We’re all looking forward to traveling again, and thanks to the past 18 months of restricted travel, 2022 is the year we can finally dust off our passports and jump on a plane to a far-flung destination to switch off and enjoy a well-earned break.  

Whatever your ideal vacation, from sun-soaked days on the beach to adventure-fuelled hikes, remote retreats, or hitting the ski slopes, everyone wants to escape that post-pandemic heaviness, and this pick of the best luxury destinations to visit in 2022 will get you excited for travel again!  

The Maldives  

This paradise location is the perfect beach getaway thanks to its warm, sunny weather and breathtaking scenery all year round. “The country is made up of 1192 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls, all with glistening soft white sand and tropical vegetation surrounded by crystal clear, shallow turquoise sea. It's the ultimate dream destination for tranquil luxury,” says Britt-Marie Monks, The Holiday & Honeymoon Fixer. 

Reach your remote resort via seaplane then by day, dive and explore the colorful coral reefs, get your adrenaline pumping with fast and furious water sports, and even feed sharks if it tickles your fancy. If you’re there for tranquillity, it’s the ultimate peaceful, private haven for simply watching the world go by with a great book on your sun lounger while enjoying the desert-island views, the gentle swaying of the palm trees, and sound of the waves. By night, you can enjoy Maldivian cuisine including freshly caught seafood, and watch the glow-in-the-dark bioluminescent “sea of stars” that light up the tides from natural living organisms at Vaadhoo Island. 

Japan  

After the Olympics were held in Japan in 2021, more people are interested in visiting this diverse country where Neverending Voyage says you can enjoy "futuristic skyscrapers to tranquil bamboo forests and neon arcades to serene temples.” The best way to travel around Japan is by train with one of the most efficient rail networks in the world. Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan boasting 1,000 Buddhist templates, and 400-plus Shinto shrines, along with 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Here you can experience geishas and tea ceremonies. Visit in late March or early April to see beautiful pink swathes of cherry blossom. Go from traditions in Kyoto to futurism in Tokyo for an ultra-modern, busy city with cool youth fashion, city skylines, and great food. You can also visit the tallest mountain in Japan, Mount Fiji. Japan has something for everyone with nature, tradition, history, busy city living, beaches, and mountain scenery to stop you in your tracks. 

The Caribbean  

Picture-perfect beaches and bustling coral reefs make up the diverse Caribbean. Kingston – “the beating heart” of Jamaica – and one of the top vacation spots, as named by Conde Nast Traveller, is celebrating its 60th anniversary of independence in 2022. Jamaica’s distinct character sets the island apart boasting a thriving arts scene, rich musical heritage, and national cuisine of local ingredients and spices the jungle-covered Blue Mountains can be seen in the distance with hiking trails to follow and waterfalls to swim in. 

Get carnival ready with the Caribbean’s lively, colorful culture, art, music, and food, or spend the day with the sand beneath your toes admiring shimmering reefs. It’s for paradise hunters and island-hoppers, seafood-lovers, and rum drinkers. Make like the rich and famous and visit Barbados to eat fresh fish and enjoy the live music by night, and exciting water sports by day. Relax and switch off at a tranquil spa break in St Lucia. Enjoy jerk shacks, secluded coves, or lively hotels to make your visit memorable. 

The Swiss Alps, Switzerland  

The Swiss Alps are one of the top places to ski in the world. Snow-topped mountains, green Alpine pastures, and scene-stealing isolated lakes make for dramatic, out-of-this-world scenes.  With some of the best ski resorts and best slopes, pack your snow gear and waterproofs for equal measures of adventure and relaxing with hot cocoa and cheese fondue in the jacuzzi back at your lodge. 

Different regions across The Swiss Alps introduce different traditions and customs that give you an insight into the culture, with a fair share of cows with bells and yodeling! To enjoy the beautiful scenery, you can hike along well-signposted, safe hiking trails that allow you to explore the mountains with ease. Be sure to take your camera, if not just to glimpse the most-photographed mountain in the world, the Matterhorn. 

Qatar  

As the host of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Qatar will become one of the top destinations for visitors from all around the world. Qatar is the ideal location for guaranteed winter weather, while in summer, the heat can become unbearable. It’s a place where east meets west, with a good blend of culture, diversity, food, tradition, and ethnicity. Ideal for the sun-worshipper, most of the 5-star hotels enjoy secluded beaches, and if you’re more of a history buff, visit the UNESCO Heritage site, Al Zubarah Fort. 

For adrenaline seekers, the country offers desert safaris, excursions, road trips, scuba diving, flyboarding, and other water sports, and has an array of world-famous fine dining experiences like Nobu for sushi, or Isaan Thai at Grand Hyatt for fresh papaya salad. And if taking some time out is your thing, luxurious resorts across Qatar offer the ultimate relaxation with wellbeing and spa packages to help you to switch off from the outside world.