Happy New Year! For this month’s travel link-up, the theme is all about what your 2015 travel plans and dreams are, so I thought it was a fitting post for 1st January 2015. I already have my annual trip back to Western Australia booked, but am still in the process of planning the rest! This is what is on my radar at the moment (subject to change, naturally, and some of them are just dreams)….
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| Photo from my Rotto post |
Australia
I’m flying back to Perth in March for 2 weeks, and I can not wait! I’m so excited to see my friends again and just chill out on the beaches every day. It’s still pretty hot there in March (in the low-mid 30’s), so as well as just doing all the ‘normal’ things I did when I lived there, I’m hopefully gonna head over to Rottnest Island for a couple of days too to test out my new underwater camera and have some proper R&R. I’m also hoping I’ll be able to get back up to Kalbarri for a coupla days as I haven’t been up there since I was a kid.
I’ve been wanting to visit NYC for years, but have just never done it. My brother and I have always said we’ll go together, so I’m just trying to figure out when we could go and costs (he’s a Uni student which makes things a little harder). But I just long to walk around the big apple and I already have a massive list of sights I want to see and things I want to do!
Morocco
Again, I’ve been wanting to visit for years and I just want to finally see the bloody place! It looks so beautiful. Ideally I’d love to spend a couple of days in Marrakech and then a day out in the Atlas Mountains.
Sailing around St Vincent and the Grenadines
This really is a dream destination. I would adore just spending a week jumping on and off a boat sailing around the islands, and having a little nap on the stunning Palm Island while the gentle waves lap against my toes… *sigh*
Estonia
This one is much more realistic! With cheap flights and hotels also being uber cheap, I’m hoping to finally get to Tallinn. It looks so pretty, and I really want to see a Baltic city. 2015 seems to be the year I finally want to tick off a number of ‘bucket list’ countries off my list that I’ve been wanting to visit for years (last year I managed to tick off Cuba and Rome), so fingers crossed I finally do it!
Croatia/Montenegro/Bosnia
Again, this has been a dream for a few years now. Every summer I plan to spend a week in Dubrovnik with a few friends, checking out the history, eating the local food, sunning ourselves on the beaches, and heading into the countryside to see the picturesque views, and it always falls through. In my plans I always plan to hire a car for a coupla days and drive out to Lake Kotor in Montenegro for a day, and Mostar in Bosnia for a day (both are within an hour or two’s drive from Dubrovnik). Please oh please can I finally go in 2015!?
Ukraine
Call me crazy (my mother certainly did), but I really really want to visit Chernobyl and Prypiat in 2015. In winter. So it’s all gloomy and haunting. I find it fascinating so I’d love to go there and see it in person. I’m also hoping to improve my photography skills further in 2015, and think photographing Prypiat would be an interesting project/challenge to undertake. I’m currently trying to persuade friends to come with me….I’m struggling to do this…
Iceland
I so want to see the Northern Lights and experience Iceland! The geysers, the landscape, the snow and ice. I want to see it all!
Russia
I wanted to visit Russia when I won my flights with KLM, but my Dad said it was too dangerous. Pft. Although I loved Budapest and Vienna, I wish I didn’t listen to him. I would really love to visit Moscow and St Petersburg in the winter to see the beautiful St Basil’s Cathedral, and see where some of my favourite composers are from (and also to hear their music in their home country!).
So there’s my 2015 travel plans and dreams! I also really want to see more of Europe and am planning to try and see as many European cities as possible on the weekends so I don’t have to use up holiday days (or take a long weekend and use one holiday day etc).
Also firmly on my 2016 travel list are Thailand (so I can volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park), Borneo (so I can visit the Orangutans at the Shangri-La sanctuary), and another big USA roadtrip (ideally starting in Florida, and driving up the east coast to New England). So now I need to start saving big time, which means majorly cutting down on the amount I spend day-to-day! Wish me luck 😉
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Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of Content Marketing at Amazon by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.
You're going to LOVE the orangutan sanctuary in Sandakan, Borneo – you walk along a sort of wooden pathway throughout the jungle and the orangutans are just chilling everywhere, some even walk up to you and try to give you a cuddle! (or maybe that was because I had sweets in my pocket).
Montenegro is beautiful – I stayed in Porto Montenegro and took a speedboat across Kotor Bay. The landscape of black mountains and sea is spectacular and you MUST go to Almara Beach Club!
I'm going to St Petersburg and Russia in August for my annual family trip so if you're out there around the same time can we sync?!
Also…let's get cracking on planning St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I have serious Carribean cravings.
HAPPY 2015 YO. xx
Jasiminne Yip | Posh, Broke, & Bored
Eeeek SO excited! YES LETS!
C x
Ahhh…wonderful plans and dreams lovely 🙂
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
Fingers crossed it all happens!
C x
Croatia is a must, I'm lucky as I have family on the Croatian coastline and try and visit ever year – while I'm not fussed with Dubrovnik (it's rather touristy now, a bit like Disneyland) there are so many gorgeous places to explore like Korcula (mini version of Dubrovnik), Split, Rijeka, Krka NP and when in Croatia day trips to Sarajevo and Mostar are a must – just so much history to try and get your head around.
I'm with you about the Ukraine; Chernobyl has been on my wish list and people think I'm weird saying this. My family visited Lviv in 2013 and just fell in love with the people of Ukraine. My mum still talks to the family via Skype that they rented the apartment off in Lviv which is super cute.
Enjoy Australia and all that sunshine, well green with envy at that trip. Happy New Year and looking forward to reading your blog in 2015 xx
Ahh amazing! So jealous you get to go so often!
SO glad someone understands – I wanna go so badly!
