Here’s some good news: for the first time since 2019, we don’t need a single COVID caveat in our Go List. READ MORE

It seems that travel is largely back to the way it was in “the former times” before the pandemic. Travelers have been fulfilling long-awaited revenge tourism fantasies, and destinations formerly deprived of those dollars eagerly accepted the masses and the revenue. Entry requirements have returned to mostly simple bureaucratic preparations, and masking has been relegated to memory (or the vigilant). It seems that when it comes to getting out to explore our world, we can ease up on the anxiety. 

And yet–because of course there is a caveat–our world is still a complicated place to maneuver. Wars and conflicts have upended the map, while climate change and natural disasters have decimated the environment and communities worldwide. Inequality contributes to the stratification of access, wealth, and safety. We may not be stressed about COVID, but our worries persist. 

There’s one consistency through the anxiety: travel remains a transformative experience—one that can change perceptions and attitudes. It can serve as a remedy for cynicism, ignorance, and hatred. And though we live in messy times on a messy planet, it’s encouraging that people are still as engaged as ever in experiencing it more fully. 

As always, the Go List aims to inspire your wanderlust. At the heart of wanderlust is a deep curiosity, and stoking that interest in the world keeps humanity striving. So are we back to normal yet? Hopefully we’re aiming for something even better.

Edited by Stacey Lastoe, Rachael Levitt, Eva Morreale, Jeremy Tarr, and Nikki Vargas. Photo editing by Viviane Teles, Jade Rodgers, and Shanelle Jacobs.