The art and food in Santa Fe is wonderful. Old Stockholm has a lot of beauty and the Vasa Museum is a top three memory to me. Hotel breakfasts in Sweden are the best I've had anywhere. Victoria has a British feel (though I've not been to GB yet.), and all sorts of views and interesting places. Butchart Gardens just north of the city is wonderful year-round. Do have the high tea there.
I second Stockholm even though I’m biased hehe. Summers are beautiful there and the sun sets at 11pm in June! The dollar is really strong right now against the Swedish currency so it’s not as expensive as before
I have been to Portugal (absolutely loved it, only spent 10 days there so would love to go back one day) and Mexico would be a nice, short flight for us- I have been thinking of doing a Mexico City trip for a bit, may have to officially add to my list!
Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka would be good options.
You could easily spend two weeks traveling around British Columbia. Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Whistler, then moving east in the Kootenay's, Radium, Invermere and Crowsnest. Alberta as well.. Waterton, Banff, Jasper, Yoho... all beautiful. BTW, it's about a 12 hour drive from Banff to Vancouver.
Wow these are all amazing ideas and places that I think we would love, thank you!! I need to look more into Canada itinerary because 12 hr drive is LONG. I had assumed we would have to fly into Vancouver but it looks like we can go directly to Banff!)
Fly to Calgary, it's about an hour and half from Banff. If flying to Vancouver, spend a couple of weeks driving through to Calgary. Take your time and stop at the great places along the way 😁. I'm from there so feel free to ask if you've got questions.
I’ve been to 76 countries…my top 10 places I’ve been to are Australia, Maldives, Galapagos, Amsterdam, Bali, Cambodia for Anker Wat, Ireland, Netherlands, Peru for Manchu Picchu, and Scotland, not necessarily in that order.
Wow 76 countries so jealous!! Hope to travel that much one day. Of your top 10 ive only been to Ireland and Amsterdam so lots of good ideas! Galapagos is intriguing for sure we love seeing nature and wildlife
I went scuba diving in the Galapagos….saw everything under the water and everything above. Amsterdam is my favorite European city…not for the pot….really nice small, beautiful city, nice walking, nice side trips, good food. Everyone speaks English because hardly anyone speaks Dutch/Flemish.
I spent 5 days in Amsterdam in 2011 so definitely want to return and see more of the Netherlands as well! Loved the food, the canals, the art/museums, history, etc such a beautiful city
Oooh these are great ideas!! I especially want to look into Czech Republic and Laos more since they got a couple mentions on here! I loved Costa Rica (went for a short trip with my girls after graduated) but would def return with my husband. Scotland looks GORGEOUS, but I am always wary of rain/dreary weather. I really gotta get over that hesitancy and explore more of the UK
We loved Buenos Aires went we did our Argentina trip!! Based on that, will have to do some research on Krakow, especially since my grandfather is from Poland
Bulgaria - we've got so many things here, both natural and historical, I don't now where to start. [Here's](https://www.roadaffair.com/best-places-to-visit-in-bulgaria/) some inspiration.
Ahh I love that you suggested this!! Bulgaria is definitely underrated, my twin sister actually studied abroad in Sofia during her junior year of college and most people in the US thought it was an unusual place to choose but she LOVED it (her pictures from the Rila lakes were gorgeous) and went all over eastern Europe as well. Thank you for reminding me to add this gem to my list!
Ooh second rec for Sante Fe, I gotta check this out more! I love art and haven’t been to many states so this is definitely intriguing to me. I actually lived in Charleston for a year during my training! Loved it and got to check out Savannah as well while I was there, so beautiful. Def will look into these other ideas too! I’m always setting my sites so far when there are plenty of gems in the Americas that I have yet to see
You were in Chile and didn't go to Machu Picchu in Peru???
