The Top 10 Travel Experiences On My Bucketlist Right Now

I’m just gonna come out and say it, I miss planning my travels. Normally at any one time I’d be planning two upcoming trips as well as choosing the third destination. I usually never let myself be without at least one trip in the diary. I just like something to look forward to, y’know?

And well, as you know, I’ve had other things going on lately (baby, house, etc) so I’ve been completely grounded this year. (Hoping to change that soon!)

But being me and having a life-long passion for travel, I’ve of course still been dreaming about trips I’d like to do. I’ve still been ardently pinning destinations to my Pinterest boards and reading my fave travel blogs. So I thought I’d put together a little list of the travel experiences right at the top of my bucketlist. For the moment anyway, it changes all the time.

(I’ve also linked anyone that’s inspired this list if you want to read more about any of the destinations!)

Top 10 Experiences On My Bucketlist

See The Hot Air Balloons At Cappadocia

Cappadocia has been on my bucketlist for a long time. The photos of the hot air balloons floating up above the fairy chimneys at sunrise just look so ethereal and beautiful. I really want to see it in real life. I’m not a fan of actually going in hot air balloons since I had to experience an emergency landing in the Phoenix dessert (that story’s for another time). But I do think that just watching them would be magical. I’ve also seen that you can stay in hotels built into the caves which sounds cool.

My friends Ellie from The Wandering Quinn and Liv from Liv On A Shoestring went recently and both trips looked fab.

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Explore Tokyo

Another one I’ve been mulling over for a few years is a trip to Japan. There are lots of places I’d like to visit in Japan, but Tokyo is for sure at the top of the list. I want to do all of the kooky and cliche things. I want to stay in a capsule hotel and go to the Robot Restaurant and do the Mario Kart experience and cross the Shibuya Crossing and check out Harajuko. I want to explore the Senso-Ji temple and relax at Ōedo-Onsen Monogatari and sing karaoke and eat ramen and buy something Hello Kitty. Basically just be the ultimate Tokyo tourist.

I loved the videos and blog posts from Flying The Nest as well as The Blonde Abroad. Eppie Shepherd also went recently and the photos she posted on her Instagram were awesome.

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Road Tripping Montenegro

I’ve been banging on about Montenegro for ages. In fact if I didn’t get knocked up last year it would have definitely been a 2018 trip.

It looks like it has Italy / Slovenia / Croatia vibes and that is right up my street. Think beautiful blue waters and lush greenery and old stone buildings with pretty rust-coloured roofs. It seems like there’s a lot to do, from hiking Durmitor National Park to seeing the beaut Bay Of Kotor. Did I mention there are loads of cats in Kotor’s Old Town? I’m sold.

Monica from The Travel Hack visited recently and it looked really lovely. Definitely still want to visit Montenegro.

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Eat Pizza In Chicago

I like to base a lot of my bucketlist items around food, naturally. And well, experiencing a deep dish pizza pie in Chicago is a priority. Every time I see a YouTube video about it, my mouth waters. I HAVE TO EAT IT.

Chicago also just seems like a cool city to explore. It’s one of those cities where there are only a few landmark sights, but people always say how awesome it is. I guess it has a good vibe? Well I’m curious to find out.

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Eat Burritos in Mexico

I like Mexican food. I like tacos and burritos and nachos and quesadillas. I’m also a big fan of cool cities, exotic beaches, fun nightlife and ancient landmarks, so I really think Mexico would be a total dream for me. For Josh too, he really digs beer and hot sauce.

I would love to go to Mexico City as well as explore the Mayan Riviera (Cancun, etc). Oh and discover Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza and natural wonders like Copper Canyon. Oaxaca is also at the top of my list for its colourful arts & crafts and indigenous culture.

No idea when we’ll get around to this one and it’s not necessarily inspired by anyone. It’s always just firmly on my bucketlist! One day pal, one day…

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Finally See The Caribbean

I keep seeing travel bloggers being whisked off to the Caribbean lately and YES HELLO, CAN I GO PLZ.

It’s a very vague goal, because there’s no one place I want to go to, I just want a nice beach and beaut weather and friendly people. I’ve wanted to go to Cuba for a while, and drive a retro car and drink rum. But I would also settle for Antigua or Barbados. Just saying.

Lloyd and Yaya from Hand Luggage Only visited St Kitts this year and it looked awesome.

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Go Off The Beaten Track In Uzbekistan

Anyone else get completely obsessed with the BBC series ‘Race Across The World’ this year? Well I was, and what it opened my eyes up to were those ‘stan’ countries in Central Asia. You know the ones, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc.

Uzbekistan in particular looks like it would be a massive culture shock but so interesting with its history as a stop on the silk road, connecting the West with the East. It also looks gorgeous with its domes and mosaics. Definitely an off-the-beaten-track destination I’d like to visit one day.

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Do The Ultimate Italy Foodie Road Trip

Ok so I’ve had this trip planned out for a couple of years. We were meant to go in 2018 but I went and got myself pregnant and it just never happened. But I’m thinking of trying to do it at the end of this year maybe?

Yes it’s another trip based purely around food.

I want to visit Bologna, Parma and Modena. They’re all close together and easily accessible by train, and more importantly, they are all famous for amazing food. I want to eat ragu in Bologna, Parma ham in Parma and balsamic vinegar in Modena. Just because. But I also love Italy so just think it will be lovely to explore some new Italian cities with Josh and Indi.

(If anyone has travelled to any of these cities with a baby, please hit me up with your recommendations!)

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Relax In Samoa

I wholly blame Vicky from Vicky Flip Flop Travels for my latest obsession with going to Samoa. The Pacific island wasn’t even on my radar last year but her trip recently looked bloody amazing.

Gorgeous beaches, waterfalls, the Samoa culture village… it just looks like a cool place to go for a relaxing holiday and it is officially on my list.

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Discover Taiwan

I’ve never ever thought about visiting Taiwan. That is until my friend Ellie visited earlier this year and raved about it! Taipei looks awesome with cool night markets and Taroko National Park looks quite nice. Ooh and the Rainbow Village of Taichung is full of beautiful street art to discover.

But I think the main appeal is that it is the unknown. Before I visited Cambodia I knew about Angkor Wat. Before I visited Vietnam I knew about Halong Bay. But Taiwan looks like it has the appeal of other Asian countries (amazing food and landscapes) but has a bit of mystery about it.

FYI, Where Goes Rose also visited recently so check out her blog for lots of Taiwan blog posts.

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There’s obviously lots more on my bucketlist and these are just the ones that come to mind today. But even just writing this has given me a little boost. I really can’t wait to start booking trips again!

Where’s at the top of your bucketlist? Do any of these take your fancy?

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