A post-pandemic travel boom has arrived as many countries and regions around the world loosen travel restrictions including mask mandates and vaccine requirements.

Travelers are looking forward to heading to new destinations in 2022, with a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases around the world and summer around the corner. While the Russian-Ukraine war does still cause some wariness, overall travel is set to make a major comeback.

"Travel is back, and as travelers look to make up for lost time with family and friends, they want memorable experiences," Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide said in a press release.

With many planning to travel again, Forbes released a list of “2022 Star Awards” recipients, ranking hotels, restaurants and spas around the world, and showcasing a grand total of 323 five-star hotels, 102 five-star spas and 74 five-star restaurants.

In the United States, new five-star hotels included two in Boston—the Encore Boston Harbor and a Four Seasons, as well as several other properties throughout the country. Those properties include The Chanler in Newport, R.I.; Chatham Inn in Cape Cod, Mass.; White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine; Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, Calif.; The Towers in New York City; The Lodge in Park City, Utah; Madeline Hotel and Residences in Telluride, Colo. and ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki in Hawaii.

Other new five-star ratings were given to three restaurants and seven spas throughout the country.

Internationally, several cities and countries fared well on the list, with multiple newly added locations. Among the best-performing countries on the list were The Maldives, which added four hotels—Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, JOALI and the Kudadoo private Island; Spain, which added three hotels—Four Seasons and BLESS Hotels in Madrid, as well as BLESS Hotel in Ibiza and Switzerland, which added two hotels as well—The Dolder Grand in Zurich and park Hotel in Vitzanu.

Those truly after a luxury experience would be served well by London, according to the Forbes rankings, as the city has 21 five-star hotels on the list, including The Goring, The Langham, Mandarin Oriental, The Savoy and Shangri-La The Shard.

Internationally, those seeking five-star restaurants would be impressed by Hong Kong, which added three new five-star rankings to the list with L’Envol, Sushi Saito and Tempura Uchitsu.

Those looking for spas would be well-served as well, with two new Middle Eastern ones with The Bulgari Spa in Dubai and The Spat at Mandarin Oriental in Doha, as well as Mexico, with the Banyan Tree Spa Mayakoba near Riviera Maya and SE Spa at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit in Puerto Vallarta.

The 'Voile d'Or' luxury hotel is being rebuilt by a London-based Russian promoter
The 'Voile d'Or' luxury hotel is being rebuilt by a London-based Russian promoter AFP / Valery HACHE
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