Everybody wants to be a travel writer. The chance to dispatch stories from foreign lands is a deeply alluring prospect. So is the potential for free travel. But to be a travel writer means to make the physical world come alive with words. It’s about choosing vital details and peppering each sentence with the five senses. It’s about picking verbs carefully and never ever titling stories with “X country is a land of contrasts” or ending them with some trite line about “knowing one day I’ll be back.”
The gig is tactile, sensory, and instense. Okay, okay, we’ll admit: It’s also fun as hell. If you love being out on the road — tracking down train schedules, bouncing around on busses, and distilling it all down into something urgent and fresh — then this may be the job for you.
If not, you’re lucky to have pros on hand to help out. They’ve been around and they know what’s popping. This year, as we prepared to launch the Uproxx Travel Hot List, we spoke to dozens of travel professionals about where you should spend your travel dollar in 2018.
Here are their picks:
THE AZORES
Of all the travel conversations I heard this year, the Azores came up the most. People are buzzing on this archipelago — an autonomous part of Portugal. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that the tourism department’s official slogan was “The Next Iceland” due to how often the phrase is thrown around.
That said, there are some Iceland-esque similarities:
- Some seriously cheap flights from the east coast.
- Great potential for “stopover vacations” on the way to mainland Europe.
- Dramatic landscapes, plunging waterfalls, sweeping vistas, grassy plains…
- That certain “untouched” feeling that experience-focused travelers love.
“Because there was a special license required, the Azores airspace was basically closed until two and a half years ago,” says Luis Nunes, founder of Azores Getaways. “Prices were high and the tourism industry wasn’t developing. But the beauty was there. It’s pristine nature from the highlands to the beaches.”
While Nunes guesses that nearby Madeira has 50,000 beds, the whole of the Azores only has 10,000. The region is therefore perfectly positioned for visitors who like to be early adopters of travel trends. Add in the fact that the island has swimming with dolphins, surfing, hiking, SCUBA, horseback riding, and all of the other adventure activities that travelers love, and you have a recipe for boomtimes.
“Ten years from now, this might be a more traditional destination,” Nunes says. “But right now it’s absolutely pristine, perfect for ecotourism and adventure, and connected to the United States by a four and a half hour flight from Boston.”
That does sound like the “next Iceland,” and with Portugal ranking high on last year’s travel hot list, the chance of experiencing both on one trip seems like a slam dunk.
– Steve Bramucci, Uproxx Travel Editor
LOMBOK, INDONESIA
Lombok, the island next to Bali in the Indonesian archipelago, is only a few hours by ferry from its more famous neighbor. But it feels a world away. Less populated and much less touristed — for now — Lombok is more placid than Bali and a little rougher around the edges… in a good way. It’s far more suitable for a quiet week of surfing, yoga, and cultural exploration than partying.
For peaceful yoga days, check out Mana Retreat, an oasis tucked away on the outskirts of the sleepy surf hub Kuta in the south (FYI Bali also has a Kuta Beach, which is overloaded to the tipping point). Known as the “island of a thousand mosques,” Lombok is still largely rural and agricultural, with single lane roads winding through the mountainous interior, where an intrepid traveler on a scooter can quickly get off the beaten path.
The island is sure to retain its quieter character for some time, but tourism is picking up in Lombok fast. New resorts pop up and highway improvements make the island’s towns and coves — like the gentle surf break at Selong Belanak — more easily accessible. Drawn by pristine beaches, uncrowded surf and outdoor adventure, like the popular multi-day hike up Mount Rinjani, the active volcano at the center of the island, visitors looking for adventure will flock to Lombok in 2018.
– Denver Nicks, Travel & Food Writer
COLOMBIA’S CITIES
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Hot off the third season of Narcos, Americans are intrigued and curious about Colombia — while also a bit concerned about safety when traveling through this beautiful country. Only the brave backpackers who venture south will be rewarded. The prize? An affordable adventure worth bragging about to everyone you meet upon returning home.
Whether you’re looking for mountainous, wet, and chilly hiking up above Bogota, the sweaty-hot coastal region surrounding the touristy cruise port of Cartagena, or the “just right” balmy climate of Medellin, you really can’t go wrong.
