My Top 7 Places to Go on Holiday in 2023

It’s time to look at the best places to go in 2023 to get ready for your new holiday allowance, so you know exactly where you should be spending it.

If you want my advice, here are my 7 most favourite places I think you should explore this year.

1. Relaxing in Barbados

Perfect for: best mates, couples, older

If your idea of a good holiday is to relax on a beach somewhere beautiful, knowing that you’ve got a range of excellent restaurants to make the most of when the sun goes down, then Barbados is the Caribbean island for you.

I went for a week in February and lurvvedd driving round the island in my little Moke car and checking out some of the best places to eat. There’s so much more to do in Barbados than just the sunbathing. I had a great time on the Jammin catamaran cruise, attempting wind sailing and going underground at Harrison’s Cave. Take a look at the video above to see what else I managed to find while I was there.

READ MORE: What to Do in a Week in Barbados

The Best Restaurants in Barbados

2. Island hopping in the Philippines

Perfect for: best mates, solo, couples

Back in 2015 I boldly stated that my week sailing in the Philippines was one of the best of my life. I had such a good time out on the boat with my awesome fellow sailors, and spending the nights on a different desert island. Honestly, the beaches here were unreal. Totally underrated.

The Philippines is such a beautiful country, and there’s so much to see, I’m planning on going back in February for three weeks to explore more.

If you’re looking for somewhere cheap, with beautiful beaches and plenty to do, the Philippines are a great shout. Waaayy better than Thailand, although, Thailand definitely wins when it comes to the food.

3. Touring Vietnam

Perfect for: best mates, solo, couples

I love Vietnam. It was the first country I visited in Asia back in 2012 and will always have a special place in my heart. Back in February I went back and cycled from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. I had a great time taking in all the sights and sounds, and meeting the locals. Cycling is such a good pace to see a place.

If you don’t fancy doing all that cycling then just follow my train and plane route in my popular itinerary for 2 Weeks in Vietnam. You’re gonna love the Vietnamese food – it’s up there with Japanese as some of the best in the world for me.

4. Island hopping in Greece

Perfect for: best mates, solo, couples, older

I love Greece too – you can totally see why it’s one of the most popular countries for Brits to go on holiday. Again, the food in Greece is amazing, it’s so pretty on the islands, Athens is cool too, people are friendly, the beaches are amazing and there’s loads to do if you don’t just want to lie around all day.

I’ve done two trips now, island hopping, and feel like I still have so many more islands to discover. I’d say definitely add a little trip to Greece to your top list of places to go next year.

5. City escape to Barcelona, Spain

Perfect for: best mates, solo, couples, older, families

Barcelona is hands down my favourite city in Europe. From the delights of La Boqueria Market, to the roof gardens, Barceloneta Beach and the views over the city from Tibidabo and Montjuic. Also, I just love all the little tapas bars you can tour around, and overloading on anchovies.

One of the best things about Barcelona is the fact there are so many green spaces, and beautiful buildings – this means you don’t need to spend a fortune to see some amazing sights. If you’ve only got a weekend, go for it, but there’s definitely enough to see in the city to fill a week, especially with all the day trips out you can do.

READ MORE: 5 Things You Definitely Need to Do in Barcelona

6. Travel around Italy

Perfect for: best mates, solo, couples 

I feel really lucky to have spent over three months in Italy in my travel life time. I’ve been to all the ‘big cities’ and plan to start on the lesser known ones ASAP. I spent six weeks in Italy when I went travelling in Europe a few years ago and have been back for the food, drink, history and scenery more than a few times since.

If I had to pick my three favourite places within Italy, I’d say the Cinque Terre, Lake Garda and Brindisi, in the south.

READ MORE: Where to Go for a Long Weekend in Italy 

7. Another city escape to Budapest, Hungary

Perfect for: best mates, solo, groups of friends

If I wanted to go away with my mates, super cheap, guaranteed good time and not too far from home but far enough to feel different, I’d go for Budapest in Hungary. I first visited on my three-month Europe tour back in 2010, and to be honest, didn’t love it. It was just another European city. But then I stayed for 10 days in 2015, when I was there for Sziget Festival and beyond. Loved it.

Lurrvvvedd it.

I loved the ruin bars, the price of everything, the trams going around the city, the outdoor spas and the bars and restaurants of the Eighth District. And the picture above, of the Hungarian Parliament Building, shows one of my most favourite buildings in the world. Make sure to visit in the morning to see the guards changing.

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