When people in my ordinary life find out I used to be a digital nomad/travel writer, the next question is almost always “where’s your favorite place?” It’s too hard for me to pick a single destination, but I can usually at least narrow it down to one or two (or three) favorites per region.
During my full-time travel days, Asia was a clear favorite with Europe close behind. Thanks to meticulously noted stats from my full-time digital nomad/travel blogging years, I can get even more specific:
Of my 802 days abroad in the early 2010’s I spent…
- 304 days in Asia (37.9%)
- 266 days in Europe (33.1%)
- 87 in South/Central America (10.8%)
- 80 in Australia/South Pacific (9.9%)
- 65 in Africa (8.1%)
The heavy concentration in Europe and Asia related somewhat to ease of travel in these regions, but these are also where some of my all-time favorite destinations are too. Of course, some of this could point to a sort of flywheel effect where visiting a place often makes you more intimately aware of the cool places you should be going, which makes you favor it, which makes you spend more time visiting…etc etc.
Keeping those nuances in mind, here are my favorite destinations in each general region.
Favorite Asian destinations
- Bali, Indonesia
The Balinese Ogoh Ogoh parade during the Nyepi festivities includes handmade floats of various demons which are paraded around town in chaotic, chasing and screaming fanfare. The idea is that these Ogoh Ogoh effigies will scare away demons. (A bit like the original version of Halloween.) Bali has gotten a little harder to enjoy with the surplus of tourism, but the culture is irresistibly fascinating. Unlike the rest of Indonesia, Bali is predominantly Hindu. And the version of Hinduism practiced there is specifically Balinese Hinduism, which has its own flavor, different from what you’ll find throughout other largely Hindu regions of Asia. I had the privilege of accidentally visiting during the holiday Nyepi one year, where I got to see the fascinating Ogoh Ogoh parade (a man-powered procession of of giant handmade goblins and demons meant to scare away the real demons) as well as the strictly enforced 24 hours of silence that follows the day after. (I could have sworn I’d posted about my experience visiting during the Nyepi festivities before, but I can’t find evidence to that effect, so watch for a post about that fascinating day soon.)
The culture alone is a reason to visit, but there is also plenty of diving and snorkeling in Bali as well with a beautifully colorful display of tropical fish often easily visible snorkeling straight from the beach.
- Vietnam
Vietnam showcases all that makes SouthEast Asia great: beaches, karst cliffs, rice terrace fields, motorbikes, and sidwalk dining. But the food is what sets it above, in my opinion. Which isn’t to say the rest of SouthEast Asia doesn’t also have great food, it’s just that Vietnamese food is extra special in my opinion, with so many fresh veggies and herbs. Then of course there’s also the French influence which make for spectacularly unique dishes, many which I don’t know the name or ingredients to even describe them. Phở (pictured above at the right), Bún Chả and Bánh Mì are favorites of course! - Himalayan India
India is so vast and varied, it’s almost not specific enough to list it as a destination. The part of India that really captivated me was the quieter, more peaceful Himalayan region – Uttarakhand for example. Before I visited this region, I didn’t think there was anywhere “quiet” or “peaceful” in all of India. I thought my exposure was fairly extensive, (including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Amritsar, Varanasi, Mumbai, Pune, Calcutta, Chennai etc.), but in reality, India is so vast that my exposure was much narrower than I’d realized – a bit like if I’d visited the major cities of the East Coast and thought I’d seen the US. Visiting Uttarakhand and staying in the small, remote village of Raithal was among the most special travel experiences I’ve had. It was not only peaceful, but perhaps the most peaceful place I’ve ever been with roads built exclusively for animal and foot traffic, and no grocery stores as everyone essentially farmed their own food. Not to mention the incredible view of the Himalayas towering over you at all times.
