It’s a brand new year, for some people it’s – “New Year, New Me” but for those of us with the travel bug it’s a whole new 365 days to plan, explore and hit the road!

From weekends away to long haul flights and even day trips, half the fun is researching where you want to go and dreaming up your plans. Unfortunately we aren’t all millionaires but that’s no excuse, maybe this year is about smart saving for a big trip or challenging yourself to economise, budget and see more of the world for less.

Every box may not get ticked within the 2018 timeline but I’m aiming high with my top three!

1. New York, New York

Now this one has been hanging around my list for some time, I’m after the full tourist experience, landmark sights, oversized food portions and sure throw in a Broadway musical for good measure. It’s a tough one to do on a shoestring so at the moment I’m keeping my eyes peeled for flight deals, I’ve heard pretty good reviews of Wow Air, the relatively new Icelandic option or flying from Knock, Shannon etc. could be a budget option – I’ll keep you posted as things progress but any advice or tips are welcome!

2.  Blazing Trails

You can travel far and wide but some of the most beautiful rugged landscapes are right here on our Emerald Isle, I’ll be attempting to venture on at least one trail a month from easy breezy strolls to more challenging hikes – Obviously this will also involve sampling the local eateries to refuel 🙂

3. Japan

From the bright lights and high density of Tokyo to it’s unique culture, varied cuisine and inherently healthy lifestyle – I’m fascinated with the idea of visiting this East Asian nation. Japan itself is made up of four main islands surrounded by a host of smaller islands which I’m told are home to some idyllic beaches! my knowledge is pretty limited at the moment so I’ll have to get researching….

Outside the big three I’m always on the hunt for good city break locations, Rome is probably the current front runner – it’s fascinating history and authentic Italian food are the main draws for me. I’ve done a little digging and an Airbnb looks like it could be the way to go!

Finally Central America and New Zealand are never far from the dream list so they could become super subs should the stars align.

So what’s on your hit list for the year ahead? And if you have any insider tips or guidance for mine please share below… #2018Travel3