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Looking forward to when travel opens up and travelers can cross borders freely and safely, an overwhelming number of stuck-at-home travelers have been saving and longing for a dream trip. There is a new name for this type of dream trip, the GOAT or Greatest of All Trips. To provide some inspiration on where to travel when the world reopens, we have listed the twenty best travel destinations for the GOAT.
Given the dynamic nature of the pandemic, this list is a dream list. It assumes no travel restrictions to these international destinations or risks traveling to them. While this is not a guaranteed possibility, there is no reason we can’t dream about a time that these trips can Happen.
1. Paris
There is no better destination to start a GOAT list than Paris. The City of Light has long been an iconic choice for a dream trip, and it is more than happy to welcome back visitors to take in its culture, history, and culinary attractions.
Take in art from the city’s numerous world-class museums, watch the city life pass you by from a Parisian cafe, shop at classic French boutiques while admiring the Haussmannian architecture that is a signature of the city, and then end your day with a bottle of wine and traditional French fare at a century-old bistro. Paris has so much to offer visitors that one unforgettable experience transitions into the next.
France offers so much more beyond Paris, making for a perfect place to have an extended GOAT for a week or two. Choose a couple of regions from Normandy, Brittany, Burgundy, or the Loire Valley for some Chateau hopping, or jump on a high-speed train to Provence and the French Riviera for stunning natural scenery, temperate weather, and a laid-back atmosphere.
2. Bali
Having experienced an explosion of tourism and investment in the two decades leading up to the pandemic, Bali has more luxury resorts and private villas for incredibly affordable prices than anywhere else in the world. So those looking for a warm-weather tropical getaway where their budget can get them the most should look no further than Bali.
As the only predominantly Hindu island in Indonesia, Bali offers a fascinating local culture that integrates traditions with the welcoming service that visitors experience across the island. In addition, Bali features stunningly lush natural scenery with waterfalls, terraced rice paddies, beaches with world-class waves, and an active volcano. While the main reason to visit Bali is its luxurious accommodations, there are also numerous scenic temples and unique shopping. Local craftspeople offer beautiful local housewares and decorative items from reed baskets and bags to wooden teak bowls and furniture.
The island is eager to welcome back visitors with plenty of affordable packages at its hundreds of resorts. Prestigious new openings include the Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, Patina Ubud Bali, and the Buahan from resort-spa brand Banyan Tree. Larger groups or those looking for a secluded private pool villa should consider booking the incredible villas for which the island is famous.
3. Kyoto
The former capital of Japan remains a center of culture and one of the best places to experience a less-modern side of the country, with historic temples, serene gardens, and streets lined with traditional wooden kyomachiya homes seeming as if they are right out of a movie.
Beyond the city’s popular attractions, Kyoto offers a level of luxury and top-tier dining integrated with the city’s traditions. For example, Kikunoi, the Michelin 3-star kaiseki restaurant, offers a seasonal tasting menu to guests in private dining rooms where century-old recipes are executed perfectly by Chef Yoshiro Murata and his team.
After a multi-hour meal, there is no better place to rest than in one of Kyoto’s new hotels that opened in the build-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Hotels like the Aman Kyoto, the Park Hyatt Kyoto, Ace Hote, and the Mitsui have been waiting for the re-surge of visitors to occupy their thoughtfully designed rooms and suites.
Include your visit to Kyoto as part of an extended trip across Japan by purchasing a 7, 14, or 21-day Japan Rail Pass. Check out this list of the 20 best destinations in Japan that are easy to visit with the rail pass.
4. London
While the days of the British Empire’s wide-reaching rule are long gone, London remains a truly global city, with a level of sophistication ingrained in its everyday life. Neither the end of the empire nor, more recently, Brexit has diminished London’s allure to visitors, and the city is more than ready to welcome back the international crowds.
Most visitors will want to take in the city’s royal and historic attractions like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge, though there is far more to see and do than the top tourist sights. Immerse yourself in the full Britishness of London with an afternoon tea at The Savoy Hotel, browse the other-worldly goods at Harrod’s Department Store, and look past the old stereotypes while indulging in modern British cuisine at Chef Fergus Henderson’s St. John Restaurant and Bar.
