Happy New Year!! Who is ready for yet another amazing year of travel? The last 12 months literally flew by in a heartbeat, but now is not a time for relaxation, instead it’s a time for planning your upcoming travels. We are delighted to share with you a rich collaboration of the best 2016 travel destinations that many of our friends are aspiring to either visit for the first time, or revisit given the inherent beauty that lies within the realms of their chosen destination.

Whether you are a luxury beach lover, or a cultural explorer looking to expand your knowledge base, there are a myriad of worldwide locations waiting to be experienced. Each of our fellow travelers have shared their top 5 destinations that they would love to visit in 2016, the only requirement being that at least one of these five is a city/country that they have previously visited.

What are your top 2016 travel destinations that you are hoping to visit over the next 12 months? Wherever you travel, be sure to keep following us as we continue to embark on our global travels ‘one weekend at a time’ and hopefully inspire a few new people to head outside and explore this amazing world that we all live in! Happy travels everyone and please enjoy this unique collaboration!

Thanks to everyone that has contributed to this post! Those highlighted in RED are destinations that each of the travelers have visited before but after falling in love with them during previous visits, a return trip in 2016 is high priority.

McCool Travel

Charles McCool from McCool Travel shares his 2016 travel destinations that are the top of his list. From the extreme to the culturally diverse, there are a myriad of reasons why each of the following spots should be on your list too!

• Cape Town
• Patagonia
• Romania
• Berlin
• Northern Ireland

These destinations dominate my mind when I think of where to go. Cape Town and Patagonia represent the end of the world to me, living most of my life in the Northern and Western hemispheres. Berlin and Romania are on my radar because of family history. I want to visit these places because they are amazing designations but also to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors.

For the same reason (family history), I want to return to Northern Ireland and dive deeper into my McCool heritage.

Chronic Wanderlust

Victoria Urbanek from Chronic Wanderlust has an inspiring list of destinations that she is looking forward to visiting in 2016, the majority of which are European based but who can blame her when you see the beauty that lies within the confines of the European continent.

• San Marino
• Iceland
• Montenegro
• Costa Rica
• Israel

At the end of every year, I try to think about how the next year can possibly get any better in terms of traveling. After a round the world trip this year what can be next? I then find myself in bookstores at the travel department flipping through guide books or reading stories about fascinating places online – and the conclusion is always the same: I want to see them all!

But for the next wonderful year of 2016, I’m planning on revisiting the Holy Land and exploring it by car. Just me and the car and good music and happy people! Israel is a country that fascinates me in terms of landscapes and mix of cultures.

Furthermore, I’d like to expand my European horizon and travel to somewhat closer destinations such as San Marino and Montenegro. Iceland has been on my list for long and as by the looks I will make it there in 2016! Central America is a gem and after having seen quite too many pictures of Costa Rica I’m convinced that I have to see this beauty with my own eyes!

2 Travel Dads

Rob Taylor from 2 Travel Dads shares their 2016 plans and how these destinations may be the perfect fit if you are traveling with kids in the New Year.

• Florida Keys
• Iceland
• Brazil
• Cabo San Lucas
• Utah

We’ve done Utah and it’s beyond beautiful. We always do one big camping trip, so Utah it is in 2016. Iceland for more than a day’s stop-over – I’ve toured Iceland…alone. We all need to experience it, especially our oldest who’s into volcanoes.

The Florida Keys and the Everglades – We never quite go as far and the Keys but want to. It’s the ultimate road trip. Brazil’s beaches and rainforests – Brazil: duh!

Releasing baby sea turtles in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – Watching baby sea turtles hatch and helping them make it into the ocean is the most moving experience. We need to do this with our kids now and see how it impacts them (and it’s booked already!).

Willunga Wino

Louise Rhodes from Willunga Wino shares three old favorites of her that she would love to revisit along with a couple of new ‘hidden gems’ that are waiting to be discovered on her travels.

• Nozawa Onsen, Japan
• Piedmont, Italy
• Murray River, South Australia
• Burgundy, France
• Rioja, Spain

Nozawa Onsen

Three years in a row, we have visited this secluded, traditional village in January for skiing, culture, food and relaxation. Where rice and wildflowers thrive in summer, deep dry powder perfect for skiing forms in Winter. Soothe those sore muscles in the natural hot springs around town. You can even enjoy cuisine cooked in the hot springs, just a few steps on the cobbled streets from the onsen.

