2021 Diversified Travel List Announced! Discover more possibilities for travel

In 2020, we have to stop and think about how to travel responsibly and pay attention to the diversity of different destinations themselves.

Everyone has a different story. Throughout the world, some people tell a variety of stories, and some places present a variety of perspectives. Take a look at what interesting destinations, travel experiences, and help people who "can travel better in the future" find in the "Best in Travel 2021" diversified travel list

Accessible travel destinations

Costa Rica

Exploring lush rainforests and white sand beaches, and even adventure activities such as surfing and ziplining, Costa Rica is a wheelchair traveler's paradise thanks to strict accessibility regulations.

With its deep pristine rainforests and stuffy volcanoes, to soft pink sand beaches and a city dotted with colonial architecture, Costa Rica has it all. The law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and hotels and public places must improve accessibility services, in other words, Costa Rica is an excellent travel destination that values accessibility.

Travelers with disabilities can easily enjoy the wide range of services that the country has to offer. Barrier-free paved trails through the rainforest. The universal trails of Carara National Park and Poás Volcano National Park offer wheelchair users the opportunity to see sloths, hornbills and poison dart frogs up close.

You'll also find surprising accessibility services from time to time. Companies in places like La Fortuna have ziplines equipped with special harnesses that hold people in difficulty in place, taking them smoothly through the canopy of tropical trees and through the raging waterfalls of the same name in the area. With the help of beach wheelchairs and support staff, surfing programs in towns like Puntarenas allow everyone to pedal the waves.

"Costa Rica is the best destination for travelers with disabilities because locals are ready to lend a helping hand whenever possible, learning hard and improving the travel experience. That's pure life. ”

—Stephanie Sheehy, owner of Il Viaggio Travel, specializes in accessible group tours in Costa Rica

Costa Rica's inland cities offer a more traditional travel experience for visitors, with museums, markets and restaurants mostly accessible, especially in the capital, San Jose. Costa Rica may still have a lot of work to follow up on for independent travelers in wheelchairs – especially accessibility on sidewalks and buses – but this extraordinary country is making strides to welcome all travelers.

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Lonely Planet "Best in Travel 2021" Costa Rican video

Travel destinations for multiple generations

Hierro Island, Spain

El Hierro,Spain

The Canary Islands, bathed in Spanish sunshine, are a rare pearl; at the end of the world, the years are quiet, and it is a paradise for environmentally conscious travelers. Lush pine forests cascade down steep cliffs, breathtaking natural tide pools shimmer at the end of narrow and winding roads, and endless volcanic scenery seems to come from another world – Hierro Island is perfect for an unforgettable adventure for families of all ages.

Located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Africa, Hierro island is the second-to-last island of the Canary Islands and suffers from (unfair) neglect as a result. Today, between Spaniards and a growing number of foreign travelers, the name of this wild rock island is quietly circulating, and they look forward to discovering beautiful, chic and pleasant natural landscapes. The hospitality makes the tourism industry considerate and responsible, while the island's attractions are suitable for the whole family.

Off-the-beaten-track hiking trails wind through spectacular observation decks and remote cobblestone sands, over thrilling cliffs and through fairytale temperate rainforests. Some of Europe's best dive sites await you at the tranquil Mar de las Calmas, and the gliding program beckons the brave to challenge people in the central highlands of the island. Young people in particular enjoy snorkeling, rowing and looking for the endangered large lizards of Hierro Island. The emerging wine industry is only a surprise for adults, and the local star grapes are unusual, growing on steep hillsides.

"In the volcanic island of Hierro, time seems to stand still every day, and only a symphony of contrasts, colors, sounds and sensations fills your soul and heart. It is the first island in the world to target 100% renewable energy. There are about 10,000 inhabitants on the island, and they are not strangers to each other. ”

—Pablo Rodríguez Cejas, teacher and educational psychologist at Hierro Island

Wander the island of Hierro and discover interesting historical and folklore, such as the sacred rain tree (once thought to miraculously emerge from the water), the hillside chapel inhabited by the island's beloved patron saint, and the Orchilla Lighthouse in the southwest corner of Spain.

