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December 16, 2017
2017 is about in the books, people. If you haven’t already, it is time to start planning for your 2018 globetrotting adventures. 2017 was a great year for us. We got married in Bora Bora and had the opportunity to visit so many new destinations including about a dozen new countries! from these adventures, we wanted to put together a travel bucket list to provide recommendations for your travels in 2018. We are excited about the trips we have planned in the coming year and can’t wait to share our stories and photographs/videos with you all when we return. For those of you who have not yet planned your 2018 travels, hopefully, these 18 travel bucket list items for 2018 will help you plan some incredible trips!
Couple’s Coordinates 2018 Travel Bucket List
1. Hike to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu, Peru
The suggestions for this hike imply that it is long, arduous, and time-consuming. It is a challenge, especially with the elevation, but it is neither long nor time-consuming. If you can hike at good pace you should be able to make it up to the Sun Gate from Machu Picchu in 30-60 minutes. The view is incredibly worth the hike, and hey, you’ll get a good workout in the process.
More on Machu Picchu: Visiting Machu Picchu and 10 things to know before you visit Peru.
2. Smoke a cigar in Cuba
Cuba is a place of magic. They also happen to make the best cigars in the world. Vinales (pictured above) is the cigar mecca of the world. Hire a tour guide with horses and enjoy a horseback ride through the cigar plantations. You’ll be able to buy cigars for pennies on the dollar.
Read more on Cuba.
3. Wine tasting in Tuscany, Italy
Italy is a must visit destination. Our second home is home to, arguably, the best wine in the world. Sure, France and Napa Valley might disagree on it being the “best,” but we can all at least agree that Tuscany produces phenomenal wine. Brunello, Chianti, Super Tuscans like Bolgheri, and Vernazza di San Gimignano are some wines you absolutely have to taste.
Be sure to read our Florence Travel Guide and check out our review of our Florence Food and Wine Tour.
4. Feel like royalty at the Bratislava Castle in Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava is a bit off the beaten path. Most travelers who visit Europe stay west/central. And most travelers who go east visit only Prague and Budapest. Slovakia is a great stop for many reasons: 1) you can reach it by bus from Vienna for about $6, 2) it is less touristy than other cities in Europe, and 3) it is CHEAP.
5. Bathe Elephants in Thailand
Thailand is another place that just has a sense of magic about it. Gorgeous islands, dense jungles, hospitable people, and delicious food. This country is a great budget destination and is unique in that it has something to offer for travelers of all types. There is romance to be had for couples and plenty of parties for solo travelers.
Check out our Thailand Travel Guide for more suggestions. Other Thailand resources: Four Seasons Thailand and Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai.
6. Swim with sharks in French Polynesia
This one deserved a few pictures, no? Swimming with blacktip and lemon sharks in French Polynesia was one of the many highlights of our honeymoon. Don’t expect to see us getting in the water with great whites anytime soon, however. These blacktip and lemon sharks are more like puppies than sharks. They might have been more afraid of us than we were of them.
Read more on where to stay in French Polynesia.
7. Eat haggis in Scotland
Have you guys seen the Showtime show, Outlander? We watch it religiously. Aside from the great plot, the show transports you to Scotland in the 1700s and tells the story of Scotish independence. This country should be at the top of your travel bucket list for 2018 if you haven’t been. While you’re there, you’ll want to eat haggis. Don’t look up what it is until after you’ve enjoyed a plate of it. It is delicious.
Stay at The Principal in Edinburgh on your trip to Scotland.
8. Pan for garnets in the Czech Republic (now Czechia)
Our favorite thing we did while we spent a week working with the Czech Tourism Authority was a full day tour of the gorgeous countryside with Offroad Safari CZ. You’ll explore ancient sites, pan for garnets, and get the opportunity to see just how gorgeous the Czech countryside truly is. Venture outside of Prague and have a unique day!
Check out our Prague Travel Guide for more suggestions and be sure to pan for garnets with Offroad Safari CZ.
9. Visit a thermal bathhouse in Budapest, Hungary
Indoor, outdoor, hot, super hot, lukewarm, cold, waves, calm, oh man….the major thermal bathhouses in Budapest have it all. This was one of the more enjoyable, unique, and relaxing experiences we had during our time in Budapest. If you travel to Budapest, a bath is a MUST. BRB…going to take a bath now.
Find out which bath we chose in our blog of things to do in Budapest.