Favorite European destinations
- Albania
Albania is so high on my list because it too has a region that’s reminiscent of the little Himalayan village referenced above. The Albanian version of this remote town is of course Theth, which I’ve written about before. Like Raithal, Theth feels frozen in time, with little stone houses scattered in the shadow of the Albanian Alps, some still using aqueducts for their water flow. But Albania also has incredible beach towns and ancient Roman ruins which rival more expensive (and crowded) European destinations. - Georgia* (This is technically Asia as many readers have pointed out, but my list looks less Asia-centric if I include it here 😛 )
Georgia appeals for similar reasons as Albania with much of the same feeling – towns that feel straight out of Medieval times and mountains towering over just about everything. The cultural feel of Georgia is very unique, with an evident blend of Ottoman and Russian influences. While it’s usually the remote villages that stick out to me in my travels, Georgia’s Tbilisi is probably my favorite city in all of Europe. For many reasons I never considered living a truly expat life, but Tbilisi would be at the very top of my list if I ever did want to live abroad. I often describe it as the sort of the new Budapest. (It’s ancient so obviously it’s not really the new anything. That’s just to say it feels the way Budapest used to feel to me. I don’t know if Budapest started to feel more mainstream to me because of an actual increase in tourism, or just my own increased familiarity with it after so many visits, but I suspect it’s a mix of both.)
Favorite Central/South American Destination
- Peru
Machu Picchu certainly isn’t the only thing to love about Peru, but it’s probably the main reason it feels like a favorite to me. Sites like this are impossible to forget, timeless and mysterious. And depending on how you choose to see Machu Picchu, it can feel like living inside of an Indiana Jones movie. You can read all about the wild adventure of taking the “back way” to Machu Picchu here.
Favorite Australian/South Pacific Destination
- South island New Zealand
Queenstown is one of those cities that’s just downright beautiful. Because i’m more of a mountain person than a beach person, the South Island of New Zealand actually sticks out to me more than other South Pacific destinations like Moorea and French Polynesia. With fjords and Souther Alps, the South Island of New Zealand almost feels like a Polynesian Europe. (Though the North Island really has more of the Polynesian flair.)
Favorite African Destination
- South Africa
I preferred the Kenyan Masai Mara safari to the safari I did in Pilanesberg, South Africa, but the beauty of the Cape Town region with its scenic downtown as well as nearby sites like Boulder Beach (pictured above) and Table Mountain compels me to favor South Africa as a general travel destination. And while I haven’t been to Kruger Natiional Park, I have heard great things about it.
There are plenty of honorable mentions, but 8 answers for “where’s your favorite destination” already feels like a stretch. Just to quickly name a few though, Shanghai, Japan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Ukraine, Mexico… I have so many favorites it can make it difficult to travel to new places.
What are some of your favorites?
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Regarding comments: Comments posted at the bottom of Frequent Miler pages and posts are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
My two cents, for what they are worth. When I think of my favorites, I think of the places I would consider for retirement.
Bali – Absolutely magical! I was there twice, the early 70’s and the early eighties. So lucky not to experience the development, though the difference of ten years was extraordinary. I can’t imagine what it’s like now. No retirement.
Thailand – I lived there, and Vietnam does not hold a candle to the people, culture or food.
Kathmandu and Nepal – Also people, culture and food, and don’t forget those mountains! But a bit overrun.
NZ South Island – The people are incredibly friendly, oh, the beauty!!. Forget Queenstown – it’s overrun!
Given the choice, those are the places (maybe Portugal, but it’s been discovered) where I would retire, but I’m locked into the US of A for family.
Thanks, Carrie – very interesting. We, too, loved NZ’s south island.
I’ve been to over 100 countries, and generally agree with your choices. The only one that gives me pause is Bali. Thirty years, ago. Sure. But now? I don’t know. It’s super overcrowded with inadequate infrastructure. Certainly worth a visit, but people need to know that its heyday is long over.I’d recommend combining Bali with a trip elsewhere in Indonesia. The country has great food, plenty to see, and is extremely affordable.