– Andy Steves, Travel Writer & Tour Operator
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BIG BEND, TEXAS
Rare is the destination where one can go to sleep under some of the most star-lit skies in the U.S., take a dawn hike through a rugged and remote wilderness, canoe across a river to another country for lunch, take in some world class modern art, lay by the pool at a historic luxury hotel, eat dinner in a ghost town, catch a Solange show, go dancing at a legendary local dive, enjoy a nightcap at a minimalist-chic boutique hotel bar, and fall asleep in a teepee (or an Airstream trailer, or at said boutique hotel, or back under that brilliant night sky).
Rarer still: The place where one can do all of this, more or less, in the same 24-hour period.
Not that anyone around would suggest you try to pack all that into a single day. This is far West Texas, the Big Bend region nestled into the Texas side of that big, sweeping arc in the Rio Grande river southeast of El Paso. You’ll want to take it slow, to soak in every sunrise, relax in the shade during every hot, arid afternoon, and linger over cold beers in the evenings. There are things out here worth contemplating.
Among Big Bend’s greatest virtues is the fact that there’s no easy way to get there. The nearest “big city” is El Paso, which isn’t that big and remains some four-and-a-half hours away by car. That sheer remoteness tends to keep casual tourists and weekend warriors at bay. At 1,200 square miles—encompassing the entire Chisos mountain range and a large swath of the Chihuahuan Desert—Big Bend National Park is larger than the state of Rhode Island. Yet it remains one of the least-trafficked national parks in the nation (ranked 42 out of 59). Criss-crossed with amazing hiking trails, canoeing potential, and camping, it’s a serious contender for the best national park that—relatively speaking—nobody goes to.
For those who have experienced Big Bend this is puzzling, not least because the park and the surrounding area offer so much more than the typical hike-in, make-camp, hike-out experience. The trekking is fantastic, sure, offering high promontories, deep canyons, and desolate stretches of restless borderland geography. At night, the Milky Way flows across some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 states (as designated by the International Dark Sky Association). During the day you can canoe down the Rio Grande and cross into the Mexican border town of Boquillas for lunch and couple of beers (don’t forget to pack your passport). Avoiding the crowds is easy because there aren’t any. Think of it like Joshua Tree, without all the people and the pretense.
But for all its rugged remoteness, half the experience of visiting Big Bend is found in the small hubs of civilization found along the way. Nearby towns like Terlingua, Lajitas, Alpine, Marathon, and the oft-Instagrammed artist enclave of Marfa—replete with boutique hotels, an unparalleled modern art experience at the Donald Judd-founded Chinati Foundation, and Texas-chic shopping—all reside within driving distance of the park. Each has something unique to offer.
That means your off-the-grid West Texas adventure doesn’t have to be completely devoid of air conditioning, poolside margaritas, and fresh towels. Lodge in a well-appointed tent, teepee, or camper trailer at Marfa’s El Cosmico, or park yourself in Marathon (population 400) at the historic Gage Hotel, whose White Buffalo Bar is considered one of the best hotel bars in Texas.
But do it soon. While all this makes for near-limitless road-tripping itineraries and opportunities, the rise of social media and a renewed cultural interest in outdoor experiences have made the entire region more visible and accessible now than ever before. Meanwhile, the federal government continues to feed uncertainty around the future of the U.S.-Mexican border. Get to Big Bend before someone builds a wall through it.
– Clay Dillow, Field Reporter & Travel Writer
VIETNAM
I was actually hoping to not include Vietnam in the Hotlist. Though I filed it away in the “I’ll keep this one for me” folder, I cannot in good conscience withhold such badassness from the masses. Vietnam is NOW. Hanoi is a pure, gritty masterpiece of electric wire bundles, packed youth hostels, and seedy bars full of bliss. A junk boat Halong Bay cruise is an absolute must. Getting a massage on the second deck as the breeze floats by luminously green islands that look they disappear each night and reappear in a different place the next day is paradise. Rent a motorbike and cruise through the terraced rice paddies in the countryside.
The main reason that Vietnam is going to soon be the jam is the people are so nice it hurts. Call it an awakening or the newest relations (Obama visited in 2016), but people are generally thrilled to have guests. I suggest making yourself one immediately.