In 2014, Hierro became a protected Global Geopark, and since then it has launched plans to become the world's first island to rely entirely on renewable energy. Although it takes a little extra effort to get to this remote protected area in Spain (via Tenerife and Gran Canaria), its tender soul is so tender that it will surely make your trip worthless.

Aboriginal cuisine

Hiakai Restaurant, New Zealand

Hiakai，New Zealand

In Wellington, The capital of New Zealand, acclaimed chef Monique Fiso is working on a blend of local ingredients and Aboriginal cooking techniques in hopes of achieving something new Zealanders are proud of.

From collecting unique local ingredients such as black tree fern and local abalone, to cooking from traditional floor stoves, New Zealand's Maori have a culinary tradition unlike any other.

Māori-Samoa chef Monique Fiso, 33, trained at a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York and returned home to open his own restaurant in Wellington. Her appearance finally led aboriginal ingredients and culinary traditions to the country's high-end gastronomic stage and caused a sensation.

The award-winning Hiakai (Maori "hunger") changed the pop-up mode and opened in the second half of 2018, where dining at this restaurant is much more than just eating. Located on the outskirts of Mount Cook, the restaurant is elegantly decorated with nostalgic wooden wall panels and chocolate brown leather booths, allowing diners to feel the Māori passion while munching on the set menu. In-store food explores not only the possibilities of local ingredients, but also their relationship to Maori myths and legends.

"As a New Zealander, I feel proud to see local ingredients and Maori culinary traditions win appreciation at Hiakai in such a novel way. The acclaimed staff brings to life the Māori legends and gives soul to each dish, where we dine as if on the ultimate culinary journey. ”

—Callum Cretney, a Wellington native

For example, the recently launched 7-course set pays homage to the cluster called Matariki, with dishes such as honey sweet potato dumplings, pumpkin ginger dumplings, winter pumpkin kimchi, Swedish noodles, and the name "Papatūānuku" (Papatūānuku; Watercress derived from Maori mythology).

If you're salivating, you'll be happy to learn that you can taste Fieso's award-winning craft without having to travel to New Zealand in person, as New Zealand food rookie Hiakai publishes a new book with 30 recipes to try. However, this authentic experience is worth a special trip.

Inclusive group tours

"Wheelchair Tour the World"

Wheels of the World

California travel company Wheel the World can help people with disabilities explore the world without restraint by providing barrier-free travel experiences in more than 30 travel destinations.

From climbing Machu Picchu to skydives in Santiago, wheelchair tours are redefining travel and entertainment for people with disabilities. In the process, those with limited legs and feet are able to realize their travel dreams that they never dared to dream of before.

The company was founded in 2018 by Chileans Alvaro Silberstein and Camilo Navarro, who had attended business school in the United States. When Alvaro was 18 years old due to a car accident and unfortunately quadriplegic, he could not leave a wheelchair, but with his dedication to travel, he was willing to devote himself to helping others facing similar challenges realize the dream of barrier-free travel.

Alvaro's dream is to visit Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in Patagonia, but like many travel destinations around the world, there is a lack of accessibility, which is simply impossible for him. So he and Camillo set out to investigate accessible accommodation and transportation options to see if they could travel together and achieve their wishes.

They found Joëlette, a lightweight trekking wheelchair designed for uneven ground that would help them complete the W Hiking Trail, the most famous hike route in Torres del Pajne, which lasted 5 days.

"I never thought I'd go to San Pedro again because my multiple sclerosis was severe, and thankfully, the 'Wheelchairs Around the World' team was excellent, they were trained to work with people with disabilities, and they had special equipment. They showed us around and were flexible with changes to my plans if needed, they were patient and took care of me who was slow to move and needed to rest from time to time so that I could travel smoothly. ”

—Karina Grrunwald, a customer of "Wheelchair Tour the World", who visited San Pedro de Atacama

They documented this life-changing adventure in the form of videos and photos, hoping to inspire others. Later, hundreds of disabled people eager to emulate the trip contacted them, prompting them to make up their minds to start "Wheelchair Travel world". The company currently offers hassle-free travel experiences and carefully curated multi-day tours to more than 30 travel destinations in 15 countries.