Bali is ruined in mainstream areas like the southern beaches and central Ubud. But there are still unspoiled beautiful places on the island. It’s the only place I’ve been to 3 times that I liked MORE each time as I discover more tranquility and authenticity, with the latest being 2022.
I agree. I’ve had better experiences on Bali’s north coast in recent years. One problem with this is that the places I can “stay for free” are all in “ruined” areas. And when I stay there, I get treated quite well and receive extraordinary value. So do I stay where the experience had been degraded but offers better value, or do I pay more to stay in “nicer” areas? Usually, I do both.
Haha, I get the dilemma, but those hotels are why these places are ruined 😉 If there is ONE place where I’m most comfortable spending cash on lodging, it’s Bali. I think $50 still goes a long way in the remote parts, and more than once I stayed for half that. At that price, it’s not worth settling for a location I hate even if it’s “free” (and it’s not).
I suspect it’s more expensive now, but I have rented entire compounds for about $100 on the north shore with a swimming pool, two small villas and staff. I suspect even looking for 9+ booking.com listings would locate some of these. I think the nice Hyatt properties I stayed at as a category 1 a couple of years ago are now category 2, so the points deals are not as crazy. One of the Hyatt Regency’s was giving me a villa-like room, breakfast and dinner and free booze at category 1 prices, so that seemed like a deal too good to pass up.
I too have definitely read you guys’ post about Nyepi back in the day on TIF, if that’s what’s what you were thinking of.
Hey Carrie! Back then Drew’s blog was my gold standard for off the beaten path travel with points. Always enjoy you guys’ content then and now. Having said that, a few thoughts.
Asia – your top 2 picks are also mine! The only difference is I have a lower opinion of Vietnamese food in Vietnam. I love VN food in the US (now live near Westminster) and found it no better and often worse in VN; probably both a function of my personal taste and not knowing where to go. I did have some great food in VN, but most weren’t compared to my goto places in SoCal. I prefer the North’s landscape and spent most time there, but I prefer the food of the South, so that could be another reason (since US VN food and population is 99% South, though it’s diversifying a bit now).
Like you, I’ve come to realize I love mountain even more than the sea and beach. It’s for that reason that I love Moorea (and for the serenity). It’s funny, the first time I went to Bora Bora I felt like this must be the ultimate paradise; now I usually go after Moorea and feel like it’s a zoo (LOL).
I’ve also come to love the Swiss Alps, probably the most expensive area in the world and hotel points are almost useless since the law protects local guesthouses. After I get over my infatuation with the beauty, I’ll explore cheaper alternatives like Indonesia, Peru, and even Dolomites.
I’m probably crazy, but as someone with some miles and hates driving, it feels easier to fly to Switzerland or Bali and take the mountain trains or hire a driver than drive 7 hours to the Sierra Nevada and then have to drive everywhere within it after long hikes, LOL.
Please write more!
You’re right about the Viet food in Westminster, it’s fantastic!
Another great one Carrie 🙂
I will look into your favorite Asian destinations (only been to Japan so far).
My wife is Peruvian and I agree with your sentiments in regard to Peru. There is soooo much more to the country than Machu Picchu and Lima. It literally has it all: beaches, jungles, deserts and of course the Andes mountains in addition to the incredible history of the Incas and other cultures and don’t get me started on the food.
Where I diverge a bit is on the subject of NZ and I know this will be controversial but I spent 8 days in Queenstown and visited the surrounding area but it did not impress me as much as I had hoped for. Not to say it isn’t beautiful because it is but perhaps because it’s so over hyped. I would also consider myself more a mountain person than a beach person but the south island just didn’t do it for me and I do not have a desire to go back. It kinda sucks because I really wanted to like it and it’s similar in many ways to one of my favorite countries in the world Norway but can’t hold a candle to it imho.
Keep up the good work!
I loved Queenstown when I first visited NZ, back in 2012, but found it less charming on my subsequent visits. The surroundings are gorgeous. In 2025 we finally made it to Christchurch (after multiple attempts that had to be cancelled due to flooding and other disasters), and I loved the town!