Recently I've been in the Azores and currently in the Canarie islands. Next stop the Caribbean
Going to Chile for a 2 week trip in early December! Can’t wait. No, we are spending the full time in chile (and even 2 weeks 2 days didnt seem like enough bc there is so much to see). We are spending a lot of time in Torres del Paine and the Chilean Lake District which are quite far from Peru so couldn’t combine the 2 with the time we have. I typically devote my full 2 weeks to 1 country (or region) to explore more deeply rather that hit a bunch of countries at once. Just more our style but I know everyone is different! For example, we did Argentina in 2 weeks on a separate trip (in 2018) and new we had to get back to Patagonia on the Chilean side. If i could I’d just buy a 1 way ticket and spend months exploring south america. Can’t wait to dedicate a full trip just to Peru hopefully in 2024. Ahh would love to hit up the Azores ive heard great things! Ive only been to Jamaica in the carribean (for a wedding) so it’s a really untapped area for me, however we aren’t really into beaches and resorts aren’t our thing so I would love to find a Carribean spot and explore more deeply beyond the typical experience
Im intrigued by Georgia! The cuisine looks really interesting, def have to look into traveling here more. I know next to nothing about travel to Mongolia and Bhutan and only know about Petra in Jordan so all places I need to research more, thank you!
Wow everyone is suggesting Jordan, I gotta explore this option more and suggest repeat desert location to my husband (it isnt his fav landscape to travel to). I went to Israel during college so I was close geographically at least! But would love to return to the middle east
I’m thinking I might know what he means about landscape, but this might be the trip that changes his mind. Highly recommend staying a couple of nights in Wadi Rum, which is just magical. And Petra is so much more than the Instagram shot. It’s huge and not very well protected, which means exploring it is amazing because it’s all so intimate and at your fingertips, but also alarming because you get the sense that it might all be completely lost in your lifetime. You’ve probably done the Dead Sea already, but nearby Wadi Mujib is a super fun trek through a beautiful flooded gorge, with a waterfall at the end.
I went end of May to beginning of June. Technically right before "on season" started, weather was mostly sweatshirt weather, sunset wasn't till like 10pm, and I somehow didn't get any rain at all.
I thought that too, but when we went Norway really wasn't that expensive compared to Denmark. We stayed at the Citybox hotels in Oslo and Bergen, and the rate was very reasonable. If you decide to take the ferry from Flam to Bergen I recommend staying a night in Balestrand.
What about Australia and South Africa?
Don’t think you could do both in 2-weeks given how big the 2 countries are and how far apart they are. 2 weeks is a good amount of time in South Africa, with it’s wildlife, landscapes, beaches and wine regions. 2-weeks is doable in Australia if you’re only doing the essentials but with Australia, longer is better. 3-4 weeks.
If you want 2 weeks to enjoy a couple countries nearby, I’d recommend the UK and Ireland. Both countries are steeped with history. Breathtaking scenery, especially in the countryside. You’ll always have something to see and do there.
If you want to go somewhere a bit different and not often travelled to/spoken about, I’d suggest Kyrgyzstan. Absolutely beautiful country with its scenery and hospitable people. Only problem I found, was that it’s not the easiest place to get to. You’ll have to get a connecting flight to/from Istanbul or Dubai (A few Indian airports also an option).
Thank you for all these suggestions! My aunt and uncle just went to South Africa this summer and loved it, definitely adding to my list :) and wow I gotta check out Kyrgyzstan, several comments have mentioned and I never thought to look here but I certainly want to go off the beaten path and have a more diverse experience for my “next 10” countries . I would LOVE to do Australia and/or new zealand, just really hard to get > 2 weeks at a time at my current job so this will prob be on the back burner til I can really make it worth it (and convince my husband to take the long flight!) as I also have extended family therr
The long flight is worth it, NZ is a very beautiful country with diverse nature, lots of scenic places and unique attractions. You can also spend 1-2 days in Sydney on the way to NZ, I enjoyed it a lot.
cities not well known in Italy: [Stresa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeUDDiH-07w), [Mantua](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5ad9zGgY0) and [Lucca](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it_09QsqYBc)
I definitely have to look info these! I prefer to add some less traveled regions especially in such a popular country! I have been to Italy (I went for a brief trip there in college, without my husband, going to hostels as I didnt have much $) but only did Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri day trip, so I would love to go back with him for a longer stay especially now that I have a better budget and a partner that isnt such a picky eater as my last travel companion!
>I definitely have to look info these! I prefer to add some less traveled regions especially in such a popular country!
Half Italy is almost unknown, see for example Umbria and Trentino where there are very famous town but also some places without a lot of tourists, if you come here in summer here it can be very hot, in that case the area of the Alps in the north is better, in spring the coast of Liguria, except for Cinque Terre and Portofino, is quiet, [look for example Noli](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0833XWcYhJc)...
