10 Places I Am Excited To Go To Now That I Can Travel Full-Time Again

Though I was blessed to be marooned in New Zealand for two decades during the pandemic, I greatly skipped the potential to improve international locations and examine new horizons. As the COVID limitations ultimately abate and global vacation resumes, I’m looking forward to building up for all the travel I skipped. As a complete-time traveler, I have the luxury of time. So, when I consider about the areas I want to go, I’m more fascinated in checking out distinct cultures and day-to-day daily life than looking at tourist internet sites in certain metropolitan areas (with a couple of exceptions). Right here are some of the locations I’m looking forward to finding.

1. Reunion Island

In 1993, I spent a year working in Paris, France. When there, I became mates with a amazing colleague from Reunion Island. At the time, I had no concept where by it was. More than time, my mate moved back again to Reunion Island, married, had a spouse and children, and arrived to check out me in New York Town, two times! We’ve been talking about that it’s my flip to finally go to her region. It is a little island in close proximity to Madagascar and the excellent put to go all through a trip to Africa. I had prepared to check out in 2020 when I had booked a gorilla trek in Uganda. I had to set individuals options on keep, so I’m now looking forward to picking them again up. Reunion Island offers a volcano, outstanding mountaineering, and seashores. I can not wait to examine them all.

Pro Suggestion: The best time to take a look at is involving May possibly and November. The drier, less humid period. January is typically a extremely wet month.

2. Madagascar

Discovering wildlife in its natural habitat has been one particular of my preferred sections of traveling the earth. Obviously, I just cannot wait to see the lemurs. Evidently, there are numerous varieties of them! Madagascar is also regarded for making vanilla, so studying a lot more about it and its fabrication is anything I’d like to do. Yet another allure is the Baobab trees. The variety of trees and crops from a person country to a different fascinates me and this tree is a person I’d like to hug and see first-hand.

Madagascar is ideal in the vicinity of Reunion Island, generating it the great put to visit when I get to that element of the planet. I beloved my time in Southern Africa and just can’t hold out to check out a great deal a lot more of the African continent.

Pro Tip: Comparable to Reunion Island, Madagascar has a cyclone time at the starting of the 12 months. The most effective time to take a look at is May possibly by means of October.

3. Turkey

Turkey has constantly held a exclusive draw for me because I think of it as the place of East meets West. I’m energized to see the architecture, fabric designs, and spices. Nevertheless I do not want a Turkish carpet, I come across them attractive and would enjoy to see them in the markets. Of program, there’s the magic of flying carpets and magical metropolitan areas in the sand from a variety of flicks that attract me to this region, as properly as Turkish coffee and Turkish food. I’m curious to compare authentic Turkish foodstuff with the Turkish dining establishments I have dined in New York City.

I’m eager to see the balloons in Cappadocia since it’s 1 of the illustrations or photos that stand out in my intellect as a beautiful testament to journey. I’d like to see it with my very own eyes.

Professional Idea: Be ready for the possibility of employing a Turkish toilet — a straightforward hole in the ground. When clear, they may perhaps not be at ease to use if you are utilised to a Western bathroom.

4. Morocco

Decades back, in Paris, I relished a Moroccan Mint Tea in the fifth arrondissement. A person arrived with a tray on which was a gorgeous glass cup and a teapot. In the cup were being some pine nuts. I viewed, surprised, as he lifted the teapot substantial higher than the cup, and poured, beautifully, to the top of the glass, devoid of spilling. He then positioned all the things in front of me. It was one particular of the most delightful tea experiences I’ve ever had. That was the beginning of my wish to go to Morocco. 

I almost held my 50th birthday get together below but felt I preferred extra than just a couple of days to check out it. I’m referred to as by the excellent markets, the blue metropolis, and of course a camel experience into the desert. I have viewed sand dunes in Peru, Namibia, and even New Zealand, so seeing metropolitan areas on the sand will enhance my experience with distinct landscapes. What I appreciate about Morocco is how it’s element of Africa and however close to Europe, when getting an Arab impact. This conjoining of cultures is intriguing to me. I frequented Israel yrs back and was intrigued at how numerous different cultures, who we usually see combating 1 one more, reside in peace in Jerusalem. The architecture and hues of unique Moroccan towns are also something I’d greatly like to see. 

Pro Idea: If you get dropped in a Marrakech souk, check with people or females for aid rather of young boys simply because they will insist on a huge tip for their assist.

