You'll experience an inspiration and awe-inspiring wave of emotion as you catch a glimpse of the world's most stunning locations. Even when you are unable to leave your home and travel to exotic locations in person, occasionally viewing idyllic locales from a distance can quench your wanderlust and inspire you to visit new areas in the future. Therefore, we created a virtual tour of some of the most breathtaking locations on earth—so breathtaking, in fact, that they almost seem extraterrestrial.
1. Zamora, Spain
UNESCO designated Zamora as a European World Heritage Site for 2023 despite the fact that few people—even in Spain—are aware that it is the European city with the greatest concentration of Romanesque architecture. In addition, this underestimated town lies near Madrid, which is only an hour away by new, high-speed AVE railway that was just introduced a year ago.
Zamora is home to a large modernist legacy as well as the Lagunas de Villafáfila, a group of lakes that serve as a seasonal haven for tens of thousands of migratory birds. There is still more to see, spread out across the province: Located not far from Puebla de Sanabria, one of Spain's most picturesque communities, Lake Sanabria is the largest glacial lake in the Iberian Peninsula. Toro, in the east, is the center of big, robust red wines and the location of the highly regarded winery Numanthia, which is credited with popularizing the wine region. Get a table at Lera, which received its Michelin star in 2022, in the center of Tierra de Campos, not far from here, and has become popular with fans of wild game.
Arribes del Duero, a region in the south, demonstrates that Zamora province contains everything, including fjords. The boundary with Portugal is marked by stunning crags and rocks in a park that has developed into a viticulture hub and draws renowned winemakers from around the world. This hidden area is transformed into a Mediterranean paradise by fruit trees like olive, citrus, and other varieties, artisanal pottery, and breathtaking natural beauty. Consider the opulent Hacienda Zorita Natural Reserve and the Castillo de Buen Amor in Salamanca, which will be renovated in 2021 and is only a 30-minute drive away, as the ideal locations for your charming Zamora getaway.
2. Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand, which received high accolades for successfully containing COVID-19, resisted removing the travel restrictions put in place during the pandemic until September of this year. Without a doubt, the Island country is making significant preparations for the hordes of foreign tourists expected in the upcoming year, particularly in the metropolis of Auckland.
There has never been better air connectivity with the United States. There are currently nonstop flights from six American cities; in September, Air New Zealand's nearly-17-hour flagship trip from New York City made its debut as the fourth-longest leg in the world. A direct route from Australia's Qantas to New York City is scheduled to launch in June 2023.
Auckland's crowded events calendar appears to be making up for lost time in the meanwhile. The well-liked Lantern Festival will return to commemorate Chinese New Year in February 2023 after a three-year absence. After a two-year hiatus, Pasifika, the biggest Pacific Island cultural festival in the world, will resume in March 2023. Additionally, the quadrennial FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 will visit nine host cities in Australia and New Zealand in July, including games in Auckland's Eden Park.
Three years' worth of glitzy Hotel debuts are also in store, in addition to Auckland's newest attractions that tourists have yet to see, such as the $350M environmentally conscious Te Wnanga waterfront development on Quay Street. The Park Hyatt, QT Auckland, the beautiful Hotel Fitzroy, and Hotel Britomart, the only 5-Green-Star hotel in New Zealand, are among the options. Newcomers to Auckland's rural outskirts, including the golf-focused Te Arai and the Scandi-inspired Parohe Island Retreat, blend seamlessly with stays in the city. If you decide to travel deeper into Aotearoa, Great Journeys' new multi-day itineraries depart from Auckland Rail Station. It appears like Auckland will finally get its chance to shine in 2023.
3. British Columbia, Canada
From the Rockies to the storm-ravaged islands of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia is known for its pristine natural beauty. New Indigenous-led experiences are introducing tourists to the cultures that are most closely related to the land. Visitors can learn about the Haida worldview of Yah'guudang, which means "respect for all living things and the interdependence that binds us," while exploring Haida Gwaii at the Haida House, which is owned and operated by Haida people. The new longhouse-style oceanfront cabins will open in May 2022. Visitors to Haida House will tour the locations of the ancestral villages on the islands, including The Village of Queen Charlotte, which was recently and unprecedentedly given back its Indigenous name of Daajing Giids.
