My Winter Travel Bucket List. Hello friends, so how are you today? Feeling chilly and dreaming of warmer places? I know I am!!
The Winter weather has finally arrived with a sharp cold snap over the last few days. It has had me dreaming of somewhere warm to hibernate till Spring!
Or perhaps laying on a beach somewhere, with a cocktail in one hand and a good book in the other. Or even somewhere to embrace the Winter Lapland perhaps? Perfect.
My Winter Travel Bucket List.
Table Of Contents:
- Firstly, New York.
- Secondly, Lanzarote.
- Thirdly, Northern lights and Santa Village. Lapland.
My Winter Travel Bucket List:
Can you believe it has been nearly 13 years since we last travelled overseas!? Too long. The first time I ever went on a aeroplane was a few months after my 2nd child was born. I needed a break and a change of scenery.
We ordered our passports, and as soon as they arrived looked for a last minute deal. In those days before the internet and online booking, we had two booking options, spend hours looking on Teletext on the TV.
Patiently waiting for a new offer to appear.
Alternatively load two pushchairs and toddlers into the car drive 20 mile to our nearest travel agents. Then we did, we got quizzed and hassled and lured into booking a holiday we did not want. Neither option my idea of fun.
Back to the drawing bored, a good job the Hubby loved his TV remote so much, (he once took it to the Doctors!! a blog post for another time!!) I would leave him with a beer and some snacks, he would sit for hours waiting for each teletext page to come on the TV.
Nowadays it is so much easier to find and book a Holiday. Lots of great travel websites at the click of a button. You can just pop in your holiday requirements and within minutes be browsing hotels, flights and prices. With reviews, guides, videos and lots and lots of pictures, to help choose your perfect getaway. Book just flights, hotels or package holidays all within minutes. Easily comparing prices and most importantly getting great package holiday deals for the perfect getaway.
We loved that first overseas holiday so much. I only remember the good times of that trip. The heat, the endless beaches, the excuse for a few new outfits, the fact that someone else did the cooking!! I seem to have forgotten, until Hubby reminded me, the stress of a 3 year old and a 6 month old baby. We must have loved it however, as when we got back we started saving the pennies for our next trip.
After our 3rd Child we still went abroad, however once I gave birth to my Daughter, we stopped going. It just got too much, with 4 children being young. Having two rooms was not ideal. Not to mention expensive. So the Great British seaside has been our saviour in recent times.
Our 2 eldest Sons are now at University, (most of the time looking after themselves) which gives us the opportunity to get our passports renewed and start exploring the World again. I must find my Piggy bank and start saving again!! A Winter getaway would be perfect.
On My Winter Wish List Would Be:
Firstly, New York.
OK you would not be sat on a beach. I am sure it would perhaps be even colder than home. However if there is one place on Earth I would love to visit, it has to be the Big Apple New York City. Christmas time in New York must be magical.
Taking a Taxi in Manhattan, and starting your day with some yummy pancakes. Delicious. Then a stroll through Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, watching a show on Broadway the Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Center. You could go on and on.
Oh and of course not to forget my favourite pastime Shopping.. Bergdorf, Bloomingdale’s, Barney’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Tiffany’s, and many more. Basically just leave me on and around Fifth Avenue for the day!!
We love Christmas movies, with one of our favourites being ELF with Will Ferrell. Which features lots of New York. A snowball fight in Central Park, plenty of Yuletide fun and who knows if we are lucky a fly by from the big man himself, Santa.
When would you go to New York? and what would you like to see? Let me know.
“New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of”
“These streets will make you feel brand new.”
Secondly, Lanzarote.
Somewhere I have always wanted to visit in Winter is Lanzarote. We have been to Tenerife and Gran Canaria but never here. Situated off the West Coast of Africa the Canary Islands are massively popular with us Brits especially in the Winter months. Where a warm climate is almost guaranteed. Only a 4 hr flight, warmer in Winter than the Med yet familiar to anyone who loves all things Spanish.
By all accounts a beautiful Island with a distinctive style all of its own. With the remnants of Volcanoes for all to see. Just looking at all the picture from Lanzarote make me want to go. A few friends go every year and all sing the Islands praises.
I love the Sun and just chilling, but always like to educate the children and myself when on holiday. I think Lanzarote would tick all the boxes in that regard. With a rich history to learn about. Then when my brain hurts learning about volcanic ash, some Spanish wine and paella. Lovely.
Paella is my all time favourite Spanish food. We all love eating Paella. We make it at home quite often, however it always tastes better when someone else makes it. I could just eat a plate full now with a nice glass or two or three of wine.
Thirdly, Northern lights and Santa Village. Lapland.
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to see where Santa came from. Along with Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. Lapland in Northern Finland would be the place to go then. It would be amazing to go here around the Christmas season. Hopefully whilst my youngest children would still really appreciate it. Seeing the Reindeer, Santa’s workshop. Deliver a letter to Santa. It really would be magical.
My Winter Travel Bucket List.
Where In The World Would You Go?
If you could take time off work and pack your family’s suitcase and just disappear, where in the World would you go?
What food and drink would you like? Please post in comments and let me know. I look forward to reading your ideas.
