2024 Travel Year in Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Welcome to our year of travel in 2024. Over the course of 12 months, we travelled both together and apart, joined small group tours and private tours, and moved between destinations by road, train, ferry and plane.
Some trips were fast and tightly packed, others slower and more settled. We travelled during quieter periods and at some of the busiest times of the year.
Along the way, we saw incredible places, ate some wonderful food, had experiences we’ll always remember, and also encountered moments that were challenging, confronting or simply didn’t go to plan.
Taken together, 2024 was a varied and full year of travel, and this is a snapshot of what it looked like.
Month by Month – 2024 Travel Year in Review
January: England, Wales and Scotland
We began the year exploring destinations across England, Wales and Scotland, travelling through Winchester, Cardiff, Northumberland, Edinburgh, London and the Cotswolds.
Highlights included a day exploring Winchester and its cathedral, followed by an eight-day house sit in Carmarthen in South Wales, where we were looking after four dogs, one cat and three goats. Having a base for just over a week was a great way to ease into the year and enjoy a slower pace.
In Edinburgh, we spent time exploring the castle and the Royal Mile, and of course enjoyed our usual dinner of haggis, neeps and tatties at Makars Mash Bar.
In Northumberland, we visited Bamburgh Castle and returned to one of our favourite second-hand bookshops, Barter Books.
We also spent an enjoyable few days in London. For Doug, the absolute highlight was a visit to the London Transport Museum. After that, Doug flew back to Australia via Taipei with China Airlines, which he rated very highly.
I then spent some time in the Cotswolds, based near the market town of Burford, enjoying walks and a quieter pace after a busy start to the year.
January was a productive and enjoyable beginning to 2024, helped by good weather and the benefit of being based in one place for a while. The only real disruption came from flooding and Storm Dara, which affected some train journeys, but overall it was a very positive start to the year.
Read more – UK Travel Planning | London Travel Planning
Listen – UK Travel Planning Podcast Episode #141 – Caledonian Sleeper Update [+ Route Choices and Travel Tips] | Episode #125 – Exploring the Isle of Skye: 4-Day Itinerary and Essential Travel Tips
February: India (for Tracy)
February was spent entirely in India. I flew from London to Bangalore, where I spent time with family before flying south to Kochi to join an Intrepid tour through southern India.
Kerala was a real highlight of the trip. The landscapes were stunning and the experiences varied and memorable. Highlights included a very long overnight train journey, visits to tea plantations, exploring Mysore Palace, and the unforgettable experience of seeing a tiger in the wild.
After completing the southern India tour, I flew north to Delhi and spent a few days there before joining a women-only Intrepid tour through northern India. Travelling through places such as Jaipur and Jodhpur through February and into early March and visiting the Taj Mahal added a very different perspective to the month.
February was intense, eye-opening and deeply rewarding. Meeting so many women along the way and experiencing India across very different regions made it one of the most memorable months of the year.
Read more – India Travel Planning
Listen – Episode 64 – Essential Tips for Your First Journey to India with Travel Expert Mariellen Ward
March: India, Singapore and Australia
The first part of March was spent finishing up in India, including a visit to the Taj Mahal, which was an unforgettable experience and a fitting way to conclude my time there.
From India, I flew to Singapore, where I spent time with a friend and explored areas I hadn’t visited on previous trips. Highlights included time on Sentosa Island and wandering through Arab Street, which is always a favourite for its colour, food and atmosphere.
Later in the month, I returned to Australia. March felt like a gentle transition after several intense travel months, with time to reconnect with friends and settle back into a familiar routine. There were no major challenges this month, making it a welcome pause before the rest of the year unfolded.
Read more – Singapore Travel Planning
Listen – Episode #15 – Insider’s Guide for First-Time Visitors to Singapore
April: Home in Australia
April was spent based at home in Australia. We took a day trip to Moreton Island, and at the end of the month my mum and stepdad arrived from the UK for their first visit to Australia.
Read more – Australia Travel Guide
Listen – Episode #18 – Queensland Travel Tips: Beaches, Outback Adventures, and Hidden Gems
May: Showing Australia to Family
May was spent travelling around Queensland and Western Australia.
