Australia, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, France, French Polynesia, Gambia, Germany, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Martinique, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Spain, Svalbard, Vanuatu
January 15, 2019
8 Trips Planned So Far for 2019
PHILADELPHIA – As a global nomad, figuring out where to go next – and then planning all the details — consumes a lot of my time. When I’m not traveling, I’m usually spending at least a bit of every day working on plans for trips ahead.
Yesterday I spent 45 minutes on the phone with my friend Michael of Toronto, Canada, discussing our plans to visit Romania and Bulgaria – the last 2 nations I haven’t seen in Europe – in May and June. Michael is also interested in exploring neighboring countries such as Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro. We went over some preliminary dates and basic outlines of what the general itinerary might look like.
I also had a brief discussion yesterday with my friend Mike, whom I’m staying with this week here in Philly, about visiting the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard this summer.
I have most of my travel for the first half of this year plotted out, plus a long trip in December. Here’s a sneak peek:
- February: My first visit to the territory of French Polynesia. Mom and I are taking a 12-night luxury cruise around the islands on Oceania Marina.
- Late March to mid-April: A 19-night Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruise aboard Costa Pacifica from La Romana, Dominican Republic, to Barcelona, Spain, with stops in three new places: The French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as the U.K. territory of Gibraltar.
- March: Skiing in the western United States – although I haven’t decided where exactly yet
- Later in April: Two weeks in West Africa: One week booked at a resort in Gambia, a second week yet to be determined (probably Senegal, which surrounds the tiny sliver of Gambia, continental Africa’s smallest country).
- April 28 to May 5: Mom and I are taking our first river cruise along the Danube River from southeastern Germany to Budapest, Hungary, aboard AmaWaterways AmaCerto.
- May 5-15: Mom and I will continue our trip to explore Hungary, where my mother’s father’s ancestors are from
- May 15 to mid-June: Romania, Bulgaria, and perhaps a couple other Eastern European countries with Michael
- December: A 21-night South Pacific cruise with Mom aboard Sea Princess from Brisbane, Australia, to Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu.
Where are you planning to travel to this year? How do you select your next desination?