30+ Best Places to Travel to During Covid 2021

With most of the planet still in the grips of the pandemic and vaccines a long way off for so many of us, traveling for pleasure could be thought of as at best foolish, at worst, downright risky.

One thing we do know, however, is that this situation isn't forever. For some of us, escape could be a matter of weeks away. For others, it could be coming in the middle, or even the end, of the year.

But it will come eventually, and freedom to explore will be back in the cards.  30 Best Places to Travel to During Covid 2021

But in an era where tourism is part of the global language, we'll continue to look ahead to the time when we can take our first tentative steps back out into the world and make good on those dreams we've been saving up.

With that in mind, we've assembled a collection of mostly blockbuster destinations that we think are going to be high on your travel wish lists. The 21 places YOU want to go.

These are not the obscure, or undiscovered gems that often populate places-to-go rundowns (although we did throw in a couple of unexpected spots). These are the solid-gold vacation hits that everyone needs right now.

To help with getting you there, for each destination we've also built a separate guide to what you need to know before you go, covering entry restrictions, current Covid guidelines and safeguards, plus what kind of vacation you can expect when you finally make it.

See somewhere you like: bookmark the guide and keep checking back for updates. We'll keep you posted with all the latest developments as they happen.

Indonesia

A land gifted with pristine beaches, exotic water villas on serene islands, vibrant tribes and their cultural ethos. No! We are not talking about a fascinating dream but about Indonesian landscapes.There are many surreal places in Indonesia, and together they offer a mix of outlandish island wonders and spine-chilling adventures. Here’s a list of the most beautiful places in Indonesia, covering islands, beaches and lakes for the water babies; national parks for wildlife lovers; active volcano sites for adventurous souls; and places for city explorers.

Rajaampat

What we are saying is that whether you are an adventure lover or someone who seeks peace and time alone, Indonesia is the go to place. Ranging from wild and extravagant adventures to some beautiful sights, Indonesia is perfect! Pick your favorite and get going to experience an adventure of a lifetime! Indonesia’s best islands and mountains await your wandering soul

Alaska

In the midst of the pandemic, Alaska's entire May to September cruise season was cancelled in 2020. That left some 1.3 million travelers unable to board ships to experience thunderously calving glaciers, frolicking humpback whales, lively gold rush towns, and fascinating Alaska Native arts scenes. Tourism providers missed serious income. Cruise lines and local officials express muted optimism about 2021, which may be the best year to see Alaska given that cruise ships are unlikely to sail full and coastal towns won't have their typical crowds even post-vaccine rollout. Or skip the civilization part: Vast national parks such as Glacier Bay, Misty Fjords, and Kenai Fjords are best reached by boat. Small ship soft-adventure lines such as UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions — and ultra-luxurious Seabourn with its zodiac and kayak exploration program on the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey — have one-week itineraries that spend most of their time in the wild. For more privacy, rent the six-passenger, 78-foot Sea Mist for a luxury yachting experience in Prince William Sound, home to more active tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world

Antarctica

With the cancellation of the 2020-2021 Antarctic cruise season, there is a lot of pent-up desire to make our biggest travel dreams come true.

One of the most remote destinations on the planet, Antarctica is not an easy (or affordable) endeavor under the best circumstances.

Perhaps the difficulty is part of the allure -- the seventh continent remains on the top of many travelers' wish lists. The striking white desert, with its dramatic, snowy peaks and vibrant turquoise waters, as well its exotic wildlife, including Emperor penguins and Weddell seals, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Making the locale even more enticing in 2021 is a December 4 solar eclipse that will darken the continent, creating a major event for Antarctic cruise lines to trumpet.

Astoria Oregon

Goonies never say die, and neither does the nostalgia of visiting Astoria, the northwestern Oregon town at the mouth of the Columbia River where the '80s cult classic film was shot. The oldest American settlement in the West, this charming seaside town evokes a simpler time with its colorful Victorian houses and treasure-filled antique shops. Around these parts, freshness matters only for fish and beer. A new mobile passport program by the North Coast Craft Beer Trail ensures drinkers find their way to both big names like Fort George Brewery — famous for its IPAs — and smaller spots like the 20-barrel Buoy Beer, built in a former fish cannery right on the river. It's one of many old cannery sites that have found new lives here, most notably the boutique Cannery Pier Hotel, where new ownership plans a February unveiling of renovations to its spa — famed for the Finnish sauna and water-view hot tub. Though the town made its name on tinned fish, Astoria now thrives on the direct connection to fresh seafood at places like South Bay Wild Fish House, from the family behind a fishing vessel of the same name. At their restaurant, sustainably caught Dungeness crab, Oregon pink shrimp, black cod, and more goes direct from boat to bánh mì

Canada

Skiing, surfing, hiking, polar-bear spotting and Northern-lights sighting. Eclectic cuisine, world-class shopping, a diverse and rich culture. This is Canada.

