"Where To Go Next: 14 Best Places To Travel In 2019."

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Aruba, Caribbean

Marriott's Aruba Surf Club sits beachfront on the Caribbean with an outdoor swimming pool, lazy river and health club. The resort features spacious villas designed to provide high-quality accommodations within a relaxing, escape resort- atmosphere. Each villa has spacious living and dining areas, full kitchens, multiple TV sets, private balcony, and daily maid service (upon request). The location is perfect for all your vacation needs and desires.

Guests of Marriott's Aruba Surf Club have access to services at the Mandara Spa in neighboring Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club's lobby. Reservations are required.

There are three towers: Lighthouse, Compass, and Spyglass. The Lighthouse Tower is closest to the beach, with units being designated as oceanside. The Compass Tower is home to all the resort's 3-bedroom units, as well as the resort's main lobby and marketplace. The Spyglass Tower is the newest of the three, on the back of the property. Some of these units have ocean views, while most have garden views overlooking the lazy river. Marriott's Aruba Surf Club

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Los Cabos, Mexico

Chosen By: Michaela Guzy is a media executive, entrepreneur and on-air show host. She is the executive producer for two online television shows, Michaela’s Map and Oh The People You Meet. Based in New York City, she is also an adjunct professor at New York University School of Professional Studies, where she teaches a course called "Travel Storytelling: Creating Video Content."

Why: You might think you know about Los Cabos, but did you know that one of the largest, protected national marine parks in the world is just 60 miles south? Cabo Pulmo National Park used to be heavily overfished before the park became officially protected in the 90s; it's also a UNESCO site because of its rich biodiversity, high marine productivity and beauty. Cabo Pulmo stretches five miles along the coast of Baja California Sur and houses the oldest living reef of on the west coast of North America. (Fishermen have been taught how to be dive masters to keep the ocean healthy and full of fish.) There, you can find sea turtles, sea lions, dolphins and humpback whales. Thanks to the success of the national marine park, travelers can now kayak, go stand-up paddleboarding or snorkel/scuba dive with sea lions and even (friendly) bull sharks. Back in Los Cabos, visit chef Enrique Silva's working organic farm and restaurant at Los Tamarindos, where you can pick your produce and make a meal with him. There are a number of hotels to check out, including a recently opened Montage Los Cabos and the forthcoming Four Seasons Costa Palmas, slated to open in 2019. My pick: the sustainable Hotel El Ganzo, which has an artist-in-residence program and a music recording studio. The hotel also supports the children’s community art center across the street.

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Kenya

Chosen By: Natalie Beauregard is the travel guides editor at AFAR, where she covers emerging travel destinations and best hotels.

Why: Kenya Airways just started offering direct flights from New York's JFK to Nairobi, which is going to open the idea of a safari to so many people, since it used to take multiple connections to get to Kenya. This spring, Delta will also start flying direct from Atlanta to Nairobi. In Kenya, I love the Fairmont, which has three properties across the country. Nairobi's Fairmont The Norfolk is focused not just on being a hotel, but being a cultural center by showcasing the city's vibrant culture with exhibitions by Kenyan artists and local fashion designers. At the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club Resort, the property is running conservancy efforts to protect the animals as well as the culture of the people who live there. The Fairmont Mara Safari Club provides the quintessential safari experience: Nowhere else in Africa can you get so close to the animals.

READ MORE: "Why You Should Skip Iceland And Go To These 9 Under-the-Radar Places"

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Montenegro

Chosen By: Joanna Kuflik is director of services at Marchay, a membership-based community that plans luxury travel experiences for a select elite worldwide.

Why: With breathtaking scenery, undiscovered beaches, UNESCO World Heritage towns, a burgeoning wine culture and incredible Southern European cuisine, this country should be on everyone's radar for 2019. While it used to be considered a stopover that travelers combined with its popular neighboring country, Croatia, this Adriatic paradise has experienced a development boom this past year, making it a perfect country to explore on its own. The legendary Aman Sveti Stefan, a fortified island that dates to the 15th century, is the go-to spot for rest and relaxation with its pink-sand beach and killer spa. In nearby Tivat, the glitzy Regent Porto Montenegro is a prime place for shopping, socializing, beach clubs and boating; a St. Tropez scene, though at a more reasonable price. Meanwhile, the recently opened Chedi Lustica Bay, part of the new Lustica Bay Marina Village, is one of seven hotels to be built in this area, complete with an 18-hole golf course, along with the One & Only Portonovi, due to be finished by the end of next year. With luxury accommodations now able to match its stunning surroundings, Montenegro is a place to put on your horizon in the new year.