Piedmont

Tucked up in the northwest corner of Italy, up in the cuff of the boot, is the stunningly beautiful wine region of the Piedmont. Turin is the capital, a charming city. There is far more that the region is famous for. Barolo and Barbaresco wines, made from the Nebbiolo grape, as well as White and Black truffles. Add in fine, egg yolk rich pasta called Tajarin (tie-yar-reen) and it’s a recipe for perfection.

Murray River

The beating heart of Australia is the Murray Darling River, which runs all the way from Queensland to South Australia. Houseboats or paddle steamers are the best way to view the orange-red cliffs, which shine an array of colors at sunrise and sunset. The P.S Marion does regular Rockford Wines cruises that pair outstanding cuisine, some of Australia’s best wines, and the beauty of the Murray.

Burgundy

I am yet to experience the rolling hills, the rocky soils, and the endless grape vines of Burgundy. Small scale producers rule here, as do the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For years, I have had a recurring dream where I ride a bike through a windy country road, with a baguette, a wedge of gooey fromage, and a bottle of vin rouge in the basket, stopping under a tree to enjoy a picnic before wobbling home. While Mr Wino works in the winery of course.

Rioja

The home of Grenache, the most celebrated wine of McLaren Vale, is here. Tempranillo, too. These are food friendly wines, and perfectly paired with paella, pintxos, Not to mention the shoe shopping, my favorite brand originates in Spain!

Travelling King

Samantha Duffield from Travelling King is looking forward to a year of clear, tropical beaches and why not when you see the gorgeous destinations she has chosen for 2016.

• Samoa
• New Zealand
• Bali
• Maldives
• Fiji

Samoa

I rarely see Samoa featured in “where to travel” lists and it’s a shame its such a beautiful country! The beautiful white beaches and clear blue waters and lush green landscapes, not to mention the rich culture of the Samoan people – why the heck wouldn’t you want to travel here! Make sure to make a stop at the famous Sua Ocean Trench.

New Zealand

Traveling from Australia can be difficult as we are so far away from everywhere else in the world, luckily we are neighbors with New Zealand. New Zealand and Samoa are fairly similar cultural wise, however the landscape of NZ is totally different and not to mention its a lot colder there!

The scenery of New Zealand is lush green fields, snow capped mountains, famous glaciers, rain forests and inactive volcanoes. The South Island is ideal for skiing or snowboarding and other extreme activities such as bungy jumping, sky diving and jet boating (on a very small amount of water!).

Bali

Bali is a typical holiday for most Australians, I’m fairly sure there are more Australians in Bali than Indonesians! (kidding!) Bali is a great little great away for most Australians (and anyone willing to travel there), with its golden sand beaches and turquoise waters and incredibly friendly locals, it really does make for a pleasant trip.

Not to mention that Bali is really cheap to visit and travel around, even when staying in 5-star luxury hotels. Grab a 2 for 1 cocktails and relax by the pool.

Maldives

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to visit the Maldives, who doesn’t like the idea of relaxing in your own private overwater villa or walking out of the bedroom and diving straight into the ocean!

The Maldives is the ultimate place to switch off and relax either alone or with a loved one. Recent studies show that the Maldives may not be around for much longer so the sooner you get here the better! Make sure to splurge and stay in one of the overwater villas for at least one night!

Fiji

Fiji is made up of 333 tropical islands and is famous for its soft coral diving, palm tree lined white sand beaches and pristine natural environment. Make sure to do a bit of island hopping, don’t just stay on the mainland, you’ll end up missing so much!

Fiji is of course home to some of the friendliest locals in the world, they are always keen to share their culture with you and get you involved if you want to learn more. Otherwise, if you just want to relax, pull up a hammock (along most of the beaches) and take an afternoon nap with the fresh ocean breeze and sound of waves lapping at the beach.

The Trusted Traveller

Jen Seligmann from The Trusted Traveller is an Aussie local who continues the theme of destinations ‘Down Under’ that she wants to explore in 2016!