C x
New York is amazing! I only went for two days, but going up the Empire State Building is definitely something I would recommend. It's nothing like anywhere I've ever been before. An American roadtrip sounds incredible!
Steph – http://nourishmeclean.blogspot.com
Ahh, I'll probs only do NYC for a long weekend but it's better than nothing!
C x
Amazing list!
I have always wanted to visit Chernobyl. It seems so interesting and I find myself looking at photos often.
I want to do Florida and New York this year. Possibly even a few places in Europe if I have any spare cash floating about 🙂
I can't wait to hear about your adventures!
Tamsyn-Elizabeth
Peach Pow XO
So glad I'm not the only one!!
C x
Amazing 2015 plans!! Wishing your travel hopes come together. xx
Thank you, fingers crossed!
C x
What great list you have going! My brother lives in Perth but I have yet to visit him so I really want to get there this year! I went to Tallinn, Estonia this year and absolutely LOVED it! I also went to Iceland in October and the entire country is just stunning! Really, really breathtaking! I love Croatia and want to hit up Montenegro/Bosnia as well. I'm moving to Croatia in the spring so I can't wait for all the travel opportunities 🙂 And I'm 100% with you on Russia…I really, really, really want to go there this year! Great list xo
Eek you MUST go visit him, it's so beautiful!! I miss it so much!
Yay, so glad to hear so many positive things about Tallinn!
Wowzer, have an epic time in Croatia!
C x
Seriously, we're all now waiting for you to go to Ukraine and report back from Chernobyl. Don't they call that 'dark tourism'? It would be a memorable trip that's for sure!
Haha! 😛 I have a dark fascination with messed up/strange places – I'd also love to visit North Korea!
C x
This is very interesting Eastern Europe oriented plan. I can't know about all the year, but right now, Russia is not a dangerous destination. However, I would think again about Ukraine.
Sailing in the Grenadines – love that idea. My husband suggests it once a month! The idea of just the 2 of us pottering around the islands, anchoring in a peaceful bay – its just wonderful! Something I need to move further up my wish list!
How funny – we share so many mutual destinations on our wishlists! All the best for your adventures, Catherine – I can't wait to read about them 🙂
Iceland is definitely flavour of the month right now. Everyone I know that's been there absolutely raves about it so it's on my bucket list, too. Not sure I'd be as brave as you and visit Chernobyl but I'll be reading your post-trip report, that's for sure!
Hi Catherine, have fun in NYC – I recomnend a ride on Jane's carousel in Brooklyn. I see you also want to visit Montenegro. Would like to join your FB group but not sure how to do so?
Suze | LuxuryColumnist
Hi Suze!
Awesome, I'll have to check it out if I manage to get there! You just click the link and then click 'join group', then I'll just approve it 🙂
C x
Fabulous list. Both Morrocco and Croatia are places I would like to see, this year I'm hoping for Amalfi though. Fingers crossed
NYC is so much fun. I wouldn't worry too much about budget, just like any big city you can manage it no matter what! I stayed at an Air BnB which was a super good way to save.
What a list! Iceland is on my future travel bucket list. A sailing trip would be so fun.
My 2016 travel dream list looks scarily similar to yours – NYC is definitely cool and worth a visit (it's my brother, sister & I's dream to one day just meet up in a NYC bar, just so we can say we did it!)
Hehe, great minds eh! 😉
I think I'm gonna keep NYC for my east coast roadtrip next year, it makes more sense I guess.
C x
Amazing list. I have been to some the places listed above but this year i am planing to go for Paris and Australia.
Also a very Happy New Year.
Ah you'll have an amazing time in both places – they're both so beautiful!
C x
My heart just melted when I saw Estonia on your list! I'm from Tallinn and I promise it's worth a visit 😉 Have a great year!
Aw yay! I just need to figure out dates because the flights are really annoying (ie; there aren't many of them!)
C x
YAY AUSTRALIA
I'll happily road trip to Kalbarri with you, but only if we can go up to Monkey Mia after 😉
hannah bee | a travel and lifestyle blog
Ah I've already been to Monkey Mia 🙁 Also no longer doing Kalbarri – going to Rotto for a coupla days instead!
SEE YOU SOON X
Hi, I'm new to blogging and I've just come across your blog.
GO TO ICELAND. I've just come back from there, I visited it over New Years Eve 28th – 2nd and it was one of the most amazing experiences I've had. Also, you mentioned Thailand for 2016 and volunteering at an elephant sanctuary… I went to Thailand last year and went to ElephantsWorld in Kanchanaburi, incredibly amazing place and they treat the elephants so well… I know they have a volunteer programme too!
Anyway, I've loved stumbling across your blog and I'm sure I'll be commenting in the future.
Emma
Eeek I really want to! Fingers crossed I go!
C x
I'm wishing for a sailing trip too, every year, maybe one day! We do have plans to go to Iceland this year though, just need to get it booked! Hope you manage to check some places off your list 🙂
Yes, I really want to do Yacht Week or some sort of other sailing trip!
C x
Really loving your blog here! Through procrastination I have read one too many of your posts this morning and they're so great. Looking forward to reading more in the future 🙂 X
http://www.farawaylucy.com
Aw thanks so much Lucy!
Enjoy 🙂
C x
You have to visit Croatia – fabulous country with lovely people and such a diverse and magnificent culture – something I wasn't expecting!
Katie <3
They are all wonderful places! Two years ago I went to Tallinn and it was lovely there! It is a pity that it was in the winter (it gets really cold there). I find Estonian people really friendly! I wish you to finally get there this year! Last year I've also visited Montenegro and the nature there is stunning! This year I am planning to go to Spain… Good luck! Thank you for the lovely post!
Great plan! Iceland is definitely a very cool destination…really unusual place! Wish you to go to all these places this year! 🙂
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