Where your Chinese Zodiac sign says you should travel next

Happy Chinese New Year! In the Chinese Zodiac calendar, 2016 is the Year of the Monkey and officially begins February 8 with festivities happening in cities and countries across the globe. In case you’re wondering what your travel prospects are for the year ahead, here is where to travel next based on your Chinese Zodiac sign.

Also: 100 National Parks experiences you must try.

Chengdu

Year of the Monkey (2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920): You are quick-witted, clever and flexible. The Monkey is the most the seasoned traveler of the Zodiac.
In honor of it being your year, we’re sending you to none other than China itself where you will revel in innumerable splendors including the exuberance and dynamism of lively Shanghai, marveling at the Great Wall of China and eating, shopping and pampering yourself in brilliant Hong Kong. Been there and done all that? Not a problem. How about pressing your luck in lively Macao, touring the Olympic Green in Beijing (host of the 2022 Winter Olympics) or having a panda encounter at a breeding facility in Chengdu? You’ll never run of adventure in the beguiling China.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Year of the Rooster (2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921): You are self-assured, organized and aggressive. Perfection is your middle name.
You may feel like nobody understands your need for timeliness and precision, but Germans do and that’s why we’re recommending you get yourself to this enchanting land of fairytale castles, vibrant big cities and hardworking people just like you. Don’t miss the capital city of Berlin which is celebrated for its raucous party scene and turbulent history, a pint of beer in charming and laid backMunich, the coastal resort towns dotting the Baltic and North seas and a boat ride down the Rhine River. Germany is suited to a Rooster’s temperament—everything runs right on time.

Volunteering in Africa

Year of the Dog (2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922): You are likable, honest and intelligent. You consider yourself a protector of justice.
Dogs have an inherent need to change the world and that’s why we’re sending you on a volunteer vacation. Consider Agape Volunteers, a U.K.-based operator which arranges volunteer projects for travelers in Africa including wildlife conservation projects in South Africa, working in AIDS clinics in Kenya, teaching music to young people in Ghana and so much more. If that doesn’t suit your needs there are dozens of organizations that will such as caring for the elderly in Sri Lanka, construction work in Thailand and sports education in South America. The volunteering sky really is the limit.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Year of the Pig (2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923): Honest, kind, spiritual and strong. You are on a quest for universal harmony.
If it’s universal harmony and a spiritual awakening you seek, may we kindly recommend India? A complex and even difficult place, let there be no doubt that India will also amaze and awaken you! Everyone wants to visit the Taj Mahal in and we won’t stop you, but you should also visit Bandhavgarh National Park where you may spot a tiger, experience renewal and rejuvenation in Goa where white sands and the Arabian Sea beckons or visit amazing Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai. There is not shortage of the eye-opening and impressive in this large and mysterious land.

Road Trip

Year of the Rat (2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924): You are charming, innovative, intelligent and inquisitive. Life is one big journey.
You treat life like on big journey and there is no greater journey to be had than a cross country road trip. We recommend the Lincoln Highway, a coast-to-coast adventure that begins with a morning greeting from the Statue of Liberty in New York City and ends in San Francisco on the shores of the mighty Pacific Ocean. Along the way you’ll encounter luminous big cities like Pittsburgh, Chicago and Salt Lake City, tree-lined university towns, quirky small towns, the vast prairie, stark desert and much more. America has more than 4 millions miles of road, but this one is among her most impressive.

Kauai

Year of the Ox (2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925): You are dependable, calm and resolute. In it for the long haul, you are bound for long courtships.
Because you are a lover of amore Ox, we are getting you to the Hawaii for a week of unforgettable island hopping in a tropical setting that promises sensuality—be it a much needed rekindling of romance or honeymoon vacation. A paragon of pleasure, Kauai is a land of enchantment where lodgings like the St. Regis in Princeville promise serene luxury and intimate encounters. Meanwhile, there’s the large and lush Big Island which offers jaw-dropping resorts on one side and jungle-like isolation on the other. Even bustling Waikiki is perfect for torch lit outdoor dinners and intimate cocktail bars.

Brighton Beach, Melbourne, Australia

Year of the Tiger (2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926): You are powerful, passionate and daring. All the world is your stage.
You are a big cat and the world is your oyster so we’re recommending you get yourself to not just one global city, but two! We’re talking, of course, about Sydney and Melbourne. These two Aussie icons will surely keep you entertained. In Sydney, you’ll want to spend a few days tooling around its fashionable nabes including Surrey Hills, Paddington and Darlinghurst. A visit to the Opera House is a must as is some beach time at Bondi, Bronte or Manly. Melbourne is also a stunner; don’t miss its cafe-crammed alleyways, arty Fitzroy, beachy St. Kilda or a drive along the Great Ocean Road.