The Indigenous-owned and -operated Nemiah Valley Lodge will open for its first full season in June farther east, in the interior of British Columbia's Chilcotin region. After a landmark decision granted the First Nation access to their traditional region, the lodge represents the first tourism endeavor on Tsilhqot'in title lands. The sweat lodge experience and kayaking on Chilko Lake, the highest freshwater lake in Canada, will be added in 2023. These activities will be led by Tsilhqot'in cultural ambassadors from the nearby Xeni Gwet'in community.
Klahoose Wilderness Resort, which is a newcomer on the coast, focuses on the culture of the Klahoose First Nation and wildlife viewing in the far-flung Desolation Sound. On Vancouver Island's Quait Bay, there is also the Tofino Wilderness Resort, which will debut in 2023 under Ahousaht First Nation control.0 But the vibrant center of British Columbia will also bear the imprint of Indigenous culture: The only Indigenous Restaurant in Vancouver, Salmon n' Bannock, will soon open Salmon n' Bannock on the Fly at the Vancouver airport. This will be the first Indigenous restaurant to open in a Canadian airport and a welcome way to cap off a trip to the area.
4. Central California Coast, U.S.A
The Central Coast, a mosaic of relaxed seaside villages, redwood forests with winding trails, and wineries producing exceptional Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, has been on our radar for a while. The less well-known locations in the area, however, now seem to be living cooler second lives. Cowboy villages like Los Alamos and Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley are buoyed by the same exciting rumors that Joshua Tree was a decade ago (known, but not too known). With its mix of trendy dining establishments like the seafood tavern Bar Le Côte, casually elegant eateries like Future Perfect Wines, and new lodgings, most notably the Inn at Mattei's Tavern, the valley has emerged as the hippest new escape for Angelinos.
The latter, a cherished 19th-century classic with a cabana-lined pool, a spa designed by New York City's cult organization The Well, and four restaurants, including a smokehouse that contrasts open-fire cooking and Shanghainese cuisines, was recently revived by Auberge Resorts Collection. Paso Robles, which is an hour north, has finally abandoned its serious oenophiles-only reputation. The only Michelin-starred restaurant in San Luis Obispo County is Six Test Kitchen, which is located in Tin City, an approachable cluster of wineries and breweries situated amid an industrial area that has been compared to Santa Barbara's Funk Zone. The Nomada Group's restoration experts will reopen two historic hotels the following year: the Farmhouse Motel, a downtown location from the 1940s, and River Lodge, located at the beginning of Route 46 and close to the best wines.
5. Egypt
After a decade of unrest sparked by the Arab Spring, Egypt is entering a much more optimistic phase. In addition to hosting the UN Climate Summit, COP 27, in November 2022, Egypt also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb this year.
In the coming year, numerous high-profile projects, like the long-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, will finally be completed and opened. The museum, which is expected to be the largest in the world when it opens in 2023, will house priceless artifacts, including everything that was retrieved from Tutankhamun's tomb. The exciting repatriation of some items from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the transfer of the country's enormous collection of royal mummies to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo serve as further attractions for tourists interested in Egyptology.
With new infrastructure—and a new capital—quickly taking shape, bigger changes are underway. Egypt's New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, will take over as the nation's administrative hub and feature Africa's tallest tower and the 22-mile-long Green River Park, which is modeled after the Nile River. This development is not without controversy, however. Having said that, Viking River Cruises has added another ship to their fleet, the Viking Aton, which will sail the well-liked Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, and is scheduled to debut in August 2023. A further justification for a multi-stop tour through Egypt is the launch of the eco-resort The Chedi El Gouna on the Red Sea, which is scheduled for December 2022.
