Our Travel Wishlist for 2022

DAYMADE’s top 10 travel destinations

by Abbi James

Want to know where to go in 2022? We’ve compiled a list of our players’ most wishlisted travel destinations and DAYMADE holidays. Will you win a trip to Japan or Bali? Read on to find out where your 2022 might take you…

The Maldives

We’re not surprised to find The Maldives at the top of our list of most-wishlisted travel destinations. With unrivalled luxury and breath-taking scenery, Maldives has become the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime holiday destination. If you’re after an all-inclusive, luxurious retreat, our most-loved prize holiday to The Maldives has got you covered. Maldives spans nearly 1,200 islands, with white powdery sand and cyan-blue waters at every turn. Dazzling coral and colourful marine life offers impeccable diving experiences, with the chance of seeing whale sharks and turtles too great an opportunity to miss. Heading away from the stunning Maldivian sea and turning inland, you’ll find tropical islands rich in culture. Try your hand at cooking the local cuisine or giving back by coral planting, before relaxing on your resort’s private island with brilliant-blue waters. Bucketlist? Tick.

Iceland

The Northern Lights alone are enough to warrant second place on our wishlist, let alone everything else Iceland has to offer! With vast volcanoes, gushing geysers and glimmering glaciers, this sprawling land is a true symphony of elements. The power of nature is evident nowhere else more so than in Iceland, where geothermal lagoons and glooping mudpots bewilder even the most experienced traveller. Chase the aurora borealis across the night sky by foot or by husky-sled. In this land, the world really is your oyster. Live music and visual arts are celebrated across the land, allowing you to immerse yourself in Icelandic culture first-hand.

Bora Bora

Bora Bora is a visual spectacle, with white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and tropical forests just waiting to be explored. Sprinkled with overwater bungalows and lagoon-side villas, there’s a luxurious air exuding from French Polynesia’s most famous island. Quite possibly the ultimate honeymoon destination, Bora Bora is studded with gems set to take your breath away. Regardless of your holiday-persona there’s something for everyone, from private tastings of local delicacies to guided tours of historic landmarks. Try your hand at an off-road adventure, or discover underwater reefs with an eco-snorkel cruise, seeing sharks and stingrays up close. However you decide to spend your holiday in Bora Bora, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful landscapes and stunning wildlife.

New Zealand

New Zealand is on every traveller’s bucketlist and it’s easy to see why with its dynamic Māori culture and mammoth national parks. Sublime forests, lakes, beaches and mountains cover the island’s wilderness, with stunning vistas stretching as far as the eye can see. Water sports come into their own here, with kayaking, surfing and scuba diving opportunities around every corner of pristine coastline. To explore as much of this island as possible, we’ve got a 2-week roadtrip filled with as many unique activities as you can imagine. Think visiting the glowworm caves in Lake Te Anau, surfing in Manu Bay, or canoeing in Abel Tasman National Park. Now we couldn’t send you all the way to New Zealand without giving you a set tour of Hobbiton now could we? Each day is filled with instagrammable moments, whether you’re a nature-nurturer or an adrenaline-junkie. Oh and there’s up to £3,000 spending money to enjoy on your holiday to New Zealand just to sweeten the deal!

Japan

If travelling for you is all about stepping into a whole new world, there’s nowhere better to visit than Japan. With cherry blossom gardens, temples and sushi-galore, the land of the rising sun has so much to explore. We’ve thrown in a whole host of activities, from adventuring through Shiralto Falls before gazing upon Mount Fuji to exploring Matsumoto Castle. An unlimited rail card will see you travelling across Japan’s prefectures so you can travel stress-free, whooshing from Tokyo to Osaka and beyond. Take the opportunity to connect with Japan’s traditional culture by staying in ryokans, visiting onsen and learning how to meticulously prepare delicate dishes celebrating Japanese cuisine. Exploring this diverse land is at the top of many of our team’s bucketlists, so why not come join us on our next adventure?

Barbados

Now we might be biased here, seeing as our co-founder is Barbadian, but Barbados really does have it all. Famous for its fantastic beaches and turquoise-blue bays, this Gem of the Caribbean Sea has a huge array to offer, whether you’re an adventure-seeker or laid-back beach-bum. Buckle up for a 4x4 safari tour to explore the island’s forests and remote bays. More of a water-babe? Dive right in and swim with turtles, snorkel over shipwrecks and admire the vibrant marine life. The Unesco World Heritage-listed capital of Bridgetown offers architectural wonders to walk through, from St. Nicholas to Chamberlain Bridge. This lush paradise of an island is as welcoming as it is beautiful, so it’s no wonder it’s on many peoples’ travel wishlists.

Mexico

A diverse landscape like no other, Mexico is filled with vibrant jungles, snowy volcanoes and cactus-strewn deserts, not to mention endless beaches and wildlife-filled lagoons. With a chili-fied cuisine beloved the world over, Mexico is a delight for all the senses. Ziplining through jungle canopies? They’ve got it. Ancient Mayan ruins? They’re everywhere! This is one action-packed holiday prize just waiting to help you tick off your bucketlist. We suggest taking a day to slow down, explore the Riviera Maya and Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and enjoy what can only be described as paradise. With a once in a lifetime holiday, it’s worth it to savour every moment.

Philippines

7,000 tropical islands. What more is there to say?

In all seriousness, the Philippines brings something unique to our top 10. With an island to suit every taste (literally), it’s firmly earned its spot on our wishlist. Beach bums will find marooned sandy beaches and incredible island-hopping opportunities on the hunt for their perfect beach. More adventurous travellers, meanwhile, can explore the volcanic lagoons and world-class kiteboarding in North Luzon. Having a rare mix of Southeast Asian, Spanish and American influences, the Philippines is a land with its own fiercely unique personality. The people, however, are relentlessly welcoming, warm and guaranteed to be one of the reasons you’ll find yourself coming back time and time again.

Woman relaxing in jungle waterfall in the Philippines

California

With tales told by misty redwood forests and neon city lights, California is a land of captivating contrasts. The best way to see it all is via the classic road trip, crossing the iconic Route 66 in a Volkswagen van. Choose to explore the neon signs and casinos of Las Vegas, see the famous Hollywood sign up close, and discover the mysterious island of Alcatraz. Or if you prefer to get reacquainted with nature, there’s national parks galore with Yosemite, Joshua Tree and Sequoia just waiting to impress even the most jaded traveller. Our £25,000 prize holiday to California also includes business flights, a Vegas Residency show and of course tickets to the likes of Disneyland and Universal Studios to name a few. This California road trip is sure to leave a lasting impression and help you tick off your ever-growing bucketlist.

Bali

The mere mention of Bali evokes thoughts of mediation, relaxation and rewinding. After everything the last two years has brought, no wonder it’s in our top ten most wishlisted destinations! An escape for the workaholics and famous for its abundance of yoga retreats, Bali offers more than just a picturesque landscape. The rich and diverse culture is visible at all levels of life, allowing you the opportunity to experience it through traditional music and dance festivities, with flower-petal offerings scattered throughout the island. Dramatic volcanoes, wild beaches and sprawling rice fields are contrasted against a myriad of ancient temples and monuments. Bali offers the chance to take a step back, live in the moment and experience a new way of life. No wonder our holiday to Bali has peoples’ hearts swooning.