Macchu Pichu

Year of the Rabbit (2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927): You are soft-spoken graceful and elegant. In solitude, you find harmony.
It is only away from life’s hustle and bustle that you will find inner peace and that is why we’re recommending a yoga retreat. 2016 is already shaping up to be a turbulent year so get yourself away from all the world’s calamity and instead seek sanctuary in downward dog at a distant retreat. May we recommend a week long spiritual getaway in Peru’s Sacred Valley? Anchored by lively and bustling Cusco, this region is steeped in history as evidenced by the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu. Enormously appealing small towns abound and  the region is dotted with holistic retreats where you can unwind and realign your chakras in the glorious Andes mountains and among some of the kindest people in South America.

Ring Road, Iceland

Year of the Dragon (2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928) : You are strong, vital and energetic. Dragons possess an unquenchable fire.
Just where on earth can your thirst for adventure be quenched? How about tiny but beguiling Iceland, a land of vast extremes and enticing contradictions? A day or two in lively Reykjavik will give you a first look atthis fascinating country and its people. But getting out of the city is where the thrills begin. Rent a sturdy 4WD and hit Iceland’s iconic Ring Road which links the country and brings visitors up close and personal with Iceland’s stunning geography including waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, the ballyhooed and much beloved glacial lagoon Jokulsarlon and of course numerous mountains and beaches. Don’t miss towns and hamlets like Vik, Akureyri and Borgarnes. Of course, no visit to this country is complete without a hot dog at Baejarins Bestu and a dip in the calming waters at Blue Lagoon.

New York City

Year of the Snake (2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929): Beautiful, graceful and soft-spoken. You gravitate toward the finer things.
You are oh so elegant and prone to experiencing only the finest this world has to offer and that is why we think you’re Manhattan bound in 2016. Check yourself in at a luxury accommodation such as the Plaza Hotel in Midtown or a chic newcomer like the Beekman Hotel opening this spring. By day, we’ll find you giving your credit card a workout along Fifth Avenue and also around SoHo. By night we’ll surely catch you taking in the latest Broadway show or snagging a reservation at Michelin-starred restaurants like Eleven Madison Park, Per Se or Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare. Of course, some of the best things in life are also free so don’t miss an afternoon of idle in Central Park, a nighttime stroll along the Highline or a sobering moment of reflection at the National September 11 Memorial.

Mediterranean Cruise

Year of the Horse (2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930): You are quick-witted, popular and a charmer. You are the freest of all Zodiac signs.
Since it’s freedom you crave, we wouldn’t dare keep you in one place for very long. Only on a cruise ship can you island hop from country to country and immerse yourself in many different worlds at once. How about a Mediterranean cruise where in a single week your itinerary might include the stories streets of Barcelona, wild nights out in Ibiza, island hopping in Greece and the Turkish baths and grand bazaars of Istanbul? If it’s a tropical paradise you seek than look no further than a Caribbean cruise departing from South Florida and breezing through islands like Puerto Rico, Barbados, and Sint Maarten. Since people seem to gravitate toward you, we have a feeling you’ll have no trouble making friends on board be it at a nightly party, on the shuffleboard court, poolside or while feasting at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Year of the Goat (2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931): You’re gentle, compassionate and mild-mannered, with fantastic luck and fortune.
You are one lucky dog, make that Goat, so of course we’re sending you to fabulous Las Vegas where the city begs you to press your luck. So much is happening inSin City these days. The first thing you’ll need to do is snag a room. If money is no object try out Ian Schrager’s luxuriuos new Delano Hotel inside the Mandalay Bay Resort. For a lower key option on a slice of the Strip that has been sleepier of late, go to the new SLS which is sleek and gorgeous in design and boasts the only Unami Burger in Vegas and also Bazaar Meat by super chef Jose Andres. When you’re not high rolling try riding the High Roller—the world’s largest observation wheel—where you’ll enjoy gorgeous Strip views, visit high-minded cultural institutions like the Neon Museum and the Mob Museum and admire those elegant fountains outside the Bellagio.

Tagged: Cruise, Destinations, Europe, Hawaii, New York