Top 10 - The Travel Destinations That I’ll Never Forget
Let’s be real: 2020 is the year to dream of travel, not to travel (besides domestically or close by). Long international trips seem very far away and a little (or bigger) travel blues might be on the way. Still, we shouldn’t let ourselves be kept from dreaming of travelling, planning future trips and thinking back about great places we’ve visited so far. And that’s exactly what I am going to do today: tell you all about my all-time favourite travel destinations so far. Some might be ‘mainstream’ or obvious; others are more special. So let’s dive right into dreaming away.
#1 Japan
Not a big surprise, right? I think my love for Japan is pretty evident, and while the other places will be specific locations, when it comes to Japan, I really can’t decide. Was it the madness of Tokyo that blew me away? The culture in Kyoto? The fails in Osaka? The views in Nagasaki? The terrifying history in Hiroshima? Or the surreal experience of climbing Mt. Fuji? Or the best travel buddy? Maybe it was all of that combined. I did not have high expectations as Japan was never on my list earlier on. But I gave in when my friend told me we HAVE to visit Japan. And then I experienced it. Until now, there’s no place on earth I keep talking about this much. No joke, just this week I was talking to my friend about how we have to return there as soon as we can. Also, to this day, I have not met a single person that has visited Japan and claims to have disliked it. I think that’s amazing. If there’s one thing I regret about visiting Japan, it might be not spending even more time there.
#2 Perugia, Italy
I’ll be honest with you, there are more impressive cities, towns and villages in Italy than Perugia. But to me, Perugia will always be special. In 2018, I spent 6 months there during an exchange semester for my studies. When I came back the year after, it felt a little bit like coming home. I have friends there, and I know every corner of this city. I know the alleys, which vendor overcharges you, where to get the best aperitivi (Menchetti, obviously!), and what to do on a boring day. And while it is often overlooked doe to it’s better known surrounding cities like Florence and Siena, strolling around the old town, you’ll soak in the beauty of Italian architecture and food.
#3 Seattle, United States
I am not a huge fan of the United States, nevertheless, you’ll find a few places on this list that are located in the US. Each of this places has managed to positively surprise me. The first of those is Seattle. For the USA road trip 2019, Seattle was the starting and end point. While in the beginning I only stayed there for a few nights to get the trip started, I managed to spend a lot of time there before heading home. From the start, Seattle felt special. It is very green (despite lots of skyscrapers), has amazing views, street food, little shops and alleys. my favourite places in the city are: Pike Place Market, Kerry Park and the Gum Wall (yes, that’s exactly what you think it is). Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the US to live in, it feels welcoming and not as harsh as LA for example.
#4 Copenhagen, Denmark
I am a huge fan of Scandinavia (despite not having visited THAT much of it yet). I just love the mentality of the people, the food, the culture and the architecture. In my opinion, Copenhagen is one of the prettiest cities world-wide. The architecture around Nyhavn is so impressive, and it is the perfect little weekend getaway. Also, Copenhagen, and Scandinavia in general, is ideal for solo travellers. It is safe, people are helpful, and you can get around very easily talking English. Also, if you are into royals, you’ll find beautiful castles and palaces all over the city. In general, I think (despite the living costs) it feels like a very liveable place.
#5 Fes, Morocco
Two years ago, I visited Morocco. As always in life, reality did not meet expectations. Casablanca was not our cup of tea, Marrakech was nice, but did not knock us off our feet. Fes, on the other hand, was incredible. It did not feel anywhere as touristy as Marrakech did, the medina was full of great goods, for half the price as in Marrakech and it truly felt like a visit to another world. Very special were also the Tanneries, which felt as if someone had taken us back in time, and it was incredible to see how those leather goods were actually worked. Of course, I completely understand why people visit Marrakech, but if you have the chance to squeeze in a few days in Fes as well, I can only recommend doing so.
#6 Yellowstone National Park, United States
The USA has lots of incredible national parks. The one that blew my mind the most was surely the Yellowstone National Park, the oldest national park in the world. It felt like another planet. Every few metres there's steam coming from the ground, there’s a geyser or an elk or bison strolling around. Even now, more than a year after visiting, I struggle to find words to describe this place. It felt completely surreal, and I would visit again in an instant. Don’t underestimate the park, I spent 3 days there I did not even come close to seeing all of it. Essentials are surely: the Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with either the Upper or Lower Falls.
#7 Ko Samet, Thailand
I want to be completely honest, Thailand did not amaze me. It just felt way too touristy with perfect holiday resorts hiding the real country from tourists that want to spend money and lay on the beach. While the temples are incredibly stunning, I did not like the rest of the places I visited that much. One exception to this was Ko Samet. It is located a bit more than 200 km from Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand. Most of the island is part of the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park, and this is felt at every corner. You can only reach the island via taxi boat, and it has one of the cleanest and prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen. You can even go snorkelling there, and while most of the Thailand trip felt like pure madness, Ko Samet was a place full of relaxation and peace.
#8 Las Vegas, United States
If you already read about the big USA road trip of 2019, you’ll know that of all cities Las Vegas surprised me the most. I had really low expectations for Sin City, and initially, it only served as a base for a week full of explorations. But the city itself is one of a kind. I am not into casinos and gambling, so my love for the city is not based on that; nevertheless, I recommend visiting if you are over 21 to save you some hassle. The city has lots to offer: one minute you are walking along the Empire State Building (that includes a rollercoaster, because why not?), the next you are visiting the Eiffel Tower, hop on to the Spanish Steps or take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice. Is Vegas normal? Hell no! But it does not try to be. It is all the cities combined in one. There’s nothing you can’t do in Vegas, besides having a boring stay. It also offers attractions in and around the city such as the Neon Museum or the Seven Magic Mountains. Also, as initially planned, it was the perfect base for trips to the Death Valley National Park, the Valley of Fire State Park, the Grand Canyon, a ghost town from the mining era, the Horseshoe Bend and more.
#9 Cinque Terre, Italy
While I covered lots of Italy in my blog posts, I have yet to cover Cinque Terre. I visited this group of villages four years ago. It tends to be really overcrowded, so I visited in autumn. Still, there were more than enough people with the same idea in mind. While one might think that visiting during a road trip is a good idea, you can reach most villages only by train. Each of the villages has a unique vibe, and you could stroll around them for days. But keep in mind that they are a tourist hotspot, making them more expensive than many other Italian places. I will go into more detail as soon as I cover the whole trip with a blog post, but until then, let’s just let the pictures speak for themselves.
#10 Whitsunday Islands, Australia
If you’re familiar to the blog, you might have already read about my trip to Oz a few years ago. While all of Australia was beautiful, this little place on earth is very special to me. Your entry to the Whitsunday Islands is most likely Arlie Beach, and from there, you’ll trip around the islands. Highlight of every visit: Whitehaven Beach. The turquoise water and the whitest sand in the world make for an awesome combination. But the reason, why this is such a special place to me is simple: while snorkelling through the reef (yes, the Whitsundays are part of the Great Barrier Reef), I was lucky enough to meet a sea turtle who could not be bothered less by me visiting it. This was definitely a moment I’ll never forget and to which I think back until now.
When creating this list, it felt like time travelling, and I can only recommend you sit down and think of all the beautiful places you’ve been to already. If you have been to some of these places, I’d love to hear your opinion on them. Also, feel free to share your favourite destinations in the comments.