6. Galilee, Israel
Food and wine connoisseurs from Tel Aviv have been making the winding trip up to Israel's Galilee area for years, where the countryside opens up into beautiful green hills and valleys, for decades. Locals have long referred to this fertile region, home to fruit orchards, organic dairies, and family-owned vineyards, as Israel's Tuscany.
The region's richness is now also being discovered by visitors from abroad: Over the past year, a flurry of brand-new boutique hotels have debuted, including the Galei Kinneret, revived with a kitchen run by renowned chef Assaf Granit, and the Pereh Mountain Resort, set on a hill and surrounded by olive groves and orchards. The Farmhouse, which debuted in 2021 as well, offers accommodation amidst vineyards and invites guests to match local wines with handmade cheeses and fresh local products following Watsu pool therapy and jeep tours. The largest city in Galilee, Tiberias, is also getting a makeover with new promenade along the same shoreline where it is said that Jesus walked on water—and new direct flights from Atlanta to Israel (Delta; starting in May) and in 2023, access will be simpler than ever thanks to Miami (American; starting in October).
7. Kenya
There is a lot more to see in Kenya than the Masai Mara, and there are compelling new reasons to travel all over the nation. Kenya has long been a popular destination for safari tourists. Nairobi was previously only used as a one-night stopover on the way to the bush, but now creative new hotel concepts like The Social House Nairobi, which debuted right before the outbreak, are luring travelers to stay for longer. The four restaurants and café are popular gathering places for Nairobi's creative elite, and the 83 modern rooms are packed with regional goods like Kenyan coffee and cosmetics.
With innovative kitchens like the farm-to-table Cultiva, which was created by Ecuadorian chef Ariel Moscardi after falling in love with Nairobi during a brief visit, Nairobi's restaurant scene is also thriving. Additionally, designer Anna Trzebinski has turned her attention to the shore after welcoming visitors to her home as the artistic Eden Nairobi in 2021. She has occupied three residences in the alluring Lamu archipelago islands, furnished them with her own custom furnishings and decor, and will reveal them as Jannah Shela in 2023.
This trendy retreat attracts a new generation of guests from Kenya and abroad because to its magnificent indoor-outdoor spaces and rooftop bar with the best views in Lamu. For those who can't get enough of Angama Mara's exquisite features, Angama Amboseli will debut in November 2023, bringing its modern African style to the more southern Amboseli National Park, where 10 tented suites provide commanding views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
8. Loire Valley, France
The wealth of regal châteaux and the picturesque landscapes of the Loire Valley have long been relied upon to attract tourists. But it wasn't until lately that the area strove to go beyond its picturesque historical wonders to create new reasons to visit, due to the effort of hoteliers, creatives, and chefs.
This initiative started in 2020 with the gastronomic and natural vacations provided at Les Sources de Cheverny and the Loire Valley Lodges, and it hasn't shown any signs of slowing. The Fleur de Loire, a hotel in Blois with a view of the Loire River and double Michelin stars under chef Christophe Hay, has significantly raised the bar. Hay renovated a historic hospice from the 17th century to add two restaurants, a pastry shop, a Sisley spa, 44 exquisitely decorated rooms, and a 2.5-acre garden that provides all the ingredients for his cuisine.
For those who can't help but feel the need to fall asleep amid the magnificent walls of a castle, there is, however, also novelty. Opening in October 2022, the Château Louise de La Vallière is a brand-new 5-star Relais & Châteaux property set away in a woodland between Tours and Amboise. The 20-room establishment, which is housed in a 16th-century château set within a 47-acre park and was the first vacation home of Louise de la Vallière, the first official mistress of Louis XIV, has been restored and redesigned by Jacques Garcia to reflect the elegance and mannerisms of the time. This includes authentic paintings, tapestries, decorative items, and even mealtime customs.