We spent 3 1/2 months in New Zealand back in the day (the early 90s) and of that, I think, one night in Queenstown. None of the cities and towns in New Zealand are especially interesting compared to the nature.
I used Queenstown as home base and visited the most popular places on the south island including Wanaka, Milford Sound, Mt Aoraki/Lake Pukaki, Te Anau etc etc but for some reason nothing I saw gave me the wow factor and it really bothered me because I had such high hopes. When doing research prior to the trip folks on the internet who had visited before would use words like “magical” and “life-changing” when describing the south island but that was not the case for me. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic but all this to say I don’t hate it, just won’t be returning anytime soon if at all.
I’ve gotten more wow factor from visiting our NP’s here in the states out west and it didn’t come close to countries like Norway, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Canadian Rockies and Peru in terms of scenery for me. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
That’s how if often goes: the places we’re excited about turn out underwhelming, while something we didn’t expect much from turns out gorgeous. The latter make up for the former.
Completely agree. We were there for three weeks in the mid-90’s and only stopped for gas in Queenstown.
Points and miles coverage of NZ tends to be weirdly skewed because points lodgings tend to be in cities and so the itineraries are usually pretty bad. Unless you have several weeks I would skip all NZ cities (including Queenstown) and prepare to pay cash for lodging.
Agree about Peru. We scratched the surface after a week in the Sacred Valley. There was a lot more stuff I found in research that I’d like to visit some day, like Huarez.
We did a full circuit of the South Island about 30 years ago and loved it. I loved the whole drive down the west coast and across the north side of Mt. Aspiring. The Otago Peninsula near Dunedin was also a highlight. By the time we got to Queenstown we found it to be a bit of a disappointment and we drove straight through.
Great article. I miss following your adventures on Travel Is Free. Many of the places I have visited were inspired by TIF, especially my trips to Zakynthos and Bali. Like you, I really enjoyed CapeTown and visiting a Masai Mara village in Kenya. We are heading to Queenstown in November. Can’t wait.
Haven’t been nearly as many places as you.
But off the top of my head, the drive from the west side of the Dingle peninsula over a pass to Dingle town would be second to the top. In the daytime, it’s green gorgeous views, with the Atlantic in the background, all along the route.
And returning to our BnB on a full moon night was magical. Every little farmhouse looked enchanting. I started dreaming of living in Ireland after that trip.
The absolute top, though, is Plitvic Lakes National Park in Croatia. The photos make it appear to be the site of a Disney movie. The reality is so much better.
Circling the entire park on foot takes a minimum of two days, and thousands if steps up and down steep paths. But the waterfalls from lake to lake and the amazing blue green water are so worth it.
We’d been supposed to go there in 2020. But we all know what happened that year to international travel. So last fall, after the crowds were back home for the school year, we drove to Croatia from our home in northern Italy.
Most beautiful place in the world, to me.
Plitvice has ben on my bucket list for a long time. Gonna make it a reality one day. Thanks for confirming my intuition/suspicions on this place that it is really special. Your home in northern Italy is home to one of my favorite mountain destinations in the world. Of course I’m talking about the Dolomites. Truly spectacular!
The Dolomites are gorgeous. I no linger ski after a head injury. But I’m happy to wander the towns, half expecting Heidi to come around the corner, while my husband skis.
The last time we were there, I could have sworn that Jannik Sinner walked past me.
I could also swear to reading about your Balinese Day Of Silence experience. In fact, it influenced me to watch out for that on future visits.
Great post/lists! Neko Harbor for Antarctica; Torres del Paine (Chile) for South America; Maldives for Asia (Bhutan and Tokyo, close but very different ties for second); Cape Town for Africa (Mara Triangle, close second); Bora Bora (French Polynesia) for Oceania (Sydney as a city for 2nd); Santorini (Greece) for Europe (Lofoten Islands, Norway, for second); and, of course, NYC (home) for North America. Just keep traveling!
