The Blonde Abroad

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My Best Travel Experiences of 2019

Best Travel Experiences on 2019

2019 was one amazing year, jam-packed with new adventures. From some incredible TBA Escapes trips in Jordan and the Galápagos to an epic two-week road trip through Ireland!

One of my favorite trips was Egypt—a place that’s been on my bucket list for so long…and a number of my adventures were all about taking time to slow down and experience places with loved ones.

Places Traveled To: The Bahamas, South Africa, Egypt, London, Ireland, Boston, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Galápagos Islands, New York City

Here are the highlights of my 2019 travels!

The Bahamas

I welcomed the year in the tropics, where I intentionally unplugged for some quality time with my boyfriend, Meyer, and close friends. I’d previously traveled to the Bimini Islands and the Atlantis Resort, but this was my first time visiting Cat Island—a more off-the-grid island destination void of any big resorts and with hardly any tourism.

Bahamas Travel Guides:

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South Africa

While I traveled to a number of places in 2019, I was able to stay close to home and explore more of South Africa…which I’ve now been calling my “home base” for three years! Time flies!

I started my journey on South Africa’s Garden Route with my parents where we spent a week canoeing, hiking, making furry lemur friends, soaking up some time at the ocean, and watching the sunrise from one of the best surf breaks in the world. The whole journey is absolutely breathtaking…just take a look at these photos!

I then got the chance to stay at Cheetah Plains in Sabi Sands—a villa where you can experience a wide variety of wildlife right outside your front door.

During my stay, a giant herd of elephant came through as I was changing! Talk about unforgettable.

Back in Cape Town, we camped as much as possible, took some road trips in Luna, and I spent as much time as possible with Meyer and our new puppy, Bailey!

South Africa Travel Guides:

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The Pyramids of Giza

Egypt

After holding off on Egypt for years, I finally planned a solo trip. I had heard a lot of negative stories from other female travelers and it scared me out of pulling the trigger.

But then I realized that everyone has different experiences and one person’s experience doesn’t automatically mean that it’s going to be the same for everyone else.

I’m so glad I didn’t let it hold me back because I was able to experience seriously friendly locals (someone literally handed me their baby) and I was able to finally see the creations of the Ancient Egyptians with my own eyes. The Pyramids of Giza are really that spectacular!

Egypt Travel Guides:

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London, England

London

I kicked off 6-weeks of summer travel with a trip to London for a Spice Girls concert! My 12-year-old self was freaking out, to say the least!

London Travel Guides:

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Ireland

After over 10 years, I finally made my way back to Ireland for a road trip through southern Ireland down the Wild Atlantic Way. Highlights included the Cliffs of Moher, Mizen Head, the Guinness Storehouse, Kilkenny, Hook Lighthouse, Blarney Castle and more…you’ll have to see the beauty for yourself, but in the meantime check out these photos!

Ireland Travel Guides:

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Boston

Though my trip to Boston was very brief (only 3 days), I was fortunate enough to attend TravelCon and give the keynote speech, “The Million Dollar Blog.” I got to meet some super lovely fellow travelers and people who are passionate about the industry as well as connect with old friends!

It was really cool to give this keynote speech as one of the things I’m most passionate about is building others up and providing them tools to grow their business and blog. In fact, I’m launching my Blogging Master Class this year with everything I wish I knew when I first started and so many things I’ve learned from my career as a travel blogger!

Read More on USA Travel:

Read More on Blogging Tips:

Greece

On my first trip to Greece, I visited Mykonos on a backpacker’s budget and spent most of my time party hopping with my friends. Nearly seven years later I got to experience Greece in a whole new light—taking it much, much slower and soaking it all in with my boyfriend.

Every sunrise and sunset was spectacular and the pools…my goodness, the pools!

While on Mykonos we stayed at the Myconian Collection and then made our way to Santorini where we stayed at the Andronis Boutique Hotel and the Andronis Arcadia.

Santorini was as pretty as a postcard! We wined and dined, explored the island by ATV, and soaked up some sun on the island’s Red Beach.

Greece Travel Guides:

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Venice & Trieste, Italy

Italy will forever be one of my favorite places to visit and I spent 3 weeks traveling (and eating) my way through Northern Italy. Starting in Treviso, we stopped in Venice, Burano, Florence, Jesolo, and a few little towns in between…while my friends expertly navigated a houseboat!

Meyer actually lived in Treviso for 5 years—before we met!—so it was really neat to see a place that’s so near and dear to him.

One of my favorite stops was the Prosecco region where I curated my own cheese board, grabbed some wine from the Prosecco Vending Machine (that’s right, a vending machine that dispenses bubbly!), and enjoyed a picnic overlooking the rolling hills.

Italy Travel Guides:

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Jordan TBA Escapes Tours

Ever since starting TBA Escapes, I’ve been able to travel the world with lovely ladies—from South Africa to the Galápagos to Morocco to Jordan. The TBA Escapes “Ancient Wonders Tour” through Jordan focused on capturing the beauty of the country while teaching the ladies more about photography, which we got to do in partnership with Fujifilm!

We ventured through Amman, hiked up the Wadi Mujib river, enjoyed a float in the Dead Sea, soaked up the history of the ancient Petra, dived the Red Sea, and explored the ancient Roman ruins in Jerash…to say it was jam-packed is an understatement.

Jordan Travel Guides:

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Bartolome Island, The Galápagos

Galápagos TBA Escapes Tour

After my first visit to the Galápagos in 2016, I knew I wanted to go back which is why I created the TBA Galápagos “Luxury Yacht Eco Expedition.” Our 7-night trip was epic, to say the least. We partnered up with GoPro and got some incredible footage of our journey…see the highlights here!