– Mark Stevens, Travel & Food Writer
SLOVENIA
I am currently working on a full travel guide to Slovenia because it deserves such. It is without a doubt one of the least frequented and most gorgeous countries I have ever visited. It makes solitude and travel feel like they could once again be one in the same.
Ljubljana is gem of a little city, with cafés lining the river and a bustling University scene (because school is free!) A wine country that borders and rivals some of the best vineyards in Italy, an old salt town on the coast that makes you feel like you’re time traveling, and the Soca river that winds through the Triglav National Park are all highlights.
One week, one month, one lifetime would not be enough to properly explore this place.
– Erin Rose Belair, Travel Writer & Essayist
MADAGASCAR
In 2006, I wrote an article in a glossy magazine urging people to “visit Madagascar soon, before anyone ruins it.” And the country — an Afro-Asiatic mini-continent off the east coast of Africa — did experience a boom. But the too-familiar rhythm of government coos, financial upheaval, and rebirth has left the island as something of an afterthought amongst tourists.
It shouldn’t be. Madagascar is one of the most ecologically diverse nations on earth. It’s affordable, ringed with blissful beaches, and loaded with well protected national parks. It’s also massive, which means getting around takes some doing. Last time I was there, I traveled by motorbike, cargo boat, Arabic dhow, and bicycle — and I only covered a tiny corner of the country.
This isn’t for everyone, it’s for people who want adventure travel and without tourist infrastructure. It’s for people who crave some excellent escargot in the capital, but will be happy with zebu skewers in the port towns. It’s for adventure travelers and if you’re one of those, you should get there soon. Before anyone ruins it.
– Steve Bramucci, Uproxx Travel Editor
THE ‘STANS OF CENTRAL ASIA
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Central Asia is the great unknown of the modern travel world. However, it’s probably one of the most traveled parts of the world, historically speaking. It’s a vast land of motley mountain peaks and stark deserts — with gateways to hell, and the largest grass plain on the entire planet. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan are the epitome of over the hills and far away.
A blend of Mongol, Persian, and Russian cultures have collided and given birth to cities that seem frozen in Soviet amber — with huge boulevards hosting some of the best living examples of Stalinist architecture, right next to H&Ms and Starbucks. Leave the cities and you’ll find untouched wilderness that will take your breath away, whether you’re a desert rat, a mountain trekker, or anything in between.
There’s so much to do in this corner of the world. The food is wholly unique — a bowl of Lagman noodle soup is not to be skipped nor is the plov (a fatty, lamb-based rice dish). The mountain treks of Kyrgyzstan are to the same grade as treks in Switzerland and the USA and offer a deeper dive into unscathed nature with almost no tourists mucking up the paths. Uzbekistan offers some of the richest Silk Road history on earth, preserved in technicolor vibrance in Bukhara and Samara. Tajikistan is like stepping back into Stalin’s Soviet past, with opera houses, cinemas, and department stores that feel more like time machines. Turkmenistan’s deserts are so vast and unexplored that there are literally giant lizards there and massive fires burn eternally. Kazakhstan has the wonders of all of the above (and a massive grassland) with a heavy lean towards modernizing into the 21st century at every turn.
This is where you’ll feel like a real adventurer in 2018.
– Zach Johnston, Travel & Food Writer
ROATAN, HONDURAS
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The island of Roatan, Honduras, is somehow still hidden in plain sight, despite sitting in the heart of the Caribbean, right on top of the second largest barrier reef in the world. It retains none of the negativity of its mother country and has yet to be overtaken by restaurant and hotel chains… For now.
The scuba and snorkeling is some of the best in the Caribbean, and is breathtaking within a few meters of the shoreline, down the entire coast. A beautiful house on the beach can be found on VRBO at a reasonable rate, with a boutique dive shop literally at the foot of your stairs. Take a water taxi from the end of your dock to West End for nighttime hangs, where you can buy a $1.50 baleada (thick flour tortillas made on a flat top grill, filled with mash fried beans, and any other toppings) and a $1 Salva Vida beer from a lotto stand across the street. The vibe is super relaxed and locals and expats mingle without pretension.
In the daytime, rent a cheap moto and explore the length of the island. End every day on the deck with the ocean below, picking shooting stars out of a flawless sky that is still unaffected by light pollution.
