Source: Lise Gagne / Getty
Touring the world to learn about history, people and culture is cool and all, but there’s more to jetsetting than exploring temples like Indiana Jones. Sometimes you just want to have fun. Almost every country in the world has a drink or two worth traveling for, whether you want to get lit or be bad and boujee.
1Tequila, Mexico
There’s only one place that comes to mind when one thinks of tequila…Mexico! The country is the literal home of Tequila (it’s a city), so it’s not hard to find a place to take a few shots with your boys or your lady, if she’s about that life. Now, you can do it up on the party strip in Cancun or Playa del Carmen, but if you want a little class with your tequila shot, head to The Four Seasons Punta Mita for a Tequila Blending Experience. It not only gives you the history of tequila, but allows you to blend your own liquor to take home and savor. Bonus: You can reorder the blend any time you want. Want to get lit with a designated driver? Take a trip to the town of Tequila and board the Jose Cuervo Express Wagon for a full day for drinking that includes visiting the Jose Cuervo distillery.
2 Munich, Germany
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I’m sure you’re thinking “I can drink beer anywhere,” but why down it anywhere when you can kick back at one of the largest beer festivals in the world? Held annually in Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest a 16- to 18-day festival running from mid or late September to the first weekend in October. There’s some historic reasoning behind the annual celebration, but these days most people use the event as a reason to drink beer and eat sausage Homer Simpson style. Millions of gallons of beer are consumed each year, most of it out of glasses bigger than your head. Tickets and accommodations sell out fast, so get a head start on the 2018 festivities (September 22-October 7) by booking what you can now. Pro tip: Get a hotel as close to the big tents as you can. You don’t want to stumble too far to get to your bed.
3 Champagne, France
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There’s nothing like drinking champagne in France, but sipping the bubbly along the Champs-Élysées is for basics. Grab bae and head to Champagne, France (the home of its celebrated namesake), an area with such a long history of winemaking that parts of the region—along with its houses and cellars—were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Check into your room at Château de Sacy. Then stroll down the Avenue de Champagne before you start on your boozy tour visiting champagne houses like Perrier-Jouët, Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon. If you’ve really got the juice, swerve your way into invite-only visits to Dom Pérignon and Krug.
4 Cape Town, South Africa
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Wine is another one of those drinks that you can have anywhere, but why have it on your couch during Scandal when you can drink it in South Africa? The country makes some of the most sought after wines in the world, and Cape Town is the city of choice when it comes to “wining and dining.” Drop your bags at the One&Only and drag the homies to Wine Flies for a full day of touring Stellenbosch wineries like Delaire Graff, Spier and Middelvlei. Customize the expedition so the crew can support Black-owned wine estates such as Seven Sisters and Thandi. Wine can creep up on you, so make sure you take advantage of the great restaurants along the way. And leave plenty of space in your luggage to bring home bottles for later.
Drink responsibly.
Danielle Pointdujour is a travel writer, owner/creator of the hotelwhisperer, and lover of all things luxe. Follow her at @hotelwhisperer.