We visited Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt, spent time in Giraween National Park, travelled north to Cairns, Port Douglas, the Atherton Tablelands and the Daintree, and later flew west to Perth and the Margaret River region.
It was a month of varied landscapes, from rainforest and coastline to wine regions and national parks, and a great opportunity to revisit some favourite places while also exploring new areas.
Listen – Episode #53 – Top 5 experiences in Perth Western Australia with Tess Moone
June, July and August: Home and Local Travel
June, July and August were spent based in Brisbane. I returned from Perth in early June, and these months were focused on work, podcasting and planning, with time spent enjoying life at home and the surrounding Moreton Bay area.
In August, we took a short break to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, combining a few days of work planning with time to enjoy the views, rainforest walks and the area’s abundant native birdlife.
These quieter months provided an important balance within a busy travel year and gave us space to reset before the pace picked up again.
Read more – O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
Listen – Episode #32 – Brisbane Day Trips: Islands, Wildlife, and Hidden Gems
September: United States, UK, Ireland and Scotland
September was one of the biggest and busiest months of the year.
We travelled from Brisbane to Los Angeles, where highlights included a VIP day at Universal Studios Hollywood and a RastaBus tour, which we have done before and still really enjoy. We also spent a morning at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, though we found it a little underwhelming in comparison to Universal.
While in Los Angeles, I fulfilled a lifelong dream by staying at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Famous for its connection to the Oscars, founded by Hollywood legends Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, and the location of the first Academy Awards, the hotel is also reputedly haunted by the ghost of Marilyn Monroe (sadly, we didn’t see her).
From Los Angeles, we flew to London and began an extensive journey through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. We stayed in Cardiff and Chester before travelling via Holyhead to Dublin.
From Dublin, we continued north and stayed in Belfast, where highlights included the Titanic Experience Belfast, a political black cab tour, and a day trip to the Giant’s Causeway.
We then travelled using a Hannon’s Coaches ticket, which includes both the coach and ferry crossing. The journey took us from Belfast to Cairnryan via the ferry, before continuing by coach on to Glasgow. From there, we also stayed in Edinburgh, where we visited the Royal Yacht Britannia and Rosslyn Chapel.
From Edinburgh, we took a road trip and ferry to stay on the Isle of Skye, which was a real highlight of the month. After our time on Skye, we drove to Inverness to catch the Caledonian Sleeper back to London.
We wrapped up the month with a private World War I and World War II tour with LivTours.
Read more – Isle of Skye Travel Itinerary Guide
Listen – Episode #33 3 Days in Los Angeles: Itinerary + Travel Tips | UK Travel Planning Podcast Episode #119 – Exploring the UK in 17 Days: Tips, Itineraries, and Hidden Gems | Episode #124 – Exploring Belfast : A 3 day itinerary + travel tips
October: London, Cotswolds and Jersey
Doug flew back to Australia at the start of October. I remained in the UK, based mainly in London, with trips to the Cotswolds, Bath and Winchester.
Highlights included a Day in London tour with Walks, visiting Highclere Castle, completing the London Pass itinerary challenge, and flying to Jersey for a house sit.
Visiting Gerald Durrell’s Jersey Zoo, something I had wanted to do since I was 11, was one of the most emotional highlights of the entire year.
Read more – Cotswolds Travel Itinerary
Listen – UK Travel Planning Podcast Episode #165 – London: Tracy’s Favourite Places, Landmarks and Hidden Gems
November: London, Italy (and Doug in Western Australia)
November began in Jersey, followed by a short stay in London before flying to Italy.
I started with Rome as my base and joined several excellent food tours. One of the standout experiences of the entire year was a VIP early-access visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with Take Walks. Visiting before the crowds arrived was extraordinary, and it remains one of the best travel experiences I have ever had.
From Rome, I took a day trip with Take Walks to the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. While this was not my first visit to Pompeii, exploring the site with a historian guide was deeply impactful and allowed me to understand the city in a way I hadn’t on previous visits.
I then travelled south to Puglia, where I spent ten days based in the region. It was a wonderful place to slow down and explore, with highlights including a day trip to Matera, beautifully decorated villages preparing for Christmas, exceptional food, and the unforgettable experience of staying in a traditional trullo.
