The Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2024. Every day, our editors at Vogue do just that: talking to experts in the field, keeping tabs on new hotel openings, polling tastemakers for their opinions, and travelling to all parts of the world. “Those who do not travel read only one page in the world,” St. Augustine once said.
The right to be “in-the-know” becomes more critical in this day of over-tourism and social media saturation. You and the rest of the world would love a summer weekend getaway to Venice if only it weren’t for the suffocating crowds destroying the city’s ancient and delicate buildings. (Your friend’s meticulously planned Instagram tale probably didn’t feature that soul-sucking scene.)
So, after listening, visiting, and studying, the Vogue lifestyle team has decided to highlight the destinations they hope to visit responsibly in 2024. Others are just starting and aren’t widely known. Some long-running favourites are getting a new lease on life or having their big break. While some are more suited to leisurely pursuits, others are more suited to an unforgettable journey. But you know what they all share? It would be best if you took time off for them.
Sifnos, Greece
The fact that Margot Robbie and Dua Lipa were seen vacationing on the Cycladic island this summer implies that it might not stay quiet for much longer. The island has a population of 2,500. What makes it so appealing, other than its beautiful waters? The cuisine. In 1878, Nikos Tselementes came into this world on the island of Sifnos. Today, he is widely regarded as the progenitor of modern Greek cuisine. (The first Greek cookbook translated into English was his 1950 work Greek Cookery, which helped spread Mediterranean food all across the globe.) On the island, he established a tradition of farm-to-table cooking that is being practised today.
The island’s finest seafood is served at Omega 3, a rustic eatery overlooking the water. (Jeff Bezos became a patron last year.) In the meantime, Cantina was recently visited by Barack Obama and Tom Hanks for dinner. Because Sifnos does not have an airport, visitors must rely on boats or ferries to get to the island. Sifnos is quickly becoming the destination for individuals seeking “slow travel”—unhurried and unplanned holidays.
Grenada, the Caribbean
Grenada, sometimes called the “Spice Isle,” has been gaining popularity as an affordable Caribbean retreat with excellent rum, tasty cuisine, and unspoiled, less crowded beaches since Jet Blue began offering direct flights to the island in 2017. A Six Senses resort, situated on 38 acres at the island’s southern tip, will be welcomed this spring after the 2018 opening of Silversands.
Even if there is an almost endless list of activities outside these five-star resorts, Explore the vibrant capital of St. George’s and its harbour lined with boats on foot or embark on a rainforest climb at Grand Etang National Park. The island is known as the Shipwreck Capital of the Caribbean, where scuba divers can observe exotic species, vibrant coral reefs, long-lost artefacts, and the only underwater sculpture park on the planet.
Big Sur, California
Millions of Americans take a leisurely drive down Highway 1 every year to see Big Sur and the stunning, rugged Pacific scenery. *Insert Big Little Lies theme song*. Still, they might stay longer on the coast of Northern California because of all the hip boutique hotels.
This past fall, the Post Company reopened the La Playa Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a once-popular artist hideaway with extensive renovations. (The hotel has hosted notable figures such as Ansel Adams and Steve Jobs, who unveiled the Macintosh prototype there.) Meanwhile, guests keep returning to the Post Ranch Inn and the Ventana Big Sur.
Tangiers, Morocco
Tangiers has a long and illustrious history that begins in antiquity. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century, when it was a colonial “international zone” for a few decades, that the city became famous as a retreat for eccentric Westerners like Tennessee Williams, the Beat poets, and the Rolling Stones. Those seeking to peruse its Art Nouveau and Art Deco architectural wonders, shop in its mazelike souks, relax on the city’s adjacent beaches, and dance the night away in one of its atmospheric, speakeasy-esque pubs could still experience that countercultural vibe long after Morocco gained its independence.
Tangiers has two equally exquisite hotels that opened last year. In late 2022, the Fairmont Tazi Palace opened in a massive Andalusian-style palace that had belonged to a royal advisor. It has a vast spa and beautiful outdoor pools. A few months ago, Villa Mabrouka, a 12-room bohemian boutique hotel in Yves Saint-Laurent’s former home, debuted with Jacques Grange furnishings, huge grounds, and stunning views of the Strait of Gibraltar. This is Jasper Conran’s second Moroccan hotel after his beloved Marrakech riad L’Hotel. The Bride of the North is the finest place to relax in the early spring light while experiencing culture and style. (A name the city got from its hillside neighbourhoods’ white buildings and mosques.)