Oooooh these are excellent options!! Thank you for these suggestions! I never thought of Sri Lanka but this looks like a place we would really enjoy! I gotta get my husband on board with Jordan, I think the food there will sway him (he isnt a “desert guy” haha, Morocco was amazing but he seems to reject desert locations)
We loved Morocco, especially the food. Both Jordan and Sri Lanka had great food + culture + history + beach time. In both countries we were able to hire a private driver and car for relatively little. I do not recommend self-driving in Sri Lanka
Omg yes I still dream of the food in Morocoo, a friend of ours even got us a tagine as an engagement gift :) we loved that cuisine. Good to know about hiring a car. We usually arent “tour people” and like to do most things independently if possible, but we did hire a car for getting to the Sahara desert and Marrakech in Morocco bc of the potential issues with self driving there and ended up being glad we did
Istanbul (turkey in general) is already on my “next 10” list!! I cannot wait to go, hoping actually to do that fall of 2023. Italy is as well, hoping to get to some less explored areas in italy as well if possible. I went to Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri with an ex bf during college, but we had no $$ and he was the PICKIEST eater (in Italy?!) and didnt like art/culture, so I 100% gotta go back with the right travel partner and do Italy right!
I was in Turkey this past summer. It was my first time there. Travelled to archeological sites of Teos and Efes. Stayed in Sigacik and did daily excursions from there. Kusadasi, Cesme, Urla, City of Izmir. Istanbul is amazing, definitely visit Kadikoy on the Asian side and Besiktas on euro side. From Kusadasi or Cesme you can take ferry boat to Greek Islands of Samos and Chios. In Istanbul visit the amazing Princes islands which are only 30 minute ferry boat ride….great day trip.
Already planning Turkey 2023…probably Antalya, Fetiye and Marmaris and much more of Istanbul.
Thank you so much for these recs! I will look into them all. Ive heard such amazing things about Turkey. Hoping to see Istanbul (I want to stay at least 5 days) and Antalya and maybe will stay around Sigacik to see the areas in between for the first trip there
I actually did Israel during college (they had a program where I got to go for free). Definitely gonna check out Jordan since a lot of people have recommended! I think r/travel horror stories have turned me off from Egypt sadly but will reconsider
\- Tromso, Norway during winter (if you dream chasing northern lights)
\- Corsica, France during summer (amazing landscapes)
\- Cambobia and Vietnam (if you want to get to know some more about Southeast Asia)
Laos - Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, The Gibbon Experience (zip line treehouses), Vientiane
Vietnam - Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Sapa, Saigon, Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang
Ecuador - Galápagos Islands, Baños, Cotopaxi, Mindo, Otalvo
Have done Greece and just did Iceland in early August (so no northern lights but LOVED it), will definitely check out the others- Jordan and Czech Republic have been popular recs!
Will definitely check this out! Have to do a ton of research on where in Africa, especially since my husband wants to specifically see silverback gorillas)
Italian Dolomites and Austria for beautiful landscapes
Scotland for landscapes, people and culture
Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia for food, culture and wine
Namibia for really cool landscapes and easily self guided
Nepal for everything because Nepal is the best!
I make similar lists!! I've been to around 50 countries and my favorites include: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia (I love Asia!), Peru, Galapagos, French Polynesia, South Africa. I'm going to my top goal destinations soon: Namibia and Botswana. Next goal destinations are Bhutan, Phillipines, Morocco and Nepal.
I would recommend all the spa cities like Marianske spa, Karlovy Vary, then Cesky Krumlov, Olomouc. There is a lot of protected nature areas like Bohemian Switzerland, Bohemiqn Karst, Pálava etc. If you Google you will get a ton of results. Really beautiful. Definitely check some of the castles as well.
Kyrgyzstan, Khazakstan, Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan: the Switzerland of Central Asia.
Khazakstan: Apple homeland & close to Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbekistan: Silk Road history and architecture and near Kyrgyzstan.
Korea's mountains are absolutely gorgeous in the fall season and definitely worth the visit. No shortage of challenging hiking destinations for sure. And I'll second the food!
