These 2022 Trending Travel Spots Are on the Rise

So little time, so much world to see. Deciding where to go is the perennial problem of every traveler in history. 

Let's thank our lucky stars that we have the internet and crowdsourced information from billions of people to help us with our travel dilemmas. So stop wondering where to go, and start booking. 

These are the best travel destinations in the world that are trending right now.

22. La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Population: 15,383

Best time to visit: Dry season from December to April, when rain is less frequent and the weather is pleasant.

Best for: Solo, adventure, family

*Destinations and ranking are based on Tripadvisor's Traveler's Choice Award 2022 for Trending Destinations, World.

The Experience: La Fortuna

If you want to experience the best of Costa Rican nature, it's hard to beat La Fortuna. The region is most famous for the Arenal Volcano, the country's most active and most visited volcano. Hikers will likely see lava and ash.

As a contrast, there is also La Fortuna waterfall and the Tabacon Hot Springs. Jungle safaris, including tours to see wild sloths, are also common. 

The one downside of La Fortuna is that it's not near the beach. Then again, Costa Rican beaches wouldn't exactly make the cut in a beach beauty pageant, so we think your time is better spent inland.

21. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Population: 705,000

Best time to visit: Anytime of the year except the rainy months of April and May is great for traveling.

Best for: Couples

The Experience: Zanzibar

Gorgeous, gorgeous Zanzibar has been saved from the clutches of overtourism by its remoteness. Not even the late, great Freddy Mercury, who lived on the island as a child, has brought droves of TikTok-obsessed travelers. Thankfully. 

This Tanzanian archipelago lies on the Indian Ocean and is famous for white beaches, colorful reefs, turquoise waters and wild horses that love the sea even more than you do.

20. North Male Atoll, Maldives

Population: 4,448 (estimated)

Best time to visit: Visit from November to April to avoid the very wet rainy season.

Best for: Couples

The Experience: North Male Atoll

Another gorgeous group of islands on the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is one of the best beach destinations in the world. Tripadvisor reviewers specifically singled out the North Male Atoll as visit-worthy. 

The atoll is home to 50 islands, including the capital of Male and numerous resort islands where you can live your overwater bungalow dream. 

19. St. Martin/St. Maarten, Caribbean

Population: 38,466 (St. Martin), 42,729 (St. Maarten)

Best time to visit: Just to be safe, avoid hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Summer is also peak tourism season, so you'll also be avoiding tourists.

Best for: Couples, friends, family

The Experience: St. Martin/St. Maarten

This single island is divided into two territories that, confusingly, have the same name. St. Maarten is part of the Netherlands, while St. Martin is a French territory. Both sides are popular with well-earning travelers looking for a luxury Caribbean vacation. 

Beaches are, of course, the highlight, but travelers also spend time getting deals at duty-free shops and spending these savings at casinos. 

18. Charleston, South Carolina

Population: 135,257

Best time to visit: Visit during spring or fall, when the humidity is bearable and the weather is nice. If possible, avoid at all costs during the oppressive heat of summer.

Best for: Solo, couples, family

The Experience: Charleston

Charleston is undeniably beautiful, with antebellum houses and a French Quarter full of gorgeous little boutique shops, cafes and restaurants. The waterfront also provides ample opportunities for romantic strolls. Plus, this is South Carolina, so you already know the food is going to be beyond amazing. 

People are very into night ghost tours in Charleston, which is perhaps the only time the city comes close to acknowledging its frightening past.

17. Dominican Republic

Population: 10.85 million

Best time to visit: Visit from December to April to escape rainy season and hurricane season, and from May to November to escape hiked prices and tourists.

Best for: Couples, friends, family

The Experience: Dominican Republic

Gorgeous beaches, amazing food, nightlife that ends with breakfast. If you haven't been to the Dominican Republic yet, start looking into flights. 

The country ranks at the top of all Caribbean countries, which is saying a lot given the natural beauty of the region. Just one word of advice: Don't waste your entire time at an all-inclusive resort. Get out and actually experience the country.

16. Luxor, Egypt

Population: 1.328 million 

Best time to visit: Go between October and April for pleasant weather.

Best for: Friends, family

The Experience: Luxor

The absolute best way to go to Luxor is by taking a cruise along the Nile river to arrive at this ancient Egyptian capital.

Once there, most of your time will be consumed by visiting the Valley of the Kings. Here, you'll find the tombs of some of the most famous pharaohs, including Tutankhamun.

15. Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

Population: 201,513

Best time to visit: Although March to September is peak tourist season, you'll avoid the strong tropical rains that are frequent from October to February.

