My Travel Wish List 2018

The new year has arrived which means there’s 12 more months to fill with travel and adventures. Last year we visited six different countries, including one new one. We already have a few trips in the diary for 2018, including one to Mexico (can’t wait) but I wanted to set out some of the other places on our wish list for this year.

 London

Last year saw us tick some London attractions on my 2017 wish list. There was the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden and the Science Museum. After buying annual membership to Kew Gardens we’ve enjoyed seeing it change throughout the seasons and going when we wish. We will be visiting more in 2018.

The Cutty Sark in Greenwich still needs to be crossed off our list though so that’s one for 2018 as well as the London Wetland Centre in Barnes. I’d like to visit the Postal Museum too. A tour of parliament failed to emerge last year either. With my daughter asking more questions about Big Ben and its building then perhaps she’s ready to check it out. I think she will appreciate the Tower of London now she’s a bit older too.

Top of my London list though is the London Eye – I have to visit this year! A look inside St Paul’s needs to be done too. We were recently in the area for my birthday and I am embarrassed to admit I’ve never seen the interior!

Rest of the U.K.

Although we had trips up to see family in Yorkshire, we didn’t get to explore a lot of the U.K last year. I went up to Scotland but it was only a flying visit for a business conference.

We did go to the south coast as a family to visit the brilliant Portsmouth Historic Dockyard though. Closer to home, Surrey’s Wisley Gardens provided a number of summer trips including one during its Famous Five trail.

This year I’d like to finally take that trip to Devon. We have a few friends living down there and I read about so many great aspects of the region from local blogger, Tinbox Traveller. We also failed to visit Brighton too so that’s another priority this year with a trip up its i360 Observation Tower.

Europe

We have another skiing trip to Morzine booked for half term – this time with some of my family. This season is shaping up well after several years of poor snowfall at the beginning. On New Year’s Day we built a snowman!

In March, I head to Tuscany with a group of other family travel bloggers. Organised by Bookings For You, we’re staying at the luxury villa, Country Relais and Spa Le Capanne, where we will be looked after by the Giovanni family. The villa looks amazing and after a sneak peak at the menu for the three days, we’re in for a gourmet treat! I can’t wait!!

As a family, we’ll be returning to the Dordogne region of France this summer – with our big group of friends again. My highly efficient husband has already booked us  accommodation for two nights in Bordeaux. We didn’t get there last year so I am looking forward to discovering what the city has to offer.

During our week at the farmhouse, we’ll continue to explore the local area and its vineyards, chateaux and towns.

After France we go straight to Mallorca for our annual extended family holiday. Last year we loved discovering some of Mallorca’s local beaches on the southern coast. This year a trip to the city Palma is high on my list as well as seeking out more local hotspots. Perhaps we’ll head to Formentor on the northern tip of the island.

I can’t quite believe how early we’ve booked our summer excursions but we still have another 5 weeks of summer holiday to play with…

Iceland is high on my wish list (and my daughter’s) while I’d like to go to Vienna this year (I’ve never visited Austria) or Spain’s Seville (one I failed to tick off last year). Once again, Finland is also a wish list destination. Christmas initiated requests from my daughter to go to Lapland. How cool would that be? I’d love to see the Northern Lights.

After reading so much about Ljubljana, I quite fancy a journey to Slovenia and there are plenty of other places in Eastern Europe I’d like to explore such as Warsaw and the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi – one of National Geographic’s top picks for 2018. Of course, Croatia is still very much on the list too.

The World

Our big overseas trip this Easter sees us travelling to Mexico. We’ve never been before so it will be a completely new experience. We fly to Mexico City where we’ll be staying for a few days and then travel to a few cities including San Miguel de Allane and Guanajuato. It’s then off to the Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula to Los Cabos for some beach time.

 

From Mexico we fly to LA. Can you believe I’ve never been (I’m not counting a few hours in transit at its airport)? I’ve attempted to go twice before but it hasn’t quite worked out.

Many people I speak to are a little disparaging about the sprawling city but it has always been a dream destination for me. Perhaps I’m looking at it through Hollywood’s rose-tinted glasses – but I think I’ll love it. Of course, I’m fully prepared if I don’t. With local knowledge from blogger Hilary Style, I hoping to discover glimpses of the real LA underneath the tourist hotspots. Are you a fan of LA?

We may squeeze in a trip to Disneyland California although with only four nights there it’s slipping down the priority list. Instead, maybe we’ll get a Disney fix closer to home at Disneyland Paris as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. From Los Angeles I’m flying to Las Vegas for a business conference. Another place I’ve never been before so I can not wait to visit!!

After the Americas jaunt, I’m not sure we’ll get the opportunity to venture further than Europe for the rest of the year – but who knows! There’s plenty of time for inspiration to strike or spontaneous trips to appear!

Where are you most looking forward to visiting this year? Have you got more suggestions for me?

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