Where to Travel in 2020: The World's Most Tolerant Countries

As our world reopens and travelers look forward to boarding flights and exploring new destinations, we must understand we are traveling in a new world. Although we will all miss the carefree aspects of an impulse trip, this new world offers us the opportunity to be more informed and thoughtful about the destinations we visit, the people and cultures we support, and the footprint our experiences leave behind long after we return home.

Building my own knowledge and understanding of other cultures has long been a highlight of every trip I take, but once we are able to travel again, I plan to make a conscious effort to visit and support countries embracing diversity, welcoming outsiders and promoting personal freedom. Read on to learn more about some of the world’s most tolerant countries now topping my bucket list.

Canada

Our neighbor to the north is a liberal standout on a global scale and known for its racial and religious tolerance. Canada adopted multiculturalism as an official policy before I was born and under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, has continued to reaffirm the value of immigration. The massive country is also home to unparalleled natural wonders, making it an excellent option for a socially distant getaway in the Great Outdoors. Bonus, if you’re an American who is still hesitant to fly during the pandemic, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal (as well as Banff National Park, pictured above) are within driving distance of several major U.S. cities.

Luxembourg

Itching to visit Europe? Landlocked Luxembourg may be tiny but it’s chock full of human rights and personal freedoms. Boasting the continent’s most tolerant attitudes towards minorities and immigrants, the country also offers the easiest access to legal rights and is even home to the European Court of Justice. In 2019, Luxembourg took another progressive step that will inevitably attract travelers by legalizing cannabis. The government vowed to invest the newly earned tax revenues towards drug education and addiction treatment.

Dominica

After enduring devastating destruction left by Hurricane Maria, Dominica is rebuilding with the intent to be the planet’s first “hurricane proof” nation. To do this, the country has invested in ecotourism and banned single-use plastics, protecting its unspoiled waters and forested mountains as well as local communities. International resort chains are noticeably absent from this tropical paradise and the island’s indigenous people are actively involved in welcoming visitors to their shores.

Uruguay

South America’s second-smallest country is also one of it’s most socially progressive. Same-sex, age of content, sexual activity has actually been legal in Uruguay since the 1930s but in 2013, the country became the first on the continent to pass the Equal Marriage Act. During the same year, the government fought back against drug cartels by legalizing marijuana and went on to meet 95% of its energy needs through renewable sources in 2015. Despite its Catholic roots, the liberal country increased women’s rights by passing laws to legalize abortion, reduce domestic and end gender bias in classrooms. The small country’s live-and-let-live policy extends to visitors who come to experience the pristine beaches and colonial villages.

#IHeartTravel: Stay Home, Travel With Heart

Travel is not just about where you go — it is who you experience special moments with that matters most. Although social distancing protocols currently keep us from the destinations and people we care about most in the world, I rounded up my colleagues to spread the message of hope that we will be reunited soon with those people and places soon and to raise donations for our beloved hospitality industry.

Rome: A Long Weekend in the Eternal City

My third trip to Italy began in Rome. History buffs, foodies, art enthusiasts and anyone in search of la dolce vita can easily fill a long weekend in this beautiful city. Here are the highlights of my stay:

Borgo

Located between the Tiber River and Vatican City, this charming neighborhood offers a calmer, quieter alternative to the most touristic center of Rome. The charming cobblestone streets were lined with budget-friendly outdoor cafes and gelato shops but still within walking distance of the city’s most popular landmarks. I stayed in Borgo and especially enjoyed my morning cappuccino with panoramic views of antiquity from my hotel’s rooftop terrace.

Vatican City

My first time in Rome overlapped with the pope’s election when St. Peter’s Square was taken over by media and the Sistine Chapel was obviously off limits. It was absolutely worth the wait to visit with my Catholic, Art History major partner who acts as a private tour guide for me whenever we tour the world’s best museums and cathedrals.

Our time in the Sistine Chapel was even better than I could have imagined. The first time through, we were elbow-to-elbow in a crowd of other sweaty tourists but since we always take our time in museums, we ended up doubling back just before closing time and had the Gallery of Maps all to ourselves. I can’t wait to share the video footage we filmed there!

Colosseum & Forum

We purchased same-day passes to visit these landmarks that let us bypass the line snaking around the Colosseum. This might seem ambitious since both are huge and are worth taking time to really explore but they’re practically next to each other so we made it work.

The Forum includes Palatine Hill, the middle of the Seven Hills of Rome and one of the most ancient parts of the city. The hill was home to wealthy Romans and its name is the origin of the modern “palace.” The Palace of Domitian sits atop the mountain and overlooks The Forum where visitors literally walk in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators.

The Colosseum once hosted 50,000 spectators for gladiator battles and animal combat. Two thousand years later, it is arguably the most popular tourist attraction in Rome so hold onto your belongings as pickpockets are notorious in this area. This was also one of the longest lines we witnessed on our trip, making the scheduled tickets we bought in advance even more value.

