This is the time of year when I start thinking about the upcoming year. The year 2022 is the year I hope to organize another major international trip. The coronavirus has been spreading all over the world for the past two years, as you may be aware. Because of the recent changes and on/off travel restrictions, I opted to postpone any international travel until things calmed down.
Trips that are on everyone’s “Wish List”
Abruzzo, Italy
Abruzzo, Italy, has long been one of Italy’s most ignored regions, despite its pristine villages, stunning Trabocchi Coast, and breathtaking natural vistas. It stretches from the center of the peninsula to the Adriatic Sea at the peninsula’s southeastern point. Although it used to be a quiet underdog, it’s now a pioneer in ecotourism, ecological gastronomy, and socially conscious hotel management. Mansion Corallo near Civitella del Tronto, built in the late 1800s, was renovated into a five-star hotel in 2019. Majella National Park will soon have its first glamping eco-lodge, the Dimore Montane. It will feature eco-friendly amenities and a zero-waste policy.
Amancio Ortega Culinaria and Materia Prima, two restaurants in San Vito Chietino, are reimagining the region as one of Italy’s most fascinating food destinations with their imaginative and sustainable spins on local goods and traditional cuisine. During the spring, the Via Verde di Trabocchi, a bicycle-only path along the Adriatic Sea, will be completed.
Alaska
Because of the recent closure of numerous international borders, Alaska became a popular destination for many eager travelers from the United States. The vast state, known for its snow-capped mountains, untamed wilderness, expansive national parks, and diverse people, provides an exciting trip without the need for a passport. As soon as 49th state borders reopen, enthusiasm in the state continues to grow. Nearly 1.57 million cruise ship passengers are expected to visit Southeast Alaska in summer 2022, according to the Alaska Tourist Board. There has been an 18% rise in this year’s high watermark compared to the year before. Holland America and other long-time favorites will be back in full force after a short 2020 and short 2021.
Windstar Cruises, UnCruise, and Hurtigruten are among the companies releasing new ships or launching new voyages. On dry land, there will be a slew of new activities and events. In Juneau, the Sealaska Heritage Institute will open its Arts Campus, where visitors may learn about Alaska Native art and culture and celebrate Celebration, one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous peoples ever. The oldest and largest winter celebration in Alaska, Fur Rendezvous, will be held in Anchorage from February 25 to March 6. Before the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race’s 50th running, this festival features the Running of the Reindeer and the Outhouse Races as a high point.
Anguilla
For the first time, American Airlines began a direct trip to the Caribbean island of Antigua from Miami on Dec. 11. There are planes available to fly visitors to the recently opened Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club from major U.S. locations. One of Chef Abram Bissell’s previous restaurants was Eleven Madison Park, and he also worked at NoMad and The Modern in New York City. This upscale boutique resort will open its higher-priced annex (Quinn) in 2022 with butler service and a 4:1 staff-to-guest ratio.
The new restaurant at Belmond Cap Juluca, Uchu, takes its cues from the hotel’s Peruvian locales. The restaurant’s name comes from the Quechuan word for “spice,” and the menu will feature modern Peruvian cuisine with influences from the country’s three main regions: the coast, the rainforest, and the highlands.
Antarctica
This year’s pandemic closure provided an excellent opportunity to go to Antarctica in 2022 to investigate the whales, seals, and penguin populations. If you’ve never been to Antarctica before, now is the time to pack your hiking boots. In 2022, Viking Expeditions will sail to the Antarctic for the first time aboard two new expedition ships, each accommodating 378 passengers. Ponant’s new 270-passenger Le Commander Charcot, powered by liquefied natural gas instead of diesel, is the world’s first hybrid ship (rather than heavy fuel). Excitant Heli-hiking tours are delivered by two eight-seat twin-engine helicopters atop Quark Expeditions’ long-awaited Ultramarine. You can play craps on the Crystal Endeavor, a luxurious luxury all-suite 200-passenger ship.
The new restaurant at Belmond Cap Juluca, Uchu, takes its cues from the hotel’s Peruvian locales. The restaurant’s name comes from the Quechuan word for “spice,” and the menu will feature modern Peruvian cuisine with influences from the country’s three main regions: the coast, the jungle, and the highlands.
