Five Ideas For Your First Vacation Of 2021

January 05, 2021
Jess

If you got away anywhere on vacation in 2020, you were extremely lucky. Local and international travel bans made vacations extremely difficult for the majority of people, and even those who did get away generally took ‘mini-breaks’ within their home countries rather than going abroad. We all know why that happened, and we don’t want to talk about it in this article. Let’s leave that misery in 2020 and talk about what we all hope will be a better year for travel and travelers in 2021. You might not have been able to see much of the world last year, but with a bit of luck, the whole planet will be open for business in the year ahead.

Presuming travel bans are relaxed and every destination is back on the agenda, the biggest question you face might be one of where to go and what to do. With the whole world to choose from and with such a long gap since your last break, we understand if that feels a little overwhelming! That’s why we’re here. Let’s try to whittle down the options down and focus on vacations that will make the long wait worthwhile – places where memories can be made for life and new experiences can be had. Fortunately, we know of many options that meet those requirements, so let’s take a closer look at them!

Take A Safari Break

Being stuck at home during 2020 hasn’t just meant missing our friends and families. It’s also meant missing out on animals and nature. What better way to make up for that than heading out on safari? Going on safari is one of those things that almost all of us have been ‘meaning to get around to’ for years, but few of us ever do. We’re more likely to see the sights and sounds of a safari at slots website with games like ‘Safari King’ and ‘Africa Goes Wild’ than we are in a real safari park, and that’s a shame. We don’t say that became we have anything against online slots – they can be a great form of entertainment, and doubly so if you win – but they don’t compare to the real thing. There’s something about seeing wild animals in their natural environment as the sun goes down and hearing lions roar towards the sky that even the biggest online slots jackpot in the world can’t compete with. Stop denying yourself this experience, and make 2021 the year you finally head out and take a safari trip for real!

New Zealand

While we promised not to mention ‘that’ 2020 news story in this article, we imagine that most of you are aware that New Zealand did better than most places when it comes to keeping the pandemic in check. That’s allowed it to open itself up again much faster than the rest of the world has – and so it’s likely to welcome tourists much sooner than most vacation destinations might. That’s an excellent reason to visit one of the world’s most beautiful island nations. The country is especially popular with climbers and hikers because of its stunning “Great Walks,” which attract thousands of visitors every year. From the snowy mountains to the lush green valleys, New Zealand’s rugged countryside is a sight to behold. There aren’t many places in the world where you could be swimming with dolphins one day and building snowmen the next, but it’s possible to do that here.

Costa Rica

After the dark and dismal year that 2020 was for most people, wouldn’t it be nice to go to a paradise destination and just relax for a while on a beach, with a cocktail in your hand and nothing to worry about other than the tide coming in? You can do that in Costa Rica, which proudly proclaims itself to be home to the most tranquil beaches in the world. Like New Zealand, Costa Rica has managed to avoid the worst effects of the pandemic and is likely to be a viable destination for international travelers long before other ‘paradise’ destinations open up. The country thrives on tourism and offers a wide variety of activities, including zip-lining, surfing, whale-watching, and white water rafting – but you can still stick to your towel or deckchair and watch everyone else exhaust themselves with adventuring if you prefer! If you choose to go, don’t miss out on a day trip to the rainforest.

Slovenia

No, we haven’t made a mistake. We’re genuinely recommending Slovenia to you as a travel destination, and more people ought to be doing the same. Slovenia is the answer to the question “name a place in the world that I can visit that looks and feels like Italy, but doesn’t have Italian prices.” You’ll find this oft-overlooked European nation right next to Italy and still basking in the glow of being named the world’s most sustainable country by National Geographic in 2020. Say it quietly, but even the cuisine here is better than it is in Italy. Ljubljana, the country’s capital, has more Michelin-starred restaurants than Rome does. There’s a floating five-star hotel on Pikol Lake that has to be seen to be believed, and the Mediterranean climate is almost perfect all year round. You’ll be hearing Slovenia mentioned as an ideal vacation choice more and more in the years ahead, so why not get ahead of the trend by going early in 2021?

Ireland

Far too many Americans make the mistake of thinking that Ireland is just the same as the United Kingdom. That couldn’t be far from the truth. Ireland might be part of the British Isles, but socially and politically, it’s a unique country, and it has customs and traditions all of its own. It also has spectacular scenery, outstanding nightlife, and world-class restaurants in its capital city of Dublin. As an added bonus, Ireland is so small that you can travel from north to south in the space of a five-day vacation and see all the biggest sights the country has to offer, from the Giant’s Causeway to Blarney Castle. Marvel at the ruins of ancient Celtic settlements. Take a walk in the countryside and find out why they call this place “The Emerald Isle.” Follow the Atlantic Way from one coast to the other, and stop at every cute Irish pub on the way. It’s all there waiting for you!