Wherever you decide, one things for sure it is so much easier to book and plan your trip online. No more booking off teletext, or trudging in to Town. My Husband still loves his remote controls, good that leaves me time to spend on the computer planning our bucket list of holidays. Happy Days.
This post was supported by the team at Expedia UK. All thoughts are my own.
Did you see: Me And Tigger Bank Holiday Fun At The Seaside? Our favourite place in the UK is London. Check out all thing’s London Here.
Hi, I am Claire and I created Claire Justine in 2011. I hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I love writing them.
Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us.
Claire Justine Oxox- Over 50s Lifestyle Blog. You can also read more about me on my Over 50s Lifestyle Blog Page.
Even though I’m not much of a winter person, snowboarding in Whistler is on my bucket list! Kim
That's a great list of places Claire, I went to New York before the boys were born, just after 9/11. I loved it and would like to go back at some point. :)Thanks for linking to #pocolo
Great list . Got me thinking now!
Hehe 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find somewhere nice to go.
A great list here. We have just come back from a road trip through California but it just wasn't long enough, so right now if I could go anywhere it would be to go back and spend longer lingering. Otherwise as a student I travelled throughtout Asia but never made it to Cambodia, that would be next on my list. #PoCoLo
Oh wow, that would be amazing too 🙂
I love the travel bucket list idea! I need to start my own list. I've been to NYC in the winter once but I was really young, I'd love to go back as an adult! Seeing the Northern Lights would 100% be on my bucket list too. Hana: hanaventures.wordpress.com
Thanks Hana, it would be amazing to visit all/any of these places 🙂
It would have be New York although I would love a road trip round America we did Vegas earlier this year and I loved it
Oh wow, that sounds amazing 🙂
What a wicked travel list! I can't recommend Lanzarote enough! It is an amazing place, I really do love it there.My husband wants to go see the northern lights, so this will be something we can hopefully cross off our list too. I think the kids would be more than happy with Lapland as well 😉 xx
Thanks Jayne, I would love to go to Lanzarote 🙂 I always think the Northern lights looks amazing on the TV so how amazing would the be in real life 🙂
New York and Lapland are definitely my dream destinations.
Thanks Evelina, they sound amazing 🙂
Brilliant bucket list for winter! I would love to see the Northen lights! I've done lanzarote in December before and it was a great holiday! Jordanne
Thanks Jordanne, my friend usually goes to Lazarote then and always come back with a lovely tan 🙂
I would love to visit New York. Christmas always looks magical in New York in films. My sons are less keen though, they prefer the idea of Disney World!
It does look magical in all the films dos't it 🙂 Disney World is up there for me too, even if my kids are all grown up now ..
We have been lucky enough to travel abroad twice this year to France and Menorca. New York and Orlando are top of my travel list. Kaz x
Whoo I bet you had a great time 🙂 Eek they both sound great x
I long to take my kids to the Santa village in Lapland before they get too old. Iceland is top of my list though and New York would be fab too
Thanks Kara, it would be amazing wouldn't it:)
New York is a great place to visit, if you get lucky with the weather. we went in February and the weather was just starting to warm up a few degrees after all that snow they had had. It's definitely a place you have to experience once in your lifetime
Oh wow, I can just imagine it, I bet it was amazing 🙂
Some amazing places here. Would love to visit them.
Aww, thank you 🙂
Some fantastic suggestions here! If I were to go anywhere right now I think it would be Iceland. 🙂
Thanks Elizabeth, sounds lovely 🙂
I live in Finland but I've never been to Lapland… funny, isn't it? It's just a (long) train trip away, but winter and snow is not my thing (we see enough of that here in the south, too) and I haven't skied since I was at school… My husband keeps telling me we should go, but in autumm to see the autumn leaves, or in summer (midnight sun). I get that as a German he finds it exotic. Maybe next year…
I have never skied before, I would love to try but can imagine it would be hard to getthe hang of at my age .
Travelling and fitness were my biggest hobbies before baby. Just finally got B's passport and so I'm really keen to show him the world as much as I can! I can imagine with 4 it would take a fair bit of planning, but how lovely if you could tick off your bucket list. I'd love to see the Northern Lights!
Thank you Kitty. I can not wait to start exploring again. You are a step nearer than me, I have to get our passports sorted first 🙂
I would just love to see the Northern lights and envy anyone who has done x
Thanks lovely, it would be amazing to see wouldn't it 🙂
At this time of year, it would be New York for me. I'm hoping to go in a few years for my 40th! Lapland would be great with the girls X
Whoo that would be an amazing 40th birthday present 🙂
Gorgeous post! I oo would love to go to Lapland – swiftly followed by a visit to southern Spain, to warm myself up again! #PoCoLo
Thank you Nell, that would be great 🙂
I love New York and would love to visit again with my husband daughter in tow. Never been to Lapland but it's on our list too 🙂
Thanks Dean, they all would be amazing 🙂
I think I'd go with these suggestions. A little Big Apple, a little sun and, of course, the Northern Lights. Perfect selection!
Aww, thank you Grant 🙂
I would so go to Lapland! Come to Boston!!
Thanks Tamar, whoo I would love too!!
Great interesting article.
Thank you 🙂