Bored of work, home and Netflix? Let's get travel planning for 2022. A study found that the simple act of planning a vacation made people happier than going on the trip itself. Planning the trip can do as much to boost your mood as the trip itself!
The pandemic may have brought to halt our travel plans, but there is no dampening our curiosity. 2022, a new year brings with it the promise of a return to travel and
Before you get started, here's some travel inspiration for you. We asked 40 travel influencers from across the globe about what their travel bucket list is, once things get back to normal and what their top 3 destinations for the year would be. But, before we get into what each of them had to say, here are the most popular travel bucket list destinations that have made it to quite a influencer bucket lists.
Mountains
Beaches
Outdoor Activities
Romantic
Family-Friendly
Desert
Wildlife
Marine Life
Museums & Monuments
Snow Capped Mountains
What are the top 3 destinations in this year's travel bucket list?
1 - 10
About Marco & Erika
Marco and Erika are a Ecuadorian/German couple living their best life in Bali. Their dream is to discover different and new cultures and countries independently with their Mochilas (backpacks in Spanish).
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Pakistan, Mongolia and the Maldives We want to visit Pakistan and Mongolia because of the cultural experience. After traveling three years and seeing many beautiful places we soon realised that traveling is not only about the places we visit but more about the people we meet and the experiences we make. But of course beautiful places are important as well which both and and our big destination the Maldives have to offer. That’s why we want to visit those three countries next year. "
About Angie
Angie quit her full-time PR role to follow her dreams of travel and writing. She embarked on a year long journey back in 2011 and visited 13 countries from which paved way to her instagram page - angieaway.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"It’s tough to pick just three! But I’ll say French Polynesia, because we planned to celebrate our wedding anniversary there this year and had to postpone. Then I’m aching to get back to Kauai! I have a long-standing tradition of visiting every election year because it’s my favorite place to escape partisan bickering. Last, I want to see something totally new, so I’d love to check out Utah’s Big 5 National Parks in an RV. What a dream that would be!"
About Lucy
This South American born quit her job and started her solo travelling journey 5 years ago. She has backpacked across countries in Asia, Oceania and Europe. Now travelling a great part of her life and she plans on her next escapade shortly.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Mine have changed dramatically over the last few months – from New Zealand, Patagonia, Sumatra and India to some rather more local choices. I can't see that international travel will open up again to the extent I would like. So instead I've created a new bucket list which includes Cornwall, Scotland and the Lake District as first trips in my new converted camper van (a new 2020 investment). If I can venture further afield, I'm looking at driving to Portugal, Spain, Italy and maybe even Montenegro."
About Andrew & Emily
After finding their way through hundreds of destinations, Andrew and Emily started their own blog which inspires travellers to explore the world. Their Instagram feed exudes warm pastels and authenticity in every country.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Making certain plans for travel in 2021 is obviously very difficult. Beyond exploring more of the UK and returning to Italy, we'd love to visit Georgia for the first time."
About Becca & Dan
Becca and Dan began as long-distance couple and soon became the founders of the halfhalftravel blog. What started as an attempt to create memories while they were apart took the internet by storm soon enough and there has been no looking back since.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Well, considering that we're not yet on board with flying, we're staying local to our home base in Brooklyn. On our bucket list are 3 driveable destinations of Maine's national parks, Vermont's hiking destinations and also, exploring the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY State. This is a realistic list for us as we navigate how we want to be best using travel in a safe and comfortable way. "
About Mara & Andre
Mara and Andre are a couple that met many years ago in Dubai who now explore the world every chance they get a break from their full time day jobs. Andre is an Italian, the foodie in the relationship which Mara is Romanian and speaks fluently 5 languages - the critic and creative half of the couple. They have been to 29 countries so far, in constant search of honest travel tips & stories.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"1. Philippines: For the amazing beaches, diving spots and jaw dropping islands.
2. South Africa:
We'd love to do another safari in Africa and SA has some of the best reserves in the continent!
3.
Norway: Chasing the northern lights in the fiords and spending the night in an igloo hotel."
About Brit
A British travel expert living in Florida, she has been to 54 Countries and 50 States! Her blog was started to provide authentic travel reviews, travel hacks and shows one how to save money when travelling!
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Japan because I was scheduled to go this November and it’s been canceled. It’s been on my bucket list for a while. I and nephew are fascinated by Japanese culture. Outside of the food, the traditions and customs command attention. Then, there’s Anime, an obsession for my nephew. Belgium, the same thing I was meant to go this year and it’s canceled. Burges in Belgium is often discounted as one of the marvelous canal systems in Europe - it oozes romance Peru because to see Machu Picchu. I am actually trying to push this one up to the top of my list if and when it becomes safe to travel there. Reports all indicate that this sacred site delipidates more and more each year. I am worried that if I don’t do it soon, it will be lost."
