Vogue released their list of the hottest places to travel, and surprisingly, only one of them is in the United States. The list includes some obvious destinations, and some not-so-obvious ones.
1. Georgia (the country).
Vogue chose Georgia as their number one destination largely due to its wine scene — however, said that is only one reason to visit the country.
“The capital, Tbilisi, with its young, creative class and Brooklyn-esque undertones, has emerged as a hub of cool,” the magazine explained. “The super design-y Rooms Hotel should be your base for exploring the city’s exciting art, music, and food scenes. Bassiani, a favorite local music venue, brings in the best electronic music performers from around the globe, while Fabrika, a Soviet-era sewing factory turned multiuse cultural space, highlights Tbilisi’s urban artists.”
Photo: Vladimer Shioshvili / Wikimedia Commons
2. Oman.
Oman has become a popular holiday destination for Europeans, particularly Britons, according to Jen Murphy of Vogue. And now Americans are catching on as well.
“The antidote to the bling of Dubai, Oman offers incredible natural beauty in the form of the vast desert, pristine coast, and rugged mountains,” Murphy explained. “For the past year, the dramatic sandstone mountains and empty beaches of the north have gotten most of the attention, thanks to luxe hotels like Six Senses Zighy Bay, Alila Jabal Akhdar, and most recently Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, which opened this October with a stunning location nestled into the Saiq Plateau.”
Muscat, Oman. Photo: Wusel007 / Wikimedia Commons
3. Langkawi, Malaysia
“Langkawi, an archipelago made up of 99 islands on Malaysia’s west coast, is about to put the country on the travel map,” Murphy said.
The Ritz-Carlton will be opening a 90-room, 30-villa property next summer that will add to Langkawi’s charm as one of Vogue‘s hottest destinations.
“Thailand and Vietnam have traditionally stolen the spotlight in Southeast Asia, even though Malaysia’s cuisine, art, architecture, and beaches are just as fantastic,” the magazine added.
Photo: jetsun / Wikimedia Commons
4. Madagascar
One of Madagascar’s most prominent attractions is its wildlife — and, according to Murphy, around 75 percent of the species on the island can’t be found anywhere else in the world. A traveler can venture out on a safari or take a seven-night cruise around with the Sailing Collective.
Photo: Sascha Grabow / Wikimedia Commons
5. Sri Lanka
The island off of India has made the magazine’s list for the fifth year in a row. Because Sri Lanka is an island nation, there are plenty of beaches for the many tourists that travel there every year.
“In 2017, we’ll also see Sri Lanka emerge as the next hot wellness escape, ranking up there with India, California, and Thailand, thanks to forward-thinking retreats like Santani and Tri,” Murphy explained. “The country’s wildlife and interiors will also become a draw, particularly when Resplendent Ceylon’s Wild Coast Tented Lodge opens at the edge of Yala National Park next October.”
Photo: Anuradha Dullewe Wijeyeratne / Wikimedia Commons
6. Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago may not be the first Caribbean nation you think of when planning your vacation, but Vogue recommends this destination because of its wild nature and distinct culture.
“Katalina Mayorga, the trendsetting owner of El Camino Travel, was so blown away when she visited Trinidad and Tobago last year that she immediately developed a trip for 2017,” the magazine said. “The weeklong itinerary mixes cultural experiences (dancing to soca music and tasting that national dish, roti) with jungle adventures and beach lazing.”
Photo: cheesy42 / Wikimedia Commons
7. Idaho
According to the rankings, “Idaho is having a moment.” Boise has become an unlikely hip destination, with breweries, distilleries, a growing music scene, and the fact that downtown is very walkable.
“And then of course, there’s the incredible access to the outdoors, including more than 190 miles of trails to hike, run, and bike in the Boise Foothills,” the rankings said. “Hemingway’s beloved Sun Valley, while often overlooked for glitzier mountain towns like Telluride, Park City, and Jackson Hole, is having a renaissance. America’s first destination ski resort area offers some of the best slopes in the U.S. and still maintains a laid-back mountain-town feel (think Aspen in the ’60s).”
Photo: Jaclyn Brandt.
8. Jordan
Jordan made the list this year due to their outdoor activities. The Jordan Trail was recently completed, a 370-mile route from the north all the way to the Red Sea.
“Three Jordanian women recently completed the entire trek in 33 days,” the magazine explained. “If you don’t have time to walk the entire route, which spans the length of the country, choose one section, like a seven-day one from Petra to Wadi Rum.”
Photo: Freedom’s Falcon / Wikimedia Commons
9. Aarhus, Denmark
Aarhus may soon be getting the same name recognition as other Scandinavian cities like Copenhagen or Stockholm. A city of nearly 350,000 people, Aarhus was named both the European Capital of Culture and Region of Gastronomy in 2017.
Aarhus is also home to numerous restaurants, museums, galleries, beaches, and national parks.
Photo: Peregrine981 / Wikimedia Commons
10. Colombia
Colombia may be best known for their coffee, and a visit to the country will take you to the coffee triangle, where you can see the coffee harvest if you visit between November and March.
Although tourism has had an up and down history in Colombia, “the recent signing of the peace accord ending the country’s 52-year war with the FARC guerilla army will attract tourists to cities like Medellín and Cali,” according to Murphy.
Photo: Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD / Wikimedia Commons
