Choose the trip, then the place
The fastest way to a disappointing vacation is picking a destination before deciding what kind of trip you want. A couple who wants to do nothing but read by a pool will be miserable on a packed city itinerary, and an adventure lover will be bored at an all-inclusive by day three. Decide on the style first, and the right destinations become obvious.
We built these picks from traveler-voted awards rather than personal favorites: Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards (based on more than 207,000 reader ratings), Tripadvisor's 2026 Travelers' Choice awards (based on a year of reviews), and the 2025 World Travel Awards category winners (voted by the public and the travel industry).
Not sure which you are? Think about your last vacation. What did you talk about most when you got home: the food and places, the activity, or how rested you felt? That's your style.
Beach vacations
A great beach trip needs more than sand. Look for clear water, a good choice of places to eat, and a season when the sea is calm.
Crete, Greece
Crete has two of the three highest-rated beaches in Tripadvisor's 2026 Travelers' Choice awards: Elafonissi, with its pink-tinged sand, in second place and Balos Lagoon in third, per Tripadvisor. Greece's largest island also has Minoan palaces, mountain villages and some of the best food in the country, so you won't get bored. Best months: late May, June and September.
Cozumel, Mexico
Isla Pasión, a small island off Cozumel's north coast, was voted the best beach in the world in Tripadvisor's 2026 awards. Cozumel is also one of the Caribbean's best places to dive and snorkel. Best months: December to April, outside hurricane season.
The Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve won the World's Leading Beach Destination title at the 2025 World Travel Awards, per the World Travel Awards, and Praia da Falésia, with its red and orange cliffs, placed fifth in Tripadvisor's world beach ranking. It's also good value: the Post Office rated it the cheapest family destination in its 2026 survey. Best months: May, June and September.
Aruba
Eagle Beach was fourth in Tripadvisor's 2026 beach awards. Aruba lies outside the main hurricane belt, which makes it a safer bet for a Caribbean trip in late summer and autumn. Best months: year-round, with April to August especially good value.
Koh Samui, Thailand
Travel + Leisure readers voted Koh Samui the best island in the world in 2026, with a score of 95.64, per Time Out. It has everything from backpacker beaches to luxury villas. Best months: January to August; the northeast monsoon brings heavy rain from about October to December.
Culture vacations
Culture-focused trips work best in walkable places where history, food and daily life are all in the same streets.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto was voted the second-best city in the world by Travel + Leisure readers in 2026, and it ranked in Tripadvisor's top ten culture destinations too. It has more than 1,600 temples, as well as tea houses and craft workshops. Best months: late March to April, and November for autumn leaves.
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
This colonial hill town in central Mexico was voted the best city in the world in Travel + Leisure's 2026 awards, per the awards announcement. Expect pink sandstone churches, galleries and rooftop restaurants. Best months: October to April.
Kraków, Poland
Kraków came third in Tripadvisor's 2026 culture ranking, per Tripadvisor. Its old town and Wawel Castle are UNESCO-listed, and it's the base for visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and the Wieliczka salt mine. Best months: May to September, or December for the Christmas market.
Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Peru
Peru was named the world's leading cultural destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards. Cusco, the old Inca capital, is the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. It sits at about 3,400 meters, so allow time to acclimatize. Best months: April to October, the dry season.
Singapore
Singapore topped Tripadvisor's 2026 culture list, ahead of London and Paris. Its Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan neighborhoods sit side by side, and its hawker centers are a living food museum. Best months: February to April tends to be driest.
Adventure vacations
Adventure means different things to different people, from a gentle coastal walk to a week without phone signal. These picks cover a range of difficulty levels.
Patagonia, Chile and Argentina
Chile was named the world's leading adventure destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards. Patagonia is the reason: the W Trek in Torres del Paine, glacier hikes, kayaking among icebergs and some of the wildest scenery on the planet. Best months: November to March. Difficulty: moderate to hard.