About Annika
After launching a successful book and getting featured in many articles in different languages, Annika has found herself wanting to explore more. She presents an array of adventure sports, hidden gems, sustainable hotels and authentic cultures through her blog and social media.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"In 2021 I am mainly looking to revisit old favorites that I couldn't go to this year. Hopefully I will start the year in Cape Town with my family before heading to Mauritius where I will complete my scuba instructor course. Afterwards I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can head back to Sri Lanka, and maybe stop in Maldives on my way there for the ultimate R&R."
About Sabina Trojanova
Sabina, orginally from Western Europe is now settled in the rainy country of Scotland. She started off her blogging journey back in 2014 while working as a broadcast journalist in Russia. She hopes to backpack across Malawi in 2021.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"My top 3 would be Japan, St Lucia and Malawi - I'm running a group trip here in July 2021 (fingers crossed!)."
About Dave
Dave, a South Cali born has lived in six different countries since he transformed long-term travel into a lifestyle. He loves learning new languages, and claims to have a strange obsession with hummus. Jones (his travel alias) is on a mission to explore the world, live abroad, and make every day count.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Good question! If you're asking about NEW destinations, I'd have to choose:
Iceland - As a
landscape photographer, Iceland has always been a dream of mine. I was meant to go on a trip there back in
March for some winter explorations, but due to COVID I had to postpone that trip. So I'm hoping that 2021
is the year I can finally experience Iceland for myself! South Africa - Another place I was meant to visit
this year but was forced to postpone. I've got some friends in Cape Town I'd love to visit, go on a couple
safaris, and maybe rent an apartment there for a month or two. French Polynesia - I just recently finished
my scuba diving certification (which I should have done years ago), and have gotten rather addicted to all
things scuba! I've always wanted to visit French Polynesia (I mean, who doesn't), and would love to
experience some of the amazing dive sites out there.
If we're discussing places I'm hoping to get
back to that I've already been, I'd choose Spain, Australia, and Bali, Indonesia. (3 Places I've lived in
and really miss all of them) "
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About Will
Will is a globetrotter who has visited over 50 countries. He started his blog 8 years ago, not knowing that it would be something he'd do for a living in the future. As of now, his blog is not just a website featuring beautiful travel destinations, but also a brand owning its video presence and a digital marketing consultancy.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"This list is definitely different from what I thought I would say maybe a year ago but taking into
consideration the pandemic and safe travel, here are 3 places that I think would be really
appropriate.
Tanzania - After an incredible safari experience in South Africa, I'm itching for
more and Tanzania is an incredible place to see animals in the wild in addition to the opportunity to
climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Galapagos - The land version of Galapagos is often overlooked because
everyone does it by cruise ship. In 2021, think about flying in and spending time on Isabela Island and
experience Galapagos in a different way.
Chile - There's so much to see in Chile and it's one of those
underrated places. A must-do in my books would be to make it down to Torres del Paine and exploring
Patagonia.
You can probably see the trend here that bucket list travel now includes places that
allow you to apply for physical distancing and incorporates more outdoors activities."
About Jacob
Local Adventure is a travel lifestyle blog featuring Jacob Fu and team. This blog was hatched to encourage travellers to explore hidden gems within their own city/state. Ever since, this blog has been a voice for all things local.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
Bonneville Salt Flats, Sedona, Subway at Zion
About Tiffany
Tiffany Dowd, a Boston resident travel expert shares her luxury getaways and is the founder of Luxe Social Media. She helps travelers find the best resorts, spas, hotels for a memorable trip through her blog and social media.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"I’m eager to return to Caribbean to enjoy the endless powdery white sand beaches of Turks and Caicos. I also love hiding away at the ultra-exclusive JADE MOUNTAIN in Saint Lucia – one of our favorite romantic hideaways. I’m also looking forward to returning to one of the greatest cities in the world -London. You’ll find the most luxurious hotels in the world in London not to mention a great dining scene. I’m also looking forward to returning to the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Another favorite of mine is Sorrento, a charming seaside town overlooking the Bay of Naples that has easy access to Positano and Capri. There’s nothing like watching the sunset at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria and enjoying an aperitif before dinner."
About Laurence and Jessica
Laurence and Jessica are travelers, photographers and writers slowly exploring the world and documenting their experiences on their blog - "findingtheuniverse" since 2010. While Laurence is an award winning travel photographer and writer from UK, Jessica is an award winning travel writer from the USA - a true match made in heaven!
