My 2015 travel wishlist and travel resolutions

I’d forgotten about quite how grumpy I seem to get at this time of year between Christmas and New Year – work but no childcare, the anti-climax after Christmas, the looming tax bill for January. I’ve realised the same thing happened last year so with a fresh start ahead tomorrow or at least a fresh diary to fill, I’ve been thinking of what travels 2015 might hold. 

And while I stopped making New Year’s resolutions long ago – too many hungover vows to get fit/lose weight/drink less/sort out my books/overhaul life which dissolved in days – travel resolutions seem a much better goal.

There are a few tentative plans already, one trip booked, and as ever a few more places I’d love to tick off my bucket list. (Updated 2019 – having actually achieved a few goals… although not all in 2015!)

2015 travel: The definite booking

Starting with the one confirmed holiday, I’ll be heading back to the Canary Islands in April, although to a different spot than Lanzarote for once.

I’m already ready for some sunshine, and I’m intrigued to see how this island is different to the ones I’ve already visited in the group. I’ll be travelling with friends and their girls, and to a baby-friendly villa, so something rather different than my usual solo attempts to make travel suitable for a toddler.

The dream trip

I’d love to try one major trip to somewhere a bit more exotic, along the same lines as our St Lucia break. My brother and sister-in-law are heading back to Burma in March, which I’m still so tempted by, but unfortunately I don’t think it’s going to be practical for me to join them (that tax bill, for starters),

Or I’ve also got my heart set on Mauritius, if I can manage to combine it with a bit of work. No luck so far, but you never know…

The city break

Time is ticking for my Eurostar discount from our Paris trip, and I’ve found myself thinking more seriously about dates to go to Brussels before it expires.

High up the list too is Amsterdam, a city I haven’t visited for ages, but which I think Minnie would love too – as long as she doesn’t fall into a canal or get run over by a bike. My parents need to book a flight there before June so it seems a good time to travel with them.

I’ve still got some air miles to blow, but I’m currently wondering if a ferry (or combination of train and ferry) might be a nice way to get there.

The solo break

Much as I love my daughter (even at her most frustrating), a break probably does us all good. Tempting though South East Asia or Central America are, another short break is more likely, along the lines of my lovely long weekend in Granada. The question is where?

Perhaps Eastern Europe this time: back to Croatia for the first time in over 15 years, or a country I’ve never visited such as Estonia or Slovenia.

I did manage all three (eventually) with city breaks in Ljubljana, as well as Tallinn and Split accompanied by my daughter.

The active break

Minnie’s old enough to really enjoy the snow now, and while she might not be ready to learn to ski, I should probably try to get a head start before she is, somewhere with a great kids’ club and some sledging.

Montenegro has also been on my radar for a few years – a trip this year nearly came off, and there’s the possibility of arranging something for 2015 so that’s top of my To Do list in January.

The cruise

Writing about my Caribbean cruise again this month, and our day on Oasis of the Seas has reminded me how much fun we had on our last sailing. This time, Minnie would be old enough to use the kids’ club with Royal Caribbean or Carnival too.

Maybe a nice easy Southampton departure or a jaunt around the Mediterranean, Aegean or Adriatic next summer?

The staycation

The Isle of Wight is another destination on my definite possibles list, if only I can get the details arranged. Despite being so close, I’ve only visited once before when I was a few months pregnant and trying to keep the news secret so it would be fun to go back and explore a bit more.

And Wales too, the site of many of my earliest family holidays. I’ve always had a soft spot for the country and apart from our Bluestone holiday, I haven’t been there with Minnie.

The didn’t quite get there in 2014

New York, Turkey, York and Israel were all on my wishlist for 2014 but the 12 months has passed without me making it there. Well… they’re all still on for 2015.

And there isn’t much excuse for not being able to get to York at least!

The New Year travel resolutions

These days, I’m more likely to be spurred on by an event or a genuine desire to change than an arbitrary resolution – such as starting running regularly back in August last year. Admittedly I stopped thanks to nursery germs in November, but I am going to begin again. Soon. Honest.

But a moment to take stock and decide what I’d really like to happen next year isn’t a bad thing. So here are my five travel resolutions for 2015.

2015 resolutions: Travel more

After completing the take 12 trips challenge last summer, I promptly stopped making the effort to plan. At which point, the weeks suddenly whizzed past and I really didn’t make the most of the last few months. Which brings me on to… my current bucket list!

 

2015 resolutions: See more of London

I live in one of the greatest cities on the planet. I love the fact there’s so much to explore with kids, world-class free museums, quirky events, activities, parks. Do I make the most of it? Obviously not.

In two and a half years, Minnie has been on the tube once – a lovely morning out at the Natural History Museum turned into a stress-filled battle of wills and rushing for the tube, the doors almost closed on her buggy before I got into the carriage. It still makes me shudder to think of it.

But we’ve navigated the Metro in Paris and Copenhagen, we’ve taken international train journeys, we’ve coped with long-haul flight. I have to get over this mini phobia of going back on the Underground and see more of my fabulous home city with her.

2015 resolutions: Get photographic proof

I take a lot of photos. My lovely DSLR camera when we’re travelling, my phone for day to day. I have pictures galore of Minnie and photo albums filling a bookshelf. What I don’t have is many photos of me…

Inspired by a resolution from Cardiff Mummy, this is the year I make sure I feature in the photos as well. Because in decades into the future, will I really be cringing at the unflattering angle or will I be happily reminiscing about the wonderful trip?

2015 resolutions: Book a bonding weekend

There aren’t many friends I travel with – with the wrong person, it’s a recipe for disaster. But there are two friends I’ve travelled far and wide with over the years. Now life, family, work and packed diaries have got in the way.

I’d love 2015 to be the year we spend some proper time together again, whether it’s a girls’ weekend or with Minnie in tow.

2015 resolutions: Make time for ice cream

I plot my bucket list. I plan trips to dream destinations. I concoct intricate itineraries. And some of the most fun Minnie and I have had is from slowing down. An unexpected ride on a carousel instead of rushing off for lunch. A paddle together. A walk with ice cream.

Sometimes we’ll have places to be – you can’t kick back and live in the moment if check-in is closing. But this year, let there be time for ice cream too.

 

Main image/tube tiles courtesy Depositphotos; all others copyright MummyTravels

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