What’s Hot For Summer Travel 2024?
We’re tired of the same summer stories. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you got yourself a table at a high priced club in Saint Tropez. Good for you. Move over travel Barbie, time to do some real exploring. This summer, let’s go to places that are on the rise. Places that have a vibe. Places that make you feel something, eat something, and do something.
What is travel for after all if not to be thrown into something new? Something exotic? Challenge those all-American comfort zones and live on the edge with these Summer destinations that will put goosebumps on that pale skin and some memories in that brain bank.
Now go fetch that passport.
Skip Mykonos and head to Hvar, Croatia:
Laid back beach clubs, buzzing nightlife and pristine waters.
I think we can all agree that those Mykonos prices are absolute carnage. Skip that nonsense and head over to the tiny but mighty island of Hvar, Croatia. Where the sunsets are just as priceless and the party scene is not slowing down anytime soon. Hvar is a walkable, bikeable, summerable island with a bustling nightlife and an international crowd. I loved visiting this little gem and have dreamed of going back since.
The waters are sublime and the weather is hot hot hot! Tourists sunbathe on the rocks and decks like seals. It’s quite a unique scene. Go on a day trip to other neighboring islands like Korčula, Vis, and Brač and laze around at the hillside cafes before dinner time. Tan all day, music all night. Now, we’re talking.
My hot summer recommends:
Skip the Canary Islands and pop over to Albania:
An up and coming digital nomad haven.
Just don’t tell Liam Neeson because he might come “find you”. Seriously though, Albania has always been that location where my friends would post on Facebook “I’m going to base in Albania… any recommendations”? Followed by comments like “But do you wanna die”?
Apparently, it has become a lot safer and I am here for it. Albania offers crystal clear beaches that can rival the Ionian islands such as Ksamil Beach, Jale Beach and Porto Palermo. The beautiful thing about Albania is that it’s still an up-and-coming destination where huge crowds have yet to gather, so this is a great opportunity to travel somewhere new, without competing with mainstream travelers.
My hot summer recommends
- Gjipe beach
- Ohana Beach Club
- Padam Boutique Hotel
Skip Athens and visit Thessaloniki:
The city of culinary gems and ancient history.
Forget sweaty and touristy Athens and instead, head over to the second largest city in Greece: Thessaloniki. A cultural haven filled with museums, architecture, festivals, local products, and nightlife. Thessaloniki is making headlines as one of the most exciting and important cities in the world with its rich, complex history and has even been named the “capital of cool”.
With a three-mile pedestrian promenade, this is one of those rare Greek destinations where you get to stroll through history on foot. Thessaloniki is also a food lover’s dream and has been awarded the title of “The City of Gastronomi” by UNESCO. I’m about to go there myself!
My hot summer recommends:
Skip Paris and check out Marrakesh:
Moroccan tagine, luxurious hammams, souks and palaces.
Marrakesh blew my mind and Paris smells like pee anyway. Emily can stay in Paris while you and I get lost in the Medina and go off-roading in some exotic sand dunes. I gained a good 10 pounds (worth it) eating those delectable tagines that brought me right back to my mother’s kitchen. Yes, I am of Moroccan descent and we are known for having some of the best dishes in the world. Have you ever had Lamb tagine over a bed of olive couscous? Or Moroccan roasted chicken that might make you rethink your ethnicity?
Marrakesh is a busy maze of key-hole architecture, calming riads, endless rows of bizarre spices, and luxury hammams that will make you feel like a pampered baby. 5-star dining, desert-like weather, and mint tea everywhere you go. I love Morocco. I love Marrakesh. I love couscous. Go this summer!
My hot summer recommends:
Skip New York City and eat your heart out in Lima, Peru:
Michelin Stars unlike any other, a palate pleasing experience.
I lived in New York for almost a decade and yeah, we’ve got some good chow but I have to say, Lima, Peru has a palate unlike any other. Lima might not be the most beautiful city I have ever visited, but the food culture is worth the trip alone.
Lima houses not 1, not 2, but 30 Michelin Star restaurants! I remember sampling dishes that blended Japanese and Peruvian flavors together so effortlessly, like sushi maki rolls with buttery, silky salmon, topped with a sweet potato puree that knocked my flip-flops off.
Run it all off on the cliffside promenade in Miraflores where you can run into happy morning joggers who take their fitness seriously.
My hot summer recommends:
- Here’s a chef’s guide of where to eat in Lima
- Plaza De Armas
- Foodie fun in Barranco
- Run cliffside in Miraflores
Got any recommends of your own this summer? I want to hear about it! Need some summer travel tips? You know who to call and it rhymes with Ally;)
As always, adventure on.
Your digital nomad
Sally (Saliet) Golan