Santorini, one of our favorites
When we first got married and started traveling together, we had a general bucket list of places we wanted to visit. We planned our first big international trip together after our honeymoon to try to start checking off those places. As we continued traveling and checking off our list, we realized that it was not getting any shorter. The more we traveled, the more places we found to add to our bucket list.
As we traveled, places we had never heard of before came up or places we had no interest in seeing before became more interesting. We try to meet and talk to other travelers along our way, listening to their experiences and adding destinations they recommend to our list. Dubai was somewhere I had never planned to visit. However, our plans to visit Egypt as a layover to get to Kenya and Tanzania fell through, and someone suggested that we spend time in Dubai instead as our long layover. Despite the heat, we were glad we listened.
A black sand beach in New Zealand
Other times, a picture comes up online and makes us start looking into the destination more. As we research it and see more pictures, we decide to add that place to our list as well. For example, I first saw pictures of the Maldives on social media. Now we have stayed in an over-the-water bungalow there. All it took to convince my husband was to show him the first page of a search on Google Images. We first heard about Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania from a travel show on TV and ended up adding it on as an extension to our safari.
At this point, I have decided that our bucket list is endless. Bucket lists should be flexible. Do not be afraid to add new destinations, to go back to explore places you have already been in more depth, or to go back to catch something you missed. We may not be able to check off all of the destinations on our list, but we sure are having fun trying!
If you’re trying to check off destinations on your own bucket list, check out these travel apps that will help you plan your dream trip, this post on how we find cheap flights and see if a Groupon Getaway or Living Social Escape may be a good fit for you!
Dubai Buzz
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
Hi Christine,What an adventurous journey you've had! It's fascinating how your bucket list keeps growing with each travel experience. I'm curious, what's the most unexpected destination that made it onto your list?
It's inspiring to see how openness to new experiences and recommendations has enriched your travels. The spontaneity of exploring places like Dubai due to a layover change or being captivated by the allure of the Maldives through a simple Google search truly highlights the beauty of travel.
I couldn't agree more with your perspective on bucket lists - they should indeed be flexible and open to evolution. Embracing the idea of revisiting places for deeper exploration or catching missed opportunities adds a whole new dimension to the adventure.
Thanks for sharing your insights and tips! I'll definitely check out those travel apps and resources for planning my next trip. Here's to endless adventures and making the most of every destination!
Christine Wheeler
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I think one of the places we didn't to love as much as we did was Iceland. We loved the freedom of exploring once we got out onto Ring Road and the midnight sun allowing us to explore all night while everyone else was sleeping (plus the long sunsets!). Dubai was another place we want to go back and explore more of (and the UAE in general). We only had two days, and it was not enough to enjoy all the area has to offer.
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