Where To Go In 2019?

Editor at Large Ignacio Maza and intrepid traveler Jean Newman Glock have circled the globe countless times. Here they reveal their Top 12 wish list destinations.

Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi.

1. BOLIVIA

Latin America’s Most Innovative Cuisine • Stunning Landscapes • Endless Biodiversity

The rising star of South America has more to offer intrepid travelers than ever before. In La Paz, taste innovative dishes at Gustu (an offshoot of Copenhagen’s top-rated NOMA restaurant), Ali Pacha, and Popular Cocina Boliviana. La Paz’s art galleries feature the work of Gastón Ugalde (South America’s answer to Andy Warhol) and Mamani Mamani. Ride the world’s highest and longest urban cable car network and stay at design-forward hotels like Atix or the new Altu Qala in the city center. Beyond La Paz, explore the diverse nature reserve in Bolivia’s Madidi National Park—home to 1,250 different bird species. Revel at the globe’s largest salt flats in Uyuni and discover the charming colonial architecture of Sucre.

2. PUEBLA, MEXICO

Mexico’s Finest Colonial Architecture • New Museo del Barroco • Outstanding New Hotels

Just a two-hour drive from Mexico City, Puebla and its new Museo Internacional del Barroco showcases some of the Americas’ largest concentration of outstanding baroque colonial architecture. Stay in charming properties, including Hotel Cartesiano and the Rosewood Puebla. Source exquisite, handmade Talavera pottery, and don’t miss the great pyramid (larger than Egypt’s monuments) in Cholula.

3. ANGUILLA, BRITISH WEST INDIES

White Sand Beaches • Renovated Resorts • Excellent Dining

After being hit hard by the 2017 hurricane season, Anguilla and its 33 white sand beaches is experiencing a rebirth. Top Caribbean resorts have either opened or are slated to open this fall, including Zemi Beach House, CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, The Reef by Cuisinart, as well as the anticipated November re-opening of the Belmond Cap Juluca resort, which hugs one of the most idyllic beaches on Anguilla.

The Altiplano in South America.

Bruges’ canals in Belgium.

4. OTTAWA, CANADA

Canada’s Green Capital • Stellar Museums • Justin Trudeau’s Home

View art from various historic time periods at Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of History or witness worldclass masterpieces of Canadian and international art at the National Gallery of Canada. If visiting during warmer months, stroll through Jacques Cartier Park or sail down the Rideau Canal. Ottawa offers endless winter sports and stages the Winterlude festival, held every February. Don’t miss the ByWard Market, one of the oldest and largest markets in North America. Where to stay? Fairmont Chateau Laurier is a classic landmark, while travelers in search of modern hospitality stay at Andaz Ottawa.

5. FIJI

World’s Fourth Largest Barrier Reef • Rugged Landscapes • The “Happiest Place On Earth”

New and renovated resorts, unforgettable landscapes, crystal clear waters, and Melanesian hospitality are top reasons Fiji should rapidly climb your travel hit list. Remote private islands and notable properties include Likuliku Lagoon Resort, Qamea, and the new Six Senses Fiji Resort, with private pool villas and multi-bedroom residences. Fiji is a magical destination with exquisite beaches and resorts and traditional villages run by local chiefs. Every island is a watersports paradise, so diving, snorkeling, and swimming are always on tap.

6. TASMANIA

Australia’s Most Vibrant Dining Scene • Natural Beauty • Modern Art

Move over, Sydney and Melbourne. Australia’s smallest state has vibrant art and cuisine, unforgettable landscapes, and exciting new places to stay. The dining scene in Tasmania is attracting international foodies in search of fresh ingredients, innovative menus, and trend-setting chefs, especially during the annual Taste Festival. Art lovers can scour eclectic art galleries and visit the MONA Museum in Hobart. If the outdoors is more your speed, navigate the Three Capes Track hike to Cradle Mountain and spy Tasmanian devils lurking in the forests. Stay at Hobart’s new MACq01 Hotel, luxury lodges such as Freycinet, or the highly anticipated Remarkable Lodge, which will open in 2020 on Tasmania’ s rugged southeast coast.

7. SRI LANKA

Archaeological Sites • Leopards and Elephants • Unique Resorts in Diverse Settings Sri Lanka—“the best island of its size in the world” according to Marco Polo—is a haven for sophisticated travelers. Here your “to-do” list is extraordinary: Marvel at such ancient sites as Sigiriya and Anuradhapura; get sun-drenched along beautiful beaches; spend the day in an elephant sanctuary (5,000 elephants reside on the island); taste some of the spiciest cuisine on earth; enjoy fantastic shopping; climb Adam’s Peak to see Buddha’s footprint; follow the fascinating process of making tea; and be on the lookout for leopards, as Sri Lanka has the highest concentration anywhere in the world. Many new hotels have opened recently, including the new Shangri-La Colombo, Santani Wellness Resort & Spa, and Wild Coast Tented Lodge. For something truly unique, stay in a tea plantation or spend the night within the walls of a 500-year-old fortress city of Galle.

