It never surprises us to get a huge inflow of trip requests in January. After all, it’s a natural time to look ahead and plan/dream about all of the places you could travel to. We’re not big on New Year’s resolutions in our house, but starting the year with a travel wishlist is a tradition that we take very seriously. Every year since 2017, we sit down on a cold day in January, open a map, our travel budget and a bottle of wine, and start crafting a list of where we want to visit in the year ahead. Some places on the list will become a reality, some may get pushed to next year, or just fall off the list, but part of the joy of traveling is dreaming, so we always start with the assumption that we can go everywhere. 2024 RecapPart of this process is reflecting on last year, which included returning to a few of our favorite destinations, along with exploring a small handful of exciting firsts. As always, we met new local tour guides, visited some great boutique hotels, and experienced activities first-hand in order to develop awesome new Designed Trips and include them in our Custom Travel Plans. It was a lot of great work, but it wasn’t all work. IndiaWe spent three exciting weeks in India, hiking through tea plantations, kayaking through the Kerala backwaters and hanging ten at a surf and yoga camp before feeding street cows, combing through palaces, and learning about the complex and fascinating history in Rajasthan. We arrived home stimulated, a bit exhausted, but mostly inspired with a strong reminder of how much we love being somewhere new and trying new things, learning about a different culture, and feeling a level of stimulation and inspiration that we don't get in our day-to-day.
Canary IslandsA week working from Spain’s Canary islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in the spring offered a nice recharge, with some cool volcanic hikes and wild landscapes. This destination has been on our wishlist list for years (see our 2019 wishlist), but unfortunately we just didn’t love it for a variety of reasons (the main one being how difficult it was to find authenticity and non-tourist experiences) which is why you haven’t seen a Canary Island Designed Trip on the site. But this is how we know - you can’t believe everything you see on travel vlogs and Instagram.
GreeceAs usual, our goal for summer was to spend as much time at the beach and in the sea as humanly possible. So, it was back to Greece for our 5th visit, and as usual, it did not disappoint. Our goal was to island hop around some of the smaller and lesser known Cycladic islands for a more relaxed, laid back and local experience. It ended up being one of the best, most relaxed trips of the year and resulted in our new (and already very popular) Greece: The Best Less Known Islands Designed Trip.
ItalyIn August, we popped down to Puglia, another favorite destination that we can’t seem to get enough of and offers an amazing summer scene, with a side of fresh pasta. We drank primitivo and ate handmade burrata between checking in with some of our favorite hotels - most of which are ancient farms that have been converted into boutique properties. And yessss, a Puglia Designed Trip is coming, because it’s a very special spot in Italy that we can’t wait to share more.
JapanJapan had been on our wishlist since the beginning of time, and we have had countless requests for a Designed Trip, so we decided 2024 was the year. After a fun city stopover in Hong Kong, we spent five days combing through Tokyo, going on food tours, checking out museums and visiting temples before heading to the Kiso Valley for three days of hiking the ancient Nakasendo Trail. The adventure ended in Kyoto where we cycled to shrines, hung out with wild deer in Nara and walked through bamboo forests. We were completely in awe of Japan and, if it's on your list, we think you will be too.
MexicoAfter all that sushi, we were craving something with a bit more spice, so in November, we hopped over to Mexico City where we ate a ridiculous number of tacos, quesadillas and tlacoyos with Megan's dad, before heading to Colorado for a family Thanksgiving.
EnglandFinally, we wrapped 2024 with our 6th visit to London to see some of the shows and museums we’ve never been to and to ring in the new year with some of our closest pals.
It was a big year, and we're incredibly grateful for the continued requests we get for new Designed Trips, which allows us to continue to do what we love. But now, it’s February, and there’s a lot more world out there, so it’s time to get moving... 2025 Travel Wishlist#1 - The PhilippinesOver 7,600 islands and some of the world's most beautiful beaches and we still haven't been there? How?! There are few things we love more than riding scooters from beach, to waterfall, to jungle hikes, and being suncrisp and salty for days at a time, so the island nation of The Philippines feels like the perfect destination for us. Plus, we’ve partnered with a local sailing company for a multi-day adventure at sea that will take us to uninhabited islands, which we think future travelers will love as much as we surely will. Flights are booked and we leave THIS WEEK, so it is happening!  #2 - Vietnam (again): Hanoi & Ninh BinhBy far one of our all-time favorite countries in the world, we almost always try to squeeze in a stop when we’re in Asia. Vietnam has it all - culture, history, amazing people, breathtaking landscapes and omg, the food! We’ve managed to squeeze in a week on the end of our Philippines trip and are very excited to see some of our favorite partners in Hanoi and Ninh Binh (and also to eat our weight in fresh rolls and veggie pho). 
#3 - Spain (again): Balearic Islands, Mallorca or Menorca & RiojaWe’ve been calling Spain home again for the last year or so after one too many rainy Tuscan winters, and since, we’ve reignited our love for this incredibly diverse and sun soaked country. The Balearic islands, specifically Menorca and Mallorca, are home to some of Europe’s best beaches and such an easy hop from Valencia (or Barcelona/Madrid!). We’re continuously astonished that more summer travelers don’t request this tiny slice of heaven in the middle of the Med, and have landed on the fact that maybe it’s still a bit of a hidden gem. We love these islands, we’ll always go back and we know them well, so ask us if you’re interested! Another Spanish region to explore? Rioja. It’s easy to reach and produces some of the best wine in Europe. It's also incredibly affordable and may be a perfect long weekend escape this year. 
#4 - IcelandThe thing is that it's really cold, and that's why we never go. But we think we can invest in some thick jackets and tough it out for the otherworldly landscape, volcanoes and hot springs. It’s been on our list for years, so if we go, ya better believe we're doing the full ring road to get to all the remote places.  #5 - Greece (again)Eternally on Megan's list, especially after last year's super relaxed island hop around the tiny, lesser known Cycladics. Now we’re hooked - we want to discover new places and visit all the spots that no one talks about to help adventurous travelers do the same (and obviously eat all the feta along the way).  #6 - TurkeyNot sure how we haven't made it past Istanbul because Turkey has been on our list for A LOOONG time. Cappadocia, with its famous fairy chimney landscape and magical hot air balloons, and the southern coast around Antalya are calling to us. Add in Turkish food, customs and hammams, and we’ll be surprised if this one doesn’t make it on the agenda in 2025.  #7 - PanamaPossibly an addition to a trip home, with great beaches, potential island hopping and some cool cultural experiences. It's one of the only countries we skipped in Central America and we can't figure out why with all it has to offer.  #8 - Kenya & TanzaniaWill this be the year? Fingers crossed, because we've been itching for an Africa trip for what feels like forever. We know you are too - this (along with Japan) is our #1 requested destination, so we’ll do our best to make it happen. We really like the idea of combining a safari or two with a few days on Zanzibar for some relaxing beach time (yes, we squeeze in the beach whenever possible).  Although we already have adventures on the books, 2025 feels full of possibilities. Here’s to a new year full of new experiences, fun and adventure! Now let’s gooooo!
Megan & Ryan Our 2017 Travel Wishlist Our 2018 Travel Wishlist Our 2019 Travel Wishlist Our 2020 Travel Wishlist Our 2021 Travel Wishlist
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