on ferry in Fiji

LashWorldTour 2019 World Travel Plans

As 2019 gets underway, I’m excitedly looking forward to exploring some new regions of the world, including several very distinct cultures. I’ll also finally make it to Africa and Eastern Europe.

I’ll be exploring Morocco, Canary Islands, Barcelona, Italy and the Balkan countries of Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania, as well as Hungary and Greece. These will all be new destinations for me, and all but Spain will be new countries.

Yep, it will be another exciting year of full-time world travel, in pursuit of my goal to see the entire globe within the next 10-15 years. In 2019 I will add at least 10 new countries to my list of countries visited.

I’ll begin all my adventures in early February by flying from Florida to Marrakesh, Morocco. That means I have one more month here in beautiful St. Petersburg to complete all my research, stock up on any necessary new travel gear and enjoy Florida’s gorgeous beaches, cycling opps and visiting with family.

In 2019 I’ll also continue my wonderful free-lance job reviewing luxury and boutique hotels. I’ve already been assigned at least 75 hotels to review, scattered around the various countries on my travel route.

Of course, as I’m traveling, I will continue writing about my travels & adventures, new destinations and tips & advice I can share with all of you in pursuit of your own travel dreams and goals. So stay tuned for all the advice and insights I can offer.

Following is my general travel plan for 2019

El Zoco – Marrakesh – photo by CesarGP

Morocco – February and March

I’m starting my 2019 adventures in Morocco. I’ve been wanting to visit this north African countries for years, so I’m very excited to finally get there.

I intended to stay only 2-3 weeks in Morocco since everything I’ve heard and read about this unqiue Muslim country indicates that it’s a chaotic, bustling, intense sensory overload experience, particularly for solo female travelers.

But then I was assigned to review 45 luxury hotels in Morocco! And based on my experience, that will take me at least two months to complete. I’m going to attempt squeezing it all in within 6-7 weeks. So I’ll probably be racing through Morocco. Lol.

I just hope I have enough time to enjoy some of the interesting scenery, culture and experiences (such as taking an over-night camel trek into the desert) while there.

In any event, my travels and work around Morocco will certainly start the year off with a face-paced, intensive time.

mountains in Gran Canaria – photo by Samisin

Canary Islands – April

I also have a handful of hotels & resorts to review in the Spanish Canary Islands. This group of seven main islands is located just off the coast of Morocco, which makes them fast and easy to access from Marrakesh. I’m going!

I was initially planning to stay about one week on two islands – Gran Canaria and Tenerife. But after researching them recently, I’ve discovered how beautiful, diverse and interesting they are.

So I’m now planning to spend two weeks on each island. I want to ensure I have time to enjoy hiking in the island national parks, forests and volcanoes; driving along precarious winding mountain roads ( I just love doing that!); suntanning on pristine beaches; star gazing at world-renowned observatories and visiting various quaint villages.

Gaudi architecture – photo by Sean Salmon on Flickr CC

Barcelona, Spain – two weeks in May

From the Canary Islands, the cheapest flights go to Spain, and the cheapest of those head to Barcelona. So that’s a good next step to the European mainland.

However, I’ve heard that my dreaded Reggaeton music is very popular in Spain. And I’d prefer to avoid that at all costs! After dealing with that awful music for the entire year of 2018 in Central America, as well as Cuba, I just can’t take it any more! My solution is to minimize time in Spain.

It just happens that Barcelona is very close to the border of France. So from there I can make a quick getaway out of Spain! Lol.

But during my research of Barcelona I discovered that it’s actually an amazing city, full of incredible art as well as cool markets, museums and neighborhoods. In particular are the cool, quirky buildings and art by Gaudi, which I’ve wanted to see for many years.

Barcelona looks so amazing that I’ll certainly need at least two weeks to explore it all.

Even better, I also discovered that Barcelona is a very inexpensive city, with plenty of hostels in the range of $10 per night. To top it off, I have several Spanish friends (from rock-climbing and scuba diving days in southern Thailand) living in Barcelona. So I will try to hook up with them while there.

So, despite the looming Reggaeton that might be awaiting me, I’m still very excited to explore Barcelona.

Spanish Steps – Rome – photo by Paolo Margari on Flickr CC

Italy – one month, mid-May to mid-June

From Barcelona, the logical next step would be to explore the Mediterranean coast of France, en route to Italy. However, I want to reach the Balkan countries well before July, when their beaches become packed with travelers and rooms could even be hard to find.

