To find this year’s top international travel destinations, we took a look at the American Express 2023 Trending Destinations list, and a Washington Post report with feedback on what’s trending from dozens of tour operators, travel advisers and booking platforms. 

Here’s where everyone’s going in 2023, and a bit about the culture, food and fun that makes each destination shine. 

Italy (Lake Como, Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, and, of course, Rome)

Always a popular travel destination, Italy dominates 2023 travel itineraries. The Mediterranean country tends to captivate travelers who seek adventures in three categories: people, nature, and sports, Fulvio De Bonis, president and co-founder of Imago Artis Travel, tells the Washington Post.

“Travelers want to meet interesting locals, such as chefs or fisherman. They want to see beautiful places by foraging in the mountains near Lake Como, for example, or hitting the beach. And they want to have exciting sports experiences, maybe by catching a soccer game or touring a team’s facilities,” writes Natalie B. Compton for the Washington Post. And Shayna Mizrahi, founder and CEO of Vive Voyage, says her clients love experiencing Italian culture through cooking classes, boat excursions, and artisan workshops, Compton reports.

The most requested destinations by clients of tour operators Access Italy and Imago Artis are the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily. Though these destinations are classic, clients desire experiences beyond the highlights, Compton adds. Visitors to Tuscany want to see the countryside outside of Florence, for example. 

If you’re in Puglia, explore the historic coastal town of Bari. Experience a blend of European and North African, Mediterranean cuisine in Sicily, by sampling dishes like fish couscous and Pasta alla Norma. And we would be remiss to not to mention Rome in a travel article on Italy. Take a food tour in the capital city, walk historic markets, and stand in awe of ancient ruins. 

Paris, France

The “City of Light” made the American Express 2023 Trending Destinations list, compiled using the number of global American Express Card Member travel reservations made between 2019 and 2022. Overall, Europe is trending, Compton reports for the Washington Post. 

A visit to Paris isn’t complete without touring Musée du Louvre, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, or the opulent Château de Versailles. Gaze at “the Iron Lady” while you picnic on the lawns of Parc du Champs de Mars in the spring or summer. Take a cruise on the Seine.

Islands of Fiji

We’re traveling far outside of Europe to another hemisphere for this American Express 2023 pick. The Islands of Fiji are a South Pacific paradise for travelers seeking adventure, nature, and rejuvenation. The 300-island archipelago surrounded by perfectly clear waters offers something for every traveler. Enjoy spa treatments in grand suites at luxury resorts, or take rugged, multi-day treks along grassy lowlands and up mountain summits. 

To experience the height of exclusive luxury, visit Kokomo Private Island Fiji, which is only reachable by private plane. Stay in one of the resort’s beachfront villas where you can soak in a private infinity pool. Or visit the Yakuve Spa Santuary for a warm shell massage and other wet and dry body treatments. If you’re in an active mood, take a diving or snorkeling lesson, or participate in the resort’s underwater restoration project benefiting the surrounding Great Astrolabe Reef. Spend part of the afternoon on a guided kayaking trip circumventing Kokomo.

If you like to live wild and rugged, book one of many multi-day hiking excursions across Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island, led by Talanoa Treks guides. Highly experienced leaders will take you on an adventure through grasslands, forests and streams, past waterfalls and rocky crags. You’ll spend nights in the villages of Naga, Nubutautau, and Navala, where you will experience the warmth of Fijian hospitality. Talanoa Treks operates on a sustainable travel model, benefitting both Fijians and the land. 

From Talanoa Treks:

“We support and train people from our partner communities to guide you. The land you’re crossing is their land, their vanua, to which people in Fiji have an inalienable connection. We believe it’s only right for them to show you where they live, farm, hunt and fish. Your guides are first aid trained, and while English doesn’t always come easily to some of them, they are knowledgeable about the plants, animals, and land around you.”

Japan (the “Golden Triangle” — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)

Travelers are highly anticipating touching down in Japan, one of the last countries in the world to completely open its borders post-pandemic. If you plan to visit this spring, expect throngs of people during the height of cherry blossom season, Compton reports. 

Of course, there’s lots of culture, food and sites to take in on a trip to the renowned cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, known as the “Golden Triangle.” If you’re a fan of anime classics, the newly opened Ghibli Park in Tokyo, dedicated to the legendary Ghibli Studios, is a must see. If you’re history buff, be sure to visit Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Sento Palace in Kyoto. If it’s food and hospitality you love, Osaka is known for its outgoing locals and amazing street food and is particularly lively during summer matsuri festivals.

But you’ll miss out on a lot if your trip doesn’t include adventures outside these three major cities. Plan a winter getaway to the northern mountains surrounding Sapporo or spend your summer lounging on the southern beaches of Okinawa.

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