• Adelaide
• Great Ocean Road
• Gippsland Lakes Region, Victoria
• Nullabor
• Perth

In 2016, we will be heading off on a slow indefinite road trip around Australia. We hope to cover every region on this trip but there are a few places that really stand out in our minds and make us super excited for the adventures we’re about to have.

We can’t wait to revisit Adelaide and hopefully spend a few weeks there soaking up the cool vibe it has going on. I’m looking forward to taking Mick along the Great Ocean Road as this is a place I remember fondly from my childhood. Mick is super keen on fishing so the Gippsland Lakes Region of Victoria, which is famous for fishing, is where he is looking forward to spending some time.

Driving the Nullabor has to get a mention in this list. It’s the ultimate road in Australia and while most who have driven it say it is boring, I am so excited to see the one long straight stretch of road surrounded by nothing but desert. Finally, we are both very excited about getting to Perth after driving over 4,000 km’s to get there. We plan to spend a few months there over the summer before taking off north to continue our trip around the country.

Queidue

Odoardo Girardi, co-founder of Queidue, shares his global destinations that he wants to visit in the next 12 months and there is a real South-East Asian feel though his return visit to a destination is very different!

• Jerusalem
• Siem Reap
• Bangkok
• Singapore
• Kuala Lumpur

2016 will bring a big change in our life as we will move to Cambodia for work purposes. This is why most of our resolution destinations are in the Far East, there is so much we have to explore there. We will start with Siem Reap and its Angkor Wat temples which is the easiest to reach from Phnom Penh, the city where we will be living.

Next destinations will be three of the biggest and more charming cities in that part of the world: chaotic Bangkok, multicultural Singapore and vibrant Kuala Lumpur.

On our way to Asia, we will definitely enjoy a long stopover in Israel, where we lived early this year. We want to spend again and again some days in Jerusalem, one of the most impressive and touching cities in the world. Being in one of the holiest places of the three biggest religions of the world makes you feel part of centuries-old history. Absolutely our favorite destination so far.

Traveling Rockhopper

Maja from Traveling Rockhopper has been fortunate to visit a unique destination and a return trip is already on her mind. Plus experience a diverse variety of other locations around the globe with her as she embarks on an ambitious year of travels!

• Falkland Islands
• Iceland
• Greenland
• Canada
• Jordan

I visited the Falklands in 2014, but I love penguins, so this place is always on my list!

Iceland and Greenland are also known to me, but this time I’d like to go there in summer and enjoy their beauty!

Canadian mountains are still waiting for me, and I don’t want to disappoint them again.

And in Jordan, I’d like to finally visit Petra. To keep a balance, it’s a bit warmer place than the above ones.

Contented Traveller

Paula McInerney from Contented Traveller shares her thoughts on this Aussie couples travel plans for 2016. Along with her husband Gordon, Paula indicates that 2016 will be a ‘quieter year’…we will see (we all know how that goes for travel bloggers)!

• Amsterdam
• Vietnam
• New Zealand
• South America
• Melbourne

In 2016, we are going to try and have a slightly quieter year but we know that this won’t be happening.

We both love Amsterdam and want to stay on the houseboat on the Prisengracht Canal again. And we have friends who we ski with in Nozawa Onsen, Japan who live close to Amsterdam. We have never visited South America before but we have a nephew studying in Uruguay so that may provide the impetus to check up on him.

Melbourne is a short weekend trip away and along with Tasmania we would love to combine both and explore this part of Australia!

Savored Journeys

Laura Lynch from Savored Journeys has a really diverse range of destinations in mind for the year ahead. From a Croatian gem to a plethora of worldwide destinations that she wants to explore, Laura will inspire many with these travel plans.

• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Munich, Germany
• Doha, Qatar
• Dubai, UAE
• Maldives

I’ve been to Dubrovnik before, but I absolutely fell in love with it when I was there in 2009. My husband, however, hasn’t yet been, so we’ve been planning a trip back so he can see how wonderful it is. Munich is also a trip we’ve been wanting to take. For Nick’s 30th birthday in September, we plan to head to Munich for the Oktoberfest celebration.

