Places to visit in 2023

By Travel Blogger, Flight and Travel Expert Mr Plane Guy

So here is my top ten of places to visit in 2023, I've done no voting or market research its based purely on my knowledge of the market and looking at trends and behaviours over the last few years. Also I've been researching various outlets and compiling their predictions (basically I read Conde Nast Traveller on a flight ok)

Global factors are certainly present and effecting how and where we travel too, here are some of thise key findings.

With the current dollar rate (at the time of writing the article 1.19) It's now nearly 'like for like' against the British pound and so the appeal of Disney World or New York for a few days will now be costing around 30% more for Brits. I think the Brits love of USA holidays will be on hold for the time being and its time to discover new places!

It costs a family of four $1,100 to spend the day at Disneyland — before food or souvenirs

By Ariel Zilber of the New York Post

Unfortunately new Visa requirements have also made India trickier to visit. (see update below!)

The Indian government has now excluded the UK from their e-visa system. Meaning you now have to book an appointment at a Visa processing centre in the UK and attend an interview for which their is a wait list of several months! So forget any last minute trip there, if you do want to travel to incredible India plan it way in advance!

My Princess Diana moment at the Taj Mahal

With Russias invasion of the Ukraine in 2022 impacting airspace and particularly travel to Asia from Europe. Flights are having to be re routed, costing airlines more fuel. So many of the airlines have been dropping European to Asia routes and this is impacting supply and demand and hiking up fares.

Altering routes to avoid flying over the nation that invaded Ukraine can add hours—and extra fuel—to an already long journey.

Bloomberg.

Then there is the cost of living crisis! In despite of this I get the impression travellers still have the attitude that travelling is a big priority for many, but its time to think of more cost effective ways of having a great travel experience.

With the likes of Airlines such as Wizz Air now flying to the Maldives (see this blog post here) it really is possible to......

..........Travel far Spend Less!

This is my travel mantra In 2023! I have a travel budget for the year and I want to fully maximise it! I'm going to be point collecting, travelling lite and hold luggage free like never before!

So here is a list a selection of The Top Places to visit in 2023

10. Cappadocia Turkey

9. The Greek island of Paros

8. Iceland

7. Ireland

6. Malta

5. Cape Verde

4. Costa Rica

3. Jordan

2. Aruba

1.The Maldives

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10. Cappadocia Turkey

Now this place is a little tricky to get to with no direct flights from the UK or USA

Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR): Kayseri Erkilet Airport is the major airport of Cappadocia.

With some amazing fares with Pegasus Via Istanbul So why not combine it with a couple of nights in this epic city?

Or how about a few days in Antalya, then onto an organised coach tour? Who does'nt love a coach trip?

Read more about Cappadocia 3-Day Tour from Antalya here

You get the following Included, 2 nights accommodation Hotel pick-up and Drop-off Breakfast (2) Turkish night show in Cappadocia and whirling dervishes show (optional) Balloon ride(optional).

9. Paros

Only 2 hours by ferry from Santorini and 3 hours from Athens or a direct flight from Athens and Thesloniki. It's time to discover more to Greece than Paros neighbours of Mykonos and Santorini. Paros still has the white washed buildings and tavernas just more greek and less commercial.

Paros is defiantly on my list for 2023 and I will report back (prepare to be sick of me!) 30000 tiktoks, instagram stories etc

I absolutely love the island of Mykonos and visited in 2022, here is my accommodation guide if your thinking of going!

Check out my Mykonos youtube video here,

Follow my youtube channel here

8. Iceland

A firm favourite amongst the travel blogging community and new airline Play offer really great discounted flights to the island. I plan to visit in the first quarter of 2022 so I wil report back witha full guide, in the meantime check out theses deals here

Check out these Iceland deals here

7. Ireland

I think most British tourists were over the whole staycation thing after covid and due to restrictions on travel most brits staying in the UK for a couple of years and holidaying in places like Great Yarmouth! I think the nearest staycation people are willing to have would be to the next county.

AVOID DUBLIN AIRPORT! can I make this any clearer?

It's clear that Dublin Airport cannot cope with 2022 traffic and on a busy day expect to queue around the airport! with surges of travel expected to be 59% more in 2023 than in 2022 expect even more delays and travel chaos here!

During Summer 2022 I made the mistake of just leaving 3 hours before a flight from Dublin to Liverpool and made the flight by the skin of my turkey teeth! So fly into a smaller airport or get a ferry.

6. Malta

Malta is packed with history and culture. Malta is a destination for those interested in rich history, great food, and a hot climate!

5. Cape Verde

The rise of the mid haul exotic location around 5 hours away, Cape Verde is a perfect winter destination. Tui do some really great last minute deals here!

4. Costa Rica

Costa Rica continues to lead the way in ecotourism. Committed to protecting and restoring nature, the country successfully doubled the size of its previously devastated forests, increasing biodiversity.

With coffee plantations and lush tropical rainforests coating the slopes of volcanoes and mountains discover dolphins to sloths, monkeys and Toucans this is a lush landscape with the WOW factor!

3. Jordan

So WizzAir now fly from Luton Airport or you can take an indirect flight with Ryanair they fly from Milan Malpensa.

Return flights of around £150 combined with a rich cultural destination including Petra one of the 7 wonders of the world! Jordon is on the list of The Top Places to visit in 2023.

2. Aruba

With British Airways starting flight to Aruba from March 26 2023 twice a weeks Check out the details here Aruba is now firmly accessible and on the map for British tourists, so maybe its time for a new Caribbean island to visit?

I put together a full guide on my YouTube channel,

Here is my guide to getting to see the Flamingos in Aruba which is more difficult than you think!

British Airways have announced flight to Aruba from March 26 2023 they will fly to Oranjestad in Aruba twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays ,with a stop in Antigua en route. Check out the details here

1. The Maldives

link to Wizz Air flying to the Maldives Check out this article here

So apparently Maldives holidays are flying off the shelves for 2023! Despite the cost of living crisis we still have the attitude of travelling is a big priority. I would recommend visiting during peak season ( November to late April) when the rainfall is at its lowest. I used to get 7 night trips here when i was cabin crew with Monarch Airlines in the 90's can you belive it, 7 nights on an island called Karumba, I think I did 2 or 3!!

Are you Jetting off on a long haul flight soon? you may like this article

So that is my list of The Top Places to visit in 2023

Will you be going to any of theses destinations? Let me know in the comments below.

Travel and flight expert Paul has spent over 15 years giving first class service with a London based airline. This travel and flight expert has been crossing the Atlantic sometimes 10 times a month!

UPDATE! January 2023

India e visa

Good news for UK nationals planning a trip to India: they can once again apply for their electronic visa for India online, after not being able to do so for almost a year