Forbes recently rounded up the 7 best places to visit in 2027, based on where luxury advisors at OvationNetwork are sending clients. The full list sits behind the original article, and the details available to us cover only three of the picks. But those three show a useful pattern: the best trips come with a reason to go now. This piece shows you how to borrow that logic and plan your own 2027 trip, starting today.
What the advisors are pointing to
Per Forbes, the highlights include:
- Destinations tied to two major sporting events. Forbes doesn't name them in the material we have, so check the original piece for specifics.
- A wetland most Americans can't find on a map. An overlooked nature destination.
- A bicultural Alpine region. A place where two cultures share one landscape.
The other four picks aren't covered here, so we won't guess at them. What matters is the shape of the list: an event, a hidden natural place, and a region with cultural depth. Each has a clear reason to go in 2027 rather than some other year.
Why a 'why now' hook beats a bucket list
Bucket-list destinations will still be there in 2030. A trip with a hook has a deadline, and that changes how you plan. A hook can be:
- A one-time event that reshapes a city for weeks
- A place that's still under the radar and uncrowded
- A cultural region you'd appreciate more with time to explore it slowly
If you can't say in one sentence why you're going in 2027 specifically, keep brainstorming.
How to plan around a sporting event
Event-driven travel rewards early decisions. Here's a doable sequence:
- Pick the event first, then the trip. Decide whether you're going to watch, or just visiting the host region while it's buzzing.
- Check the schedule as soon as it's published. Dates drive everything else: flights, hotels, and what else you can fit around the event.
- Book flexible lodging early. Look for rooms with free cancellation so you can lock in a spot without committing fully.
- Build in days on either side. Spend time in the region before or after the event, when it's easier to enjoy the destination itself.
- Have a plan B for tickets. Decide in advance what you'd do if you can't get into the event itself.
A trip that depends on one ticket is fragile. A trip that uses the event as an anchor and the region as the main course holds up better.
How to approach an underrated nature destination
A wetland most Americans can't place on a map is, by definition, not set up like a headline attraction. Expect to do more homework:
- Work out access first. Lesser-known places often have fewer flights and limited transfers, so how you get there may shape the whole itinerary.
- Ask about the best season. Wetlands and wildlife areas can change dramatically through the year. A local guide or an advisor can tell you when to go.
- Hire local expertise. In places without big signage and crowds, a guide is often the difference between seeing something and walking past it.
- Pair it with a bigger hub. Add a few days in a well-connected city for easier logistics.
This is where a travel advisor earns their fee: hard-to-reach places are hard to book alone.
How to do a bicultural Alpine region well
Forbes highlights a bicultural Alpine region, which suggests a place where two languages and traditions overlap. You can get more out of a spot like that by treating the culture as part of the itinerary, not background scenery.
- Eat locally on purpose. Menus in a two-culture region often show both influences, so order what you can't get at home.
- Learn a few phrases in both languages. Even a greeting goes a long way.
- Visit outside the busiest weekends. You'll see more daily life and fewer tour groups.
- Mix outdoor days with town days. Hike or ski, then spend time in villages where the cultural blend is most visible.
Should you use a travel advisor?
These picks come from advisors, so it's fair to ask whether you need one. A few cases where it makes sense:
- You're planning a multi-stop trip around a major event
- The destination has limited flights or lodging
- You'd rather spend time enjoying the trip than researching it
If you go it alone, you can still copy their method: pick a hook, book the hard parts first, and leave room for the unplanned.
Your next step
Open Forbes' full list of seven, pick the one with the clearest reason to go in 2027, and write down the dates that matter for it. Then book the hardest piece first, whether that's flights, a room, or a guide, while you still have choices.
