As a travel blogger for over a decade and a travel agency owner for about half that, I have just one trip I want for Christmas.
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Such Little Time, So Many Places
As a travel blogger for the last twelve and a half years, I have been most places I really want to go. While I fall behind Matthew’s staggering country count substantially (about half), it’s become a matter of prioritization. As a travel agency owner, meetings are often held in desirable places around the world – but they are still work. With a family I almost always bring along, I have to consider the destinations I choose carefully because time doesn’t allow me to take as many trips for vacation, work and leisure has officially blended together and there’s little distinction.
The One Trip I Want For Christmas
There are so many places I want to see, and products I want to experience. But with so many options and so little time I have narrowed the list to just one trip.
Seychelles is at the top of my list, in case Santa reads Live And Let’s Fly. I’ve never flown Etihad or Emirates at all (I haven’t had the need align with the points in my account or desire to spend cash) but I would love to try both products in first class.
Kempinski has a beautiful property on the island, the Four Seasons appears to be the far and away leader but may not be worth three times the price. Six Senses appears to be carved right out of the coastal rocks and looks like the rest, relaxation, and remoteness my family and I need to disconnect and recharge.
Ok, Maybe One More
I’m fascinated by Saudi Arabia opening to tourism and embracing this new direction. In my 2025 preview, I will outline more of what I hope to see there and what’s already come to fruition. NEOM feels like a far off pipe dream that may or may not ever be completed to the scale it’s designed. But outside of that, there’s a great deal more in the works from the new carrier, Riyadh Air, to western hotels like Hyatt’s Miraval opening its first location outside of the US. My suspicion, however, is that Saudi Arabia won’t be the experience I am hoping it is until a few years further down the line. Still, Saudi Arabia is high on the list.
Conclusion
I’m privileged to be able to visit most of the places I want to explore and still return to more that I have come to love over the years. The one I haven’t made time for and have never been able to justify is Seychelles and it’s the only one I want for Christmas, but Saudi Arabia is climbing the list.
What’s on your Christmas list? Where do you want to go?
Stayed at Hilton Labriz in 2018. Great experience with the only complaint being even then with only two diamond elites checking in the same day as me, we got zilch for an upgrade. Also flew Etihad back, including the Apartments from AUH to JFK. Fun AvGeek moment was when the first class flight attendant came up to me and asked, “Would you happen to know the arrival terminal number?” She spotted an AvGeek a mile away. Haha. One thing I knew going in was to make sure I had proof of my return trip (took QR to get there) and printed proof of my hotel reservation and having enough cash. They weren’t as concerned about cash at immigration, but they did ask for proof of my stay and return flight.
42 countries visited and I am still missing Rome and Petra in Jordan.
Stay away from helicopters … never rhyme nor reason about how they work .
I confess to being petrified during many helicopter rides , as no one could ever explain to me how they work .
May things turn around for you and you find enough new customers to f&&k. It’s the business you are in and you are a good dude. So find them, f@&k them and make your dreams come true. Most of all teach your kids it’s a dog eat dog world and while you smile at your competitors , teach them to f&&k them at every turn
Show us on the doll where Apple Vacations touched you, Dave …
@Taylor – I’m with you on this one. I’m not sure what happened to Dave, but that’s not what we do, and it’s really not even possible for us to do that.
Six Senses is the play in the Seychelles, definitely above Four Seasons.
There is also a new Cheval Blanc opening, but that will be astronomically expensive (although service will be astronomically good, too).