I am at the stage in lockdown that I am dreaming about past trips and experience abroad. The time will come when we get back to travelling abroad again and exploring new destinations and I cannot wait for that day. I decided to pull together 5 trips that were some of the most memorable for me over the past few years. It might help you plan for when its safe to travel again. I dont know about you but my travel bucket list has been exploding with ideas and places I want to visit when we can spread our wings again! Here is my recap on 5 destinations. I hope they inspire you and your travel plans….
1) ICELAND
Iceland was a trip of a lifetime. It was a trip I will always remember. You can catch up on our full experience here or watch our vlog series here. The adventures in Iceland are endless but below are my top 3.
- The Pearl Tour with Mountaineers of Iceland. It honestly was the highlight of my trip. It was everything you think of when you think of Iceland. The Pearl Tour is an Iceland adventure where you will experience some of Iceland’s most famous and exciting natural phenomena by exploring the Golden Circle, topped off with an unforgettable snowmobile tour on Langjökull glacier. On the Golden Circle, you get to explore is Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the active Geysir Hot Spring area with its boiling mud pits and spouting hot springs and Gullfoss Waterfall(one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls). The highlight of the trip for me was going on a snow mobile on Langjökull Glacier and dashing across snowfields on snowmobiles while gazing at the mountain peaks.
- Warm bath and cool lights tour with Reykjavík Excursions. During this trip, you drive via the UNESCO site Þingvellir National Park. On arrival to the Laugarvatn Fontana, you get to enjoy a local style dinner buffet You then get to Laugarvatn Fontana to bath in the geothermal bath on a cosy evening. Sometimes, you can actually see the northern lights from the baths but it was cloudy on the day so we went on an Northern Lights hunt afterwards. We were very lucky to see the lights during our hunt.
- And of course, you couldn’t go to Iceland without a trip to The Blue Logoon. It is one of the 25 wonders in the world and is a must while visiting Iceland. You also must pre-book your tickets for the blue lagoon and I would recommend doing this a few weeks before your trip to make sure you get the time you want. Once you are in the lagoon, you can stay in as long as you like.
2) COLLIOURE, FRANCE
The Mediterranean jewel of Collioure – what a beauty! Collioure is the perfect place for a break away. It is perfect for a few days away or if you are lucky… even longer! Situated on the rocky coastline of the Cote Vermeille in the very south of france. Picture yourself strolling through the quaint streets in the picturesque fishing village, enjoying some wine and tapas, kayaking along the Cote Vermielle, enjoying a sunset swim, heading up the mountains through vineyards, along picturesque roads while admiring the wonderful views and taking in the beauty from Fort St. Elme. It’s a dream destination. A world of its own. You can check out our Collioure travel diary here.
3) Croatia
1000 unspoilt islands and warm turquoise seas meant Croatia was most certainly on our OnTheQT bucket list. No other area in Europe possesses such unique opportunities for cruising, the breath-taking scenery of more than a thousand dazzling islands along the Croatian coast, combined with the unpolluted crystal clear sea, will satisfy even the most demanding nautical enthusiasts. Island Hopping is Croatia was one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life. You can check out our adventures in Croatia here.
4) The Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites comprises a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps, numbering 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 metres. This mountain range was formed more than 224 million years ago. Once 500ft under the sea, nowadays their pink-granite, fossil-rich peaks now kiss the clouds. A very popular spot in ski season but while I was there it wasn’t ski season unfortunately. I stopped in the charming Italian village of Cortina d’Ampezzo and went up in the cable car up the mountain. The views were absolutely spectacular as we moved up the mountain range. You can check out our experience and online series on the Dolomites here.
5) Budapest
The Hungarian capital was formed when two cities, Buda and Pest merged. Buda and Pest lie on opposite shores of the Danube and became one, Budapest.
In the Old Town, be sure to explore the Gellert Castle District on the Buda Side, it is just across the Chain Bridge. Go for a nice for a stroll around and be sure to explore the Castle and grounds. While you are there pencil in a visit to the Fisherman’s Bastion to enjoy great views of the city. From there, you should be able to see Margrit Island, Parliament Building, Basilica, Chain Bridge, Four Seasons (the old Gellert Palace).
St Stephens Basilica is such a beautiful place to take a look around. Be sure to climb to the top to experience spectacular views of the city. Szechenyi or Gellert are two of the famous baths. I would recommend going to the Szechenyi as there is more of a selection plus their outdoor baths are open all year round. You can check out our full travel guide for Budapest here.