The 13 provinces and territories that make up the world's second-largest country by total area has something swoon-worthy for every type of traveler.

Nature lovers take solace in mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and Atlantic or Pacific coastlines while sophisticated palates nosh at Michelin-starred restaurants and hole-in-the-wall mainstays alike.

Nightlife seekers will find vibrant club scenes in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, though smaller cities Edmonton and Calgary know how to play too.

The laid-back visitor has a bevy of chill choices: among them Tofino, Canada's original hippie destination; Kelowna, a picturesque lakeside wine country; and St. John's, one of the country's friendliest places.

Disney parks

If it were up to most kids, every family holiday would include a visit to a Disney theme park. There's nothing comparable to the look of joy on a kid's face the second they step through the gates and lay their eyes on that gorgeous castle and get their first-ever photo with Mickey.

These days, adults can't be blamed for wanting to make a beeline to their nearest Disney park either, given the new "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" themed lands at both the Disneyland and Disney World resorts in the US -- open for less than a year before the pandemic hit. In particularly high demand is the Rise of the Resistance, the most ambitious interactive attraction in Disney park history.

Disney World's Epcot, meanwhile, has been going through a major transformation of its own, with more of these changes set to open in 2021. Perhaps most exciting is Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, a child-friendly ride due to open as part of the expansion of Epcot's France pavilion in the World Showcase.

And speaking of makeovers, on the other side of the planet Hong Kong Disneyland has been going through a big one. The Asian park recently revealed its dazzling new Castle of Magical Dreams, which has been under construction since 2018 and replaces its Sleeping Beauty Castle. Part of the park's ongoing multiyear expansion plan, it features a mix of architectural styles inspired by different cultures, while paying tribute to the multiple Disney princess stories

Dubai

While vacation planning for 2021 can seem like a wild roll of the dice, a trip to Dubai is a safer bet than most. The glitziest of the United Arab Emirates is currently welcoming almost all global travelers and, with the emirate embracing thorough safety checks and protocols, you can enjoy relative peace of mind while you're there too.

UAE flag carrier Emirates Airlines is offering free global coverage for Covid-19 health expenses and quarantine costs, while the legendary ocean-themed luxury resort Atlantis, The Palm will cover your Covid test and give you resort credit if you stay five nights or more. Its billion-dollar sister hotel, The Royal, is also set to open its doors in 2021.

The long-awaited Expo 2020 Dubai has been rescheduled for October 2021 through March 2022 and the lavish mega-event is the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East. Visitors can expect world-class architecture, spectacular displays and a festival of food.

Also expected next year is the opening of the grandly named Museum of the Future, the calligraphy-adorned facade of which is already an impressive new landmark in a city known for its buildings with wow factor.

Berkshires

City-dwellers have been visiting this region of gently rolling hills and charmingly sedate towns in Western Massachusetts since the 19th century, but a welcome boost of youthful energy arrived with the 2018 opening of the design-forward hotel Tourists in North Adams and, last year, the launch of Miraval Berkshires, the third location of the luxe wellness resort. While summer is still the most popular season, thanks in part to the beloved classical music venue Tanglewood and dance center Jacob’s Pillow, there are still plenty of opportunities for social distancing, from the enormous exhibition spaces at the contemporary art museum Mass Moca, to the pastoral acres surrounding the Clark Art Institute (home to the Institute’s first-ever outdoor exhibition, Ground/work, through October 2021), to a hike up Mount Greylock or Monument Mountain, to a meal at Cantina 229, a restaurant set on a farm that offers outdoor seating in warmer months.  Mooncloud, a new bar in Great Barrington, is riding out the pandemic with a slate of to-go meals and cocktail kits. Tuck in for the night at the peaceful but chic Inn at Kenmore Hall, a bed and breakfast in a classical Georgian estate.

