Offbeat Travel Destinations: A Complete Guide For Travelling Lovers

There are a lot of us who are simply itching to get back to normalcy and start travelling again. Many young and adult travellers are eager to travel the world freely, and there is no doubt travel and tourism thrived exponentially in recent years. According to a recent study by Tourwriter, global tourism expenditure is around $8.1 trillion, which is lower than predictions. International tourist arrivals dropped by 65% due to the last pandemic.

However, many Americans have already booked their trips, favouring international destinations rather than local or domestic venues. Moreover, 83% of experts believe that international travel will make remarkable returns in 2025, while some believe that it will take longer for figures to recover.   

In light of this information, let’s take a quick look at some of the best offbeat travel destinations for 2025:

Costa Rica

Located in the Central American region, Costa Rica is a rain-forested and rugged country sharing coastlines with the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. According to best dissertation writing services UK, the best time to travel to Costa Rica is from mid-December to April as it offers a dry season and plenty of sunshine for tourists to enjoy. However, that also means it can be quite pricey during the tourism season. 

Air travel along with a superior class Costa Rica vacation can easily cost you around $1,900 to $2,500, including airfare of $750 per person. The aforementioned figure is good for a week of stay in Costa Rica and includes expenses like mid-priced hotel stays or rental houses and doing standard tours. The best hotels in Costa Rica include:

• Hotel Presidente at San Jose – $99 per day for three guests, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi.
• Pacuare River Lodge at Limon Province – $74 for two guests, low-key rainforest lodging.
• Trogon Lodge at San Gerardo de Dota – $154 for two guests, 24/7 customer support, and free parking.

Best restaurants to dine out in Costa Rica:

• Antichi Sapori Tamarindo at Guanacaste Province – a Southern Italian restaurant with curbside pickup and dine-in facility.
• San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience at Puntarenas Province – a fine dining experience with dine-in and takeout.
• Tin Jo Asian Restaurant at San Jose Province – Asian restaurant with dine-in, takeout, and no-contract delivery.

Top tourist attractions that await your arrival include:

• Arenal Volcano – located 90 kilometres northwest of San Jose in the province of Alajuela. You can head to the Arenal Observatory Lodge located on the northern side for ideal views or go for a hike with the help of a trail map.   
• Monteverde – A village in the Puntarenas canton district and is one of the country’s major ecotourism destinations. Here you can find several natural attractions, including the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, famous for its 10,500 hectares (26,000 acres) of cloud forest.
• Tortuguero National Park – located in the Limon Province within the Tortuguero Conservation Area. You can get there by airplane and boat. It is the third most visited park in Costa Rica and also receives 250 inches (6,400 mm) of rain every year.   

Ghana

Harbouring the Gulf Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, Ghana is a country located in West Africa’s sub-region. You can visit Ghana from October to March. You will enjoy the climate, which is a bit cooler and less humid.

However, visiting Ghana during this season will make you miss the heaving spring and rain. December is too late because then the Saharan wind will catch you off guard as it causes incredible haze and dust to become airborne, resulting in extremely dry skin. 

On average, you can expect to pay $1,948 for a flight from the USA to Ghana, with the cheapest flight costing you $531. However, the most popular route is from New York John F Kennedy Intl to Accra Kotoka, which is currently priced at $763. You can easily expect to spend $49 per day on your vacation in Ghana. Somewhere around $12 will be spent on your meals, while $16 on local transportation costs can be incurred.

The best hotels to stay in Ghana are:

• Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra – $311 per day for two persons with high-end suites, Mediterranean dining, pool, and spa.
• Labadi Beach Hotel at Accra – $207 per day for two persons with beachfront lodgings, a plush restaurant, and an outdoor pool.
• No 1 Oxford Street Hotel and Suites at Accra – $210 per day for two persons with a fitness center, bar, pool, and spa.