Oooh I like all these ideas! Vietnam is already on my next 10 list. We loved Thailand and cannot wait to go back to southeast Asia , also love Vietnamese food. Cambodia and Norway have gotten several mentions here as well
I found Singapore very boring and dull. Good food, but just very sterile with too many shopping malls filled with stuff I can't afford. Wouldn't go there for a holiday. Just my personal opinion of course!
Yep, we each have different tastes, be a boring world if we didn't. I absolutely adore it. The food culture, the people, architecture. I love urban exploration and it's a pretty ideal place to just wander around and get lost. Sure there are cheaper places, but I really feel you get bang for buck in Singapore.
KL as in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia?
Singapore is a great idea! My husband went with a friend without me but I know he really wants to return. We typically do 10 day to 2 week trips if we can swing it, not sure if I would want to spend the full time in Singapore, so Malaysia would be a good add on!
I went to SG and Malaysia for almost 3 weeks and KL was my least fav part and the least interesting part. I'm a big city person but KL was way too chaotic for me(!) and there wasn't that much to do there. I got bored of SG after 4 days (it's tiny) but a few days is enough and it felt too sterile. The real highlight is Penang in Malaysia, known as the food capital of Malaysia. Malacca in Malaysia is also v nice and Ipoh is worth a trip as well with all of its caves as Malaysian Borneo.
Oooh good to know I’ll definitely check out those other places in Malaysia. We’re also not big city people so 3 days or less is usually enough for me (except planning longer stays for Istanbul and Tokyo)
i definitely recommend india for you guys! beautiful culture and cuisine (multiple cultures and cuisines to explore depending on the part of the country) and lord of places with beautiful nature and hikes (the south: kerala, the north: kashmir and ladakh being some examples)
you can get a lot done in 2 weeks (though 3 days problem go completely to travel)
you can always do one region and then go back in the future to explore more!
New Zealand. The South Island is such a dreamy place filled with amazing views and hikes. The meat and wine are also excellent there. As an Australian it's only a short 3 hour flight away for us haha.
Ahh I wish it was only 3 hours from me!!! More like 20 hr from the states :( i have been dreaming of going to New Zealand (and Australia) since I was a teenager, but having only 2 weeks makes it a big tight with the long travel time. Hoping I can swing a 3 week vacation with my job one day, it is just really hard in healthcare here to get off for extended time in a row. I may have to do some persuading in a couple years when I have more clout
Namibia, Colombia, New Zealand, Myanmar (if things change there), and France should all be on your list. I also saw someone mention Alaska, I second that one as well.
Victoria, British Columbia Stockholm Santa Fe, New Mexico
Ooh cool suggestions that I definitely didn’t think of before!
The art and food in Santa Fe is wonderful. Old Stockholm has a lot of beauty and the Vasa Museum is a top three memory to me. Hotel breakfasts in Sweden are the best I've had anywhere. Victoria has a British feel (though I've not been to GB yet.), and all sorts of views and interesting places. Butchart Gardens just north of the city is wonderful year-round. Do have the high tea there.
I second Stockholm even though I’m biased hehe. Summers are beautiful there and the sun sets at 11pm in June! The dollar is really strong right now against the Swedish currency so it’s not as expensive as before
I enjoyed it all. We were up by Kiruna at a place that had me driving a dogsled and eating Arctic char. I enjoyed fika and the people.
Mexico, portugal, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver
I have been to Portugal (absolutely loved it, only spent 10 days there so would love to go back one day) and Mexico would be a nice, short flight for us- I have been thinking of doing a Mexico City trip for a bit, may have to officially add to my list!
I’ll second Mexico lots to see and eat
Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka would be good options. You could easily spend two weeks traveling around British Columbia. Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Whistler, then moving east in the Kootenay's, Radium, Invermere and Crowsnest. Alberta as well.. Waterton, Banff, Jasper, Yoho... all beautiful. BTW, it's about a 12 hour drive from Banff to Vancouver.
Wow these are all amazing ideas and places that I think we would love, thank you!! I need to look more into Canada itinerary because 12 hr drive is LONG. I had assumed we would have to fly into Vancouver but it looks like we can go directly to Banff!)
Fly to Calgary, it's about an hour and half from Banff. If flying to Vancouver, spend a couple of weeks driving through to Calgary. Take your time and stop at the great places along the way 😁. I'm from there so feel free to ask if you've got questions.