Egypt

Egypt's supply of ancient wonders is seemingly limitless, and 2021 may be just the year to show them all off to a world starved for cultural discovery.

Many of Egypt's most celebrated artifacts are finally expected to get a gleaming new home this year at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) close to the site of the Pyramids of Giza.

The museum -- a monumental concrete and glass space measuring nearly half a million square meters with a price tag of over $1 billion -- was conceived in 2003 and has been under construction for eight years.

While the opening date has not been set, the long-delayed museum is sure to be a huge draw. A headliner: King Tutankhamun's treasures will all be exhibited together for the first time.

France

The bistros, boulangeries, patisseries and fromageries are reason enough to hotfoot it to France when the world starts moving in earnest.

And the rest of the things that drew nearly 90 million visitors to France in 2019 will start coming to life again too: world-class art exhibitions, elegant chateaux, towering cathedrals, medieval villages, glamorous stretches of coast and endless tangles of wine-producing vines.

With any luck, corks will be popping in June at the Bordeaux Wine Festival -- the largest in Europe, and hopefully the line-up at Jazz à Juan in Antibes Juan-les-Pins in July will provide a fitting soundtrack to a summer showing signs of a return to communal life.

For a regal, live-it-up kind of stay, Le Grand Contrôle -- a historic hotel in the heart of the Château de Versailles with an Alain Ducasse restaurant and indoor swimming pool

Montana

Big Sky’s 5,800 acres of skiable terrain makes it a fan favorite for crowd-free skiing in the Rocky Mountains. But a multi-year, $150 million investment into Big Sky Resort aims to transform this region of Southwest Montana into America’s Alps, meaning skiers may soon have to share their powder-perfect runs. Last year, The Wilson Hotel, a Residence Inn by Marriott, made headlines when it became the first and only major brand hotel to open in Big Sky’s town center (don’t miss the soon-to-open Tips Up, a vintage-inspired tavern across the street). Now, all eyes are on the $400 million ultra-luxury Montage Big Sky, which will open its doors for the 2021-22 ski season within Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, a 3,500-acre private golf and ski community. The 150-key resort features ski-in, ski-out access, an 11,000-square-foot spa, and a four-lane bowling alley. In warmer climes, guests can enjoy the development’s 18-hole golf course, nearby fly-fishing rivers, and an extensive network of hiking and mountain biking trails. Two slope-side hotels, the Summit and the Huntley Lodge, have renovations in the works, and Moonlight Basin, another private development adjacent to the ski resort, has plans to build a luxury hotel (a One&Only if the rumors are true) on its 8,000-acre-property, which is also home to a thousand-acre high-elevation Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. New airlift is ushering travelers from Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, and Charlotte, N.C. to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (less than an hour’s drive from downtown Big Sky), while a new six-person high-speed chairlift will begin whizzing people up Lone Peak in record time starting next November. When the snow melts, Big Sky’s 18-mile proximity to Yellowstone National Park adds even more appeal for nature lovers in search of epic adventures in the great outdoors. Just be sure to get there before everyone else does.

Ghana

Its Year of Return initiative in 2019 targeted international visitors of African descent, and Ghana in West Africa is continuing to bank on diaspora tourism with its new campaign Beyond the Return.

Land and sea borders currently remain closed, but now is a good time to acquaint yourself with the country's hip cultural offerings, from an arts and fashion renaissance to new restaurant and hotel openings.

Adventurers can catch waves at deserted beaches at Cape Three Points, one of West Africa's best surfing spots, and may spot some humpback whales too. Mole National Park is Ghana's largest wildlife refuge and is where you can see Nolan warthogs and spotted hyenas and get close to ambling elephants.

Capital city Accra has little in the way of major attractions, but remains charming and lively. For a fashionable, cosmopolitan vibe head to Osu and the area surrounding the airport, where you'll find designer shops and art galleries.

Grece

If we do make it back to normality in 2021, Greece will have more reason than most to celebrate -- it's marking its 200th birthday. The official anniversary of when an 1821 revolution sparked a war of independence against the Ottoman Empire is in February-March, but parties and events to mark the bicentennial are expected -- Covid permitting -- throughout the year.

