Travelling is a luxury that a student may only experience during their summer, spring, winter, or fall breaks. Planning new adventures is always exciting. It is thrilling to imagine the new experiences one may have while traveling to another city, state, or country. However, exploring the world in 2022 is very unique, especially with the Coronavirus having plagued the world for over 2 years. Taking into account Covid-19 precautions, jaw-dropping landscapes, mouth-watering food, and upcoming winter break, here are the best destinations to travel to during the winter of 2022.

At fifth place: Lucerne, Switzerland. Switzerland is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year, but it is especially charming during the winter. The city of Lucerne carries the holiday spirit with its snow covered streets and festive lights hung along every building. The city has many wonderful ski resorts and countless winter activities such as sledding, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. 

At fourth place, New York City, New York. Despite the icy weather in New York in December, (usually in the thirties and forties with snow), New York City is one of the most desirable places to visit in December. The reason for this is mostly due to the spirit of Christmas. Sparkling lights are hung all around the city, an eighty foot Christmas tree is put up outside the Rockefeller Center, ice skating rinks are set up in parks around the city, and Christmas cheer is plentiful. Lili Sebestyen (10) remembers her visit to New York this year, “the city was so beautiful, it was a nice change from the suburbs and warm weather here in Yorba Linda.”

Next at third, Lake Tahoe, California. An eight hour drive from Orange County, Lake Tahoe is a place filled with breathtaking views and fun activities for the whole family. Snowboarding and skiing are popular winter sports in Lake Tahoe; the city is known to have some of the world’s best ski resorts. There is a very enjoyable town in the center of the city filled with spectacular restaurants and shopping. Lake Tahoe is a desirable vacation spot for any time of the year. 

 At second place, the Bahamas. Because it’s not quite a winter scene, the Bahamas are a great alternative if you are looking to escape the winter chill. During December, the Bahamas maintain very warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. According to Thomas Cook, the average daytime high in the Bahamas is seventy eight degrees Fahrenheit. The Bahamas include many all inclusive resorts, perfect for traveling with family, friends, or even solo.

And the best city to visit in the winter of 2022 is Guanacaste, Costa Rica. According to Pacific Trade Winds, Visitors in Costa Rica can expect weather in the high eighties to low nineties. Rain is much less frequent during December, as December is typically the beginning of the dry season in Costa Rica. There are countless unforgettable experiences in Costa Rica: go on a cruise, zipline over a tropical rainforest, or snorkel in the clear and sparkling Costa Rican waters. 

If you are lucky enough to travel during one of your weeks off, I would highly recommend one of these places I have listed. Although if you don’t, traveling is a gift and a luxury, and I’m sure that anywhere you go, you will find joy and happiness.