When Leonardo De Vinci's final resting place, the Saint-Hubert chapel, reopens in 2023 following a refurbishment that lasted almost two years, it makes a good starting point for a trip to the Royal Château of Amboise. On the 600th anniversary of Louis XI's birth, the Château will also hold a brand-new exhibition on him that will run for an entire year.
But the first Le Grand Tour experience from Puy du Fou will be available next summer, making it the newest way to make a stopover. The six-day luxury train journey covers more than 2,000 miles in a Belle Epoque carriage as it takes guests on a tour of France. Chenonceau is the final stop, where guests spend the night and have private tours of the named
9. Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech exudes a heady intensity that enthralls, whirls, and leaves you wanting more. All solid reasons to make sure you have a cozy place to stay the night, which you will, thanks to a few intriguing opportunities. Lovely riad Ten additional rooms have just been added to El Fenn in the distinctive design of the hotel, which combines precise handcrafted details, vivid colors, and striking contemporary art. Two new locations are opening this spring on the other side of the medina.
First up is Rosemary, a charming new riad designed by Laurence Leenaert, the man behind the LRNCE line of ceramics and textiles, with a tranquil courtyard and sunny rooftop. The historic Pearl Hotel will be revitalized by a new Nobu hotel in the lush Hivernage area, which is home to some of the city's best nightlife. Located 45 minutes from the medina in the Agafay Desert, Habitas recently debuted the Caravan Agafay, which was modeled after Burning Man. The stone desert here looks more lunar than sandy, so don't expect rolling Sahara-style dunes. However, you can expect boho tents, swimming pools, moongazing, and a lot more.
The new Monde des Arts de la Parure, a three-story wood-and-brick building illuminated by a striking octagonal skylight, features 3,000 pieces of jewelry, ornaments, and textiles from more than 50 countries. Marrakech itself continues to be a draw for artists and designers. The exhibition "Our Land Just Like A Dream" by Malagasy artist Jol Andrianomearisoa at the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL), which runs through July 2023, investigates traditional Moroccan creative wisdom.
10. Memphis, Tennessee
Although Memphis has been quietly remaking itself to become the most popular destination in Tennessee, Nashville claims to have a lot of national hype. Visitors are now starting to profit from the billions invested in revitalization initiatives in the city's core over the previous ten years.
In time for Memphis in May, a month-long event honoring the city's culture with the renowned Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, an updated Tom Lee Park will open in the city center in 2023. New pavilions, contemplative pathways, riverfront seating, sound gardens, and a Canopy Walk connecting the park to downtown will all be added as part of the $60 million transformation, which is a fitting tribute to the park's hero namesake, a Black Memphisan who saved passengers from a sinking steamboat on the Mississippi River nearly a century ago. Over the coming years, The Walk on Union, billed as the largest new mixed-use development in the Southeast, will gradually open, bringing with it two new Hilton hotels, as well as retail establishments and green areas.
With eight new hotels opened in 2022 and more on the way, Memphis is witnessing a hotel boom. The hip The Memphian and Hyatt's first Caption concept have just debuted, and like the newest generation of Memphis restaurants, both use design and cuisine to highlight the city's history. Although barbecue still reigns supreme, the hippest eateries in the city are loosening things up: The Food Network star chef Tamra Patterson will open a new vegetarian restaurant in 2023, and the upscale mocktails are served at the craft cocktail bar Cameo, which just opened this year. Raw Girls currently has two physical smoothie and juice bars.
11. Mendoza, Argentina
In Argentina's Great Wine Capital, Mendoza, locals celebrate by raising a glass of Malbec in front of the majestic Andes. A slew of chic restaurant and hotel openings, many of which are led by women, give visitors even more reasons to do the same (it is just 90 minutes by plane from Buenos Aires, after all).
There are numerous new bodega dining and drinking options in Mendoza. There are three restaurants opening in 2022: sommelier Camila Cerezo Pawlak's Ruda restaurant in the Tupungato Winelands (opened in January 2022), chef Patricia Courtois' 5 Suelos at Durigutti Family Winemakers, and Catena Zapata's lavish Angélica, which is named for the family matriarch (November 2022).
