International Diplomacy On Display As France’s Macron Visits White House, Where And How To Travel in 2018

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• Travel Editor Peter Greenberg Shares His Favorite Destinations For 2018

  As travel editor for CBS News, Peter Greenberg has traveled all over the world, and he says he’s seen no country as resilient as Rwanda.

  “Imagine a country that 24 years ago was devastated by the worst genocide in our history, in our lifetime. Where in one 100-day period, 1.2 million people were summarily slaughtered,” he said. “And from that point nearly a quarter of a century ago, it’s had, in my reporting history, the most remarkable transformation of any country I’ve ever seen.”

  Today, the country has one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. And it’s also one of the best places to visit this year, Greenberg said.

  Careful conservation work in the country, known as “land of a thousand hills” for its endless mountains, has doubled its gorilla population, a popular tourism destination that you can feel good about.

  “What they’ve done there to be socially responsible and economically responsible, is 10 percent of whatever you pay to go see those gorillas goes right back to the local communities,” Greenberg said.

  Greenberg shared a few of his other must-travel destinations for 2018:

  Mexico

  
  Cancun, Mexico. Pedro Szekely CC BY-SA 2.0

  After a momentary slump in January, the United States dollar is still strong and rising again. That’s good news for American tourists, Greenberg said, because your money will go further against many foreign currencies.

  He says Mexico, with its affordability and thousands of miles of coastline, is still a great travel destination. Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Mazatlán and Cabo Del Lucas are popular getaways.

  Portugal

  
  Two people talk while sitting on a bench in Lisbon’s Mouraria neighborhood, Monday, June 15, 2015. The historical quarter, one of the oldest of the Portuguese capital, is a maze of narrow and cobblestone streets. Francisco Seco/AP Photo

  With its high standard of living, and low cost of living, Portugal is a great place to visit year-round that you may have missed, Greenberg said.

  The country’s food scene is booming.

  “Imagine five Michelin-star restaurants in Lisbon alone,” he said. “That never would’ve been the case five years ago.”

  Malta

  
  A cat naps on a boat in Valletta, Malta, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017. Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo

  Just an hour and a half flight away from Rome is Malta, an island country with a rich history.

  “Every dictator in the history of the world has hung out in Malta, including Napoleon,” Greenberg said.

  Malta was chosen as the UNESCO World Heritage Culture Capitol for 2018. But you might choose to visit the country for another reason: its excellent culinary scene (and famous olive oil).

  Detroit

  
  This Dec. 4, 2014 photo shows downtown Detroit at dusk as seen from an upper floor of the Westin Book Cadillac. Beth J. Harpaz/AP Photo

  If you’re looking to travel closer to home, Detroit, Michigan, also makes Greenberg’s 2018 list. He says the city is experiencing a cultural renaissance.

  “It’s really coming back in terms of rehabbing all the old buildings and turning them into really productive cultural centers and restaurant scenes,” he said. “Detroit had nowhere to go but up, but guess what, it’s going up.”

• Global Travel Ideas For The Rest of 2018

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  What do Malta, Rwanda and Detroit have in common? According to our guest, they’re all worth visiting this year. We discuss those and other hot places to travel, as well as what passengers should know after last week’s engine failure on a Southwest Airlines flight.