All around the world
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As 2022 is quickly coming to an end, we are sure you are looking at travel options for 2023. Combined we have traveled to over 60 countries. There are so many countries that we have loved and recommend to our friends to this day.
So we decided to give you a little travel inspiration for 2023 and put together a list of the top 10 destinations that you need to visit in 2023!
Oh Peru, you truly have a special place in our hearts.
Peru is one of the most popular countries to visit in South America and for good reason. From the vast landscapes that give unique experiences to the traditional Incan culture, this country should be at the top of your travel bucket list if you haven’t visited yet.
So why do we choose Peru? It’s quite simple, this country is truly magical! We spent nearly a month in Peru. We started in Lima and slowly made our way to Cusco.
If you have never been to South America before, we believe that this is the perfect country to explore first. We believe that Peru is the perfect country for all travelers, no matter your experience. It’s easy to navigate, there are so many different adventures you can have and you will leave feeling like you want to return.
Some of the things that we recommend? If you want to see more than just Cusco, trust us you want to see more than just Cusco, then we recommend PeruHop. PeruHop is this bus that takes you from Lima to Cusco or Lima to Boliva with stops in cities along the way that you never considered visiting before. This is the best way to see the country on a budget.
We also recommend taking a boat tour to the poor man Galapagos in Paracas, sand boarding in Huacachina, flying over the Nazca lines in Nazca, walking the ancient streets of Arequipa and of course trekking to Machu Picchu! To find more amazing Peruvian adventures to help plan your escape to Peru, check out the link to GetYourGuide below! If you personally want to know more about our trip and recommends, we would love to talk all things Peru. Feel free to slide in our DMs on our Instagram!
Malaysia completely surprised Cheraya! It was barely on her list of places to visit. There were two determining factors when deciding to visit. It was right next to Thailand and there was an acquaintance she knew she could visit in Malaysia. But she loved Malaysia so much she ended up staying almost 3 weeks!
The first and maybe only things on peoples list when they have a layover in Kuala Lumpur is to see the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world, or the Hindu Batu caves. But Cheraya recommends staying a few extra days, and hop on a food tour! Malaysia is a melting pot of Malay, Indian and Chinese cultures.
Some other recommendations include taking a day tour the the historic city of Melacca, spending a few days on Penang Island and looking for all the street art in George Town. If you are wondering what else there is to discover in Malaysia, check out the link to GetYourGuide below!
Do you want to know a country that took Kayla by surprise? Croatia!
You always hear people talking about Greece, Italy or Spain when it comes to a European summer holiday. And trust us, rightfully so, but a country that is often times overlooked in Croatia. Croatia is a country that provides all of the same gorgeous blue waters with a fraction of the price!
Kayla’s recommendations for Croatia is to rent an AriBnB in Split and truly immerse yourself in the Croatian culture. Learn the city of Split, walk the alleyways, explore Diocletian’s Palace and most importantly, take day trips to one of the surrounding islands.
Some of the island recommendations include Hvar, Šolta, Brač and Trogir. If you are looking for an amazing day trip on a boat sailing the Dalmatian Coast, Kayla’s top recommendation is sailing with the Polaris. The Polaris is one of the top recommended day trips and boat tours by tourists and locals alike. It will be the highlight of your trip, trust me! You can find the link the the exact Polaris sailing day trip, as well as other day trips that she did while in Croatia below with GetYourGuide.
Why should you visit New Zealand?
New Zealand is a dream with such amazing natural beauty. It is one hundred percent worth it! If you are an adrenaline junkie, there are so many amazing adventures waiting to be had. But beyond the adventures, New Zealand is vast with rolling green hills just waiting to be explored.
With so many amazing things to see and do in New Zealand it could be hard to decide what you want to do. Cheraya recommends renting a car and road tripping through both the North and South Island. Cheraya did this solo and yes it was a learning curve driving on the left side of the road but was so worth it. Your drive allows you to explore the beautiful valleys, mountain peaks and glaciers.
But if adrenaline is something you’re chasing after, she recommends that you hop on a bungee jumping experience. New Zealand boasts of having the highest jump in the world! Bungee jumping not your cup of tea? Maybe a white water rafting tour is more up your alley or even taking the full grueling hike of Tongariro Alpine crossing.