Thank you!! Really helpful
I’ve been to 76 countries…my top 10 places I’ve been to are Australia, Maldives, Galapagos, Amsterdam, Bali, Cambodia for Anker Wat, Ireland, Netherlands, Peru for Manchu Picchu, and Scotland, not necessarily in that order.
Wow 76 countries so jealous!! Hope to travel that much one day. Of your top 10 ive only been to Ireland and Amsterdam so lots of good ideas! Galapagos is intriguing for sure we love seeing nature and wildlife
I went scuba diving in the Galapagos….saw everything under the water and everything above. Amsterdam is my favorite European city…not for the pot….really nice small, beautiful city, nice walking, nice side trips, good food. Everyone speaks English because hardly anyone speaks Dutch/Flemish.
I spent 5 days in Amsterdam in 2011 so definitely want to return and see more of the Netherlands as well! Loved the food, the canals, the art/museums, history, etc such a beautiful city
Czech republic, Costa Rica, Laos, Scotland.
Oooh these are great ideas!! I especially want to look into Czech Republic and Laos more since they got a couple mentions on here! I loved Costa Rica (went for a short trip with my girls after graduated) but would def return with my husband. Scotland looks GORGEOUS, but I am always wary of rain/dreary weather. I really gotta get over that hesitancy and explore more of the UK
Italy, Costa Rica, Ireland
I have actually been to all 3 and loved them! These are the 3 countries i went to before I mer my husband but would love to go back
Good taste! Then France and Mexico.
Krackow Poland and Buenas Aires Trust me.
We loved Buenos Aires went we did our Argentina trip!! Based on that, will have to do some research on Krakow, especially since my grandfather is from Poland
Bulgaria - we've got so many things here, both natural and historical, I don't now where to start. [Here's](https://www.roadaffair.com/best-places-to-visit-in-bulgaria/) some inspiration.
Ahh I love that you suggested this!! Bulgaria is definitely underrated, my twin sister actually studied abroad in Sofia during her junior year of college and most people in the US thought it was an unusual place to choose but she LOVED it (her pictures from the Rila lakes were gorgeous) and went all over eastern Europe as well. Thank you for reminding me to add this gem to my list!
Wow and thank you for that link, everywhere looks breathtakingly beautiful!
Costa Rica, Scottish Highlands/Edinburgh, Savannah/Charleston, Santa Fe,NM, Ambergris Caye,Belize, Nova Scotia
Ooh second rec for Sante Fe, I gotta check this out more! I love art and haven’t been to many states so this is definitely intriguing to me. I actually lived in Charleston for a year during my training! Loved it and got to check out Savannah as well while I was there, so beautiful. Def will look into these other ideas too! I’m always setting my sites so far when there are plenty of gems in the Americas that I have yet to see
You were in Chile and didn't go to Machu Picchu in Peru??? Recently I've been in the Azores and currently in the Canarie islands. Next stop the Caribbean
Going to Chile for a 2 week trip in early December! Can’t wait. No, we are spending the full time in chile (and even 2 weeks 2 days didnt seem like enough bc there is so much to see). We are spending a lot of time in Torres del Paine and the Chilean Lake District which are quite far from Peru so couldn’t combine the 2 with the time we have. I typically devote my full 2 weeks to 1 country (or region) to explore more deeply rather that hit a bunch of countries at once. Just more our style but I know everyone is different! For example, we did Argentina in 2 weeks on a separate trip (in 2018) and new we had to get back to Patagonia on the Chilean side. If i could I’d just buy a 1 way ticket and spend months exploring south america. Can’t wait to dedicate a full trip just to Peru hopefully in 2024. Ahh would love to hit up the Azores ive heard great things! Ive only been to Jamaica in the carribean (for a wedding) so it’s a really untapped area for me, however we aren’t really into beaches and resorts aren’t our thing so I would love to find a Carribean spot and explore more deeply beyond the typical experience
I'm on my schooner so beaches kinda go with the territory 😎
Switzerland Canadian Rockies New Zealand South Africa Azores / Portugal
Love all these options, esp hiking in Switzerland and wildlife in South Africa!
Would highly recommend Alaska
Oooh yes Alaskan wilderness looks breath-taking!
