Where to Go For Travelling in 2019
The 21 destinations that will be especially hot this year—and the data
you need to plan your trip.
This year, treat your travel bucket list as your to - do list and
deal with the most time-consuming items. This means sailing through the
jaguar-filled (and newly luxurious) Pantanal in Brazil, while everyone else is
heading down the Amazon, and sailing overdeveloped Bali in favor of Bodrum,
where a five-star resort is underway.
These are only two of the twenty-plus destinations to prioritize
in 2019, all selected for their hot-right status by our trend-setting editors
and global correspondents. Among their attractions: an array of cultural
attractions, major hotel openings and new restaurants worth visiting. To help
you make the most of your buck, we have included exclusive Google data and tips
from our favorite travel specialists for each recommendation. As we have
already learned, the ideal time for travel is not always cost-related.
Start packing: it's going going to be an exciting year
ahead.
01. Kenya
If you have no flexibility
for a long journey but have always wanted to see 1,7 million wild beasts
thundering throughout the Maasai Mara, this is the year you realize your
wildest dream. A new, non-stop route on Kenya Airways from New York 's JFK to
Nairobi makes the country more accessible to the East Coasters than
ever–witnessing the Great Migration, shopping for elaborate beaded jewelry and
riding camels in the desert. The 14-hour flight takes you to your safari camp
in the morning to have lunch and an afternoon game drive.
When to Visit Kenya
An hour's
flight from Nairobi takes you to the new Olonana Sanctuary, whose 14
glass-walled suites have large decks facing the Mara River, or & Beyond the
recently rebuilt Bateleur Camp, where you can watch elephants graze in a
crescent-shaped infinity swimming pool. Or skip the savannah altogether and
head to the less developed beaches of Kenya than Zanzibar or Mozambique. Lamu—
an island with a Swahili village protected by Unesco in the 14th century and
colorful sailboats lining its harbor— is an undervalued favorite and worth the
extra (short) trip. Get there quickly: the beach destination benefits from
increased and affordable air travel, just like Nairobi, and the crowd is sure to
follow.
When to
go: September, after the crowds have gone but while the
migration is still crossing the Mara. January and February also rank high as a
time to spot newborn wildlife.
When not to go: April and May. Rain makes the roads hard to navigate. Also avoid overcrowded July and August.
Whom to call: Teresa Sullivan of Mango Safari
02. NORTHERN
CHILE
This summer, tackle two big
items on one holiday. On 2 July, a total solar eclipse will shine in northern
Chile, with clear skies and a lack of urban light making it one of the best
star-looking regions in the world. View the Elqui Valley show, which recently
opened the boho-chic CasaMolle hotel, and the local wineries, including Tabalí
and Falernia. It is only a 90 minute flight from there to the otherworldly
Atacama Desert.
When to Visit Northern Chile
Boutique travel company Upscape offers a five-day itinerary with eclipse views
from a luxury tented camp in Elqui and an overnight stay in Santiago.
Members-only travel club Prior has a two-week trip from Patagonia to Atacama
with a sky watching stop at a mobile camp in the Lakes region of Araucanía. And
the high-end group tour specialist Intrepid introduced the "star
"astronomer John Mason to a 11-day trip. Book quickly; such opportunities
can truly happen once in a lifetime.
When to go: In extreme environments such
as the Atacama, it’s smart to plan your trip for the milder spring and
fall months. (Remember the seasons are inverted here if you’re coming from
the northern hemisphere.) But this year, the eclipse warrants a notable
exception.
When not to go: Even the world’s driest desert has a rainy season: It spans January and February. Expect below-freezing temps come June, July, and August.
Whom to call: Emmanuel Burgio of Blue Parallel
03. HONG
KONG
Two completely new
neighborhoods are emerging in the dense tangle of skyscrapers in Hong Kong. At
the eastern end of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon is the $2.6 billion development of
the waterfront known as Victoria Dockside, a burgeoning arts and design
district transformed by the New York City High Line architects. The Avenue of
Stars, which snakes around the development, opens in February, but when the
43-story Rosewood Hotel opens in March, the district will grow old.
