This year marks my 28th trip around that colossal flaming gravity ball we call the Sun. While I was really excited to make this post on my 28th birthday, I got lazy and didn’t travel to enough countries in time to be in line with the blog title (28 countries in 28 years, get it??) Anyway, if you had told me four years ago that my worldly travels would be in double-digit numbers at this point in my life, I would have asked what drugs you were on. Because I didn’t have enough $$ for flights and hotels. I didn’t have the time. I didn’t have the interest or motivation. It’s funny how getting stationed in Eastern Asia and Europe can 180 your life.
If you follow my Instagram, then you’d be safe to assume that I like to travel. And to be honest, the word “like” is a drastic understatement. Sometimes I feel like I’m traveling more than I’m working (sorry Air Force). And while 28 might not sound that significant to some of you wanderlust hippies, I was sitting at five countries when I graduated college so I’d say it’s a pretty gnarly achievement.
Anyway, I figured I’d reflect on some of my favorite places and perhaps provide some advice as to where you should travel (based on my experiences) before you spend your hard earned money on a lemon that may or may not be worth the squeeze. And while I’d love to talk about all 28 countries (31 now), I don’t feel like writing that much, so I’ll cover my top 10 favorites. And just because they aren’t in my top 10 it doesn’t mean they were bad – maybe I didn’t go to the right places – but there are definitely some I wouldn’t consider visiting again. And a pair of $20 headphones, a $50 backpack (full of clothes obviously) and a $100 iPhone is probably all you’ll need for the following:
#10 – Boracay, Philippines
So, it was a toss up between this and Thailand. Both are cheap, both have 10 star resorts for about $50 a night, and both have ladyboys. I’m sorry, not trying to offend anybody, but you’ll probably run into one at the airport within an hour of being in either country. Kind of bizarre, but I digress – I liked Boracay because it was a mix of authentic Philippines culture and vacation island getaway. A quick plane hop from Manila – the whole island is bordered by white sand beaches with endless bars and restaurants. My favorite part – which might sound dumb – was the knock-off accessories you can buy. Sunglasses, watches, purses (for the ladies obviously), all for under $10… and they looked fairly legit. And who cares at that point, it’s $10. You can also get a massage almost anywhere for $8 an hour (Thailand has all the same things but was a bit more pricey and too crowded/touristy). My friend Chuck and I took four different flights and stayed in three different hotels for less than $500 a person. Granted, we flew from Korea so it was kind of cheating, but cheap nonetheless. Highly recommend it though – and riding around on the back of a tuk tuk is an experience you’ll never forget. Unless you black out.
#9 – Singapore, Republic of Singapore
Singapore!!! My friend recently got stationed here for a two-year assignment and I’m extremely jealous. This city-state is full of things to do, so if you plan on going, give yourself about five days to knock out as much as possible. The Gardens by the Bay, Clarke Quay nightlife, Helix Bridge, and infamous Marina Bay Sands are all musts. There are plenty of temples within range of the metro system (which is super convenient and easy to understand). Also, Sentosa island is underrated. We randomly stumbled onto a beach that had a rope suspension bridge that led to a small island which turned out to be the southernmost point in Continental Asia… pretty sweet.
Some things we wanted to do but didn’t get the chance… the treetop forest bridges, MBS infinity pool and Singapore Zoo. I definitely plan on going back. And Chris if you’re reading this I plan on staying with you.
#8 – London, England
To be honest, I’ve heard several mixed reviews about London. Some will say it’s just another big city (sure), but in terms of big cities in Europe, it’s one of my favorites simply because everything is in English (it took a year of wandering around Korea to realize how comforting it is to be able to read and understand everything around you). That and they have like five Chipotles. And the Saints vs Dolphins at Wembley Stadium.