B.Y.O.W.B. (Bring Your Own Water Bottle)

Don’t waste precious Euros that should spent on gelato by buying bottled water from street vendors. Bring your own reusable bottle to save the planet and refill at the thousands of fontanella, or drinking fountains, that provide Rome’s citizens and visitors with clean water.

TRS Coral Hotel Grand Opening Experience

TRS Coral Hotel, the newest adults-only hotel in Mexico’s Costa Mujeres invited us to join their grand opening weekend celebration. Check out our video to experience the gorgeous resort for yourself!

Endangered Destinations: Visit Before They Vanish

After a recent trip to Stonehenge, I shared photos with my parents and they paid special attention to the arching pedestrian walkway prohibiting visitors from getting closer than 30 feet from the stones. Recounting a visit to the ancient spot on their honeymoon, my parents described walking through the prehistoric monument and running fingers over the mysterious rock formations. Despite standing since the Bronze Age, the burial mounds were the target of graffiti artists in recent decades, forcing officials to rope off the landmark in 1977 and effectively giving future visitors limited access and distant vantage points.

Around the world, other important landmarks have fallen victim to vandals and environmental dangers causing damages beyond repair that could soon make tourist travel impossible. Here are the destinations I am bumping to the top of my bucket list to experience in their full glory before it’s too late.

Peru’s Machu Picchu

Dating back to 1430 AD, the former Incan city hosts thousands of visitors each day and has seen severe erosion to the stone steps, platforms and walls as a direct result. April brings temporary closures to two parts of the Peruvian “New Wonder of the World.” The first half of the month will see the closing of Huayna Picchu, the steep peak rising behind Machu Picchu and home to the Temple of the Moon, one of the three major temples in the area. Cerro Machu Picchu, the challenging trail directly across the ruins from Huayna Picchu, will be off limits for the last 15 days of the month.

Venice, Italy

The northern Italian island is arguably the most romantic city in the world. Cruising the Grand Canal by gondola may be popular with lovebirds but the "floating city" is in danger of being swallowed by the Adriatic Sea. Although Venice has been sinking for centuries, severe flooding has sped up the process five times as fast as previously predicted, compromising the foundations of the charming marble buildings and walkways.

The Dead Sea, bordering the West Bank and Jordan

The planet’s saltiest body of water is 1,300 feet below sea level -- the lowest point of the world. For generations, travelers seeking a wide range of health benefits found within the mineral-rich mud have flocked to the rocky beaches feeding from the Jordan River. Most of the river’s water has been diverted for agriculture and drinking water in neighboring countries. The man-made strain combined with the water’s natural salinity means the sea evaporates faster than it can be replenished.

 The Swiss Alps

At a lower altitude than the Rocky Mountains, the European Alps’ glaciers and ski resorts are more susceptible to the effects of global warming. Temperatures at the summit rose twice as much as the global average since the 19th century, and experts predict the famed snow caps will completely disappear by 2050.

India’s Taj Mahal

Crowds and air pollution are eating away at the white stone façade of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Officials in India are considering closing the 17th-century landmark to the public sometime in the next five years – meaning the domed symmetrical symbol of undying love will only be visible from afar.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Portions of the Great Barrier Reef are believed to be over 20 million years old and home to 215 species of birds, 30 kinds of marine mammals, 10% of the world’s total fish population and hundreds of snakes, sea turtles and sea urchins. In just 30 years, half of the reef has vanished, a casualty of increased acidity levels in the ocean. By 2070, the Australian Greenhouse Office predicts water temperatures rising as much as 6 degrees, causing mass coral bleaching when combined with pollution and irresponsible tourism practices. The only living thing visible from outer space could be extinct in our lifetime.

Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro

The ice caps on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, started receding in 1912, and snow stopped accumulating in 2000. The exposed soil absorbs heat quickly, speeding up the melt, and scientists believe the last glacier will evaporate within 15 years. Those looking to climb the volcanic mountain should make sure guides are qualified and follow environmentally friendly routes.

The Florida Everglades

Encompassing 2.5 million acres of swamps, savannas and mangroves, the Florida Everglades are the only place on the planet where alligators and crocodiles coexist. Only a fifth of the wetland is protected as a national park, and over the past century, urban development and the introduction of foreign species, particularly the Burmese python, have wreaked havoc on the region’s wildlife. Endangered species including manatees, green sea turtles and the Florida panther call the Everglades home and could be wiped out if the changes to the ecosystem are not reversed soon.

The Maldives

Skimming just eight feet above sea level, the Maldives is the lowest-lying country on the planet. As sea levels continue to rise, the 1,192 islands that make up this beautiful nation face the threat of disappearing below the surface within the next century. To combat the surging Indian Ocean, the government built a seawall around Male, the capital, and began purchasing land in other countries for citizen relocation.