Well, it seems the pandemic is sort of (maybe, possibly) over–or, at the very least, we’ve incorporated its permanence into our everyday. Restrictions and COVID protocols are easing, and countries that have maintained lockdowns are reopening. Travelers have been rapidly flocking to international destinations. Yes, we might pack masks and Purell, but the paranoia has downgraded. READ MORE

So, for the first time since November 2019, we’re publishing an international Go List, covering the far reaches of this weird and wonderful world. But is it the same world as before? Are we the same travelers? 

Travel seems to have new meaning to many of us. The loss of this privilege has led to much rumination on its importance. There’s a collective feeling of forfeited time and an urgency to make plans. But with that lost time has come plenty of opportunities for reflection–and the realization that maybe we weren’t doing it right before. Travel isn’t a bucket list challenge or a competition to one-up your friends and followers. It’s an impactful experience–to us as individuals, but also to the places we visit.

Because for a destination, it’s a little more complicated. Tourism can bring financial relief for many, and creates opportunities for exchanging ideas and ideals, but travel can also be a corrosive commodity. And for that reason–for the first time since November 2019–we’ve decided to bring back the No List, which encourages travelers to reexamine the impacts of tourism and reevaluate where to spend valuable dollars and time. 

The Go and No Lists are perfect examples of the duality of traveling this new world–we’re eager, but we’re anxious. We want guidance and reassurance. It feels like a whole new world out there.

But one thing remains as true as ever: we still believe in the endless possibilities of travel.

Edited by Apeksha Bhateja, Stacey Lastoe, Rachael Levitt, Eva Morreale, Jeremy Tarr, and Nikki Vargas. Photo editing by Viviane Teles, Eddie Aldrete, and Kadeem McPherson.