Some things that you could scoff and say “every big city has that”
- the tube
- literally every kind of food you can imagine and so many pubs
- lots of historical land marks and cool picture spots
- fish and chips
- diversity
- the river bend through the city is BA
If you plan on going over a weekend, just know that it will be extremely crowded, especially along the riverwalk. The wait for the London Eye was easily an hour and the line to go atop the Tower Bridge was around the corner. And it might be raining – luckily it was sunny the majority of time I was there.
#7 – Budapest, Hungary
It’s hard to really sum up any accomplishments during our trip to Budapest. We sped straight to the airport after work at 100 mph and then ended up sitting around for a couple hours because the flight was delayed because literally every cheap flight in Europe is delayed 100% of the time 365 days a year since the beginning of mankind so we probably should have just assumed that it was going to be delayed and not sped 100 mph to the airport. Anyway, after flying our delayed flight into Budapest and grabbing a cab and speeding 20 minutes into the heart of the city we finally got to our AirBnB and called dibs on beds and then went out for dinner and drinks. The dinner we had both nights was absolutely amazing (and surprisingly fancy) and everything was priced reasonably. The local brews are super cheap – any convenience store should sell them for less than $1.
Other than eating food and getting drinks (literally the majority of our trip), we spent part of the day Saturday hiking some hill that overlooks the city (highly recommend) and then went to an outdoor bar venue on the river. We also attempted to finish an escape room on Sunday but failed miserably. There were several reasons why we truly needed to escape that room but I won’t go into them via this PG blog. We did, also, find a bar that had lots of arcade games, pool tables, and indoor basketball… I think that may have been the highlight of Budapest. I feel bad because there were tons of historical buildings, castles, and tours that we could have taken advantage of but didn’t. Therefore, we’ll be going back next year.
#6 – Seoul, South Korea
Fun fact: I was stationed in South Korea for 54 weeks. In those 54 weeks, I visited Seoul 23 times (50 min bus ride for about $4 – the public transportation is so cheap it’s comical). It’s one of those cities that you can visit over and over and over again and still find something new to do. Whether it’s a Korean festival – and there are a TON of festivals – going to a Doosan Bears baseball game or hanging out with friends in Itaewon, this city is LIT. And although I wasn’t the biggest fan of Korean BBQ, it’s still a fun social outing.
Anyway, I know Korea gets a bad rap because of KJU, but if you’re optimistic it’ll be fine. There are plenty of temples to visit, mountains to hike, Seoul Tower’s to visit and sojus to drink. If you’re there for a week or more I would consider taking a high speed train down to Busan (about $40 each way) and checking out the beaches.
#5 – Fort Collins, CO, USA
Okay, so I might be a little bit biased on this location but I promise there is substantial ground on which to stand. Fort Collins has a lot more to offer than meets the eye. For starters, FoCo is home to New Belgium – one of the many microbreweries that made it a craft beer destination worth the cross-country trip. It’s full of great restaurants, fun people, cheap bars (specials every night but Friday) and more burrito places than you can count on two hands. If you want to do more than drink beer and eat food, then Horsetooth Rock boasts a short drive followed by a quick hike or day on the water. You can go snowboarding in the Rockies within three hours, camping in Wyoming, see a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater, or just hang out in Old Town. So basically, if you’re 18 to 20 something, you’ll find plenty to do.
The picture above is of the Colorado State Rams new football stadium. Since I moved, the city has been expanding in every direction (and for good reason). While it’s not Vegas or New York City, I think it’s worth the effort to check this place out for a few days. And Denver is probably really cheap to fly into.
#4 – Heidelberg, Germany
During my PCS to Italy I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Germany with some bro bros from South Korea. While we had nearly four months to plan, we predictably waited until the week-of to choose which city, where to stay and what to do. Luckily, Brad recommended Heidelberg.
From the picturesque riverside, castle ruins, and university-style nightlife, this stunning city was by far one of the coolest and most memorable places that I’ve ever been. The old town is lined with historical buildings dating back to the fifth century and the area offers numerous cultural tours… or you can do your own thing and visit the Heidelberg castle to see the world’s largest wine barrel. The riverwalk views are ridiculous, the beer is cheap, restaurants are everywhere and the autostrada into the city was straight fire. 10/10 would smash.