Best restaurants in Ghana to dine out include:

• Azmera Restaurant at Accra – a fine dining experience with curbside pickup, no-contact delivery, and offering local Ghanaian-style buffet.
• Chuck’s Bar & Restaurant at Tamale – a continental restaurant with a pub offering friendly staff and an open-air atmosphere with late-night dining.
• The View Bar and Grill at Mountain Lodge Telluride – upscale and chic cabin dining room offering classic American fare along with beautiful scenic views. 

Ghana has plenty of tourist attractions to offer, such as:

• Kakum National Park – located in the Central Region’s coastal environs, the Kakum National Park covers an area of 375 square kilometres. Here you can enjoy the canopy walkway that is 350 meters long and connects seven tree tops providing access to the forest.
• Boti Falls – located 17 kilometres northeast of Koforiua, Boti Falls is a twin waterfall that is referred to as female and male. The continuous splashing of water during the high flow of water is referred to as mating season, which usually results in a rainbow being formed.
• Labadi Beach – also known as La Pleasure Beach, is the busiest beach on Ghana’s coast and is maintained by local hotels in Accra. On holidays and weekends, the place comes alive with a variety of musical and dance performances along with horseback rides and other travel attractions. 

Greece

Located in Southeast Europe, Greece is a country in the Balkans and officially called the Hellenic Republic, also known as Hellas. With Athens as its capital and largest city, the best time to visit Greece is during spring which is from April to early June and the autumn season that starts in September and lasts till October. 

An average nonstop flight from the US to Greece can take as much as 14 hours and 41 minutes, with the most popular route being from New York to Athens. This can take you anywhere around 9 hours and 50 minutes and cost as much as $666 – $14,662 depending on the luxury you would like to afford on board. 

A two-week stay at a decent hotel can cost you around $6,000, transportation around $1000, and around $1,440 for food. 

Best hotels to stay at during your travel time in Greece include:

• Katikies Santorini – a 5-star hotel, $428 per day for two persons offering you breakfast, three sea-infinity pools, several restaurants, and a spa. 
• Petinos Hotel at Platis Gialos – $92 per day for two persons offering free breakfast and additional facilities with chic quarters.
• Stella Island Luxury Resort at Analipsi – $191 per day for two persons offering a sprawling outdoor pool along with a gym, spa, sauna, and hammam.

However, students looking for low-cost travelling would be more interested in what Greek cuisine has to offer. The best restaurants to dine out in Greece include:

• Lycabettus Restaurant at Oia – fine dining restaurant with reservations required offering Mediterranean food combined with a fusion of European style dishes.
• Malandros Restaurant in Athens – a traditional Greek coffee restaurant that offers a tremendous variety of Mediterranean food and a great collection of authentic Greek wines.
• The Good Heart at Akrotiri – Greek cuisine with a wine collection along with a terrific range of seafood and various other surprises. 

However, once you are all fed and relaxed, Greece has countless tourist spots for you to visit, such as:

• Acropolis of Athens – whether it’s day or night, it is one of the most mesmerizing places in all of Greece where you will find several historic and ancient buildings. With over 21 archaeological remains to visit, you will probably travel back in time and experience the unprecedented. 
• Meteora – a UNESCO World Heritage that would marvel you to no end, the rock formations host one of the largest Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Built on immense natural pillars that dominate the landscape, Meteora is located near the town of Kalabaka near the Pineios and Pindus Mountains. 
• Santorini – this generation and the one that follows wouldn’t simply stop snapping pictures, and Santorini is very much indeed the most Instagram-worthy place. This island in the southern Aegean Sea is linked to the legend of Atlantis and has also made several video games and music videos. 

Guyana

Country on the northern mainland of South America, Guyana is the only nation on the continent with English as the official language. However, the majority speak Guyanese Creole.

The best time to visit is from late August to September or from February to March so that you don’t get bothered too much by rainfall and yet get to experience the lush terrain in all its glory. 

The cheapest air ticket from the United States to Guyana can be anywhere from around $223 to $375. The most popular route is New York John F Kennedy Intl to Georgetown Cheddi Jagan Intl.

