Core travel: Top destinations for meaningful travel experiences
Expand your horizons by connecting with nature, exploring cultures, and discovering new places through unique experiences designed to invoke core travel memories.
By Paul Oswell | June 19, 2025
Paul Oswell
Paul Oswell is a British award-winning journalist and published travel author based in New Orleans, Louisiana. His books include Bucket List North America and The Great American Road Trip, as well as New Orleans' Historic Hotels. He has also been an editor of and contributor to several guidebooks/editions published by Dorling Kindersley (owned by Penguin), including New Orleans, Florida, Orlando, Los Angeles, California, and The United States. His work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure (both of which he has written multiple online travel guides for) and The Guardian, as well as dozens of international newspaper and magazine titles, and inflight magazines for major airlines.
If you want to get more than just momentary enjoyment during your next vacation, then embracing the core travel trend is for you. Core travel promises new levels of fulfillment by creating memories and bonds that will last long after your time away from home. This happens through activities that connect you to natural landscapes, seeing and feeling the expressions of different cultures, and expanding your horizons with personal or nostalgic experiences — ones that feel like unique elements of your chosen destinations. Here are our top suggestions for destinations that fuel these core travel moments.
Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal’s capital is alive with a dynamic culture that inspires inquisitive visitors. The city’s character reveals itself as you stroll along its historic streets, and a guided tour of the Alfama district is no exception. Some parts date back to the 8th century, and the colorful tiles (called “azulejos”) tell a fascinating story. Food remains a universally evocative experience, and DUO Hotel Lisbon, Curio Collection by Hilton not only offers local delicacies at its on-site Pastelaria and Novo Mundo restaurant, but it’s also within walking distance of some of the city’s best bites and top sites. Just steps away is Time Out Market, where you can sample local fried squid, grilled sardines, and pastel de nata, an unmissable Portuguese custard tart.
Barcelona, Spain
Proudly Catalan and a vibrant cultural hub, Barcelona makes an indelible imprint on travelers. The Via Sants Hotel Barcelona, Tapestry Collection by Hilton makes an excellent home base for your stay in the Eixample district, with some of the city’s stunning architecture, art, artisanal crafts, and gastronomy nearby. Take a 16-minute metro ride to experience renowned architect Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, or tour 100 lesser-known buildings on the Ruta del Modernisme (Route of Modernism). At the modernist venue Palau de la Música Catalana, hear the unforgettable sounds of traditional Catalan music. Gain a deeper appreciation for local cuisine with a cooking class that offers demonstrations of traditional dishes like paella or fideuà. The hotel's concierge can direct you to the best places to partake in iconic local customs, such as sipping an afternoon aperitivo during vermú hour (vermouth hour) or taking a traditional evening stroll.
Santorini, Greece
With art and civilization dating back millennia, Greece is a key destination for core travel, and Santorini is one of its most dazzling offerings. A stay at Santorini Secret Suites and Spa, an SLH Hotel can help you tap into local culture with curated experiences that connect you to the island’s people, land, and ancient traditions. Enjoy the hotel's Private Sunset Picnic, which brings together stunning sunset views with a ten-course menu of creative Mediterranean cuisine paired with local wine (Santorini's unique grape varieties) and champagne in a secret hillside location. The Art of Santorini experience gives you a hands-on lesson in traditional Santorini pottery, and you’ll walk away having created your own unique pieces. Delve into the history of Santorini with a private archaeological tour of prehistoric cities such as Akrotiri — the Aegean Pompeii — which reveals a sophisticated Bronze Age society.
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