The charming port of Nafplio, in the Peloponnese region southwest of Athens, is as good a place as any to join in the celebrations -- it was modern Greece's first capital. As well as beaches and nearby ancient sites like the remarkable Epidaurus amphitheater and the imposing ruins of Mycenae, Nafplio has its own attractions, including the hilltop Palamidi fortress, a secluded beach and, especially apt for these times, a museum of worry beads.

Beyond Nafplio, the Peloponnese are worth exploring. Less touristed than many of Greece's hotspots, they're more set up for social distancing, especially on the wild and mountainous Mani Peninsula. That said, most of Greece, which is known to take health matters very seriously, seemed to cope well with creating a Covid-safe visitor experience in the summer of 2020, succumbing to a virus surge far later than most European destinations.

While a slow return to normal might make previously overtouristed places like Santorini worth a look in 2021, there's no loss in playing it safe with a quieter option, like the island of Milos in the Cyclades -- a plane or ferry hop from Athens. This volcanic playground has a beach for every day of the month, with more than a few to spare

South Dakota

The great American road trip is the best example of the journey as the destination. As Americans took to the road in search of wide-open spaces this year, places that may have been overlooked for lack of airlift found a new audience. South Dakota’s Black Hills have long been a mandatory road trip stop — its mountains are home to Mount Rushmore, the historic town of Deadwood, and several national monuments and parks — and now it’s back on the map as a destination in its own right. The region first got a little more glamour two years ago, when glamping outfitter Under Canvas raised its tent poles among the pine and juniper trees just four miles from the presidential monument. And this year, intrepid travelers can see the area in a fresh way with the debut of Adventure Cycling’s new Parks, Peaks, and Prairies cycling route, which pieces together trails winding from Yellowstone to Minneapolis. Over in historic Deadwood, a new year-round public space in the heart of town, Outlaw Square, is home to a slew of activities that sound luxurious after nearly a year in lockdown — movie nights, concerts — while in Rapid City, work is underway on the Monument, a massive civic center expansion that will bring bigger crowds to landmark events like the Black Hills Powwow, which marks its 35th anniversary next fall. 

Grenada

While Grenada's nickname comes from its famous nutmeg industry, the "Isle of Spice" is packed with flavor in every way possible.

Measuring just 18 kilometers wide and 34 kilometers long, the eastern Caribbean island is made up of sandy beaches, lush rainforests and spectacular waterfalls, but it's Grenada's rich character that sets it apart from more well-known tropical destinations.

Although each of its seven parishes has its own very distinct charm and appeal, Grenada's capital St. George's, known for its horseshoe-shaped harbor and colorful houses, is undoubtedly the most vibrant and picturesque.

St. George's is also home to many of Grenada's top hotels, including The Point at Petite Calivigny, a boutique wellness resort, which opened in late 2020, and Silversands Grenada, where visitors will find the longest infinity pool in the Caribbean.

The island has around 45 beaches, but Grand Anse is its most popular for good reason. Spanning three kilometers, this stunning stretch of white sand frequented by both visitors and locals offers tranquil waters, fantastic views and a wonderfully serene atmosphere.

Hawai

Hawaii is underrated. This in spite of its unceasing popularity among travelers.

To be sure, it is a gorgeous place, with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and every beach seemingly prettier than the next, but its beauty goes much deeper than its preternatural appearance.

Extraordinary beaches -- some even boast black and green sand (Papakōlea Beach and Punaluʻu Beach, respectively) -- have their expected appeal, but visitors who take time to venture out and away from the coast quickly discover Hawaii's charms are in every nook and cranny.

Italy

Perennially popular Italy hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in March 2020, when it became the global epicenter of the pandemic -- and after controlling infection rates better than most European countries over the summer, its aging population has been hit hard again by the second wave.

But nothing can dim Italy's attraction, and as restrictions ease, this will be a time to see it at its best. Pre-pandemic, Italy's art cities were notorious epicenters of overtourism.

But with visitor numbers not expected to return to 2019 levels for several years, for those who can make it safely, 2021 will afford the chance to see the Bel Paese in a way that hasn't been possible for decades.

What's more, the best known cities are trying to change tourism for the better. Having seen many of the tatty souvenir shops close in the pandemic, Venice, for instance, is focusing on promoting the city's traditional artisans, in a bid to readjust the tourism economy before the crowds come back.

