I’ve always been reluctant to publish this list. Firstly, when I was at Getaway I didn’t want to be accused of personal bias when it came to the show’s editorial direction.
Now, I’m not so keen to make public some of my most tightly-held holiday favourites.
But, at the risk of bumping up hotel prices on five continents, here we go. Counting down by my top 10 favourite destinations of all time.
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10. The Cotswolds, England
What’s not to love? The highest concentration of cute villages in the whole of the UK. This is quaintness overload, a road trip sugar hit.
I defy anyone not to awww and oooh over places like Bourton-on-the-Water (my favourite) or the unfortunately named Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter which will slay you with their charm.
You could do the area as a day trip from London but I suggest you spend a couple of days at a bed & breakfast and revel in the ye olde shops and clotted cream scones.
9. Zanzibar, Tanzania
I was drawn here by the name and stayed for the beaches and beauty. The word Zanzibar promises an exotic, romantic destination and it doesn’t disappoint. Not that easy to get to but that’s also part of its appeal.
It’s an island chain about 25km off the coast of Tanzania. Base yourself near Stone Town, an old trading port with African Arab, Indian and European influences.
8. Singapore
If there’s a better stopover location I haven’t been there. Actually, that doesn’t do it justice because Singapore is a fantastic holiday destination in its own right.
Compact, cosmopolitan, brilliant food at good prices (Newton Centre – night food market), some of the world’s best hotels (Marina Bay Sands, The Fullerton, Mandarin Oriental, Raffles) and one of the best zoos on the planet.
7. Paris, France
There’s nothing I can say to talk Paris up. It’s the most visited city in the world so this is no secret tip. You should make it your mission to get here at least once. It lives up to the hype.
6. Udaipur, India
One of the most romantic cities in India. Built around beautiful Lake Pichola, Udaipiur gives you an Indian experience at a less frenetic pace while giving off a European vibe.
The rooftop bars and restaurants for sunset, the City Palace for history and architecture & the Jagmandir Island Palace hotel in the middle of the lake for wow.
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5. Cinque Terre, Italy
Into the Top 5 so it’s wow all the way now. The “five lands” or five colourful villages strung along the section of the Ligurian coast known as the Italian Riviera are STU…NN….ING.
You can walk between them, take the train or experience them from the water by a ferry.
I suggest you do all three.
4. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
This spot would probably have been taken by the beautiful old whaling village of Lahaina on Maui but it was tragically and literally burnt to the ground in August, 2023.
But Hanalei Bay is not a consolation prize, it’s a magical spot off Hawaii’s main tourist trail. Lonely Planet just named it one of the Top 10 Beaches in the World for 2025.
I stayed here for 10 days on a family holiday five years ago and really fell in love with the place. The town only has about 300 residents and is an eclectic mix of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and galleries.
A 25-minute drive away is the spectacular Napali coast which features one of the world’s most scenic walks along the staggering line of cliffs featured in Jurassic Park.
3. Santorini, Greece
Visiting the Greek Islands – any of them – is a bucket-list experience. Santorini is the bucket.
This has just made the 24 hour flight in 42F all worthwhile. Getting off the ferry and looking up at this whitewashed town perched on the rim on an ancient volcano is mind-blowing.
Take a donkey ride to the top, book into a sunset facing hotel and just BE. Be happy, be content and be grateful such a place exists.
2. New York, New York
So nice they named it twice. The city that never sleeps. Yes, there’s a thousand cliches about New York but that’s also a thousand reasons why this city is so amazing.
I was mesmerised the first time I saw it in a movie as a little kid and have been lucky enough to visit many times and every time it’s exciting. Do not pass Go. Book now!
READ MORE: New York’s ‘newest’ neighbourhood needs to be on your next itinerary
1. Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
The first time I visited Tofino I thought I had been transported into some kind of geographical hologram. The first sight of it was so breathtakingly beautiful that it seemed too good to be true. Fortunately, it is true.
Tofino exists and the world is a better place for it. Tofino sits on the edge of Clayoquot Sound, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island – next stop Japan.
The combination of temperate rainforest, mountains, lakes and beaches adds up to one of the most sublime destinations on the planet.
Tofino town is a chilled little village covering a few blocks with a smattering of cafes, bars, boutiques and galleries.
You’ve got to work a bit to get here. A 1 hour 45 minute ferry ride from Vancouver and then a spectacular three-hour drive.
But you won’t be complaining and you’ll have bragging rights for years that you visited one of the world’s best kept secrets.
John Walsh was Executive Producer of the Nine TV travel series Getaway from 1999-2024.