#3 – Barcelona, Spain
Oh Spain. Te queiro mucho. It’s kind of funny seeing this picture (I’ve been saving images from Google for all these locations because it’s easier than going through the 10K pictures on my phone to find a decent shot)… and knowing that I stood in the same spot at one point looking over your colorful city.
If you want to visit historic sites, take selfies in front of statues, enjoy amazing food and wine (tapas everywhere!!), or see authentic Spanish concerts/shows – then Barcelona won’t disappoint. From the amazing night life, delicious pizza (some places), fly-boarding and hot air balloon rides, Spain was an amazing trip. Oh, and there’s a topless beach. For about $100 more, you can fly round-trip to Majorca or Ibiza, rent a scooter and drive across the island in an hour (or whatever).
#2 – Prague, Czech Republic
As far as single destinations go (#1 is actually a mix of locations), Prague takes the cake. You could interpret that last sentence in a different way and it would still be true.
Things you should absolutely do in Prague: Try as many beer pub/breweries as you can – the Pilsner’s and craft brews are cheap as ****. Wander around the city – Old Town Square and New Town Square are really close to each other and have lots of things to do. The cobblestone streets are lined with shops, museums, restaurants and pretty much any hidden-gem-related thing you can think of from other European cities. Without a doubt you should go on one of the bar crawls (we did the Clock Tower Bar Crawl and have no ragrets, not even one little letter). And of course, czech out the views from Charles Bridge and Prague Castle (might not be the actual name of it but it’s in the picture above). Having a fun squad doesn’t hurt either.
#1 – Yacht Week, Greece
Quick background on the yacht week: It’s six days sailing around the islands south of Greece (for the Greece route at least) with a crew of eight friends, a skipper and your own hostess. Each day has planned events including dress-up contests, raves, beach parties, circle rafts (picture above), and fancy dinners. Considering you’ll probably start drinking around noon each day, it will truly be a testament to your more youthful, college days.
Anyway, if the description isn’t a clear give-away as to why this was destination numero uno, then the following should help… you can:
- Go cliff jumping in Hydra
- Dance during an all-white Riviera party at a club overlooking a sunset over the mediterranean with a professional DJ and 200+ fun people your age
- Wake up to a uniquely prepared breakfast each morning that will make your hangover 10x more bearable
- Drink carafes of wine for 5 euro a piece at an authentic Greek restaurant in Poros
- Dress up as a crew before attending the pool party on Nikki beach
- At least 1-4 hours sailing every day
- Make a ton of new friends
Obviously it’s going to be a bit pricey ($2-4K depending on where you’re flying in from) but in my opinion is worth the experience.
The rest of the countries/cities that didn’t make the cut…
If you visit any of the following locations, definitely look into going to the places in parenthesis. If there isn’t anything then I probably didn’t do anything special in that country.
- Tokyo, Japan (Shibuya, Asakura District)
- Venice, Italy (Piazza San Marco, Lake Como)
- Shanghai, China (The Bund, Pearl Tower)
- Brussels, Belgium (Grand Palace, Delirium Brewery)
- Ljubljana, Slovenia (Lake Bled, Pop’s Place)
- Amman, Jordan (Petra, Dead Sea)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Batu Caves, Twin Towers)
- Taipei, Taiwan (Elephant Mountain, Taipei 101)
- Pula, Croatia (Cliff Jumping, Coliseum)
- Reykavik, Iceland (Þingvellir, Blue Lagoon)
- Ao Nang, Thailand (Phi Phi, Bangkok)
- Millstatt, Austria
- Belgrade, Serbia (Belgrade Fortress, Riverwalk)
- Roatan, Honduras
- Cozumel, Mexico
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica
- Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Belize City, Belize
- Goose Bay, Canada
- DMZ, North Korea
Happy traveling.
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