The Place to Go for Summer Vacation 2024

Where is the place to go for summer vacation 2024? For many the answer is Europe. But wait, isn’t that so last summer? Yes! And apparently again this summer too!

For this reason, expect most of Europe to be very expensive (including airfares) and very crowded. You won’t find deals or possibly lodging or tickets in popular places like Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Ireland, Italy & the Italian Riviera, France & the French Riviera, England, Greece & the Greek Isles–and pretty much all of the Mediterranean.

My recommendation is to think Baltic and Scandinavia not the Mediterranean. Northern European destinations on the Baltic Sea offer the same (or better) charms with much better deals (including airfares) and less crowds. What’s more, these are truly hidden gems–at least for now. Here are my favorites:

Gdansk, Poland

Rovinj, Croatia

Turkey & the Turkish Riviera

Albania & the Albania Riviera

Parnu, Estonia

Runners Up: Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, and Norway

FYI: Do a little bit of research and see which places fall in line more with your expectations. These are all safe for independent or escorted travel (tours). Once you figure out your destination, book ASAP! If you are traveling on your own, be sure to get airline and/or train tickets first. There are many types of Eurail Passes and several low-cost European airlines. Next, if there is an event or attraction(s) you “must” see/do, grab those tickets. Create an itinerary (even a rough or loose guide) so you know what you plan to do and when. Lastly, book your accommodations. Read the fine print before booking for important information on cancellation and refund policies. Make sure your passport does not expire for at least six months (required for most European countries). Set your budget and start packing!

…and now that I have shared the place to go for summer vacation 2024, I’d like to share some important travel news.

For those set on going to one or more of the most popular places in Europe, be advised that many, such as Venice and Barcelona, have implemented tourist taxes to deal with overtourism.

Major airports around the world are upping their technology and services with self-service security screening, pre-booked security time slots, facial recognition, and robotic manicures! (More on airport and airline news in a later post).

Many U.S. national parks are now requiring timed-entry reservations (with a small fee that is not the same as the park entrance fee) during the summer months, including Rock Mountain Park, Mount Rainier, Yosemite, Acadia, Arches, Glacier, Haleakala, Shenandoah, and Zion. Restrictions vary according to the park but are typically mid-May through October.

Two giant pandas will be arriving at the Washington Zoo by the end of the year. They will replace the ones we had to return last year. If you’ll be visiting that zoo, be sure to see Bao Li and Qing Bao!

Traveling in the U.S.

Many of us will be traveling a lot closer to home this summer. Regardless of where you’re going or what you’re doing, you need to get on with it. According to consumer surveys, nearly forty percent of us have not done any vacation planning. Some may be planning to visit friends or family so there’s not too much planning involved. Some may be waiting to see what they can afford to do. But for those who have firm ideas, it’s time to book it! Pay a little extra if you need to have guaranteed cancellation without penalty. That way you can lock in your trip but can cancel if you need to without losing money. Whatever your plans, I hope we all have a spectacular summer filled with happy memories and special travel moments.

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