It’s been about a month since I’ve hopped on a plane and about four months since I’ve left the country. As an adventurous wanderluster, I am getting antsy. Discovering new countries, cultures and people is one of my greatest joys in life, probably driven by my professional experiences as a journalist. While I currently have my heart set on exploring Cuba, I am still curious to see what the professionals say:
TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT IN 2017
(according to popular travel publications)
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GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR
ZIMBABWE
“A new $150 million airport in Victoria Falls, capable of welcoming 1.5 million people a year aboard massive passenger jets, is only one of several reasons why Zimbabwe is on our 2017 list. The country is building up its tourism infrastructure despite—and, sometimes, in spite of—years of economic downturn and authoritarian governance. The same resilience is on show in the country’s conservation efforts; there’s been a clampdown on poaching and biodiversity flourishes in Hwange National Park, the country’s largest game reserve. While everyone’s booking stays in the safari parks of Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and South Africa, we recommend scouting for the Big Five in much less-crowded (and often more affordable) Zimbabwe. A new under-$1,000 eight-night safari by Gecko Adventures, launching in the spring, will take you from Victoria Falls, through Hwange and into South Africa’s Limpopo province, making it possible to see the best of the country in a single stretch.”
CHENGDU, CHINA
“Chengdu: It’s all about the pandas. Panda cuddling and Sichuan food. Need we say more? Chengdu has long been one of China’s most popular cities thanks to these two hot draws. The fact that it was named a UNESCO city of gastronomy a few years ago didn’t hurt either. In recent years it’s bolstered its appeal by adding a variety of high-end hotel brands such as Kempinski, the Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis as well as innovative restaurants that capitalize on the area’s culinary roots. Now, back to those pandas. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is where you can get up close with the black and white cuties. Open for educational tours, it’s home to more than 80% of the world’s giant pandas. To avoid the summer rainy season and enjoy warm temps, the best time to visit is March to June and September to November.”
FINLAND
“The Finnish may be a modest lot, but they will have a bunch to boast about in 2017. Helsinki is buzzing with the energy of the country’s centennial: A grand hotel called the St. George will open this summer in a 19th century landmark building, and a showstopping public sauna by Avanto Architects is stokingthe flames of a longtime national obsession. But the real excitement lies in Finnish Lapland, where adventurers on the hunt for “the next Iceland” can find the country’s most magical experiences. Such dramatic arrivals as the ultra-mod Arctic Treehouse Hotel and the glass-domed Northern Lights Village make plush spots to witness the Northern Lights, which are said to appear there 200 times a year. Luxe outfitter Abercrombie & Kent is launching a private jet expedition to the area that includes an Arctic treasure hunt and ice track racing with champion drivers.”
GUADELOUPE ISLANDS
“Beachgoers relax at Sugarloaf Cove on Terre-de-Haut Island, one of the eight islands to make up Les Saintes. Guadeloupe, or “Gwada,” has one foot in France, one in the Caribbean and a rich culture all its own. Located between Dominica and Antigua, the five-island archipelago moves to the beat of Gwo-Ka, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage art form combining Guadeloupean Creole lyrics, African call-and-response singing, traditional Ka drum rhythms, and dancing. The sound (along with the food, art, and most things Gwada) fuses the islands’ Afro-Indian, Afro-French, and Afro-Caribbean roots. Learn how the African slave trade shaped Guadeloupe’s distinctive culture at Mémorial ACTe, opened in 2015 and part of UNESCO’s Slave Route Project. The museum, built on the site of a former sugar factory, uses location-based beacon technology to track your movements and trigger powerful audio-visual displays, such as actor portrayals of slaves, slave owners, and abolitionists.”
Where do you want to visit this year? Any tips on where I should head next? As always, loving hearing from you!
