Ideas For Where To Travel in 2022 (2024)

The coming year is shaping up to be a busy one for travelers. With COVID vaccines extending to young children, families are feeling increasingly confident about boarding a plane and venturing further afield. What's more, as vaccinations (including booster shots), become more widespread, travelers are expanding travel plans to include more than just outdoor spaces. A Booking study of traveler sentiment found that we all want to make up for lost vacation time in a big way and that includes nearly three-quarters of Americans saying yes to any vacation opportunity that comes their way in 2022, as long as their budget allows. So, where should travelers visit over the next 12 months? Here are some of the top suggestions from industry experts and insiders.

Travelers are venturing to major metropolitan cities once again as the pandemic becomes less concerning-and the Big Apple is no exception to this trend, say the experts at Tripit. While taking in the hustle and bustle of the glittering Big Apple is always exciting, Tripit also recommends visiting this legendary city's many green spaces such as Bryant Park, Madison Square Park, Union Square Park, and Washington Square Park. These public spaces host free events throughout the year, and there's always the promise of an unorganized event like a busking musician or a friendly game of chess.

Next on the tour-de-major-metros, Tripit recommends reconnecting with Chicago. Do it for the culinary experience alone. Chicago cuisine is at once steeped in tradition, yet masterfully inventive, and all roads lead to the two-mile stretch of Randolph Street in the West Loop. The first stop should be Top Chef Stephanie Izard's Girl & the Goat. Think: shareable plates showcasing global flavors, a well-traveled wine list to match, and a rotating beer selection with a focus on Chicago breweries-all within a vibrant, yet welcoming atmosphere. Exploring the Chicago River with a boat or walking tour is another top choice.

From world-class spas to pool parties, blackjack tables to rounds of golf, it's hard not to recommend Las Vegas for 2022 travelers, says Tripit. There are also plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Las Vegas such as the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay where visitors can get up close and personal with sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, piranhas, and more. Vegas is also home to a number of zip line experiences, including SlotZilla Zip Line and Rio Zipline. Just be sure to book well in advance as Las Vegas is historically a top destination for flights, lodging, and rental car bookings. In fact, according to TripIt reservations, it was the number one flight destination for Fourth of July, Labor Day weekend, and Thanksgiving this year.

Food festivals. Top chefs. Urban wineries. Farmers markets. What do all of these things have in common? They're all found in San Diego's happening Little Italy neighborhood-one of many reasons to visit America's finest city in 2022. Little Italy's Kettner Boulevard is home to hot spots like Juniper & Ivy, Kettner Exchange, and Herb & Wood. You'll also find authentic Italian eateries lining Little Italy's India Street, including Born & Raised. The best way to explore this sun-drenched city is to rent a Pedego electric bike and pedal your way around its many centrally located landmarks. Be sure to visit Balboa Park-a beautiful, 1,000-acre open space that's home to 15 museums, botanical gardens, and the San Diego Zoo. You'll also want to make your way to the city's historic Gaslamp Quarter, which is the epicenter for rooftop bars, gastropubs, and fine dining. Old Town, Coronado Island, and Liberty Station are all additional sights to put on your to-do list.

Setting your sights on top travel destinations can often mean limited availability and inflated prices, so sometimes it pays off to look for the path less traveled, say Tripit's experts. Charleston offers the metropolitan feel and variety of culture and attractions, sans the crowds. If you only have the budget for one meal out when visiting Charleston, make it at Husk. This award-winning restaurant features seasonal dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. (You will absolutely need a reservation.) Looking for the best seafood in Charleston? Head to Hank's Seafood Restaurant, which has held the title of the spot for seafood in Charleston for 18 years running. If this is your first time visiting Charleston, start your clock at Charleston City Market. Take a stroll through the great hall and the open-air sheds-some dating back to the early 1800s.

Travelers from coast to coast continue to put Denver on domestic travel itineraries because of its central location and appealing culture. The Mile High City is home to craft breweries and a thriving art scene (and also happens to be conveniently situated next to world-class skiing in the Rocky Mountains). If you visit, don't miss the new accommodations debuting here in 2022 including the luxe Thompson Denver. Located in the city's Lower Downtown (LoDo) district, the property blends mid-century modern and urban style with upscale mountain chalet chic. As for arts and entertainment, Meow Wolf opened a permanent exhibition, named Convergence Station, in October. The immersive art experience involved 300 creatives and is a four-story exhibit that's home to more than 70 installations, rooms, and portals.

