Part of the fun of traveling is dreaming up where to go next.
When the weekend papers arrive, I skip all the recession-related bad news and go straight for the travel section. The photographs are like reading a menu at a great new restaurant you’ve been dying to try – and the articles help you decide what to order. But the papers come every week, and the list of ‘Next Trip’ keeps getting longer.
Fjords of Norway
To complicate this even further, my freelance work extends to researching and writing about places I haven’t yet been. It can be a rainy, dark November day outside my window in Dublin – but I might be engrossed in reading about the beaches and culture of Thailand. This ‘escape’ during the day is a blessing and a curse, as it continuously adds to the list of places I want to get to… soon.
So here’s my MOST WANTED list – places I’m going to try and squeeze in, in the next, year? (I like to be ambitious…)
1. Norway: Just this week I finished up a series of articles about Norway. I had no idea that the city of Oslo was only a two-hour flight from London, and that many budget airlines are extending service to the Norwegian capital. I had no clue that affordable ferries follow the same routes along the Norwegian coast that cruise ships do; providing a budget approach to touring the fjords. And while I did know about the quality of the salmon and other fish that are plentiful in Norway’s waters – this just wasn’t enough by itself to convince me to book a trip. The first picture I saw of the fjords made this Scandinavian destination shoot up to the top of my list.
St Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow
2. Russia: Ever since I studied Russia’s history in college, I’ve found the country especially intriguing. Now that agencies are popping up that specialize in helping foreigners secure the necessary visas required for entry, my interest is once again piqued. St Basil’s Cathedral in the Red Square, the (strange) opportunity to see Lenin’s tomb; these are only the beginning of the things I’d love to see in Moscow and more in St Petersburg. While accommodation is considered to be some of the most expensive in the world, this won’t stop me from exploring a country I’ve always been fascinated by.
3. Chile: I’ve been thinking about adventure vacations lately. While I’m all for a much-needed week on a sandy beach, swimming in the warm Caribbean waters, I’ve also wanted to add certain adventure activities to the ‘things I don’t do at home’ list that inspires vacations. I recently finished up a series of articles about adventure activities in Chile, and I was seriously interested in certain kayaking tours on offer in Patagonia. This experience allows travelers to get intimate with the landscape, all with the assistance of an experienced guide who can fill in the gaps.
4. Valencia, Spain: Valencia is the hometown of Paella, need I say more?! Beside my culinary interest, this city in Spain has everything in a getaway I could ask for. Unlike another Spanish city I love, Sevilla, Valencia is on the sea. The city has a beautiful old quarter, home to buildings on the UNESCO world heritage list. A combination of good food, cultural history, and manageable size (so I don’t feel tempted to do too much, returning home more exhausted than when I left…) make this city in Spain an appealing destination for me.
Plaza in Valencia
5. Red Sea, Egypt: Here’s my beach dream vacation. Affordable and growing in popularity, the Red Sea Riviera in Egypt offers consistent year-round weather and gorgeous beaches. Beach towns of all sizes line the coast, and many visitors are drawn by some of the world’s best scuba diving. The chance to combine culture with a sunny vacation is one I don’t want to pass up.
What are your current travel dreams? Share your MOST WANTED below.