If you are worried about travel expenses, then please don’t because Guyana is quite affordable. The cost of living is 23.12% lower than in the US, and the rent is 80.09% lower than in the United States. 

Best hotels to stay in Guyana include:

• Cara Lodge Hotel at Georgetown – $160 per day for two persons offering free cancellation, free Wi-Fi, upscale 19th-century property, polished bar and restaurant. 
• Herdmanston Lodge at Georgetown – $99 per day for two persons offering an upscale Colonial-style hotel offering lush rooms and suites with good access to the airport.
• Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel at East Bank Demerara – $120 per day for two persons with free parking, pool, spa, restaurant and bar, plus casino and trendy nightclub.   

Best restaurants for you to dine out in Guyana include:

• El Dorado Restaurant inside the Pegasus Hotel at Georgetown – an Italian restaurant offering delicious delicacies with both locally grown and international ingredients.  
• Golden Taste Seafood & Bar at Linden – for fast food lovers with tasty fried chicken, fish, and a big screen to watch your favourite sports as well as vegetarian burgers.
• Grand Coastal Hotel at East Coast Demerara – a boutique hotel that makes you feel right at home with offerings including chicken breast stuffed with broccoli and cream cheese filling.

Once you are done finishing your platter, it’s time to move around and explore Guyana’s astounding natural beauty. First-time travellers would find the following venues immensely exciting:

• Iwokrama Canopy Walkway at Lethem – an easy 15-minute walk through the beautiful primary forest. There is an extraordinary range of wildlife to see, and with a professional guide, you could end up with a very rewarding experience. The best time for Canopy Walkway is early morning and late noon.
• Kaieteur Falls at the Potaro-Siparuni region – the world’s largest single-drop waterfall by volume of water flowing at 226 meters high. Not only is it four times higher than Niagara Falls and about twice the height of Victoria Falls, it a breathtaking sight and the most powerful waterfall in the world. 
• Pandama Retreat & Winery at Georgetown – an amazing spot with serene surroundings and offering you a surreal experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life. As for wine lovers, this is a pure haven where you can enjoy the various treats offered to you by Tracy Douglas, the goddess of wine.

India

India doesn’t need an introduction, and the country is undoubtedly beyond your expectations. A lifetime isn’t enough to explore this majestic place which is huge with a never-ending fairytale and romance all around.

The biggest democracy in the world is too unfathomable for words to describe. The best time to visit India is from March to October if you enjoy warm sunny weather or visit from December to January when the temperatures are much cooler. 

A direct flight from NYC to Delhi takes around 14 hours and can cost you around $619-$705. In India, you can expect to spend around $29 per day. In fact, past travellers have spent, on average, $6.45 on meals and $3.35 on local transport.

For two people, a one-week stay in India can easily cost you around $403, so you can plan your travel budget beforehand.

Some of the best hotels to stay in India include:

• Aloha on The Ganges at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand – $36 a day for two persons offering upscale property offering scenic views, spa, numerous dining options, and yoga classes.
• ITC Mughal at Agra – $41 a day for two persons offering elegant quarters with an upscale spa, lush gardens, and posh dining. Great for ambience, quality food, and cooperative staff. 
• The Taj Mahal Palace at Mumbai – $185 a day for two persons offering refined rooms at a high-end seafront property with over 11 restaurants and bars with a lux pool and spa. 

Time to tantalize your taste buds then visit these great dining venues:

• Indian Accent at New Delhi – from the chat-tasting menu at lunch and inventive Indian cuisine, offers you traditional flavours and delicacies, including global ingredients and techniques.
• Masque at Mumbai – an ingredient-driven restaurant with a first of its kind in India offering a ten-course chef’s tasting menu. Enjoy regional recipes and local flavours that revisit traditional cooking.
• The Black Sheep Bistro at Goa – a leisurely dining place for friends and family to relish soul food, including the likes of Black Pepper Prawns, Pulled Pork Burger, and Burmese Khao Suey.

