It’s All New in 2022

2022

Make Travel More Meaningful

BY: GRACE RUSSELL

The start of every year prompts reflection on the past and gets us thinking about our aspirations for the future. This often impacts our goals for the coming year, and it’s our adventure and travel dreams that offer the most inspiration.

Fall back in love with travel by visiting the faraway lands you’ve long dreamed about, discover the peace and beauty of wide-open, pristine places, expand your mind and your horizons, nurture the familial while discovering the unfamiliar, and master the art of going with the flow. Here are some ideas that might you find your way in 2022

Slow Down and Travel by Train

After the past two years, we understand the environmental impact of travel more than ever. As we return to a life full of far-flung adventures, prioritizing initiatives that lower our carbon footprint has become a necessity. In 2022 seek out train travel offering for guided tours. These adventures can be booked without the need for additional flights, which is the ideal for travel in European and North Americans. A train trip not only eases the environmental impact of your travels but allows you to start your vacation even earlier. Scan the hilltop villages of Italy, watch the snow-capped mountains come into view as you approach Mont Blanc, or witness the vast fields of ready-to-bloom tulips in Holland, all from the cozy comfort of a train car.

This will be England’s Time to Shine

When you think about England there’s one thing that immediately comes to mind: Bridgerton! Just kidding, it’s obviously Queen Elizabeth. Well, whether it’s the second most viewed Netflix series of all time, or the longest reigning monarch in Britain, you’ll have lots to celebrate in England in 2022. The second season of Bridgerton will be released this March, and will once again have us dreaming of lakeside picnics in The Cotswolds, and strolls along the rows of historical estates in Oxford and Bath. This year also marks the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, denoting 70 years since her accession. This February 6th milestone will be celebrated all year, with exhibits and celebrations planned throughout the summer. From romantic countrysides and small towns to queens and castles, 2022 is the time to make your England vacation dreams come true.

Be a Lifelong Learner

We all know real learning happens outside the classroom (even if sometimes that classroom is your kitchen table). Research suggests, in fact, that traveling is the most effective way to learn about language, history, culture, compassion, and nature. And what makes learning while traveling even better? Travel with an expert on a curated learning tour. You will discover some of the world’s most compelling destinations, while learning about the beauty, nuance, nature, and history of the planet and its people. See Kenya in a way many others haven’t while you’re guided by award-winning photographer Paul Goldstein, trek the Annapura foothills with Wanderlust Leader of the Year Valerie Parkinson, or explore the beautiful country of Albania with internationally best-selling author John Geiger.

The Year of the Tiger

On February 1, 2022, the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar begins. This zodiac sign denotes strength, vitality, and growth—qualities that we hope inspires you when choosing a travel destination. Tigers are seductive, mystical, and desperately endangered. India, home to 70% of the world’s tiger population, was heavily affected by COVID-19, and due to a loss of livelihoods, tiger poaching numbers dramatically increased. When you visit the Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh National Parks in India, the three best locations to spot a Bengal tiger, be sure you travel with a tour company that is commitment to supporting the strength, vitality, and growth of the tiger population.

Egyptian Revival

Egypt has attracted tourists for centuries, and the country and its people have been providing take-your-breath-away moments of beauty, and unrivaled hospitality for thousands of years. This year marks the centenary of Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, and since then Egypt has built stunning five-star hotels and offered cruises down the Nile. Despite the modern amenities, the magic of Egypt that first attracted Carter in 1922 remains the same today. With the announcement of the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in November of 2022, the intersection of Egypt’s modern present and mystical past is perfectly represented, making this an ideal time to see the pyramids, the Great Sphinx of Giza, sleep in Nubian accommodations, and feast on home-cooked dishes.

Once In a Lifetime Adventures

We’ve waited and waited, for years and, in some cases, decades, to visit the number one destination we’ve dreamed of since childhood. Some have dreams of safaris in Kenya, witnessing animals they’ve only ever been able to imagine; others have imagined meandering through a Marrakesh souk so vividly they can smell the perfume and taste the exotic spices; and still others have seen themselves, in their mind’s eye, walking Ireland’s iconic coast, with its vast and rugged cliff sides. Whatever your dream destination, 2022 is the time to take the trip you’ve been waiting for. Whether it’s a plate of pasta and a glass of wine in the Italian countryside, watching your child light up as they spot a Capuchin monkey in Costa Rica, floating in the Dead Sea after a 15 mile cycle through The Kingdom of Jordan, or standing in Russia’s iconic Red Square, 2022 is the year to check your dream vacation off the to-do list.

Trust The Professionals

As we both celebrate and navigate the return to travel, working with trusted industry professionals can have a monumental impact on your travel experience now more than ever. Remember to listen to industry professionals; it’s their job to have their finger on the pulse of entry requirements, CDC guidance, and health and travel advisories. After almost two years of travel drama and disruptions, travel advisors, tour operators, hotels, and airlines are now seasoned in keeping both travelers and the local communities in the destinations safe. Many hotels and cruise lines now offer on-board PCR and antigen testing, and airlines and tour operators add in time for testing, if need be, offering flexibility unlike ever before. There are stringent health and safety policies in place, and though things change daily, you can lean on trusted travel professionals to help you navigate the constantly shifting landscape—it’s their job!