Eight Travel Bucket List Ideas to Book ASAP

B-ball fans wait for this moment all season. In March, some place bets on brackets, others—like, you and me—place deposits on top-tier trips. We may be biased, but when it comes to travel, you can’t lose. So, if you’re looking to shoot your shot on a trip abroad, but need a little assist, you’ve come to the right place. Phew, got the basketball stuff out of the way—now, let’s talk travel.

If you’re team Japan, you’re in for the best culture shock of your life. From Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond you can expect your days to be packed visiting shrines, hopping on the bullet train, soaking in onsens, and eating your body weight in sushi. Oh, and don’t forget the sake—lot and lots of sake.

An up-and-coming all-star, Thailand is the ultimate island paradise right now. We can just picture it, you’re sipping coconuts as you wander the floating markets, biking the streets of Bangkok and walking along ancient Buddhist temples. Oh, and did we mention there’s elephants involved?

There’s a million reasons to go all in on Germany. It’s home to the lederhosen and a hot spot for scenic bike rides, Cinderella-esque castles, and all the brauts you could ever crave. Extra points for their pints. Prost!

It’s a fan fave for a reason. A perfect blend of history, charm and romantic cobblestone streets. Imagine strolling through the piazza, coasting the canal in a gondola, and then ending the night with an Aperol spritz—or three.

If you’re a fan of Gatorade-blue waters and historically significant, crazy-old structures then welcome to the birthplace of democracy and the original Olympics. Grab a gyro and go have your own Mamma Mia moment.

Definitely a first-round pick if you wanna get that adrenaline pumping. From the moment you step off the plane, you’ll hit the ground running—or shall we say, hiking, rafting and ziplining? These waterfalls and rainforests look straight out of a movie!

If there was a trophy for most diverse out of this lineup, Croatia’s got it in the bag. With Spanish-inspired architecture, to Eastern European dialects, and Mediterranean cuisine, this is the place to be. One minute you’re in a 20th century fairytale, the next you’re diving headfirst into the Adriatic Sea.

The absolute MVP for mixing old with new like sangria mixes booze with fruit. Critique famous artworks from Picasso and Dalí as you explore popular cities like Madrid, Toledo and Barcelona. Do it all after your tapas and siesta of course.

This is just the starting lineup of amazing countries you should have on your bucket list. There’s also Vietnam, Switzerland, South Korea—you get it. No matter what, you can’t go wrong with any of these because with travel, anywhere you go is a win. Sports!