From Australia to Asia and Canada to California; Eleven Top World Destinations for 2026. Okay, Europe, Too.

I’ve been lucky enough to be a full-time travel writer since 2008. I’ve managed to see more than 60 countries around the world, and to visit some of the most exotic places on earth. As well as some tried-and-very-true destinations that are well worth your trouble.

Here’s one travel lovers list of great places to explore in 2026. Some of them have specific reasons, such as the Winter Olympics, while others are simply personal faves or places that could use your business right now.

AZORES

These Atlantic Ocean islands to me are like a combination of Hawaii, Scotland and Portugal (which makes sense, as they’re part of Portugal). The dark, lava rock coastlines and blue water remind me of Hawaii, the deep green grass is as beautiful as anything you’d find in Scotland or Ireland, and the villages are quintessential Mediterranean/Portuguese. Besides that, the weather is temperate year-round, the food (seafood, fresh beef, local cheeses) is exquisite, and the hiking spectacular for all ages. Okay, one more thing: Both Air Canada and WestJet can see the popularity of these islands and will offer direct flights from Toronto next year. The flight is less than six hours.

MOOREA

This is a magnificent island that’s just a short ferry ride from the island of Tahiti. The craggy, jungle-clad mountains and clear blue-green waters are to die for, and the people are lovely and welcoming. There are casual resorts along beautiful Cook’s Bay, as well as overwater bungalows from the likes of Sofitel (the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort is wonderful.)  I rented a moped for the day on my visit in 2010 and had a great time. If you REALLY want to get away from it all, try the nearby island of Raiatea. My wife and I had a fine stay at the boutique Fare Vai Nui hotel in 2019. There’s not much of a beach, but we had a lovely unit with a nice pool and good food. Fab sunsets, as well.

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

This might be my fave city in Canada, a rollicking, hillside, oceanfront town that has some of the most welcoming locals on the planet, as well as spectacular city hiking, great food, wildly colourful wooden homes and fabulous pubs for live music. Don’t miss the hike from the funky Battery neighbourhood to Signal Hill (there are a LOT of steps), and be sure to visit the quaint village of Quidi Vidi. Nearby Cape Spear is the easternmost point of land in North America. Sarah Palin said she could see Ireland from here. 

SINGAPORE

Yes, there’s great shopping, and fine hotels, such as the Four Seasons. There are also top attractions like the Marina Bay Sands and it’s famous infinity, rooftop pool, and the space age Gardens by the Bay. But what makes this place so interesting to me is the cultural mix of Malaysians, Chinese and Indian residents. Kampong Glam is a wonderful part of town, a low-rise district that’s a centre for Singaporean Muslims and features a wide variety of engaging shops and restaurants. Little India and Chinatown are both worth a half-day of your time, if not more. Singapore has some of the best food stalls on the planet; cheap places for spicy noodles and all sorts of amazing dishes. Air Canada flies direct to Singapore from Vancouver.

ISLE OF ARRAN, SCOTLAND

Before I visited, I was told this island on the west side of Scotland is a microcosm of the country; with everything from castles and distilleries to seaside villages and great golf courses. I’m happy to report it was everything I hoped it would be. One of the highlights was a round of golf at Shiskine Golf Course on the west side of the island, where I mixed with the nicest group of locals this travel writer has ever laid eyes and ears on. Much of Brodick Castle has been redone over the years, but parts of this handsome structure overlooking The Firth of Clyde date back as far as the 1300’s. I loved our visit to Arran Whisky distillers, not to mention the product I was able to bring home. The drive to get there from the main town of Brodick is magical, as you glide over a narrow pass between the mountains on the north end of the island and then slide down into a delightful, green valley.

CAPITOLA, CALIFORNIA

On the other side of North America, this is another great coastal town with Instagram-worthy homes along the beach. I’m biased, as our family has had a cabin about 10 minutes away from Capitola for nearly 50 years. Check out the fun restaurants along the water (I quite like Margaritaville for Mexican, as well as Mr. Toot’s Coffee House for an afternoon latte), or splurge a little and check out Shadowbrook Restaurant, which cascades down a hill and has gorgeous gardens and a funicular to take you up and down. If it’s nice outside, try to get a table along pretty Soquel Creek.