Best for: Couples, friends, family

The Experience: Island of Hawaii

Better known as the Big Island, the island of Hawaii doesn't get the attention it deserves. 

To say that the landscape is dramatic would be a huge understatement. It's almost as if the entire island used a filter that made all colors look brighter.

The strong waves crash against towering black hills that give way to dense tropical forest. Much of this beauty was created by the active Manua Loa and Kilauea volcanoes. You can see both at Volcanoes National Park, which, according to Tripadvisor, is within the top 10 national parks in the U.S.

14. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Population: 304,942

Best time to visit: The weather is fairly consistent year-round in Playa del Carmen. April to the end of May and October to the end of November are perfect for avoiding the tourist rush.

Best for: Friends, couples

The Experience: Playa del Carmen

There's a reason Playa del Carmen has filled up with expats and digital nomads in the past few years. Most travelers are fairly laid-back and looking to spend their time beach bumming in the day and wolfing down street tacos and cheap bear at night. But if you're into a more luxe travel experience, that's also easily available. 

But in all honesty, the best part of Playa del Carmen is its location. You'll be near Cancun and everything in it without having to actually stay in its insufferably boring hotel row.

You'll also be near the ruins of Tulum, Chichen Itza (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World), and a myriad of cenotes that make for some of the coolest natural swimming pools on the planet.

13. Split, Croatia

Population: 176,314

Best time to visit: To fully enjoy the beauty of Split, you should go in the summer and early fall, when it's warm enough to enjoy the Adriatic Sea. September and October are good for avoiding crowds.

Best for: Solo, couples, friends

The Experience: Split

This UNESCO Heritage City's old town is literally the inside of the ancient Diocletian Palace. What other city can say that?

There is also plenty of coastal scenery along the famously beautiful Adriatic Sea, and the Mediterranean food with Italian influences will create lifelong cravings. 

Split rivals the more popular Dubrovnik in beauty and historic appeal. Unless you're a diehard "Game of Thrones" fan, you'll probably love it just as much.

12. Aruba

Population: 106,766 

Best time to visit: Because Aruba sits outside the Caribbean's hurricane belt, you really can visit at any time and expect good weather. For better prices, go from April to August.

Best for: Couples, family

The Experience: Aruba

The Dutch territory of Aruba has plenty of colorful colonial architecture and breathtaking sandy beaches. Its most popular is known as Flamingo Beach, for the resident pink flamingos who spend the day cooling down in the water, allowing you to get near them to get awesome photos. 

Other cool things to do include horseback riding, driving ATVs through the hills and seeing the cave paintings at Arikok National Park.

11. Paraty, Brazil

Population: 43,680

Best time to visit: March through May and September through November hit the sweet jackpot of fewer people and mild weather with less frequent rain.

Best for: Solo, group, couples, friends, family

The Experience: Paraty

Sitting in between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Paraty is overshadowed by these two gigantic, loud, awesome cities.

That's lucky for you. Now you'll know where you can get the beauty of Rio without the high prices and crowds. Enjoy the perfect natural marriage of beach and mountain, complemented with a pretty whitewashed old town.

For a glimpse of the amazing nature that makes Brazil the most biodiverse country on the planet, head to Serra da Bocaina National Park.

10. Santorini, Greece

Population: 10,000

Best time to visit: Go during summer to enjoy the sea. September and October are still warm and have fewer crowds.

Best for: Couples

The Experience: Santorini

Perhaps the most famously Instagrammed Greek island, Santorini has it all: dry cliffs, whitewashed Cycladic houses with blue domes and first-rate access to the Aegean Sea. 

Besides enjoying the rocky beaches and walking through pretty towns, there are vineyards to visit and hikes to do.

Surprisingly, Santorini isn't the highest-ranking Greek island on here.

9. Goreme, Turkey

Population: 2,000

Best time to visit: Avoid hot and crowded summers. The rest of the year is great to visit.

Best for: Solo, group, couples, friends, family

The Experience: Goreme

You've definitely seen pictures of Goreme, the most picturesque city in Cappadocia. 

The main draw is Goreme National Park, known for the so-called Fairy Chimneys, giant rock formations that twirl up to the sky. Here, residents of the region carved homes within the mountains to escape political turmoil and religious persecution. 

You can actually stay at a rock dwelling, an experience well worth the price. Another very popular activity is hot air ballooning over the city.

8. Arusha, Tanzania

Population: 416,442

Best time to visit: Dry season is June to October, when you'll have more pleasant weather and better chances to spot wildlife while on safari.

Best for: Friends, family

The Experience: Arusha

Arusha is the gateway to many of Tanzania's best natural wonders. Start with, Serengeti National Park, where you can witness the absolute miracle of the Great Wildebeest Migration.