I reccomend the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, instead of the Inca trail. You come around the back side. It is a grueling 4 day, 16k altitude hike. But unbelievably beautiful.
South Island New Zealand is certainly one of my favorite trips. Doing the Inca Trail/Peru in September and then planning a Vietnam/Bali trip next April so I’m excited about checking out those spots!
@Caroline
Wow – thats quite good tracking and a lot of time spent abroad.
We’re at around a third of yours based on ± 275 hotel nights, over 400 flights and 150 days of car rentals – for the prior 10 years of travel, this based on the last screenshot, of when I still had the paid version of Awardwallet last year.
We also loved the South Island of NZ, the Mother city (Cape Town) we spent six days in CPT. We also choose Pilanesberg NP over Krueger NP – this was our first true big points trip – (instead if using CSR 1.5cpp or MR in Amex Portal).
We’ve visted a majority of the Schenghen countries (including Iceland) our fav’s were the Nordic & Visegrád Group countries (also their neighbors Lithuania, Estonia and Lativa. We also loved Scotland, Israel and Turkey.
Caribbean – Anguila is a hidden gem most people have never heard of and think you meant Antigua.
For non-US North America. We really enjoyed Whistler, Vancouver, Banff Springs, Lake Louise and Québec City (Fairmonts) iconic, historic hotels and views.
Was an expat living in Asia for almost five years in the late 80s-90s.
Only Asian countries we’ve been back or visted since marriage.
Singapore, Philippines, and Thailand – but have Korea, Japan and Taiwan planned.
We were supposed to visit China, Hong Kong together in 2020.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, PNG on the bucketlist.
Wish list – Golden Eagle Festival in Mongolia
We had planned a SE Europe and Middle East for this fall (2026) and Southern South America/Antarctica expedition for Winter 2027. Both trips backburnered till…
I did the Golden Eagle Festival last October. I would recommend the September festival because it is smaller and warmer. Lots of overly enthusiastic photographers at the bigger October festival. Obnoxious!
That’s the catch 22 with the IG influencers they out places that weren’t on peoples radar – then it becomes a horde of tourists.
Georgia is technically in Asia, Tbilisi certainly is.
Georgia is considered Europe by many international bodies, like FIFA, fwiw.
Continents are defined by geography, not FIFA or other “bodies”
Yeah, I mean, if you pay-off FIFA, they’ll pretty much do/say whatever you want. See: FIFA ‘Piece’ Prize (Football Unites the World is an annual award created by FIFA in late 2025 to recognize individuals taking extraordinary actions for global peace and unity… given to… *checks notes* ..oh my… no, that can’t be..)
Ha, for sure! Didn’t mean to imply that FIFA is “the authority” on geography, they were just the 1st int’l organization that came to mind (because of the World Cup). IATA is a better example, given the context. My point is that although Tbilisi may be in Asia geographically, the country is considered part of Eastern Europe commonly enough.
Sorry, could not resist a geography lesson when read that Tbilisi is a European city (borderline, I would let go).
There’s no clear and universally accepted boundary between Europe and Asia north of the Black Sea. Many people place all of Russia outside of Siberia in Europe and there’s no geographical boundary between Russia and Georgia that would clearly demarcate the two continents.
The standard boundary of Europe is the main ridge of Caucasus Mountains (which has Europe highest peak) between Russia and Georgia from Back see to Caspian sea(lake) as well as Ural mountains and river north of Caspian sea. So Russia west of Ural Mountains is in Europe while Georgia (almost all?) south of the main ridge of Caucasus Mountains is in Asia.
Georgia is more European than Turkiye (Turkey)
It sure is, but Turkey is mostly in Asia as well.
It’s still Turkey, in English. Don’t promote Erdogan’s authoritarian nonsense. We don’t call Germany “Deutschland” or Greece “Hellas” so no need to call Turkey by whatever their quasi-dictator demands.
Same goes for Burma.