Undeveloped history

The Galactic Islands, United States

Gullah Islands，USA

Isolated from the islands off the southeast coast of the United States, the Galles and The Jiqi were able to continue the nation's most complete African cultural heritage.

The barrier reefs and tidal islands, known as "islands," are like a string of lily beads that stretch along the southeast coast of the United States, from North Carolina to Florida. The island has small farming and fishing communities, and the descendants of West and Central African slaves have gradually developed a peculiar African fusion culture that is considered the best preserved African culture among African American groups.

Slaves from the rice-producing regions of West Africa, dominated by Sierra Leone, were taken to this mosquito-infested backcountry because they excelled at growing rice in tidal areas.

They were also forced to grow cotton and wood blue. Wet fields are the most susceptible to yellow fever and malaria. Many slaves had their own resistance, but slave owners did not, so most slave owners had to live far away from the plantations.

It was because of this quarantine that the Gales (islanders from North and South Carolina) and the Jichi (slaves and their descendants from Georgia) developed and developed their own unique cultures.

"We weren't influenced by any other culture. The islands were hard to reach, hot and humid, mosquito-ridden, and a wasteland whether slavery ended or not. But if there is any other way out, no one will stay here. ”

—Dr. Emory Campbell, Galle historian

They developed a new language, fusing English with African languages, similar to the Sierra Leonean Creole; they retained African craftsmanship, such as basket weaving. Folklore and ring dances are equally indispensable to their culture – the famous gospel folk singer Bessie Jones inherited the Gale-Gie tradition – but the most obvious influence of West African culture is the way the islanders cook, such as crab rice and shrimp rice.

The massive Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor covers 12,000 square miles, from Pender County in North Carolina to St John's County in Florida, introducing travelers to the cultural heritage of this unexplored area through historic sites and culturally significant places.

Multicultural

San Diego, USA

San Diego，USA

As a beach city, a colorful artist's home, and cultural hotspot in Southern California, San Diego's adventures are as dizzying as its diversity.

San Diego loves to show off its cultural connotations. The City is deeply influenced by the Native, Spaniard, Mexican, and American communities that shape the american West — crispy pork burritos, adobe-built estates, sunbathing and surfing cultures, and old-fashioned Kumea baskets, all found everywhere.

As today's border city, diversity is an eternal theme, and the city's ethnic minorities make up more than 59% of the population. Add to that mild climate, brilliant sunsets, miles of hiking and cycling trails, and beaches worth visiting, so you can see why San Diego makes people smile, right?

Balboa Park alone. Located near downtown San Diego, this 1,200-acre verdant landscape is a world of its own. 17 distinctive museums, including the brand-new Comic-Con Museum, a dozen gardens (keep an eye out for the Cactus Garden), and numerous arts centres (don't miss the Espanyol Village Arts Centre), are enough for visitors and residents to linger for days.

Elsewhere, the patchwork of emerging arts districts is creating the creative frontier and center of the city. The Barrio Logan Center's most distinctive Chicano Park has long been a Mexican-American center of art and culture. In 2020, Chicano Park celebrates its 50th anniversary. As a major gathering place, the park's long relationship with community activities has long been traced in the park's more than 70 historical murals.

"San Diego, born a border city, has always been a multicultural place. This is evident in our local cuisine, such as the unmissable fish tarcotta, and our neighborhood, from Old Town San Diego to Hillcrest to Barrio Logan, as well as our popular multicultural celebrations throughout the year, from the San Diego Pride Parade to the Chinese New Year events, which can attract many travelers who want to experience multiculturalism. ”

—Katie Dillon, San Diego blogger at La Jolla Mom

Other neighborhoods such as La Jolla (Spanish for "gem") also have highlights, such as the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, a space for small concerts that provides a venue for local and national artists.