You can also use it as a base for Mount Kilimanjaro (which is located in bordering Kenya). If you're looking for adventure in East Africa and want a chance for some amazing wildlife encounters, Arusha is where you want to go.

7. Natal, Brazil

Population: 890,480 

Best time to visit: August to January sees fewer chances of rain in this city of consistently warm weather.

Best for: Couples, friends, family

The Experience: Natal

We'll be honest. Natal isn't the most exciting city in terms of nightlife and culture. Sure, it has both, but not at the level of other better-known cities. 

What it does have on them, however, is a very extensive and less crowded coastline. Natal is one of the most popular beach resorts for national tourists, who come here to do little besides lay on the beach and recover from the soul-sucking grind of modern life.

6. Ibiza, Spain

Population: 147,914

Best time to visit: If you're visiting Ibiza, we assume it's for the party, so this is one case where you want to go at the same time as everyone else, which is May to October.

Best for: Solo, friends

The Experience: Ibiza

Miami has nothing on Ibiza, a Spanish island that lives, eats and breaths partying. As soon as the weather gets warm, swarms of partyers from all over the world descend on the island for a summer of debauchery and blackouts. 

Does it often lead to very dumb tourist behavior? Absolutely. But it's also undeniably fun.

5. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Population: 42,615 

Best time to visit: Go during September and October to avoid the masses of cruise shippers.

Best for: Solo, couples, friends, family

The Experience: Dubrovnik

Is Dubrovnik objectively the best destination in Croatia? Yes. Is it also its biggest tourist trap? Also yes. 

We're not saying to not go to this beautiful medieval city that is perfectly preserved and breathtaking down to every last cobblestone. We're just saying to avoid it during peak season. It's simply not fun to have 12,000 people leave a ship at the same time and scurry through the city for a grand total of three hours, leaving behind a feeling of chaos. 

But it should be a testament to how amazing the city is that people will willingly brave a recreation of the Napoleonic invasion (if Napoleon's army had worn socks with flip-flops) just to see it.

4. Tulum, Mexico

Population: 46,721

Best time to visit: Like nearby Playa del Carmen, you'll most likely find good weather year-round, with April to May and October to November being the least busy times.

Best for: Couples, friends

The Experience: Tulum

You probably have a hipster friend who complains about how much Tulum has changed for the worst. And while we won't deny there's truth in their words, we also encourage people to look past the vapid party crown and see the core of this once quiet jungle city still beating with force. 

The Tulum Archaeological Zone alone makes the trip worth it, as does the chance of swimming in cenotes and seeing Mayan culture alive and breathing in the local community which is still majority Mayan. 

3. Rhodes, Greece

Population: 115,490

Best time to visit: Visit during summer to enjoy the sea.

Best for: Couples, friends, family

The Experience: Rhodes

Rhodes' proximity to Turkey has given it an interesting history, having spent time in the hands of Ottomans and Italians while remaining decidedly Greek. Expect numerous ruins, castles and fortresses to adorn the hilly landscape, as well as the beautiful beaches of the East Aegean sea. 

Perhaps because of its distance from mainland Greece, Rhodes is relatively unscathed from the mass international tourism of its sister islands. Which we're willing to bet is why it ranked so highly amongst travelers.

2. Cairo, Egypt

Population: 9.54 million

Best time to visit: October to April are the months with the most comfortable weather. We don't recommend visiting in the summer, when the heat can be sweltering. 

Best for: Friends, family

The Experience: Cairo

Yes, Cairo is loud, crowded and dusty, but it also has the great Pyramids of Giza right in the middle of the city and that alone makes a trip here absolutely worth it. 

As the epicenter of Egyptian life, Cairo is a city with thousands of years of history that you can see with your own eyes. Once you've done the pyramids, don't neglect immersing in this somewhat confusing and charmingly chaotic city.

Head to the markets, enjoy the amazing food and spend an afternoon sipping tea and people watching. 

1. Majorca, Spain

Population: 923,608

Best time to visit: Go from March to May to get warm-ish weather and no crowds. Or brave the crowds to enjoy a summer holiday.

Best for: Solo, couples, friends

The Experience: Majorca

Transport Andalucia's astonishing Moorish architecture to an idyllic Mediterranean island, and you get Majorca. 

Though fairly small, the island has plenty of historical landmarks as well as modern cultural institutions and absolutely incredible landscapes. Because this really is the golden child of Spain, the capital Palma is also a huge party town, where you won't be bored for a single second.

But unlike in neighboring Ibiza, Majorca is big enough that you can get away from the noise and go to a quiet fishing village if you so wish.