Since I have to spend so much time in Morocco, and since I’ve decided to explore the Canary Islands for one full month, I won’t have enough time to visit both France and Itay en route to Montenegro. Given the choice, I’d much rather explore Italy.

I’ve already been to France and I don’t have fond memories of the snooty Parisian people. It’s all left a bad taste in my mouth. I’m sure that other areas of France are much more welcoming, friendly and beautiful. And I do intend to explore more of France at some point.

But this year I’m much more enthusiastic about visiting Italy for the first time. From Barcelona, no doubt I can catch a cheap, quick flight to Rome, Naples or other major Italian city.

I haven’t yet researched what to see & do or where, exactly, to go in Italy, but I’m quite sure there’s much more on offer than I could possibly see in a mere month. No doubt I’ll have to pick n choose carefully.

Montenegro – Albania – Kosovo – Macedonia

7 weeks, mid-June to early Aug

Initially, my primary motivation for heading to these Balkan countries was the fact that I’ll need to leave the European Schengen countries for three months (Non-Europeans are allowed to travel around these countries for 90 days within a 180-day time period). Because of this rule, after I leave Italy I won’t be able to re-enter Schengen countries until early October.

In the meantime, I want to stay nearby and re-enter Europe quickly and easily when I’m allowed back in. The Balkan countries are some of the closest, especially from Italy.

So I started researching about Montenegro and the other Balkan countries. I quickly discovered that they are actually fantastic travel destinations!

They all have beautiful, diverse natural places that include rugged coastlines, pretty beaches, stunning mountains & forests, lakes, rivers and national parks. They also have charming towns & villages, built in the Middle Ages (!) and friendly, welcoming residents who are excited and proud to host internatoinal travelers to their small countries.

Better yet, they are all very inexpensive. They’re easy for budget travelers to explore.

The more I read about each country, the longer my time line for exploring them became. I now plan to stay nearly two months in total. That will probably consists of 3-4 weeks in Montenegro, 1 week in Albania, 1-2 weeks in Kosovo and 2 weeks in Macedonia.

Bulgaria – August

From Macedonia it’s just a border crossing into Bulgaria, the next logical travel step, especially since Bulgaria is ranked as one of the best Eastern European (and non-Schengen) countries for budget travelers in recent years. Romania and Hungary are equally well-acclaimed.

Like neighboring Balkan countries, Bulgaria is inexpensive and full of gorgeous Medieval towns & cities, beautiful natural places and pretty rolling countryside.

Romanian town – photo by Dennis Jervis on Flickr CC

Romania – September

Based on my brief research, Romania looks absolutely amazing! Stunning nature. Jaw-dropping Medieval castles. Beautiful cities and equally beautiful countryside. Budapest, the capital city, often is cited as travelers’ favorite city in Europe, it’s so beautiful and affordable.

I’m guessing I’ll be pressed to enjoy it all within just one month. Let’s see how it goes!

Hungarian Parliament – photo by Dennis Jervis on FLickr CC

Hungary – October

By the time I’m allowed back into the EU Schengen countries again in October, it will be getting cold in Europe. From Romania I’ll venture into neighboring Hungary to explore for as long as I can stand the cold. Lol

By November it will be getting mighty cold- time for me to fly the coup to a much warmer area…

Santorini – Greece – photo by Pedro Szekely

Greece – November and December

Greece is the most southerly and warmest Schengen country in winter months, according to my research. It’s also dotted with gorgeous islands, quaint white and blue villages and lots of delicious cuisine.

So from Hungary I’ll make a bee-line down there by flight to escape the frigid temperatures. At that point I’ll still be allowed to stay two months in Europe.

Most likely I will take advantage of that time to chill out in Greece for two full months to give myself a rest from a full year of constant travel, during which time I’ll be repeatedly dealing with new cultures, languages, foods, climates, topographies and architecture. I expect that will be a lot to take in during one year!

I’m pretty sure that by November I’ll be glad to take time to slow down, recover and get a grip on all the amazing places I’ve been & the exciting adventures I’ve enjoyed over the year.

I haven’t yet planned out my travels for 2020, but in Greece I’ll have time to figure it all out. Most likely I’ll continue exploring Europe and neighboring countries, while restricted by the limits of the Schengen visa. That will involve leaving Europe for three moths at a time. Options include the Middle East, Israel and Northern Africa. Let’s see what I come up with!

You might also find the following articles useful:

Preparing Travel to Europe in 2019

Confessions of a Cold-Weather Hater

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