The Top 5 Destinations to Spend Your PTO on in 2018
What’s better than starting a fresh new year with a clean slate and a few fresh weeks of paid time off? While it’s easy to let most of your PTO get swallowed up by weddings, bachelor parties, and long weekends, there’s nothing quite as rejuvenating as finally taking that big trip that you’ve been dreaming of forever.
If you’re looking to make the most of your precious PTO this year, I’ve rounded up my top five destinations for 2018 that are perfect for a 10-day trip abroad (think: two weekends and only one full week off work).
Bali, Indonesia
This island paradise is one of the trendiest destinations right now, and for good reason. Bali is not only beautiful and full of Southeast Asian culture, but also amazingly affordable. What you spend up front on your flights, you’ll quickly make back with savings on hotels, transportation, and food.
The yogis should head to zen Ubud, the beach bums should flock to dreamy Uluwatu, and the surfers will love laid-back Canggu. For a party, head to the Gili Islands, and for the more adventurous, you can conquer volcano hikes or the Nusa Islands. Whether you want beaches, waterfalls, yoga, jungles, monkeys, surfing, shopping, snorkeling, or just relaxing on a bean bag in the sand with a beer in hand, Bali is paradise.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world, and its capital, Buenos Aires, is well known for being the “Paris of South America”, with a beautiful cosmopolitan atmosphere, stunning architecture, and a one-of-kind culture.
A trip here could open your eyes to tango dancing, cobblestone streets, empanadas, and a whole lot of malbec wine. Or you could use Buenos Aires as a base to get you to some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders, like the breathtaking Iguazu Falls, or the mountains of Patagonia.
Kauai, Hawaii
The farthest of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai is ‘Old Hawaii,’ with a slow-paced island lifestyle and one-of-a-kind beauty. It’s nicknamed “The Garden Isle”, and is home to huge canopies of lush tropical plants and trees that made up the backdrop for Jurassic Park.
The lush Jurassic landscape is enough on its own to warrant a trip to this gorgeous garden isle, but add in the jagged coastline of white-sand beaches and crystal-clear coral reefs, and you’ll never want to go home. In fact, many of the locals there will tell you they actually came to vacation on PTO to Kauai and never flew back. Don’t worry, we won’t tell your boss.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is having a major moment. AirBnB just predicted it to be 2018’s most visited city of the year, and the city is now home to more restaurants with Michelin stars than any other city in the world (move over, San Francisco and New York!).
With top-notch food, beautiful cities, and one of the most unique cultures in the world, Japan is a perfect place to spend your vacation. Japan’s transportation infrastructure is amazing, headlined by it’s trailblazing bullet trains, and it is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, making a vacation there as hassle-free and easy as possible.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Founded almost 1,000 years ago on the edge of the Sahara desert, this southern market town has grown to become one of the world’s most sought-after vacation destinations.
Think: camel rides, desert sunsets over Northern Africa, and unbelievably beautiful Moroccan decor inspiration at every turn. If relaxation is what you’re after, Morocco is home to some top spas and resorts that are housed in luxurious palaces like Mamounia or Royal Mansour.