Some years, we travel for the scenery. Other years, it’s about checking off that bucket list destination. But in 2026, we’re chasing the story—the kind that sticks around long after the photos have seemingly vanished into the depths of your camera roll. Watch the sun ignite Namibia’s towering dunes, stand among the silent Moai of Rapa Nui or trace centuries-old rituals through Luang Prabang. They’re the kind of moments that write their own chapter in your travel autobiography. So gear up: here are the 10 best places to travel in 2026, each one more than postcards stamped with “wish you were here!” Think of them as stories you step into, feel and carry with you long after the journey ends.
Jasper, Canada
In the summer of 2024, wildfire tore through Jasper National Park, consuming forests, lodges and nearly a third of the townsite. But Jasper didn’t waver—its resilient spirit began to stir. The mountains still stood tall, the lakes still shimmered and a wild, unmistakable energy waited to return. Cross the Athabasca River and pass beneath the wooden arch at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and that spark is impossible to miss. The icon is stepping into a bold new era, with a multi-million-dollar transformation debuting in spring 2026: new guest rooms and suites, fresh dining and luxe log cabins spread across 700 acres of forest and lakefront. Summer 2026 sweetens the moment with the return of the Canada Strong Pass, unlocking free access to more than 11,000 square kilometres of pristine wilderness. Arrive in style aboard Rocky Mountaineer’s new Passage to the Peaks, a limited, glass-domed journey from Banff to Jasper, gliding past glacial lakes, roaring Pyramid Falls and Mount Robson. It’s all proof that Jasper is back, more breathtaking than ever.
Route 66, USA
In 2026, Route 66 turns 100—and America’s most storied road feels newly alive. Born in 1926 and stretching across 2,400 miles and eight states, the “Mother Road” stitched together small towns, neon-lit diners and endless adventures, inventing the art of the road trip itself. A century later, its magic hasn’t faded. The journey begins in Chicago, at the route’s official starting point, just a 10-minute drive from The Peninsula Chicago on the Magnificent Mile, and carries travelers west to where the pavement meets the Pacific. In Santa Monica, the adventure concludes at Regent Santa Monica Beach, opened in October 2024 after a $150 million renovation. Marking the brand’s homecoming to the Americas, it features the first Guerlain Spa on the U.S. West Coast and sits directly on the sand, with iconic views of the pier and Ferris wheel. At sunset, the road finally exhales, proving once again that the ride is everything.
Los Cabos, Mexico
French explorer Jacques Cousteau once called the Sea of Cortez “the world’s aquarium,” a nod to the extraordinary marine life along Baja California Sur. Up the coast, San José del Cabo charms with a slow, stylish vibe: quiet beaches, art-filled streets and sunsets that you’ll be thinking of long after the trip ends. Down at the southern tip, Cabo San Lucas buzzes with energy, from towering cliffs and golden sands to a lively marina and a multitude of adventures. At the newly opened Park Hyatt Cabo Del Sol, desert meets ocean just beyond your terrace, with architecture that melts into the landscape and seasonal wonders like migrating gray and humpback whales visible from shore. Farther down the peninsula, Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal has reopened after a multi-year, property-wide renovation. Passing through its 1,000-foot Dos Mares tunnel, guests emerge into a cliffside enclave where desert cliffs drop straight into the Pacific. It’s Baja’s magic alive at the edge of land and sea.
Italian Islands, Italy
Rome, Venice, Florence—it’s the holy trinity of Italian travel. And don’t forget Milan, welcoming the world for this year’s Winter Olympics. But in 2026, Italy’s most compelling stories are unfolding offshore. Beyond the mainland lie more than 450 islands, where life slows, colors deepen and the sea sets the pace. Among the most alluring are Capri, Vulcano, Sicily, Sardinia and Ischia, just to name a few. Sardinia captivates with hidden coves, wind-sculpted cliffs and emerald waters scented with myrtle and rosemary. Along the Costa Smeralda, Romazzino, a Belmond Hotel, channels the island’s Blue Zone spirit with a wellness-forward escape framed by luminous coastline. Sicily is Italy at its most elemental: volcanic shores, ancient temples, Baroque cities and seafood pulled straight from the sea. At Verdura Resort, Mediterranean views stretch endlessly beyond your room. For a quieter rhythm, there is Ischia, shaped by thermal springs in the Bay of Naples and known as the “Garden of the Mediterranean.” At Botania Relais & Spa, seclusion comes naturally within a lush, two-acre garden estate. Together, these islands reveal an Italy best discovered by following the water.
French Riviera, France
It’s almost time to check back into The White Lotus. When news broke that the hit HBO series is set to film its fourth season in the South of France in 2026, it felt inevitable. The French Riviera has always been a stage for sunlit glamour and quiet intrigue, stretching from Menton to Saint-Tropez. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it has long drawn artists, aristocrats and jetsetters—charmed by its golden light. In April 2026, COMO Le Beauvallon opens on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, a reimagined Belle Époque estate with a 25-metre pool, direct beach access, a private pontoon for yacht arrivals and the serene Beauvallon sur Mer beach club. A month later, Zannier Île de Bendor debuts after a five-year transformation, offering seclusion on a storied private island, with art galleries, artisan ateliers, eight dining concepts led by chef Lionel Levy and a 13,000-square-foot wellness center. Perfect timing or perfect casting, the Riviera is ready for its close-up.
