Sellwell/Moment RF/Getty Images
Western Australia: On April 20, 2023, a total solar eclipse was visible over the northwestern edge of Australia. Thousands of people descended on the town of Exmouth and the greater Ningaloo Peninsula for the rare event, which lasted about a minute.
Sergii Figurnyi/Adobe Stock
Poland: The country's show of solidarity with neighboring Ukraine is one reason to visit. Historic Krakow, pictured, Warsaw and the forests, lakes and mountains of the countryside are more good reasons to explore Poland.
alpegor/Adobe Stock
Liverpool, England: England's port city of Liverpool, best known around the world as the birthplace of The Beatles, is adding another chapter to its musical legacy. In May, it will be the host city of the Eurovision 2023 contest.
Sean Pavone/Adobe Stock
Charleston, South Carolina: Charleston has often glossed over the history of its Black residents. It's been taking steps to fix that. The International African American Museum is expected to open later in 2023.
MNStudio/iStockphoto/Getty Images
Vilnius, Lithuania: The capital of Lithuania celebrated its 700th anniversary on January 25, 2023. The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Martin Valigursky/Adobe Stock
Fiji: Brilliant blue waters, expansive coral reefs, and hundreds of peaceful islands: Fiji is not a hard sell. And the tourist crowds have not yet fully returned to the South Pacific paradise.
Dukas Presseagentur/Alamy Stock Photo
Manaus, Brazil: The opera house in Manaus, Teatro Amazonas, dates to 1896. Pair a visit to the city with an eco-lodge escape in the Amazon rainforest.
Panos Karapanagiotis/iStockphoto/Getty Images
Thessaloniki, Greece: The White Tower is a landmark in Thessaloniki, where a vibrant food scene and plans for a gleaming new metro are raising the city's profile.
Michael Cook/Altai World Photo/Moment RF/Getty Images
Rwanda: The African country welcomed a swanky new resort hotel in 2023, with the opening of the Sextantio Rwanda on an island in the huge expanse of Lake Kuvu. Wildlife is also a draw, with the Volcanoes and Akagera national parks offering the chance to encounter gorillas and endangered white rhinos.
Artie Photography/Moment RF/Getty Images
Gothenburg: Sweden: Voted the world's most sustainable destination in the world for six years running, Sweden's second biggest city is holding its postponed 400th birthday party this year.
creativefamily/Adobe Stock
Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates:
Dhayah Fort is one of this emirate's premier historic sites. Ras al-Khaimah also has a lot to offer to nature and adventure lovers.
Sasipa Muennuch/Moment RF/Getty Images
Laos: Spectacular Kuang Si Falls south of Luang Prabang is one of Laos' stunning sites. A new semi-high-speed railway makes it easier to get around the country at a quicker pace.
Hiroshi Higuchi/The Image Bank RF/Getty Images
Gruyères, Switzerland: Home to the newly crowned world's best cheese, Gruyères also offers hiking and a postcard-perfect medieval town.
Jenn Ackerman/The New York Times/Redux
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Owamni by The Sioux Chef, a 2022 James Beard Award winning restaurant, is shining light on Native communities in Minneapolis and beyond.
Toniflap/Adobe Stock
Bogotá, Colombia: The historic La Candelaria neighborhood in Colombia's capital is part of what makes Bogotá a high-altitude crucible of culture and cuisine.
Matteo Colombo/Stone RF/Getty Images
Mustang Valley, Nepal: Famed for its mountain treks through ancient trails that once facilitated trade between the Himalayas and India, Nepal's stunning Mustang Valley sits on the doorstep of Tibet. Lo Manthang town is pictured here.
Hamid Al-Timami/EyeEm/Getty Images
Tanzania: In Tanzania, new air connections to the country's largest airport in Dar es Salaam will make the country more accessible to some travelers and Marriott has opened a new property in the city.
Izzet Keribar/Stone RF/Getty Images
Cairo, Egypt: Bustling Cairo is layered with history and culture. Hopes are high that the Grand Egyptian Museum will open in 2023 to showcase a vast collection of the country's ancient treasures.
Makoto Kondo/AP
Naoshima Island, Japan: "Yellow Pumpkin," created by famed artist Yayoi Kasama, is one of this art-filled island's prized displays. It was recently reinstalled after being swept away in a storm.
Ogallegos84/Alamy Stock Photo
Belize: The largest island in Belize, Ambergris Caye, boasts idyllic beaches and world-class diving. But the country's inland rainforests and archaeological ruins are well worth a visit, too.
Spacewalk/iStockphoto/Getty Images
Oaxaca, Mexico: The state of Oaxaca and the city of the same name have an especially deep well of culinary traditions. Plus, Oaxaca produces most of the world's mezcal.
vlad_g/Adobe Stock
Ottawa, Canada: In Ottawa, Rideau Canal becomes the world's largest skating rink in winter. It's one of this unassuming city's worthy draws.
Shakked Schwartz/Moment RF/Getty Images
Uganda: From atop one of the highest peaks in Bwindi National Park, prospective visitors can see the natural wonders of Uganda.