When to Visit Hong Kong
From there, a five-minute Star Ferry ride to the city's island side takes you
to the 170-year-old Tai Kwun police compound, which was reborn as a vibrant
cultural zone with the debut of last summer's JC Contemporary Art Gallery and
JC Cube Theater. The must-try stops: Dragonfly, a cocktail lounge with stained
glass windows; the Armoury rooftop bar with views of the neon skyline of the
city; and Old Bailey, a restaurant with delicacies such as Hangzhou smoked
pigeon.
When to go: For idyllic, mild
temperatures—still warm enough to visit the city’s outlying islands—plan for spring
or fall. Or go the super-festive route and travel during Chinese New Year,
which lasts from late January to early February.
When not to go: July and August are hot, humid, and often wet. Also be wary of Chinese national holidays, when tons of domestic visitors flock to the city.
Whom to call: Mei Zhang of Wild China
04. THE
PANTANAL, BRAZIL
It is not as well known as
the Amazon, but the Pantanal, the largest wetland on the planet, is home to the
highest fauna density in South America within its network of green marshes and
river paths. Over 1,000 species— including stalking jaguars, flamingo
spoonbills and mohawked tapirs — are concentrated in an area of the size of
Kansas in central-western Brazil. Previously, limited transport infrastructure
made it difficult to see them.
When to Visit the Pantanal
However, travelers can sail through the tributaries of the Paraguay River on
the first luxury expedition ship of the region on new routes from Red Savannah.
A. The M.V. Peralta has 10 glass-facing suites, a pool on the upper deck and
Zodiac rafts for deeper exploration throughout the floodplain. Or travelers can
contact TCS World Travel's 28-seat private jet, which adds the region to a trip
to Brazil's many highlights.
When to go: During the dry season, from
May to October, you’ll maximize your chances to see jaguars, furry capybaras,
and many, many butterflies.
When not to go: The wet season, from November
to April. The plains are flooded—and that means mosquitoes.
Whom to call: Charlie Lockwood of Red
Savannah
05. GRENADA
The course of Grenada as an
overlooked Caribbean destination ends with the arrival of two game-changing
resorts, both on the powdery beach of Grand Anse. The newly opened Silversands
is the first injection of St on the island. Sophistication at the barth level.
Its 52 rooms, suites and villas are decorated in a minimalist, organic style,
with pale wooden floors and decks, white marble fittings and windows on the
floor. A dramatic 100-meter infinity pool, which is thought to be the longest
in the region, cuts from the lobby to the shore, while the two restaurants
display the famous spices of the island.
When to Visit Grenada
The resort will compete next year with an all-inclusive Royalton and Kimpton 's
Kawana Bay Resort, a glass-facing, jungle-wrapped follow-up to the red-hot
Grand Cayman hotel. Moreover, it was easier to get there: American Airlines now
has direct flights from Miami to Grenada and Air Canada travels five hours from
Toronto.
When to go: January to mid-April is high
season for a reason—you’ll have the best chance for cloudless, sunny days.
When not to go: Steer clear of hurricane
season, from June to November, along with the overpriced winter holidays.
Whom to call: Margie Hand of Andavo
Travel
06. FALKLAND
ISLANDS
In this remote British
territory near the Antarctic there are more pingouins than people. The
archipelago is still best known as the site of a war between the United Kingdom
in 1982. And Argentina still claiming sovereignty and instead calling the
islands Malvinas. With tensions between governments easing, it is expected that
the Falklands will become accessible.
When to Visit the Falkland
Islands
Instead of arriving on a cruise liner–or by flying through the Royal Air Force,
which operates a semi-regular flight from a military base outside London –you
will soon be able to fly via São Paulo on Latam Airlines. Nature-oriented,
land-based tours from Intrepid Travel also make it easier to explore the
wind-swept islands. Visitors stay in comfortable accommodation in Stanley's
capital, a once freight service center that has become a surprisingly robust
adventure hub. The town is surrounded by rough trekking landscapes, wide
grasslands for four-by-four hikes and unexplored beaches filled with elephant
seals— and all these cute waddling birds.
When to go: October to March, when the
weather is at its warmest and the wildlife-spotting is at its best. Plus, drier
and clearer skies make ideal conditions for photographers.
When not to go: April to August, when the days
are cold, dark, and wet.
