Travel New Year, New Adventures: Discover Two of the Hottest Travel Destinations for 2024!
By Stefanie Michaels
It’s that time of year when travel trends and lists of top destinations pop into your social feeds. (We call it, Travel New Year). Case in point – Booking.com reports that AI will play a big role in how we travel in 2024, along with how climate change will influence where we travel. But, what about those top destination listicles?
Typically, those lists most often are penned by writers who simply love the places they mention. I can relate! I’ve shared with you some of my favorite places, foreign and domestic, throughout this year, and thank you for following my adventures. So, looking forward to what 2024 travel has in store for us, let’s get a jump on things with a couple of my new favorites.
Modena, Italy
Located within the Emilia Romogna region of Italy which boasts 44 Protected Destination of Origin, Modena is one of the richest within the Italian food valley producing original products such as Balsamic Vinegar and Lambrusco. Indeed, this is a food tourist’s haven.
Modena is also home to some of the world’s finest automobiles – Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Pagani to name a few. The Supercar City hosts the Motor Valley Festival each May and is a must for auto aficionados. Still, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find yourself in complete awe of the cultural riches within this medieval town. Make sure to visit the Modena Cathedral, Torre Civica, and Piazza Grande.
If you go, there are many luxury places to stay. But, by far, staying at Casa Maria Luigia is a once in a lifetime experience.
The Country House features a wood decked swimming pool, tennis court, leisure gardens, lounging areas, a wood burning pizza oven and vegetable garden, and is owned by famed Chef Massimo Bottura and his wife Lara Gilmore. Each room is different and all of them are filled with some of the couple’s favorite things from their personal collection.
If you crave a midnight snack, the kitchen’s refrigerator is stocked with housemade delicacies. And, you can exercise in their gym filled with motorcycles and cars also from their private collection. But, do-not-pass-go at breakfast, as Bottura has a morning feast for you waiting at Francescana at Maria Luigia. There’s also a 9-course dinner you’ll never forget.
Tasmania, Australia
Known for the world’s cleanest air, this Australian island boasts beautiful scenery such as the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area spanning about 20% of the state – that’s 1.58 million hectares of national parks, marine, and forests reserves.
But, if you’re not the outdoorsy type, you can gain perspective of this magical place from above with Tasmanian Air Tours while en route to some pretty fantastic private experiences.
For example, the Tasmanian Whisky, Gin, and Wine Flight tours your over the Tasman Peninsula sea cliffs and the bush landscape before landing at McHenry Whisky Distillery. Then you’re transported to the gorgeous Frogmore Creek Restaurant and Cellar Door for lunch where local seasonal produce and cold-climate wines are the menu’s focus. The afternoon is up to you with several add-on options.
If you go, consider these luxury accommodations for more of those stunning Tasmanian views.
The Leighton House is located just 20 minutes outside of Launceston. Featuring the property’s traditional Georgian historic architecture in a modern and sustainable way, its 300-acres is highlighted by the Lomond Mountain and the Tamar Valley wine route.
The Hunter Huon Valley offers guests luxury cabins designed by Maguire + Devine framed by 36-acres of Tasmanian bushlands. Or, opt for a recently voted World’s Best Boutique Hotel and World’s Best Luxury Hotel – Saffire Freycinet which overlooks the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay.
Photos: Tourism Australia/Emilia Romogna Tourism