However, Zonda at Bodega Lagarde—a winery that is organic and B-Corp certified and will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2023—stands out for exhibiting the finest of Mendoza, from outstanding vintages to its intricately carved teaspoons. During the full garden-to-table experience at Zonda, owner Sofia Pescarmona shares her family's terroir with the diners, who gather herbs and vegetables and get a little messy cooking empanadas. A nine-course regional tasting menu is offered in exchange for efforts, and it is accompanied with Lagarde wines, including the reviving Proyecto Hermanas White Blend that Sofia and her sister Lucila create.
Susana Balbo, a trailblazing female oenologist in Argentina who heads her namesake winery, also recently renovated a mansion with daughter Ana Lovaglio the seven-suite SB Winemaker's Lodge & Spa in April 2022. Flavia Amad Di Leo oversees both the hotel's restaurants as well as the bodega. Adventuresome visitors can hire the lodge's VisionAir seaplane, the only one of its kind in Argentina, and explore remote regions of the eighth-largest country in the world after being revitalized by in-room massages and asado by the pool.
12. Mustang, Nepal
For many years, backpackers and trekkers have chosen Nepal as their Himalayan vacation destination because of the country's deeply spiritual culture, limitless adventure opportunities, and those sky-piercing peaks. However, many people who value luxury have frequently chosen the neighboring country of Bhutan because of its exceptional selection of pricey mountain hotels. When Nepal introduces a wave of top-notch boutique hotels and experiences in 2023, that will change.
The recent renovation of Mountain Lodges of Nepal, a family-owned group of opulent hotels dispersed around the breathtaking Annapurna and Everest regions, is largely to thank for this transformation. By the end of 2023, they will open 15 upscale lodges that are small and personal. These lodges will be a combination of renovated buildings and new construction that blends traditional elements like stone walls and vibrant cultural motifs with contemporary elements like dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass windows. They will also provide multi-day treks, wild honey hunting, and helicopter rides to Champagne breakfasts with views of Mount Everest.
In the isolated, formerly-forbidden old kingdom region of Mustang, the 29-suite Shinta Mani Mustang, a Bensley Collection, is set to debut in 2023 and is undoubtedly Asia's most eagerly anticipated hotel opening. The all-inclusive mountain retreat, spearheaded by design virtuoso Bill Bensley, combines Tibetan design (using recycled materials), traditional wellness programs, one-of-a-kind experiences (like guided explorations of the mysterious, ancient "sky caves"), and unmatched access to one of the Himalaya's last uncharted regions.
13. Ollantaytambo, Peru
Most people know Ollantaytambo for its archeological monument, an Incan hilltop fortification that entices visitors off the train to Machu Picchu. However, in recent years, the community has also developed into a terroir-driven culinary epicenter in the Sacred Valley, with local businesspeople ushering in a new era of Andean food and drink traditions. Try Destilera Andina's herbaceous high-elevation rums, or make your own by infusing herbs; Cafe Mayu's Andean coffee or souvenir-roasting beans; and Cerveceria del Valle Sagrado's artisan beer infused with regional fruit.
Chuncho's farm-to-table cuisine and inventive cocktails are examples of how old and modern may still coexist, but the farm tours at El Albergue Ollantaytambo prioritize traditional pachamanca cookery. And keep an eye out for the brand-new Destilera Andina location with a full-service bar when it opens nearby Cerveceria del Valle Sagrado in mid-2023.
The case for staying the night is strengthened by the interesting hotels, so don't make the mistake of leaving after dinner and boarding the train. The century-old El Albergue Ollantaytambo is a traditional starting point, but you may also relax at the spa-equipped Qolqas Eco Lodge or spend the night in a hillside capsule with valley views at the Skylodge Adventure Suites. The new Starlodge Adventure Suites and onsen for the brand won't be available until 2022, despite the latter's 2013 opening.