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Placencia, Belize

Chosen By: Jeri Clausing is the contributing editor for luxury at Travel Weekly.

Why: When you think of Belize, you think of the cays or the inland eco-resorts. But further south on the mainland is Placencia, a cute waterfront fishing village with bright houses and buildings that is slowly being discovered. It's also home to Itz’ana, the first luxury resort in the area. The owner collects Mayan artifacts, and this is his second independent hotel in Belize (the first was Ka’ana in San Ignacio). At Itz’ana, the lobby is designed to feel like you’re in a guest house, not a hotel. In addition to the stunning rooms in the main property, there are also villas with private plunge pools.

The Taj Tashi in Bhutan. Itz'ana, is a new luxury resort in Placencia, Belize.

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Bhutan

Chosen by: Juliana A. Saad is a Brazilian writer and editor who specializes in travel, lifestyle and luxury. Her company, MMJX Comunicação, produces develops special editorial content and projects for numerous publications and companies.

Why: Bhutan is ideal for everything, with a peace and calm that you don’t experience anywhere else. It transports you to another culture with different values than what we are used to. You can also challenge yourself to trek to places like the Tiger Nest, a cliffside Buddhist temple. There are great hotels, like the Taj Tashi in Thimphu, which is modeled after a Bhutanese temple and has wonderful amenities, like a signature spa that uses oils from the Himalayas. Amankora in Paro is spectacularly beautiful with a trail between the different lodges in Bhutan.

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Botswana

Chosen By: Fernanda Costa Gama Logemann is the founder of the Brazil-based travel platform, Spice up the Road, which is focused on sharing the most exclusive travel experiences around the world and the best tips for food, hotels and attractions. Spice up the Road is also a column in the lifestyle magazine Revista Donna.

Why: I am always looking for unforgettable adventures and authentic experiences, so glamping (upscale camping) is a trend that I am really excited about. It's the perfect way to disconnect from your routine and connect with wildlife and nature, but still have the opportunity to enjoy the kind of comfort and luxury that makes a difference in a stay. Want a great way to experience the glamorous and unique world of glamping? The Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge has just reopened and is located in the heart of Chobe National Park in Botswana, offering beautiful lodges and amazing wildlife viewing in the savannah.

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Iceland

Chosen By: An avid traveler, Tania L Swasbrook grew up in the travel industry. She specializes in ultra luxury travel with a particular passion for wellness, romance and adventure.

Why: From waterfalls and glaciers to whale-watching and puffins, Iceland is a place like none other. In 2019, the way to see it is with Silversea, which is venturing to Iceland with Silver Cloud, the finest and most elegant expedition ship float. She will be circumnavigating the land of fire and ice in August of 2019, and only 250 lucky guests will be able to experience the beauty of this mystical country so close up.

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Havana, Cuba

Chosen By:  Jill K. Robinson writes about travel, adventure, food and drink for AFAR, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Robb Report and more. Her magazine and newspaper articles have won Lowell Thomas, Society of American Travel Writers, and American Society of Journalists and Authors awards.

Why: One of the things that got my attention recently was the announcement of the first SO/ property in the Americas. The SO/ Havana Paseo del Prado is expected to open in early 2020, at the intersection of Paseo de Marti and the Malecón in the heart of Havana. The property will feature the creative signature of Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, who has been inspired by the world of Cuban dance for the glamorous, yet playful hotel. I have to admit that my initial reaction was selfish, because I traveled in Cuba for my honeymoon in 2001, so I'm already planning to celebrate the opening and my wedding anniversary in Havana.

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Cartagena, Colombia

Chosen By: Haisley Smith is the vice-president of marketing and business development for Brownell, the agency of choice for intrepid travelers since 1887. Smith looks for properties with personality, cruises with creativity and experiences that excite the senses on behalf of the luxury agency powerhouse.

Why: Cartagena is a riot of color, cuisine and culture. Where to stay? Casa San Agustin is situated in the center of the action inside the city walls. It’s a romantic getaway with unique features, like a pool running beneath a centuries old aqueduct.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Chosen By: Tiffany Dowd is a global luxury hotel expert and luxury travel influencer known as “Luxe Tiffany” and founder of Luxe Social Media. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Why: Discover one of Europe's most charming places in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It’s a young and lively city that should be hot on everyone’s radar. For a unique perspective and beautiful views, sail the Ljubljanica River on a traditional wooden boat to experience the city. The new InterContinental Ljubljana is the perfect place to stay for a luxurious and modern chic experience. The hotel has a great location near the train station, Old Town and Park Tivoli. You’ll find some of the most spectacular views from its rooftop B-Bar and B by Alfredo Russo restaurant.

