The Hottest Travel Destinations Of 2018

Who Says It's Hot: Ever since Condé Nast Traveler ran a story called "Milos Is the Untouched Greek Island You've Been Looking For," trendy travelers have been making their vacation plans.

What To Do And See: Visit a beach that looks like the surface of the Moon (Sarakiniko Beach) or one of Milos's 70 other beaches. Explore blue sea caves, then eat and drink at one of the many beachfront taverns.

Insider Tips: Milos is best seen by sea, so if you go, don't forget to book a boat excursion that can take you to secluded beaches and offer you views that are inaccessible from the shore.

Who Says It's Hot: Travel to Japan is on an upward swing, and Lonely Planet named the Kii Peninsula one of the hottest regions to visit in 2018.

What To Do And See: Go to Nara and hand-feed deer, visit Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples, absorb serene natural scenery, relax in open-air hot springs, and enjoy Japanese hospitality and traditional food. The Kii Peninsula is still relatively undiscovered by tourists, so this is a great place to absorb Japanese culture without having to deal with distracting crowds.

Insider Tip: Visit in March. The weather starts to warm up, and the plum blossoms come out in the middle of the month. By the month's end, you'll also be able to see the blooming of the cherry blossoms.You can't go to Japan and not see cherry blossoms.

Who Says It's Hot: Havasu Falls is high up there on many adventure travelers' bucket lists. If you can't figure out why, just take a look at some pictures of the place. This destination is also tough to get to, which makes it all the more desirable.

What To Do And See: You have to hike about eight miles to get to the falls, so plan to be gone for a full day or two. Once you're there, you'll want to jump in that beautiful turquoise water and post as many photos as possible to make your Instagram friends jealous.

Insider Tips: The most important thing to note is that you *need to make a reservation* to go. Reservations become available on February 1, and to lock down a date, you need to call the tourism office on the phone. Early fall is the best time to go, so you can skip the summer crowds, oppressive heat, and chance of flash floods.

Who Says It's Hot: Intrepid Travel Blog, CNN, and Forbes have recently sung Porto's praises, and more and more airlines are adding Porto as a stop on their route maps. United Airlines added Porto as a destination in 2017.

What To Do And See: Don't miss the stunning Beaux-Arts train station, the blue azulejo (tiles) on building facades, and the city's namesake: port, a fortified wine. Stroll over the Ponte de Dom Luís bridge, and dip into one of the many port warehouses to take a tour and try the beverage. From here, you'll have a great view of the Porto waterfront. Just be careful on your walk back, port is strong!

Insider Tips: If you're in the area, don't miss the nearby Douro Valley, Portugal's wine region that is still relatively undiscovered compared to California's Napa or Sonoma. You can hop on a train and do a day trip from Porto, or better yet, stay in the valley for a few days and wine-taste to your heart's content!

Who Says It's Hot: Ever since Netflix's Chef's Table aired their Patagonia episode with Francis Mallmann cooking poultry and fresh, salt-packed fish over an open flame, food and travel lovers have been salivating over the South American destination.

What To Do And See: You won't be able to visit Mallmann's slice of Patagonia, as he lives and works on an invite-only private island, but you will be able to soak in some equally stunning natural wonders. Many first-time visitors start with the Torres del Paine National Park where you can gawk at the natural beauty, spot wildlife, and visit the park’s old-growth forests.

Insider Tips: The summer months (December — February) have the mildest weather, but if you go a little earlier during Patagonia's spring (September — October), you'll beat the crowds and be able to enjoy a colorful display of blooming flowers.

Who Says It's Hot: Lonely Planet described this Northern Ireland region as one of the top to visit in 2018.

What To Do And See: In Belfast, check out "Titanic Belfast," an ode to the ill-fated ship, then taste local treats at St. George's Market. When you make your way to the coast, you'll find sandy beaches, fishing villages, enormous basalt cliffs, and puffin colonies. Game of Thrones fans will also recognize the Cushendun Caves, site of the Shadow Baby incident from Season Two. 

Insider Tip: Your trip to Northern Ireland is not complete until you've sipped on some Irish Whiskey. Take a trip to the Bushmill's Distillery and pick up a bottle of the Distillery Reserve 12-year-old Single Malt Whiskey, available only at the Bushmills gift shop.