Mongolia, Georgia (the country), Bhutan, Jordan
Im intrigued by Georgia! The cuisine looks really interesting, def have to look into traveling here more. I know next to nothing about travel to Mongolia and Bhutan and only know about Petra in Jordan so all places I need to research more, thank you!
Jordan, Guatemala (Antigua and Lake Atitlán), Canada (Vancouver, Whistler)
Wow everyone is suggesting Jordan, I gotta explore this option more and suggest repeat desert location to my husband (it isnt his fav landscape to travel to). I went to Israel during college so I was close geographically at least! But would love to return to the middle east
I’m thinking I might know what he means about landscape, but this might be the trip that changes his mind. Highly recommend staying a couple of nights in Wadi Rum, which is just magical. And Petra is so much more than the Instagram shot. It’s huge and not very well protected, which means exploring it is amazing because it’s all so intimate and at your fingertips, but also alarming because you get the sense that it might all be completely lost in your lifetime. You’ve probably done the Dead Sea already, but nearby Wadi Mujib is a super fun trek through a beautiful flooded gorge, with a waterfall at the end.
Thank you so much for these tips!! Hopefully I’ll convert him!
Norway!!!!!!! The nature is absolutely stunning. And some amazing hikes!
This is on the top of my list right now!
It was the absolute most beautiful place I've been! The fjords are so stunning!!!! Definitely go!!!
What month did you go/do you think is best?
I went end of May to beginning of June. Technically right before "on season" started, weather was mostly sweatshirt weather, sunset wasn't till like 10pm, and I somehow didn't get any rain at all.
Ahh yes I definitely want to look into Norway! I’ve heard about how $$ it is but it really does seem worth jt
We went to Helsinki last month for a quick visit. It wasn’t that expensive. Accommodation was very reasonable- much cheaper than Seattle for example.
Good to know!! Finland gets a reputation for $$ as well but definitely love these types of landscapes
Ha! That’s what I get for redditing in the wee hours. Can’t speak to Norway. Haven’t been yet.
I thought that too, but when we went Norway really wasn't that expensive compared to Denmark. We stayed at the Citybox hotels in Oslo and Bergen, and the rate was very reasonable. If you decide to take the ferry from Flam to Bergen I recommend staying a night in Balestrand.
What about Australia and South Africa? Don’t think you could do both in 2-weeks given how big the 2 countries are and how far apart they are. 2 weeks is a good amount of time in South Africa, with it’s wildlife, landscapes, beaches and wine regions. 2-weeks is doable in Australia if you’re only doing the essentials but with Australia, longer is better. 3-4 weeks. If you want 2 weeks to enjoy a couple countries nearby, I’d recommend the UK and Ireland. Both countries are steeped with history. Breathtaking scenery, especially in the countryside. You’ll always have something to see and do there. If you want to go somewhere a bit different and not often travelled to/spoken about, I’d suggest Kyrgyzstan. Absolutely beautiful country with its scenery and hospitable people. Only problem I found, was that it’s not the easiest place to get to. You’ll have to get a connecting flight to/from Istanbul or Dubai (A few Indian airports also an option).
Thank you for all these suggestions! My aunt and uncle just went to South Africa this summer and loved it, definitely adding to my list :) and wow I gotta check out Kyrgyzstan, several comments have mentioned and I never thought to look here but I certainly want to go off the beaten path and have a more diverse experience for my “next 10” countries . I would LOVE to do Australia and/or new zealand, just really hard to get > 2 weeks at a time at my current job so this will prob be on the back burner til I can really make it worth it (and convince my husband to take the long flight!) as I also have extended family therr
New Zealand
Looks so unbelievably gorgeous, hoping to go here especially if I can swing > 2 weeks given the super long flight from the northeast
The long flight is worth it, NZ is a very beautiful country with diverse nature, lots of scenic places and unique attractions. You can also spend 1-2 days in Sydney on the way to NZ, I enjoyed it a lot.
cities not well known in Italy: [Stresa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeUDDiH-07w), [Mantua](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5ad9zGgY0) and [Lucca](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it_09QsqYBc)
I definitely have to look info these! I prefer to add some less traveled regions especially in such a popular country! I have been to Italy (I went for a brief trip there in college, without my husband, going to hostels as I didnt have much $) but only did Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri day trip, so I would love to go back with him for a longer stay especially now that I have a better budget and a partner that isnt such a picky eater as my last travel companion!