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.

CNN  — 

The year’s off to a dramatic start with storms lashing the United States’ West Coast, a renewed volcanic eruption in Hawaii, and January heat records in Europe that are forcing some ski resorts to close due to a lack of snow.

But it’s still looking like a great year to travel.

Where to travel and when to book

While 2022 was the year we really started traveling again, 2023 is the year a lot of people will be planning their big bucket-list getaways. The Points Guy managing editor Clint Henderson explains in this video why you should book flights now before prices go up.

CNN Travel’s roundup of best places to visit in 2023 might help you decide your itinerary. Spots in Switzerland, Tanzania and Brazil are on our hit list for the next 12 months.

Asia, as the last region to open up after Covid, will be top of many travelers’ minds. If you’ve already covered the blockbuster wonders like Angkor Wat and the Taj Mahal and want to dig a little deeper in this continent of more than 40 diverse countries, take a look at our guide to Asia’s most underrated places.

Delays, cancellations and lost luggage

United Airlines told Valerie Szybala that it had her lost luggage – but her tracking device revealed her bag had been on visits to McDonald’s and to local malls. Here’s how she traced it to a residential address.

Szybala’s bag went AWOL after she had a layover in a Southwest hub during the airline’s recent meltdown. Two weeks after the Southwest fiasco, there were still passengers waiting to be reunited with their luggage, CNN reported Thursday.

Thousands were also stranded in Manila at the Philippines’ largest airport after a power outage on New Year’s Day. While there’s no way of guaranteeing a trip will go smoothly, some operators have better records than others. Here are the most punctual airlines and airports of 2022 – and a lot of them are in the US.

Hotels with seductive allure

A luxury hotel in a dramatic setting is the perfect venue for romantic assignations or clandestine adventures, as fans of the hit Netflix show “The White Lotus” already know. Here’s the true story behind Sicily’s San Domenico Palace, the five-star resort that’s as much a star of the show as its A-list cast.

Other legendary hotels with scandalous stories to tell include the New York bohemian hangout Hotel Chelsea, the Ritz Paris – where Coco Chanel got cozy with Nazis – and England’s Cliveden House, where an affair began that brought down a government. Take a look at the hotels with a front row to history.

Misbehaving travelers of the week

TSA
Gun parts and a loaded magazine were discovered concealed in jars of peanut butter.

Never mind jelly, one passenger found himself in a jam recently when he tried smuggling gun parts inside peanut butter jars at New York’s JFK Airport. His checked bag triggered an alarm in the X-ray unit.

A woman got probation and a $9,123 restitution charge for interfering with American Airlines crew during a flight in 2021, which just so happens to be the worst year on record for unruly airline passenger behavior.

Air India, meanwhile, has been criticized by regulators over its handling of some recent unruly passenger incidents.

If you go down to the woods today

Mountainaire Gatherings
Sarah and Travis King now live, fittingly, in a cabin in the woods.

We wouldn’t normally endorse chatting to strangers you meet deep in the woods, but it sure worked out for Sarah and Travis King, who met along a secluded stretch of the Appalachian Trail back in 2015. Here’s their story.

In case you missed it

Switzerland has an amazing new train that can jump rail tracks.

The panoramic journey takes in high mountain passes and sheltered valleys.

Their honeymoon cruise was hit by Covid in early 2020.

So this couple just had a do-over.

Can international tourists visit China again?

Everything you need to know about the country’s reopening.

Best travel blankets

Snuggliness isn’t just for home – with the right travel blanket you can take those Scandinavian hygge vibes on the road with you. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have put together this roundup of 19 of the warmest and most comfortable around.