Travelers are inspired by good visuals. And nowhere is this more apparent than on Instagram, where engaging viewers is an ideal way to gauge interest in certain types of travel and destinations. My own top 12 travel posts of the year on my Instagram, for example, make it clear that some destinations stand out more than others.
One thing that’s especially obvious from this year’s top posts: the new Hotel Xcaret Arte is absolutely gorgeous. Multiple photos I posted from that all-inclusive Mexico beach resort, which is located in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region on the Caribbean coast, have ranked in the top 12 — including the amazing hotel spa, which is set scenically within a series of caverns and caves on the water. Stunning.
For a general overview of the top vacation destinations, hotels and travel trends on LatinFlyer and LatinFlyer TV, be sure to check out my previous post: The Top 5 Travel Trends & Travel Posts of 2021.
••••••••
NEW PANDEMIC TRAVEL RULES: 9 Ways to Avoid Hassles When Taking a COVID-19 Test in Mexico
••••••••
The results from Instagram, of course, are always a bit different from other roundups of the year’s most attention-getting posts, since Instagram is driven more by visuals. Here are the top 12 Instagram travel posts of 2021 for LatinFlyer.
- 2021 CIIC Media Awards. I was honored to be named “Best Travel Advocate” for the second year in a row, for my work as a travel writer. The past couple of years have made it even more crucial that we all work to spread the most current and useful information so that people can make more educated travel and vacation decisions. Thanks CIIC!
2. LGBTQ pride march in Mexico City. One of the largest pride events in Latin America, Mexico City pride never fails to impress, even when the pandemic has placed necessary limits on the festivities. You can check out my travel video of Mexico City’s most recent LGBTQ pride march here and also learn about The 31 Best LGBTQ-friendly Hotels and Airlines in Mexico here.
3. Floating taco lunch at Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun. The food at this relatively new all-inclusive Mexico beach hotel is quite good, and it’s even more enjoyable when you can dine while standing in the pool, eating from a floating platform!
••••••••
MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS: 8 Cool Things to Do at Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun (VIDEO)
••••••••
4. Hotel Xcaret Arte swimming pool. The clear tube at one of the hotel’s rooftop pools was designed to provide great photo opportunities.
5. Downtown Mexico City photo shoot. I need professional photos to use with my upcoming memoir, which publishes in 2022, so I hired a wonderful photographer via Airbnb in Mexico City. This is the shot that people seem to like the most from that shoot. If you’re looking to get your own great travel photos and portraits, check out my guide on How to Find Amazing Travel Photographers Through Airbnb Experiences.
6. Callejón del Beso in Guanajuato. The Alley of the Kiss has a legendary story behind it (star-crossed lovers, that whole thing), and it’s become a must-do photo opportunity for anyone visiting the lovely city of Guanajuato. Luckily, my husband was willing to pose with me for this photo.
••••••••
DON’T MISS: How Scary is the Guanajuato Mummy Museum? (VIDEO)
••••••••
7. Getting vaccinated in New York City. After so many months of waiting, getting the jab was reason to celebrate! Vaccines make travel safer, too. Some of my most popular posts of the year on my travel blog, in fact, have been related to pandemic travel requirements, protocols and how to take a COVID-19 test in Mexico.
8. Christian and the abandoned plane in Parque Metropolitano in León, Guanajuato. This handsome male fitness model and professional dancer (he performs at resorts on Mexico’s Caribbean coast) was the perfect person to pose in front of an abandoned Mexicana Airlines aircraft in a park in Guanajuato’s largest city. (My video, 7 Amazing Things to Do in León, Guanajuato, was one of the top YouTube videos on my channel this year.)
••••••••
MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS: 7 Amazing Things to Do in León, Guanajuato (VIDEO)
••••••••
9. Halloween in West Hollywood. This LGBTQ-popular annual event wasn’t quite the same thanks to the pandemic, but as a gay travel event it’s still hard to beat the creative costumes. Oh, and the cute guys running around shirtless aren’t bad, either.
10. Hotel Xcaret Arte guest room. I loved the handsome decor and artistic touches in my guest room at this new all-inclusive resort, and I guess people could feel my enthusiasm in this photo.
11. Hotel Xcaret Spa. The cavernous, waterfront setting is absolutely gorgeous — and a far cry from the typical hotel spa. Easy to photograph and easy to love.
••••••••
MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS: How to Find a Good Doctor in Mexico When Traveling
••••••••
12. Guanajuato city photo shoot. This historic city’s downtown feels like a movie set, with unique elements you won’t find anywhere else (think subterranean streets, winding alleys and a tiny teleférico that whisks visitors to a hilltop with a memorable view). My husband and I hired a photographer through Airbnb Experiences so we’d have some memorable visual souvenirs of our visit.
Please feel free to follow my travels on Instagram for more inspiration for your next vacation!
I’m a travel writer, travel blogger and Mexico travel specialist, and I love sharing travel tips to make your next vacation or business trip better. Please feel free to share your comments, experiences and questions about Mexico travel and Latin America travel and vacations!
Please also be sure to follow my travels on Instagram and on my YouTube channel, so you don’t miss any of my travel tips or travel videos. ¡Buen viaje!