Ireland
An island shaped by weather and story, Ireland invites exploration at every turn in 2026. Rolling hills, rugged cliffs and windswept beaches unfold beneath ever-changing skies, the land glowing in every imaginable shade of green. On the western edge, the Cliffs of Moher rise dramatically above the Atlantic, while the Wild Atlantic Way winds 1,500 miles from Donegal to Cork—one of the world’s great coastal journeys. Closer to Dublin, the Forty Foot offers a different kind of drama: a small, storied swimming spot in south County Dublin where one day feels like the south of France, the next like a full Atlantic reckoning (you may have caught it on Apple TV’s Bad Sisters). Just beyond the city, Carton House sits within a thousand-acre estate, its 18th-century façade steeped in quiet grandeur. In Dublin proper, Conrad Dublin delivers a polished urban counterpoint, steps from St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street and centuries of layered history.
Queensland, Australia
Think of Queensland as a choose-your-own-adventure playground. This is big-nature territory, where the Great Barrier Reef unfurls in a riot of color visible from space, the Daintree Rainforest hums with life older than the Amazon and K’gari (Fraser Island) rises entirely from sand, complete with crystal-clear lakes and wild dingoes roaming the dunes. One moment you’re sailing past the sugar-white sands of Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays; the next, you’re heading inland, trading turquoise water for red-earth outback. Coastal road trips along the Gold and Sunshine Coasts deliver sun, surf and laid-back beach towns, with rainforest hinterlands just minutes away. The hotels keep pace: Mondrian Gold Coast debuted near Burleigh Beach, blending surf culture with sleek design and sunset cocktails, while InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef delivers the ultimate island fantasy—heli arrivals, coral dives, private pools and palm-shaded spa days. Big nature, bold energy and endless sunshine make Queensland pure exhilaration.
Rapa Nui, Chile
Distance has a way of protecting what matters. Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, sits more than 2,000 miles off the coast of Chile, where isolation has preserved a culture deeply rooted in place. Volcanic cones, lava fields and wind-carved cliffs shape a stark landscape watched over by nearly 1,000 Moai statues, carved by the Rapa Nui people between the 13th and 16th centuries. Many stand on coastal ahu platforms, some weighing more than 80 tons, their gazes fixed toward the horizon in quiet guardianship. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the island is revered for its archaeological significance and living traditions. Luxury here is understated and intentional. At Nayara Hangaroa, sustainable design reflects the surrounding terrain, while Explora Rapa Nui is all about immersive journeys across ancient trails, ceremonial sites and sweeping coastal views. On this Pacific island, remoteness feels less like separation and more like a form of respect.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang awakens before the sun. Along quiet streets lined with French colonial villas and golden temples, saffron-robed monks begin their daily Sai Bat alms-giving ritual—a centuries-old tradition that nourishes both monks and community. Visitors can join respectfully, offering sticky rice in contemplative silence and witnessing a city where spirituality shapes every sunrise. At Amantaka, set at the foot of sacred Mount Phousi, refined calm continues in its historic garden estate, serene Aman Spa and a Buddhist Learning Centre, inviting engagement with local traditions through guided meditation and teachings. On Phou Vao Hill, La Résidence Phou Vao, reopened in November 2025 after an extensive transformation, commands panoramic views of the Mekong Valley, sacred mountains and the old town just a short walk away. Deeper into the jungle, Rosewood Luang Prabang offers a hillside retreat with intimate access to the Tak Bat ceremony, morning markets and riverside journeys along the Mekong. Here, luxury and ritual coexist, and each sunrise feels quietly sacred.
Namibia
Some call it “Mars on Earth.” Perhaps it’s the rust-red dunes of the world’s oldest desert, shaped over tens of millions of years, or the fact that some rank among the tallest on the planet—Dune 45 and Big Daddy rising more than 1,000 feet in Namibia’s Namib Desert. Epic, elemental and quietly surreal, Namibia feels like Africa distilled to its rawest form. One of the least densely populated countries on Earth, it offers a rare sense of scale and solitude. “It felt like the desert was ours, if only for a moment,” recalls travel partner Michelle Halpern of Live Like It’s the Weekend, describing sunrise over the Kalahari from Gmundner Lodge, where old-world safari elegance meets daily game drives. Sustainability runs deep here—Namibia was the first African nation to enshrine environmental protection in its constitution, a commitment reflected at Our Habitas Namibia. Just 12 tented suites sit lightly on a 125,000-acre reserve, home to more than 20 species of wildlife, including zebra, wildebeest, kudu, oryx and cheetah, offering guests front-row views of a vast, untamed landscape.