– Robbe Reddinger, Travel Writer
BOLIVIA
With Colombia on everyone’s radar in 2017, it’s fair to question what else South America has to offer. Enter Bolivia. Between barreling down the World’s Most Dangerous Road on mountain bikes to the limitless salt flats of the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia has a valuable experience for every type of traveler.
La Paz is more international than most folks know and is just a day trip away from Lake Titicaca and the Island of the Sun. The mines of Potosí offering living history of the horrific Spanish conquest of the New World (you can still go in the silver mines, but not before giving a sacrifice of alcohol and tobacco to the god of the mines). From Sucre to the Altiplano, Bolivia’s natural resources are comparable with their more notorious neighbors and the friendly population possesses that capacity for welcome often associated with less trafficked areas.
– Mark Stevens, Food & Travel Writer
BELLINGEN, AUSTRALIA
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The best road trips take place when you follow tips from locals. After a few days in Byron Bay we decided to hit the road again, and on the tip of a shopkeeper, we headed to a small town called Bellingen. It’s a little oasis tucked deep in the hinterland of Australia’s Gold Coast.
The hamlet has a small town vibe with a great big heart, an incredible brewery, adorable shopping, and is, all in all, the most magical place I’ve ever visited… the Promised Land. It’s highlighted by a small river that runs through some lush Australian bush filled with swimming holes, rope swings, and picnic spots so good you will think about them for the rest of your life.
— Erin Rose Belair, Travel Writer & Essayist
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ZAGREB, CROATIA
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The European tourism boom hasn’t yet hit the Croatian capital. In fact, it’s only become a travel destination in the last decade. Some people still have fears about visiting a country that was embroiled in a civil war. But that ended 20 years ago and Zagreb is a beautiful, historic city with streets lined with cafes, ancient architecture, and myriad museums.
You can’t miss the Museum of Broken Relationships and the various open-air markets and parks. It’s also still extremely cheap — with the average meal for two (including wine) setting you back a mere $30. A stay in a 4-star hotel in the main tourist area of the city is less than $200 per night.
If you do visit Zagreb, be sure to take a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park to spend a day walking amongst 16 lakes, hundreds of waterfalls and crystal-clear, bright blue water.
– Christopher Osburn, Food & Drinks Writer
ANTARCTICA
The last place on Earth is so cold that it’s become hot. Last season, from October to March, more than 40,000 (up by 6,000 from the previous year) took expeditions to hang out while whale pods, penguin rookeries and test their fortitude by jumping in sub-freezing temperature polar bear swims. Most expedition vessels range from 50-200 passengers and depart from either Ushuaia, Argentina or Punta Arenas Chile. There are flight options as well but they are subject to weather, and not refundable.
The two days crossing the Drake Passage can be subject to waves, known as the ‘Drake Shake’, but are otherwise filled with seminars about wildlife, conservation, and polar exploration history. If you’re lucky enough to visit South Georgia Island (make sure it’s included), you’ll be introduced to 200,000 breeding pairs of King Penguins at St. Andrews Bay, fighting male elephant seals, and the occasional Wandering Albatross showing off their world-record 11-foot wingspan.
Prices vary but for the fleet-footed traveler — who can make it to Ushuaia at the Southern tip of South America — can usually hang out at the tourist office and hop on board non-full expeditions for $5000-6000. Another option is to monitor the Ushuaia tourist website for last-minute deals.
Rarely have I been awestruck as intensely as when we made landfall in Antarctica. It is the most like an alien planet that my feeble mind could conjure. 50,000 people are expected to visit in 2018, make sure you’re one of them!
– Mark Stevens, Food & Travel Writer
LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Hiking, fishing, and kayaking are probably not the reasons people visit Las Vegas. Many people don’t realize just outside of Sin City is the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where a visitor can do just those things. Located on the Arizona – Nevada border, the area is full of historical markers from Native American tribes and the Great Depression, whether natural or manmade.
A kayak or raft ride from one side of the lake to the other offers views of both sides of the Hoover Dam, glimpses of the Emerald Cave, hot springs, camping sites, and mountain wildlife in their habits. It’s 2018 and Las Vegas is a known entity. Adding Lake Mead to your trip would prove you have an ace up your sleeve.
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