There are some places in the world that just have something special. You know the feeling: from the second you arrive something feels different, unique, and you can’t quite put your finger on it because it’s not logical, it comes from your heart. For those of us that travel a lot, finding such places becomes more challenging. Sure, Paris is gorgeous; but it’s a dusty town in Cambodia that has you absolutely smitten and you have no idea why. Who knows why one place has a better vibe than another, maybe these places vibrate at a higher frequency, maybe it’s their history, maybe it’s just personal taste. Here are my 15 destinations that have the unique vibe (in no particular order):
1. Cefalu, Sicily
Cefalu is a sun-kissed town in northern Sicily. It’s often passed over for the more famous Taormina, but Cefalu is utterly charming.
Best Vibe: Climb the 278 meters up La Rocca, the mountain behind the town, and marvel at the views. The ruins of a 12th-13th century castle await you at the top.
2. Jaisalmer, India
Jaisalmer is a medieval fort built in Rajasthan, India and dates to 1156 AD. The town itself remains relatively unchanged, and you absolutely must stay within the fort (don’t let the naysayers put you off). There are a number of fantastic hotels within the walls, all very authentic.
Best Vibe: Go on an overnight trip into the Thar desert. You’ll ride for hours on a grumpy camel through vast desert scenery, then when you reach your camp you’ll have an incredible meal cooked for you. The best bit? Sleeping under the stars in the desert with the camels burping next to you. It’s priceless.
3. Pamukkale, Southwestern Anatolia, Turkey 
Pamukkale is the modern gateway to the ancient town of Hierapolis, which grew up around natural hot springs in the second century BC. The way visiting the site works is that you take a bus to the entrance of the ancient town, and you walk through the well preserved ruins until you reach the incredible white travertines and hot springs. The travertines are natural calcium deposits filled with hot spring water. When you’re done, walk back or catch a ride on one of the many shuttle carts back to the car park/bus stop.
Best Vibe: As you walk along the main thoroughfare of ancient Hierapolis notice the giant sarcophagi that line the road leading to the town. In Roman times the dead were laid to rest along the road leading out of town, and the sarcophagi were a display of wealth.
Best Vibe: When you reach the travertines you’ll find yourself in a very modern visitors center, don’t be deterred, go in and have a swim in one of the original hot springs used in Roman times. The Antique Pool is littered with the ruins of marble Roman columns from the nearby Temple of Apollo.
4. Railay West Beach, Krabi, Thailand 
Railay beach in Krabi, Thailand is a double edged sword. On the one hand it’s a glorious place with breathtaking limestone cliffs, hidden bays, chilled beach bars and a laid back vibe; but go at the wrong time of year and it’s literally over-run with tourists and long-tail boats, which totally kill the vibe. Also be aware that Railay Beach is made up of the east beach and the west beach. Railay East is backpacker territory with cheaper accommodation and no beaches, only muddy mangroves. Railay West is the picture above, simply gorgeous. Accommodation is more pricey, for good reason. But you can easily walk between the two sides in ten minutes or less. Avoid peak season: December and January, it’ll be chaos. High season is ok: October to December, and February to April. Low season is rainy season: May to September. Aim for mid to end September, or end of March to mid April and you should have less rain with the place to yourselves.
Best Vibe: Go rock climbing on one of the massive limestone cliffs. Railay is rated as one of the top 5 spots in the world for rock climbing.
Best Vibe: At the north end of Railay West there is a tiny overgrown hidden path that leads through the vegetation to Tonsai Beach. Tonsai Beach is way more chilled than Railay, and you’ll probably escape the hordes too.
Best Vibe: Bookworms head to the second hand bookshop in the small village area of Railay West. It’s full of really great books, not just fluffy holiday reads.
Best Vibe: Rent one of the traditional Thai wooden houses at the Railay Beach Club, you’ll have your own paradise.
5. Stellenbosch, South Africa 
I am slightly biased in including Stellenbosch because it’s where I went to university, and where Papa B and I met. But besides that, this town has got the vibe! It’s surrounded by mountains, its streets are lined with ancient French oak trees planted in the 18th century, its got beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, and best of all, it’s filled with intelligent students! I like to think that the love of learning hangs in the air here.
Best Vibe: Stellenbosch must be explored on foot. Take in the views, smells and sunshine at a leisurely pace.
