No More Monkey Business: 2017 Travel Wish List
The 4 Seasons of 2016 Travel Memories
December 27, 2016
A New Year’s Eve Airbnb Nightmare
January 10, 2017No More Monkey Business: 2017 Travel Wish List
Where will your 2017 travel wish list take you?
“Cock-a-doodle-do!”
2016, the Year of the Monkey, was a wild ride for many. Last month symbolized a time to reflect on the memories of 2016 and the many people who have crossed our paths. Now, as we transition from the Year of the Monkey to the Year of the Rooster, the rooster’s crow has never been clearer.
Though no one knows for certain why a rooster crows, to me, it symbolizes energy. The dawn of a new day or, in this case, a new year. The freedom and the gift to begin refreshed and renewed, knowing that nothing is unattainable and no location is beyond reach.
Where will your 2017 travel wish list take you?
New Year, New Places
“Cock-a-doodle-do!”
The rooster is crowing, loud and clear!
Don’t hit the snooze button! Don’t roll back over and dream—but instead wake up and make 2017 the dream. Don’t just have an idol “bucket list” of travel destinations that sits stagnant for years. Instead, approach your dream locations with the same attitude that Uncle Drew uses towards basketball…go out and “get buckets.”
But the only way to “get buckets” is to begin with that very first bucket. Visit somewhere new, near or far, and begin your 2017 travel journey. Travel smarter and begin to discover new ways to make travel more affordable; thus, increasing the possibility of getting more buckets trips under your belt this year.
My 2017 Travel Wish List
Last year, I created a similar list and eventually traveled to more than 75% of the places included. The list started as an idea, that idea turned into plans, and those plans became actions. This year, I prepare my travel wish list with added clarity as I seek to explore even more new locations.
So, without further ado, my top 15 travel destinations for this year (in no particular order) are:
The beaches of Normandy
Paris
Portugal
Lebanon
Jerusalem/Tel Aviv
New York City
Boston
Colombia
Brazil
Peru
Panama
Cuba
Croatia
Portland
Guatemala
“Cock-a-doodle-do!”
What new locations will the rooster’s crow carry you to this year?
81 Comments
I say grab a backpack, a map and some Airbnb’s and go for it. Take a summer off and go backpacking through Europe.
I want to go to Jerusalem, that is my dream trip. Going here would make the bible come alive for me. I plan to get there one day! I have been to Cuba, Boston and NYC. I still have lots of places on my bucket travel list as well.
I just got my passport back in May. I just want to go somewhere that I need to use it, even if just Mexico or Jamaica.
I share some of your travel destinations – Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, and New York City. Trinidad y Tobago and Bali are also on my list. I could keep going and going! It’s time to mark some places off my list.
I want Paris, Brazil, and Cuba too
Your list is rich in culture and diversity! You definitely have a great time in these places
This is a great list. I have never been to Boston, so i’ts on my list too. And Cuba! And New York City at Christmas time! And Paris..is always a good idea!
I am so happy Panama is on your list! I love Panama its my second home but please go to Bocas Del Toro. An amazing island and its so much fun!
You know I’ve made goal lists but not travel lists. This is a great idea! May you do all the traveling your heart desires!
I love this list! Good luck with taking it all in. I’ve been to Guatemala and Panama – both very beautiful!
I know the importance of planning, but I just want to get up and go! Little thought, just a window seat and a debit card.
Wow. What a list. I just said to my son that we need to start traveling. There are places right here in California that I have never even been. This list totally inspired me. Thanks for sharing
Awesome travel list!!! I can’t to read about your adventures. You definitely have me plotting my next trip and stepping my game up.
My list includes at least two Caribbean Carnival celebrations. I really want to go and take photos for the blog, no necessarily get dressed up and participate, but we will see!
That is one great travel list! I only have one country in mind which is Japan for this year. There are a lot of family gatherings with travel this year. So, to be realistic I only have one new country to add to my list for 2017. Goodluck and have fun travels!
Well, if you have to pick only one…then Japan is a great option. I lived there for 3 years so let me know if you have any questions. Check this article out for some destination ideas other than Tokyo.
Such an awesome list. My 2017 travel plan is to explore more of my country. I haven’t had much travel last year and im looking forward to double or triple it this year. I just hope 2017 would be so kind to me 😀
I hope you’re able to triple or even quadruple it this year! The Philippines offers so many beautiful places, I don’t blame you for wanting to explore it more…I’m actually heading to Manila tomorrow haha!
Great travel list. I’ve got several places in Africa and East Europe on my list. Here’s to great travels in 2017!
I can feel the energy! I’m setting out on a year of travel – leaving the US in March. Your list looks similar to mine. You will have an amazing time in NYC. Good Luck!
A year of travel sounds amazing! I’m sure we’ll pass each other in the sky on multiple occasions 🙂
Portugal is amazing – I went to Lisbon 2 years ago and absolutely loved it, but I really want to go back and see other places in the country as well! NYC and Croatia are on my list as well, and so is Peru!