To really enjoy your trip, schedule it around significant cultural events: 50 days after Easter, the Seor de Choquekillka festival honors the community's patron saint with food, music, and dance; in June, residents celebrate the winter solstice; and in October, the entire community celebrates Ollantaytambo's anniversary.
14. Queensland, Australia
With thousands of acres being given back to Indigenous organizations over the last two years, Queensland has been setting the pace in Australia's efforts to compensate its indigenous population for land losses. This change is providing travelers with fresh experiences that are informed by the wisdom of the first land managers.
The Eastern Kuku Yalanji people are now collaborating with the state government to manage the national park, which includes the ancient rainforest of the UNESCO-listed Daintree National Park. This parcel was returned in 2021. Visitors can take guided tours of the land with traditional custodians at the recently opened Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, an ecotourism destination run primarily by Indigenous staff. Other ecotourism options include the Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours, which include nighttime walking, crabbing, and spearfishing, and the Walkabout Cultural Adventures, which highlight Indigenous plants and medicines.
The Torres Strait Islanders of Aboriginal, Melanesian, and Australian heritage received land near the Torres Strait Islands, of which there are at least 274 in the strait between Australia and New Guinea, last year. The islands are now more accessible than ever thanks to local Indigenous business owners who have established firms like Strait Experience, which provides a first-of-its-kind day tour to the islands from Cairns.
The Mondrian Gold Coast and the Ritz-Carlton Brisbane, both of which are a part of the Queens' Wharf project that is remaking the river's edge, are just two of the upscale lodging options that will be available in Queensland starting in 2023 if you choose to bookend your experiences there. These two luxury hotels join The Langham Gold Coast and Dorsett Gold Coast, which both began operations last summer.
Last but not least, pay a visit to Brisbane if you're in the area. Suncorp Stadium will serve as the site of eight matches for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which Australia and New Zealand will co-host. Good thing there are now three weekly nonstop flights from San Francisco to Brisbane, added by United Airlines in October 2022, making it easier than ever to travel to Queensland.
15. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
While it might appear that Dubai continues to control most of the glitz and bustle in the United Arab Emirates, Sharjah, which is nearby, has been quietly establishing itself as the cultural center of the Emirates. The Sharjah Biennial, celebrating its 30th anniversary in February, will open with artwork from more than 150 artists from 70 different countries. This will follow the opening of striking new galleries from the Sharjah Arts Foundation and architectural wonders like the House of Wisdom library, designed by Foster + Partners. Another event planned is the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, which will be organized by the Nigerian architect Tosin Oshinowo in association with visionaries like Rahul Mehrotra of India and Paulo Tavares of Brazil.
The Chedi Al Bait, a maze of 53 rooms and eight suites dispersed among a number of ocher courtyards in the ancient quarter, is the most evocative place to stay in Sharjah. It receives an upgrade this year with the addition of a 12-room boutique wing constructed in a century-old family home. There are also luxurious new methods to discover the lesser-known emirate's natural splendors. With the opening of two new retreats in Sharjah in 2023, Lux Resorts & Hotels—known for its opulent lodgings in Mauritius, the Maldives, and China—will make its Middle Eastern debut. While Lux Al Bridi will be a safari lodge teeming with wildlife in the vast Al Bridi Nature Reserve, Lux Al Jabal will be a beach retreat overlooking an undeveloped section of the Gulf of Oman.
16. Taiwan
Taiwan has long enticed visitors with its elegant towering teahouses, surreal scenery, and culinary prowess. The island country has finally reopened its borders to foreign travelers after more than two years, but there is a lot to catch up on.
The Taipei Performing Arts Center, which has three performance venues contained within slick geometric buildings, is now fully open after ten years of construction. A few miles south, the chic Hotel Resonance Taipei has unlocked its doors with 175 brand-new guest rooms that provide expansive city views and sleek contemporary decor. Just before borders were closed, The Place hotel's Taipei location opened in Nangang; it is equally stylish and peaceful, with a teahouse in its foyer, and a design-forward Kimpton branch established roots in the Da'An District.