The city's diversity is also reflected in its diet. Here, tacco can be counted as an art, and every local has their own favorite taste (Barrio Logan is the center of Tijuana-style tacos). San Diego has the largest area of Little Italy in the country (48 blocks), which can fully show the style of Italian cuisine. The thriving black business district has broadened the city's cultural horizons, with specialties ranging from BBQ in the southern United States to Ethiopian food.

A hospitable travel destination

Amman, Jordan

Amman,Jordan

Jordanians are known for their world-renowned hospitality, stemming from the traditions of the Levant and Bedouins, which are the soul of their capital, Amman.

Once a stopover to the pink sandstone temples of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert, Amman, Jordan's capital, has grown into a cultural and artistic hub in the Middle East as the creative industries have flourished. All kinds of changes have attracted countless tourists. They became lifelong fans of the city after their first visit, and it is the world-renowned hospitality of Jordanians who have been wondering why.

In Jordan, "Ahlan wa sahlan" ("welcome") is more than just a polite phrase. Rooted in the cultural traditions of the Levantines and Bedouins, cordiality and generosity have long permeated middle Eastern hospitality, and at the heart of it is shared food.

Attending an Amman family dinner is a rare experience – it's rude to refuse. Guests who are fortunate enough to be invited will sit in the middle of a table of soon-to-be friends and taste the milky yali (a distilled liquor without added sugar) and pilaf (a traditional staple made with lamb paired with local yogurt). According to tradition, after the meal everyone is to drink a round of drinks, the host pours 3 cups of coffee: one cup to welcome you, one cup to taste, and the last cup to pay tribute.

"I love the way Amman blends history, art, culture and diversity, simplicity and beauty. In Webbd, people from all countries, religions and ages come together. In the city center, the hustle and bustle streets of Amman's old city hide quite a few good places; one of them is Al-Kalha Steps, a world of street art, small cafes and bookstores that connect Webed and the city center. ”

—Zaid Souki, artistic activist and founder of the Orenda Tribe3

The city also offers plenty of opportunities for sincere interaction. To find out, head to Downtown Al Balad, home to market stalls selling spices, clothing and musical instruments, as well as popular shops like Habibah, Amman's best Cunah (sweet cheese snack) dim sum shop. Revel in art galleries and creative cafes in trendy neighborhoods like Weibdeh and Jabal Amman: you'll find an energy there that turns Amman into the beating heart of the Middle East and the unforgettable hospitality and hospitality of Jordanians.

New voice propagators

Gabby Beckford

Following the success of the blog Packs Light, Gabby Beckford created the Young Traveler's Network and co-founded the Black Travel Alliance, which aims to help Gen Z go out and see the world while elevating African Americans' position in the travel industry.

"Gen Z researches destination information as intently as the FBI does." "Go light," founder Gabby Beckford laughed. She believes that people in this age group are more likely than other groups to pay attention to information about how travel affects the environment. "They're going to take time out specifically to do it. They are a more attentive generation. ”

Gabby himself understood this best. She visited Iceland alone at the age of 17 and later studied in Dubai. But the Virginia-grown traveler couldn't find a media outlet specifically for her age group, so she transformed her blog from "a diary about herself" to a travel guide that supports young people to see the world. After the change of course, her blog caused a lot of repercussions.

"A lot of young people are eager to travel and to talk to their peers, so they have to ask questions and talk to people, not just accept the indoctrination of opinions." The 25-year-old girl said. To facilitate communication, Gabi created a "Young Traveler Network" on Facebook to encourage one-on-one connections among travelers between the ages of 16 and 26.

"I see Gen Z differently for a number of reasons, including the social environment, the awakening of self-awareness, self-improvement, discovery, identity, and so on." Gabby said. Today, she's using her platform to amplify those voices by playing the role of 900 Gen Z members on her blog. In addition, Gabby is keen to elevate the importance of African American travelers.

"A lot of young people are eager to travel and to talk to their peers, so they have to ask questions and talk to people, not just accept the indoctrination of opinions."

—Gabby Beckford, new sound communicator

"The media image of African Americans is often in the context of protests and protests." She said. "But I think it's just as important to witness African-Americans on luxury vacations, to save money on backpacking trips, to do outdoor activities, because we're human beings, and these are all part of ordinary people's lives."