Combine two of the top options on this list with an easy train connection from London to Paris on the Eurostar high-speed train. The train takes you from city-center to city-center in just over two and a half hours, allowing you to enjoy a proper English Breakfast in London to find yourself settled at a Parisian cafe by lunch.
5. Maldives
This small island nation in the Indian Ocean has managed to become the definition of paradise to most travelers. Stilted over-water villas have made their way into many of our dreams and onto our bucket lists, making the country a top choice for your GOAT, and with recent luxury resort openings, the Maldives has no shortage of villas from which to choose.
Resorts in the Maldives are typically isolated single island resorts, with small islands of sand surrounded by outer reefs. The islands are reachable only by seaplane or speedboat from the country’s capital and international entry-point Male.
Maldivian vacations are intentionally slow-paced, with time spent lying in the sun, swimming or snorkeling in crystal clear waters, or trying out various watersports or nature activities on offer, depending on the resort of choice. With hundreds of resorts to choose from, check out the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli, the Soneva Jani, the Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru, or the Six Senses Laamu for some of the very best options.
6. New York City
Following the exodus from New York City in the early days of the pandemic, the City That Never Sleeps is still wide awake and remains as much of an attraction as ever. New York will always be New York. More than just the world’s financial center, it was the blueprint for the modern city. The city is full of incredible early 20th-century architecture that has aged with time, with some of its early skyscrapers being constructed before most of the world’s population even knew what a skyscraper was.
Whether this is your first time in New York or you are returning, the city offers more than you asked for. Oozing with Americana, the city has one of the US’s best food cultures, from classic delicatessens to traditional New York steakhouses and the world’s perfect bagels (sorry, Montreal). In addition, the multi-cultural dining scene has expanded well beyond Little Italy and Chinatown to offering incredible Ethiopian, Nepalese, Thai, Russian, or Argentinian.
Yes, a vacation in New York is pricey, but you have always dreamed of doing it right, and now is the time to do it. Book The Carlyle, The Chatwal, St. Regis, or the Waldorf Astoria. Get good tickets to a broadway play. Make Reservations for a Michelin restaurant, and have cocktails at a speakeasy after. Visit MoMA and buy a few things in the gift shop. It’s finally time to see New York the right way.
7. Switzerland
One of the world’s original elite vacation destinations, Switzerland started to attract rich European tourists in the late 19th-century, with the wealthy fleeing the heat and the smells of big city living during the industrial revolution for the fresh air of the alps. However, Switzerland has become affordable to more than just the elite over the last century and a half. The majestic alp panoramas are iconic for a reason and remain one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world.
Switzerland brings together the alpine scenery with century-old mountain culture, which remains post-card perfect. Wooden chalets dot the mountainsides, with thankfully restrictive building codes requiring them to meet traditional design requirements.
Visit the Matterhorn, then take in the vast views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Jungfrau, with a cruise across the blue waters of Lake Thune. Next, stop by Bern and over to Luzern to take in their medieval architecture and take a scenic glass-roofed train across the country to enjoy even more of its panoramic views. Switzerland always delivers, making for the best GOAT destination for mountain lovers.
8. Rome
Rome has a little bit of everything for one world’s best living archeological sites: world-class attractions, delicious food, romantic fountains and plazas, incredible shopping, and more. It is deservedly one of Europe’s top destinations and one of its most authentic big cities. You don’t need to go far off the tourist path in Rome to find an actual city, with menus only in Italian and shopkeepers who can’t speak any English.
Go for the attractions and stay for the food. Rome has the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and more in terms of attractions, though once you tick the famous sights off your list, the city continues to impress. Enjoy Italian coffee, Italian wine, pasta cooked the right way, and pizza served by the rectangular slice.
As a perfect central launching point to see the rest of Italy. Rome makes for an easy arrival point, with car trips to Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast and train trips to Florence, Venice, and Milan being easily accessible from the city; a week or two in Italy could be for many of us the GOAT.
9. Bora Bora
About as far away and isolated as you can get on earth in a warm-weather destination, Bora Bora in French Polynesia is like an island getaway that is right out of your imagination. Rather than a single island, Bora Bora is made up of a series of islands, with the remnants of a massive, extinct volcano in the center, surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef around the outside.