The Sotetsu Grand Fresa Taipei Ximen is set to debut in 2023 in the thriving Ximending neighborhood, which was recently named one of Time Out's "51 Coolest Neighborhoods In The World." There will be many more to come. Plan your meals around one of the five eateries that received Michelin stars in 2022: Sushiyoshi, Holt, Paris 1930 de Hideki Takayama, Yu Kapo, and Shin Yeh Taiwanese Signature.
While everything is going on, Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan, has been drawing tourists who board the high-speed rail to visit one of the 44 restaurants that helped Tainan achieve a spot in the 2022 Michelin Guide. The colorful and artistic Shennong Street, the abandoned warehouse known as Anping Tree House, and Mao House, a trendy bed and breakfast that contrasts sharply with its architecturally conservative neighbors, are further reasons to make the journey worthwhile.
17. Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos vacationers have long desired to reach Grace Bay Beach's stunning white sands and azure waters. But recently, a flurry of brand-new accommodations and construction projects on the island chain's outlying regions have altered what it means to enjoy exclusivity.
With its elegant Mediterranean design (a break from the archipelago's traditional colonial aesthetic), private plunge pools, and sustainability initiatives that protect natural vegetation and limestone, the 46-unit Rock House opened this past May and has already become a model for other hotels. However, Rock House's location—a clifftop perch above a remote beach on Grace Bay's north shore—is unquestionably where its true magic lies. Here, you can while away the days snorkeling in a protected marine sanctuary.
The 31-acre South Bank Turks & Caicos, a residential resort and marina, debuting in March, at the top of Long Bay Beach, with 18 waterfront villas and a five-acre swimming lagoon, is one of the further properties scheduled to be built in 2023. Later in 2023, The Strand Turks & Caicos will be built. It will have oceanfront villas and what feels like its own peninsula on Cooper Jack Bay, and it will be located 20 minutes south of Grace Bay.
The less visited offshore islands of Turks and Caicos are now simpler to access thanks to significant infrastructure improvements. A $25 million port extension in Grand Turk will allow for the arrival of bigger cruise ships in 2023. The tiny South Caicos island's single runway airport will receive a big makeover in June, which will ease access to the least inhabited of the islands, including the ultra-luxurious Sailrock Resort, a favorite of celebrities like Justin Bieber and Regina King.
18. Vienna
Vienna has a long history of being a center of innovative music and art in Europe, and in 2023 the city will celebrate a number of significant anniversaries.
The 2023 Viennese ball season returns after a two-year break with lavish evenings of live symphonic music and formal dancing. The Vienna Philharmonic Ball and the Vienna Opera Ball, two of the year's most glittering events, are also celebrating their respective 65th and 80th anniversaries. The illustrious orchestra will perform on the latter's return on January 19. In the meanwhile, dancing "Under the Sign of Solidarity"—the night's theme—will be performed at the Opera Ball on February 16 in cooperation with Austria Helps Austria to raise money for individuals who have been most negatively touched by the COVID-19 outbreak.
A year-long exhibition called "The Belvedere: 300 Years a Place of Art" honors the museum's influence on Viennan art history as The Belvedere, home to Gustav Klimt's well-known The Kiss, celebrates 300 years since its creation. In 2023, don't miss "Klimt. Inspired by Van Gogh, Rodin, Matisse...," a joint exhibition by Amsterdam's Belvedere and the Van Gogh Museum that highlights the notable painters that influenced the maestro of Viennese Modernism.
At the stylish new hotels in Vienna, put your feet up. The new Asaya Spa will welcome its first year's worth of guests at the Rosewood Vienna, which debuted in 2022. The Hoxton will next debut a 196-room hotel with an events auditorium in late 2023, marking a first for the hotel brand and paying homage to Vienna's history as a center for live entertainment and culture.
