Ignoring Travel Trends: The Places I’ll Always Return To

Listen — I love a good TikTok travel hack as much as the next person, but not every destination needs to be a fleeting trend. While everyone else is busy snapping the same rooftop cocktail pic in Santorini or chasing cherry blossoms in Tokyo (bless their filter-loving hearts), I'm over here booking my return ticket to the places that feel like home.

Melissa Ridge

5/11/20253 min read


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Trendy Destinations? No Thanks.


Listen — I love a good TikTok travel hack as much as the next person, but not every destination needs to be a fleeting trend. While everyone else is busy snapping the same rooftop cocktail pic in Santorini or chasing cherry blossoms in Tokyo (bless their filter-loving hearts), I'm over here booking my return ticket to the places that feel like home.


Some spots are timeless, some have my heart, and some just know how to make a killer street taco. Today, I’m sharing the destinations I’ll always return to — trends be damned.










1. New Orleans, Louisiana


Forget Coachella — give me beignets, jazz in a dimly lit bar, and a ghost tour any day. The energy in New Orleans is like nowhere else.


Pro Tip: Book a last-minute transfer from the airport with [GetTransfer](https://gettransfer.tp.st/7ugUWF39) and skip those overpriced taxis.


Bonus activity: Snag a deal on attraction passes with [Tiqets](https://tiqets.tp.st/h8P2EGQI) — you’ll thank me when you’re skipping lines at the voodoo museum.




2. Lisbon, Portugal


Trendy? Maybe now. But I fell in love with Lisbon before it was all over your Instagram feed. The pastel de nata alone is reason to go back.


Wander like a local: Rent a bike through [BikesBooking](https://bikesbooking.tp.st/lzXnwZrC) and cruise the waterfront.


Where to stay: Compare boutique hotels and hidden gems on [Hotellook](https://hotellook.tp.st/eTR4sPTY).










3. Alaska, USA


Yeah, it’s cold. Yeah, it’s remote. And yes — I’ll happily ignore every “beach getaway” listicle for this place.


Adventure seekers: Check out [G Adventures’ Antarctica Cruises](https://gadventures.sjv.io/c/6182393/2958561/14092) if you want to level up from Alaska to full-blown icebergs and penguins.




4. Bangkok, Thailand


Street food. Night markets. Late-night tuk-tuks. I don’t care how many times I go — this city has my heart (and my digestive system on its toes).


Book a reliable transfer with [KiwiTaxi](https://kiwitaxi.tp.st/cI2Zkn9s) because those meter-free cab rides will test your negotiation skills.


Snag travel eSIM deals for seamless wifi via [Airalo](https://airalo.tp.st/YSJ1DHLl) or [DrimSim](https://drimsim.tp.st/Y3raNHJt) so you can keep posting those spicy mango pics.




5. Amalfi Coast, Italy


Forget the influencers crowding Positano. I’ll take lemon gelato in a quiet village any day.


Stay smart: Use [EconomyBookings](https://economybookings.tp.st/bRR16EhB) for the best rental car rates (trust me, you’ll want to drive this coast).


Get activity tickets through [WeGoTrip](https://wegotrip.tp.st/YVL5ihrF) — like a pasta-making class or vineyard tour.




Travel Tips I Swear By


Pack light, book smart, and insure everything. Use [VisitorsCoverage](https://visitorscoverage.tp.st/YjSIozxi) for travel insurance because emergencies don’t care about your itinerary.


Never get stranded: Use [WayAway](https://wayaway.tp.st/a3ky7N3D) to score cashback on flights.


Play it safe with luggage storage via [Radical Storage](https://radicalstorage.tp.st/tIES5ra9) if you’ve got awkward layovers.



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Travel Smarter


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Final Thoughts


I’ll always love discovering new places, but these destinations will forever have me booking repeat trips — no matter what the trends say. If you’ve got a go-to city or country you can’t quit, drop it in the comments. Let’s swap travel secrets.




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