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Although 2018 is well underway at this point, I have just finished firming up my travel plans for the full year. This year is going to be so good, you guys. I cannot wait to share all of the adventures to come with you!
2017 was the first year that I really did any sort of traveling as an adult, and to say I’m obsessed is an understatement. Last year, I was finally at a place in my career/life where I had enough extra income to be able to take trips to new places. I made it to 5 new destinations and felt really proud of myself come the end of the year.
For 2018, I’m taking things up a notch and hope to continue establishing myself in the travel blogging community as well as adding even more travel into my year.
I’m currently searching and applying for various freelance writing positions so that I can work office-free and travel full-time. My goal is to make that happen by 2022, but the sooner the better!
Austin Adventuring
The beginning of the year has so far been filled with apartment searching and planning for a move into Austin. We currently live a little over an hour outside of the city in a small Hill Country town.
I’m looking forward to moving into the city to cut costs in a few ways as well as feel more connected in general. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to be a few minutes away from the airport!
Although not exactly travel-related, I’m also starting school in March. I’m going back to finish my Bachelor’s degree, which I had to put on hold after high school. I’ll be attending LSU online and am so excited to get started. I love learning and am looking forward to studying a subject I’m passionate about, English!
My no travel plans are all subject to change if I can find an affordable last minute weekend getaway for mid-April. If you have any suggestions, send them my way! I’m currently scoping out options in either Phoenix, Arizona or St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida. I also wouldn’t say no to a weekend in New York if the opportunity were to arise…
NOLA, Take Two
As our first official trip of the year, my husband, two of our best friends, and I will be spending a long weekend in New Orleans! For 3 days in May, we are staying at the Four Points by Sheraton, located right in the French Quarter, and have splurged on a room with a balcony overlooking Bourbon Street!
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in America and this will be my second weekend trip. 3 out of the 4 people in our group have a birthday in May (I’m one of them!), so it will be a great way to celebrate.
June is another month I may do a weekend trip if I can find a good deal, since I currently have nothing planned. Something tells me this month won’t stay empty for long!
Care Free in the Caribbean
In mid-August my husband and I will be spending a week at a 5-star resort in Aruba! I am so ready to take a break from the busiest time of year at my job and just relax at the beach/pool for a few days. I have a bit of a flamingo obsession, so I hope to visit the famous flamingo beach and see some of the pretty pink birds up close.
Onward to South America
September is going to be a REALLY good month, y’all. I’m beyond excited to announce that I will be working with Traverse Journeys to explore the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador! This trip both excites and terrifies me in so many ways.
I don’t think I’ve really wrapped my head around the idea that I will be living in an eco-lodge deep in the Amazon rainforest for 5 days. I will also be tacking on a few days before the trip to explore Quito.
Right after I return from Ecuador, I will be attending my first travel conference. I had been wanting to attend one this year, but until recently had not been able to find one that seemed beneficial to me and was also in a convenient location.
When Travel Con was announced last week, all the pieces fell into place! This conference is taking place right here in Austin, Texas and features some of my absolute favorite bloggers as speakers. I can’t wait to meet other bloggers/travelers and learn more about the travel industry this fall.
To close out September, I will be popping over to Houston for a weekend with my sister. We’ve never taken any kind of trip together, so this is a first for us. We will be attending a concert one night and exploring the city during the day. I haven’t started any research for this trip yet, but I’m looking forward to getting to know more of Texas.
Thanksgiving in the Snow…
My husband and I are planning to spend the week of Thanksgiving up in central Wisconsin with his aunt and uncle. They live on a gorgeous property of 200+ acres outside of Wausau, and it is just beautiful in the snow!
Since we were in Belize for Thanksgiving last year, it will be nice to have a traditional, delicious Thanksgiving this year. I’m already looking forward to all the food…
and Christmas in the Sand
If you’ve been reading this blog for the past few months, you know that I have fallen head over heels in love with Belize. We honeymooned on Ambergris Caye last November and I have been dreaming of the island every day since. I couldn’t let 2018 pass me by without making it back to Belize, so we will be back there for Christmas this year!
We loved our resort so much last time that I’ve already booked it again! Every day that I’m not spending in Costa Blu’s gorgeous ocean-side pool is a waste, honestly.
Three international trips and three domestic trips are set in stone for me in 2018 so far – for a full-time office worker, I feel like that’s a good amount of traveling to do! Especially if I can fit in one or two more short/weekend trips to break up the non-traveling months. If you have any suggestions for cities that make great weekend trips and are easily accessible from Texas, let me know!
Because I am such a planning type of person, I already have one big bucket list type trip on the calendar for 2019. Nothing about this trip is set in stone yet, but I’ll give you a little hint: Sometime in spring 2019, I will be visiting five European cities! Ahh!
I can’t wait to see where this year (and the next!) takes me. One thing that’s certain is I will be sharing everything with you here, so follow along and let’s hit the road!
Great line-up of travel! You’re hitting a couple of spots I’ve been dying to get to (New Orleans and Aruba), as well as Ecuador, a spot that has been on my radar for a while. It’s always fun to look forward to the coming year and plan out the adventures that are yet to come. Happy travels!
Thanks, Paul! I’m definitely looking forward to the year ahead. Some of these trips have been planned for so long that it feels like I’ve been waiting to get there. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the USA, and I definitely recommend visiting as soon as you can.