The barrier reef is dotted with luxury resorts, which feature the iconic overwater villas that have made Bora Bora famous in the travel world. This popular honeymoon destination is the perfect place to get off the grid and disconnect, with resorts like the St. Regis, Four Seasons, Le Meridien, and the Intercontinental among the many offering exceptional service to go along with the incredible views.
10. Côte d’Azur
The Côte d’Azur, or French Riviera, has long been the playground of the world’s elite. Megayachts sit is the coves and harbors of the towns and cities that line the clear Mediterranean waters. Set your base in Nice and enjoy the old streets of the city, the promenade along the beach, and daytrips to Provence for idyllic meals in small villages. The Côte d’Azur is a perfect warm weather destination, with pleasant summertime temperatures and some of the Meditterraneans most luxurious resorts like the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel.
11. Kenya
There is no reason to delay booking the African safari you have always dreamed about. Kenya is the top place to visit, as the original and best country for spotting big cats. The Masai Mara Game Reserve offers the best chance for sightings at one of the largest reserve populations within Africa.
Enjoy nature in style, with plenty of luxury eco-lodges making for the perfect base to immerse yourself in the land of predators and prey. For example, the Mahali Mzuri offers views of giraffes feeding right from the lodge. At the same time, the Angama Mara’s hillside location allows guests to spot elephants by telescope across panoramic grassland view, with a fleet of Landrovers on call for a drive through the wilderness.
12. Hawaii
The long-time dream destination of plenty of Americans is just as much paradise as it has ever been. With lush landscapes surrounded by cerulean blue waters and frequently making several appearances on the world’s best beach lists, Hawaii truly has it all for warm-weather beach vacations.
While the many luxury resorts offer the quintessential Hawaii vacation vibe, vacation rentals have never been easier to find, with VRBO and Airbnb offering thousands of options across the Hawaiian Islands. So take in the thousand foot-cliffs and endless waterfalls of Kauai, watch the world’s best surfers practice or compete on Oahu’s North Shore, take in the green landscapes of Maui’s road to Hana, or sample some of the world’s best coffee in Kona on the Island of Hawaii. Hawaii has plenty to offer across its four main islands, making unique memories for all interests.
13. India
Those who can’t sit still long enough to appreciate an extended beach vacation will find the right amount of excitement, culture, and history in India. The country, which is experiencing transformative economic growth, continues to offer one of the world’s best cultural experiences with ancient temples, stunning natural scenery, lively markets, and liberally spiced foods making it an unforgettable life experience.
The biggest reason to take your GOAT to India is for the hotels. With a number of the world’s best hotels operated by domestic brands Taj Hotels and Oberoi Hotels, many of which are in the palaces of former Maharajas. Hotels like The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, or The Taj Rambagh Palace Hotel in Jaipur are excellent properties, which set a new standard with their service, with each property winning numerous awards.
Take the history of the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, visiting iconic attractions like the Taj Mahal and the City Palace in Jaipur. Next, head to religious cities like the Sikh center of Amritsar or the Hindu city of Varanasi to observe age-old traditions. Then, hire a private boat and tour the backwaters of tropical Kerala, moving at a slow pace through the former Portuguese Colony. India delivers on both accounts for travelers who crave culture and history to go along with their luxury vacation.
14. Phuket
Skip the touristy backpacker-famous streets of Bangkok and head south to Phuket for an incredible luxury resort vacation with slow days at the pool, beach, or exploring local culture, and evenings of the deliciously spicy Thai cuisine. Phuket has seen significant resort openings over the past decade. The Rosewood Phuket, Six Senses Yao Noi, and Amanpuri are the best options for a GOAT in Thailand.
15. New Zealand
Most likely stuck on your dream destination list since you saw the incredible landscape scenery in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Zealand is the best GOAT option for those looking for some adventure in an isolated natural environment. Head to Queenstown to bungee jump, take a jetboat ride through a narrow canyon, and top it off with a skydive. Once your adrenaline needs are addressed, you can then take in the awe-inspiring scenery of the Southern Alps. New Zealand is well-explored, though still provides that edge of the earth feeling due to its far-southern location.