Meanwhile, Milan's Pinacoteca di Brera -- one of Italy's showstopper (and queue-heavy) art galleries -- has vowed to keep entrance by pre-booking only, in order to give visitors more space, while Da Vinci masterwork "The Last Supper" is considering more same-day tickets to favor individuals rather than the big groups that usually book up slots months in advance.

Japan

Though every tourism-dependent nation is certainly deserving of sympathy going into 2021, one can't help but feel particularly moved by the plight of Japan.

This is a country that hustled hard to ready itself for the 2020 Olympic Summer Games, only to have to cancel the event just as it was ready to showcase those efforts to the world.

Those postponed Olympic Games will kick off in Tokyo on July 23, 2021, giving travelers a chance to see some of the huge changes that have taken place, along with all the reasons we fell in love with the country in the first place. The food, the people, the culture ... Japan has a way of embedding itself into your soul and we can't wait to get back.

Major Tokyo additions include the Takanawa Gateway -- the first new station built on the city's key JR Yamanote train line since 1971. The area around busy Shibuya Station has also been revamped as part of a huge multi-layer makeover to cement it as the city's entertainment, transport and business hub for decades to come. Other changes of note include wider free Wi-Fi coverage not just in Tokyo but in the entire country -- including 108 Shinkansen "bullet train" stations.

Several new hotels opened this year as well, including the luxurious Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo and the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi.

But there's plenty to see elsewhere, too -- particularly for theme park fans. Our top pick? The new Super Nintendo World, which is due to open at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka in February 2021.

Maldives

White sand beaches? Check. World-class dining? Yep. Incredible swimming, sailing and scuba diving? Got those too. Throughout the pandemic, Maldives has also managed to keep its borders open more than most thanks to the built-in social distancing offered by its luxurious resorts.

If anybody needed additional incentive to cross Maldives off of their bucket list in 2021, a spate of hotel openings is keeping things interesting. On deck for 2021 openings are new resorts from Ritz-Carlton, Patina, Le Meridien, Capella and Radisson Blu.

Next year will also mark a world's-first country-wide loyalty program: the Maldives Border Miles program will allow visitors to earn points based on how often they visit and how long they stay. After all, the only thing better than visiting is visiting twice. 

Mexico

This US neighbor to the south was a respite for many in 2020, in spite of the closure of land borders between the US and Mexico and multiple surges in coronavirus cases.

Air travel into and out of Mexico never really stopped, owing to the country's limited Covid-related travel requirements, plus its natural beauty, breathtaking coastlines and a wide swath of relatively under-touristed locations beyond hotspots like Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas.

While balancing physical and economic health has been an uneven juggling act the world over, the fact is Mexico and many other destinations are in dire need of tourism revenue.

Looking into fall 2021, which hopefully will be a much less complicated time to visit, Mexico City will be celebrating its quincentennial, commemorating its founding 500 years ago, with most festivities planned in September to coincide with Mexican Independence Day.

Later in the fall, Formula 1 racing fans can attend the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix on October 29-31 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

New Zealand

"Otherworldly" -- a term often applied to New Zealand's eye-popping, Hobbit-friendly landscapes -- has taken on new meaning when it comes to this South Pacific jewel.

Unlike vast swaths of the rest of the world, many of life's normal activities have resumed in New Zealand, thanks to one of the globe's most successful pandemic responses

The island country of five million has all but stamped out coronavirus, logging just over two dozen Covid-19 deaths. While its borders are closed to most travelers at present, we expect a lot of pent-up demand from people in all corners of the world salivating over images of its boundless terrain and return to relative normalcy.

Who doesn't need a bit of forest therapy in Waiheke right now? Or some star-gazing on Stewart Island? The world is still wide and wonderful and this country serves nature up on a heaping platter with rich ties to local Māori culture and history. 

New York City

Start spreading the news, reports of New York City's "demise" have been grossly exaggerated. While the city has no doubt been adversely affected (what place hasn't?) over the last year, the city that never sleeps has high hopes for a better 2021.

A lot of New York's best offerings remain accessible, despite the ongoing pandemic (two major closures still in effect as the new year dawns are Broadway and indoor dining). And while New York City is rarely referred to as an "outdoor wonderland," the truth is the best way to experience the city is walking through its distinct neighborhoods, maybe even with a slice of pizza in hand.

One of the best views of lower Manhattan can be seen while strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge, and New York City's waterfront and parks are always there for you to explore.