We swam, snorkeled, kayaked, paddle boarded, saw some marine iguanas sunbathing, witnessed the Giant Tortoises of Santa Cruz, and more.

Galápagos Travel Guides:

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New York

To cap off the year I took a trip to New York City during the holiday season. Is there anything more magical than NYC during the holidays? While my visit was quick—for the Points Guy Awards—it was super fun to experience the city with Meyer!

I can never get enough of all the twinkling lights…and bundling up for a proper winter (it must be the Southern California girl in me—give me all the coats, scarves, and beanies!).

New York City Travel Guides:

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What were some of your top travel moments from 2019? What places are you traveling to in 2020? Let me know down below!

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    1. Jyoti basu

      Wow! This is such a comprehensive and super helpful guide.

      January 18, 2020 at 3:24 am · Reply
      • The Blonde Abroad

        Glad you think so, Jyoti!

        January 19, 2020 at 8:57 pm · Reply
    2. Casey LaClair

      Quite the year? Omg, when did you find time to sleep!? Awesome pics btw!

      January 18, 2020 at 3:02 pm · Reply
      • The Blonde Abroad

        Haha sleep is definitely a priority for me—that’s why I have a team to help me along with everything so I can balance. 🙂 Thank you!!

        January 19, 2020 at 9:05 pm · Reply

    Instagram

    Pinching myself ❄️
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    Did anyone else catch the dusting of snow in the Cotswolds?! I couldn’t believe my eyes!

    We had a week of perfect sunny weather with only one afternoon of rain (also so unexpected for November!) and, on my last morning in Bibury, I woke up to this incredible scene!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    #cotswolds #winter #snow #fairytale

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    Pinching myself ❄️ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Did anyone else catch the dusting of snow in the Cotswolds?! I couldn’t believe my eyes! We had a week of perfect sunny weather with only one afternoon of rain (also so unexpected for November!) and, on my last morning in Bibury, I woke up to this incredible scene! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #cotswolds #winter #snow #fairytale

    Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗

    Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston!

    This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)!

    If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees:

    - @bostonducktours
    - @museumofscience
    - @campstores x Bluey (ending soon)
    - Public Garden
    - Beacon Hill
    - Tadpole Playground
    - @bplboston
    - Childrens Wharf Harborwalk
    - @bostonteapartyships
    - @rosekennedygreenway
    - Commonwealth Avenue Mall
    - Esplanade Playground
    - Charles River Esplanade

    And for the foodies, you know I got you covered!

    - @tattebakery
    - @saltiegirl
    - @faneuilhallmarketplace
    - @maproom_lounge
    - @bovasbakery
    - @bostonpublicmarket
    - @parishcafe
    - Quincy Market
    - Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall

    After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city.

    If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    @meetbostonusa @visitma
    #visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

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    Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗 Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston! This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)! If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees: - @bostonducktours - @museumofscience - @campstores x Bluey (ending soon) - Public Garden - Beacon Hill - Tadpole Playground - @bplboston - Childrens Wharf Harborwalk - @bostonteapartyships - @rosekennedygreenway - Commonwealth Avenue Mall - Esplanade Playground - Charles River Esplanade And for the foodies, you know I got you covered! - @tattebakery - @saltiegirl - @faneuilhallmarketplace - @maproom_lounge - @bovasbakery - @bostonpublicmarket - @parishcafe - Quincy Market - Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @meetbostonusa @visitma #visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

    🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶
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    Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont?

    Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful.

    Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves!

    We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe.

    The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time??

    Had we had a little more time, we also would have added:

    🥾 Moss Glen Falls
    ⛪️ Stowe Community Church
    🍻 @alch3mistb33r
    ☕️ @blackcapvermont
    🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe

    We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds.

    Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston!
    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    @vermonttourism @visitnew_england
    #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

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    🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont? Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful. Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves! We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe. The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time?? Had we had a little more time, we also would have added: 🥾 Moss Glen Falls ⛪️ Stowe Community Church 🍻 @alch3mistb33r ☕️ @blackcapvermont 🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds. Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @vermonttourism @visitnew_england #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

    Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩
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    Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn.

    After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont!

    I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned:

    🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard
    🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt

    If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day.

    We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime.

    Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    @vermonttourism @visitnew_england
    #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

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    Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn. After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont! I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned: 🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard 🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day. We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime. Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @vermonttourism @visitnew_england #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

    Fall fashion is my favorite! What about you? 🍁
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    My recent trip to New England was the perfect opportunity to pack my @meet.nex bags with some cute new styles perfect for any trip!

    Nex luggage is super high-quality and will hold up on any adventure. Their Million Mile Care program is also one-of-a-kind. You can trade in your used luggage towards credit for new luggage!

    I get so much use out of the Nex crossbody and backpack in Lanikai Amber—they’re my go-to for camera gear and toddler essentials. And you can style them with just about every outfit!
    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    Click my link in bio for my luggage and favorite fall styles! #ad

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    Fall fashion is my favorite! What about you? 🍁 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• My recent trip to New England was the perfect opportunity to pack my @meet.nex bags with some cute new styles perfect for any trip! Nex luggage is super high-quality and will hold up on any adventure. Their Million Mile Care program is also one-of-a-kind. You can trade in your used luggage towards credit for new luggage! I get so much use out of the Nex crossbody and backpack in Lanikai Amber—they’re my go-to for camera gear and toddler essentials. And you can style them with just about every outfit! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Click my link in bio for my luggage and favorite fall styles! #ad
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