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KJC

A Travel & Photography Blog

Resources, Travel, Travel Chat · December 22, 2019

My Year in Travel: 2019 Edition

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As the year (and decade!) comes to a gradual close, it’s time to review my travels of the year. And it’s safe to say that 2019 was by far my biggest year yet for travel!

Every year I seem to fit one or two extra trips in for one reason or another, so it’s crazy to think that by the end of the year I will have visited eight places. I’ve come a long way from one all-inclusive holiday a year!

In fairness, this year had to be significant on the travel front because the next two years we’ll be slightly more reserved as we move house and save for our 2021 wedding. But then there’s the honeymoon to plan…

So what did 2019 look like? Read on to see the trips I took this year!

Read more: My Year in Travel 2018 Edition

January: Budapest, Hungary

The year started with a trip to Budapest. We arrived on a snowy Saturday morning and spent two days exploring the city, eating lots of local food and warming up in the thermal baths. This trip was a Christmas gift from Darryl and I was SO thankful for it!

Read more on Budapest:

Budapest Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip

Cheap Eats Guide: Where to Eat in Budapest

13 Things to Do in Budapest

Budapest Airbnb: Staying in a Cosy Apartment Downtown

March: Iceland

I still can’t get this country out of my mind, it is honestly unreal. We went for four days in March, hired a car and explored as much of Iceland as we could in that time. Highlights were spotting the northern lights, travelling a long way over to the Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, and seeing endless natural beauty on our road trip.

Read more on Iceland:

Iceland Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip

4 Days in Iceland: The Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary

8 Tips for Driving in Iceland

A Guide to Seeing & Shooting the Northern Lights in Iceland

Iceland Airbnb: Staying in a Rooftop Spa Apartment in Reykjavik

7 Mistakes We Made in Iceland

April: Salzburg, Austria

In April we celebrated my mum’s birthday and retirement, so the two of us went to Salzburg for the weekend. We had two nights there, and spent one day in Salzburg and the other exploring Lake Fuschlsee. We didn’t have the best weather but it was a fun little escape with plenty of food and wine!

Read more on Salzburg:

Salzburg Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip

A Luxury Stay at the Sheraton Fuschlsee Salzburg Hotel Jagdhof

3 Days in Salzburg: The Ultimate Long Weekend Itinerary

May: New York City, USA

This is another trip that has really left me with incredible memories. I’d wanted to go to New York City for so long, and spending out eighth anniversary there was amazing. We ate too many pancakes, walked a crazy amount of miles and did all the cheesy bucket list things that you have to do when you visit the Big Apple.

Read more on New York City:

New York City Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip

Cheap Eats Guide: Where to Eat in New York City

A Boutique Stay at the Freehand New York Hotel

4 Days in New York City: The Ultimate City Break Itinerary

July: Barcelona, Spain

This really was a trip of a lifetime, which I didn’t really expect from Barcelona! Darryl and I fancied a last-minute summer break, so we visited this beachside city for three days when the weather was at its peak. What I didn’t see coming was the proposal from Darryl overlooking the city at dusk! Barcelona will always be special to me because of that.

Read more on Barcelona:

We Got Engaged!

Barcelona Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip

A Luxury Stay at the Melia Barcelona Sky Hotel

3 Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate City & Beach Break Itinerary

September: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka was a bit of a wild card booking last year when we spotted a good Black Friday deal. Especially because we booked a group tour for the first time ever! This trip was incredible and I saw things, and did things, that I never would have if we’d just travelled solo. Sri Lanka really is the most beautiful country.

Read more on Sri Lanka:

Sri Lanka Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip

Sri Lanka Uncovered: My Group Tour Experience with TruTravels

October: Tarnów & Kraków, Poland

Ahead of Halloween we returned to Poland for our second Polish wedding! The wedding was in Tarnów, but we spent day three of the trip exploring Kraków with slight hangovers. I’d love to go back to this city when it’s all Christmassy.

Read more on Kraków:

How to Spend a Day in Kraków

December: Edinburgh, Scotland

I’m heading to Edinburgh right at the end of the year, so I’ll update this section following my visit!

What’s next?

So far I have two trips booked for 2020, which I’ll talk more about in a post that’s coming in the New Year!