Best Vibe: Stellenbsoch is on the famous Cape Wine Route, and is surrounded by gorgeous wine farms. Visit them all!
6. Poros, Greece 
The ‘real’ Greece no longer exists right? Sleepy, quaint villages have been transformed into soulless tourist traps, right? Go to Poros, or nearby Hydra to prove to yourself that the real Greece is alive and well. Obviously July and August are busy, but by September it’s just Petros and the cats that are left, and you’ll have the place to yourselves. Poros is a protected town, so there are no new buildings, no strip-malls, and few cars. It’s surrounded by mountains, and is a convenient one hour from Athens on the fast ferry.
Best Vibe: Rent a quad bike and venture into the island’s interior where you’ll find ancient Greek ruins, family run tavernas, and deserted beaches.
7. Bariloche, Argentina 
Bariloche in southern Argentina sits on magnificent lakes and is surrounded by the Andes mountains. No wonder it’s got the vibe! The town has Swiss style architecture and offers great skiing, trekking and mountaineering. Take a drive along the 7 Lakes Route for breathtaking scenery of the snow-capped Andes mountains. Stop along the way for a meal of fresh trout.
Best Vibe: The 7 Lakes Route is gorgeous, but the town of Bariloche is pretty special. Enjoy a raclette fondu in true Swiss style!
Best Vibe: Go zip-lining in the forests outside of town. The lines are really high, it’s a massive adrenalin rush!
8. Ravello, Italy 
Ravello is a town tucked away on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It’s more famous neighbours Positano and Sorrento get all the attention, but in my opinion, Ravello is where it’s at. The town is perched amidst vineyards and it’s history stretches back to the 5th century AD. It’s much more laid back than its sea front cousins, and commands spectacular views from it’s hilltop position.
Best Vibe: Visit Villa Cimbrone, favourite haunt of Sophia Loren, and have lunch in the gardens. The views are amazing.
9. Pingyao, China 
In a country that is modernizing at an alarming (or inspiring) rate, Pingyao is a rare and unique gem. Founded in the 14th century, the town remains pretty much unchanged. It’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason because it’s the only town of it’s kind in China. To stroll down these streets is to go back through time to the mysterious China that existed before exposure to Europe, and it’s utterly enchanting. Part of Pingyao’s magic is that it is still a functioning town with 50 000 residents. At 715 kms (444 miles) from Beijing, it’s a bit of a slog to get to, but the overnight train is a great experience, so don’t be deterred. Winter months are much quieter, and the crisp air and misty mornings add to the atmosphere.
Best Vibe: Take a walk along the medieval walls that surround the town. In fact, just spend the whole day walking around, popping into temples, shops and historical family compounds, and fancy yourself a medieval merchant.
10. Aix En Provence, France 
It’s not like Aix will ever be considered undiscovered or off the beaten track, but it makes it onto this list because, well, it’s got oak trees, alluring squares, pavement cafes, fresh food markets, antique shops, perfect architecture, the university vibe, lavender fields, Mediterranean sunshine, I could go on and on. This place has got the vibe!
Best Vibe: Stroll along the Cours Mirabeau. Drink coffee. People watch. Smell the oak trees.
Best Vibe: Try to be there on a market day. You’ll find fresh produce, flowers, clothes and more. There are many around the city with Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays being the busiest.
11. Hoi An, Vietnam 
I honestly think this town is the jewel of Vietnam. When we lived in Saigon we’d travel up north to Hoi An any chance we got because it’s just so amazing. I can’t get enough. This wonderfully preserved town dates back to the 15th century, but it’s the mix of French architecture and Vietnamese culture that sets it apart. This town is just so photogenic! In it’s heyday Hoi An was an important trading port and it’s population also included Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Dutch. Echos of this multicultural past are found everywhere, and adds to the towns mystique and charm. Gorgeous beaches are a draw card too.
Best Vibe: You must explore on foot, and think of yourself as a seafaring merchant or something. The past is palpable. Good coffee is served everywhere, so settle down for some people watching too.
Best Vibe: Hoi An is renowned for its tailoring. You can walk into any tailor in the town and have clothes made exactly to your taste. Flip through Zara, H&M and Next catalogs to choose what you want and it will be ready in 48 hours, shorter if you’re in a rush.
