Planning a holiday is no easy feat. Forget the exhaustion of jetlag, the discomfort of being sandwiched in the middle seat, and the nail-biting dash to catch a connecting flight. It takes countless hours of planning and packing just to get you to the airport gate. The one thing that makes it all worth it is walking into the warm embrace of a magical new place.
To ease the stress of planning your next feel-good getaway, Booking.com has just released the ten most welcoming destinations on Earth for 2024. The travel website curated its list according to more than 309 million reviews, ranking the cities with the highest number of properties that received exceptional hospitality reviews.
The only Australian town named in the world’s most welcoming cities for 2024 was – drum roll please – Daylesford. Set among the verdant, rolling hills of central Victoria, this former gold rush town is the place to go when you want to slow down, take stock and enjoy the nice things in life. You can relax at arguably the most famous spa in the region, Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa; drop by for a lavender scone at Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm; or pack a picnic to enjoy in the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, which is perched high on the summit of an extinct volcano. The charming town of Daylesford is also renowned for its local culinary scene and farm-to-table dining, with lots of boutique shops and art galleries to explore down the main strip.
Just like last year, Booking.com’s 2024 most welcoming destinations span five continents. In the top spot was the charming little Brazilian beach resort town of Arraial d'Ajuda, followed by Ermoupoli in Greece and Viana do Castelo in Portugal. You can read the full list of the ten most welcoming places to visit in 2024 here:
- Arraial d'Ajuda, Brazil
- Ermoupoli, Greece
- Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Daylesford, Australia
- Grindelwald, Switzerland
- Moab, United States
- Uzès, France
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- Jaisalmer, India
- Fujikawaguchiko, Japan