Whom to call: Brian Pearson of Upscape
Travel
07. KUALA
LUMPUR
Travelers on their way to the
idyllic islands of Malaysia usually complain about a pit stop in the chaotic
capital; now that Kuala Lumpur plays host to Singapore and Hong Kong, a layover
here is part of the fun. The development began with some much-needed
contemporary luxury hotels, including the first Four Seasons in the city (the
world's third highest hotel). The 253-room RuMa Hotel and Residence, opened in
December with a cantilevered deck and an infinity pool offering one of the best
views of the Petronas Towers, is equally impressive.
When to Visit Kuala Lumpur
About this skyline: this year it welcomes the Exchange 106, the tallest
building in South East Asia, as part of the new financial district of the Tun
Razak Exchange. The culinary scene has also been elevated, once dominated by
hawker stalls. Saint Pierre, a popular French restaurant in Singapore, serves
classic Asian bistro dishes such as lychee and apricot foie gras. And Dewakan
drives traffic to an unusual university campus for slow-cooked red snappers
with temu (a root spice) and other dishes that emphasize Malaysian indigenous
ingredients.
When to go: It’s always relatively warm,
but May to July are the driest months. Alternatively, go during Diwali
(November) or Chinese New Year (February) for especially festive vibes.
When not to go: Rain can be an issue here,
particularly in March or April and from September to November.
Whom to call: Andrea Ross of Wild
Frontiers Travel
08. NORWAY
As
travelers seek isolation and quietness with time and money, the way to the
north is seeing an uptick in tourism throughout the year. However, Norway, the
Arctic bliss postcard, has not taken advantage of this trend. This is mainly
because there are few places to stay; national salaries above average make
high-touch hospitality a costly business proposal. Businessmen are finding
workarounds slowly but surely, namely by creating intimate resorts with small
staff.
Lyngen Lodge, famous as a
place to see the aurora borealis, has 8 bedrooms under a thick grass roof, just
65 miles west of the charming Tromso mountain. Farther afield is Finvag, a
lovingly renovated boarding school with a small fleet of boats on its own
fjord. This year, the Amot country estate, just north of Bergen, will move from
an exclusive villa to a boutique hotel, meaning that you can book one of its
eight suites instead of the entire house. It is an excellent base for fishing
and kayaking in the Tolkien scenery of the mountains and glacial rivers.
When to Visit Norway
In Oslo, the new jazz-inspired Amerikalinjen hotel is your starting point to
remote locations, such as Lofoten 's jagged crags or even Svalbard 's polar
bear-filled island, both above the Arctic Circle. More developments like
Marriott International Inc. are on the way. Brings its young Moxy brand to
Bergen, and the founder of Aman Resorts, Adrian Zecha, is considering some
tundra projects. By the time Svart opens in 2021, the world's first
energy-positive hotel concept (powered by geothermal and solar energy), Norway
will have completed its five-star transformation.
When to go: If you want more daylight
hours than you’ll know what to do with, visit from May to August.
When not to go: From October to January, the
weather is cold, wet, and dark. Of course, these are also the prime months to
see the Northern Lights or ski the fjords. The earlier in the season, the less
treacherous.
Whom to call: Tom Marchant of Black
Tomato
09. CHAD
Your window to visit the next
big border in Africa has just opened, and it is about to close. Chad, whose
national parks were blown away by poachers, is now the model for successful
conservation (although its border regions still generate mid-level warnings
about crime from the United States. State Department). That's nowhere more
obvious than Zakouma National Park. Between 2002 and 2010, all but 5 percent of
the elephants in the area were gunned down for their ivory; now there are not
only huge herds of pachyderms, but all the Big Five. Reintroduced even the
elusive black rhino)
When to Visit Chad
Credit goes to the trailblazing conservation organization African Parks, headed
by Prince Harry, who has worked with the local population to transform the
area. The organization runs the only two lodges in the park, a basic proposal
called the Tinga Camp and the camp nomad. Booking the six canvas-walled,
zero-footprint tents makes for total seclusion: guests wake up to the sound of
roaring lions, watch the plains with expert guides, never see another safari
vehicle and enjoy elaborate night meals. Come 2020 African Parks will begin to
restrict reservations to travelers who make significant philanthropic
commitments, thus increasing the exclusivity of this epic experience while
ensuring its protection for years to come.