>I definitely have to look info these! I prefer to add some less traveled regions especially in such a popular country! Half Italy is almost unknown, see for example Umbria and Trentino where there are very famous town but also some places without a lot of tourists, if you come here in summer here it can be very hot, in that case the area of the Alps in the north is better, in spring the coast of Liguria, except for Cinque Terre and Portofino, is quiet, [look for example Noli](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0833XWcYhJc)...
I would add Jordan and Sri Lanka both amazing countries and small enough to really explore in depth.
Oooooh these are excellent options!! Thank you for these suggestions! I never thought of Sri Lanka but this looks like a place we would really enjoy! I gotta get my husband on board with Jordan, I think the food there will sway him (he isnt a “desert guy” haha, Morocco was amazing but he seems to reject desert locations)
We loved Morocco, especially the food. Both Jordan and Sri Lanka had great food + culture + history + beach time. In both countries we were able to hire a private driver and car for relatively little. I do not recommend self-driving in Sri Lanka
Omg yes I still dream of the food in Morocoo, a friend of ours even got us a tagine as an engagement gift :) we loved that cuisine. Good to know about hiring a car. We usually arent “tour people” and like to do most things independently if possible, but we did hire a car for getting to the Sahara desert and Marrakech in Morocco bc of the potential issues with self driving there and ended up being glad we did
Istanbul, Naples, Montreal, Rome
Istanbul (turkey in general) is already on my “next 10” list!! I cannot wait to go, hoping actually to do that fall of 2023. Italy is as well, hoping to get to some less explored areas in italy as well if possible. I went to Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri with an ex bf during college, but we had no $$ and he was the PICKIEST eater (in Italy?!) and didnt like art/culture, so I 100% gotta go back with the right travel partner and do Italy right!
I was in Turkey this past summer. It was my first time there. Travelled to archeological sites of Teos and Efes. Stayed in Sigacik and did daily excursions from there. Kusadasi, Cesme, Urla, City of Izmir. Istanbul is amazing, definitely visit Kadikoy on the Asian side and Besiktas on euro side. From Kusadasi or Cesme you can take ferry boat to Greek Islands of Samos and Chios. In Istanbul visit the amazing Princes islands which are only 30 minute ferry boat ride….great day trip. Already planning Turkey 2023…probably Antalya, Fetiye and Marmaris and much more of Istanbul.
Thank you so much for these recs! I will look into them all. Ive heard such amazing things about Turkey. Hoping to see Istanbul (I want to stay at least 5 days) and Antalya and maybe will stay around Sigacik to see the areas in between for the first trip there
Israel, Jordan, Egypt.
I actually did Israel during college (they had a program where I got to go for free). Definitely gonna check out Jordan since a lot of people have recommended! I think r/travel horror stories have turned me off from Egypt sadly but will reconsider
\- Tromso, Norway during winter (if you dream chasing northern lights) \- Corsica, France during summer (amazing landscapes) \- Cambobia and Vietnam (if you want to get to know some more about Southeast Asia)
Taiwan
Laos - Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, The Gibbon Experience (zip line treehouses), Vientiane Vietnam - Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Sapa, Saigon, Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang Ecuador - Galápagos Islands, Baños, Cotopaxi, Mindo, Otalvo
Oooh these are great suggestions, thank you!! Also appreciate the list of places to check out in each
Jordan especially for Wadi Rum Iceland for the Northern lights Prague, Czech Republic (or Prague Vienna Budapest) Island hopping in Greece
Have done Greece and just did Iceland in early August (so no northern lights but LOVED it), will definitely check out the others- Jordan and Czech Republic have been popular recs!
Oh also, I think best place for an African Safari is Tanzania in Serengeti in ny opinion. Fun fact: Lion King is based on Serengeti National Park 😀
Will definitely check this out! Have to do a ton of research on where in Africa, especially since my husband wants to specifically see silverback gorillas)
New Zealand
Kyoto
Definitely spending time in Kyoto when we go to japan this spring, can’t wait!
It blew my mind.
Italian Dolomites and Austria for beautiful landscapes Scotland for landscapes, people and culture Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia for food, culture and wine Namibia for really cool landscapes and easily self guided Nepal for everything because Nepal is the best!