Where did you visit in 2019? Let me know on Twitter!

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Posted In: Resources, Travel, Travel Chat · Tagged: Asia, Europe, Travel, Travel Chat, USA

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Waddesdon Manor at Christmas

Follow my adventures

We’re only a couple of weeks in but the start of We’re only a couple of weeks in but the start of 2021 has been a shambles. Darryl breaking his collarbone at 6pm on New Year’s Eve, being put into another national lockdown, friends getting sick and losing my nan very suddenly has been a tough first chapter of a new year. I never could have imagined a world where you lose a family member but can’t even see and hug your family to get through it. Life has been so tough for everyone for so long now but we’ve got to try and stay positive in dark times. Now I’m putting all my energy into wedding planning, catching up with family as often as I can and enjoying the little things that make me smile, like this crazy cat of mine. Sending a big hug to anyone going through difficult times of their own — it will get better. ❤️
Sipping on a mini bottle of prosecco tonight to ce Sipping on a mini bottle of prosecco tonight to celebrate booking our honeymoon today 🤪💍🥂

Choosing somewhere when you want to go *everywhere* is a bit of a challenge but we both wanted something that was total relaxation for a change.

After months weighing up options we’ve booked ourselves a beachy break in the beautiful Maldives with @turquoiseholidays 🇲🇻🌴🐠

I’m praying that this pandemic is over by then and it’s safe to travel. But worst case — we’re super organised for a honeymoon in 2022.

P.s huge thanks to @thestayoverlife for allllll the incredible Maldives honeymoon inspo and advice!

*Photo taken in the Dominican Republic.
Swipe to see me sussing out 2021 as it creeps clos Swipe to see me sussing out 2021 as it creeps closer 😅 In all seriousness HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Thank you for your love and support this year — this platform has been a place to chat with others in dark times and for that I’m so thankful. I seriously hope next year is a great one for us all, time to raise a glass ✨🥂
As someone who always tries to get away on their b As someone who always tries to get away on their birthday I never imagined spending the whole day at home. But a combination of prosecco, gin making, great food, conversations with family / friends and watching movies with my fiancé made it one of the best yet. Just one day later I’m deep cleaning the house (again) and waiting for tomorrow to see in the new year from the comfort of my sofa. I’m so ready for a new start — but the kind where our lives aren’t entirely controlled by a virus. So when that day comes I’ll celebrate! 🥂
26 today! I’m joining the lockdown birthday club 26 today! I’m joining the lockdown birthday club this year and @darryl_merkli has made it one hell of a day to remember (ft this confetti cannon which was absolutely terrifying) 🥳
Five mile muddy walk at Woburn finished with a cap Five mile muddy walk at Woburn finished with a cappuccino ☕️
What a memorable first Christmas in our home🎄 What a memorable first Christmas in our home🎄 

We might not have had our family around us this year — but the day was so special in other ways and I think we definitely made the best of it 🥰

Now bring on the Boxing Day chill and continued feast! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas ✨
It’s Christmas Eve Eve! The festive llama cookie It’s Christmas Eve Eve! The festive llama cookie was an essential Christmas purchase this year 🦙🍪
Christmas in Edinburgh last year. Three sleeps to Christmas in Edinburgh last year. Three sleeps to go! 🎄✨
Christmas window displays are my absolute favourit Christmas window displays are my absolute favourite ✨ So sad I’ve not seen many this year but Christmas 2021 is going to be full steam ahead from 1 November!
Out of office on! I can’t believe I’m now on h Out of office on! I can’t believe I’m now on holiday until January. We booked this time off in the hope of going away for two weeks, but the pandemic had other plans 🎄

Christmas might look a little different now but I’m so excited to be at home with my little family, plenty of food and drink and those who are in my Christmas bubble 🎅🏼

It’s also the first Christmas in our new home and we’re hosting! I hope my oven can keep up 😅

Now it’s time to kick off the festivities with another Christmas movie and a couple of glasses of mulled punch 🍷
Mulled wine or festive prosecco? 🍷 I’d go fo Mulled wine or festive prosecco? 🍷

I’d go for the fizz first, then the mulled wine and baileys gets third place! 🥂

Is 5.30pm on a Thursday too early to pour one of the above...? 🎅🏼
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