From Puglia, I travelled north to Florence for a weekend of exploration. An Uffizi Gallery tour with Take Walks was a particular highlight.
Italian food throughout the month was outstanding, and I especially loved the food tours in Rome with Devour Tours.
From Florence, I returned to Rome and flew back to London, where I spent the remainder of the month enjoying the city’s festive decorations and seasonal atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Doug flew from Brisbane to Perth for his first visit to Western Australia. He explored the city and took a trip to Rottnest Island to see the quokkas before returning home.
Read more – Italy Travel Planning
Listen – Episode 42 – Discover Italy: Essential tips for first-time visitors with Dianne Bortoletto
December: Europe by Train and Christmas Travel
December began with a festive trip to the Cotswolds and Bath Christmas markets with Go Cotswolds (enter code UKTRAVPLAN for a 5% discount), before Doug arrived in London after a very difficult journey from Brisbane via Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport.
After a few days for Doug to recover from jet lag, we set off on a multi-country European journey using a mix of trains, planes and ferries. Our route took us through London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Stockholm, Helsinki, Warsaw, Kraków, Zakopane, Budapest, and finally Edinburgh.
Highlights included Berlin’s Christmas markets and food, visits to Skansen and the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, experiencing snow in Finland, and the overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki, which felt more like a small cruise than a crossing. We also loved Kraków’s Christmas market, the outdoor spa pools in Zakopane, and travelling across Europe by train.
Christmas in Budapest was enjoyable overall, though our Christmas Day lunch booking was disappointing due to poor timing and planning. We were also both unwell with colds during this period, and visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum was emotionally very difficult.
Just before New Year’s, we flew to Edinburgh to begin a six-week house sit. We had been very much looking forward to Hogmanay, but it was cancelled due to bad weather, which was a real disappointment.
Read more – Sweden Travel Planning | Poland Travel Planning | Germany Travel Planning | Hungary Travel Planning
Listen – Episode #76 – Europe in December: Route, Highlights and Winter Travel Tips | Episode 57 – 15 Essential Europe Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors | Episode #54 – Top 10 Tips for UK and Europe Train Travel
2024 Travel Year in Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good
- Travelling together and separately, allowing for both shared experiences and individual trips.
- Small group tours and private tours, including standout guided experiences in India and across Europe.
- Extensive train travel across Europe, including winter journeys through Germany, Scandinavia and Central Europe.
- Experiencing snow in Finland, alongside Christmas markets and winter scenery.
- Italy in autumn, including time in Rome, Pompeii and Puglia, with incredible food throughout.
- Visiting Christmas markets in Berlin, Kraków and Budapest.
- Memorable museums and cultural visits, including the Vasa Museum in Stockholm and the Vatican Museums.
- Reconnecting with friends in multiple destinations and spending meaningful time with family in Australia.
- Visiting new countries (Finland, India and Poland) while also returning to familiar favourites.
The Bad
- The logistics around Christmas travel are tricky and I dropped the ball in one important area. Pre-booking our Christmas meals. This won’t happen again. Lesson well and truly learnt.
- The cancellation of Hogmanay in Edinburgh due to severe weather, after looking forward to it for months.
- Both of us being unwell at times while travelling, which affected energy levels and some plans.
The Ugly
- Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, which was deeply confronting and emotionally difficult.
- Dealing with pickpockets in busy European cities, particularly in high-traffic areas such as major train stations and popular tourist sites, which required constant vigilance around bags and personal belongings. I always travel with our Travelon anti-theft cross body bags and backpacks. Always.
- Visiting India was confronting at times. Seeing poverty up close was difficult, and there were practical challenges, particularly around access to toilets and personal safety on trains. At the same time, it was one of the most rewarding and meaningful travel experiences of the year.
2024 Travel Year – Closing Thoughts
2024 was not a highlight reel. It was a real year of travel, with highs and lows, smooth journeys and difficult moments, fast-paced itineraries and quieter stretches.
It reinforced the importance of thoughtful planning, flexibility and realistic expectations. It was full, varied and at times challenging, but it was also a year we’ll always remember.
Happy Global Travel Planning!
Read more – 2025 Travel Year in Review