Sure, you’ve heard rumblings about Buffalo’s restaurants, or maybe its brewery boom. But lately, the city is getting attention for its visual arts scene — and most notably, a game-changing new gallery that’s Native American-owned and dedicated entirely to Indigenous art. Dave Kimelberg, a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, founded K. Art — the only gallery of its kind in the U.S. — this year in an effort to showcase the diversity of Native nations and carve out a bigger space in the market for contemporary Native works. Elsewhere in the city, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is undergoing a massive expansion, currently slated for completion in 2022; until then, visit the institution’s Northland campus, or explore projects across the city from the AK Public Art Initiative. Still more developments are in the works: the $65 million Silo City restoration and reuse will bring arts, commercial, and exhibition space to a string of abandoned grain silos, and golf brand OnCore is launching a massive golf complex and hotel on the Buffalo River.

Some seminal cultural institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, can be experienced with timed-ticketing 

New Jersey

During the summer of 1852, Harriet Tubman worked as a cook and housekeeper in Cape May, the seaside resort town where the Delaware Bay rushes into the Atlantic Ocean at the knifepoint of New Jersey. That was her day job, anyway. Given that Cape May was a hive of abolitionist activity at the time, it’s long been accepted that Tubman’s real work was guiding enslaved men and women through this critically situated junction between the South and freedom in Philadelphia and points north. Opening on Juneteenth, the years-in-the-works Harriet Tubman Museum chronicles her time in Cape May while contextualizing the city’s status as a critical (and critically overlooked) place in Black history. The museum occupies the former parson’s house of the historic Macedonian Baptist Church, and the late Reverend Robert Davis’s collection of artifacts (Bantu and Bakota masks, iron shackles used on enslaved peoples) ties the experience back to Africa and the transatlantic slave trade. A few blocks away, the Underground Railroad trolley tour departs to landmarks like abolitionist Stephen Smith’s house and the Franklin Street School, the city’s first segregated school (slated to become a cultural arts and community center). Renewed interest in Cape May has energized the staid hotel stock, with Philly’s Lokal brand opening a crisp beach house with a saltwater pool and the famed Peter Shields Inn debuting Inn Town Suites, a pair of palm-patterned quarters above Willow & Stone, a handsome boutique stocked with waterproof ORI knapsacks and knit cashmere for the modern seafaring rake. For more privacy, the meticulously furnished, ag-fantasy Cottages at Bach Plum Farm are situated on the less developed north side of town betwixt blackberry brambles and heritage hog paddocks — and a leisurely walk to the Cape May Lighthouse, a beacon for safety seekers fleeing slavery and stormy seas since 1859

Singapore

Most travelers don't want to spend any more time in an airport than they have to. But Singapore's Changi is no ordinary airport.

While the rest of the world was hunkering down at home, Singaporean locals were paying to hang out at Changi, whether it was co-working in one of the lounges or glamping alongside the world's tallest indoor waterfall at the Changi Jewel, which opened in 2019.

The coming year is a chance to fall back in love with travel, and a visit to the Lion City should rekindle that romance.

Beyond its spectacular airport, the city-state is home to a UNESCO-listed botanical garden, one-of-a-kind Peranakan culture, and some of the world's most spectacular luxury hotels.

Its food scene is a major highlight -- whether visitors opt for $5 Hainan chicken rice from a hawker stall or $500-per-plate Michelin-starred fine dining, nobody ever goes home hungry.

Spain

With its miles of picturesque sandy coastline and vibrant historic cities, has always been an unmissable travel destination.

Barcelona's Las Ramblas may have been emptier than usual this year, while the party ground to a halt in the beach bars of the Balearic Islands, but Spain's tourism hotspots are preparing to wow visitors once again.

Barcelona, like other European cities plagued in recent years by overtourism, has taken the time out to reevaluate how visitors can continue to enjoy the city without making it uninhabitable for locals.

The Balearics, meanwhile, are repositioning themselves with far more than iconic nightlife: secluded bays, a plethora of wildlife and sumptuous Mediterranean meals enjoyed al fresco will be the top attractions for visitors when they return.

Plus, by next summer, Spain's fiestas -- outdoor parties featuring fireworks, parades and celebration -- might be back, and what better way to mark new beginnings than toasting 2021 under the Spanish sun?

Thailand

For more than a century, Thailand has woven its spell on the masses with its glittering temples, fiery food, stunning beaches and mountainous landscapes.

