Top Ten Places to Explore in 2024: Jim’s Picks and Top Magazine Selections Include France and Japan

It’s the time of year when travel publications like to list their top destinations for the following year. I quite enjoy these things, so I’ve compiled a list of some suggestions from top travel websites and magazines. I’ve also added my own Top 10 list, so here we go!

JIM’S TOP TEN

France

Paris will host the Summer Olympics next year. They run July 23 to Aug. 10. This year also marks the 150^th anniversary of the Impressionism movement and the 80^th anniversary of D-Day.

San Francisco

The city has been hit hard by poor publicity and the work-at-home trend, but civic leaders have made a big push to improve the image of the City by the Bay. San Francisco’s iconic Cliff House is set to reopen next year after being shuttered during the pandemic. Here’s a story I wrote after a visit this past summer.

Martinique

Air Canada will add new direct flights from Toronto on Dec. 16, with weekly service every Saturday. I was on the island for four days in November and quite enjoyed. We stayed all four days at the very nice Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek, which has tons of free activities, good food and a nice beach.  I loved Balata Gardens and enjoyed our visit to Depaz Distillery and the villages of Saint-Pierre and Sainte-Anne.

Toronto

Several new hotels should open in the city next year, including the long-awaited Nobu (along with a Nobu restaurant) on Mercer Street in the Entertainment District. Riu should open the Riu Plaza next year, which is being built a block north of the TIFF Lightbox. And a Curio by Hilton is coming to the Distillery District. On top of all that, Taylor Swift plays in Toronto on Nov. 14, 2024.

Maui

The August 8 wildfires killed nearly 100 people and wiped out almost all of the city of Lahaina. It also put a major dent in Maui’s tourism, which means island businesses will be eager to bring visitors back. It’s a good time to go, be a respectful tourist, and boost the local economy.

Saint Lucia

This will be the first full year for Point Hardy Golf Club, a truly astounding golf course on the rugged north coast of the island. It’s another project from Cabot Golf, the Canadian company that built Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Tahiti

All the eyes of the surfing world will be on Tahiti next year as it will host the Paris Olympics surfing competition. Surfers will be riding the heavy, barrel waves of Teahupo’o in the south part of Tahiti island, called Tahiti Iti.

Japan

Just about everyone with a travel list for 2024 has Japan on it. Interesting in visiting this beautiful country surged as COVID-19 eased and travel restrictions ended. It’s crazy busy, but I always enjoy spending time in Tokyo, and I loved my two days in Kyoto back in 2010. Both Air Canada and WestJet fly to Tokyo.

Detroit

I had an interview with the head of Detroit tourism a few months ago and was quite impressed. I haven’t been in some time, but I hear amazing things about new downtown hotels and restaurants, and the general vibe of the city.

Perth, Western Australia

Expedia recently reported that travellers are looking for alternatives to crowded cities, which makes Perth ideal for Australia lovers. It’s a cool city with great food, increasingly sophisticated hotels and terrific beaches. You’re also close to adorable quokkas, small marsupials that thrive on Rottnest Island, and only a few hours drive from the beautiful Margaret River wine region.

CONDE NAST TRAVELLER TOP 24 FOR 2024

1. Budapest (very cool city)

      2. Cyclades, Greece (only been to Paros, and that was in 1989, but I absolutely loved it)

      3. Yorkshire, England

      4. Mauritius

      5. South and Central Sri Lanka

      6. Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

      7. Grenada

      8. Kosovo

      9. French Polynesia (see my top 10 list for Tahiti Iti. I also love Bora Bora and Raiatea)

     10. Accra, Ghana

     11. Guatemala

     12. The Kimberley, Western Australia (near the top of my list!)

     13. Kobe, Japan

     14. Okavango Delta, Botswana

     15, Madagascar

     16. Magdalena River, Colombia

     17. Mongolia

     18. Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia (recovering nicely from wild fires, I’m told)

     19. Quebec (always a great choice; I’m hoping to explore The Gaspe area this year, at last)

     20. Quito

     21. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

     22. Santa Fe, New Mexico (don’t miss the green chile cheeseburgers)

     23. South Island, New Zealand (I love the South Island, including the Marlborough wine region and the French-influenced town of Akaroa. The drive along the east coast south of Blenheim.)