With outdoor adventure travel still a major draw, Sedona is another trending choice for the coming year. Make the most of this destination with a stay at Enchantment Resort, a property surrounded by the towering red rock walls of Boynton Canyon and set on 70 acres of panoramic natural terrain. Guests have access to more than 300 miles of Sedona's scenic hiking and biking trails and the property offers more than 100 weekly activities including mountain biking through diverse terrain, guided hiking, stargazing with an expert astronomer, or starlit biking led by skilled mountain bikes guides. This summer the property will debut the re-opening of its world-class destination spa, Mii amo, with new luxury amenities and offerings.

Looking a little further afield, Portugal has been popping up on social media on the regular these days as an emerging hot spot among travel influencers who are leading the global travel rebound. There's no better place to begin your explorations of this engaging country in 2022 than Porto, a location that pairs the classic cobbled-street charm of European cities with the added bonus of being nestled in one of the world's leading wine regions. With the opening of World of Wine visitors can immerse themselves in Porto's history and learn about all that the destination has contributed to the world- from fashion to cork harvesting, and of course wine. World of Wine is located in the heart of a historic warehouse district and was named a "Project of National Interest" by the Portuguese government. The attraction took five years of development and $117 million to complete and features seven immersive museum experiences, nine restaurants, bars, and cafes, retail outlets, and a wine school. (It is one of the largest recent tourism projects to launch in Europe.) The newest of the experiences at WOW include The Pink Palace-an immersive celebration of all things Rosé.

Those looking to travel even farther will want to make note of the fact that Australia's borders are scheduled to reopen by 2022. So why not be one of the first travelers to reunite with the "WOW" (wildlife, outback, and wine) experiences that Adelaide and the state of South Australia has to offer? If you do visit, don't miss taking a multi-day walk-on on Kangaroo Island with renowned luxury tour operator Exception Kangaroo Island. The company's new walking experience on this island are designed to allow visitors to explore and also support regeneration following the devastating bushfires of 2020. The experience includes taking in the local flora and fauna, kangaroos, echidnas, and even adorable koalas. Meanwhile, in the bustling city of Adelaide, several new hotels have opened including Sofitel Adelaide, the city's first new five-star hotel in years and Hotel Indigo Adelaide, a funky boutique property in the central market area.

Back on U.S. shores, the St. Petersburg and Clearwater region is rapidly becoming a museum mecca-one that includes a world-class arts and culture scene with more than 30 (and counting) museums, galleries and outdoor exhibitions showcasing art from various eras, styles and movements. Throughout the coming year this happening destination will welcome new and exciting exhibits, including the Warhol West exhibit at The James Museum, which explores Andy Warhol's fascination with the American West. Meanwhile The Dali Museum will house Picasso and the Allure of the South, a new exhibit featuring 77 paintings, drawings, and collages from the Musée National Picasso-Paris, from January 28 through May 22. (About half of works of art included in this show are being exhibited for the first time ever in the United States.) In addition to the Picassos, St. Petersburg is home to the largest collection of Dali's work outside of Spain. But when in Florida, you don't want to spend all your time indoors of course. Take the cultural fun into the sunshine as well by exploring the more than 600 vibrant murals on the streets of St. Petersburg. The city is a veritable alfresco art museum.

Largely located in California, the Sierra Nevada mountain range is home to some of the most beautiful forest, mountain, and lake landscapes in the world. Hit particularly hard in summer 2021 by wildfires, the destination is one that could use support from travelers as they look to plan year-round getaways in nature. Some of the tourist highlights here include the opening in South Lake Tahoe in May 2022 of Desolation Hotel, a new eco-luxury micro-resort featuring 21 townhomes, studios and suites that blend Japanese tranquility with Scandinavian design. Guest experiences at the property will include seasonal fare from Maggie's Restaurant & Bar, soaking tubs on outside balconies, an outdoor saltwater pool, a Japanese-inspired jacuzzi, and shared private beach access. Traveling to this region also just got easier too, thanks to JSX's recent launch of semi-private hop-on jet service from Oakland, California and Las Vegas, Nevada to the Reno-Tahoe Airport. Need another reason to visit in 2022? Following its postponement in 2020, WinterWonderGrass Tahoe festival (known for its mix of eclectic bluegrass and Americana artists) will return to Squaw Valley from April 1- April 3.

