A curated list of perfect destinations for this year’s travels

Still looking for the ideal travel destination? We have gathered 5 of the hottest places on earth. You just have to pick one, book a journey, and pack your bags.

Madrid

Madrid's allure may not be as grandiose as that of Paris or as historic as Athens or Rome, but it has always held a unique charm with its unbeatable nightlife. As Hemingway once put it, in this city, nobody goes to bed until they partied or spent the night out. While that still holds true, there is now a new feeling in the air. Madrid, already renowned for its cultural offerings, is further enhancing its reputation with recent developments. The tree-lined Paseo del Prado and adjacent El Retiro, a 17th-century palace garden, have been designated as the fifth UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city. Additionally, the Royal Palace, Europe's largest, is scheduled to unveil a new annex for the Museum of the Royal Collections next summer. In 2023, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is set to host two major exhibitions, featuring the works of Picasso and Lucian Freud.

Moreover, the opening of several high-end hotels is a sure sign that Madrid is on the rise. There are now five top-notch hotels to choose from: the Four Seasons Madrid on Calle Sevilla, which boasts luxurious amenities; the renovated and highly praised Mandarin Oriental Ritz; the Edition, with its stunning suites and rare rooftop pool; the former residence of the Duke of Santo Mauro, which has been transformed into a 49-room Marriott Luxury Collection hotel; and the Villa Magna in the Salamanca shopping district, now a Rosewood hotel that locals frequent for emceed events and G&T-fueled socializing.

Transylvania

King Charles now has properties in Sandringham and Balmoral, adding to his verdant paradises at Highgrove and Llwynywermod in Wales. However, for a real getaway, the sovereign heads to Romania where he owns two homes in Transylvania, famously associated with Dracula. A building is converted into a center for traditional crafts and operates as a seven-room B&B when he is not in residence. This is not a grand mansion, and that's intentional, as it is decorated with local antiques and textiles, and lacks TV or WiFi. Instead, guests can enjoy horseback rides, nature walks, and communal dinners where they might share the fun fact that King Charles is a descendant of Vlad the Impaler, who was known for impaling his victims and served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Maldives

Sonu Shivdasani has transformed his properties into models of environmental sustainability long before it became a trend. His most recent brilliant idea was to bring the Jaipur Literary Festival, which attracts thousands of attendees and is streamed to 10 million viewers worldwide, to the lush, beach-fringed island of Kunfunadhoo in the Maldives. Sunset champagne cruises to a sandbank, movie nights, and dancing were just some of the fun activities. I departed with a notebook filled with ideas and new friends, making it one of the most invigorating travel experiences one can have.

Scotland

The unexpected arrival of a second haggis dish caught me off guard. When I first arrived in Scotland, I decided to order the refined rendition of the country's most renowned (and often mocked) dish from Chef Mark Greenaway, thinking it would be an adventurous leap into the gastronomic unknown, and to fully immerse myself in the local experience. However, the following evening, I ordered it simply because I enjoyed it. This type of reimagination of traditional dishes is what makes Scotland so thrilling at the moment. Although castles, lochs, and misty mountains are ubiquitous, Glasgow and Edinburgh are sophisticated cities that offer extraordinary cuisine and avant-garde culture at every turn.

Italy

A few five-star hotels are now available year-round. Six Senses Rome, located in a 15th-century palace a block away from the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, will open in the spring under the leadership of General Manager Francesca Tozzi, who previously worked at Capri's Tiberio Palace. In Milan, the Ferragamo family's first hotel in the city, the 73-suite Portrait Milano, has just opened on Corso Venezia, near the fashion district but not in the heart of it. Casa Baglioni Milano, a 30-room hotel that pays homage to Italy's Modernist dolce vita era in its interior design, is situated in the trendy and artistic Brera neighborhood of the city.

These options allow travelers to avoid the crowds, even during Fashion Week. And as for summer, Grisdale insists that the traditional summer vacation is on its way out, adding that no one visits Italy solely for a suntan anyway.