Why Doha? I have a friend who is in the foreign service so he moves around a lot. He’s currently living in Doha and has told us many wonderful things about Qatar. We plan to hit up Dubai and the lovely Maldives for our 5-year anniversary in 2016. It will be a fun and packed year of travel resolutions!

The Broke Backpacker

Will Hatton, also known as The Broke Backpacker has a real Asian feel to his 2016 travel destinations and his desire to head off the beaten path is definitely highlighted with some of his hot spots for the New Year! Throw in the fact he wants to achieve this without taking any flights and it is a pretty exciting adventure ahead.

• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Iran
• Pakistan
• Bhutan

This year I’m trying to get off the beaten path – way off the beaten path. I want to explore places that rarely get tourists and to immerse myself fully in these cultures. I crave the discovery of places I’m not going to read about in your run of the mill travel blogs, and I want to shatter my own preconceptions of what places like Pakistan are actually like – on the human level, rather than the political.

Plus, I’m doing it all without the use of any flights – some of these borders are going to get pretty interesting!

The Savvy Globetrotter

Patti Reddi from The Savvy Globetrotter possibly has the most unique location that she wants to revisit, especially when you consider so few people get to visit there once in their lifetime. Add a variety of other destinations around the world and Patti has yet another breathtaking year of travel ahead of her!

• Antarctica
• Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
• Antelope Canyon, USA
• To Sua Trench, Samoa
• Bhutan

There are many more destinations on my “must visit” list but I find myself researching these places more than others lately. Bolivia’s salt flats look so surreal in photos that I want to experience them in person and even attempt some perspective photos myself. I must have a thing for unique scenery as Antelope Canyon looks like a place I must see in spite of the expected crowds.

Samoa interests me in and of itself but throw in an iconic swimming hole and I’m definitely in. Bhutan’s sustainable tourism, Gross National Happiness, festivals and hiking trails are all great reasons to make this destination a frontrunner.

And of course, after an amazing experience traveling to Antarctica, I’ve decided that it is not a once-in-a-lifetime destination. The beautiful scenery and wildlife have me plotting my return as soon as I can make it happen.

Great Big Globe

Matt and Alana from Great Big Globe have destinations all around the globe that they want to visit in 2016, of course, it’s appropriate given the name of their website!

• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
• Argentina
• Peru
• Vietnam
• Italy

In 2016, we want to return to one of our favorite places on earth, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. While we enjoyed an amazing three-day safari in 2015 we missed the Great Migration by less than two weeks. We’d love to return and experience one of the greatest shows on earth!

Also for 2016, we finally want to step foot in South America. On the top of our to-do list is glacier hiking in Argentina and trekking the Inca Trail to the famous Machu Picchu in Peru.

Lastly, what is traveling without some amazing food?! The two countries we are looking to hit are Italy and Vietnam. We’d love to spend a few weeks eating pho and cao lau in Vietnam and then head over to Italy to finish things off with some Italian dishes, wine and gelato. Yum!

The Travel Sisters

Matilda, one-half of The Travel Sisters along with her sister Patti, shares her diverse range of 2016 travel destinations that she would love to visit. Whether it’s hot, beach destinations or cold, snowy conditions that you prefer, all have been covered in her selection.

• Rwanda
• Jelly Fish Lake, Palau
• Norway
• Tanzania
• Giraffe Hotel, Kenya

It wasn’t until I put my list together that I noticed a common theme for my travel resolution destinations – all destinations include wildlife. Trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda was such a humbling and amazing experience I would love to return for another visit with the gentle giants. Although surely a different type of experience, the thought of traveling to Palau for a swim among millions of jellyfish and not getting stung is otherworldly.

Norway, with beautiful fjords and the Northern Lights, easily makes my must-see list especially with the possibility of observing polar bears in their natural habitat. I’ve been fortunate to experience a few safaris but witnessing the legendary wildebeest migration in Tanzania promises to be more than a typical safari. And although I have seen beautiful giraffes in the wild, the thought of having breakfast at the Giraffe Hotel while they poke their heads through my window looking for goodies is too tempting to pass up.

I’ve been fortunate to experience a few safaris but witnessing the legendary wildebeest migration in Tanzania promises to be more than a typical safari. And although I have seen beautiful giraffes in the wild, the thought of having breakfast at the Giraffe Hotel while they poke their heads through my window looking for goodies is too tempting to pass up.

