2019 was one superb yr, jam-packed with new adventures. From some unimaginable TBA Escapes journeys in Jordan and the Galápagos to an epic two-week highway journey by way of Eire!
One of my favourite journeys was Egypt—a spot that’s been on my bucket checklist for therefore lengthy…and a quantity of my adventures have been all about taking time to decelerate and expertise locations with family members.
Locations Traveled To: The Bahamas, South Africa, Egypt, London, Eire, Boston, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Galápagos Islands, New York Metropolis
Listed below are the highlights of my 2019 travels!
The Bahamas
I welcomed the yr within the tropics, the place I deliberately unplugged for some high quality time with my boyfriend, Meyer, and shut associates. I’d beforehand traveled to the Bimini Islands and the Atlantis Resort, however this was my first time visiting Cat Island—a extra off-the-grid island vacation spot void of any massive resorts and with hardly any tourism.
Bahamas Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on Bahamas Travel:
South Africa
Whereas I traveled to a quantity of locations in 2019, I used to be in a position to keep near house and discover extra of South Africa…which I’ve now been calling my “house base” for 3 years! Time flies!
I began my journey on South Africa’s Backyard Route with my mother and father the place we spent per week canoeing, climbing, making furry lemur associates, absorbing a while on the ocean, and watching the dawn from one of the most effective surf breaks on the earth. The entire journey is completely breathtaking…simply check out these images!
I then obtained the possibility to remain at Cheetah Plains in Sabi Sands—a villa the place you possibly can expertise all kinds of wildlife proper exterior your entrance door.
Throughout my keep, an enormous herd of elephant got here by way of as I used to be altering! Discuss unforgettable.
Again in Cape City, we camped as a lot as attainable, took some highway journeys in Luna, and I spent as a lot time as attainable with Meyer and our new pet, Bailey!
South Africa Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on South Africa Travel:
The Pyramids of Giza
Egypt
After holding off on Egypt for years, I lastly deliberate a solo journey. I had heard loads of damaging tales from different feminine vacationers and it scared me out of pulling the set off.
However then I noticed that everybody has completely different experiences and one individual’s expertise doesn’t mechanically imply that it’s going to be the identical for everybody else.
I’m so glad I didn’t let it maintain me again as a result of I used to be in a position to expertise critically pleasant locals (somebody actually handed me their child) and I used to be in a position to lastly see the creations of the Historic Egyptians with my very own eyes. The Pyramids of Giza are actually that spectacular!
Egypt Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on Egypt Travel:
London, England
London
I kicked off 6-weeks of summer time journey with a visit to London for a Spice Ladies live performance! My 12-year-old self was freaking out, to say the least!
London Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on London Travel:
Eire
After over 10 years, I lastly made my method again to Eire for a highway journey by way of southern Eire down the Wild Atlantic Means. Highlights included the Cliffs of Moher, Mizen Head, the Guinness Storehouse, Kilkenny, Hook Lighthouse, Blarney Citadel and extra…you’ll should see the wonder for your self, however within the meantime take a look at these images!
Eire Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on Eire Travel:
Boston
Although my journey to Boston was very transient (solely three days), I used to be lucky sufficient to attend TravelCon and provides the keynote speech, “The Million Greenback Weblog.” I obtained to satisfy some tremendous pretty fellow vacationers and people who find themselves passionate in regards to the business in addition to join with previous associates!
It was actually cool to offer this keynote speech as one of the issues I’m most captivated with is constructing others up and offering them instruments to develop their enterprise and weblog. The truth is, I’m launching my Running a blog Grasp Class this yr with all the pieces I want I knew once I first began and so many issues I’ve discovered from my profession as a journey blogger!
Learn Extra on USA Travel:
Learn Extra on Running a blog Ideas:
Greece
On my first journey to Greece, I visited Mykonos on a backpacker’s funds and spent most of my time get together hopping with my associates. Practically seven years later I obtained to expertise Greece in a complete new gentle—taking it a lot, a lot slower and soaking all of it in with my boyfriend.
Each dawn and sundown was spectacular and the swimming pools…my goodness, the swimming pools!
Whereas on Mykonos we stayed on the Myconian Assortment after which made our technique to Santorini the place we stayed on the Andronis Boutique Resort and the Andronis Arcadia.
Santorini was as fairly as a postcard! We wined and dined, explored the island by ATV, and soaked up some solar on the island’s Purple Seashore.
Greece Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on Greece Travel:
Venice & Trieste, Italy
Italy will endlessly be one of my favourite locations to go to and I spent three weeks touring (and consuming) my method by way of Northern Italy. Beginning in Treviso, we stopped in Venice, Burano, Florence, Jesolo, and some little cities in between…whereas my associates expertly navigated a houseboat!
Meyer really lived in Treviso for five years—earlier than we met!—so it was actually neat to see a spot that’s so close to and pricey to him.
One of my favourite stops was the Prosecco area the place I curated my very own cheese board, grabbed some wine from the Prosecco Merchandising Machine (that’s proper, a merchandising machine that dispenses bubbly!), and loved a picnic overlooking the rolling hills.
Italy Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on Italy Travel:
Jordan TBA Escapes Excursions
Ever since beginning TBA Escapes, I’ve been in a position to journey the world with pretty women—from South Africa to the Galápagos to Morocco to Jordan. The TBA Escapes “Historic Wonders Tour” by way of Jordan centered on capturing the wonder of the nation whereas educating the women extra about images, which we obtained to do in partnership with Fujifilm!
We ventured by way of Amman, hiked up the Wadi Mujib river, loved a float within the Useless Sea, soaked up the historical past of the traditional Petra, dived the Purple Sea, and explored the traditional Roman ruins in Jerash…to say it was jam-packed is an understatement.
Jordan Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on Jordan Travel:
Bartolome Island, The Galápagos
Galápagos TBA Escapes Tour
After my first go to to the Galápagos in 2016, I knew I needed to return which is why I created the TBA Galápagos “Luxurious Yacht Eco Expedition.” Our 7-night journey was epic, to say the least. We partnered up with GoPro and obtained some unimaginable footage of our journey…see the highlights right here!
We swam, snorkeled, kayaked, paddle boarded, noticed some marine iguanas sunbathing, witnessed the Large Tortoises of Santa Cruz, and extra.
Galápagos Travel Guides:
Learn Extra on Galápagos Travel:
New York
To cap off the yr I took a visit to New York Metropolis throughout the vacation season. Is there something extra magical than NYC throughout the holidays? Whereas my go to was fast—for the Factors Man Awards—it was tremendous enjoyable to expertise town with Meyer!
I can by no means get sufficient of all of the twinkling lights…and bundling up for a correct winter (it have to be the Southern California lady in me—give me all of the coats, scarves, and beanies!).