Madeira, Portugal
Madeira topped Tripadvisor's list of trending destinations for 2026 and won the World's Leading Island Destination title at the 2025 World Travel Awards. It's a hiker's island, with walks along levadas (narrow irrigation channels) through laurel forest and a sunrise climb of Pico do Arieiro. Best months: April to October. Difficulty: easy to hard.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka won the World's Leading Nature Destination award in 2025. In one trip you can watch leopards in Yala, climb Sigiriya rock fortress, hike through tea plantations and surf on the south coast. Best months: December to March for the south and west coasts and the hill country; May to September for the east coast. Difficulty: easy to moderate.
The Serengeti, Tanzania
The Serengeti was voted the world's leading national park at the 2025 World Travel Awards. The Great Migration moves through the park in a yearly loop, so the best area depends on the month; ask your safari operator where the herds will be. Best months: June to October for dry-season game viewing, January to February for calving. Difficulty: easy.
Bariloche, Argentina
Bariloche made Tripadvisor's top ten trending destinations for 2026. It's the gateway to Argentina's Lake District: hike to mountain huts in summer, ski at Cerro Catedral in winter, and kayak on glacial lakes. Best months: December to March, or July to August for skiing. Difficulty: easy to hard.
Relaxation vacations
A restful trip is about removing decisions. Look for places where the hotel handles meals and activities, and where there's little temptation to cram in sightseeing.
The Maldives
The Maldives was named the World's Leading Destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards and came second in Travel + Leisure's 2026 island ranking. Most resorts occupy their own island, so there's nothing to do but swim, snorkel and rest. Best months: December to April.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali came first in Tripadvisor's 2026 Best of the Best Destinations and topped its honeymoon ranking too. For relaxation, head inland to Ubud's yoga retreats and spas, or to the quieter east coast, rather than busy South Bali. Best months: April to October, the dry season.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia was the Caribbean winner and the world's top honeymoon pick in U.S. News's 2026 Best Vacations rankings, per U.S. News. Its twin Piton peaks, volcanic mud baths and small luxury resorts make it ideal for couples. Best months: December to April.
The Azores, Portugal
The Azores placed in Travel + Leisure's 2026 top 20 islands. These green volcanic islands in the Atlantic offer hot springs, crater lakes and a slower pace of life, with cooler temperatures than most beach destinations. Best months: May to September.
The Seychelles
The Seychelles ranked sixth among islands in Travel + Leisure's 2026 awards. Granite boulders, calm turquoise coves and small island resorts make it one of the world's most restful places. Best months: April to May and October to November, between the trade-wind seasons.
Restful trips are part of a fast-growing wellness travel market, worth $893.9 billion in 2024, according to the Global Wellness Institute.
Traveling with someone whose style is different?
Many couples and families don't share a travel style. The answer is usually a destination that does two things well, with the trip split between them.
Finish with the relaxing part. Ending a trip on a beach or at a spa means you come home rested, not exhausted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best vacation destination in the world?
It depends on your style. In 2026 traveler awards, San Miguel de Allende was voted the best city by Travel + Leisure readers, Bali topped Tripadvisor's destination awards, and Koh Samui was voted the best island.
What are the best beach destinations for 2027?
Crete, Cozumel, the Algarve, Aruba and Koh Samui are strong choices, based on 2026 traveler awards. Check the season before you book, as rain and storms vary a lot by region.
Where should I go for a relaxing vacation?
The Maldives, St. Lucia and the Seychelles are ideal for doing very little in beautiful surroundings. Bali's Ubud area is best if you want spas and yoga as part of the rest.
What is the best destination for adventure travel?
Patagonia is hard to beat for hiking and wild landscapes. Madeira is a more accessible option for walkers, and Tanzania's Serengeti is the classic wildlife adventure.
How are these destinations chosen?
We used traveler-voted rankings: Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards, Tripadvisor's 2026 Travelers' Choice awards, U.S. News's 2026 Best Vacations and the 2025 World Travel Awards, then chose destinations that stand out within each style.