16. St. Lucia
Arguably the Caribbean’s most beautiful island, St. Lucia, is made up of a mountainous landscape with densely forested jagged peaks, which run right down into the sea. With wide beaches made up of soft sand and calm blue waters that are perfect for swimming, the island in the West Indies is the ideal choice for a GOAT beach vacation.
Neither large nor small, St. Lucia sees far fewer crowds than the likes of the Bahamas, Bermuda, or Jamaica, making it a relatively laid-back option for those looking for some peace on their vacation. Skip the beachside resorts and head uphill to have a tropical jungle-like atmosphere at award-winning hotels like Ladera Resort or Jade Mountain Resort, near the town of Soufrière on the island’s west coast, offering stunning sea and mountain views and no crowds due to limited rooms at both
17. Dubai
Visit the city that has been making headlines for its development over the last twenty years; Dubai makes a perfect destination for the GOAT due to its extensive luxury offerings. Dubai offers everything from skyscrapers to indoor skiing to luxury shopping and hotels. First, visit the world’s tallest building since 2010, the Burj Khalifa, which stands 2,722 feet tall. Then, head to the desert sands for a dune buggy tour or more traditional scenery, check out the Bastakiya Quarter, and visit the traditional Gold and Spice souk. Dubai offers plenty of five-star accommodations, notably The Atlantis Dubai, the Burj Al Arab, and the Bulgari Resort are currently the top hotels in the city, offering the best service and incredible facilities.
18. Greece
The Cradle of Western Civilization offers plenty for history buffs and those relaxation-seekers alike. Although Greece has been known for years as a European holiday hot spot due to its reliable sunny skies and warm temperatures, the country continues to increase in popularity with its increasing sea-view hotel offerings stretching how far a trip budget can go.
Greece is an archipelago made up of 227 islands, with each island having a unique offering to visitors. For example, Santorini has breathtaking views of iconic cliffside sea views and white-domed houses. Mykonos is the country’s party capital, with night-life going strong until the early morning. Corfu was long-ruled by Venetians and still has a distinct culture from other Greek Islands, while Crete has an over 5,000-year history as one of the first advanced European Civilizations.
There is no need to choose just one island for your GOAT, arrive and depart through Athens, which has plenty to offer as an entry-point to Greece, and then set out by boat or plane to go island-hopping for a week or two. Book yourself into sea-view rooms or plenty of vacation rentals with private pools. Make plenty of restaurant reservations before your trip to enjoy the delicious Mediterranean fare for lunch and dinner daily
19. Austria
Austria
In need of a GOAT ski vacation? Head to where recreational skiing was born, Austria. With some of the best and surest snow in Europe, Austria offers the best ski atmosphere globally. Considering its professional alpine skiers are celebrities in a country where skiing is the top sport, it’s no surprise that its strong ski culture is evident everywhere you go. Visit glitzy Kitzbühel or freeskiing and party hotspot St. Anton for some of the country’s best slopes and most luxurious accommodation options. With the perfect combination of high-alpine ski runs, incredible resort infrastructure, charming mountain huts, and delicious food to go with it, It’s no surprise that Austria has held its place at the
20. Disney World
This one is for the children or at least the child in all of us. While the global pandemic has undoubtedly been a stressful time in any adult’s life, it was just as much a disruption for the lives of children. Between Zoom learning and being cut off socially for extended periods, Kids had a lot to handle. So postpone a trip to your dream destination and go on the GOAT to Disney World with your children.
Go for a week and do it all. Live a princess life at the Magic Kingdom, travel the world at Epcot, relive your favorite movies at Hollywood Studios, and get in touch with nature at the Animal Kingdom. Disney has more than enough to keep you busy, with nearby Universal Studios a worthwhile addition to your itinerary.
Stay in the park and let your kids soak up every second of the Disney experience. Eat Mickey Mouse pancakes at breakfast with the characters, cool off in the water parks, and enjoy nights out at Downtown Disney.
As alluring as the rest of this list may be to you, if you have small children, you know that this last option is the only one that matters to them, have the GOAT that the whole family will remember.
