When I spent a year driving across the country and living out of a pickup truck, I saw firsthand how each region of the United States has its own distinct flair, history, and geography.
03.01.2025 - 17:35 / travelandleisure.com
It's high time you took a break that's just for you — a trip to unwind, be present, and savor every moment. According to a new report by retreat booking site BookRetreats, that perfect vacation destination may be a lot closer than you think.
In early December, BookRetreats released its Holiday Relaxation Report, which unveiled the best destinations around the world where travelers can find total peace and quiet. To determine its rankings, the team evaluated 76 places across five metrics: safety, solitude, serenity, nature, and wellness. The folks at BookRetreats then further analyzed each place by nine data points, including the percentage of protected areas in the country, forest coverage, crowd density, noise and light pollution, peacefulness, and total wellness experiences. The team then gave each destination a score of one out of 100 to reveal its top picks.
BookRetreats then named Canada the most relaxing destination in all of North America and the second best worldwide. As BookRetreats noted, it's also the only North American destination in the top 25.
«Nature defines the Canadian travel experience. Home to the world’s largest collection of lakes and the mesmerizing aurora borealis, Canada’s untouched wilderness is the place for peace seekers,» BookRetreats said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. «According to the Natural History Museum, Canada — alongside Finland, Sweden, and Norway — have an average Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) of above 90 percent, with 90 percent or more indicating resilient, functioning ecosystems.»
While Canada came in second to Australia on the list of the best nations in the world for relaxation, BookRetreats did note that the Great topped Australia in wellness experiences, offering 4,724 wellness-related activities nationwide. «From thermal springs nestled in the Rocky Mountains to lake-side silent retreats in Eastern Ontario, Canada combines sprawling spaces with unique opportunities to relax in nature,” it said.
And for those seeking solitude, they’ll be able to find all they need here. BookRetreats notes there’s an average of just 3.9 people per square kilometer in Canada. As a result, it ranked as the fifth-best nation for solitude (behind Iceland, Namibia, Australia, and Mongolia at number one), ninth for safety, and sixth overall for wellness.
Other top spots on the overall relaxation list include Iceland in second, with Finland, New Zealand, Austria, Sweden, Estonia, Norway, and Portugal rounding out the top 10. And while those top choices are very Euro-centric, there are still relaxing spots sprinkled across the globe for wellness travelers to enjoy, including Botswana, which came in at No. 11, Japan at No. 15, Malaysia at No. 20, and Namibia at
When I spent a year driving across the country and living out of a pickup truck, I saw firsthand how each region of the United States has its own distinct flair, history, and geography.
Portland-based tour operator Avanti Destinations and the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) have partnered to create a new campaign encouraging travel advisors to sell FIT itineraries to less-visited destinations across Japan to help combat overtourism, called “Beyond the Golden Route.”
Alaska – The Great Land. The 49th state has long been on the travel lists for many travelers, and it's not difficult to understand why. Whether they come seeking the awesome majesty of Alaska's glacier fields, the stupefying array of wildlife ranging from humpback whales to bears, moose, and everything in between, fascinating Indigenous culture or simply the never-ending vistas of pristine wilderness, Alaska has something to intrigue even the most jaded of travelers.
If «travel more» is on your 2025 resolution list, then first, let us say we're thrilled for you. The world is a beautiful place, and we can't wait for you to see and do it all. And if you're nervous to get out there and visit new places, that's OK too. In fact, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has a few ideas for destinations that will totally put your fears at ease.
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