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Antarctica, the USA (to visit family!) and Italy"
About Stefan & Sebastien
Stefan and Sebastien a Greek/French gay couple from London travelling the world with pride. They first met in London's GAY bar back in February 2009 and have been traveling the world for over 10 years now.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Our top 3 destinations for our 2021 travel bucket list are Greece, Israel and being super hopeful - New Zealand. We are based in Europe, so for us, this is going to be the most realistic place we’ll be able to travel safely - at least for the first part of 2021, hence Greece. Assuming things improve into 2021, we’d love to go to Tel Aviv Pride (Israel) in June…and being super hopeful that international travel completely picks up next year, we both really want to visit New Zealand towards the end of the year."
About Becky
Becky is a British born, tea loving, world travelling small business owner and recovering banker based In Sunny California! She and Vanessa are the founders of @wearetravelgirls, an instagram community built to inspire, connect & educate female travelers across the globe.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"My 2021 travel bucketlist includes lots of travel in the United States. I just moved from England to California so I am eager to explore more of this state and other parts of the US. Top of my travel list is a roadtrip through Death Valley - the Badwater Basin salt flats look spectacular! Next I would love to explore Arizona, visiting Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon. Third on my list is to spend some time in Yellowstone National Park. I have plenty more than that on my bucketlist for 2021, but those are a good start! "
About Kach
This beautiful couple embarked on their adventure together back in 2013 and have visited over 80 countries together! The couple currently live in the sunny country of Montenegro and look forward to their next adventure together.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
" In 2021 we plan to stay fairly close to home, with our home being Herceg Novi, Montenegro.
-
Firstly, once winter passes we plan to explore Albania by motorbike. We're particularly excited about the
mountains in the north of the country.
- Next, we want to visit Moldova, probably also by motorbike
so that we can tour this tiny country one vineyard at a time!
- Finally, we'll aim for Belarus, not to
visit the Chernobyl disaster site, but to find out something positive about this former Soviet country. It
is full of beautiful lakes, historic architecture and even national wildlife parks. "
About David
A Miami born, David started his travel blogging journey in 2007 and there's been no looking back since. 22 countries and many wholesome travel videos later, he's in Albania currently.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"My top 3 destinations for 2021 are Egypt, Georgia, and Peru. I have wanted to experience the history, food, and culture in those countries for as long as I can remember. Obviously, it all depends on what the situation with the pandemic is like next year, and if they're open to American tourists then, but they're the ones at the top of my bucket list right now."
About Pete and Dalene Heck
Pete and Dalene won the National Geographic Travelers of The Year Award in 2014. Their tryst with travel began in the fall of 2009 where they sold their house and headed south with a one-way ticket to Bolivia.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"For 2021, we're still planning on sticking close to home which we simply cannot be disappointed about given the stunning corner of the world we live in. The top three destinations on our travel bucket list are: Wood Buffalo National Park. Situated in the northeast corner of Alberta, this is the largest national park in Canada and also one of the hardest to access! There are endless hiking opportunities in the park, and it's the perfect place to camp and be safely distanced from others. Sentinel Pass. You have to carefully time hiking on the Larch Valley Trail to Sentinel Pass - it is open for many months of the year, but there is a small window in fall in which the larches in the valley put on a brilliant display of fall colours. We missed it in 2020, so are adding it to our list for 2021! Yoho National Park. This is just over the border from us in Alberta, but seeing Lake O'Hara, situated in Yoho National Park, has been on the top of our bucket list for many years. "
About Alex
Alexandra started this blog back in 2016 with a vision. She gave her readers insights into the life of uncommon travel destinations and focused on their stories and forgotten travel spots. She hopes to explore the untouched parts of the world soon.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"At this point, anywhere safe! But if the pandemic magically stopped tomorrow, I'd want to backpack through Sudan, go trekking in Central Asia, and get lost in Siberia."
21 - 30
About Meg
Megan Claire Jerrard is an Australian journalist who has been traveling since 2007. Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, there is nothing Megan is afraid to try! She thrives on adrenaline and adventure travel - be skydiving, bungee jumping or diving with Great whites.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Australia, Australia, and Australia! We'll be taking the opportunity to travel domestically next year, and explore everything our own country has to offer. But between Tropical North Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, swimming with Whale Sharks in Western Australia, and Outback Adventures in the Northern Territory, we shouldn't be too bored 'staying at home'!!"
