what place have you added to your travel list.....

We have added Australia and New Zealand as a place that we are going to visit. A lot of people, like us, like to travel in the winter time, but would like to visit a warmer climate. We will be traveling there for 20 days starting in the end of February. I would rather visit Europe in the September time frame when it is not so cold there and school is back in session.

Budapest for sure. It was not on my radar at all but so many on here love it. For sure on my list now!

Japan. Egypt. Jordan. Have removed Myanmar from our list, and it was at the top. However, with their human rights violations we will not spend our travel dollars there.

We're off to Croatia in May, 2018! Watched Rick's show, read a couple guide books and we were sold. Looks like beautiful scenery, interesting towns, and good food.

What a nice topic, Barbara.
After some friends visited Lisbon a few years ago, and had the gorgeous photos to prove it, I added it to my wish list.
And this February it is part of my travel ... Lisbon for 5 nights followed by 3 weeks in Paris (my happy place.)
I would also like to go to Sicily and Scotland sometime in the next few years, and maybe China.

Ukraine--Kiev, Lviv and Odessa are at the top of my list. Eventually I will work up an interest in Italy and Croatia.

This year I'm checking Iceland and northern Spain off my list. In a year I'll return to London, one of my favorite places but I've never been able to go at Christmas...I can't wait to be there during that time!
I still would LOVE to spend time in Berlin, Poland, Croatia, and northern Africa! I love reading about everyone's adventures and highlights in these places - it's so inspiring!

Our last trip (October 2017) was to Spain, and now I am obsessing more over Spain than I did before we went there.

You must go.

After visiting the Hermitage Amsterdam two years ago, I yearn to visit the mothership, The Hermitage in St Petersburg. We are very independent travelers and the issues of traveling to Russia on our own aren’t all that appealing. I’m thinking that a tour would be the way to go, but then what organized tour would allow me to spend three days wandering the Hermitage?

I often get on travel jags from something that I don’t see in a place we are visiting. 13 years ago we were at the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. We searched for “Starry Night”, but it wasn’t there. When we googled and found out that it was in New York at MOMA, I started planning a trip to NYC on our flight home.

I'm glad it isn't just me who reads about other people's trips with interest and a notebook nearby. People at work think I am only being polite when I ask to see their pictures from their vacations, especially if it is someplace I have visited or is on my "future trips" list. Friends and family know I will sit and look at every picture with added commentary. I have the next 3 years worth of trips sketched out, with 2018 already booked. But, everytime I read another trip report, I start thinking - maybe we will go here instead, it sounds lovely. Life is good when you have so many choices.

Though I am always up for a trip back to Spain, I would also like to get to South Africa.

Great question, Barbara.

The first was a Christmas markets trip just because I kept reading raves here while planning a trip somewhere else. The next was Spain. I was looking for a winter destination and a couple folks here made it sound attractive . . . and the Alhambra had been in the back of my mind for many years (since I saw a traveling exhibit at the Met on a NYC visit). My first trip was 3 weeks-plus four years ago, and I've already been back twice for about 3 weeks each since then.

Krakow went on my list partly because people here recommended it. When I started planning Warsaw/Krakow/Budapest, I added Gdansk because of great reviews here (and it was my favorite of the 3 Polish cities). And I added days to Hungary to visit Pecs, thanks to comments from Craig and Harold.

Great topic and no doubt the discussion here will add more to my list!

We had a taste of Scotland last year and I really want more time there as I read posts by those of you who have been back time and again.

Likewise, we have only been to Sicily briefly (a week in Western Sicily in 2013) and it is ever on my list and moving up rapidly.

Strasbourg and Colmar got added to a "Christmas markets" list -- loved them both last week! Budapest, based on James E's comments (third trip will be next month.) St. Remy in Provence (hope to get back next year.) Granada. Mont St Michel. Padua. So many wonderful places!
Keep writing, people !!

Switzerland, been dying to enjoy the Lauterbrunnen Valley & all around it. I was planning on 5 nights between Mürren & Lucerne w/5 nights in Paris (my happy place). But Budapest has sparked my interest. It will come down to when I start booking my flights will Budapest over rule Paris.

Tallinn, Scandinavia, Iceland, RS Best of Paris, another river cruise... Hard to choose just one. Next trip will probably be Poland and then Ukraine (haven't been there since 1995). And I always want to go back to two of my favourite places, Vienna and Budapest.

In Europe: Sicily, Calabria and Puglia in Italy.
Outside Europe: Japan

Love the topic.
Ankor Wat is top of my list and has been for a looooong time. Thought we were going next November but need to move it back a year or two. Hubby still working and want to take at least 3 weeks to explore the area. Also Scotland and traveling to America's National Parks. Actually, I am pretty obsessed with all the above. Can't wait to plan.

Yes Nancy, we love a Christmas list that inspires dreaming rather than a trip to the shops.

Hello!

I've added Norway. Looking forward to seeing the northern lights and checking out the view from the fjords <3
I'm getting Rick Steves Guide and going to follow it as much as I can :)

I haven't decided which month would be best for me to visit. I'm not that much into cold weather, so I'm keeping my options open for deals during a period with milder temperatures...

JeannetteS,
There is a RS tour to St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Helsinki that ends with 4 nights in St. Petersburg. You would be able to add more days there. This tour is on my list mainly because of the Hermitage!

Hi Jeanette,
Just to let you know the hardships and challenges of DIY travel to SPb are grossly exaggerated. I'd say if the Hermitage is your primary target, diy is the way to go (for a very impressive collection of Russian art, also consider visiting the Russian Museum). The Hermitage's collection is very well covered in many many printed materials and catalogues; there are also audio guides available, so you won't even need a guide.

If you are VERY uncomfortable with the DIY aspect of it, the RS tour someone else suggested is also a good, even if quite pricey, option.

Another option would be to take a cruise from Moscow to SPb with extension on both ends. Once in St. Pete, you can get a private guide to Hermitage. Also a pricey option, especially if you stick to "western" cruise lines (Viking, Uniworld), but there are cheaper alternatives (Vodohod @ bestrussiancruises, Mosturflot). Personally, I wouldn't take the cruise - there isn't much to see en route, aside from Kizhi and probably Uglich, but it is still an option to consider if you're looking for a worry-free structured "tour" experience.

Thanks for the encouragement, Judy B and Perilofp! St Petersburg is starting to feel more like our next international destination. The RS tour with an extension could be a possibility, I looked at cruises as well. Both pricey for our typical way of traveling, but maybe for this - a splurge is in order.

After reading more questions/answers, i have to add other places to my list. For Norway we will have to venture to Tromsø. My friend has talked about the Northern lights for years and this could be the place to see them. I know there are other places, some in the US, but Norway just seems it would be more fun and adventurous, especially in the winter. Like others have said, most of these trips will have to wait till retirement because of time.

After reading more questions/answers, i have to add other places to my list. For Norway we will have to venture to Tromsø. My friend has talked about the Northern lights for years and this could be the place to see them. I know there are other places, some in the US, but Norway just seems it would be more fun and adventurous, especially in the winter. Like others have said, most of these trips will have to wait till retirement because of time.

Mürren. After seeing the Rick Steves program about the Bernese Oberland, we had to visit Mürren and we did a few years ago. LOVED IT!

Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, and Greece. Probably do all in a single trip. Also more in Romania and Serbia.

The Baltics - Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia.

Spain, Portugal, S France.

Those are our next couple trips.

I am retiring this summer, and we are talking to Croatian friends about buying property there.