When to go: You’ll find the densest concentration
of Big Five sightings in Zakouma from January to early April—though March may
be the single most animal-abundant month of the year.
When not to go: Late April through November.
The park is closed due to scorching temps and heavy rains.
Whom to call: Nicola Shepherd of the
Explorations Company.
10. THE
BALEARICS
After
a tumultuous few seasons in which Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca were
almost overwhelmed by tourists, Spain has taken steps to restore to its islands
a sense of pitiful, languid idyll. On the one hand, Airbnb was banned last year
and new hotel licenses were ended in the hope of curbing overdevelopment.
The openings across the
Balearic Islands now counteract the thumpy nightlife reputation created by
Ibiza. In the fortified Gothic center of Palma de Mallorca, you'll find Es
Princep, a contemporary five-star hotel with ocean views, and Can Bordoy 's
intimate and artistic setting. You won't see a DJ either.) There's Etosoto on
Formentera, an organic farm with 10 beach rooms. Also opening this summer is
Experimental Menorca, a nine-villa estate surrounded by wild gardens.
When to Visit the Belearics
To get to the archipelago is half the fun, of course. When you pass through
Madrid, the Prado Museum celebrates its 200th anniversary and the Mandarin
Oriental Hotel Group Ltd has impeccably restored the Hotel Ritz. Or start in
Barcelona and you'll be a quick detour away from the soon-to-open research
laboratory and gastronomic museum of Chef Ferran Adrià, elBulli 1846.
When to go: The bookends of summer’s high
season—May, June, September, and October—are ideal, especially if you want a
spot to yourself on the beach. The grape harvest festival in Mallorca each
September is as rowdy and fun as Valencia’s tomato-throwing holiday.
When not to go: Wet, cold weather closes down
the islands from November through April.
Whom to call: Virginia Irurita of Made
for Spain and Portugal
11. THE
ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
The next time you land in
Heathrow, take the train instead of to London. In an hour's time, you will
arrive at one of the most exciting new hotels in Europe: Heckfield Place, a
Georgian manor house in Hampshire that was finally opened in the fall after six
years. The wait was worth it, especially for foodies, who can enjoy rustic
open-fire meals from London's acclaimed Spring chef Skye Gyngell. Ingredients
are found in the biodynamic farm and gardens of the hotel.
When to Visit the English
Countryside
Visit the Monkey Island Estate in the middle of the Thames, near the jewel-like
village of Bray, for a more peaceful experience. The island was reached by
footbridge or boat during 800 years of history by monks, aristocrats and
artists. After decay in the 1980s, it was revitalized as a charming guest house
with a decadent afternoon tea and 41 rooms designed by Alexandra Champalimaud.
If you follow a more traditional atmosphere of Downton Abbey, try the
Beaverbrook House in Surrey. Its renovation of $90 million preserved the old
world, such as a brass bar in the 1920s, waistcoated servers and 18 rooms named
for famous guests like Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill.
When to go: Spring, when flowers are in
bloom and you can feed newborn lambs at local farms. And mid-fall, to see the
area awash in autumnal color.
When not to go: January. Cold weather is no
good for a countryside vacation.
Whom to call: Nicola Butler of
Noteworthy
12. BHUTAN
More luxury options and a
newly expanded airport mean that Bhutan is no longer a bucket list stop only
for the crowd watching the temple. Take the 6-month-old,22-room, all-inclusive
Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary: its wellness program focuses on yoga, meditation and
spa treatments using medicinal herbs foraged.
When to Visit Bhutan
If the goal of this hotel is to leave guests with a restful mind,
the safari operator & Beyond cater for those with unrest. At its upcoming
riverfront camp in the lush Punakha valley, travelers spend their days kayaking
the crystal clear waters of the Mo Chhu River and walking past rice paddy
fields dotted with ancient fortifications. These newcomers offer a more
immersive experience than the long-established luxury circuits in Bhutan, which
shuttle guests to half a dozen hotels in Como or Aman Resorts in the country.
But if you prefer this type of broad overview, try the new lodges at Six Senses
Hotels–they will be opened in five special locations by summer through
connections with the royal family. You won’t find crowds: A nationwide, $250-a-day visitor fee
helps keep tourism numbers blissfully low.