12. Pompeii, Italy 
Historical places are my thing. They hold such energy, so many secrets, and they have witnessed a world we will never experience. That’s very poignant for me. I adore Pompeii for exactly that reason. You can wander through the streets and your imagination works overtime imagining what it was like to live here 2000 years ago. It’s not hard to imagine either because the town is so well preserved. It doesn’t feel like a ghost town, or a graveyard, it feels alive.
Best Vibe: Walk out of town towards the Villa of the Mysteries to gaze upon an almost perfectly preserved courtyard house with beautiful frescoes. I love that it’s outside of town, in the suburbs so to speak, and you can imagine walking into town to the market or to run errands.
13. Chiang Mai, Thailand 
We staggered off the train after an overnight journey from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and found ourselves in a songthaew (a pick-up truck taxi) jolting along to our guest house. I remember breathing in the fresh misty morning air, looking around at the small canals that crisscross the town, and my heart just knew this place was special. During our years living in Thailand we returned again and again. Chiang Mai surrounded by mountains and so much lush vegetation that you feel giddy, and as such it’s a mecca for yoga and meditation. Rent a motorbike and zip around the town exploring.
Best Vibe: Jump on your Vespa and head out of town up to the incredible Wat Doi Suthep, a Buddhist temple in the mountains. The drive alone is stunning as you wind your way through dense vegetation up and up towards the temple. You’ll need to climb 306 steps to the top, but it’s well worth it with intricate temple buildings and a view over Chiang Mai as your reward.
14. Aphrodisias, Western Anatolia, Turkey
I know I’ve already included one ancient town on this list (Pompeii) but I just couldn’t bring myself to leave Aphrodisias out! This incredible town is nestled among the rolling hills of western Anatolia in Turkey and is one of the most well preserved archaeological sites in the world. This was a Greek city that reached it’s heyday during the Roman Empire as a centre of statue-making. Statues all over the ancient world can be traced back to this little hub of creativity in the middle of nowhere. Poplar trees and olive groves dot the landscape, and the town is beautifully green, and was even in ancient times. This is a place where people really enjoyed life and that’s what you pick up on as you stroll around. There are many perfectly preserved buildings, amphitheaters, columns, and entertainment was obviously a high priority. Most people visiting the region head straight for Ephesus 150km (93mi) away, and are blown away by how well preserved the city is, and rightly so. But Aphrodisias is truly a wonder, and even 1500 years later the sense of community is almost palpable. Being a student of ancient religions I was fascinated by Aphrodisias’ religious journey. It held out as a pagan town long after Christianity was embraced in Rome, but eventually it’s isolation could no longer protect it and Christianity began to creep in. Pagan temples were altered to accommodate Christian worship, and this transformation is evident in the ruins.
Best Vibe: So you think you’ve seen some of the ancient world’s most amazing buildings? Wait til you walk into the Stadium at Aphrodisias. It’s at the north end of the town and you enter from the side, your view obstructed by the walls of the passageway. As you emerge into the stadium, look to your left and be prepared to be amazed! It is the largest stadium in the ancient world, and magnificently preserved. That moment is one that will stay with me forever because I literally gasped in disbelief at its size and state of preservation. It’s 262m long, 59m wide with 22 rows of seats and has capacity for 30.000 spectators.
15. Siem Reap, Cambodia 
And number 15, Siem Reap! Siem Reap is the dusty one-horse-town you’ll stay in while you visit the phenomenal Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Angkor with it’s ancient temples is always going to eclipse this town, but actually Siem Reap has a great vibe. Maybe it’s the untarred roads, the many restaurants, bars and cafes, the sense of community of a small town that makes the town so addictive. Here’s what I think: there are two types of tourist in Siem Reap: those who still plan to explore the temples of Angkor, and those who already have. The ones who haven’t been tremble with expectation, the ones who have been tremble with wonder, and that’s what creates the tangible vibe of excitement that hums through Siem Reap.
Best Vibe: Enjoy good Italian coffee at one of the many cafe’s and soak up the palpable excitement. Go for masssges, visit the galleries and museums scattered through the town.
Best Vibe: I should really devote a whole article to Angkor Wat, but take my advice and explore the temples by bike. You’ll cycle 40, 50, 60 kms (24-37mi) in a day, but the pace is slow and you’ll discover another world on your own terms.
All photos are my own except for: Stellenbosch; Aix En Provence; Hoi An.