To raise the profile of African-American travelers, Gabby recently partnered with 17 other African-American content creators to create the African-American Travel Alliance, intending to work to amplify their voices. "I speak for the voice of young Africans in the travel industry." "It's important for me to join the alliance and speak up for Gen Z — because we're the future," she claimed.

Inclusive practitioners

Jeff Jenkins

Skinny Instagram stars, cramped airplane seats... In a thin world, Jeff Jenkins uses "Chubby Diaries" to convey practical messages to fat travelers while enhancing their presence.

"I've traveled to 24 countries and realized later that I've never met anyone like me on the road." Jeff Jenkins, a Fat Diary blogger for the big traveler, said, "I understand, that's because we don't have a sense of presence." ”

After years of skinny travelers swiping Instagram subscriptions and slim models watching TV advertising for tourist destinations, Jeff Jenkins made up his mind to open the "Little Fat Diary" to try to tell the world that fat people can travel, while hoping to provide inspiration, practical information and product recommendations for people like himself.

The "Little Fat Diary" is a huge hit, and today it has more than 27,000 followers on various social media. Vivid photography, novel destination videos, interesting blogs, and informative lists for fat guys attracted 1.8 million viewers. What's more, it has had a positive impact on fat travelers.

"When I go to South Africa to dive with great white sharks, I have to wear a wetsuit." Jeff said, "I went online and found they didn't have a size I could wear. So he decided to buy one himself and urged the dive company to provide travelers with large wetsuits in the future.

—Jeff Jenkins, an inclusive practitioner

He is currently focusing on large zipline seat belts for fat people and itinerary providers who can better provide the services they need, and we have begun to discuss the pricing strategy of air tickets. Readers will also find a guide to the destination for the large traveler, as well as Jeff's true description of life on the road.

"That is to say, when you travel, no one wants to be fat." Jeff cheerfully said, "Now, we've come to know, we're making changes, we've found a sense of belonging for the big traveler." ”

LGBTIQ+ pioneer

"Two Men"

Couple of Men

Sharing their lives and travel destination tips for LGBTIQ people, The creators of "Couple of Men," Karl Krause and Daan Colijn, seek to inspire and encourage gay male travelers, as well as those struggling with their gender identity or sexual orientation.

"We love to explore and discover, and while the world hasn't fully embraced LGBTIQ+ groups yet, we, and our readers, always need to feel safe and truly safe in the process of exploration and discovery." The creators of "Two Men", Daan Collion and Carl Klauser, mentioned in the conversation.

Seven years ago, German Karl and Dutchman Daan met and fell in love in Berlin, and since then they have used their gay experiences from different countries and cultural backgrounds to showcase their travel experiences. By the time he met Daan, Carl had been traveling for years as a gay backpacker in an open identity. Influenced by him, Daan became curious about other cultures and longed to see the wider world.

Their first trip was to Vietnam, Japan and Iceland. They felt that the most wonderful moment was to visit Machu Picchu hand in hand. They blog about safe and fun places for gay and LGBTIQ+ travelers where people can enjoy a great vacation and don't face discrimination or trial for being themselves.

With fun content and brilliant photography, their blogs become an informative treasure trove for LGBTIQ+ groups: destinations, accommodations, restaurants, bars, events and excursions. Today, Karl and Daan live in Amsterdam, where each of their articles exudes the sweetness of love, and they share their lives with fans, including heart-warming stories such as Karl becoming a father and having a pair of children. In this way, they try to reach out to all those who struggle with their gender identity or sexual orientation.

As of now, the "two men" have more than 1 million visitors, and it seeks to represent the LGBTIQ+ community in the direction of tourism. "We think it should be more inclusive and more focused on the diversity of our group." "Just labeling your hotel/cruise/tour group as LGBTIQ+ doesn't mean you're really able to meet the needs and desires of a wider group," the couple said. We want to see itineraries, hotels and activities with a wider view that can serve different groups and open their doors to all those who think they belong to that group. ”

2021 Diversified Travel List Announced! Discover more possibilities for travel

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