Nomadic Boys

Stefan and Sebastien are the Nomadic Boys and their list of 2016 travel hot-spots really emphasize their nomadic lifestyle, though with a real South American feel to it.

• Sacred Valley around Cusco, Peru
• Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
• Bariloche, Argentina
• Florianopolis, Brazil
• Patagonia, Chile/Argentina

In 2016, we want to travel in Latin America, starting with South America. Stefan went in 2005 for a year (before Nomadic Boys existed) and was mainly based in the villages around Cusco in the Sacred Valley doing volunteering.

Stefan loved it so much he wants to return to the area and show it off to Sebastien, along with trekking to Machu Picchu.

We aim to go to the highlights of the continent particularly Buenos Aires, Rio, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, but our Top 5 Wish List centers around the places Stefan didn’t go last time round.

We love diving and the underground world of Galapagos is a dream for both of us. Stefan missed out on chocolate heaven Bariloche in Argentina so this is of course a must this time round. Florianopolis is a gay heaven in Brazil and we’d love to discover this together. Finally, Patagonia, the tip of the continent, divided between Argentina and Chile. It’s remote, a paradise for trekkers and literally the end of the world!

The Sophisticated Life

Nadeen White from The Sophisticated Life has yet another diverse array of destinations that she would love to explore in 2016. Her philosophy of seeing at least one new place every year is certainly one that we would all do well to follow.

• South of France
• Cuba
• Rio de Janeiro
• Dubai
• Hong Kong

There are so many places to see in the world and so little time! When people ask me which places are on my travel bucket list I say “everywhere.” Over 15 years ago I made a vow to see at least one new place every year and I have accomplished that! I try to prioritize my travel bucket list from year to year and these are the top places on my list for 2016.

South of France

I visited the South of France while on a cruise in 2014 and hope to return in 2016. Since I only spent one day there I would love to return to visit more areas such as St.Tropez and Eze. Monaco in particular, has special meaning to me since I got engaged there!

Cuba

I was very pleased when the U.S. government changed their policy on Cuba allowing U.S. travelers to legally visit there. My goal is to become immersed in the Afro-Cuban culture. I have also heard that the beaches are beautiful! I will admit, the idea of it being in somewhat of a time warp is appealing to me.

Rio de Janeiro

If only to visit Ipanema Beach and Christ the Redeemer statue! I hope to samba, eat Brazilian street food and volunteer in the favelas. Visiting Rio during the Olympics next year would knock two things off my bucket list.

Dubai

I have heard it is like Las Vegas on speed! I just have to go at least once to see the opulence, the tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa) and to ride a camel in the dessert.

Hong Kong

I have never been to Asia but Hong Kong has always been on my list. The views from their skyscrapers look stunning. Besides the temples and harbor views, they have a Disneyland park!

This Could Lead to Anywhere

Kate Brennan from This Could Lead to Anywhere has a real desire to ‘explore the outdoors’ and her list of destinations certainly provide a diverse variety from the adventure travelers to relaxation in paradise.

• Barcelona
• Yosemite (or other US National Park)
• Lithuania
• France
• Hawaii

The reason I want to go to the places on my list is because I want to explore the great outdoors more next year. There are places all over the world but I’ve neglected Europe and the USA for years now opting to go somewhere further away and very different in culture.

I’ve missed out on seeing amazing national parks and experiencing the adventures of a US or European road trip. The scenery and food in places on the west coast of USA or in Europe are also good inspiration.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower again or the volcanoes of Hawaii for the first time in person is a very exciting prospect. Finding out about local recipes and traditions in new places is always a big part of the way I like to travel. I’d love to eat fresh seafood on the west coast of the USA or find a completely different dish I’ve never tried in Lithuania.

Jon Is Travelling

Jon Algie from Jon Is Travelling has a variety of European destinations that he would love to visit (and revisit) in 2016. Throw in a hint of Asian culture with his other chosen spot for the year ahead, and Jon is looking forward to quite an exciting twelve months.