When to go: In the off-season—mid-November
through February—hotel occupancy drops, the post-monsoon skies are clear, and
the black-necked cranes return to the Phobjikha Valley for the winter. In the
spring, the rhododendron forests burst with color and the weather is mild.
When not to go: Showers and misty skies can
obscure mountain vistas in the summer months. And the influx of travelers over
the last few years has created two distinct peak seasons: April and October.
Whom to call: Brent Olson of GeoEx
13. HOUSTON
Houston's ready for raising.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the landing of the moon, the Johnson Space
Center restored everything within the original mission control — down to the
consoles and trash cans— to look exactly as it did during the Apollo 11 mission
in July 1969. Closer to the city centre, the Museum of Fine Arts is expanding
by $450 million, adding a roof garden, an amphitheater and a public square. The
Holocaust Museum will move in spring and double its size.
When to Visit Houston
And as everything in Texas is bigger, the city welcomes not one, not two, but
four jumbo food courts, including the Bravery Chef Hall, which is 9,000 square
feet. Culinary talent here will focus on the development of new concepts,
including a wood-burning steakhouse by the famous cattle rancher Felix Florez
and a pasta joint by Ben McPherson, a fried chicken art expert. There are also
fine lodging options taking flight. The newly renovated Four Seasons of the
city is joined by the year-old Post Oak–which has the advantage of not being
attached to a convention centre–plus an InterContinental and a Thompson.
When to go: Spring and fall offer the best
weather, but go in March, and you’ll catch the azaleas in bloom (and maybe even
get tickets to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo).
When not to go: July, August, and September
are hot and humid—and carry the risk of hurricanes.
Whom to call: Cristina Buaas of CSB
Travel
14. TURKEY
Three years after a spike in
terrorism has shattered the travel industry in Turkey, the country is making an
audacious return. From January to October 2018, the number of visitors
increased to 36 million from the same period the previous year, only now that
the first phase of a massive airport project has opened in the largest city in
the country. By the time it is fully operational, Istanbul Airport will be one
of the busiest hubs in the world, with more than 90 million people shuttling
every year. The knowledgeable ones will make a bee-line for the coast.
When to Visit Turkey
History buffs can explore the port city of Canakkale, where the new Troy Museum
houses 5,000 artifacts, including a copy of The Iliad in the 13th century and a
Polyxena sarcophagus from 500 B.C. Scenesters can head to Bodrum for
high-profile Six Senses and Ian Schrager Edition Hotels openings. With slick
infinity pools facing the Aegean, famous beach clubs, steam hammam spas and
sunbathing areas covered by olive groves, the seaside destination is a revitalized
alternative to St Tropez and Mykonos.
When to go: Istanbul is charming in April,
during the city’s international tulip festival. And value peaks during the
shoulder-season months of June and September.
When not to go: In July and August, the
busiest tourism months, hotel rates are as sky-high as the temperatures.
Whom to call: Karen Fedorko Sefer of
Sea Song Tours
15. MADHYA
PRADESH, INDIA
India is making great
conservation advances. The subcontinent is home to the largest population of
wild tigers with slightly more than 1,400 in 2006 worldwide. But these figures
are expected to top 3,000 with new reserves and better education when the next
Bengal census is released later this month.
When to Visit Madhya Pradesh
This means that sightings have gone from unreliable to almost guaranteed for
travelers, especially in Madhya Pradesh, a 80-minute flight from Bombay. The
state not only has more protected parks than nearby Rajasthan, but is also less
crowded. And new mobile camp experiences promise to take guests deep into the
wilderness: Kaafila Camps set up plastic outposts in underexplored swaths, such
as Kuno-Palpur in the northwest and Kalinjar in the north-east, so that you can
track real Shere Khans in areas that are untouched by man.
When to go: If you have to pick a single
month, make it February, when both wildlife sightings and cultural events
abound. (Otherwise, any time between November and March will do.)
When not to go: It starts getting warm in
mid-April, and the national parks are closed during monsoon season, from June
to October.
