Plan Your Travel Year

Your complete guide to another 12 months of adventure.

By Tim Chester

February 13, 2025

Copy
Link copied
Email
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Print

A few people swimming and relaxing at green Wadi Bani Khalid oasis in Oman — Where will 2025 take you? We’re dreaming of the wadis of Oman for starters.

Our new collection of travel-planning stories is full of intel and inspiration to guide you through an amazing year of adventure. We reveal how to make the most of your airline points and which hotel loyalty schemes are best. We’ve highlighted the destinations that top travel advisors believe will be big in five years—and therefore are best to visit now. And we’ve got the latest on cruising, top restaurants around the world, and more.

Happy travels, wherever you might be going.

Tim Chester

Tim Chester is a deputy editor at Afar, focusing primarily on destination inspiration and sustainable travel. He’s previously worked for Mashable, Buzzfeed, Rough Guides, the Sunday Times, the Guardian, and NME as a travel, music, culture, and tech journalist. He lives near L.A. in California and likes spending time in the waves, on the mountains, or on wheels. Find him on LinkedIn.

Where to Travel Next

12 Under-the-Radar Places You Should Travel to Now, Before They Get Popular

We asked travel advisors and tour operators for their insight into up-and-coming places likely to be a lot busier in a few years.

The Shore House Pool at sunset at the Hotel del Coronado in California

Hotels

12 Hotels Opening This Year Worth Planning an Entire Trip Around

Afar’s resident hotel expert uncovers 12 of the most alluring new and renovated hotels of 2025, from California to Indonesia.

(Left) Luxor Egypt, (Middle) Avalon River Cruise in Budapest, (Right) Food market in Provence France, Christian Mackie/Unsplash

River Cruises

How to Pick the Right River Cruise for You—a Sailing for Every Style of Traveler

A travel writer who’s been covering river cruises for years offers her top picks for families, foodies, solo travelers, wellness seekers, history lovers, and more.

Loyalty + Rewards

I Was Doing Rewards Travel All Wrong—Until I Read This New Book From The Points Guy

Brian Kelly, aka The Points Guy, knows that navigating the points-and-miles ecosystem is no picnic. So he wrote a book—"How to Win at Travel”—to help us do just that.

Concept art combining photos of hands holding three cards with the logos of Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton on them against a purple background

Hotel News + Openings

Hotel Loyalty Programs Aren’t What They Used to Be

High-design boutique hotels, glamping outposts, luxury all-inclusives. In 2025, the hotels you can book through loyalty programs like Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG One Rewards look a lot different than they did a few years ago.

photo illustration of a view through an airline window onto a stunning vista of an open-air room in the mountains with a bed and a wooden table and chairs

Loyalty + Rewards

These Are the Airline Loyalty Programs That Are Actually Worth It, According to Experts

Airline loyalty programs, many travelers say, aren’t what they used to be. But some are still well worth it—just for different purposes.

Aurora Expeditions's Greg Mortimer expedition vessel in Greenland sailing among icebergs with striking cliffs in the background

Cruise

There’s a Very Good Reason You Should Book a Cruise Right Now

“Wave season” is a promotional period when cruise lines roll out some of the best discounts, free flights, and attractive upgrades of the year. Here’s when it is and what’s on offer.