Featured

Published on January 2nd, 2013 | by Charu Suri

30

The Bucket List: Top Travel Destinations for 2013

Few have the case of restless legs more than travel bloggers, so we asked some what their top 2013 travel destinations were. Here are their inspired replies:

The Northern Lights (Norway, Finland, Iceland)

Photo Credit: Flickr

At the top of the list is the Northern Lights, which apparently everyone wants to see. Barbara Weibel will finally get her wish: “I’m finally going to get to see the #1 thing on my travel wish list – going to Northern Norway in February to see the Northern Lights.” Michael Hodson plans on seeing the Northern Lights as well, but in Finland. Giulia Detours Cimarosti will travel to Iceland early in the year in January. Laurence N and Family on Bikes are on the same track: to see the Northern Lights. Kay Rodriguez says, “A road trip around the coast of Iceland!” is on her list.

Cuba

Cuba (Photo Credit: Flickr )

Elizabeth Rose says, “I would love to go to Cuba” and with good reason. Now since the government is warming up to the fact that travel agents and tours can now safely venture where angels once feared to tread. Recently Insight Cuba, a company licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and operator General Tours now have a legal way for people to travel to Cuba, despite the trade embargo. The good news? While you cannot fly directly from American shores to Cuba, you can piggy back on these increasingly legit ways to enter the country (or travel from say, London or Canada).

Cambodia

Cambodia

Jeanine Barone has a thing for Asia, evidently. She’s itching to see Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. She’s not alone. Vera Marie Badertscher says, “I would like to go to Vietnam and Laos but it is more realistic to wish for a road trip through the Southern States that I have not yet visited.”

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai has received a good year, buzz wise, and the trend continues for 2013. Talon Windwalker says, “My big desire for 2013 travel is to see the Yi Peng lantern festival in Chiang Mai next year. We are also doing a European holiday market tour in the winter.”

England/Scotland/ Ireland

Billie Frank would like to go back to Ireland, spend at least a week eating in Tuscany and get to a great beach place. “I also want to see the Marfa Lights- the most doable thing on my list,” she adds. Other writers, like Keryn Means, are putting a family spin on England, Scotland and Ireland. “My parents may join us for a week, which would be their very first time to Europe and my mom’s first time out of the country. If I can swing it I really, REALLY want to get down to Central or South America finally too. It has been on our list forever,” she adds.

Regional Trips

Many writers want to explore what their backyard state has to offer, myself included. I’ve resolved to appreciate much more of what New Jersey has to offer, so every weekend or so when I’m in town I have set a goal to explore more local gems. Jeremy Branham says, “I’ve got a few destinations on my list. Scotland and England top the list. However, I am going to say a place that I see every day – California. Looking to start a new series where I explore my state by visiting towns and series all over the state. Look forward to that one!”

Retracing One’s Roots

A few, like Amanda Williams, want to retrace their family history. “I want to visit a couple places where my family has come from – mainly Slovakia and Calabria, Italy,” she says.

Peru/ Galapagos

For many, the allure of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands endures. Freya Renders says, “2013 is going to be a very special year for me. I’m going to combine the number 1 and 2 on my bucket list being Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands.”

India

India (Credit: Flickr)

Aleah Phils is going backpacking in northern India in March-April 2013 and looks forward to the entire experience, especially the observance of Holi. Alexandra Pucherelli is traveling to Central America, Brazil, Africa and India in 2013. She is most excited for street food in Latin America, Victoria Falls and “seeing if she loves or hates India.” Larry Closs is hoping to do a month-long trek in either Nepal — Mustang or Manaslu are possibilities — or Ladakh in India. Gabi Klaf is dying to finally go to India and Nepal to do the Anappurna Mountain Range.

Mexico

Cliff Cooper is putting an adventurous spin on his travel plans by sailing the Mexican Pacific coast. Kate Voyage says that every time she visits the U.S., she plans to visit Mexico or Canada and never ends up fulfilling that goal. “I’m hoping this year is the year! I want to go to the Caribbean Coast of Mexico and overdose on chips and salsa.”

Caribbean

Annemarie Dooling promises that 2013 is the year she gets to the Caribbean. We’ll hold her to it.

China

Bethaney Davies places China at the top of her list for 2013. “I’ve been close to going a few times but this is the year I do it. I want to go before it changes too much.”

The Middle East

Monica Suma is all over the Middle East–at least in 2013. “I am once again itching for extended travels to the Far East: tapping into a bit of luxury in Dubai, getting lost in the impressive Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, going on a safari, exploring the fascinating Beirut with its contradicting landscapes of both war decay and picturesque mountains and certainly not least, photographing the wondrous colors of Morocco’s riads,” she says.

Portugal

Jenna Francisco would love to go to Portugal this year, “to explore how travelers can get the best experiences in both the famous and less-known places,” she says.

Namibia

For some strange, wonderful reason, Namibia is travel’s hot destination right now. It is for Lisa Egle, at any rate. ” I’d love to go to Namibia and/or Romania,” she says.

I hope to go to Portugal to explore how travelers can get the best experience in both the famous and less-known places.(Of course, I will go to other places, too, but Portugal is my biggest hope for the year!).

Tags: 2013, Bucket List, Chiang Mai, Cuba, India, Northern Lights, Norway, Top Travel Destinations

About the Author

Charu Suri