The rush is real: clicking that ‘reserve flights’ or ‘confirm reservation’ button can cause a spike in dopamine, the happy hormone partly responsible for travel being so deliciously addictive. Make the most of that holiday high – future-proofing your itinerary by booking in advance saves you money, reduces the risk of missing out (all being well) and secures your spot on flights, expeditions, tours and hot tickets. The longer you have to plan, the longer you can stay, too – which is better for you and better for the planet. From the mountains of Rwanda to the ice caps of Antarctica, here are 15 trips to book a year in advance.
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Getty ImagesUtah, USA
Best for: indulging your inner child
Ice castles, rock climbing, dinosaur bones: it sounds like a preschooler might have dreamed up the activities available in Utah, but perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from exploring with the wide-eyed curiosity of the young. Especially when it comes to Utahraptor State Park, which has one of the largest dinosaur bone beds in North America, and Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument. You’ll never forget the first time you see the 2,000-year-old petroglyphs (the Navajo name is Tse’ Hone, which means a rock that tells a story). Both are within driving distance from Moab, where a new glass-domed train by Rocky Mountaineers will be running for its second-ever season in 2022, from April to October (so almost a year away). The two-night trip travels between Denver and Moab, and the tracks carve a line through an otherworldly landscape of hoodoos, deserts and canyons – Utahhas the third-highest number of national parks in the country, closely followed by Colorado, and canyoning is one of the most exhilarating activities here. In January 2022, an Ice Castle will open with hand-carved tunnels, caves and caverns, private rooms for special occasions, sleigh rides and light installations.
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Getty ImagesUruguay
Best for: using up leftover annual leave
Uruguay’s summer runs from December to March, so it’s a popular winter break for sun-starved Europeans and the best time to guarantee everything is up and running (many restaurants and hotels close out of season). While locals spend long weekends in the coastal capital of Montevideo, foreigners flex their Spanglish in José Ignacio – a former fishing village turned buzzy beach town. Thanks to the pandemic, its exciting new openings still feel like well-kept secrets – from Posada Ayana, home to James Turrell’s Skyspace installation, to Luz, a palm-fringed wine lodge just metres from the beach. Seafront favourite Playa Vik has reopened with a new yoga and wellness space designed with resident expert Isabella Channing, and just out of town, the high-design Sacromonte Landscape Hotel has opened in the wild sierras of Maldonado. Although Francis Mallmann’s restaurants Chiringuito and Bodega Garzón are on many bucket lists, few know that the latter also offers a rather lovely casita to take over as your own – Casa Anna can be self-catering, but you can also book to have your meals prepared by Mallmann himself. Don’t miss the José Ignacio International Film festival, which screens films at sunset every January (the 2021 line-up included Parasite and Nomadland).
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Getty ImagesSiberia, Russia
Best for: intrepid adventurers
Siberia might not be a traditional skiing destination, but with serious snowfall (up to eight feet in winter), off-piste runs, backcountry catskiing and freeriding opportunities, the fresh powder provides a tantalising new challenge for thrill-seekers and advanced skiers. While the Alps were off the cards during 2020 and 2021, locals took to the slopes of ski resorts such as Sheregesh, which welcomed 1.3 million visitors last season, and the resort is due a rumoured £130 million development over the next five years. If you’d rather experience Siberia’s stunning terrain from the comfort of your carriage, board the Trans-Siberian railway or the Baikal-Amur mainline in the north, which has been under development for years and in 2021 finally opened the Baikalsky tunnel. Both will whisk you through the country’s taiga forests and zig-zagging mountain ranges without the need for zinc on your nose. In summer, head for Lake Baikal for hiking routes around the lake, and Lake Burlinskoye to see the salt-harvesting train that skims along the lake’s surface, creating a mind-boggling optical illusion over the psychedelic pink waters coloured by the pigment of tiny pink shrimp. The magnesium-rich waters are thought to have healing properties, so pack your swimmers, too.