     24. Upstate New York (I enjoy Ithaca, in particular)

 

 

FORBES TOP 24 for 24

1. Sardinia, Italy (a friend of mine lives there, and I had a great visit a few years ago)
2. Urla, Turkiye
3. Niseko, Japan
4. Jeju, South Korea
5. Orkhon Valley, Mongolia
6. Goa, India
7. Tangalle, Sri Lanka
8. Oaxaca, Mexico (hear great things but haven’t made it yet)
9. Comporta, Portugal
10. San Sebastian, Spain
11. Nile River, Egypt
12. Marrakesh, Morocco
13. Milos, Greece
14. Iguazu River, Argentina/Brazil
15. Isla Baru, Colombia
16. Biarritz, France
17. Pokhara, Nepal
18. Tallinn, Estonia
19. Bergen, Norway
20. Franschhoek, South Africa (lovely wines and beautiful scenery)
21. Nuku hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia (the VERY top of my bucket list)
22. Easter Island, Chile (one of best places I’ve ever been)
23. Lake Saimaa Region, Finland
24. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam (stunning islands)

LONELY PLANET

Top Countries

1. Mongolia
2. India (truly amazing country)
3. Morocco
4. Chile (only seen a couple areas but very much enjoyed it)
5. Benin
6. Mexico
7. Uzbekistan
8. Pakistan
9. Croatia
10. Lucia

Top Regions

1. Western Balkans’ Trans Dinarica Cycling Route
2. Kangaroo Island, South Australia (haven’t been but I do love Australia)
3. Donegal, Ireland (loved our visit in 2011)
4. País Vasco, Spain
5. Southern Thailand (so beautiful)
6. Swahili Coast, Tanzania
7. Montana, USA
8. Saalfelden Leogang, Austria

Top Cities

1. Nairobi
2. Paris
3. Montreal (one of the world’s great cities)
4. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Philadelphia (haven’t been since the 1993 World Series)
6. Manaus, Brazil
7. Jakarta
8. Prague
9. Izmir, Turkey
10. Kansas City, Missouri (definitely underrated)

TRAVEL LEMMING TOP 50 FOR 2024

1. Yucatan, Mexico
2. Gizo, Solomon Islands
3. Stavanger, Norway
4. Antigua, Guatemala 
5. Memphis (never been but I’d like to)
6. Phu Quoc, Vietnam
7. St. John’s, Newfoundland (one of my fave destinations in Canada)
8. Kodiak, Alaska
9. Guatape, Colombia
10. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
11. Voyageurs Nat’l Park, Minnesota
12. Tunisia
13. Chiriqui Province, Panama
14. Vashon Island, Washington
15. Manchester, England (an underrated, enjoyable city)
16. Ko Yao Noi, Thailand
17. Ljubljana, Slovenia (love, love, love Slovenia)
18. Taipei, Taiwan
19. Wales (beautiful coastlines and great golf)
20. Iquitos, Peru
21. Quincy, Massachusetts
22. Tbilisi, Georgia
23. Turkiye
24. Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic
25. Sarajevo, Bosnia and erzegovina
26. Genoa, Italy
27. Sao Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal (The Azores are magnificent and easy to reach)
28. Essaouira, Morocco
29. Jacksonville, Florida
30. Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
31. Ranthambore National Park, India
32. Biarritz, France
33. Spring Green, Wisconsin
34. Sintra, Portugal (a bit touristy, but fun to visit)
35. Cuenca, Spain
36. Maunabo, Puerto Rico
37. Marseille, France
38. Frisco, Texas
39. Mount Cotton, Queensland, Australia
40. Inverness, Scotland (had a very brief visit to Castle Stuart Golf Club in Inverness this fall and was very impressed)
41. Steamboat Springs, Colorado
42. Bisbee, Arizona
43. Townsend, Tennessee
44. Klamath Falls, Oregon
45. Oviedo, Spain
46. Sant’Agnello, Italy
47. Hoboken, New Jersey
48. Jenner, California (a very cool coastal town in Sonoma County with beautiful, rugged scenery)
49. Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
50. Takayama, Japan