Planning new experiences as the new year approaches is always exciting, but discovering the greatest destinations to travel in 2022 is something special. After 2 years of border barriers, ship delays, and travel restrictions abounding, 2022 is the year we plan to go back out there, unrestrained, to revisit old haunts and discover new ones.

1. Abruzzo, Italy

Abruzzo, Italy has long been one of the country’s most ignored locations despite its pristine towns, gorgeous Trabocchi Coast, and spectacular natural getaways, extending from the heart of the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea on the peninsula’s southeastern side. However, in recent years, it has evolved from a quiet underdog to an aspirational forerunner of leisurely tourism, ecological cuisine, and conscientious hospitality. In 2019, Villa Corallo, a 19th-century estate in Civitella del Tronto, was converted into a five-star hotel. Dimore Montane, an eco-lodge in Majella National Park that will open in 2020, combines camping with environmentally friendly amenities and a zero-waste strategy.

Meanwhile, restaurants such as Bottega Culinaria in San Vito Chietino and Materia Prima in Castel di Sangro are trying to redefine the region as one of Italy’s most fascinating food hotspots thanks to their smart and sustainable takes on locally grown produce and traditional food (as if Niko Romito’s three-Michelin-starred Reale wasn’t enough). A cycling and walking path along the Adriatic Sea created on a disused railway corridor is set to open this spring.

2. Anguilla

This laid-back Caribbean jewel is now easier to reach than ever, with American Airlines operating the first-ever uninterrupted, direct route from Miami on December 11. Tradewind Aviation has also begun offering individual private flights to the island. In addition, the newly established Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club has a fleet of aircraft to transport visitors from major U.S. cities. Chef Abram Bissell, formerly of Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad, and The Modern, will oversee a few restaurants within the massive luxury resort.

True essence, a boutique luxury resort with amenities like butler service and a 4:1 staff-to-guest ratio, is launching Quinn, a more expensive annex of rooms, in 2022. The new restaurant, Uchu, at Belmond Cap Juluca, is inspired by Belmond’s Peruvian assets. The menu, named after the Quechuan word for spice, will showcase modern Peruvian cuisine influenced by three parts of the country: the coast, the jungle, and the highlands.

3. Bahamas

The Bahamas has long been a favorite destination for American tourists due to its crystal-clear waters, tropical beaches, and sunlight just about fifty miles off the coast of Florida, and there are even more reasons for visiting the island country in 2022. Baha Mar, on the island of New Providence, boasts a spanking new water park with everything from a water park to a surfing simulator, and non-resort visitors may buy day tickets. Travel to the Bahamas’ outlying islands for additional leisure and leisure.

While charter planes can get you precisely where you need to go, Crystal Cruises is providing a Bahamas-centric trip that will take you to some of the more distant and calmer islands. On its mid-July trip, visitors will board and disembark in Nassau before being whisked away to the islands of Bimini, Great Exuma, San Salvador, and Long Island by “6-star” service. Aside from the beach, don’t forget to sample some local cuisine and culture. The islands are well-known for their conch, stew fish, and rock lobster. Following a brief pause, Carnival is held in Nassau from late April to early May. Keep an ear out for the classic Junkanoo sound and dance.

4. Budapest, Hungary

Few locations in the world encapsulate both old-world charm and beautiful modernism like Budapest, and Matild Palace, Budapest’s newest 130-room luxury hotel, is a remarkable example. The UNESCO-protected neo-baroque palace-turned-hotel, which launched this summer in the city’s District V, was formerly home to the city’s monarchy. The hotel currently houses Wolfgang Punk’s renowned Spago, the first of its type in Central Europe.

It also has the Duchess bar, a terrace “liquor library” that serves creative cocktails made with local wines and pálinka, a Hungarian fruit brandy, while overlooking the Danube. Budapest is an oenophile’s dream, surrounded by 22 wine districts. Enjoy a glass of Kékfrankos or Kadarka at Takler Borbár Buda, a recently established wine bar in the Castle District created by one of Hungary’s most well-known winemaking families. Visit Marlou, a biodynamic wine bar near the Hungarian State Opera, and Portobello, a low-key coffee and natural wine bar around the corner from Matild Palace.

5. Burgundy, France

Burgundy is famous for its — you got it — Burgundy wine, but French wine isn’t the only reason Burgundy is a must-see in 2022. The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin (International City of Gastronomy and Wine), an enormous complex including a culinary school, a new venue, a number of restaurants, and a wine cellar with over 250 by-the-glass selections, will open in the spring in the country’s capital city of Dijon. The new project is well located at the start of Burgundy’s historic wine road, Route des Grands Crus, which stretches from Dijon to Santenay and produces some of the country’s most renowned wines, such as pinot noir, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc. —Carrick, Evie.

6. Crete, Greece

The Greek Islands have long been a popular holiday resort for discriminating tourists, and Crete, the biggest of the archipelago’s 227 islands, deserves to be at the top of any must-see list. Yes, it’s a destination where you can find the white-washed houses and turquoise roofs you’ve lusted over on Instagram for years, as well as plunge into the Mediterranean’s cerulean blue waves at every turn. Of course, you may go deep into both history and mythology, since people have resided on the island since the 7th century B.C., not to mention that Crete is Zeus’ birthplace.

With all of this beauty and history, it’s no wonder that Crete has a thriving artistic culture, based mostly in the Chania district. Visitors can look through works at museums like the Mediterranean Architecture Center or look for one-of-a-kind items in galleries like the Municipal Art Gallery or the Redd Gallery. To explore Crete, join a Silversea cruise to Crete and numerous other spectacular islands, or arrange a stay at the Blue Palace. The Luxury Collection Resort Elounda has been voted one of the Top 10 Greece Resort Hotels in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for 2021. — Stacey Leasca