JAMAICA

The western and southwestern coasts of the island were badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa in the fall of 2025. But many places have re-opened, including Sunset at the Palms in Negril, where I had a fab stay earlier this year. There was virtually no damage to the middle and eastern ends of the island, which means it’s business as usual for hotels and resorts near Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio. I love the Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios, which has a lovely beach and a terrific spa. I haven’t stayed there, but I’ve visited Goldeneye resort a couple of times and would love to spend a night or three sometime. I also highly recommend the less developed eastern end of the island, including Boston Bay. 

ESPERANCE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

It’s a bit of a trek to get here; roughly 90 minutes by plane or eight hours by car from the underrated city of Perth, but visitors will be rewarded with some of the whitest sand beaches and brightest, blue-green water you’ll ever lay eyes on. The beaches go on for miles and miles, and it’s easy to find a stretch of sand you can enjoy all by yourself. I had a wonderful “flying pub crawl” trip that took a group of five passengers on a flying tour over the coast, with stops at a couple of fine pubs along the way. 

MAUI, HAWAII

Readers of this space know full well my deep love for Maui, a place I first visited with my family in 1968. The fires that destroyed most of Lahaina in 2023 dealt a huge blow to the island’s economy, but things are slowly improving. The Lahaina harbor re-opened for business in December of 2025, and several businesses on the north and south ends of town are open, including top restaurants like Star Noodle and Mala Ocean Tavern, as well as fun and casual Leoda’s Kitchen and Pies. The resorts and hotels in nearby Ka’anapali, Kahana, Napili and Kapalua weren’t damaged by the fires and are fully open for business. I adore the setting and ambience at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, but also quite enjoy the next-door Mauian, as well as the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua and just about anyplace in Ka’anapalai, which has one of the best beaches on the planet.

MILAN/CORTINA, ITALY

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in the city of Milan and in the alpine country near Cortina d’Ampezzo in February. I’ve been to Milan briefly but never to the Cortina area, an area in the Dolomites mountain range that looks like a fairy tale land of dramatic mountains and picturesque villages. Did we mention Italian food and amazing coffee? 

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area of California and also love Vancouver. But I think the natural setting of Cape Town might be the most spectacular of any major city on the planet. I knew about Table Mountain, the large outcropping of rock that towers over the city of Cape Town, but I didn’t realize it was so close to the city. I also hadn’t thought about the views I would get from the top, which are utterly sensational. You can see for miles up and down the Cape, soaking in views of majestic coastlines and rolling blue waves. The Victoria and Alfred waterfront is a marvelous, super-clean part of town, with dozens of shops, live entertainment (the dancing and African singing is extraordinary) and outdoor cafés overlooking the harbor. It’s a relatively short drive to see the penguins at Boulders Beach, and an easy drive to the wonderful Cape Winelands wine country.

BONUS PICKS (NO CHARGE!)

Slovenia – I like to call it the “tiny perfect country,” with dramatic alpine scenery, a pretty section of coastline along the Adriatic Sea, wild rivers for kayaking, underground caves, the lovely city of Ljubljana, and one of the prettiest lakes (Lake Bled) in the world. It’s also a relative bargain.

Bogota – This is a very artsy city in Colombia, with fabulous murals, museums and excellent food. It’s also only five to six hours from Eastern Canada or the northeast U.S., and it’s a city where both the Canadian and American dollars go quite a long way.

Cedar Key, Florida – This little pocket of charm on the Gulf of Mexico was damaged by hurricanes in 2024, but has seemingly bounced back quite nicely. If you love quiet, funky coastal towns with super-friendly locals, this is the place for you. Cedar Key is roughly 2.5 hours north of Tampa and about an hour and 10 minutes west of Gainesville.

Eastern Townships, Quebec – I adore many parts of Quebec, including Quebec City, Montreal and Charlevoix, but there’s something magical about the Eastern Townships. The village of Sutton is as charming as all get out, and I love the food and ambience at Auberge West Brome. Bonus: this area is featured prominently in the books by Canadian author Louise Penny.

Tokyo – Japan is having a moment of late, with a strong surge in tourism. Tokyo is both mysterious and inviting at the same time, a truly massive city that has hidden pockets of serenity and perhaps the best food on the planet. If you find the city a bit too much, check out the lovely temples and quiet inns in Kyoto, which is very popular but not as crowded as Tokyo.