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Mérida, Mexico

Chosen By: Michaela Guzy is a media executive, entrepreneur and on-air show host. She is the executive producer for two online television shows, Michaela’s Map and OhThePeopleYouMeet. Based in New York City, she is also an adjunct professor at New York University School of Professional Studies, where she teaches a course called "Travel Storytelling: Creating Video Content."

Why: Sunrise yoga on the banks of a sacred Mayan cenote? Sí, por favor! This is just one of the magical wonders you’ll discover at Chable Resort, in a 250-year-old converted hacienda just outside Merida, Mexico. But Chable is more than just a wellness retreat with a world-class spa. It incorporates indigenous Mayan traditions and healing into treatments, like a temezcal under the careful eye of the Résident Abuela Ak’bal, a spiritual leader. After a mind, body, soul connection, take a dip in the thermal pools. For golf lovers, a Pitch & Putt will open in January 2019, and the well-curated gift shop features only Mexican designers. No visit to Mexico is complete without tasting the local cuisine and tequila. An estimated 40% of produce and herbs used at Chable are grown on its own farm, utilizing traditional Mayan techniques. At Ixi’im Restaurant, executive chef Luis Ronzon works hand in hand with star chef Jorge Vallejo, known for his award-winning restaurant, Quintonil, in Mexico City. Ixi’im also has the world’s largest tequila collection (in terms of bottle design), with 3,500 on display. And you must not miss the handmade tortillas at the Palapa Maya, where Doña Eneida — the village’s grandmother and Chable’s Yucatan chef — cooks her family's recipes for guests.

Baha Mar in the Bahamas.

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Baha Mar, Bahamas

Chosen By: Haisley Smith is the vice-president of marketing and business development for Brownell, the agency of choice for intrepid travelers since 1887. Smith looks for properties with personality, cruises with creativity and experiences that excite the senses on behalf of the luxury agency powerhouse.

Why: Visitors are flush with choice in the Bahamas, and at the new Baha Mar, there is a little something for travelers of all tastes and preferences. Pick your hotel based on your passion: the luxurious Rosewood Baha Mar, the cutting-edge SLS Baha Mar or the family-friendly Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. The resort complex opened earlier this year with well-publicized hiccups, but the Bahamian government recently allowed for 2,000 additional work visas to help the resorts round out their staffs. It’s smooth sailing and cocktail sipping from here on out.

Krabi, Thailand

Chosen by: Juliana A. Saad is a Brazilian writer and editor who specializes in travel, lifestyle and luxury. Her company, MMJX Comunicação, produces news and develops special editorial content and projects for numerous publications and companies.

Why: Krabi is a special place in the south of Thailand that is still under the radar, uncrowded and peaceful. The place to stay is Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, set right on a white-sand beach. The bungalows are like little houses with lap pools, bathtubs in the form of a lotus flower and the biggest beds you'll ever see. The hotel hosts barbecues on the beach and will take you on boat trips around the islands, which jut out of the sea. It looks like Halong Bay in Vietnam, but is blissfully serene. Once you're in Krabi, you'll never want to leave.

Madeira

Chosen By: Based in Mexico City,  María Pellicer has been working in the travel industry for the past decade. Formerly the editor in chief of Travesiasmagazine, she now oversees all the editorial projects in the company.

Why: Portugal has been on travelers' radars for quite some time now, but I'm super excited about the country getting a bit more popular. Madeira is a great nature destination and is still fairly unexplored. Because of its remote location, there's a feeling of something exotic and isolated — but then again, it's Portugal, so food and culture are still there. For those who love nature, this is something to keep an eye on.

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Alicante, Spain

Chosen By: An avid traveler, Tania L Swasbrook grew up in the travel industry. She specializes in ultra luxury travel with a particular passion for wellness, romance and adventure.

Why: Alicante in the Valencia region of southeastern Spain is a beautiful and picturesque destination set on the hills of the Mediterranean Sea between the bay of Altea and the natural park of Sierra Helada. There are stunning views, plus the weather is amazing year round. There, you'll find SHA Wellness Clinic, which is in a class of its own, perfectly combining the chicness, beauty and service of a luxury Mediterranean resort with an expert team of medical professionals. The combination of Western and Eastern medicine provides a true 360-degree approach to wellness. SHA Wellness also recently launched “SHA Residences,” 11 luxurious suites that allow you to truly immerse yourself in a healthier lifestyle while in the company of your loved ones.

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