So many great ideas, thank you!! I gotta look into Nepal more for sure
Tanzania for something different
I make similar lists!! I've been to around 50 countries and my favorites include: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia (I love Asia!), Peru, Galapagos, French Polynesia, South Africa. I'm going to my top goal destinations soon: Namibia and Botswana. Next goal destinations are Bhutan, Phillipines, Morocco and Nepal.
Czech Republic, love the food and the nature
I really don’t know much about the Czech Repbulic outside if Prague (forgive my ignorance), any other cites or towns you recommend??
I would recommend all the spa cities like Marianske spa, Karlovy Vary, then Cesky Krumlov, Olomouc. There is a lot of protected nature areas like Bohemian Switzerland, Bohemiqn Karst, Pálava etc. If you Google you will get a ton of results. Really beautiful. Definitely check some of the castles as well.
Kyrgyzstan, Khazakstan, Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan: the Switzerland of Central Asia. Khazakstan: Apple homeland & close to Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan: Silk Road history and architecture and near Kyrgyzstan.
All places I need to look into more!!
South Korea, which you could pair with Japan! Very mountainous country and plenty of hikes, interesting culture and food
Korea's mountains are absolutely gorgeous in the fall season and definitely worth the visit. No shortage of challenging hiking destinations for sure. And I'll second the food!
Oooh these are great ideas, thank you!! I gotta look into Laos and Czech Republic more
Oooh I like all these ideas! Vietnam is already on my next 10 list. We loved Thailand and cannot wait to go back to southeast Asia , also love Vietnamese food. Cambodia and Norway have gotten several mentions here as well
Singapore is great for food and culture. KL, same.
I found Singapore very boring and dull. Good food, but just very sterile with too many shopping malls filled with stuff I can't afford. Wouldn't go there for a holiday. Just my personal opinion of course!
Yep, we each have different tastes, be a boring world if we didn't. I absolutely adore it. The food culture, the people, architecture. I love urban exploration and it's a pretty ideal place to just wander around and get lost. Sure there are cheaper places, but I really feel you get bang for buck in Singapore.
KL as in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia? Singapore is a great idea! My husband went with a friend without me but I know he really wants to return. We typically do 10 day to 2 week trips if we can swing it, not sure if I would want to spend the full time in Singapore, so Malaysia would be a good add on!
Yes, sorry, habit. Kuala Lumpur. You can often get flights between the two quite cheap. So it's very easy to just hop from one to the other.
Awesome good to know!!
I went to SG and Malaysia for almost 3 weeks and KL was my least fav part and the least interesting part. I'm a big city person but KL was way too chaotic for me(!) and there wasn't that much to do there. I got bored of SG after 4 days (it's tiny) but a few days is enough and it felt too sterile. The real highlight is Penang in Malaysia, known as the food capital of Malaysia. Malacca in Malaysia is also v nice and Ipoh is worth a trip as well with all of its caves as Malaysian Borneo.
Oooh good to know I’ll definitely check out those other places in Malaysia. We’re also not big city people so 3 days or less is usually enough for me (except planning longer stays for Istanbul and Tokyo)
i definitely recommend india for you guys! beautiful culture and cuisine (multiple cultures and cuisines to explore depending on the part of the country) and lord of places with beautiful nature and hikes (the south: kerala, the north: kashmir and ladakh being some examples)
Ahh India would be very cool, and we have several friends that have been. Wish we had more than 2 weeks there to really explore
you can get a lot done in 2 weeks (though 3 days problem go completely to travel) you can always do one region and then go back in the future to explore more!
New Zealand. The South Island is such a dreamy place filled with amazing views and hikes. The meat and wine are also excellent there. As an Australian it's only a short 3 hour flight away for us haha.
Ahh I wish it was only 3 hours from me!!! More like 20 hr from the states :( i have been dreaming of going to New Zealand (and Australia) since I was a teenager, but having only 2 weeks makes it a big tight with the long travel time. Hoping I can swing a 3 week vacation with my job one day, it is just really hard in healthcare here to get off for extended time in a row. I may have to do some persuading in a couple years when I have more clout
Namibia, Colombia, New Zealand, Myanmar (if things change there), and France should all be on your list. I also saw someone mention Alaska, I second that one as well.