Here's where you should travel in 2026, and how points and miles can help make it happen.<\/p>\n
Page Contents<\/p>
- North America<\/a>
- Barbados: Visit for serene beaches and sunshine<\/a><\/li>
- Nicaragua: Visit for outdoor activities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- South America<\/a>
- Salvador da Bahia, Brazil: Visit for authentic culture<\/a><\/li>
- Iguazu Falls: Visit for the largest waterfall system in the world<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Europe<\/a>
- Malta: Visit for a mix of history and beaches<\/a><\/li>
- Tallinn, Estonia: Visit for Christmas markets<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Asia<\/a>
- Kuala Lumpur: Visit for a vibrant city life<\/a><\/li>
- Oman: Visit for untouched nature and a rich heritage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Africa<\/a>
- Ethiopia: Visit the cradle of humankind<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
North America<\/span><\/h2>\n
You don't need to hop on a 12-hour flight to visit a new destination. There are plenty of underrated places in North America \u2014 from the U.S. to the Caribbean \u2014 worth checking out.<\/p>\n
Barbados: Visit for serene beaches and sunshine<\/span><\/h3>\n
Barbados is an island in the eastern Caribbean near St. Lucia. It's more than Rihanna's birthplace \u2014 it's also the birthplace of rum. If you're a fan of the spirit, Barbados is a great place to visit.<\/p>\n
The island is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and incredible food scene. Even with some of the best beaches in the world, it's not nearly as visited as Caribbean hotspots like Jamaica. If you visit during the summer months, you'll be there for the Crop Over Festival, complete with music, art, parades, costumes, and lots of parties.<\/p>\n
![\"View](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
Credit: Kathryn Maingot\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n How to stay there with points and miles<\/h4>\n
There are plenty of reasons to visit Barbados any time, but there's also a timely reason \u2014 the Royalton CHIC Barbados, a member of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is set to open in spring 2026. It's an adults-only property, so it's perfect for a relaxing or romantic getaway. At the time of writing, the property wasn't yet available for points bookings through Marriott's website.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Hilton and Hyatt each have two properties in Barbados, while IHG has one. Marriott certainly has the biggest presence on the island, with nine additional resorts apart from the new Royalton CHIC set to open in a few months. That makes it advantageous to apply for a Marriott co-branded credit card<\/a> so you can leverage a new Marriott welcome offer<\/a> for a few free nights.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nMarriott Bonvoy Boundless\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\nRates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\nWelcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening, and an additional 1 Free Night Award after spending $4,000 total on eligible purchases within 4 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card. Redeem your Free Night Awards for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points per night, a total value of 200,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees. 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n Marriott Bonvoy Boundless\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card<\/strong>\nWelcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening, and an additional 1 Free Night Award after spending $4,000 total on eligible purchases within 4 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card. Redeem your Free Night Awards for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points per night, a total value of 200,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees. 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually.<\/div>\nAnnual Fee:<\/strong>$95<\/b><\/div>\nShow more<\/a>Highlights<\/a>Earning Rates<\/a>- Earn up to 4 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.<\/li>
- 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually.<\/li>
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.<\/li>
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.<\/li>
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.<\/li>
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae<\/sup> with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless\u00ae<\/sup> Card.<\/li>
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.<\/li>
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.<\/li>
- Member FDIC<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
- \r\n
- 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae<\/sup><\/li>\r\n
- 3X points for every $1 spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining<\/li>\r\n
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
- Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
- Oman: Visit for untouched nature and a rich heritage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Tallinn, Estonia: Visit for Christmas markets<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Iguazu Falls: Visit for the largest waterfall system in the world<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Nicaragua: Visit for outdoor activities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Barbados: Visit for serene beaches and sunshine<\/a><\/li>
![\"View](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/kathryn-maingot-76qup1BmIs-unsplash-scaled.jpg\")
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