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Getty ImagesSouth Korea
Best for: recipe collectors
South Korea’s capital Seoul is famous for its cafés and K-food, but the country’s cuisine is much more than bulgogi barbecue, bibimbap rice and Insta-friendly designer dishes. The kitchens in the southern regions are drawing travellers down and out of the capital, with tour operators designing itineraries that guide guests through the ingredients, culture and history of each recipe. Responsible Travel has put together an eight-day experience that invites travellers to the table where they get to sample authentic flavours, dine with monks in Gyeongju, shop the street-food markets and learn to make kimchi. On the coast, Jeollanam-do spotlights fresher, lighter flavours straight from the ocean such as fermented crab gejang, plus richer dishes including beef-rib soup. You can also stay in a temple at Baekyangsa, where Buddhist nun and chef Jeong Kwan (of Chef’s Table fame) has a meditative approach to Korean cooking. Most arriving by air will travel through Seoul at some point – so factor in a few days to check out chefs such as Yim Jung-sik and Mingoo Kang, who have been putting the city on the Michelin-starred map with their internationally-acclaimed menus.
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Getty ImagesVancouver Island, Canada
Best for: off-grid wilderness
Part of British Columbia, Vancouver Island was originally the land of the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish peoples, and while the country is still coming to terms with its colonial past, progress is being made, with renewed respect and interest in indigenous history. Planning means you can take the time to seek out experiences that celebrate – rather than sell – native peoples’ culture, which is growing in volume and demand (plus, ferries from the mainland book up in advance, especially in summer). Take to waters navigated by the Songhees Nation for centuries on a marine tour (launching in 2022); sail the Sailish Seas with Talaysay Tours; or go fishing for halibut and lingcod with Haida Style Expeditions, whose founder was born into the Tsaahl Eagle Clan. In listening to their stories, hearing about their heritage and understanding their lifestyles, these experiences not only educate travellers but help them to reconnect with nature. Vancouver Island offers some serious nature to reconnect with, from glassy lakes, quiet lagoons and snow-topped mountains to sandy beaches and surf spots that are home to orcas, black bears, wolves, elk and sea otters. The outdoors is where it’s at – so whether you prefer camping under canvas or parking up roadside in your renovated RV, Vancouver Island is one of BC’s best spots for road trips and recreational camping. Tent-toters should head north of Campbell River, while drivers will find plenty of overnight parking (up to eight hours) for free.
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Getty ImagesCosta Rica, Central America
Best for: a far-flung family holiday
Your kids might learn about the rainforest at school – but there’s nothing like seeing it in real life to nurture their interest in nature and inspire their curiosity. Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse and environmentally friendly places on the planet, and it’s not just children who are enchanted by butterflies bigger than birds, noisy green macaws, bead-eyed tree frogs and comical-looking sloths. It’s a relatively small country, so it’s possible to take in the rainforest canopy, pineapple plantations, sandy beaches and mist-topped mountains all in one trip. The best eco-lodges, home rentals and hotels fill up six months to a year in advance, and domestic flights between the airports in Liberia and San José sell out in high season (November to April). Six Senses plans on a mid-2021 launch of Papagayo, the group’s first Costa Rica outpost, and newcomer Cielo Lodge’s six open-air suites will be available to book from January. The further ahead you book, the more likely you are to pin down dates that work for everyone.
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Getty ImagesHokkaido, Japan
Best for: skiing
One of 2020’s most anticipated hotel openings in Asia, ski-in-ski-out Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono boasts the island’s only three-Michelin star chef, 11 restaurants and an onsen natural hot spring. Newcomer Sansui Niseko was due to open in 2020 but has been delayed until December 2021, promising a fully serviced alternative to townhouses by Kasara or Airbnb (the latter of which are particularly high quality here), and, in 2023, Aman will open its fourth Japanese property on the slopes of Mount Moiwa in the form of a ski resort and spa. The outskirts of Sapporo are stunning in autumn, with the koyo (the appearance of autumn leaves) at its most colourful around mid-October, but between November and April Hokkaido’s snow is so good it’s virtually guaranteed – so you don’t have to leave booking your holiday to the last minute to ensure you get good weather.