• Hungary
• India
• Iceland
• Scotland
• Turkey

In 2016 I hope to finally visit India, a country that has intimidated me for a long time. It’s so big, so bustling and I honestly don’t know where to start, but it excites me more than anywhere else at the moment. I plan on spending at least 3 months in India, and if I still have the time (or more importantly, the money) I would love to return to Europe.

The surreal landscapes of Iceland are a huge draw for me, and one of my best friends just moved to Scotland which gives me a good reason to go there. Turkey, with its wealth of wonders both natural and historic, is a place I’m desperate to get to as well.

The country I’d love to return to in 2016 is Hungary. I spent a few days in Budapest just over a year ago and it quickly became my favorite city. I can’t wait to return and to also check out the rest of the country.

Reflections Enroute

Corinne Vail from Reflections Enroute continues the theme of predominantly European influenced destinations, but with a variety of nations that each have unique attractions that inspire people to visit them.

• Bastei Bridge, Germany
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Canary Islands
• France
• San Marino

Bastei Bridge is only two hours away and I feel like I am missing out by not visiting! I would really love to attend TBEX in Stockholm but also because I have never been to that part of Sweden before.

I’d love to warm up in the next few winter months, so a trip to the Canary Islands is on the cards… Germany can be cold! San Marino – a small country nestled in the middle of Italy. It just sounds fascinating!

And anywhere in France, because it’s one of my favorite countries. I just love the food.

Live Dream Discover

Sarah Hughes from Live Dream Discover is looking forward to her Southeast Asia trip in the first quarter of 2016 so much of her travel hotspots are based there though a return trip to Mexico is also on the cards.

• Phillippines
• Cambodia
• Vietnam
• Mexico
• Myanmar

As we will be in Southeast Asia for the first quarter of 2016 our top choices will mainly consist of destinations on that exotic continent.There is so much to see, do, eat and experience in Southeast Asia that the hardest part is narrowing it down. Temples, jungles, beaches, cities…there’s a bit of everything! Glad we managed to have Thailand checked off the list in 2015 leaving room for more next year.

Outside of Asia however the lively and beautiful Mexico has been calling us back for some time now and we’re pretty sure we will not be able to resist much longer. Delicious food, amazing natural beauty, ancient sites, cultural cities, great weather and friendly people. Aaah yes I think we will be returning soon.

Kathmandu and Beyond

Kirsty Bennetts from Kathmandu and Beyond has a very distinctive list of destinations in mind for 2016. They are very unique and in many ways ‘off the beaten path’ but perhaps you will be inspired to join her as well in discovering some of these hidden gems.

• Iran
• Madagascar
• Romania
• Kyrgyzstan
• Tajikistan

A couple of years ago we travelled from China’s Xinjiang province to Kyrgyzstan. Central Asia was a complete contrast from China and I fell in love with the dramatic landscapes and warm, friendly people.

Unfortunately, our time was cut short as the harsh elements conspired with long public holidays. Our plan was to travel from Kyrgyzstan across the Pamir Highway into Tajikistan, but it was late April and we hadn’t quite got our timing right. Heavy snow meant crossing the high mountain passes was impossible.

Whilst we waited and made a couple of attempts we were faced with another dilemma – the May holiday was approaching which meant that the border between Kyrgyzstan and China would be closed for an extended period of time, leaving us stuck on an expired visa.

Our choice was to remain in Kyrgyzstan and try again to cross the Pamirs to Tajikistan or return to China while we still had valid visas. We decided to cut our losses and cross into China and head to Kashgar. It turned out that the two-day trip hitching across the border was fantastic and is one of our all-time travel highlights.

Our number one travel resolution for 2016 is to head back to Kyrgyzstan as part of an epic journey through Central Asia. This time, we’ll get the timing right!

Where’s Sharon

Sharon Gourlay from Where’s Sharon is hoping to have yet another year of diverse travel experiences and this can certainly be seen with her variety of destinations that cover pretty much all corners of the globe.

• China
• Germany
• UAE
• USA
• Estonia

There are so many places I want to visit in 2016 – more than we could ever get to! My top destination is because I am very much hanging out to do another US road trip. Our Deep South trip a couple of years ago was one of my favorite trips.

