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Top spots in 2024 and what’s on the rise for 2025
This is your one-stop shop for all the travel inspo. We’ve rounded up our most popular spots of 2024 and what’s on the rise for 2025. Get a trip on the cal, your bucket list is waiting.
2024 wasn’t just the year of popping off in Europe (though, let’s be real, we’re still obsessed with Spain, Italy, and Greece). It was also the year young travelers explored bucket-list-worthy destinations across Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
We’ve crunched the numbers in a recent report (thanks, Qualtrics!) and pulled together EF Ultimate Break’s Destination Awards. From iconic cities to remote beaches, here’s where everyone wanted to go—and the tours that delivered the most epic memories. Oh, and stick around for the 2025 trends, you might just find your next adventure. ✈️
2024 Destination Awards: Where Travelers Couldn’t Get Enough
The September 2024 report stated:
Western Europe continues to lead travel intent across the board. But Latin America (including Mexico, Central and South America) and Asia (Thailand, Japan, South Korea) continue to be destinations that demonstrate significant levels of young adult travel interest.
When asked “Which of the following international destinations would you like to visit within the next five years?" here’s how they ranked:
Western Europe (Spain, France, Ireland, Germany, etc.)
Asia (Thailand, Japan, South Korea)
Mexico and/or the Caribbean
The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, etc.)
Eastern Europe (Croatia, Greece, Poland, Türkiye)
Central America (Costa Rica, Panama, etc.)
South America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, etc.)
Pacific Region (Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Fiji, etc.)
Africa (Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, etc.)
The Middle East (Egypt, Jordan, etc.)
Those are some pretty snazzy spots, we’d even say they’re worthy of an award. So, we decided to make a 2024 EF Ultimate Break Destination Awards ranking in gold, silver, and bronze:
Europe
Still reigning supreme for getaways filled with national galleries, croissants, hidden wine windows, Santorini sunsets, flamenco dancing and more
🥇 Gold: Italy
Nothing like cruising the canals of Venice, noshing on pasta in Florence, and living out your Lizzie Mcguire dreams in Rome. You’ll fall in love faster than you can say “gelato.”
🥈 Silver: Greece
Turquoise waters, Insta-worthy sunsets, and island hopping with your new besties. Santorini, we’re coming for you.
🥉 Bronze: Spain
Tapas, endless nightlife, and artworks by Rembrandt, Monet, Velázquez, and so many more. This city’s energy is unmatched—and so are the churros.
Honorable mentions
Iceland and Ireland
Ooh and aah your way around the Golden Circle as you indulge in the ultimate spa day at the Blue Lagoon, search for rainbows behind Skogafoss waterfall, and taste Icelandic food like fermented sheep’s head (or not).
Pub-lined streets, lush emerald countryside, historic castles, and plenty-a-pint of Guinness to go around.
The Asia Pacific region
Your new favorite corner of the world, packed with mountain-top temples, market-lined canals, lush jungles, and all the noodles you can slurp.
🥇 Gold: Japan
Sushi, cherry blossoms, and neon-lit adventures? Yes, please. Plus, Kyoto and Mount Fuji will blow your mind will transport you back in time.
🥈 Silver: Thailand
From jaw-dropping water-front temples to tropical beaches, this trip proves why Thailand is the ultimate escape. Don’t forget the pad Thai.
🥉 Bronze: South Korea
Eat your way through rows of street food in a place where modern skyscrapers meet ancient palaces, all while bopping along to K-Pop. Seoul has a lotta soul.
Honorable mentions
India and Australia & New Zealand
From Taj Mahal sunsets to early morning yoga seshes in child's pose, possibilities are endless in this spice capital—oh, and there's Bengal tigers.
This is adrenaline junkie paradise. It's hanging 10 on the waves of Bondi Beach and snorkeling through the Great Barrier Reef. It’s koalas, rainforests, didgeridoos, and geysers. It's nonstop adventure Down Under.
Latin America
Where ancient ruins meet colorful cities, rainforests buzz with life, and every meal is a fiesta of flavor. Thrills await at every turn!
🥇 Gold: Costa Rica
Zip-line through rainforests, soak in hot springs, and spot sloths IRL. This trip is pure pura vida.
🥈 Silver: Peru
Ancient ruins, Andes trekking, and llamas. I don't think we have to say more than that.
🥉 Bronze: Belize
Snorkel the Barrier Reef, explore Maya ruins, and kick back on white sand beaches. Yeah, this is paradise.
Honorable mentions
Patagonia and Colombia
We’re not talking about the clothing brand, we’re talking the glaciers of Torres del Paine National Park, the icebergs of Grey Lake, and the shade of blue you didn’t know existed at Lake Pehoé.
Fill up on this feast for the eyes with artsy streets, Barú Island beaches, ziplining, Chicaque Natural Park sloths, and arepa tastebud heaven.
Africa & The Middle East
Safari sunsets, ancient wonders, vibrant street markets, and up-close encounters with animals in their natural habitat. This is where bucket list dreams come to life.
🥇 Gold: Kenya
Lions, elephants, and giraffes, oh my! Safari sunsets WILL change your life. Enough said.
🥈 Silver: Egypt
Channel your inner archeologist, fly high in a hot air balloon, get up close with mummies, and leave wondering if aliens really did build the pyramids.
🥉 Bronze: South Africa
South Africa brings a lot to the table. Like Cape Town coastlines, the former home of President Nelson Mandela, and a national park with lions, elephants, and rhinos. In fact, it brings Table Mountain to the table, too.
Honorable mentions
Morocco
Markets, desert dunes, and mint tea galore. Oh, did we mention there’s literally a whole city that’s blue?
2025 Travel trends: Where to next?
Destinations like Japan, Thailand, and South Korea had their moment in 2024, and we see no signs of that slowing down anytime soon.
However, a must-visit will be Thailand. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Phuket, all things Thai are on the rise for 2025. which is why we recently released our Thailand Collection of more than a dozen responsibly designed tours, with a focus on enabling more sustainable travel in Asia.
Aside from those, keep your passport ready because these destinations are also blowing up:
Singapore to Bangkok
11 days, 3 cities
Skylines straight out of a sci-fi film, soft-white sand beaches, and lively street markets all in one trip. Where else can you munch on Pad Thai, Hainanese chicken, AND coconut ice cream altogether?
Bali: Tropical Escape
10 days, 3 cities
Feel the weight of your daily woes drift away as you reconnect with nature, conquer an active volcano, navigate the cascades of the Siap River, and find your zen during a jungle yoga sesh.
Ultimate Earth
57 days, 21 cities
Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are trending hard right now and this trip mashes up the best of the best all in one. After five continents in two months, you will have quite literally seen it all. It doesn’t get more ultimate than this.
Egypt Expedition
11 days, 4 cities
There are endless wonders to see in Egypt, but did you know one of the best views of the pyramids is from a Pizza Hut roof, just saying.
Ready to book your next adventure? These trips are calling your name and we can’t wait to show you around.
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