Whom to call: Chinmay Vasavada of the
Explorations Company
16. FORT
LAUDERDALE
To make it easier to get away
from Miami without the 24-hour party atmosphere, head north. Once sleepy, Fort
Lauderdale and Palm Beach wake up when restaurants like Florie arrive. The
200-seater Mediterranean-inspired spot at the renovated Four Seasons Resort
Palm Beach is Mauro Colagreco, whose Mirazur is considered one of the best
restaurants in the world in the south of France.
When to Visit Fort Lauderdale
Another check-out worthwhile? Dune, a Fort Lauderdale dining concept from the
Auberge Resorts Collection that highlights the charcoal and Napa Valley wines.
One hotel even hopes that the beach will no longer be the main attraction of
the area: the 209-room Dalmar in the heart of Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale 's
culture and retail district, has a retro atmosphere with palm wallpapers and
brass chandeliers from the middle of the century. But its rooftop bar, run by
the Death & Co team based in New York, attracts locals from Miami–now just
30 minutes away on the Virgin train of Richard Branson 's fast (and rapidly
expanding).
When to go: October to April, when the
humidity drops and the social calendar is full of events, including the Las
Olas Art Fair and the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
When not to go: Rain and hurricanes are most
likely to ruin your trip in September.
Whom to call: Jesse Taylor of Going
Places Travel
17. PARIS
The City of Light never needs
a sales pitch, but in 2019 there are several cultural developments that can
attract you from the typical sights. When the Gabrielle Chanel Rooms open with
200,000 clothes at the lower level of the Palais Galliera later this year, the
$6.5 million space will be the first to permanently showcase multiple fashion
designers. Chanel's House largely financed it.)
When to Visit Paris
The Pinault collection will also be unveiled in 2019 on the Bourse de Commerce,
a 250-year-old Pantheon-inspired structure. It is now a temple of contemporary
art after more than a decade of work by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando. It
will include 3,000 works from François Pinault 's personal collection, Kering
's billionaire founder, and a restaurant run by Michel and Sébastien Bras '
father-and-son team, all a stone's throw from the Louvre.
Sleep in one of the 30 rooms at J.K. Place, an Italian boutique
brand known for drawing the cool crowd wherever you go. This spring, its
signature residential appeal (along with a Sisley spa and an indoor pool) is
being imported to the Left Bank, near the Musée d'Orsay.
When to go: The shoulder seasons—April to
June; September and October—deliver Paris at its finest, with minimal crowds
and optimal weather.
When not to go: July and August, when the city
is hot and overrun with tourists.
Whom to call: Yaron Yarimiof Frosch
18. SAVANNAH
Long
an artsy ran to Charleston, S.C., Savannah, Ga., has a food scene that emerges
in the national spotlight thanks to the Grey — once a separate bus station, now
an African-inspired restaurant serving Senegalese-spiced lamb and curried
chicken roast. The team behind him recently opened the Grey Market, a general
store for lunch counters. Get the Sizzlin 's Smoky Pig sandwich served with an
egg and pepper) Alumni from the Savannah College of Art and Design, which is
celebrating its 40th year (and has a must-see museum), sticked on the retail
front to start exciting businesses, including the Satchel leather maker and the
honey provider after graduation Savannah Bee Co. And now travelers can
upgrade from small, southern-style inns and B&Bs if they wish: The Perry
Lanearrived last June in the Historic District–it's the first luxury hotel in
the city with 167 individually designed, extremely comfortable rooms. This was
followed by the mid-century Alida Hotel on the banks of the river. A bit
further east, a JW Marriott will open a century-old power plant in June. It
will be surrounded by 4.5 acres of restaurants, shops, concert halls and art
galleries, which together with the hotel represent an investment of
approximately $5 billion.
When to go: Spring, to see the city
in bloom and for the Savannah Music Festival (March 28 to April
13). If you’re a fan of all things Irish and green, the city hosts one of the
largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country.
When not to go: The heat and humidity can be unbearable July and August. And January brings the chance of ice storms.
When not to go: The heat and humidity can be unbearable July and August. And January brings the chance of ice storms.
