Never mind the shots of billowing flowy dresses or dripping ice cream cones you might see as you scroll through the ‘gram: the most addictive pics and vids are the ones that take you somewhere else than your sofa.
Whether you have gleefully returned to traveling or are wistfully reminiscing about your most recent vacation in the Before Times, here are twelve accounts to peruse before you plan and pack for your next jaunt
Love the Maldives
What is it: Pictures and videos of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean at the top of every beach lover’s bucket list. The feed has pretty much one formula for its videos: a drone camera follows a bikini- and flowy cover-up-clad influencer as she steps out of her overwater bungalow and either jumps into the jacuzzi on her deck, descends the private water slide that leads directly into the azure ocean or nibbles from a breakfast floating in her private pool. But somehow it never gets old.
Best for: Tropical travelers who want to take a next-level sojourn.
Petit St. Vincent
What is it: Official account of a 115-acre private island luxury resort in the Southern Grenadines, with 22 villas, elevated yet casual dining and impeccable, unobtrusive service. Raise the yellow flag outside your front door for anything your heart desires, or the red one for complete and utter privacy.
Best for: Anyone dreaming of escaping for a week (or more) to a remote private island with no WiFi, room phones that only dial out, and the entire beach to yourself.
TripSavvy
What is it: Official account of the online publication offering friendly, approachable, useful vacation inspiration. The IG feed is peppered with fun, quirky, harrowing and unique experiences the world over, from skydiving over the Carpathian Mountains and sand surfing in Dubai to a walk across the crazy curvy bridge in China’s Zhejiang Province and a romantic dinner high above Tulum in a private nest. Followers are encouraged to tag someone with whom they would like to take part in said activities.
Best for: Experiential, adventurous travelers and those who wish they were.
AFAR
What is it: The official account for the critically-acclaimed, award-winning print and digital publication, whose mission of “travel as a force for good” and encouragement to “travel deeper” inspires trips that focus on sustainability, authenticity and connection.
Best for: Those who prefer to get to know the locals, dine where they do and go off the beaten path rather than head to the usual tourist traps and check off boxes in the guidebook.
The Points Guy
What is it: The official account of the wildly popular site for hacks, tips and best practices for getting to a destination using points, miles and a credit card with killer perks. Videos and photos will take you to upgraded first and business class airplane cabins, suites and excursions, all while giving you the latest travel news.
Best for: Savvy travelers who are self-proclaimed points junkies and have Google alerts set up for flight discounts, a premium subscription to Scott’s Cheap Flights and more than one travel credit card in their wallets.
Intrepid Travel
What is it: The official account for the leading tour company offering locally-led, sustainable adventure tours all over the world. Trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro, taste your way through South Korea’s flavorful food and beer scene, learn why Bhutan is indeed the happiest country in the world and make your way around the vineyards, glow worm caves and Lord of the Rings’ settings on New Zealand’s North Island.
Best for: Social types who glean their energy from groups and prefer to hike, bike, climb or explore rather than lay on a beach all day with a drink in hand.
Glampingdotcom
What is it: Pics of pretty tents with creature comforts and other niceties located in some of the world’s most breathtaking spots, from British Columbia to the Dominican Republic to Kashmir, India, where your stay promises to be luxe instead of low brow, and roughing it is not required.
Best for: Those who have an affinity for the great outdoors–as long as accommodations include (hot) running water instead of an outhouse, a cushy bed with Frette linens rather than a sleeping bag on the ground and meals prepared by a chef, not camper pies and hot dogs on an open fire.
Thailand Insider
What is it: The official account of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, whose feed is chock full of Sukhothai’s temples, Bangkok’s reclining Buddhas, Chiang Mai’s curried noodles, the country’s incomparable beaches from Phang-Nga Bay to the Phi Phi Islands, and beloved indigenous creatures like elephants and long-tailed Macaques monkeys.
Best for: Those reminiscing about their last trip–or planning their first one–to the aptly nicknamed Land of Smiles.
Cinque Terre Trip
What is it: The views, restaurants, bars, beaches and more of the five picturesque towns in Italy’s Cinque Terre region, which rivals the Amalfi Coast for its seaside cliffs, tucked-away villages and charm in spades. If you know, you know.
Best for: Living (or reliving) your Italian Mediterranean dreams without pulling out our passport.
Santorini
What is it: An entire feed of intense cobalt blue and stark white of Greece’s swoon-worthy island. Staggered hotels and inns with their iconic, signature domed roofs, lounge chairs overlooking the striking caldera that remains after several volcanic eruptions over millennia, and sun-drenched patios with hanging wisteria, chilled glasses of Assyrtiko all day and a simply grilled catch of the day.
Best for: Um, pretty much everyone. If you can’t find bliss in these photos you may be dead inside.
National Geographic Travel
What is it: Official account of the travel arm of the renowned publication. Followers are invited to “explore a big world through the lens of their photographers.” Expect elephants in Kenya, speckled filter feeders underwater in Costa Rica’s Coco Islands (referred to as “The Little Galapagos” and the snow-covered peaks of Northern Italy’s Dolomites.
Best for: Anyone not impressed with the cookie-cutter, over-filtered, slick content posted by influencers who instead craves real pics and videos from real photographers.
Luxury Resorts
What is it: The world’s most exclusive, most expensive and yes, most luxurious resorts. You might never get the chance to book a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Mandarin Oriental in Lake Como or The Edge Hotel in Bali (whose villas come with cliff-top pools), but you can live vicariously through those who do.
Best for: Those who are unapologetically enthusiastic about spending the entire vacation at a resort rather than venturing outside its gates, especially when it’s this gorgeous.