Ohh, I’m planning on just hitting Porto but maybe I’ll have to consider Lisbon now as well 🙂
Amazing wish list and I have been in many places you have mentioned above! Colombia and Peru are simple beautiful and you will enjoy your time there doing many things! People in Peru are so lovely and friendly, oh wow I just wish to go back one day! 😀 Wish to go to Portugal soon or Middle east too, but maybe a little bit dangerous right now! thanks for sharing it
I’ve actually lived and traveled all throughout the middle east for the past 3 years and never once felt in danger. Oman is actually one of the safest countries in the world and perhaps my favorite in the entire region. You should definitely plan a visit!
Great wishlist! Looks like your 2017 would be very busy. I wish you good luck and may you visit all the destinations that you’ve mentioned on your list!
Thank you Ana. I hope you have a great year of travel as well!
Wow, that’s what I call an ambitioned bucket list, great!
I like the diversity in here, many different places. So many things to see. I hope you will like Paris, I loved it. Apart from this, I totally agree with you – lets simply just do it, now is the time.
Well, I’ve been to Paris once…but it was before I had facebook or a good camera..so it’s almost as if the trip never happened haha!
Sounds like a great list of places to visit! I’m heading to Central and South America this year so lots of the same places you will be going to. My mum also lived in NYC so I’ll be there back and forth.
I love your list – there are many overlaps with ours. (Cuba, Panama, Peru….). Hope we both make at least 75% of our list this year again. I wish you a really energy-filled Year of the Rooster! 🙂
Well, since last year was 75%..let’s shoot for at least 80% this year 🙂
I was born in the year of the rooster (1993) but I’d never known that the figure was related to energy. Reading this makes me seriously rethink my travel plans this year. Your list seems so exciting. I wish you best of luck and many wonderful experiences on the road this year 🙂
Well now I’m curious, what exactly are your travel plans for this year? 🙂
You have a great 2017 travel wish list, I’m really impressed! I wish you to complete this list 🙂
Such an exciting and diverse wish list! I’m hoping to make it to Peru and Iceland this year. Have a great 2017 of adventure!
I loved Iceland last year! And I’m hoping to make it to Peru as well. I’ll be spending about 5 weeks in Colombia so I want to see as much of South America as possible.
looks like your going to have a great 2017 if you can get to all these places. I have just visited cuba and its great definitely go there and I will also be going to Jerusalem this year might see you there!!
I can’t wait to get to Cuba. And you’re right, perhaps we’ll cross paths in Jerusalem (I’ll be there for a week!).
Hey EG, great list. I am just curious: have you listed all these places in order how you going to hit them? I noticed that you want to visit Lebanon and Israel. You might already know (in this case, just skip following) that those two countries do not like each other (to put it mildly) to the point that Lebanon immigration officers thoroughly check passports to see if a person ever visited Israel before. If yes, they wouldn’t allow entering Lebanon. Source: been through this myself. It is smart decision to go there first. Happy travels!
Hi Elena. Thank you for your concern. The list is in no particular order really though. I’m actually currently living in Saudi Arabia, so I’m definitely aware of the issues with traveling from many places in this region to Israel…that’s where the second passport will come in handy 🙂
Wishing you a Happy New Year full of joy, prosperity and travels! May all your bonus miles double!
I recently came back from Israel – Tel Aviv and Jaffo are amazing!
Make sure you also explore Negev desert!
Awesome bucket list. You heading to a few of my favorite places as well. Paris and Cuba are certainly on my bucket list.
Thanks. Although I’ve been to some of the places before, I’m excited to return and also explore the destinations that are new to me.
This year am aiming to visit Kyoto and Osaka, and Seoul for vacation and market research 🙂 Thrn travelling locally to promote the local tourism of the Philippines. 🙂 Am so excited!
Creative post idea! Nice list too. If you get to 75% of those, you’ll have a great year. I’d definitely make sure to get to Cuba if you can. We’ve been a couple of times and love it. We fear that it will be changing quite a bit over the next handful of years due to the U.S. and Cuba making up a bit. This is great for the country, but it does mean some of the uniqueness of Cuba will probably go, so get going and visit now 🙂 Have a great year!
I completely agree with you about Cuba. I’ve heard nothing but good things, but I definitely want to get there before it loses that charm and authenticity.
Awesome list! I’m excited to read about your adventures in each of these places. This year I plan to travel to California, Italy, Spain, France, and Montenegro. All of these places are new to me, so I’m very excited! I won’t be going to Paris though, even though I would love to. Hope you enjoy your time there!
You know my list is a blend of old and new. I feel like, even if you’ve been to a place a time or two, you can always see new things and discover something new 🙂
Your list sounds awesome as well…I’ve been to every place except Montenegro (maybe that will change this year as well). I love Cali though. It’s one of those places I’d like to get a van and just spend a month or so exploring the entire state. Enjoy your travels too!
Love your bucket list.
I have been to Croatia (make sure you visit Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes), Paris and New York which are all fantastic. I think many of the places on your list are also on my list but for the next couple of years.
Good luck with your travels.
I’ve hit Dubrovnik once already but Plitvice Lakes is 100% on my list for this next trip. Hope you have a great year of travel as well.
