It’s that time of year when you start to make travel plans. How will you use your time off? Where will you go? Who will you spend it with?
In this guide, you’ll find 24 ideas for places to go in 2024. I’ve visited over half of these destinations and the rest are on my personal bucket list. Each destination will give you a recommended time to visit.
Sedona
Sedona is a mystical place with magnetic fields and vortexes. Go on the Pink Jeep Tour to marvel at the red rocks and enjoy a beer at Sedona Brewing Company.
Sedona, like the rest of the American Southwest, can be brutally hot. But, in the winter the weather is beautiful. It’s cool enough to wear a sweater on a hike but warm enough to take it off and enjoy the sun at the summit.
Best time to go: December to March to avoid the crowds and heat
New Orleans
New Orleans turns into a party with beads and parades for Mardi Gras. This year, Fat Tuesday lands on February 13th but the celebrations begin in early January.
New Orleans is an open container city, so you grab a six-pack and watch the floats pass by until it’s time to hit Bourbon St. Beyonnd the festivies, there’s a rich cultural history to explore including cajun food and live jazz.
Best time to go: February or March for Mardi Gras
Aruba
Snowbirds fly south in the winter because it’s hard to resist an escape to a warm tropical destination. When it’s cold wherever you are, you can guarantee it’ll be warm in Aruba. Aruba is famous for its white sand beaches and 82-degree weather all year round.
Best time to go: Mid-January to May (dry season)
Yosemite
National Parks experienced a boom during the pandemic. In 2024, the National Park Service will be requiring reservations to visit Yosemite during peak season (from April 13 to October 20).
To go to Yosemite without a reservation and with a reward, plan your trip during the week in mid-to-late February for the Horsetail Falls firefall. Horsetail Falls will glow in fiery orange five to 15 minutes before sunset when the sun perfectly hits the water, making it look like a stream of fire.
If you visit on the weekend in February, you’ll still need a reservation. As long as reservations are made well in advance, you can visit Yosemite in May, June, and September when the crowds aren’t as crazy as peak summer.
Best time to go: February for Firefall, May, June, September
Peru
Rumors were spread that Machu Picchu would be closing its doors during our lifetime. That’s luckily not happening, but the Peruvian government has taken measures to protect it against erosion by temporarily restricting access to parts of it. Regardless, the sooner you can get to Machu Picchu, the better.
For the ultimate Peru trip, go to Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and, of course, Machu Picchu.
Peru is a destination that’s do-able during rainy season because you likely won’t get too much rain and you’ll avoid the crowds, getting Machu Picchu to yourself. (OK, not really but there won’t be as many people in your photos.)
Best time to go: March to April, October to November (directly before and after high season)
Mexico City
Mexico City is the largest city in the Western Hemisphere with countless things to do. It’s safe. It’s clean. And, it’s a good time. You’ll want to spend at least five days in the city to attempt to see it all. Check out this guide for details for planning your trip.
If you visit in late March, the Paseo de la Reforma will be in bloom with purple Jacaranda trees.
Best time to go: March to May
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a small city. So, during peak summer season, it can feel crowded. After some brutal winter months, the sun finally starts to shine in April in the Netherlands, making it a great time to go. The Amsterdam Tulip Festival showcases fresh blooms across the entire city. On April 27th, King’s Day, a massive celebration for the king’s birthday, takes place where the Dutch take the streets (and canals) wearing orange to celebrate.
You can fly into Paris to extend your trip and make the most out of your time in Europe.
Best time to go: April to May or September
Japan
Japan is a bucket list destination that’s popular among solo travelers for its clean and safe cities. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are cities that draw tourists. The New York Times suggests visiting Yamaguchi, the Kyoto of the West. It has the same historic gardens and temples with much less crowds. The island of Okinawa is also gaining popularity for its centenarian population and beautiful landscapes.
Best time to go: March to May and September to November (Go in the wintertime for off-season deals)
Bali
Bali is an island paradise with warm weather year-round. It’s a good mixture between cultural and natural sites in Ubud and the relaxing beaches of Canggu and Uluwatu.
The busiest months in Bali are July and August, making shoulder season the best time to visit. Shoulder season is the time of year right outside of peak season when the weather is still good but there aren’t as many crowds.
Best time to go: April-May or September-October (Shoulder season)
Singapore
Singapore is a city of the future. It’s modern. It’s sustainable. And it’s very small. But, don’t let its small size take it off your map. People recommend spending at least three days to get to know the tiny yet mighty city-state.
You can add Singapore as a stop on your Asia vacation whether you’re on your way to Bali or Vietnam.
Best time to go: Year-round
Ireland
There’s so much to see on the Emerald Isle from the natural beauty of the Cliffs of Moher to every single pub in Dublin. Rent a car and drive the entire country (it’s not very large). All you need is a week to fall in love with Ireland and Guinness.
Best time to go: Year-round (Shoulder season is March-May and September-October)
Iceland
If you’re not a morning person, Iceland is in the summer for you. The sun stays out for longer with 21 hours of bright daylight, giving you more time to explore the outdoors into the wee hours of the morning.
Iceland is known to be expensive because most essentials on the island are imported. But, traveling to Iceland is relatively cheaper than other European destinations in the summer like Spain or Italy.