Once you have satisfied your inner cravings, it’s time to explore the seventh-largest country in the world by land area. Here are some top tourist attractions:

• Harmandir Sahib The Golden Temple of Amritsar – The Abode of God or the ‘exalted court’ is a gurdwara built around a manmade pool. A significant shrine in Sikhism and serves as the open house of worship for all people and all walks of life. Magnificent and completely magical place you simply can’t miss.     
• Taj Mahal – A UNESCO World Heritage Site and winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the Crown Palace attracts around 7-8 million visitors every year. This ivory-white marble mausoleum in the city of Agra is a tomb that serves as the centrepiece of a 17-hectare complex bounded by gardens.
• The Holy City of Varanasi – a major pilgrimage centre for all Hindus, Varanasi is a city in Northern India which is also known as Benares or Kashi. Serving as India’s spiritual capital, it was also a place that played a significant role in Buddhism’s development.   

Indonesia

A country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans, the Republic of Indonesia is the world’s largest island country and the 14th largest country by land area.

The country has one of the world’s highest levels of biodiversity. The best time to visit is around May, June, and September, which will have you enjoying clear days and not as hot or humid.

A nonstop flight from the United States to Indonesia can take around 28 hours and 21 minutes, with the most popular travel route being Los Angeles to Denpasar.

Multiple connecting flights can cost you around $1,204 to $5,517, depending on your airline and luxury choice. Indonesia is quite affordable, where you can spend around $10 a day and for more comfortable stays that could reach $20 a day.   

The best hotels to stay in Indonesia include:

• Amanwana at Nusa Tenggara Bar – $1,450-$1,600 per day for two persons depending on whether you choose Jungle or Ocean tent along with breakfast, lunch, dinner, local beer, house wine, and more.
• Grand Inna Bali Beach at Bali – $23 per day for two persons offering a low-key resort with multiple eateries, tennis courts, a day spa, pools, and access to a nearby beach.
• The Oberoi Beach Resort at West Nusa Tenggara – $253 per day for two persons offering an out-of-the-world experience set along Medana Bay on 10 hectares of tropical gardens. 

After finding yourself a nice place to stay, it’s time to go out and grab a bite. The best restaurants in Indonesia include:

• Bandar Djakarta is a culinary destination that offers live and fresh seafood, offering varieties of seafood delicacies, friendly staff, and a comfy atmosphere filled with live music. 
• Merah Putih at Bali – celebrating Indonesia’s finest cuisine, craftsmanship, and culture, where you can enjoy traditional flavours and spices from across the archipelago. 
• Pinisi Resto at Jawa Barat – talk about the extraordinary and something absurdly unique that takes you to a place with a mystical setting. Forget about the food. Just be there and know the difference. 

Once you have got your hunger pangs under control, it’s time for you to move around and explore the beauty of this godly place:

• Beaches of Bali – unquestionably one of the most popular vacation spots for tourists, Bali offers incredible beaches and stupendous luxury beach resorts. Kuta is one of the best-known beaches and is great for surfing as well as socializing. Plus, you would not find any shortages of restaurants there.
• Borobudur at Magelang Regency – decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. It is the world’s largest Buddhist temple, with the central dome surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa. It is a popular venue for pilgrimage for Buddhists in Indonesia.    
• On the northwest coast of Lombok, Gili Islands is an archipelago of three small islands where each island offers you several resorts making it a popular tourist destination. Motorized vehicles or automobiles are prohibited on the island, and the method of transportation is by foot or bicycle.
• Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud – the Balinese long-tailed macaque’s natural habitat and about 1049 monkeys live in this sanctuary. It is a famous tourist attraction featuring over 186 species of plants and trees in a forest that is spread around 12.5 hectares and around three temples.    

Conclusion

As an ending note, I would like to recommend that you keep yourself up to date regarding any international travel restrictions still being imposed. Especially for your selected country of travel, make sure that you read through credible sources of information to confirm whether your travel is safe and wouldn’t cause harm to you and your family members.