As the new year settles and we look to all the promises it holds, let’s consider these Top Travel Destinations for 2023 when planning our next trip, or adventure.
Alaska
With several international borders blocked for two years, Alaska caught the attention of many eager American travellers. The huge state makes for a unique and remote holiday without the need for a passport – if from the US. Although it’s a must-see for any wilderness appreciator. The tall, snow-capped peaks, beautiful nature, sizable national parks, and interesting residents add to the appeal. With the borders reopened, interest in the 49th state from abroad is growing with popular cruise companies such as Hurtigruten and Holland America resuming operations at full capacity.
Zambia
Zambia is largely still undiscovered, especially to new travellers to Southern Africa, with the exception of Livingstone and Victoria Falls, one of the world’s natural wonders. Beckoning with its untamed landscapes, natural beauty, and abundant activities, it also offers exceptional big-game viewing, high-end lodges and walking safari unlike anywhere else. The better-known national parks are the Luangwa River Valley and the Lower Zambezi National Park. The first is famed for its large lion pride and even larger herds of buffalo, while the latter is a wonderland of game-packed riverside and bushveld. The South Luangwa region is famous for walking safaris that take you through an untouched wildlife paradise, past the shores of the Zambezi, through large trees, thick bushveld and endless plains. Often overlooked for popular destinations such as South Africa and Kenya, this landlocked nation is rated as the safest place in Africa to travel, with some of the continent’s most untamed scenery, yet without the crowds.
Barbados
Barbados can accommodate your needs whether you prefer a leisurely all-inclusive holiday or an active trip packed with restaurants and nightlife. The South Coast, which bursts with brand-new resorts and eateries, is the place where this is most obvious. The O2 Beach Club & Spa is an all-inclusive resort with three pools, six dining options, seven bars, and the Acqua spa, which has the only hammam treatment area on the island. It is located on the white sands of Dover Beach. Along with Sandals and Sea Breeze Beach House, it joins other opulent South Coast hotels. If you can drag yourself away from the resort pools, make your way to Worthing Square Food Garden, a food court with 20 vendors providing cuisine from all over the Caribbean, which is located along the beachfront.
Belize
Belize is a favourite destination for adventure visitors because of its rainforests, scuba divers exploring the Great Blue Hole, and a vast barrier reef. It also has a few upscale resorts among its wealth of laid-back locales. Alaia Belize, an Autograph Collection Hotel, is the most recent addition. It opened in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye in mid-2021 and has plans to expand the number of guest rooms, suites, and oceanfront villas it offers. With nonstop flights and easy connections from the majority of American cities, major airlines are also taking notice of the destination’s potential. Alaska Airlines added nonstop service from Los Angeles and Seattle to Belize City in November, while Frontier will begin weekly nonstop flights from Denver and Orlando. These flights join United and Delta’s nonstop flights from Houston and Atlanta, respectively.
In France, Burgundy
Burgundy is famous for its delicious Burgundy wine, but there are other reasons to visit Burgundy in 2023. The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin, an immense complex featuring a cooking school, a new hotel, a few restaurants, and a wine cellar with more than 250 by-the-glass selections, will open in the spring in Dijon, the capital city of the region. The new venture is ideally located at the beginning of Burgundy’s renowned wine route, Route des Grands Crus, which stretches from Dijon to Santenay and yields some of the nation’s most highly valued wines, including pinot noir, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc. Go hungry and thirsty!
British Virgin Islands
The 60 islands that make up the British Virgin Islands have a longstanding reputation for elegance and relaxation in the Caribbean. Richard Branson’s second private island, the 125-acre Moskito Island, which launched in October and is located directly across from his first BVI paradise, Necker Island, is now doubling down on that particular kind of island energy (which received a serious upgrade when it reopened last year after a two-year closure). Virgin Limited Edition will eventually offer 10 private estates for rent at the new location, but two are now open: Point Estate and Oasis Estate, both of which start at $17,500 per night.
However, Moskito isn’t the only hot new attraction in the BVI. Saba Rock, a private island long known for its diving, underwent a complete reconstruction before reopening in October, the Bitter End Yacht Club reopened in December with the BVI’s first over-the-water bungalows. Oil Nut Bay expanded with new villas, a watersports centre, and a spa, demonstrating the region’s resilience in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The solar-powered White Bay Villas and new hilltop suites at Long Bay Beach Resort are also scheduled to open in 2023. And the BVI is demonstrating it’s truly back and stronger than ever with the Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival set to return in the spring of 2023 after being postponed for two years.
Greece’s Crete
The 227 islands that make up the Greek Islands have long been a favoured holiday destination for discerning tourists, and Crete, the largest of them, deserves to be at the top of your must-see list. Yes, you can find the whitewashed buildings and blue roofs you’ve lusted after on Instagram for years there, and you can also locate spots where you can plunge into the Mediterranean’s azure waters at every turn. Particularly popular with South Africans who appreciate the warm water and even warmer hospitality.
Arizona
Getting to all of Arizona’s top tourist attractions will be quite a challenge with the state being home to some of the most recognisable and otherworldly landscapes in the American Southwest, in addition to a variety of towns and cities to discover. This list of stunning places in Arizona to visit will have you daydreaming of desert sunsets in no time, whether you want to hike in the Grand Canyon, stay at a resort in Scottsdale, be in awe of towering saguaro cacti, or try to snag a hard-to-get permit for some of Arizona’s (literally) hidden gems. Arizona is the ideal location for travellers seeking a balance of adventure, relaxation, culture and luxury. We suggest Sprinter van rental Scottsdale for a better experience and a comfortable stay.
Franklin, Tennessee
Despite having more than 80,000 year-round residents, Franklin clings to its small-town charm. To begin with, the city has an inviting downtown where various stores and eateries have taken up residence in the historic brick buildings that line the streets. A slave market, race riots, and Black troops in the U.S. Colored Troop division of the army museum are just a few of the historical places and battlegrounds that provide learning opportunities and opportunities for reflection in this area. The Tennessee Whiskey Trail and Arrington Vineyards, the biggest winery in the area, are just two examples of the lively food and drink scene in this southern metropolis.
Whichever it is, I wish you safe, fulfilling and soulful travel, where the places and the people they are home to, are considered and appreciated for the opportunity to learn more about what their regions offer.
Should you decide to travel within Africa, do be in touch with me dawn@theincidentaltourst.com.
** Guest Post by Effie Barret.
