It’s just about the time of year where we reflect on all that’s happened, what we liked, what we didn’t, and what we intend to make sure definitely does/doesn’t happen in the New Year.
It’s also about the time people start thinking about New Year’s resolutions that will have likely gone out the window by the time February rolls around. But more on that later.
No matter how my year has gone, I try to always look back at all the good things that travel brought me. Whether it was finally seeing a place I’ve dreamed of for years, or making life-shaping memories with the people I love most, or tasting something so beautiful that I’ll be spending the rest of my years trying to reunite with that meal.
So here’s to 2018 and the travel moments I’m most grateful for.
Best place
Venice. Venice was easily among the prettiest places I’ve ever been. It’s old and quaint and quiet and entirely unlike anything else you’ve ever seen. Yes, it’s crowded and gondola rides can be a scam if you don’t know how to find the right one (the answer is here, in case you’re wondering), but that comes with the territory of visiting a place so many people in the world dream about. But I promise you, there’s a reason Venice is what travel dreams are made of. And it’s 100 percent worth bumping into a couple dozen tourists to experience it.
Best experience
My dad and I have started this tradition of him tagging along on my Euro work trips each year, and we’ll always pick a couple places we want to see and make a holiday out of it. And each year since we’ve done it, it’s been the highlight of my travels. This year, we went to Milan, Venice and Rome. We ate pasta and pizza, sipped table wine and had aperitivo like the locals. We saw the Colosseum together for the first time, strolled the Vatican, and took our first gondola ride on the quiet canals. Travel is so much about who you go with, and these daddy daughter adventures are something I’ll cherish forever.
Best tour
I’m not always one to opt for tours, but when I’m short on travel time or solo and have to stay safe, sometimes tours are the best way to see the things you’re interested in. The best one I did this year was in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is rich and cultured and stunning, and this one day tour offers a peek at the highlights—from Christ the Redeemer to Escadaria Selarón to Sugarloaf Mountain and lunch at a churrascaria, I’d say it was a day well spent. Get the details on how to spend the perfect 36 hours in Rio.
Best stay
Every two years, Treasure Beach, a small seaside village in Jamaica, turns into a literary extravaganza for Calabash. Writers, poets and renowned authors gather to read their works under the night sky beside the sea, and attendees move from readings to reggae parties with jerk chicken and Red Stripe fueling the vibes. This year, the bonus came in the form of Jakes Hotel Seaweed Villa, a ridiculously dreamy luxe villa overlooking the sea. There you’ll lounge poolside, shower outside and sleep in beds suspended from ropes in the ceiling. Get ALL your friends/family and go. The place easily sleeps eight and comes with a daily chef with such a sweet hand, you’ll wish she could serve every meal you eat forever.
Best staycation
Sometimes you don’t have to go anywhere at all to find an adventure. This year, I traveled a bit less than I normally do, which meant I spent more time in New York. And for all this city has to offer, I take so much of it for granted. One day, on a jaunt to Harlem (I say jaunt because people who live in Brooklyn generally feel like Harlem is on another planet entirely because it’s sooooooo far), I found beautiful murals like this one, a beautiful Senegalese meal at Pikine, and a culture all its own in a place that’s technically in my backyard. It’s worth giving home a little love every now and then. It will usually surprise you.
Best beach
No matter what islands I go to or beaches I bask on, there’s one beach that always wins for best in my book: Pigeon Point, Tobago. Yes, it’s my home, my own sweet little island, but I don’t have to do much to hype it up when you can see for yourself what it looks like. This year, I had the great fortune of spending a couple days here (thanks, cousin for getting married) and strolling the beach with my mom. If you don’t yet know about Tobago…that’s OK because I don’t mind keeping it to myself 🙂
Best lesson learned
The older I get the more I realize there’s just a handful of people in this life who really love you and who really have your back. And I want to spend all of my time with those people. Travel with them. See the world with them. Explore life with them. That’s what makes travel everything that it is. It’s all about the people you bring along and the ones you meet on the ride.
Here’s one good quote to close out this year and a little excitement for what 2019 may bring:
Maybe the best moment of your life will be on your next big adventure. —Siya Zarrabi