But if you’re looking for more of the quiet beautiful nature, there is plenty to soak up. From the geothermic city of Rotorua, visiting movie sets like Hobbiton to cruising the Milford sound, there is so much beauty to experience. If we sold you on New Zealand, click the link below to start exploring all of the cool experiences you can have in New Zealand with GetYourGuide!
Italy is one of those bucket list destinations for many. I know for us it was definitely a dream location. But does it live up to the expectations? Hell yes it does!
We have never traveled to a country where we felt so alive. From the amazing culture, the warm hospitality of the Italian people, the best wine you will ever taste in your life and not to mention the food!
There is so much more to see in Italy than just Rome, Florence and Venice. We recommend that you broaden your horizons and truly explore the real side of Italy. If you want to know more about Italy, listen to our full Podcast episode on Italy where we dive deep into where we have been, what we recommend and the Italian cities that you never thought about visiting.
If you are looking to book a trip to Italy in 2023, check out GetYourGuide below to start planning that perfect summer holiday to Italy!
Cheraya dreamed of Czech Republic for the longest time. It always seemed so exotic or maybe that was something she heard in a movie. But that didn’t stop her from visiting this hotspot in Eastern Europe.
We cannot stress enough visiting the lesser visited cities or countries. It is in those lesser visited countries that you find the quaintest towns and cafes and Czech Republic is no different.
Cheraya highly recommends checking out two other cities in Czech Republic. One recommendation is to take a day trip to this little town called Tabor. There are basically zero tourists and you get a layer of history of the Czech people. Another city that you have to explore is the second largest city called Brno. Just like Prague, Brno has their own astronomical clock. But this one is a little different. Everyday a glass marble is released randomly and falls out of one of four windows.
But if you’re short on time and Prague is all you have time for, there are two tours that should definitely go on your list. As touristy as it is take a tour of Prague Castle. Prague Castle is so iconic and the grounds are so extensive. You also have take a beer tour trying all the different beers and learning why the Czechs likes a larger head of foam on their beer. Plus the Czechs drink the most beer per capita! Sorry Germany!
Start planning your trip to Czech Republic today! Click the link below to GetYourGuide to see all of the Czech adventures that await you!
The land of fire and ice. Iceland gained it’s popularity a few years ago due to cheap flight deals and the stunning out of this world landscape. But let me tell you, the HYPE IS REAL!
Yes, Iceland is not the cheapest country to travel to but it is oh so worth it! Iceland was the first country that Kayla traveled to solo and it has been at the top of her favorite country list since. In fact there hasn’t been a country that can top its pure natural beauty.
As for when you should visit Iceland? That will strictly depend on what you want to see. Kayla visited in the winter on a mission to see the Northern Lights. So if you want to see the dancing phenomenon, winter is the best time of year. Do you prefer warmer weather, wild flowers and a lush green landscape? If yes, then we recommend the summer months.
As for recommendations, you truly can’t go wrong with any type of itinerary. But some of the top recommendations include soaking in the Blue Lagoon, chasing one of the beautiful waterfalls, checking out Reynisfjara beach and Jökulsárlón just to name a few. Check out GetYourGuide below to see all of the other cool places to see and things to do in Iceland!
Smoke wafting in the air from the many stands selling their barbecue Kouah. Sounds of recorders coming from charmers mesmerizing their cobras. Vendors shouting their prices of their leather goods. The smells of cumin, turmeric, nutmeg and mint are intoxicating.
Jemaa el-Fnaa Sqaure in Marrakesh seems overwhelming, but what an experience.
Morocco is a completely different atmosphere than you’d ever be used to. It can be chaotic and overwhelming but that is what gives it its charm. You have to come with an open mind that everyone is just trying to make a living. With that said, enjoy the market, barter at the square and never take the first price.
A few musts in Morocco is to of course shop for goods at the square in Marrakesh. The square sells everything from leather goods, textiles, spices, and decor. Beyond Marrakesh, Cheraya recommends taking a 3 day trip to the Merzouga Desert. The Merzouga Desert is a little corner of the Sahara Desert where you can sleep under the stars in berber tents and dance around a bonfire to traditional music.
