The 2023 Hotlist:
This year's top destinations according to experts

Lucy Dunn
Lifestyle editor for The Telegraph, The Times and Grazia

I am about to book a trip to Japan. I went there years ago and ticked off a few touristy spots (Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka) but a friend recently went, and I have now major Instagram-envy, plus it's impossible to do it justice in just one visit. On my list this time: Naoshima, an immersive art island famous for its galleries; Shirakawa--go for its mountains, padi fields and pretty Alpine chalets and Okinawa for its beautiful beaches and mad Spam sushi (it was once a US military airbase). Last but no means least, there's Tokyo again for all its quirky weirdness which I’ll never ever tire of. Constantly evolving, the city's mashup of East and West, ancient and modern means there's always something new to experience. And any country that loves a musical loo gets my vote.
 
Discover the beautifully preserved gassho-zukuri farmhouses in UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go, on a Japanese food adventure.

Pat Riddell
Editor of National Geographic Traveller

Following Argentina’s third World Cup win, the South American country remains high on my 2023 wish list. Buenos Aires has somehow evaded me for years – its grand architecture, exciting nightlife, legendary culinary scene, and football fanaticism are all essential in a city break. But the winelands of Mendoza, the vast expanses of Patagonia and the spectacular Iguazu Falls are all reasons to explore this alluring destination.
 
Discover the wine and landscapes of Argentina’s northwest region.

Jill Starley-Grainger
Content Editor and Travel Journalist

Ever since reading Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile, I've wanted to get to Egypt. The thought of wandering through the temples of Luxor or exploring the Pyramids of Giza seems like a real adventure. I've investigated doing it independently in the past, but those places aren't very easy to get to by road, especially not if you enjoy your creature comforts, like I do, which is why a Nile cruise seems like it would be my dream trip - dipping my toe into an extraordinary past while enjoying the boat life. 
 
Explore the Pyramids, discover the buzz of Cairo, explore the Valley of the Kings and watch the sun set over the Nile on a luxury cruise from Aswan to Luxor.

Chris Leadbeater
Travel journalist for the Telegraph and The Independent

I hope 2023 will be the year I get to head back to South America. I've written about the continent extensively, but alas, haven't been there this side of the pandemic. I'm long overdue a return. I also have a lifelong obsession with the USA. The cliche about a continent masquerading as a country holds good. I'm up to 37 states now - having finally made Oregon's acquaintance in 2022. I'll get to all 50 at some point, but I'm in no hurry. It's a journey which doesn't need to be rushed. For me, travel simply makes life better. If you’re fortunate enough to have the time and money to explore, see as much of the world as you can.
 
Uncover Guyana, South America's hidden gem with an abundance of pristine rainforests.

Andrew Eames
Travel writer, author, and contributor to national newspapers.

My next adventure is a research trip along the Norwegian coast for a book project connected to the saltfish industry. The latter was a key component of the Hanseatic League, an early form of the EU, which dominated northern European trade in the Middle Ages. But as a place I go back to often, I lived and worked in southeast Asia in the 80s and have great fondness for Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos. Food, climate, people, landscapes, temples…all are magnificent, and good value. For me, travel is a chance to share ideas and understand the perspectives of others.
 
Spot elusive wildlife in the Jungles of Sabah as you explore Borneo's rugged landscapes.