Best time to go: June-August
Cape Cod
Lobster rolls, hydrangeas, and beaches. There’s nothing like a New England summer. Cape Cod has the relaxation of a beach vacation with plenty to do from whale watching in the bay to wine tasting at vineyards.
If you stay close enough to the beach, you can walk to avoid crowded parking lots and fees. Make it a week-long trip by visiting Boston, Rhode Island, or Maine, too.
Best time to go: June-September
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches from Western North Carolina to Virginia, connecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park. The parkway is close to downtown Asheville, a hippie haven with craft breweries and access to nature.
On the parkway near Asheville you’ll find hikes for every level and hidden water falls and swimming holes. It’s a good balance of adventure with the creature comforts of going out for a nice dinner in town.
Best time to go: May-November
Seattle
The Pacific Northwest isn’t as rainy as its reputation. Cities like New Orleans and Miami get far more rainfall than Seattle. In the summer, Seattle has great weather with sunny blue skies. You can still see the snowcapped glacier mountain tops of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker while enjoying the warm weather.
Turn your trip into a Pacific Northwest road trip by visiting Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver in Canada, too.
Best time to go: April-November
The Adirondack Mountains
Ever since the pandemic, upstate New York has been buzzing with new restaurant and hotel openings as New Yorkers look for a way to escape the city. Many New York City locals talk about trips to the Catskills but the real beauty lies in the Adirondacks.
The Adirondack Mountains are five hours north of New York City and are worth the extra drive time. Adirondack Park is the largest park in the contiguous United States amounting to six million acres of natural beauty.
August is a great time to visit the Adirondacks to enjoy its many lakes. It’s also a great destination for leaf peeping in the fall. Find a cabin on a lake in the central Adirondacks around Old Forge or the northern Adirondacks around Lake Placid.
Best time to go: July-October
Portugal
The secret is out about Portugal. By now, everyone knows it’s an affordable summer getaway with the best of both worlds: old-world cities and stunning beaches. Oh and did we mention wine country? There’s nothing not to love about Portugal.
Like most European summer destinations, it’s crowded June through July but when September hits it’ll feel like you have the whole country to yourself (Again, not really but it’s nice to avoid the crowds.)
Best time to go: September
Tuscany
When the summer crowds wind down the serious wine connoisseurs descend upon Tuscany for the harvest season. Even if you aren’t a sommelier you can bask in the rolling hills and sip some of the world’s best wines. Late September is a great time to visit Italy because the weather is more pleasant than the peak of summer.
Best time to go: September-October
Montreal
Montreal is a quick hop, skip, and a jump from the U.S. If you’re ambitious enough, it only takes about six hours to drive there from New York City.
When you visit Montreal it feels like you’ve been transported to France. Everyone greets you with a bonjour as French is the city’s primary language. In October, there is a fall festival and the leaves change into a display of yellow, orange, and red.
Best time to go: September-November
Bal Harbor, Maine
Lobster rolls aren’t only for the summertime. Bal Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park on the coast of Maine. In October, the park’s trees change to warm colors, creating a picturesque landscape that’s a stark contrast to the cool evergreen pine trees and rocky Atlantic coastline.
You can visit in summer but the small town gets a bit too crowded.
Check out this guide for visiting Maine during the fall.
Best time to go: October
Patagonia
Patagonia isn’t just a puffer vest brand. The real Patagonia is boundless natural beauty in the Southern part of Argentina and Chile. Hikers dream of a trip to Patagonia, but when is the best time to go? Right outside of high season in November when the weather is warming up for summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Warm is relative because you’ll still be high up in the mountains but it makes for great hiking weather.
A trip to Patagonia can be lavish with stays a luxury resorts and experienced tour guides or low-key with stays at hostels while you thru-hike with your own map. Regardless, if you want to go to Patagonia this year, start saving now because it’s costly to fly to the end of the Earth.
Best time to go: November
Florida Keys
A road trip from Miami down Highway US-1 will lead you to Key West. Most visitors only get to see Key West in a couple of hours off a cruise ship but the beauty of the Florida Keys lies in the journey. Drive over the 7-mile bridge for a view of turquoise blue waters that are still warm enough to dive into even in December.
Along the way, you can stop at Robbie’s in Tavernier Key to feed massive Tarpon fish or stop at Keys Fisheries in Marathon for stone crab happy hour.
Best time to go: Year-round
Central Europe
Wandering around a Christmas market with warm Glühwein (mulled wine) in a cup disguised as coffee is a must when visiting Central Europe in December. The best cities in Central Europe to get into the holiday spirit are Berlin, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna, which is home to the largest Christmas market in the world.
Each of these cities has a rich cultural history. You can escape from the cold by visiting museums or warming up with another cup of mulled wine. Flights from the U.S. to Europe in December are relatively affordable making it a great Christmas gift to yourself.
Best time to go: December for Christmas markets
Hong Kong
Politically speaking, the future of Hong Kong remains unknown. But, we do know that it’s an iconic city that is still worth planning a trip to. Because of the uncertainty surrounding Hong Kong, it’s better to plan a trip sooner rather than later.
Hong Kong has been glamorized by history and Hollywood with its picturesque skyline and harbor but there’s so much more to do than snap some photos. Explore the lush greenery in surrounding areas and ancient temples to get a sense of the real Hong Kong.
Best time to go: September-December
Need help planning a trip for a group? Check out How To Get The Trip Out Of The Groupchat.
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