5. Montenegro

Years ago I achieved a charming pair from Montenegro and have preferred to uncover my way there ever due to the fact. I’ve expended so considerably time in the basic sections of Western Europe that I’m eager to investigate Jap Europe and the Balkans, wherever I have put in no time at all. My family’s heritage is Japanese European, so I’d like to gain some insight into what it’s like in that element of the earth. Montenegro is also completely sandwiched among other nations around the world I’d like to check out by coach this kind of as Croatia, Albania, and Budapest.

Pro Idea: Journey by practice can be nicer than travel by bus.

6. Philippines

I have cherished touring in the course of Asia. It feels particularly harmless as a feminine, solo traveler. I’m wanting forward to looking at a large amount far more of it. The Philippines appears to be like an idyllic land of lush shorelines and vegetation. I have heard the people are amazing as nicely. I’m on the lookout forward to the feeling of peace and peace on the seashores and exploring the a lot of islands that make me fired up to choose out my digicam and eternalize the times. Palawan is a region of specific fascination with its stunning sights and beach locations. The strategy of staying in a position to spend infinite quantities of time exploring in excess of 7,000 islands is extra than a little alluring.

Pro Tip: U.S. citizens can continue to be in the Philippines for 59 times with no a visa and can prolong for up to 6 months.

7. Argentina

There are some areas I want to return to due to the fact I had amazing activities there. In 2019 I spent four months in Argentina. Mainly because I journey little by little, with out a prepared itinerary, I don’t get to each and every corner of any nation I pay a visit to. I typically obtain areas I love and continue to be for a though and explore the tradition, fairly than trying to see each individual one tourist internet site in a 7 days. Four months in this excellent and big country was not sufficient! I built some amazing friends I’d like to see again and I want to investigate some sites I did not the very first time these as Cordoba and Puerto Madryn. Of system, I would also like to enjoy a day by day dose of yerba mate the moment yet again.

Professional Idea: Discover some Spanish prior to you go for the reason that you’re possible to face many men and women who do not speak English, particularly in smaller sized towns.

8. South Africa

I fell in really like with looking at Table Major mountain each and every working day in Cape City, and have longed to return since my first pay a visit to in 2019. I’m searching forward to discovering some of the neighborhoods I received to know and having to see the Gods Window this time, a perspective I missed the last time. This is a large state whole of excellent folks, wildlife, and scenery. I can not hold out to get again to Cape Town and make my way into more of Africa.

Professional Suggestion: Never wander around Cape City on your own soon after darkish.

9. Ecuador

Whilst I used 6 months meandering South The us in 2019, I didn’t get to Ecuador. A person chilly afternoon, discovering Rotorua, New Zealand, I occurred on a market. A female was advertising vibrant and amazing jackets. She turned out to be from Ecuador. We had a amazing conversation, in Spanish, about her lifetime and she invited me to continue to be with her in New Zealand. I acquired 1 of her jackets and was left with a amazing encounter leaving me wanting to discover much more about the individuals of Ecuador. I appreciate the vibrant clothing of South American nations around the world and cherished the rolling mountains which greeted me in Colombia and Peru so touring to Ecuador would be one more option to examine these landscapes, hues, and find out anything diverse than what I’ve observed in some of the other South American nations. Of course, the Galápagos Islands are on my record as very well! A different factor I’d like to see is the wildlife. 

Pro Tip: The weather may possibly be colder than you be expecting.

10. Mexico

This is a newer state on my “I can not hold out to go” record. For a lot of my existence, I involved Mexico with having “Montezuma’s Revenge” (diarrhea) following ingesting water there. In much more new yrs, good buddies have raved about Tulum and others have invested months in locations like Guadalajara, Oaxaca, and Mexico Metropolis. I’m in love with the shades and designs I see in Mexican artwork. This is another nation that I know will have foodstuff that tantalize my senses. I’m keen to knowledge serious Mexican delicacies as an choice to the Tex-Mex that I’m acquainted with in America.

Professional Idea: Really do not drink tap drinking water or use ice cubes in your drinks. Montezuma’s Revenge is nevertheless all around.

The truth of the matter is, I’m fired up to go almost everywhere! The opening of vacation and the reduction of regulations is a welcome relief. My toes have been itching to get back to roaming for a extensive time and I’m delighted to be in a position to permit them guide me to new destinations.