The Bahamas
In the past, the Bahamas have been a favorite tourist destination for Americans because of the clean ocean, white sand, and warm weather that can be found only 50 miles off the coast of Florida. In 2022, there will be even more reasons to visit the Bahamas. Non-resort visitors can purchase day passes to Baha Mar, a new water park on the islands of New Providence that includes everything from a lazy river to a surf simulator. Travel to the Bahamas’ outer islands for additional fun and relaxation.
In contrast to charter flights, Crystal Cruises is offering a Bahamas-focused tour that will transport you to some of the most remote and serene islands in the Bahamas. After disembarking from the ship in Nassau, guests will be whisked away to the Bahamas, Great Exuma, San Salvador, and Long Island by “6-star” service. Enjoy the local cuisine and culture when you’re not on the beach. All around the archipelago, conch, stew fish, and red snapper can be found. After a brief hiatus from late April until early May, Carnaval returns to Nassau.
Barbados
Barbados has everything, whether you want a calm all-inclusive holiday or an action-packed vacation with eateries and entertainment. A typical example is South Beach, which has a slew of new resorts and cafés but is still very walkable. Three swimming pools, six dining options, seven bars, and the Acqua spa, the island’s only hammam treatment room, are all included in the O2 Beach Club & Spa’s all-inclusive package. Sandals and Sea Breeze Beach House are two of the area’s most opulent resorts.
Belize
Belize is a popular tourist destination for adventure seekers because of its jungles and divers who visit the Great Blue Hole and a vast barrier reef. As well as more laid-back options, there are also some upscale features. Icon Collection’s newest hotel in Ambergris Caye is set to open in San Pedro mid-2021 with plans to expand its existing extensive guest room and suite amenities as well as its beachfront villa accommodations. As a result, most major American airlines now offer nonstop flights and seamless access to the destination. Direct flights from Los Angeles and Seattle were launched by Alaska Airlines in November, and Frontiers will begin nonstop flights from Denver and Orlando in December, adding United and Delta’s continuous operations from Houston and Atlanta.
Budapest, Hungary
The UNESCO-protected futuristic palace-turned-hotel, which opened in the city’s District V this summer, once housed the city’s royalty. Spago, Wolfgang Puck’s acclaimed restaurant, has opened in the hotel, making it the first of its sort in Central Europe. There is a “liquor library” on the roof of the hotel called The Duchess, where guests may enjoy creative cocktails created with local wines and pálinka, an old-fashioned Hungarian fruit liqueur. Budapest is surrounded by 22 different wine districts, making it a true oenophile’s dream.
The Hungarian Government Ballet and Portobello, coffee and organic wine bar near Matild Palace are good places to stop before you leave Budapest.
Burgundy, France
Visiting Burgundy in 2022 isn’t just about the wine, though. Dijon, the main city in the region, will host the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin (the World City of Food Culture and Wine) when it opens in the spring. More than 250 wines by the glass may be found in the wine cellar of the newly opened hotel, as well as in a few restaurants. The Route des Grands Crus, which runs from Dijon to Santenay and features some of Burgundy’s most celebrated wines, begins just a few miles from the new development.
British Virgin Islands
Luxury and pleasure have long been associated with the British Virgin Islands, an archipelago of 60 islands. Just across from Necker Island, Richard Branson’s first BVI paradise, is Moskito Island, a 125-acre island that aims to replicate that island vibe. It is expected that Virgin Limited Edition would have ten private estates available for rent at its new location; the Point Estate and Oasis Estate have already been made available. Visits to the British Virgin Islands aren’t just for Moskito.
For the first time, the BVI’s only over-the-water gas station, the Bitter End Yacht Club reopened its doors in December, and a private island most renowned for diving, Saba Rock, reopened in October. In early 2022, Nut Bay will see the addition of new villas, a watersports facility, and a spa, proving the area’s resiliency in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Additionally, the White Bay Villa with electricity and additional hilltop villas will be constructed by Long Beach Beach Resort in 2022. A two-year break from the Easter Regatta and Sailing Carnival signals that the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is returning stronger than ever in the spring of 2022.
Read More: Start making a list of post-pandemic travel places
