Now that Christmas is but a distant memory, it’s time to look forward to what 2013 has in store for travel.
I spent some of Christmas weekend reflecting on all of the places that I’ve visited during 2012. Most were repeats of favorites (Bratislava, Vienna, London, Frankfurt and Hong Kong among others) while some places were new (Singapore, Istanbul and a few minutes in Guam). What prompted this reflection was a gift that my Mother-In-Law gave us. The gift, a large framed world map that allows you to place magnetized pins on places that you have visited. Thoughtful right?
As my wife and I thought through all of the places that we visited over the years and marked them on the map we soon discovered a glaring pattern. We had virtually used up all the pins on US and European destinations. Only 3 Pins were outside the US and Europe. Here I thought that we were “accomplished” travelers, but we’ve inadvertently ignored the rest of the world outside of Europe and the USA.
So with that realization, I’ve committed 2013 to be the year of “New Cities On New Continents”. Don’t get me wrong, there will still be several trips to Europe because those Lufthansa Ducks have a “siren” effect on me. But on the other hand, there are a lot of places on my map that don’t have little magnetic pins attached to them. So for 2013, my resolution is to see South America, Africa or Australia with the goal being to visit 2 of these continents. It may be just a 24-48 hour mileage run, but the proof will be the passport stamp. I’m thinking that flying Lufthansa from the US to Buenos Aires via Frankfurt is an efficient way to put the “Pin” on South America and Africa should be a piece of cake with a flight from the USA to Johannesburg via Munich.
To start things off in January, I’m planning on heading to Anchorage for some fantastic plane spotting opportunities. In February it looks like a trip to Istanbul over President’s Day weekend, then in April I take my wife for her first visit to Hong Kong. Other than that, the slate for major trips is blank, leaving plenty of room to deliver on my resolution.
What about you?
What did you accomplish with your travels in 2012 that was most rewarding?
What travel resolutions do YOU have for 2013?
Hey, very inspiring post! The only continent I haven’t set a foot on is Africa and Antartica, but I am afraid that my parents will head to Patagonia (and beyond) without me. So for now my dreams are South Africa, Namibia or Tanzania. Followed by Antartica. But then due to family and friends I always end up in the same places too: S.Korea (fall 2013 to visit f&f and to see the amazing Jinju Lantern festival again), CAN (BC – in March) and the US (best friend now in NYC).
My personal recommendations: Top 3: Korea in Fall (Indian Summer), Top 2: Diving at the Great Barrier Reef, Top 1 (!!!!) the Amazon (start in Laetitia)… It is unbelievable… The beauty of the sounds of the jungle at night. Totally got me 🙂 AND crazy enough: There is cell phone reception so you could even check in on FSQ 😉
Wendy. When I did Toronto (after passport started to be required) they didn’t do a stamp. Maybe they do now or you can request it.
Doing Mardi Gras this year for first time. Unplanned beyond that.
It’s been a travel-intensive year for me, but only across Europe. I’ve been as far north as KRN, which was a fantastic experience. 2013 is shaping up to be even more interesting, though, as I have a long-expected trip to Hong Kong and New Zealand coming up in February/March, and in Premium Economy all the way at that, so it’ll be a pretty luxurious first venture out of Europe for my standards 🙂 I’m also moving to Brussels in April, so my 2013 resolution is to try and make the best possible use of their Flyday promos!
I’m in Osaka now wrapping up two weeks in Korea and Japan to end 2012. 2013 is a work in progress but probably Singapore, Australia, and Germany. Happy New Year!
Anchorage, January, are you nuts? Good luck and bring a lot of longjohns!
What about east asia (beijing seoul tokyo etc)? It is much closer than australia…
Fly porter to NYC!
My goal is to fly on KLM’s MD-11 before they go out this summer! Also to
Go on an awesome Spring Break trip to top off my last year of school. Find a job that will give me a lot of opportunities to travel either now or later.
My goal for the year is to get a passport and get my first stamp in it. It will probably be Canada. Which I’ve been to before. However, a mileage run to someplace outside the U.S. would be nice. My main vacation for the year will be 5 weeks in Florida.
wow, 5 weeks in Florida…Nice!