About Mike & Anne
7 continents, 62 countries, and 1,000+ regions later ,Mike and Anne have officially had the longest honeymoon ever. They left home on January 22, 2012 and are still on their honeymoon, believe or not! Their blog HoneyTrek has grown to be a leading travel blog with over a 300,000 followers and has received acclaim from over 100 of media outlets—from USA Today to Lonely Planet.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Our top 3 destinations for 2021 would be Georgia (the country), Azores and Kyrgyzstan."
About Njood
Njood is a full time doctor, part-time wilderness survivalist & all time travel enthusiast. She began traveling in 2013, and has visited about 27 countries since. She hopes to change the Saudi girl’s prospective about traveling alone by following her footsteps.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Top 3 for me would be Australia, South Korea and Morroco. "
About Karilyn
Karilyn is a freelance writer/blogger and traveler extraordinaire who has been traveling since her early 20s and have spent at least 24 hrs in more than 48 countries. She likes to call herself a flashpacker (backpacker at heart with a little more cash in the pocket!) who now travels the world with her husband Folo and son Cian.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Top 3 for next year would be Montana, Thailand, Costa Rica."
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About Rami
Rami Rasamny is a true blue outdoor adventure enthusiast. He is the founder of @lifehappensoutdoors, an adventures and expeditions company for first-timers, solo travelers and anyone seeking a life changing experience. He traded his day-job as an chain smoking lawyer to climb mountains and never looked back at the corporate rut since.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"The Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu. Lesser known. More remote and scenic. Kilimanjaro because it’s a classic staple of my year that i always need to get my fix of. This will be my 11th. Chilean Patagonia because that’s as far away as I can think of going from where i’ve been stuck for most of 2020."
About Denise
Denise describes herself as a chaotic traveler who indulges in very little planning and lets her instincts do the traveling. She has been traveling for the last 7 years and currently resides in Germany, her homeland.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
- Philippines
- Nepal
- Mexico
About Isabel
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, Isabel's social media exudes inspiration to all travellers. With dreamy monuments, moody skies and vibrant outfits, Isabel definitely makes a mark on the internet with her charming photographs of her breathtaking getaways.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"I hope to visit these 3 destinations in 2021, as two of them were planned for 2020 but canceled due to
the pandemic.
Peru
Japan
Jamaica"
About Mustafa Sheikh
Mustafa is a luxury traveler and content creator who currently resides in Dubai. A skilled photographer traveling the world and clicking the right moments - Mustafa's Instagram feed is what dreams are made of. He has been featured o GQ, Nat Geo and CNN in the past for his stellar captures.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Top 3 for next year would be New Zealand (if borders re open), Seoul, South Korea and Norway "
About Sunetra
Sunetra is a full-time researcher and a travel bug by choice. She currently lives in Singapore and has travelled to over 50 countries. Her passion for photography and travel proved to be a perfect match as her photos display hidden mountain tops, rustic castles, ancient temples and most importantly, her presence in every picture that inspires her readers to pack and explore an exotic location.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"The 3 top destinations for 2021 are Jordan, Turkey & Norway!"
About Daniel & Audrey
What was supposed to be a year long travel adventure, turned out to be a business venture all by itself. Dan and Audrey are based out of Berlin and share their experience of exploring the world on their blog. You can find them indulged in innumerable cultures, cuisines and landscapes on every trip they take.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"The top destinations for 2021 would be Taiwan, Greenland and Camino de Santiago (France/Spain/Portugal)"
31 - 40
About Abigail
Abigail King is an award winning journalist who has been featured on National Geographic, BBC, CNN and more. She is the founder of Inside the Travel Lab which is one of the best travel websites in the world. After publishing content on over 60 travel destinations, Abigail hopes to continue to explore more in the future.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Iceland, Arizona and London. Some hot, some cold and I miss London after lockdown!"
About Gemma & Craig
Travelling to 30+ countries over 5 continents has paved way to a successful blog for this beautiful couple. As a couple, they love the outdoors, attending gigs/festivals and love partying. Whether its planning a cozy vacation in France or backpacking across Nicaragua, this blog has you covered.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
Ibiza - I've never been and want to experience the sunset at Cafe Mambo. A long wild weekend is what we
need after 2020
Paris - I've been but not with Craig. We were supposed to spend a week there in March
New England - I want a road trip with intense foliage.
About Anuradha
Travel and writing, two forms of art were united when Anuradha started her blog back in 2004. Courtesy IndiTales, she has traveled to 18 countries and nook and corners of India. She loves walking across cities, nature trails and along the rivers.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Right now anywhere I can get out is a treat. However, I want to visit Greece, Cambodia and a lot of places in India."