As travelers continue to seek out open space destinations in 2022, Tucson is another solid option, says Gabe Saglie, senior communications manager for Travelzoo, who points out that Arizona's second-largest city is actually an outdoor lover's haven. "Surrounded by five mountain ranges and in the heart of the Sonoran desert, there are hundreds of hiking trails to choose from, and for all levels," says Saglie. Tucson is also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, thanks to the city's 100-mile "Loop," which offers non-motorized movement across the city, and Tugo, the local bike share program offering visitors access to hundreds of bikes across more than one dozen Tucson neighborhoods. Hungry after all that hiking and biking? Tucson is considered by many to have the best Mexican food north of the border, says Saglie

Travel and wellness will collide in 2022, and Sonoma County will be one of the country's big draws, says Saglie. "The famous underground hot springs at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa will likely see renewed demand, with geothermal mineral pools and bathing rituals that benefit the skin and the soul," says Saglie. In fact, there are hot spring bathhouses and destination spas throughout Sonoma County that specialize in multiple levels of wellness. For outdoor buffs, Sonoma County offers more than 70 miles of coastline and more than 10 state parks. "This is also a haven for uber-regional food and wine," continues Saglie. "And the surging popularity of the county as a cannabis tourism destination is bound to draw a whole new subset of post-Covid travelers."

The country's oldest and highest capital city offers a range of outdoor experiences-from the piñon-juniper woodlands that edge Santa Fe to the snow-capped mountains that embrace it, says Saglie. "In fact, Ski Santa Fe is 16 miles from the city and covers 660 acres with 83 trails," says Saglie. "There's also a Native American cultural vibe here that post-Covid travelers will find fascinating, too." Santa Fe is a UNESCO Creative City for Craft and Folk Art and 2022 is the year of Indigenous Art in Santa Fe, with the 100th anniversary of the Santa Fe Indian Market coming up in August 2022. There's also three major museums in Santa Fe focused on Native American art and culture and Native American artists. Last but not least, for foodies, the chile here (it's spelled with an "e" in New Mexico) is delectable, says Saglie.

San Francisco is rolling out a variety of new attractions that will peak the interest of travelers. Perhaps the biggest news is the 2022 debut of Presidio Tunnel Tops, a 14-acre urban oasis of new national park land built on top of Presidio Parkway tunnels. The space, (free to explore and open to everyone), will feature scenic overlooks that offer stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline. There will also be paths and gardens, a welcome plaza with food and visitor services, a campfire circle, and picnic grounds. As for where to stay while in The Golden City, there are plenty of hotel happenings to put on your radar including The Line Hotel San Francisco, a new property slated to begin welcoming guests in early 2022. The 236-room property will feature four distinct dining experiences, including a landscaped rooftop solarium offering panoramic city views. The Park Central San Francisco is also preparing to emerge after a nearly $100 million redevelopment as the new Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA. The property's reimagination includes an increased room count, upgraded fitness offerings, and an award-winning restaurant.

Based on Travelzoo member data, many travelers (more than 70%) will be basing international travel decisions on the vaccination numbers on the ground. In this case, Ireland wins, says Saglie, with more than 92% of its adult population vaccinated. "It's among the top one or two European countries with the highest Covid vaccination rate," Saglie explains. And then there's the emotional connection between the US and Ireland. Close to 40 million Americans claim some degree of Irish heritage and Saglie predicts this will drive a surge in return visits in 2022. "Airlines will respond by adding more flights throughout the year, starting in spring," he says. "I'm especially excited about the travel prospects along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, a 1500-mile stretch along the west coast that offers sweeping landscaping and plenty of travelers who like to drive, bike or hike." One last note: A new Game of Thrones studio tour experience will be fully open next year, too, attracting film tourists.

This coastal haven is a perennial favorite for ex-pats and snowbirds, says Saglie. And it's poised to explode into a culinary haven in 2022. "Based on my own travels, Puerto Vallarta offers amazing food experiences, thanks to more than 1000 restaurants," says Saglie. "Many are multi-generational shops specializing in things like breakfast tacos, while some, like Café des Artistes, offer truly gourmet experiences inspired by local and regional fare." Many of Puerto Vallarta's resorts are epicenters for gastronomic creativity as well. "The Gourmet Moments programs at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa offers chef-led cooking classes and a bevy of curated, personalized dining experiences," continues Saglie. Set on what is one of the world's biggest and deepest bays, the beaches in Puerto Vallarta are dependable and accessible, and the chance of seeing whales and newborn sea turtles taking to the bay's waters rivals that of Hawaii.