10. Swim in this natural pool in Aruba
This gorgeous Dutch island nation in the Caribbean is where the tropics meet the desert. Rent a car and you’ll be able to easily visit the entire island. The natural pools, the national park, and the beaches that encompass the island are definitely worth a visit in 2018.
This natural pool is so gorgeous that we listed the beach it is on here on our list of the best beaches in Aruba.
11. Have a cultural feast in London, England
It is both confusing and funny that London has a reputation for having bad food. Sure, fish and chips are neither an incredible culinary feat nor something you probably want to have for dinner. However, London is the definition of a melting pot. Being such a huge center for immigrants from other parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, London happens to have some of the best food in the world and features top-notch restaurants serving plates from around the world.
Our London Travel Guide has a number of culinary suggests that span a myriad of cultures.
12. Splash in a waterfall in Laos
Laos is a polarizing place. We know people who have spent an extended period of time there and consider it a second home. We spent a very short period of time there, and likely won’t return. BUT, the Kuang Si Falls alone are worth you making 1 trip to Laos if you find yourself in Southeast Asia in 2018.
Be sure to read up on how to get to Kuang Si Falls before you head out.
13. Stay in an overwater bungalow at Four Seasons Bora Bora
Can you imagine a more romantic hotel room than one that is literally over the crystal clear water of Bora Bora? The floor literally has glass in some places so you can watch stingrays and fish swim underneath your room. Depending on the direction your bungalow faces, you may or may not have a ton of privacy. Generally, we wore bathing suits, but there was definitely at least one skinny dip session on an early morning. Who needs a shower when you can crawl out of bed and jump into the ocean in your birthday suit?
Four Seasons Bora Bora is, in our opinion, the best wedding destination in the world. Keep that in mind, engaged friends.
14. Eat sushi in Tokyo, Japan
We have unfortunately not written any content on Japan. When we put out content, we want to be sure we have an authoritative position on the destination. We want to provide valuable insights and be a place where you guys can come to find informative travel suggestions. We only spent 3 days in Tokyo, and because of the size and the fact that many places we ate had only Japanese characters, we have not yet put out a blog. We literally don’t know the names of our favorite restaurants because they didn’t have an English translation offered. Nonetheless, you should go to Japan in 2018 and you should eat sushi. That’s a command. We will eventually put out a piece on Tokyo, but we need to continue to do our research.
There is a reason why Japan made the top 10 list of countries that live the longest.
15. Take a boat ride in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Cabo has been in the eye of the media recently as Cartel issues in Mexico have become increasingly more prominent, especially in resort areas. However, this happens on a regular basis. The media tends to manufacture fear, because it sells. Be sure to check travel advisory boards and make sure you’re traveling at a safe time, but definitely be sure to get to Cabo at some point in 2018.
Our Cabo San Lucas Travel Guide will help you with what to eat, where to stay, and also provide tips for hiring a boat.
16. Explore the islands of Malta
Most people have never even heard of Malta. It is funny, because this nation made up of 3 gorgeous islands sits in the Mediterranean just between Sicily and Africa. The islands have loads to see from salt flats to beautiful beaches, to some of the most insane naturally formed arches (photo above). Take an outdoor adventure tour and you can even rock climb and snorkel/scuba dive.
Our Malta Travel Guide will be helpful in planning your trip.
17. Attend Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest is something you HAVE to experience in your life. Even if you don’t drink. It is just a fun festival of beer, food, and entertainment. There are a number of tips you’ll want to make yourself aware of before you go. If you read our blog regularly, you know that neither of us really drink anymore, but when we did, we enjoyed putting down some steins at Oktoberfest. It was one of the most fun weekends we have ever had.
Check out our Oktoberfest guide for more.
18. Visit the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is a city of history. The former capital of the Bizantine empire is essentially the Rome of the east. Turkish Airlines is a great airline and has many lovely 24-hour layovers in Istanbul that provide travelers an opportunity to see a portion of the city without extending their trips.
Unfortunately, President Trump is hell-bent on regulating travel to and from Muslim majority countries. For Americans, travel to Turkey will be a challenge in the coming year. The US and Turkey have historically been NATO allies, but unfortunately, American and Turkish citizens are having to deal with the repercussions of our leaders fighting like school girls.
If you’re American, check out travel advisories and ensure you’re able to obtain a Turkish visa before you plan to visit. Hopefully, we can move past this insane travel ban and move toward becoming more of a global community.
Find out what else we did on our 24-hour layover in Istanbul.
Read more on our thoughts on the Trump Travel Ban.
