The Good Housekeeping team's best-ever trips
From a Mekong Delta cruise to an adventure in Northern Norway
The end of the year and start of a new one always gets us thinking about the trips to take next and what better inspiration than the incredible locations loved by the Good Housekeeping team?
Whether we're travelling to somewhere exotic and far-flung, or exploring a picturesque staycation spot, there's no doubt that we love discovering the world's most beautiful corners.
To help you choose the right place for your 2020 escape, we thought we'd bring you the Good Housekeeping team's most life-changing trips and share the stories that made them so memorable.
From an underrated European country our Editor-in-Chief recommend for foodies and culture buffs, to a UK beauty spot our Video Editor adores for escaping the stresses of modern life, these are the locations that have captured the hearts of the GH team.
Browse our top getaways and follow the links to book a dream trip of your own in 2020.
Mekong Delta
"Sipping milk from a coconut as our guide rowed my two best friends and I through the tree lined waterways of the Mekong Delta is an experience I’ll never forget.
"Elderly women in their traditional non la hats sat on plastic chairs along the river, watching the world pass by, while children splashed and waved as we passed. During our Mekong Delta tour, we stopped to sample local fare; sweet, runny honey, rambutan, lychees and an amazing array of fish.
"Vietnam is an incredible place. And the Mekong Delta holds many happy memories." Ella Dove, Commissioning Editor
Snowdonia
"I love getting out of the city when I can, visiting the British countryside is so easy nowadays. I can be stood in Piccadilly circus and a few hours later I can be totally alone in a national park with just my thoughts and some stunning views.
"Snowdonia has to be one of my favourite short escapes, heading into the park from Betws-y-Coed or Capel Curig. The dramatic stone peaks and rolling heathlands are a fantastic place to be free of the hustle and bustle of work and the daily stresses of modern life.
"If you're not the rambling type, Betws-y-Coed has a wide selection of accommodation and the Snowdon Mountain Railway will take you up almost 1,000 metres above sea level to see some of the best views of North Wales you can get." Oscar Hather, Video Editor
Amsterdam
"Each and every area of Amsterdam you visit is picture perfect, with unique architecture that’s steeped in rich history, and picturesque canals that wind their way between cobbled lanes.
"Amsterdam is so much more than just a photo opportunity though. With it’s incredibly tolerant way of life, diverse restaurant culture and a myriad of museums that suit each and every interest, it comes at the top of my list for short European city breaks!" Grace Evans, Digital Cookery Writer
Georgia
"I lived and worked in Tbilisi, Georgia, for a year earlier on in my career and it remains one of my favourite places on the planet for several reasons. Its people are some of the warmest, friendliest you could ever hope to meet anywhere – and they also love any excuse for a party!
"Meanwhile, it has a rich history and culture and both in Tbilisi and outside there are beautiful, historic buildings to visit, the like of which you won’t find anywhere else in the world - and the countryside and coast offer breathtaking scenery.
"Georgia also has a fantastic culinary tradition, so don’t expect to go on a trip there and lose weight! The cheese-filled bread is the stuff of dreams – and washed down with a delicious, local wine, even more sublime. I remain in touch with many of my Georgian friends because, once you’ve visited, you are never forgotten – and neither could you ever forget a holiday here." Gaby Hudart, Editor-in-Chief
Lake Como
"Lake Como is a place that holds a special place in my heart as my boyfriend and I did a day trip there as part of our first holiday together to Milan. Como is the most beautiful, scenic place and spending a day on the water with the sun beating down and an Aperol Spritz in hand is just perfect in my eyes.
Plus, you can do some celeb villa spotting and see where George and Amal live when they’re there – bonus!" Megan Sutton, Senior Digital Writer
Northern Norway
"One of the most mesmerising parts of Europe I've visited is Northern Norway, where I had an out-of-this-world Northern Lights experience during a group tour. The night I'll always remember is when we took some snowmobiles out from the city of Honningsvag to reach the North Cape by midnight - the first time this had been done by a group of tourists.
"Along the way, we stopped for a moment to wait for the others to catch up and as we looked up at the sky, it turned completely green. I'd never seen such a vivid display. Many people head to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, others visit Lapland but Northern Norway remains the best place I've seen them." Roshina Jowaheer, Digital Travel Editor
Banff
"Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to travel on the legendary Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Banff on the two-day route known as the 'First Passage to the West'. It was a thrilling, ultra-scenic journey of dramatically changing landscapes: one minute, it’s shimmering lakes and verdant forests, the next, it’s desert-like canyons.
"While the train was undoubtedly the star of the show, we spent some time in the picturesque mountain town of Banff, whose main street, with its snowy pavements, pine trees and low-rise chalet-style shops and boutiques, resembles a scene from a Christmas movie.
"For lunch, we rode the famous Banff Gondola cable car to Sky Bistro, perched on the summit of Sulphur Mountain for fabulous food while looking out over five mountain ranges. Lunchtime views don’t get more spectacular!" Elaine Griffiths, Special Projects Editor
Tuscany
"You'd be hard pushed to find anywhere in Europe more beautiful than Tuscany. That's partly down to the natural scheme of things, the voluptuous lie of the land, its hills cloaked in trees or ribbed by vines, while patchworks of wheat fields or olive groves quilt the lower ground.
"But it's also remarkable for the harmonious way that man has blended into the picture, with farmhouses and hilltop villages that almost look as if they've simply grown out of the earth. God, as they say, was the architect of Tuscany but he brought in Michelangelo to do the decorating." David Wickers, Travel Editor
South India
"Inspired by The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I escaped 2017’s 'Beast from the East' and took my first ever escorted tour across South India. Travelling in a small group, I felt humbled by exotic temples, got close to nature in Western Ghats, cruised the serene Kerala backwaters and explored colonial Kochi.
"I fell instantly in love with this exotic country and its kind-hearted people. Now that the Taj Mahal isn’t shrouded in scaffolding, a trip to Rajasthan and the majestic north of India is firmly on my travel bucket list for 2020." Alistair Wood, Brand Development Director
Carcassonne
"Carcassonne will always hold a bit of a special place in my heart because it was part of a very magical trip to France for my birthday last year.
"My boyfriend and I organised a day trip there from nearby Toulouse, and of course, on that morning we overslept and almost missed our train! After making it just in the nick of time, we arrived in the charming little town and felt immediately soothed by the winding, picturesque streets that looked like something out of an old film.
"We spent a day happily wandering around the medieval citadel, getting lost amidst the towers and pathways. As it was December, we warmed up afterwards with crepes and hot chocolate – a lovely way to spend a day on holiday!" Keren Sim, Social Media Manager
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