All of that's still there -- plus a little more. The country has been heavily promoting domestic tourism in recent months, meaning there's been no shortage of new hotel and restaurant openings -- particularly in the capital, Bangkok.

The city's historic riverside Charoenkrung area recently welcomed two new luxury hotels -- Capella and the Four Seasons Bangkok -- while nearby Yaowarat -- aka Chinatown -- continues to evolve with the addition of wonderfully eclectic bars and boutique hotels. One of our favorites is gallery/bar/restaurant Baan Rim Naam, which sits in a 200 year-old riverside warehouse in the Talad Noi neighborhood.

For those with their eye on Thailand's south, the government is reportedly considering reopening Maya Bay, which has been closed since 2018 as part of a program aimed at reviving the area's decimated corals.

Though not yet confirmed, the stunning cove made famous by "The Beach," the 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, may welcome visitors in mid-2021, but with strict visitor caps.

United kingdom 

"Plague Island" isn't likely to be top of anyone's travel hot list, but let's try to see past the unfortunate sobriquet applied to Great Britain by The New York Times after a new strain of virus led to many countries severing travel connections with the UK.

The first place in the world to approve the coronavirus vaccine will hopefully, by the coming summer, have shaken off its notoriety. What should emerge is one of the world's top tourism offerings, but very different.

The UK's recent Brexit from the EU will see the country's tourism sector happier than ever to see foreign visitors, particularly given that those arriving from Europe may face more bureaucracy than before to travel here.

Brexit, plus the financial impact of the pandemic, may mean many Brits choosing to staycation this year, although some may splurge on an overseas escape after months of enforced lockdown. But the good news for foreign visitors is that a widely expected slump in the pound should make the UK great value for money.

While the country may seem like a small collection of islands, it still offers wide open spaces for those still wary of crowds. There are the hills and waters of the picture-perfect Lake District, the dramatic coastline paths of Cornwall and Wales, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and even the pretty scenery at the end of London's Underground lines.

Delware

Over the past year, Delaware has been making headlines as the de facto HQ for No. 46 and his transition team, but there’s plenty of reason for buzz beyond politics. Many of the recent developments that have drawn young professionals to the capital of Wilmington from nearby hubs like Philadelpha — creative businesses, a high-caliber culinary scene, fewer crowds — also appeal to travelers. Wilmington’s marquee hotel, Hotel DuPont, recently underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment that breathed new life into its iconic Green Room, which now houses the refined French restaurant Le Cavalier, and added De.CO, a casual food hall with six stalls and a bar. Sartorially inclined visitors would do well to check out wares from Town and Store Studio. (For the time being, designer Liv McClintock is selling her handmade leather goods and jewelry via pop-ups and trunk shows.) And though Torbert Street Social is temporarily closed to adhere to COVID restrictions, the recent addition to Wilmington’s cocktail scene is worth a stop for such well-crafted originals as the LL Mule J, which pairs vodka with blood orange and kombucha. Come summer, it’ll be hard to stay away from the revitalized Riverfront area, which encompasses a number of seafood joints and provides access to watersports and local walking trails.

Uruguay

As neighbors Brazil and Argentina have struggled to contain the pandemic, laid-back little Uruguay has kept infection rates down -- and as South America starts reopening for travel, that will serve it well.

Not that this is some kind of consolation prize; Uruguay has always had a huge amount to offer visitors, but as the continent's second smallest country, it has often been dwarfed in the tourism stakes by its behemoth neighbors.

The current summer season (December-March) has effectively been canceled, with the government vowing to keep borders closed to stop infection rates rising. But once they reopen, there's a huge amount to discover.

New to Uruguay this year? You'll be blown away by its Atlantic coastline, with some of the most pristine beaches you'll ever have seen -- and a superb variety of accommodation, from beachside glamping to lagoon-floating cabins, chi-chi country retreats and architecturally cutting edge bungalows, plonked in the middle of a vineyard.

Punta del Este is one of the Americas' buzziest beach resorts, while Jose Ignacio, an hour up the coast, is a boho (but exclusive) resort. Carmelo, near the Argentinian border on the River Plate, is a laid-back weekend destination for Argentinians. It's known for its wine -- and the once-quiet Uruguayan wine scene is going from strength to strength.

Source; CNN and Another