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WELCOME to 2018!! I hope it’s been good to you so far. SO, what are you going to do this year? Have you got your travels planned? I’m trying to be a bit more organised this year and actually plan some of my travel (presonal and press trips) in advance. So far I only have a couple organised but I have LOTS of ideas.
I thought I’d write a post on all the places I want to visit this year so that it might inspire some of you with your trip planning. I’m also hoping that by put it out in the universe I’ll attract the right trips and opportunities to me, haha. You never know! Here it is, my 2018 travel bucket list.
My 2018 Travel Wish List & Plans

JANUARY – Explore Belfast
I’ve been going to Belfast since I was a kid. But as an adult I hadn’t been much. Luckily, I fixed that. This month I went for a couple of days to explore the capital of the North. I stayed in the stunning and historic Europa hotel. It is often referred to as “Europe’s Most Bombed Hotel”, but don’t let that put you off. Belfast is incredible for food. If/when you visit, make sure to indulge in some cicchetti (the Italian version of tapas) at the highly recommended Choppi restaurant. If you want to learn more about the history I highly recommend the political walking tour guided by ex-political prisoners. It’s extremely authentic and eye-opening.
FEBRUARY – Irish Staycation
I’ll be spending a lot of February down in Wexford, which is one of my favourite staycation spots in Ireland. Rosslare is the sunniest spot in the whole country, so what better place to spend February?! There are some great spots and things to do in Wexford. I love Kilmore Quay, with its thatched cottages, for a stroll and a hearty meal at the Saltee Chipper. Kelly’s hotel in Rosslare has a gorgeous spa. I don’t recommend booking the lunch/spa package though, my boyfriend got absolutely scalded due to an unfortunate incident with some soup there. So just do the spa and skip the buffet. If you want some beach vibes check out Curracloe beach with great dunes and a forest behind it.

MARCH – The Hague
When people think of the Netherlands they tend to just think of Amsterdam. But I want to explore The Hague, home to the International Criminal Court and a very nice beach, among other things! I’m currently planning this trip so hit me up with your suggestions in the comments section. I’m envisaging myself going for a walk along Scheveningen Pier or strolling through the tiny city at Madurodam. I’m excited to see what the city has to offer vegetarians too.
APRIL – Water Fight in Thailand
OK, I have no plans to do this yet, but Songkran seems like possibly the coolest festival in the world. It is also known as Thai New Year. It is is the country’s biggest celebration and they go all out, with parades and plenty of water fights in the street! I think I’d probably pop into the Unicorn Café in Bangkok too while I was over there, because I’m me and must do all things unicorn. I might not manage this in 2018, but if you can, do it!

MAY – Costa Rica
I’ve been dying to head to Costa Rica with my boyfriend for ages. I’m a big fan of sloths and he’s a big fan of volcanoes. Again, I don’t have anything planned for this yet, but I’m working on it. I’m dreaming of zip-lining through the cloud forest, chilling at a surf camp, and heading to an eco-friendly spa in the rainforest. I know you can fly direct from London to San Jose with British Airways, so I’m just trying to find the cheapest ones now!
JUNE – Colorado
THIS I have booked! I got a seriously cheap deal with BA from Dublin to Denver via London for about €360 return. I’m going to visit a friend and fellow blogger who I met in Finland. I’ve wanted to visit Colorado for years. I plan on checking out Boulder, Aspen, Crested Butte, Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks and more. If you’re planning a USA holiday make sure to let me know where you’re heading in the comments section.

JULY – Rwanda
So, my boyfriend works out in Rwanda. It’s an incredible country. I spent about 3 weeks out there last August and I’ll definitely head out there again in 2018. I’m not 100% sure when and I have nothing booked, but I’ll definitely be out there again. The iced coffee is incredible. The people are friendly. It’s safe and you can go mountain-gorilla watching (for an insane price, which is why I haven’t done it!).
AUGUST – The Azores
Last year in March I visited Madeira, which made me wonder, what else do the Portuguese islands have to offer? SO, I did a bit of research on the Azores and WOW, they look incredible. I’m a big fan of islands with loads of activities available (like Hawaii, Madeira, Aruba etc) so I had to add them to this list. There are hot springs, volcanoes and SO MUCH greenery. Do yourself a favour and Google the Azores, your eyeballs will thank you later. I haven’t actually planned this at all. I’ll have to get working on it!

SEPTEMBER – Elephant Party in Sri Lanka
The Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka is the best place to be to see the elephants gather en masse to an ancient reservoir. I absolutely love Sri Lanka, so any excuse to go back. The food is incredible, the people are friendly and the weather is great. If you miss the elephant gathering then make sure to be there for whale watching season from November to April.
OCTOBER – New England Halloween Road Trip
My mam did this in 2017 right before Halloween and I was SO jealous. She stopped in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. All the Autumn (Fall) colours were out but the weather was still good. She took the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, drove around Cape Cod, visited Yale and learnt about the witch trials in Salem. And I planned nearly all of it, so I think I’ll steal her itinerary and check it out for myself in 2018. Or, at least, I’ll try if I have time! All these trips could make 2018 very busy!

NOVEMBER – Day of the Dead in Mexico
I haven’t been to Mexico since I was a kid. I’d love to go back for the 2nd of November and witness the Day of the Dead celebrations. It’s such a beautiful meaningful tradition that I’ve always been fascinated by. Again, I haven’t planned this yet, but hey, it’s only January.
DECEMBER – See the Northern Lights
This has been on my bucket list for YEARS. I’ve missed it twice when I was in Finland and Iceland. I’d love to see them in Norway, Finland or Iceland. I’d even love to see them from a plane! I know they’re elusive, but I’d happily spend weeks hunting them. Again, I haven’t organised this, but I definitely will. Have you seen them?? Show me your photos so I can live vicariously through you please!
Where are you planning to go in 2018?
Recommended Reading
– My Proper Bucket List.
– Thinking of Living Abroad in 2018? Try Somewhere New.
– Travel Inspiration for Summer 2018.
This list is the best list which contains some classic places of this world. I want to visit all of them, hope when will be the time come. Thanks for sharing this post.
woah!this is a great list, I wish the hotels are cheap and backpacker friendly.thank you so much for sharing this!
Oh Sri Lanka is amazing! So much to do and see definitely if you head off the beaten track and into the unknown. This island has so much to offer, definately when you rent your own self-drive tuktuk! Fantastic experience I will never forget!
Wow, what a wonderful list of places to visit, especially the Nothern lights! This will surely be on my bucket list for 2018.
Great travels Tara!
I think of this sort of thing as my thimble list, as I don’t travel too far. But this is certainly encouraging. Great work. Great pictures. Thank you.
Cheers Sharon…
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