If you’re going to become addicted to something, travel isn’t the worst habit to form. While this addiction can be costly, can you put a price on seeing new sights and sounds? Perhaps not new sights and sounds, but non-American sights and sounds. After all, travelers keep going to these locations time and time again, variety be darned.
1. Southern France
There is a good reason you hear “the South of France” as shorthand for a location someone would retire in their wildest dreams. Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Nice are the headliners for a region that earns its headliner status.
The city is literally called Nice, which is exactly what plenty of tourists have said upon stepping off the plane in Southern France.
2. Costa Rica
Costa Rica has the unique benefit of being a complete outlier within its geographic region. While risk-averse travelers generally avoid its neighbors Nicaragua and Honduras, they feel perfectly safe at the right Costa Rican resort. The rainforest, beaches, world-class fishing, and general sense of heartrate-slowing ease keep visitors frequently returning to the “Rich Coast.”
3. Greece
There is a reason your friend makes a semi-annual pilgrimage to Mykonos. The white stucco architecture and world-class beaches beckon, and if you can afford it, you heed their call without resistance. Who wouldn’t be drawn to the sun, beaches on the Aegean Sea, and all the fresh souvlaki your heart desires?
Those who can justify the cost of Mykonos, Naxos, and other Greek locales have been known to ask: Why go anywhere else?
4. Ireland
For all the flack Irish people catch, visitors sure do like their country. A few Ireland enthusiasts note that destinations like the scenic Ring of Kerry are worth your time, but you can’t forget about towns like Donegal and the county Mayo, known for its coastal cliffs.
5. Italy
Tourists feel that Italy is among the countries offering the most sights and experiences for your buck. With a relatively short flight time (around 11-12 hours) by international standards and various distinct regions with varying terrain, climate, and cultures, Italy has proven more addictive than pepperoni pizza.
Tuscany, Lake Como, and the Amalfi Coast are among the most-frequented Italian slices of heaven.
6. USA
International visitors cited the United States as a country they can’t get enough of. Most Americans take the geographic diversity and overabundance of world-class cities in the United States for granted, but outsiders don’t. Every country has its warts, but the United States remains a magnet for people worldwide.
7. New Zealand
Its other-side-of-the-world status makes New Zealand a bucket list item for many American visitors. Still, those with the travel budget to swing a second trip to the land of the Kiwis generally do so.
From the peaks of Queenstown to the waters of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand offers several different worlds in a single country.
8. Mexico
You can’t get more convenient than Mexico for an exotic location only a handful of hours away (or less, depending on which state you call home). While some hesitate to visit Mexico for fear of crime, tourist traps, or other reasons, those who find a go-to spot in Mexico go to that spot repeatedly. Some ex-pats even move to their go-to spot.
From the beautiful beaches of Playa del Carmen to the expat-friendly San Miguel de Allende and beyond, Mexico offers a convenient getaway for many repeat tourists.
9. Croatia
Even before Game of Thrones made Dubrovnik a Mecca for Tyrion Lannister fans, savvy travelers knew that Croatia was an undervalued gem. Croatia’s 1,110 miles of Coastline drenched by aqua-blue agua and beaches have no business existing in Eastern freaking Europe.
A bastion of history and welcoming, distinct culture, Croatia is one of those spots every traveler enjoys.
10. Vietnam
Those who travel to East Asia typically emerge with a pecking order of their favorite counties. Vietnam tops the list for many, including legends of the travel game like Anthony Bourdain.
From the massive, majestic rock formations of Ha Long Bay to the more urban appeal of Hanoi, Vietnam offers a versatile vacation in a land populated by proud, cheery people. It’s no wonder so many visitors act like they are part of a Vietnam loyalty program where every 10 trips to Vietnam get you one free trip to Vietnam.
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