19. Wales
It has, of course, taken some time for there to be a Welsh gourmet revival. However, a new generation of chefs, from Nathan Davies of SY23 in beachside Aberystwyth to James Sommerin's Home in Penarth, are delving into their terroir and emerging with handfuls of truffles, scallops, and cheeses.
Additionally, there has been an increase in difficult-to-reach destination restaurants that are resolutely doing things their way, like Gareth Ward's Ynyshir in the Dyfi Valley, which recently received a second Michelin star, and Annwn in deepest Pembrokeshire, where Matt Powell sources the majority of his ingredients from the coastline. The eight-seat Gwen, which bears his mother's name, will debut in 2023, expanding Ward's empire and including sourdough pizzas on the menu. While this is going on, Paternoster Farm, located in an old Pembroke cowshed, is creating wonderful things with Porthilly oysters, Welsh Mountain lamb, and sea beet. This is thanks to its Five Mile Feasts, a unique menu, which collects a variety of local treasures.
A Scandi-Japanese restaurant on the river bank, a wooded onsen, and a spa are all scheduled to debut at the Albion Aberteifi near Cardigan in 2023, making it unquestionably the coolest hotel to open in Wales in recent memory. The thriving outdoor sauna scene in the UK appears to be centered around Wales: This December, Heartwood Saunas, a company located in Snowdonia, will open a new forest project where parties of up to 10 can utilize a wood-fired sauna before diving into the River Dulas pools (or using the yoga deck), all while surrounded by old oak trees and natural pools. Pendine Sands, a seven-mile stretch, is seeing a resurgence in Carmarthenshire.
The Museum of Speed, which honors the numerous land-speed records set on the beach, including one set by actor Idris Elba in a Bentley Continental GT, will open alongside the Caban hotel in the spring. Slowing down a bit, The Wild Drovers' Way, a new 180-mile slow-travel route of roads and walking paths, extends from the foothills of the Cambrians into the Brecon Beacons. It's a lovely way to appreciate some of Wales' rural highlights.
If you want to raise a glass to celebrate all of this, consider traveling to Swansea, where Penderyn will debut its new whisky-distillery experience in March, or to Ynyshir, where Gareth Ward debuted The Legless Thatch next to his restaurant last summer. Cardiff's St Fagans Museum of National History is rebuilding the famous Vulcan pub—a favorite of the Manic Street Preachers—on its grounds, and it plans to reopen in 2024.
20. Western Japan
A world-first expedition cruise and brand-new luxury openings are just two of the many reasons to visit western Japan in 2023. Luxury small-ship company Ponant has announced the first-ever adventure cruise from Osaka in 2023 that will travel over Japan's oldest sea route in the Seto Inland Sea, which divides Honshu, the main island of Japan, from the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu. Beginning in May 2023, the 264-guest Le Soléal will chart a seven-night course towards the Sea of Japan while visiting ancient feudal towns and traditional fishing communities on the coast of Honshu as well as Inland Sea islands like Inujima, which was once a center for copper mining but is now one of the well-known modern "Art Islands." The wellness retreat Zenbo Seinei has just opened its doors on Awaji Island, which is also located in the Seto Inland Sea. It was created by Shigeru Ban, winner of the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, and includes a restaurant honoring Japan's fermented food tradition as well as a 21-meter-long gallery for zazen meditation.
The brand-new Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen on Kyushu island now easily connects cosmopolitan Nagasaki to Japan's extensive network of bullet trains. And in the hot spring town of Yufuin, Kengo Kuma—the designer of the Japan National Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—has finished a new gallery at Comico Art Museum that will house works by Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, and Hiroshi Sugimoto, among others, as well as two exclusive-use "Art Houses" with private onsen baths. This is good news because a new Ritz-Carlton will open there in the summer of The stunning KAI Yufuin, a modern onsen ryokan with views of Mount Yufu and encircled by rice terraces whose beauty changes with the seasons, was also built nearby by Kuma.
