Ins & Outs & Trends - 2024 Travel
And some wish-list destinations for your inspiration and exploration
Hi Friends,
How are you? How has January been treating you so far? I hope the start to your new year has been gentle and lovely.
I am writing this post from Melbourne, Australia, listening to the wild birds living in the trees outside my flat and contemplating what 2024 might bring.
I didn’t have Melbourne Australia on my bingo card (as they say) for 2024. But, an opportunity came to me late in the year, in 2023, for an extended visit to Oz and I said yes. It’s a long way to get here. Even though my flight was a good one with only one connection and it took 26 hours…oof. So staying for 3 months is a gift as I can ease into being in the Southern Hemisphere (my jet lag has been fierce), explore Melbourne and its beautiful surrounding areas, and hopefully do some other travel (looking at New Zealand and Tasmania as destinations). I have no set plans so far. I am just here and getting acquainted with my neighborhood, surrounding boroughs, and the city.
I will say this: Melbourne is among the most welcoming and friendliest cities I’ve encountered.
Ever.
Everyone I’ve met has gone out of their way to get to know me, my name /where I’m from, and how I got here; and have extended some excellent recommendations that I am keeping in my notebook.
A few initial takes:
The coffee hype is real. Outstanding!
Brunch is a lifestyle.
The parks in my neighborhood are abundant and perfect for my wanderlust.
I’m obsessed with the Victorian homes and cottages.
Colorful parrots abound.
INS AND OUTS AND TRENDS
Towards the end of 2023, I saw people posting INS AND OUTS lists on Instagram. These posts inspired me to create my own lists of ins, outs, and trends based on what I would like to see in 2024, which is sure to be a very busy year for travel.
The trends are also things that I’ve encountered in real life (talking with other travelers I’ve met) that have been gathering steam and have read about in various travel-related publications that I trust.
INS/TRENDS:
Train Travel - I am currently a bit obsessed with train travel. It is such a civilized way to get places. My first autumn/winter in Italy, in 2021, is when I leaned into train travel and have not looked back. Last winter, when I was going to Edinburgh for the first time, I flew into London specifically to take the train ride from London to Edinburgh and I was not disappointed. What I haven’t done yet is go on a multiple days trip by train travel but I’m hoping to remedy that in 2024. A great account to fall in love with train travel: @belmondroyalscotsman
Solo Female Travel - ages 45-70 - there has long been an explosion of female solo travel accounts on Instagram. Mostly what I found for those accounts when I began searching in 2015 or so were women aged 25-40 and their accounts or blogs focused on budget travel or sponsored travels. However, over the past 2 years, I’ve met more and more women my age (over 50) traveling solo and/or contemplating traveling solo and wondering where to begin. I wrote about where to begin if you have never traveled solo here. Travel inspiration, tips, and resources for this demographic of women are one of the foundations for me starting this substack.
Intimate Group Travel - forget about group travel as you think you might know it. Whenever I broach the subject with folks they start talking about big bus tours, tourist destinations, following a guide with a flag to keep everyone together, and mediocre food. There is a much better way to group travel and it is with what I call intimate group travel. These travels are all about ACCESS - access to artisan makers and destinations that are secret. These are travels that are built on relationships - the relationships your hosts have with these chefs, farmers, artists, and winemakers and the relationships you build with your fellow travelers. I am going to be writing about some of the ones I have discovered and recommend in another post but this is a way to experience destinations in a truly authentic* way, traveling with like-minded people, in intimate settings with unique access. What’s not to love?
*I am desperate for another word for authentic. It is so overused. Any thoughts?
Sustainable & Restorative Travel: this is about respecting and giving back to the communities you travel to. Whether it is about spending your dollars with local makers or traveling with certified B-Corp companies that use your travel dollars, at no extra cost, to do good. Check out one of my favorites here: Charitable Travel.
