Travel + Leisure online magazine posted this article today which can be found here:
“This is the No. 1 Place to Visit in 2026, According to Tripadvisor—and It Is a Beach-filled Island Getaway
TripAdvisor ranked an Asian island the best destination in the world for 2026, based on millions of traveler reviews and ratings. By Lauren Dana Ellman Published on February 25, 2026
While up-and-coming destinations rotate onto travelers’ bucket lists, Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Destinations – Top World spotlights the places with true staying power. Drawn from millions of reviews and ratings submitted to Tripadvisor over the past year, the annual ranking highlights destinations that continue to earn consistent praise from travelers worldwide.
This year, Bali claimed the No. 1 spot—and it’s easy to see why. Indonesia’s most-visited island has evolved into a wellness hub, with yoga retreats, meditation centers, and spa-focused stays clustered around Ubud and along the coast. At the same time, though, beach clubs and nightlife scenes in places like Seminyak and Canggu offer a buzzier counterpoint. Travelers can also explore scenic and sacred temples and cultural sites, including Pura Taman Ayun and Pura Ulun Danu Batur, both part of the island’s UNESCO-listed Subak irrigation system. Paired with its varied landscapes—beaches, rice paddies, jungle interiors, and volcanic terrain—Bali offers a wide range of experiences in a single trip, without requiring long-distance travel.
Coming in at second place, London reflects a different kind of staying power. Its eclectic neighborhoods function almost as small cities, each with its own distinct charm and character. Museums, theaters, galleries, and restaurants are spread throughout the city, as well, which means cultural life isn’t limited to a single downtown area.
Dubai ranks third on the list and is the only Middle Eastern destination to make the top 10, standing out for its scale and juxtaposition. A futuristic skyline defined by record-setting skyscrapers, including the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, and massive commercial developments such as the Dubai Mall, sits alongside working souks, older neighborhoods like the Al Fahidi Historical District, public beaches, and wide-open desert and towering dunes on the city’s outskirts.
Other familiar cities rounding out the top 10 include Paris, Rome, and Crete in Europe; Hanoi and Bangkok in Asia; Marrakech, the only African destination on the list; and New York City, the sole U.S. pick.
Here is the full list:
- Bali, Indonesia
- London, U.K.
- Dubai, U.A.E.
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Paris, France
- Rome, Italy (only Tom, years ago)
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Crete, Greece
- New York City, U.S.”
As it turns out, we have visited each of the above locations in the past 13 years since the onset of our world travels, except for me visiting Rome, although I have been to many other Italian cities. Before I met Tom in 1991, he took his mother to Rome to see the Pope in 1989. I remember him sharing that story on our very first date, his voice soft with the kind of humility that cannot be rehearsed. Something in me settled right then. Any man willing to use an entire year of vacation days to give his mother that experience had to be a good guy. All these years later, with countless miles behind us, I still believe that with all my heart.
Be well.
