Travel expert, Heather Meliski, has some destinations you may want to think about

By Heather Meliski

Once the festivities of the holiday season are over, it’s time to start planning vacations for the new year. Where are the hot destinations for next year? Read on for my top choices for 2023.

Top Overall – The United Kingdom

This is Travel + Leisure’s destination of the year for 2023, and for good reason. The UK has the perfect combination of history, culture, fantastic accommodations, great food, and beautiful scenery. Whether you want to sightsee in a big city like London, check out the natural beauty of Wales, play world-class golf and visit world-class whisky distilleries in Scotland, or visit other worldly Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland, there is something for everyone in the UK. This destination is great for a first-time European vacation – it’s easy to get to from the US, they speak English in the UK, and they have a similar culture to the US.

Family Vacation – Ireland

If you’re looking to take an epic family vacation in 2023, look no further than Ireland. There’s something for everyone in the family here – historic castles, breathtaking landscapes, beautiful countryside, quaint small towns, and gorgeous coastlines. And of course, Guinness. There’s plenty for the kids and the adults to enjoy, so you don’t have to worry about anyone being bored. But the best part about Ireland is by far the people – they are friendly and welcoming, and make everyone feel at home in the Emerald Isle.

Culture – Egypt

If you’re looking for a vacation full of culture or you’re a history buff, it doesn’t get any better than Egypt. There is no shortage of stunning places to visit - the Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel, Karnak Temple, Cairo, Saqqara, Valley of the Kings, Alexandria, St. Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai, the Red Sea, Aswan, and both the Temple of Kom Ombo and Edfu’s Temple of Horus while cruising the Nile. And 2023 also brings the opening of the much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum which will house about 100,000 ancient artifacts including over 4,500 artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

Foodies – Sicily

You can never go wrong with Italy for a foodie destination. But if you’ve visited Italy before and are looking for something new and a little more off the beaten path, then Sicily is a great choice. Sicily has a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, amazing local architecture, fantastic local wineries, and gorgeous coastlines. Visit Palermo, Mt. Etna, ancient Syracuse, and Taormina as you explore age-old ruins and remarkable landscapes. And don’t forget the amazing food – caponata, arancini, artichokes, all things citrus, as well as Gambero red prawns and Modico chocolate. You can also pair Sicily with Malta for an extended vacation.

Mix of Old and New – Japan

Now that Japan has reopened to international visitors, travel there is booming and is expected to grow even more in 2023. Japan offers a fantastic mix of old and new, bustling and serene, historic and modern. I recommend combining the busy city of Tokyo with the calm of Kyoto to get a feel for this contrast. While in Japan, make sure to visit the Imperial Palace, historic temples and shrines, see the ancient castles, stay in a ryokan, explore one of the many Japanese gardens, enjoy the teahouses, and take the bullet train. If you have time, make sure to see Mount Fuji, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and Miyajima (The Shrine Island).

Adventure – Australia

Another destination that has recently reopened is Australia and it is shaping up to be very popular in 2023. Australia offers a wide variety of experiences – Sydney Harbor and Opera House, the Blue Mountains, the Outback, Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, and cities like Brisbane and Canberra – so there is something there for everyone. This is definitely a destination for a longer vacation due to the amount of travel time and the time difference.

Nature – South Africa

If a safari is tops on your list for 2023, South Africa has you covered. This is a great destination for a first visit to Africa since you can combine safari, city, and coast. Make sure to visit Cape Town to see Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years in prison), as well as Johannesburg to see the Apartheid Museum (a must-see) and Soweto. When you’re ready to head out on safari, visit one of the many private game reserves (some of which are malaria-free and perfect for families with young children). Build in time to visit the Cape Winelands and drive the Garden Route. I also recommend combining South Africa with Zimbabwe to experience Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

I’m currently planning trips for 2023 for each of these destinations, and I visited several of them in 2022 (England and Egypt), so I can confirm their popularity. Make sure to keep reading my articles in the new year to see which of these amazing destinations I travel to in 2023.

Happy holidays and I wish you the best in the New Year!

Heather Meliski writes Our Town Travel keeping us in the “know”. Heather is a travel agent specializing in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Australia, the South Pacific, cruises, theme parks, and more. She lives in Smyrna with her husband and two sons. Heather@ yellowshoetravel.com FB @heatheryellowshoetravel IG @yellowshoetravelheather