Off-Season or Shoulder Season Travel: this one is near and dear to my heart and I’ve written about it in regards to Italy and summer travel a few times. There are SO many reasons NOT to travel to places like Florence, Italy, and the Amalfi Coast in high-summer but the biggest one is the fact that these wonderful magical places are being changed (for the worse) by too many visitors. Long lines for everything, no reservations available at your restaurants of choice, too crowded everywhere (even the streets) - ugh! When planning your trips, I highly recommend looking at shoulder or off-season. I think you will be surprised at how attractive the travel is in cost, accessibility, and ease. You DO have to plan and confirm things like seasonal and holiday closures but with some flexibility, it can work out very nicely.
Defining Success For Your Travels: I recommend considering what a successful trip looks like for you and your companions; making a pros and cons list; coming up with a manifesto of sorts and seeing if the destination/plans match your definition. I did this process with a travel friend recently and they found it to be very beneficial!
OUT: these are not directed at anyone (and especially not my readers) but these are things that I encountered or have serious thoughts about….and would love for them to be “out”.
Instagram-Worthy Destinations - going places just for an “Insta” photo. This includes actual cities and countries; cultural/nature spots, restaurants, and more. Last year I heard from multiple places in Edinburgh that were very popular on Instagram having to deal with rude visitors who took photos of the staff, went behind the counter and in the kitchen without permission, and caused destruction to historic spots - just to “get the photo”. Enough - STOP. This is OUT. (I love sharing photos on Instagram but I don’t go just for a photo. And I definitely don’t disrespect people or their business)
Cruises: A forever OUT. Cruises are GROSS. They are terrible for the environment and destroy precious eco-systems. THEY. ARE. HORRIBLE. Enough said.
Expecting things to be like “at home” when traveling: If you don’t want to experience new things, even things that you might consider inconvenient, maybe don’t travel? My sincere advice? The more you can know before you go about the cultural norms around, well, everything can help you decide if the destination you are considering is right for you and what you want from a successful trip.
Expecting everyone to speak English: Please. For the love of God. Learn some phrases. Make an effort to communicate in the native language. At the very least: know please and thank you. And have your Google translate handy. After trying several language apps I have found Pimsleur to be really awesome. Highly recommend.
DREAMY DESTINATIONS:
Have you been to any of these?
What are your thoughts?
Where is on your travel list for 2024?
Kangaroo Island and Tasmania - While I’m down in this part of the world I definitely want to explore!. I’m researching visits with the Tasmanian Walking Company and train travel - I will keep you posted.
Tartu, Estonia - home to one of Northern Europe’s oldest universities, Tartu looks to be a charming, cultured, dreamy city with lots to offer.
Vincenza, Italy - Vincenza was on my list in 2023 for a long weekend while staying in Turin. However, I loved Tornio so much that I just wanted to soak it all in while I was there for the first time. Vincenza is located between Venice and Torino and is easily accessed by train from multiple hubs.
Vienna, Austria - over the last two years several people I’ve met traveling have recommended Vienna. Romantic and stunningly beautiful, it was home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud.
The Orkney Islands, Scotland - when I was in Scotland this autumn, I met a couple who had just spent a week on the Orkney Islands and their descriptions shot them to the top of my list. More Scotland in general.
Bath, UK - I’ve always wanted to spend a winter month in Bath. Call me crazy but I do.
Wickinnish Island, BC - A wild, beautiful island off the Canadian Coast - there is a whole culture around “storm-watching”. I’m here for it.
Oppedette, France - I recently discovered the most charming instagram that introduced me to this little village and I am obsessed. @provencallife
I would love to hear from you on the ins, outs, and travel trends you are obsessed with. What are you hoping for your 2024 travels?
I’ve spent about 11 months traveling by train through Europe over the past couple of years, and I absolutely love it! Slow is the way to go, if you possibly can. Coincidentally, I just wrote about Bath in my latest post - it’s one of my favorite cities!
I spent a winter in Cheltenham in the Cotswolds and shamefully never made it to Bath! It's also my dream to spend more time in Scotland and the English countryside during winter & spring.