I have been to China several times and loved it every time. It is such a big country though and there is still so much to see. I particularly want to travel between Shanghai and Xian visiting places I learned about in my Asian studies degree at university.

I want to visit Germany because my daughter is about to start studying at a German school in Australia. She will be spending 90% of her time at school speaking German and I would love the chance for her to use it in Germany.

The UAE is on the list as we were booked to visit it this year and unfortunately, I was sick and we had to cancel. I was so looking forward to it!

Finally, we visited Estonia and the other Baltic States in 2015 and we were surprised how much we loved them. We really want to return!

Castaway With Crystal

Crystal Egan from Castaway With Crystal has a very Caribbean feel to her potential highlights in 2016. However, as you can see from her story below, she doesn’t want to visit these spots the ‘traditional’ way.

• Havana, Cuba
• Negril, Jamaica
• Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
• The original Carnivale in Trinidad
• Los Roques, Venezuela

As you can see from my list it’s very Caribbean Island focussed. In 2016, I will attempt to hitch a ride on a sail-boat going around the Caribbean and work on it while learning to sail. I get a kick out of extreme, off-the-beaten-path travel, so I’m heading to some of the craziest places I can think of.

I want to go back again to dance salsa in sticky nightclubs with locals in Havana, Cuba (my obsession country), listen to reggae and sip rum after a dive in Negril, Jamaica and soak up local Haitian culture by taking part in a voodoo celebration in Cap-Haïtien.

It is my dream to party on the streets with locals in the birthplace of the original Carnivale in the Port of Spain, Trinidad and to visit possibly the most beautiful island in the most dangerous country at picturesque Los Roques in Venezuela.

If you’d love to visit these places through my eyes, follow Castaway with Crystal!

Green With Renvy

Alison Abbott from Green With Renvy continues the theme of having an assorted array of amazing destinations around the world that she would like to explore in 2016. Let’s take a look at her top spots for the year ahead and why she is so inspired to visit them.

• Azores and Portugal
• Detroit
• Alaska
• India
• Peru

One location I never tire of is India. Trip number 7 coming up in January and I can’t wait for my senses to be assaulted with the colors, food and warmth of the people. This time, I will take a camel trek in the desert!

Portugal and the Azores…It’s an eco-destination not on the radar of many Americans. I was completely seduced by Portugal and the food scene when Nelson Carvalheiro spoke about the destination at TBEX.

Interesting pieces popping up about the renaissance taking place in Detroit. Gardens and farms sprouting on abandoned lots. Chic hotels and restaurants featuring fresh local ingredients popping up downtown. Loads of energy going into bringing the dynamic back to this American city that I would like to explore in person.

The breathtaking wilderness, Native American culture and the salmon capital of the world – need I say more about Alaska?

Finally, I have to climb Machu Picchu before my knees give out and I find the indigenous culture fascinating.

A Brit & A Southerner – 2016 Travel Destinations

We are physically and mentally exhausted after another amazing year of travel. However, we are not going to let that stop us from having another year of travel plans as we already have several trips planned. In terms of where we would like to visit this year, here are some spots we would love to see.

• New Zealand
• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Iceland
• North & South Dakota

As you can see, three of our chosen spots are US States which if we accomplish visiting all four of those, we will hit the magical 50 states visited! New Zealand is a country we are both desperate to visit and perhaps over the Christmas and New Year break would be the perfect opportunity to experience this part of the Southern Hemisphere.

A return trip to Iceland is always on the cards after experiencing this for the first time at the end of 2014. We had an awesome time there seeing the Northern Lights and would love to return to explore more of the island, a Summer trip would be ideal so that we have daylight all the time!

Summary

WOW…that’s about the best way to summarize all those amazing destinations! I think we pretty much have every corner of the globe covered in some capacity or another, but one trend that appears throughout is that there are folks everywhere that are inspired to keep traveling. Hopefully, this will have a positive effect on you and perhaps you will find one or two of these spots interesting enough to visit in 2016!

We would like to take this opportunity again to thank all of our amazing friends for sharing their favorite 2016 travel destinations…we look forward to seeing all of your awesome photographs and hearing your stories from these experiences around the world.

Feel free to share your travel plans for the year ahead and if any of these locations spark your interest.