Whom to call: Becky Lukovic of Bella
Travel Planning, LLC
19. COSTA
RICA
A wild adventure in Costa
Rica meant the pursuit of waves up and down the sunny coast. However, new
accommodation in the biodiversity of the country will make it an easy
destination for nature lovers next year. In the Arenal Volcano National Park,
the Nayara Tented Camp is a cost-free extension of Nayara Springs, probably the
best hotel in the country. In the fall, it opens with 18 tricky tents with
private plunge pools, all hidden in a dense jungle canopy that doubles as a
private reserve for the sluggish population of the area.
When to Visit Costa Rica
From the day bed on your deck, you can scan the treetops for hurler monkeys; go
ahead and kayak past caimans in the Caño Negro River or walk over lava flows on
the active western side of the volcano. Meanwhile, Senda Monte Verde is the
latest eco-luxury Cayuga Collection hotel in Central America; it is located
just a few steps from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, home to over 100
species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 2,500 plants (including 450 types
of orchids). A hanging bridge connects the 24 rooms of the property to the Aguti
Wildlife Refuge, where guides can point to local species such as the olingo (a
small bear with a monkey-like tail) or the resplendent quetzal (the country’s
jewel-toned national bird).
Do
you want to go further off the beaten track? Origen Escapes, a tailor-made
travel company specializing in wild places in Costa Rica, has built the bar for
immersive, conservation-oriented expeditions. Guests can track animals or help
scientists tag and release children's hammerheads in the Rio Coto.
When to go: Early December and May, the
start and end of high season. You get great weather without paying top dollar.
When not to go: You’ll get clear mornings—but
heavy showers every afternoon—during the rainy season, from June to October.
Whom to call: Jack Ezon of Ovation
Vacations
20. POLAND
Everywhere from Krakow to
Lodz, the next generation of Poland embraces a wild stream of avant-garde
creativity, largely a rebuttal of the far-right rhetoric of the nationalist
government. Get a head start by staying at Puro Hotels, a fast-growing boutique
brand that promotes local artists in each of its destinations.
When to Visit Poland
In the seaside town of Gdansk, Puro 's 211-room property welcomes guests with a
mural by the Polish painter Seikon in its 8-story high atrium; in its
forthcoming hotel in Krakow, the rooms are decorated with works by five local
illustrators commissioned to reflect on their hometown in an emotional way.
Focus your attention on the capital of Warsaw; it emerges as a
cultural hotbed with up-to-date beach clubs on the Vistula River and coffee
shops near the modern art museum of the city. A Puro opens in April, but if you
take your bubble on an ancestral pilgrimage, instead put it in the Raffles: the
palatial property, freshly renovated for years, has a golden esthetic in its
rooms, suites and spa.
When to go: For pleasant weather and fewer
tourists, go in April or October. And for low hotel rates, plan to see Warsaw
on a weekend, after the city’s business travelers have checked out.
When not to go: Skip July and August, when
cruise ships flood Gdansk. Though winter is cold and gloomy, it’s an opportune
time to get the cities to yourself.
Whom to call: Gwen Kozlowski of Exeter
International
21. VIETNAM
Vietnam is often left in the
shadow of its popular neighbour, with about one third as many international
visitors as Thailand. However, the country has seen a 30 percent increase in
tourists last year, many of whom flock to the 2,000 kilometers of tranquil,
powdery coast of Vietnam.
When to Visit Vietnam
Guests can enjoy panoramic views from one of the 26 ocean-facing bungalows in
the month-old Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, halfway between Ho Chi Minh City and Da
Nang on the less traveled Central Coast. Farther south, the JW Marriott Phu
Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa is a tropical retreat with a protected
national park on the former prison island. Legacy Yen Tu, a resort in a once
abandoned village in the Dong Trieu Mountains near the Ha Long Bay calcareous
cliffs, will be the most peaceful of all. Recreated painfully by architect Bill
Bensley, it opens in January with a Japanese onsen inspired spa and a museum
depicting the rich Buddhist history of the region.
When to go: December, before the Christmas
rush. Rainy season is ending (though it may still drizzle in Hanoi), the temps
are cool, and the crowds have not yet descended.
When not to go: Christmas, Easter, and
Vietnamese New Year (in early February) can be quite crowded. And if you’re
heading to central Vietnam, skip October: it’s typhoon season.
Whom to call: Nathan Lane of
Butterfield & Robinson
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