I don’t know when or how the tradition started, but every January many of the nation’s top publications name their best places to travel for the coming year.
Sometimes the consensus selects a destination because it’s notably cheap or has changed recently—new attractions, a locale hosts a global event or because it starts accepting more foreigners. Other times the lists arbitrarily spotlight a familiar place simply because it hasn’t been recognized in a while.
Whatever the reasoning, these are the places that came up again and again this year—the “best places to go,” according to some of the biggest names in media. Oh, and Europe is notably absent.
Brazil
Photo: Lima Pix, CC-BY
Just about every outlet named Brazil a top destination this year as its most famous city (Rio De Janeiro) gears up to host the Summer Olympics. But whether you take part in the crowded madness or not, the entire country costs a third as much as it did last year, thanks to a strong dollar. And domestic flights and infrastructure have somewhat improved since the recent World Cup, which makes this big country with a big heart easier to negotiate. Best time to go: December to March.
Japan
Photo: Moyan Brenn, CC-BY
Although not as buzz-worthy as Brazil, this enchanted archipelago was highly rated on many experts’ lists this year. Granted, there hasn’t been a bad year to visit Japan since the 1950s, and the country is as costly as ever. But if you want to get as far away from Western thought, language, food and culture as humanly possible, this is the furthest East you can go. The culture is out of this world, the people are friendly and the noodles are delicious. Best time to go: spring or autumn.