Of course, you can’t leave without visiting Fez. Fez is similar to Marrakesh but it’s known for the leather tanneries. But please be warned, the smell from the tanneries can be one that many may not be able to stomach. If you can stomach the smell watch the different stages of how leather is made.
If you have an extra day or two take a trip up to the popular blue city of Chefchaoen. All the homes and business along a corner of the hillside are painted a vibrant blue and is popular for getting that instagram pic!
Greece. It’s been a popular tourist destination since the 1970s and there is a reason why. All you have to do is google Greece and the pictures will sell you on a summer holiday on one of the many Greek Islands. And let’s face it, thats exactly why we recommend it. From the rich culture and history to the blue waters of the Aegean Sea, Greece truly sells itself and we truly don’t need to say anything more.
We visited Greece together in February of 2020 and did the usual tourist route. Started in Athens and made our way to Santorini. We truly enjoyed our time there and can see why it is so popular. So if you are someone who hasn’t visited yet because you feel like it may be overrated, please reconsider. Kayla is already planning a return for next summer island hopping to some of Greece’s lesser known islands!
Are you surprised Albania makes the list? You shouldn’t be by now. There have been so many unexpected, underrated countries on this list and this is exactly why Albania is on the list. Albania is a country that you may have never considered but we hope that you do.
Cheraya only had time to visit the capitol city of Tirana. You won’t find any Starbucks here and that’s ok because Albania has the most cafes per capita in the world! So you will never be far from a good cuppa. There is so much soviet history in Albania for all of our history buff travel besties. Make sure to check out a bunker turned museum for some crazy exhibits.
We both can’t wait to visit the Albania coastline. It is said that it rivals the French Riviera, with beautiful waters, incredible views, a lot less crowds and of course only a fraction of the price!
Now that you have seen our top 10 destinations that we think you should consider traveling to in 2023, I am sure you are wondering what are on our 2023 travel bucket lists.
I’m a dreamer of all destinations so when I say my bucket list is a mile long, it’s a mile long! But what countries are on my list to visit in 2023?
I would absolutely love to visit Egypt. I have yet to step foot in Africa and there is something about Egypt that is pulling me to visit. I also really want to visit Antarctica, which is a DREAM bucket list destination for me. This may not happen in 2023, but I would like to visit before I turn 40. New Zealand has also been high on my list. I feel like New Zealand is similar to Iceland in the sense of it’s natural landscapes. I had a trip planned for 2022, which sadly did not happen so I am hoping to make this destination happen in the next few years.
Now let’s talk about Europe. I would love to visit Portugal. I keep seeing signs telling me I need to visit Portugal and I am hoping to make it there in 2023. I am also planning a summer European vacation island hopping in Greece to the islands of Paros, Naxos and Milos.
Is there anything already planned for 2023? I am traveling to the Philippines in January for a medical mission trip which I am beyond excited for. Not only am I able to use my medical skills to help the less fortunate but I will also be extending my trip to explore the beautiful country of the Philippines.
I am constantly adding more and more countries and cities to my list.
But some of the top bucket list places on my list, just like Kayla, I would die to see Egypt. Ancient Egyptolgy and myths have always been an interest of mine so to see it and basically touch it would be a dream. Along with the pyramids, I would also love to visit all the world wonders, so cities like Rio de Janeiro, Beijing and Agra would be incredible!
Where am I planning on traveling to in 2023? I would love to visit Costa Rica. There is so many diverse things to do and see, but if I’m honest the coffee farms are what’s really pulling me. I have really been missing Europe so I am hoping to take a European summer and visit Portugal and maybe a few cities in Spain!
So we want to know, where are you planning on traveling to in 2023? What is at the top of your bucket list? If you do not have any plans yet or unsure of where to travel to, we hope you found our top 10 destinations on where to travel to in 2023 to be helpful in giving you travel inspiration for the new year.
If there is country that you recommend us visiting we would love to hear where we should go. We are always looking for new travel ideas.
Hi travel besties! It's Kayla and Cheraya, your co-hosts of the Passports and Coffee Podcast. We are fellow corporate world millennials looking to escape the 9-5 and are encouraging you to do the same.
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