Mustique, The Caribbean
Mustique isn’t exactly thriving right now, but it was Princess Margaret’s go-to Caribbean getaway until she passed away in 2002. Even though Saint Barth’s has always been a popular destination for the famous and wealthy, many tastemakers are eschewing the island’s lively nightclubs in favour of its more sedate, paparazzi-free neighbour. Kate Moss, for instance, celebrated her 50th birthday at Saint Barth’s. Maybe it’s all connected to the current fad of covert wealth: Mustique, an island with just one hotel and a seven-day minimum stay, is the epitome of a seductive getaway.
Biarritz, France
With Penelope Cruz as the honoree and Chanel as a partner, the new film festival Nouvelles Vagues debuted in Biarritz in June. (Featured in the films was the reality show with Sydney Sweeney.)Biarritz is a seaside town in southwest France, and this is just more evidence of its vast revival. Dorothée Meilichzon, an AD100 designer, has recently unveiled renovated interiors at the centuries-old Regina Experimental Biarritz. At the same time, trendy new boutique hotels like Le Garage have all appeared in the last several years. Although the glitzy jet set has long been drawn to the French southeast coast, Biarritz is quickly becoming the new hotspot for sunbathing fashionistas.
Jeju Island, South Korea
Jeju is an island off the coast of South Korea that has long been a popular summer retreat for Seoulites. One reason you might have heard of it is the haenyeo, a group of ladies who dive for hours to collect shellfish. (Okay, maybe there are two explanations: the island has recently experienced a surge in international interest due to its popularity as a setting for love K-dramas.)
Due to its attractive rooms furnished in the style of ancient fishing towns and unbroken ocean views, the Seaes Hotel on the island’s southern coast has long been the most excellent option for daring guests. A new wave of hotels is threatening its standing. Built on a volcanic cliff, the recently opened JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa is stunning. Check out the island’s waterfalls and volcanic craters from here. After sightseeing, tourists can unwind in the massive spa or outdoor hot springs. For a city vacation from Seoul, Jeju, commonly known as Korea’s Hawaii, is a terrific destination, but getting there is more complex than going to Hawaii.
Bodrum, Turkey
The best candidate for the next Ibiza? Bodrum, Turkey. The Bodrum Edition opened last summer, joining Macakizi as one of Turkey’s most fashionable resorts on the Aegean. Ahmet and Mica Ertegun vacationed there for decades. In our hotel review, Vogue described this luxurious hideaway on the Turkish Riviera as where guests feel more at a friend’s house than at a resort. They got a Michelin star for Kitchen in November. Scorpios, a famous Mykonos beach club, will open at Maxx Royal Bodrum in May. With the Côte d’Azur and Amalfi Coast seeing record crowds recently, the Turkish Riviera could become the next summer attraction.
Madagascar
Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean, has some of the world’s most diversified ecosystems. There are several well-known camps in the country’s wilderness. Still, the tourism industry is very young, so visitors should take all the standard safety precautions. As the latest high-end seaside getaway, Voaara will join private island resorts Miavana and Namoroka Tsingy Exploration Camp in Namoroka National Park in mid-2024. Luxury adventure travel operator Black Tomato also launched a conservation-focused rainforest and archipelago tour. Mozambique’s East African coastal nation is becoming a wild beach hideaway with resorts like Kisawa Sanctuary and the soon-to-be-built Banyan Tree.
Serbia
Croatia has seen an influx of tourists in the last decade, which has made popular destinations like Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast overcrowded. Now is the time to explore other parts of the Balkans, where you can find equally picturesque towns and swimming coves that are sure to impress. As a result of this domino effect, Montenegro has become the site of several ultra-luxury resorts, including those of Aman and One&Only.
This vast, landlocked nation more than makes up for its lack of beaches in every other way. First, there’s Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It’s a hotspot for young artists and has some of Europe’s best nightlife. For the more mature tourist, there are Ottoman palaces, Orthodox temples, and a Nikola Tesla museum; a St. Regis is expected to open in 2024, bringing a slew of new high-end hotel options.
In 2024, Serbia is the ideal spot to get off the beaten path in every way, thanks to its stunning mountains, gorges, rivers, and waterfalls, but the true beauty of the country is in its wildlife and hidden natural riches.