How amazing is it that you created a similar list last year and made it to 75% of the list! That is so inspiring that I think I’m going to make my list and have the same goal. Can’t wait to read about all your adventures!
That’s awesome…I’d love to see your list as well. I found that writing down the places I wanted to see really helped motivate me to actually get to most of them and I hope it will do the same for you!
What a great list! Croatia is a beautiful country, we loved it and I am sure you’ll like it too!
I wish you a wonderful year with a lot of new destinations to discover!
Thanks…I’ve actually already been to Croatia, but I’m ready for more! 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful year as well!!
Great list you’ve got there! Seriously, go to Peru asap. We did it in 2016 and so glad we had that experience!
I don’t really have any expectations for 2017. My 2016 went down the dumps and I don’t even want to recall it anymore. I didn’t even make any resolutions, bucket list and travel plans. For 2017, I just plan to go with the flow and be spontaneous! 🙂
Well, nothing wrong with going with the flow. Sorry for the rough 2016, but hopefully that means there’s nowhere to go but up in 2017!!
Wow! I love everything on your list. I would love to visit most of the places you have included. If I can afford it, I would opt to spend most of 2017 traveling to these lovely places and making memories with my boys. Unfortunately, my budget won’t allow this, but I will make sure to go to one or two local places we have never been before and experience as much of the outdoors as we can this year.
That’s awesome. It’s not always about the place…it’s the memories and experience that make a trip worthwhile and I’m sure you’ll have a great time with your boys no matter where you go!
Do you intend to cover all those destinations in one year! That would be a lot of travel. But if you can do, it, why not..
I’m certainly going to try! And hopefully add some surprise locations to the list as well 🙂
With a quick crow I am off to South Korea and hong Kong! Surprisingly will be celebrating Chinese New Year overseas too, I am very excited! There has even been talks of visiting Canada but I think I am also equally excited in exploring more of what Western Australia (my home state) has to offer. Loving the energy! Here’s to 2017!
That’s awesome! Way to start it out with a bang!!
wow, 15 places in a year? are you really going to complete the list this year? it’s impossible for me since i only get 16 days of annual leave in a year with 6 work days a week. the maximum number of trips i can do comfortably is 1 long trips and 2 short weekend trips. it’ll take me 5 years to complete 15 places! Now, that’s kinda depressing, isn’t it? T.T
Wow, that sounds rough…I bet you make the most of those trips you take though.
I love the energy in your writing! Had me hooked from beginning to end, haha. Felt quite guilty about the “travel bucket list” that “sits around for years” though. That’s me post 2014 – all plans, no action. Travel is a very sensitive issue for me as there are plenty of factors I need to consider before doing anything, but I hope 2017 turns that around for me.
It WILL turn around in 2017…say that enough times and it will eventually manifest itself in some shape or form 🙂
I like how you look back to the year of the monkey and for this year. Your wish list is truly awesome and I wish that you can accomplish and experience them all before 2017 ends. I wish you all the best this year and may your wishes will be granted. Happy New Year!
It’s saddening to know that there’s “no more monkey business.” I was born in the year of the monkey so I was a bit sad that the year ended quite quickly. Anyway, you have quite a great travel wish list there. Most of the places are also the places I dream about. Hoping this year I get to travel with my partner abroad.
Reading the comments of other bloggers, here is my best of luck to all of you. Someone said she is interested in travelling to parts of Africa! That is interesting because many people just consider visiting Egypt or South Africa only. As far as I am concerned, I have not given any thoughts about travelling to far off destinations, my work keeps me busy.
Well, here’s to hoping that you can manage a day or two away from work for a short, nearby trip in the upcoming year.
You have some of the most beautiful photos already. That means you have been to some of the most stunning places on earth. For this year… looking at your list… so South America!!! Would love to see your posts. So here’s to a great year ahead and safe travel.
Thank you…and I’ll continue to enjoy your highly informative posts as well this year!
That’s an awesome list. I didn’t bother to make a list coz that would just go too long. Hoping to travel as much as possible. I have 2 trips planned for Jan and haven’t planned anything after that. Let’s see where time takes me!
I had to cap the list at 15 myself as well…otherwise it would have been never-ending 😛
I’ve got Croatia, Cuba and NYC on my list for this year as well! Hopefully some more of Africa as well, either Ghana, Mozambique, Mauritius and Ethiopia.
Yeah I’d love to see more of Africa as well…Possible Sudan, Seychelles or Uganda, just have to see how the year goes.
It’s great that you can plan a list for travel. And it’s even better than you can actually go and visit all the places. 75 is a real good percentage to cover once you’ve decided.
Nice!
My bucket list is Japan and Korea. Soon I hope to be able to actually do these things. It would be really nice to have to be able to shave off things from your bucket list no?
Next month, we are able to do just that. First family trip outside the country. 🙂
That’s awesome, where are you guys heading? Let me know when you decide to head to either Japan or Korea because I’ve lived in both places!
I’d only read half of it and I could already see where it was going. I’m all for it! The world is as wide as the sea and full of potential. Sometimes no plan is better than any plan. ? Lots of luck wherever we are.