Savvy travelers often ask us to point them toward the best under-the-radar or up-and-coming locales around the globe. So we made that spirit of discovery the cornerstone of our kickoff day of WOW Week 2026. Watch our Travel Talk on “Where to Go and What to Know For 2026” below (recorded on January 26, 2026).

Now is the best time in the next decade to see the northern lights. Here’s why and where. Learn more in our video.

A few highlights from our Travel Talk:

These are the most popular countries for WOW trips already booked for 2026:

1. Italy
2. Japan
3. New Zealand
4. France
5. The United Kingdom

For the top 15, see Where Everybody’s Traveling in 2026.

By contrast, these are a few of the lesser-known spots we’re watching around the globe:

Under-the-radar spots to experience before they’re “discovered”:

• Portugal’s Alentejo countryside: Explore medieval villages and castles where it feels like time has stood still.
• The Greek island of Paros: It has a laid-back sophistication that makes for a quieter stay than Mykonos or Santorini, but it still has quaint fishing villages, stylish restaurants, and bustling nightlife.
• Slovenia: In its scenery, architecture, and cuisine, this jewel of Central Europe is like a mix of Italy and Austria. From the lively university town of Ljubliana to picture-perfect Lake Bled, it’s got plenty of green nature and historic charm, yet relatively few tourists.
• Transylvania, Romania: In the Transylvanian countryside, farmers, artisans, craftspeople, blacksmiths, cheese makers, bread bakers, and other shopkeepers ply their trades the same way they have for centuries. Learn why King Charles III of England owns homes here.
• Uruguay: It’s popular among in-the-know South Americans, and here’s why U.S. travelers are enamored too.
• Sri Lanka: It’s peaceful and enchanting, with warm, welcoming people, charming small hotels, lush landscapes, and vibrant fusion cuisine. Read reviews.

Up-and-coming places to see before they change too much:

• Malta and Sardinia: These Mediterranean islands are seeing a rapid rise in tourism.  And for the first time, both will be accessible via nonstop flights from New York starting this spring. Get there before everyone else. And if you’ve got time for only one, choose Malta.
• Panama’s Chiriqui province: A few hours’ drive southwest of Panama City along the Pacific, Chiriqui has emerged over the past decade as an unspoiled escape with environmentally focused boutique hotels. On the Caribbean side, a Viceroy hotel is expected to open later this year (with 42 overwater villas) in the Bocas del Toro archipelago.
• Melides, Portugal: Melides is not as well known as the Algarve farther south, but its tranquil natural dunes and beaches are now drawing major hotel projects. Na Praia resort is opening this spring between the ocean and a wild nature reserve just north of Comporta.
• The Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia: A significant leisure development is transforming the Red Sea coast, with the Four Seasons AMAALA at Triple Bay scheduled to debut this year and others opening over the next few years.

Watch the video for many more smart travel choices for 2026!

Links to Useful Resources

Exciting First-Ever Nonstop Flights in 2026

New Airline Rules for Packing Electronics

New Entry Requirements for Countries Around the Globe

The Azores: Portugal’s Mid-Atlantic Paradise

A Private Yacht on Turkey’s Aegean Coast: Wendy’s Favorite Family Trip

Just Back: Reviews of our Travelers’ Recent Trips

Where To Go When: Ideal Destinations For Each Month of the Year

The WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts

Ask Wendy: Get a Personalized Trip Recommendation

A big thank-you to our WOW Week sponsor, Medjet:

Medjet is a global air medical transport and travel security membership program that gives travelers greater peace of mind. Their sponsorship enables us to spend dozens of hours each week answering your travel questions—via our Get a Personalized Trip Recommendation feature—and finding the smartest trip-planning specialists for you (see Wendy’s WOW List).

Be a smarter traveler: Sign up for Wendy’s weekly newsletter to stay in the know. Read real travelers’ reviews, then use the black CONTACT buttons on Wendy’s WOW List to reach out to the right local fixer for your trip.