About Nellie Huang
Nellie Huang, a Singaporean by birth and a wanderbug by choice. Her first backpacking trip to Australia back in 2007, inspired her to travel around the world for a living. She started her blog in 2008 and has travelled to 142 countries ever since.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Top 3 would be Socotra in Yemen, Mali and Niger"
About Melissa
Melissa was born a wanderlust. Her parents took a trip every year and this pushed Melissa furhter to explore different corners of the world. 50 countries and 6 continents later, she started her own travel blog. She focuses on 'all things travel' and travelers can get inspired on local travel, international travel or venture out into the unknown through her blog.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"That’s a hard one since there’s so many places I want to go visit! I suppose for 2021 we should still be mindful of social distancing so I would love to chase the Northern Lights in Iceland, witness the annual Great Migration in Tanzania and soak in the sun on an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora."
About Lindsey
Lindsay is a travel and lifestyle writer who often contributes for Lonely Planet, BBC Travel and Time Out Kids. She currently resides in Abu Dhabi and loves exploring the emirate with her toddler and husband.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"My top three 2021 destinations are: Tokyo, Japan - we cancelled a Tokyo trip earlier this year due to lockdowns. We’ve visited the country before but there’s so much to see and do in Tokyo itself we want to spend more time exploring the city. Seychelles for a well deserved relaxing holiday attack after the mess of this year! And also Australia, for some wide open spaces, the great outdoors and visiting family."
About Alex & James
Alex and James quit their jobs back in 2019 to explore this beautiful world. After working for impressive organisations like American Express, Ritrz-Carlton and many more, the couple were certain that travel blogging was their calling.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Top 3 destinations look like this:
Australia, we have just bought a bus and are so excited to
travel Australia to see more of this country! 2nd and 3rd would be Fiji and New Zealand"
About Neil
Neil Fahey is an Australian blogger and started the Bushwalking Blog back in 2008 with an intent to start writing content about adventurous experiences for adrenaline junkies. As of now, this blog talks about different gears, hidden hiking trails and much more!
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"I like to keep my expectations realistic so as an Australian living in Melbourne, and therefore with very few travel options right now, my top 3 would be: Western Australia: As the only state in my own country that I’ve never stepped foot in, it seems an obvious choice. It’s ripe for a vanlife road trip of anywhere from a few days to a few months, from the Margeret River region in the south to the Kymberley in the north, it looks like one of the most incredible destinations in the country.. North Island, New Zealand: Having travelled the South Island twice, I feel like I’ve missed a hell of a lot of New Zealand’s nature and culture. Once again, New Zealand is incredibly accommodating to van travellers, which gives it great potential for another 10 out of 10 road trip. Singapore: When I was hiking Mount Batur in Bali last year I met an avid hiker from Singapore who didn’t speak very highly of his homeland as a destination for outdoor adventurers, but surely there are adventures to be had wherever you go. Singapore is one of our few options for travel from Melbourne at the moment. A quick Google search tells me my new friend was underselling the place."
Here are 12 Truths about Travel (and Life), learned from 12 Years of Full-Time Travel:
— Nora Dunn (@hobonora) October 20, 2020
About Nora
Nora Dunn is a travel enthusiast and has travelled to over 60 countries in 12 years. She gave up her financial planning practice to start a life of an adventure and explore untouched travel destinations. Through her experiences with finance along with her travel adventures, Nora focuses on financial sustainable travel to help avid travellers visit countries they never thought they could.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"Okay, to play this game I’m going to imagine that the pandemic is not a factor, and that all borders are open and that this is merely a matter of choosing my top 3 bucket list destinations for 2021. In which case, if time and money were no object, I would like to spend a few months in Turkey, take a month to hike the Juliana trail in Slovenia, and do an expedition cruise around Greenland. "
The Lesser-Known Secrets and Hidden Gems of Agra https://t.co/eIVNYGr3ax #Travel #Agra #India
— Raghav (@raghavmodi) December 6, 2020
About Raghav
Raghav is an avid traveller who enjoys the thrill of discovering new places. His blog features a melange of genres - food, movies, books and of course, travel! After travelling to more than 15 countries, Raghav hopes to share his exciting trips on his blog in the future.
What do the top 3 destinations in your travel bucket list look like?
"The past couple of years I’ve been focusing more in discovering my own country, India, and I hope to continue with that exploration in 2021. However, am also eager to visit the Maldives soon. Lastly, although I much prefer new destinations over the ones I’ve visited before, but my trip to Switzerland a couple of years back had such a huge impact and I want go back there again. "