right in.
The island of Mustique in the Grenadines, which has been generally COVID-free since the start of the pandemic, is a good option for vacationers who need to eject right away. It’ll feel like you’ve teleported to the future, where home parties are the norm, after a pre-departure swab and a test upon arrival. Set amid the dozens of privately owned homes is The Cotton House, the island’s only hotel.
Egadi Islands, Sicily
The Egadi archipelago’s secret butter-sand beaches and submerged shipwreck remains are buzzing with the kind of hushed excitement that surrounds something remarkable. In-the-know travellers who were previously drawn to Sicily’s sun-drenched Aeolian Islands are now exploring further afield for affordable, slow-paced destinations that have yet to be discovered by other tourists. The Egadi archipelago is made up of the islands of Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo, as well as the rocky islets of Formica and Maraone, and is located off the western coast of Sicily, just a short hydrofoil ride from Trapani.
The largest of the five islands, Favignana, is shaped like a butterfly and features tussock-flecked mountains and beautiful bamboo-framed daybeds on the beach. The island’s streets are tree-lined and bikeable, and the Stabilimento Florio, a former tuna fishery and factory that is now a fishing and maritime museum, is located there.
With a jumble of whitewashed buildings clustering around the harbour like crooked teeth, Levanzo is the smallest and possibly the most charming of the three main islands. Divers can explore the atmospheric wreckage of a Roman shipwreck, which is littered with amphorae and pieces of black glazed pottery. The cave-art figures etched into the walls of the Grotta del Genovese date from the Palaeolithic epoch on dry land.
Marettimo, which some believe to be Odysseus’ original country, is a hiker’s paradise, with trails leading past Norman castles and Byzantine churches. Climb to Pizzo Falcone, the island’s highest peak at 2,300 feet above sea level, for air scented with fragrant plants and the sight of peregrine falcons soaring overhead.
Thailand
The interesting medley of bustling, contemporary towns, calm, traditional villages, and laid-back, beautiful beaches that make up this highly coveted Southeast Asian country is a fascinating medley of bustling, modern cities, serene, traditional villages, and laid-back, pristine beaches. As you go south from Chiang Mai to Krabi, everything changes dramatically, from the environment to the food, as if you’re experiencing two different countries in one.
The northern section of the country is known for its temples and shrines, which are strewn across the lush green mountains, which are home to numerous waterfalls and secret caverns. The southern Malay Peninsula, on the other hand, is dotted with tropical islands and beach resorts such as Phi Phi, Phang Nga, and Phuket. Some of the must-see attractions include Bangkok’s Grand Palace, Trat’s Mu Ko Chang National Park, and Ayuthaya Historical Park.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has firmly established itself as one of the world’s great eco-tourist centres, having long been the tourism pioneer in Central America. It’s now using its pioneering spirit to be the first in the region to welcome tourists back with an open-door policy backed up by a well-connected network of hospitals on the ground. Cayuga Collection and Nayara, both Pura Vida mainstays, have been leading the effort, with their get-away-from-it-all venues like Kura Boutique Hotel’s forest villas and Nayara Tented Camp’s own plunge pools. The long-stay circuit is completed by Cielo Lodge, which will open in January, and Hacienda AltaGracia, which is part of the Auberge Resorts Collection. If you’re looking for a more luxurious beach getaway, the Four Seasons Residences Prieta Bay at Four Seasons Papagayo introduced resort vibes—with private, luxury rental-style bookings—to a destination better known for jungle adventure and glamping.
Norway
The realm of the midnight sun is dotted with ice-capped mountains and icy tundra. The ‘best place to live in’ is also, without a doubt, one of the best countries to visit.
The Geirangerfjord, which is situated between sloping mountains, is one of Norway’s most photographed fjords. Polar bears, reindeer, seals, and walruses can all be found on the Svalbard islands. One of the nicest drives you can imagine is the Atlantic Road, which winds its way into the Norwegian Sea. Spend a few days in the Lofoten Islands, which are known for their lush meadows, fishermen’s huts, and sheltered inlets, if you’re looking for a true Norwegian village experience.
Portugal
The country’s tremendously diverse landscape, combined with its abundance of natural resources, makes any tourist fall in love with it. Portugal has played an important role in European history, which is reflected in Lisbon’s attractions such as Castelo de S. Jorge, Alfama, the Jerónimos Monastery, and others.
The Quinta de Regaleira in Sintra is the city’s most unusual location, with hidden passageways and stairways, as well as underground caves and grottoes that will take you to another universe. With its narrow, cobblestoned lanes and whitewashed homes, the charming tiny city of bidos will thrill romantics and photographers both. All oenophiles should visit the subtropical Madeira archipelago.
Slovenia
Even the most hardened travellers will be taken aback by its turquoise rivers, glacier-fed lakes, and soaring, snow-capped summits. Lake Bled, the country’s most famous sight, is more tranquil than any of Europe’s other well-known lakes. But, for the time being, it remains blissfully uncrowded; a location of wide-open spaces, wonderful serenity, and refreshingly pure air.
Slovenia is becoming renowned as a magnet for foodies thanks to its sustainable food practises and well examined old-world skills. Locally sourced ingredients are harvested from Adriatic salt pans, grown in gardens, foraged from meadows, and produced by the country’s ever-productive bees, with an emphasis on ecological farming and sustainability – the capital Ljubljana is one of the world’s greenest cities with locally sourced ingredients harvested from Adriatic salt pans, grown in gardens, foraged from meadows, and turned out by the country’s ever-productive bees. An astounding 52 grape varietals produce award-winning amber and natural wines, giving oenophiles a whiff of its potential. Zorjan’s Dolium Muscat Ottonel was just awarded the world’s greatest orange wine by Decanter, and the drink is celebrated across the country, notably along the Lendava road in the east. In truth, the world’s oldest vine is found in Maribor, Slovenia, and Strelec, a chic restaurant and wine bar on the top floor of the ancient 12th-century Ljubljana Castle.
When it comes to sleeping arrangements, the owners of the Michelin-starred Pikol restaurant in Nova Gorica have transformed the location into a floating glamping hamlet. You can stay in chalets on the lily-flecked lake and only come out to hike through the surrounding woodlands and eat sea-bass carpaccio.
Croatia
Croatia, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Balkans, offers a rich heritage, exciting water sports, and abundance of nature trails, and it delivers. This gorgeous country is often featured in movies and series, most notably Game of Thrones, and is likely to make you want to arrange a return visit as soon as possible.
Dubrovnik, a postcard-perfect seaside resort with vermillion-roofed homes and docking ports crowded with small white boats, attracts millions of tourists every year. Stiniva Beach is the best place to have some off-shore fun, diving deep into the sea’s crystal clear waters. Plitvice Lakes National Park, protected by UNESCO, is filled with gorgeous blue lakes, wooden footbridges, and gushing waterfalls, as well as an abundance of natural animals.