Vacationer of the Week: Where We’re Traveling in 2022

Since the relaunch of Vacationer Magazine in October 2021, we’ve chatted with several travel leaders, writers, advisors, and influencers for our weekly franchise, Vacationer of the Week, including where they think Queer travelers will be traveling in 2022. With the prevalence of the pandemic, we want to continue to strike a balance between travel inspiration and safety.  

So for this week, we wanted to stay positive and inspire you to keep dreaming about travel for 2022. The Points Guy, Brian Kelly, Chantell & Bree Landry, Barry Hoy, Lola Méndez, and others offer their thoughts on what destinations or forms of travel will be popular this year. You may want to add a few to your list. 

Editor’s Note: Those who travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before traveling.

Paris & The Caribbean
“We believe cities like Paris will continue to be on the rise as people look for destinations to spend with their loved ones. We also see the Caribbean continues to be a hot spot in 2022 for its tropical weather, beaches, and adventurous landscapes. We imagine people will be looking to book extended vacations while working remotely from the comfort of their hotel rooms, resorts, or cafes while soaking in different cultures and creating memories of a lifetime.” – Kirstie Pike & Christine Diaz, Travel Content Creators (@onairplanemode_)

Road Trips
“I think warm destinations will be a hit in 2022. Travel is opening up now to most of the world and many people want an escape from the cold. I also think that many road trips are still happening in the US due to different folk’s levels of comfort.” – Ravi Roth, Queer Influencer (@raviroundtheworld)

Utah, Greece, and Mexico
“We think that Utah, Greece, and Mexico will be popular destinations to travel to in 2022. We recently had a chance to visit Utah and it is truly a hidden gem here in the US. More and more people are starting to find out about how amazing it is, so it will definitely see a boost in tourism this year. With Greece and Mexico, we think that people are interested in places with the least amount of stress surrounding COVID entry requirements which both of these countries currently have, making them a hot spot for travel.” – Chantell & Bree Landry, Travelers and Influencers (@twogrlsoneworld)

Japan and Thailand
“Within the US, I think people miss culture and arts so I think visiting cities such as NYC will become popular again, especially as we get more comfortable with the virus. Internationally, I think people miss traveling to Asia and hopefully, destinations like Japan and Thailand become popular again in 2022.” – Brian Kelly, CEO and Founder, The Points Guy (@briankelly)

Hawaii and Puerto Rico
“In the USA, we think Hawaii will still be a big travel destination in 2022, as well as Puerto Rico. Internationally, we think countries, where you will only need to show that you are fully vaccinated (without needing a negative COVID-19 test as well), will be major travel destinations next year. People want to be able to travel with ease and if you only need to show your vaccine card, we think it will make it a lot easier for people.” – Shanna Sciara and Gabi Meit, Travel Content Creators and Influencers (@27travels)

Mykonos, Sitges, Puerto Vallarta and Amsterdam
“I think Barcelona, London, Honolulu will be popular destinations. For LGBTQ+ travelers, Sitges, Mykonos, Puerto Vallarta, and Amsterdam may be on that list, too. These are places so famous, so full of things to do at every turn, that the only way you would have a bad time was if you consciously tried. People will want to travel to places where they won’t have to work too hard to have a fabulous experience. If COVID is still a mitigating factor in 2022, you are looking at a year of staycations, road trips, and wellness destinations where you can bliss out for a few days.” – David Perry, Travel Blogger and Writer (@perrytrails)

Mexico
“I think Mexico will continue to be a popular destination for North American tourists as the borders remain open, the COVID restrictions to enter are limited and the vast country has so much to offer. You can find everything in Mexico from snow-capped mountains, ancient civilizations, whale-watching, and more.” – Lola Méndez, Journalist (@lolaannmendez)

Alaska
“I think domestic destinations like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Florida will remain popular because of the beach and sun but also because of the ability to space out in the age of COVID-19, especially for travelers from big cities like NYC. I think Alaska and national parks across the country will also be popular because of the vast outdoor space and it easier to travel domestically with ever-changing testing and vaccine requirements.”  – Barry Hoy, Travel Content Creator, Writer, and Influencer (@asianmapleleaf)

Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Central, and South America
“Domestic regions like Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. This is what people are looking for in the post-Covid era; where you can combine beautiful destinations, luxury infrastructure, easy access, and experiences. Internationally, I think Central and South America, will be popular too. I’m just guided by my intuition of many years in the travel industry as well as how my clients are behaving.”  – Carlos Melia, Luxury Travel Curator and Concierge (@carlosmeliablog)