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Getty ImagesHawaii, USA
Best for: a romantic getaway
With honeymoons, weddings, stags and hen dos having taken a backseat on the bumpy ride that was 2020, making time for romance after a testing year feels more important than ever. Hawaii is particularly LGBT+ friendly, and gay marriage has been legal here since 2013, making it an inclusive archipelago where you can’t help but fall for the white sands, world-class surf spots, big-name retreats and thriving reefs. A series of sexy reopenings and redesigns such as the Rosewood (coming in 2022) and Mauna Lani Auberge (now open post-£75-million transformation) contend with boutiques such as White Sands Hotel and Surfjack, a low-key club for longboarders – or those who just like the lifestyle. From the UK, flights to Honolulu take around 17 hours with one stop (often in LA or San Francisco), so factor in travel time, jet lag and whether it’s worth building a stopover into your trip. The go-slow attitude of the islands and stay-all-day hotels mean you won’t be under any pressure to do anything – but watching the sunset over the Pacific is just one of the many unforgettable experiences you’ll want to share with your plus-one.
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Getty ImagesJordan, Middle East
Best for: an otherworldly winter break
Another blockbuster backdrop, Jordan’s archeological city of Petra was named one of the new seven wonders of the world in 2007 for its extraordinary rock-carved architecture and the Al Siq canyon. EasyJet launched a direct route from the UK to Aqaba in 2018 – it’s a couple of hours’ drive from Petra, but visitors to the sliver of Red Sea coast come for the sun, souks and sunshine and stay for the beautiful Islamic architecture, desert landscapes and scuba-diving opportunities. Spring is the best time to visit – just ask the winged travellers at the Aqaba Bird Observatory. If you fly into the capital, Amman, a metropolis of ancient tradition and entrepreneurial spirit greets you, alongside a slew of social enterprises such as SEP Jordan, a female-run shop that supports Palestinian refugees, and Beit Sitti, which gives local women a platform to showcase their culinary talents.
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Getty ImagesAntarctica
Best for: the thrill of an extreme environment
Antarctic travel is still trying to strike a balance between over-tourism and sustainable travel, with the International Association for Antarctica Tour Operators reporting a 53 per cent increase in visitors over the past few years. Once accessible only to wealthy explorers or well-funded scientists, it’s exciting that this stark, striking landscape is further opening up to the public with every year that passes. Many choose to visit during the austral summer (November to March), when there’s less sea ice and more sun (ideal for skiing, kayaking and snowshoeing), and 2021 provides the perfect period in which to visit: for only the second time in human history, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Antarctica, on 4 December 2021. While wildlife is sparse on the ice, underwater it thrives, which is why a polar cruise is one of the smartest ways to see the continent, and helping to conserve the environment you visit won’t just benefit future travellers, but entire generations. Choose a vessel that prioritises the environment such as Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, the first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship to hit these waters, or book with an operator such as Abercrombie & Kent or White Desert, which offers Antarctica’s only on-land ‘hotel’ at Whichaway Camp.
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Getty ImagesLadakh, Himalayas
Best for: against-the-odds explorers
Trekking in the Himalayas comes with its own set of logistical, financial and physical challenges, so booking well in advance can make a huge difference to how much you take away from this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Big groups will struggle to be spontaneous, and allowing yourself several months to improve your fitness is well worth it for long days on the mountains – the fitter you are, the easier and more enjoyable it will be. If you’re determined to spot the region’s elusive snow leopard too, a good local guide is essential, and they book up fast – plus Hemis National Park only issues 50 tourist permits per day for snow leopard tracking (available through tour operators). Ladakh is at its loveliest, and busiest, between April and July, so consider booking through a sustainable operator such as Voygr Expeditions, andBeyond or Responsible Travel, all of whom offer various tours that put visitors up in family homestays, provide expert spotters and support snow-leopard conservation, as well as the local community.