Portugal’s best kept secret is just a five-hour flight from New York.

An autumn skyline in Ottawa, Canada.

A birds-eye view of Anguilla.

8. ABU DHABI

Louvre Abu Dhabi • Sheikh Zayed Mosque • Dhow Cruise Along the Corniche

With a more measured and culturally focused development plan than their glitzy neighbor of Dubai, Abu Dhabi offers a unique perspective to one of today’s fastest developing countries. The massive malls will satisfy any shopaholic, but our favorite experiences include spending a day in the desert at the Al Ain springs or a dhow cruise along the Corniche while tasting a mezze feast. Don’t miss the new Louvre Abu Dhabi, a new museum and home of Salvator Mundi and the most expensive work of art ever sold at $450 million. No visit to Abu Dhabi is complete without visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, where design is matched by the peace and serenity of the site. Where to stay? For years, the only five-star hotel was the Emirates Palace, but our two top choices now are the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri and the St. Regis Abu Dhabi.

9. EGYPT

Grand Egyptian Museum • Nefertari’s Tomb in the Valley of the Queens • Cruising the Nile • Aswan

Without question, now is the moment to visit Egypt. In Cairo, the longanticipated Grand Egyptian Museum, located on the Giza Plateau and showcasing treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, will open in January 2019, while the original Egyptian Antiquities Museum in central Cairo remains a must-see. In Luxor, experiencing the Valley of the Queens is enhanced with a visit to the tomb of Nefertari (known as the “Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt”), which is now open to the public. Don’t miss Aswan, a city that mesmerized Julius Caesar, Agatha Christie (and the two of us!). Walk along the path used by Cleopatra to show Julius Caesar the Temple of Philae. Top properties include the renovated Sofitel Old Cataract in Aswan and the Nile Ritz Carlton in Cairo. Alternatively, cruise the Nile in style on the new Viking Ra or Oberoi’s luxurious ships.

Egypt’s Temple of Nefertari and Hathor at Abu Simbel.

All’s a smile in Fiji.

10. ETHIOPIA

Witness a 1600-year-old Christian Faith • Hike through 14,000-foot High Mountains • Taste Coffee at its Source

The source of the Blue Nile and the former birthplace of the Queen of Sheba, Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country and home to eight UNESCO world heritage sites. The country has more than 80 ethnic groups that speak 200-plus languages, including Orthodox Christians with traditions that go back to the days of King Solomon. Ethiopia’s travel star is rising, with a new government, air links from the United States, and enticing places to stay, including the Bale Mountain Lodge in the high mountains. Visit the ruins of Axum, explore ancient castles in Gondar, witness the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and wander rugged landscapes in the Simien Mountains. What’s more, discover the moonscapes of the Danakil depression, unique tribes of Omo Valley, and wild Gelada Monkeys. Stroll through the culturally rich Addis Ababa markets, and sip the world’s strongest coffee, as Ethiopia is where it was first cultivated.

11. THE AZORES

Nine Unspoiled Islands • Endless Outdoor Adventures • An Affordable and Surprising Destination

Portugal’s best kept secret is just a five-hour flight from New York. Every island in the Azores archipelago is unique, and island-hopping is made easy with inter-island air service. Adventure seekers will experience rugged hiking trails with rewarding vistas, descents into lava tubes, ethereal waterfalls, and outstanding surfing and diving. Additionally, visitors can spot whales and dolphins offshore and view historic architecture. Don’t miss a climb up Portugal’s highest mountain, Montanha do Pico, at 7,700 feet. Food fans will enjoy authentic Portuguese seafood dishes in the towns of Horta and Angra do Heroísmo. Stay in charming hotels for a fraction of what you’d pay on the European mainland. Get there before everyone else does!

12. FLANDERS, BELGIUM

Instagram-Worthy Architecture • Fine Chocolate • Rare Diamonds

Visit Belgium’s Northern region—a hot spot for history, design, art, and fine dining. Antwerp, the region’s largest city, celebrates Europe’s spectacular modern architecture, including the MIMOA, Umicore’s headquarters, and the Port House, designed by Zaha Hadid. Plan to visit the new DIVA diamond and silverware museum (84 percent of the world’s rough diamonds are polished in Antwerp) and Ghent’s recently renovated Fine Arts Gallery. We love sailing through Bruges’ canals, regional gourmet dining, walking through medieval city centers, and soaking up the vibrant cultural scene. On your way to Flanders, taste the world’s best chocolate by top confectioners in Brussels, including Pierre Marcolini, Mary, and Wittamer. Stay at the design-forward Hotel de Witte Lelie or Hotel Julien in Antwerp.