50 Best Places to Travel in 2024

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Source: Travel Lemming

Travel Lemming, a team comprised of dozens of travel experts, dedicates itself to crafting practical guides for some of the finest destinations worldwide, including the USA. Annually, this collective knowledge culminates in a curated mega-list of the top 50 places deserving a spot on any traveler’s bucket list for the upcoming year (find out more about their methodology below).

Each year brings forth a distinct theme from their list. In the previous edition, Travel Lemming declared 2023 as the year of “revenge travel,” marking the world’s full reopening from pandemic-era restrictions. True to their prediction, travel made a triumphant return, with many embarking on the grand journeys they had long yearned for during challenging times.

However, with the release of pent-up wanderlust, Travel Lemming believes that 2024 is the opportune moment to dial it back a bit. While the resurgence of the global travel industry brings relief to many tourism-dependent economies, there’s a cautionary note against the perils of excessive globetrotting leading to overtourism.

The accelerated pace of travel not only exhausts individuals but also takes a toll on the planet. The proposed solution? Embrace the idea of spending more time at fewer destinations. Recognizing the impossibility of “seeing it all” might just liberate individuals to savor the places they can explore. Slower travel, they argue, is ultimately more sustainable, benefiting not only the traveler but also Planet Earth.

The rise of remote work has further facilitated slow travel, allowing many to embark on more extended journeys than ever before. For those seeking inspiration on where to go, Travel Lemming’s team of experts has meticulously curated a list of places ideal for slowing down in the coming year.

Explore Mexico’s hidden gems aboard the soon-to-be-opened Maya Train. Disconnect from the hustle and bustle in Gizo or Koh Yao Noi, tropical paradises that warrant more extended stays. Alternatively, relish the sounds and flavors of Memphis or the scenic beauty of St. John’s closer to home.

50 Best Places to Travel in 2024

1. Yucatán, Mexico

Escape Cancun on the Maya Train to colorfully authentic Mexican towns. Discover beaches free of tourists and seaweed, ancient pyramids, and underground swimming holes the Mayans believed were gateways to the underworld.

Mexico‘s Yucatán state is a jewel, and 2024 will be the year it shines for the world. Located on the peninsula of the same name, Yucatán state has long been overshadowed by its more tourist-oriented neighbor, Quintana Roo. But that is all poised to change with the newly opened Maya Train.

The Maya Train will connect Cancun International Airport to Izamal. It’s nicknamed the “Yellow City” because of the canary hue of its Spanish colonial buildings. Along the way, travelers can hop off in Valladolid, another historic town. Valladolid serves as the gateway to the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. 

Eventually, the train is slated to continue to Mérida, the vibrant capital city of the Yucatán where history and modernity collide. Mérida is one of the safest cities in Mexico and is also home to a booming restaurant scene. 

Surrounding Mérida are thousands of cenotes. These lush, underground swimming holes look like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. The Mayans believed cenotes were gateways to the underworld. Others believe cenotes are the result of unique geological conditions created by the same meteorite that killed the dinosaurs.

For more traditional water sports, Yucatán’s massive white sand beaches, like Progresso and El Cuyo, are never crowded. Their location on the Gulf of Mexico also shelters them from the massive influx of seaweed that annually piles up on the shores of Caribbean beach resorts.