Where should you be traveling this year? From idyllic islands and remote mountainous regions to bustling metropolises, these 10 destinations are at the top of our list for this year.
Bali
An island paradise known for its lush tropical jungles, Hindu temples, and traditional craftsmanship, Bali is set to debut a spate of new and updated resorts in the coming months. In March, Uluwatu, the village famous for its temple perched atop a cliff overlooking the sea, has got a new resort by wellness-focused brand Six Senses and the Cliff, an addition to Alila Villas Ulutawu. Also this year, Capella Ubud will debut with a series of luxury tents designed by acclaimed architect Bill Bensley. The island will soon be easier to reach, thanks to an expansion of the international airport in Denpasar.
Dundee, Scotland
Perhaps you’ve been to Edinburgh and Glasgow, but what about Dundee? Set to open this year, the V&A Dundee will be the U.K.’s only outpost of the Victoria & Albert Museum outside of London not to mention Scotland’s first major design museum. Created by award-winning architect Kengo Kuma, the waterfront museum will showcase the most innovative design from Scotland and beyond. If you go, be sure to check out Dundee Contemporary Arts, a complex housing two art galleries, two cinemas, a print studio, a café, and a stylish gift shop.
Abu Dhabi
Jean Nouvel’s eye-catching design for the Louvre Abu Dhabi made quite a splash when it opened in November, and for art and architecture fans, that might be reason enough to go. But far from slowing down, the city is kicking up into high gear, with the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry and a new Performing Arts Center by Zaha Hadid Architects planned for the coming years. Hotelier Ian Schrager has taken note: He’ll be launching the Abu Dhabi EDITION this year. Can all this investment turn the city into the U.A.E.’s new cultural capital? Go this year to see for yourself.
Brusseles
Visitors to Belgium’s capital this year will have the unique chance to see the empty Citroën factory before it becomes the Citroën Cultural Center in 2019. The project is currently the subject of an architecture competition, and the winning firm will be asked to create a $125 million Euro complex comprising a modern and contemporary art museum, an architecture center, and public spaces for events. Starting in May, the building will host a year of cultural activities in partnership with the Fondation Kanal and Paris’s Centre Pompidou.
Cairo
Tourists are finally returning to Egypt in record numbers for the first time since the Arab Spring in 2011, which is good news for both the country’s economy and for archeology fans. Egypt was one of luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent’s most popular destinations in 2017 and they expect to see more growth in 2018, spurred in part by the secret chamber discovered inside the Pyramid of Giza and the tombs uncovered in Luxor. But the biggest news is certainly the upcoming opening of Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum, set to become the world’s largest archeological museum when it launches.
Azores, Portugal
You’ve heard the recent buzz about Lisbon, and maybe visited, but are the Azore Islands off the coast of Portugal on your bucket list? They should be. These nine pristine islands boast stunning natural beauty, charming villages, sandy beaches, and excellent cuisine. Book an island-hopping excursion with Azores Getaways and take advantage of Delta’s new direct flights from New York.
Belize
This tiny country bordering Mexico and Guatemala marries the best of Latin America and the Caribbean, with white sand beaches, lush tropical jungle, a wealth of Mayan ruins, and the world’s second largest barrier reef. Two new resorts, the eco-chic Itz’ana Resort and Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club, are offering laid-back, boutique alternatives to the Yucatán Peninsula’s big-box resorts.
Bahamas
Hurricanes Maria and Irma may have decimated Puerto Rico and a few other Caribbean islands, but that doesn’t mean the entire region is closed, and their economy is relying on tourism dollars. You can and should visit the Bahamas, where the massive Baha Mar resort debuted this year with a Grand Hyatt Hotel, a casino, a golf course, a spa, and nine restaurants. Next up, SLS Baha Mar is opened last fall, and Rosewood Baha Mar has been opened in spring 2018.
Source: www.architecturaldigest.com
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