Will This Be The True "Return" to Travel Year?
Happy New Year!
Well like many I suppose, I've spent portions of my recent holiday mapping out future travel plans (🙂!) So far I've planned 2-3 major trips in 2023 (two trips are baked and one is in fluid stages), as well as beginning tentative consideration for some trips into 2024.
I benefited from a willingness to commence international travel as soon as travel destinations began post vaccine re-openings. It offered calm, once-in-a-lifetime visits to normally overrun travel destinations.
Now, judging from the massive amount of tourists that invaded Greece after our departure last May, the flood gates of travel are once wide open.
Looking ahead here is Roadboy's current destination list.
First there will be an increasing amount of business travel (yet still nothing like my pre-covid life). There has been a sea change in business travel needs now that many clients are more comfortable using web meetings. While still valuable, my actual "get on a plane" business trips are much less frequent.
Beyond that in 2023 I have firm plans for 2 major sightseeing / fun trips and am seriously considering a third with my daughter.
Trip One: Sightseeing Western Canada by Bicycle
In June I will fly to Vancouver BC for a week of general sightseeing. This region IMHO is perhaps North America's most beautiful urban treasure. Vancouver is simply marvelous. It has no inner city freeways slicing though it. It has encouraged compact housing since the 1970's. It has amazing parks and is richly multi-cultural (which presents stunning cultural and cuisine options). The latter of which fully exploits a rich harvest from the sea and produce and wines from the nearby Okanogan Valley. Add a necklace of mountains and you have an embarrassment of riches.
From there I will join my cycling chums for a week of biking on Vancouver Island with some sea kayaking and stops in lovely Victoria stirred in for good measure.
Trip Two: Venice and Cycling the Dolomites
This trip will begin in late September. The timing is critical as it is when the overwhelming tourist crowds in Venice taper off and surrender this magical city back to the locals. But first I'll begin the trip with a week in London (the new Non-stop AA service from Phoenix to London has totally spoiled me). From London I'll fly to Venice for $80 (is that incredible?) to join with my cycling buddy Beth for a few days immersed in Venetian history.
From Venice we will begin our cycling adventure in the Valleys of the Italian Dolomites. The cycling portion includes Cortina d'Ampezzo, Riscone, Merano and then concludes in Verona. Hopefully the balance between cycling vs. pasta carbs can find equilibrium......
Trip Three: Cycling Bangkok, Vietnam and Cambodia
Still in the formation stages December may see a visit to Japan (which my daughter and I both miss terribly) and/or Singapore. We will then spend a few days exploring Bangkok.
The cycling part of the trip will then include 7-8 days cycling in Vietnam to include Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, and Saigon.
I'm hoping to conclude that journey with a visit to Siem Reap Cambodia.
Looking to 2024 there are possible trips to Iceland, the Azores (with maybe side trips to Seville and Valencia). New Zealand is planned for March or April. Beyond that Argentina and Chile still own spots on my wish list.
In 2025 I'm toying with a couple of weeks sightseeing and cycling in South Africa. But we shall see what life holds as by then.
Roadboy's Travel © 2023