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Getty ImagesRwanda, Africa
Best for: seasoned safari-goers
For decades, safari centred around Big Five game, but Rwanda has something that Kenya, Zambia and Botswana do not: silverback mountain gorillas. As a country, Rwanda has been a champion of ecotourism since long before the term went mainstream, with reforestation, conservation and caps on visitor numbers protecting the environment and the wildlife within it. It’s a success story that has quadrupled the gorilla population in the past 40 years. In the Virunga Mountains, only eight people may trek a particular gorilla group each day, with encounters limited to one hour. Visitors are told to stay at least 20ft away, but often it’s the playful gorillas that break these rules, barrelling through the bush and not paying much attention to the rules of social distancing (recall David Attenborough’s encounter in 1978, when he commented, ‘There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than any other animal I know’). A troop of recent openings such as Magashi Camp, Singita Kwitonda Lodge and One&Only’s Gorilla’s Nest and Nyungwe House have proven themselves to experienced safari-goers. And in 2021 travellers will be able to stay on Lake Kivu, too, on Mantis’s new vessel Kivu Queen uBuranga, an upscale houseboat from which guests can access Volcanoes National Park and the Albertine Rift (a birdwatcher’s dream). RwandAir recently announced 32 new routes to capital Kigali, making it easier to turn your two-way holiday into a multi-stop trip.
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Getty ImagesMoscow, Russia
Best for: widescreen landscapes
Doctor Zhivago‘s drama, From Russia with Love’s style – the Trans-Mongolian Railwayprovides six nights of cinematic scenery from just £555, tracing an epic journey that connects Russia to China. The route goes from Beijing to Moscow via Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia (and back), but when the journey itself is so captivating, the destinations are almost of secondary importance. Planning well in advance gives you the opportunity to sort visas (UK citizens are required to obtain one for all three countries), plus map out a route that works best for you, stock up on reading material you might later abandon to stare at the views from your carriage, invest in thermals and learn a handful of useful phrases for the journey. Five-star hotel groups Bulgari and Mandarin Oriental will be opening their doors in Moscow in 2021 for the first time, and British Airways has been running direct flights to and from the brand-new Beijing Daxing Airport. Maintain the movie fantasy by taking a trip to Universal Studios Beijing, launching next year.
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Getty ImagesNorthern Territory, Australia
Best for: exploring indigenous culture
Australia’s east coast has become something of a gap-year student’s rite of passage, so in comparison the country’s Northern Territory feels relatively unfamiliar – in 2019, just over 905,000 visitors headed to Darwin versus 16.1 million travelling to Sydney. Australia’s Aboriginal culture exists in the foreground here, with indigenous-owned businesses such as Cicada Lodge inviting visitors to learn about the Jawoyn people and the Tiwi Islands just 80km north of Darwin. The archipelago is known as the ‘islands of smiles’, and the Tiwi people have managed to maintain their language and customs, with a unique welcome ceremony on arrival, traditional dance (yoi) and distinctive art. Access to the islands is limited, with the ferry running only three times a week and limitations on the numbers of travellers allowed. AAT Kings and SeaLink NT run reliable timetables, and it’s easiest to book a day trip through an operator as special permits are required for independent travellers. We recommend starting at Cicada Lodge, an ideal, beautifully designed base from which to explore Nitmiluk National Park. After a day trip to Tiwi, take the Ghan train through the Outback all the way to Adelaide.
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Getty ImagesLas Vegas, USA
Best for: pure, unadulterated fun
Glamour, glitz, silliness and sparkle seem like the most appropriate antidotes in the aftermath of 2020, and Las Vegas has all this and more. In summer 2021, Resorts World will launch the first new casino hangout to open on Las Vegas Boulevard in over a decade, which includes a Koh Samui-inspired dayclub, a 5,000-capacity theatre and a games room with giant beer pong. Three hotel options from Crockfords, Conrad and Hilton will be integrated, but the Strip has also seen a handful of places to stay cleaning up their environmental act, such as the Waldorf Astoria and Aria Resort & Casino, both of which have gold LEED certification, and MGM Resorts, partially powered by its own solar farm. Airlines tend to release flights to Vegas up to 12 months in advance, but be aware that listed hotel prices often don’t include taxes, big conventions can drive up costs and, weatherwise, spring is the best time to visit.
Source: cntraveller.com
