What’s travel without a little turbulence, right? Tourism’s big return following the easing of Covid restrictions has been bumpier than we all hoped, thanks to understaffed airports, high gas prices, and other global woes.
But while the skies still haven’t entirely cleared, it’s not impossible to find silver linings. For one thing, borders have reopened pretty much everywhere. For another, the strong U.S. dollar means American vacationers will find more affordable prices in Europe, Japan, Mexico, India, and beyond.
Despite all the lingering uncertainty, consumer surveys as well as those interminable TSA lines suggest the urge to roam remains undiminished. But where to go?
After staying domestic for two long pandemic years, our annual Best Places to Go list has opened up to the entire planet once more, with worthy destinations scattered across six continents. Frommer’s staffers and contributors have selected places that are marking milestones and heading in new directions, adding fresh attractions and gussying up old standbys, recovering from past challenges and emerging as formidable competitors for more established tourism epicenters.
These are the cities, states, parks, peninsulas, coastlines, and countries giving us cause for cautious optimism—though we do recommend keeping your seat belt fastened throughout 2023, as heaven knows we may experience sudden turbulence.
Here, in no particular order, are the Best Places to Go in 2023.
Pictured above: Basque Country, Spain