The year is well on its way by now and the best-prepared people are already thinking about and even organising the great holidays they are going to take this year. With so many possibilities around the world, deciding where to go is a tough choice, so suggestions and inspiration are most welcome. While National Geographic released its “cool list” for 2024 in November last year and Airbnb has also revealed some predictions for the year ahead, the New York Times has only just now unveiled its “52 Places to Go in 2024“, promising to inspire everyone, “no matter why you travel”.
Despite the increasing popularity of slow tourism, with travellers seeking quieter, less crowded destinations rather than traditional big cities, the first two suggestions from the New York Times are bound to be packed this year. Topping the list is the “Path of Totality”, in North America, as cities across the US, Canada and Mexico have long started preparing for April’s total solar eclipse. Similarly, Paris will be buzzing this summer with the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A little further down the list, in 5th place, is Maui. While certain parts of Lahaina remain closed after the devastating wildfires from this summer, most of Hawaii’s second largest island has reopened to tourists. Amid the reopening, hotels and businesses have posted requests to visitors with pleas such as this one from The Mauian Hotel: “we humbly ask that if you visit West Maui in coming months, please do so with sensitivity and respect for those who have suffered great losses. Your kindness, understanding and aloha will be appreciated during this time.”
Elsewhere on the list, on the 25th position, is Kazakhstan’s Almaty. The country has been escaping New York Times’ radar since 2017, when its capital, Astana, featured on the list ahead of the World Expo. Kenya, who is scrapping visa-requirements for all international visitors this year, also features on the list, with its Tsavo National Park in 31st place.
Wrapping up the 52 destinations is Flamingo, the southernmost headquarters of Florida’s Everglades National Park. The Flamingo Lodge, finally reopened after being destroyed by two hurricanes in 2005, and the renovated visitor centre and restaurant are once again ready to welcome explorers this year.
For more ideas for your future adventure, here is New York Times’ full list of places to visit in 2024:
- The Path of Totality, North America
- Paris, France
- Yamaguchi, Japan
- New Zealand by train
- Maui, Hawaii
- Baaj Nwaavja I’tah Kukveni, Arizona
- Singapore
- O’Higgins, Chile
- Ladkah, India
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Dominica, The Caribbean
- Manchester, UK
- Craters of the Moon, Idaho
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Salar de Uyni, Bolivia
- Negombo, Sri Lanka
- Massa-Carrara, Italy
- Bannau Brycheiniog, Wales
- Morocco
- Valencia, Spain
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
- Lake Toba, Indonesia
- Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Quito, Ecuador
- Mingan Archipelago, Quebec
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Tasmania, Australia
- Waterford, Ireland
- Tsavo National Park, Kenya
- Brasilia, Brazil
- El Salvador
- Koh Her, Cambodia
- Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
- Montevideo, Uruguay
- Mustang, Nepal
- Vienna, Austria
- Brisbane, Australia
- Pasadena, California
- Hurghada, Egypt
- Boundary Waters, Minnesota
- Thessaloniki, Greece
- Normandy, France
- Grenada, The Caribbean
- El Camino de Costa Rica
- Albanian Alps
- White Horse, Yukon
- Choquequirao, Peru
- Dresden, Germany
- Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
- Flamingo, Florida
