If 2017 was all about gorgeous landscapes, bucket list trips, the world's best beaches and traveling closer to home, 2018 is all about thinking outside the box for a great escape. The world is officially rethinking luxury travel, with people looking to explore the world now more than ever. Leave your presumptions about certain parts of the world at home and get your passports ready–these are the 18 top places to travel in 2018.
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Why to go: Less than a hundred miles off of the coast of Sicily, Tunis brings a unique perspective–even for seasoned travelers of Africa. Think spectacular Mediterranean beachfronts and Grecian-style white domes set against sweeping arches and stately minarets that evoke the city’s longstanding Islamic heritage. European parapets and cathedrals from the country’s time under the colonial influence of France are scattered in between the dynamic cityscape. Built on the former capital of the Carthaginian empire, Tunis sports a long and varied cultural history that can still be seen in every facet of the city’s architecture, food, and culture.
What to do: Spend a day as a time-traveler, walking through the ruins of the ancient Carthage city of Byrsa, or exploring the Baths of Antoninus. Built by the conquering Romans in the second century and said to be the largest such baths outside of Rome at the time, the ruins now encompass an archaeological park where visitors can explore a slice of the ancient world. Soak up the Medina, the city’s central Old Town, grabbing a bite at a centuries-old cafe like Café M’Rabat before shopping in the bustling market scene. Make sure to stop off at the Mosque of the Olive Tree, the largest and most majestic mosque in the city, elaborately decorated with pillars and awe-inspiring mosaics.
Pro tip: To add an extra dash of luxe to your trip, spend an afternoon getting pampered at the Roman-inspired spa at the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel Tunis.
