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Home » Musings » A Year Of Cancelled Trips
Musings

A Year Of Cancelled Trips

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 31, 2018November 14, 2023 5 Comments

a group of push pins on a map

Since I first started international travel in 2006, every year has been like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle of the globe. Each year I get a little closer to completing the puzzle. But as October draws to a close, I stopped and realized today how different this year has been.

I consider visiting new countries to be one of the greatest joys in life. Every year I make it a point to visit a new country. At least one. Often many, many more. My record remains 2011, the year I visited 42 countries.

But with only 24 hours in a day, sometimes—some years—other priorities take precedence. This has been one of those years. My country count stood at 130 on January 1st and will likely end at the same number this year.

While I am a bit sad about this, I recognize it is the path I have chosen. I am thankful for that path, even as I miss the excitement of flying new airlines to new lands.

Operationally, I’ve only run into one extended delay this year. I consider myself fortunate for that. But time conflicts have forced to cancel nearly every single “review” trip I’ve booked (flying for the sake of flying). That included:

  • Thai Airways First Class Trip to Australia and Mongolia
  • South African Airways Trip to Mozambique and Senegal
  • Gulf Air Trip Aboard New 787-9
  • Delta Air Lines A350 Trip
  • Korean Air First Class Trip
  • Aeroflot Russian Airlines Trip

For now, I don’t book trips in the future. The nature of my daily schedule simply does not permit it. Oh, I’ve tried many new products this year. But I still have not been on vacation.

CONCLUSION

I’m not complaining. Instead, I’m building a business, serving my wife and raising a precious son. And it’s not like I haven’t traveled this year: I find myself on the road far more often than I like. But I keep telling myself this is for a season. It’s a necessary step. No pain, no gain, right? But boy could I use a flight just for the sake of a flying today.

How many new countries have you visited this year?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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5 Comments

  1. MeanMeosh Reply
    October 31, 2018 at 10:37 pm

    Don’t feel too bad. Only two new countries for me this year – Belgium in August, and Sweden weekend after next. It’s probably going to be slim pickings next year, too, though honestly that’s been by design. I’m trying to avoid going anyplace new until my wife and son can start tagging along. Probably another year or so away from that being realistic, unless I can find a cruise itinerary with some new island nations.

    • colleen Reply
      October 31, 2018 at 11:39 pm

      MeanMeosh – one consideration is an Eastern European river cruise on the Danube. You passport-stamp your way through a bunch of countries, many of which you (I) never would think of. Ours was a truly terrific experience, one of our best as multiple past river cruisers. If you pursue, I’d recommend E-W Bucharest-Vienna (or +Prague) because we found it much easier to absorb socioeconomically (read: improving) than the reverse. Hadn’t thought about it before we booked.

      Cruises: Unpack once.

      • colleen Reply
        October 31, 2018 at 11:52 pm

        Just double-checked my Global Entry file: This cruise netted us Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Rep, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia. I think it was a 10-day pkg. But very slow-paced and walkable dockings in the center of town.

      • MeanMeosh Reply
        November 1, 2018 at 10:01 am

        Thanks for the suggestion – we love cruises and have been eyeing European river cruises for some time. The limitation right now is that our son is at an age where flying is pretty brutal. Much easier to be able to drive (or at least take a short flight) to a US port and grab a cruise from there.

  2. Tehransuite Reply
    November 3, 2018 at 2:30 am

    Cool post Matthew!
    I am really interested in traveling too 🙂
    Thanks again !

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