10 Unique Places to Travel
Researching new places to travel (and rehashing favorite trips) can be a lovely past-time when you’re stuck indoors. In the spirit of planning your first trip post-pandemic, here are some destinations for your bucket list, chosen for their natural beauty, unique culture, and relatively inexpensive cost of travel.
Flight costs are round trip in the summer, calculated based on JFK airport in New York City, and may be more or less depending on where you live. GPI stands for “global peace index” and is a value calculated by a think tank called the Institute for Economics and Peace. The lower a country’s GPI, the more peaceful it is. Keep in mind that safety changes all the time, and safety can vary from region to region within a country.
Córdoba, Argentina
Photo by Alvaro Palacios on Unsplash
National Language: Spanish
Population: 1.6 million
GPI: 1.989 (75th)
Flight Cost: $700
The breathtaking vistas of the Andes and old world European charm combine in this gorgeous, diverse country. Ranking squarely in the center of the GPI (global peace index) rankings, it is nonetheless one of the safest countries in South America and has been a tourist boon for decades. Pick up a book at the most gorgeous bookshop in the world, examine early indigenous art at La Cueva de las Manos, or spend a few days roaming the hip streets of Nueva Córdoba.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash
National Language: English (though Setswana is most commonly spoken)
Population: 275k
GPI: 1.69 (33rd)
Flight Cost: $1,100
If you are an animal lover, Botswana is for you! Covered by the Kalahari desert (which is actually more of a savannah), Botswana is an animal lover’s paradise, with many, many opportunities to go on safari. All 5 of the “big five” safari animals are found in Botswana (elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and water buffalo), but wildebeests, flamingos, and other amazing animals live there, too. Botswana is the safest country in Africa (and is safer than most of Europe, North America, and South America). It’s one of the pricier African countries to travel to (thanks to those glorious elephants), but it’s well worth it (just look up “okavango river delta camp,” and thank me later).
Atlantic Provinces, Canada
Photo by Kat van der Linden on Unsplash
National Language: English and French
Population: 2.3 million
GPI: 1.298 (6th)
Flight Cost: $500
Literature lovers rejoice! This region inspired two classic books (The Shipping News and Anne of Green Gables) as well as Tony Award-winning musical (Come from Away), and it deserves all those accolades and more! From whale watching and deep sea fishing to “screeching” and the L.M. Montgomery house, the Atlantic provinces are a must for adventurous travelers. It’s also an area rife with history, you can learn about Native Canadian culture at Kejimkujik National Park, visit the remains of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland, and even scuba dive amongst an enormous shipwreck.
Lefkada, Greece
A café in Lefkada closed for the afternoon heat.
National Language: Greek
Population: 24k
GPI: 1.877 (57th)
Flight Cost: $650
If you’re looking for a gorgeous natural destination that’s a little bit slower than PEI or Botswana, Greece is an excellent choice. Marrying rich culture with gorgeous beaches, it has been a favorite destination of sun-seekers for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. In Greece, you can treat yourself to a very comfortable vacation for much less than many other beach destinations. Inexpensive busses regularly travel to Lefkada from Athens and Thessaloniki, and while its full of local sun-seekers, very few international tourists visit Lefkada. With many beaches, beautiful hotels, and delicious food, save your Mykonos money and get more bang for your buck in Lefkada.
Bratislava, Slovakia
Photo by michael schaffler on Unsplash
National Language: Slovak
Population: 425k
GPI: 1.57 (25th)
Flight Cost: $800
This former half of Czechoslovakia doesn’t get the attention that The Czech Republic (and who are we kidding - Prague) does, but you shouldn’t sleep on this small Eastern European country. The capitol city of Bratislava is extremely close to the golden palaces of Vienna - but you can visit for far less money. For those who like a dreamy romantic getaway, it has the most castles and chateaus per capita in the world. If you want a little more nature on your trip, you can visit on of the thousands of mineral springs and natural caves in Slovakia. Even if you don’t make a singular trip out of visiting Slovakia, it’s well worth a stop on your way from Vienna to Budapest.
Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Photo by Tomáš Malík on Unsplash
National Languages: Sinhala and Tamil, with English as the “linking language”
Population: 3.5k
GPI: 2.003 (77th)
Flight Cost: $1,150
This tiny, lush island nation is one of the hidden gems of the Indian ocean. And once you arrive, it’s one of the cheapest places to travel in the world; you can easily get by on around $30USD/day. Full of gorgeous beaches, amazing wildlife, and breathtaking temples, you can find a lot to do on this small island off the coast of India. The tiny town of Arugam bay has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
National Language: Over 100 languages spoken, government conducted in Swahili
Population: 1.5 million
GPI: 1.85 (52nd)
Flight Cost: $1,000
Tanzania is one of the most unique countries to visit in the world given its two most famous attractions: Zanzibar and Mount Kilimanjaro. In a close third place, they have Serengeti National Park. It’s also less expensive than Botswana but has more diverse options in terms of activities. Stay in an seaside bungalow in Zanzibar and watch wildebeests migrate on the same trip. Portions of Zanzibar are more dangerous, but the tourist-friendly areas are all very safe.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Photo by Guillermo Vuljevas on Unsplash
National Language: Spanish
Population: 1.4 million
GPI: 1.704 (35th)
Flight Cost: $700
The dot at the bottom of Brazil’s question mark, this small country is one of South America’s hidden gems. Heavily influenced by both African and European culture, Uruguay is full of gorgeous Belle Epoque architecture and long, winding beaches. Make sure you eat pit barbecue while in Uruguay, as it’s one of the staples of South American cuisine (not to mention extraordinarily delicious).
Utah, USA
Photo by Jelle de Gier on Unsplash
National Language: English
Population: 3.2 million
GPI: 2.307 (121st)
Flight Cost: $500 (to Moab, UT)
If you’re looking for accessible, amazing national parks, look no further than Utah in the United States. Some of the most incredible, diverse geological formations in the world are found in Utah, such as antelope canyon (pictured above). If you go to Moab, you can experience 2 national parks very close together (Canyonlands and Arches). In southern Utah/northern Arizona, you can visit the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks on the same trip.
Hoi An, Vietnam
National Language: Vietnamese
Population: 96 million
GPI: 1.92 (64th)
Flight Cost: $1,000
Though its popularity with tourists is often eclipsed by Thailand, Vietnam is full of amazing street food, unique natural wonders, and some of the friendliest locals in the world. Much like Sri Lanka, Vietnam is a very inexpensive country to travel to, and a great country for backpackers. Hoi An is a beautiful, ancient city on the beach, and you must visit the haunting, ethereal beauty of Halong Bay. For an urban experience, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are as cosmopolitan, modern, and vibrant as you could hope for.
What cities, countries, or places are on your must-visit list? If Iceland is one of them, check out my guide to Iceland here.
