When I began traveling November 2017 after leaving my 16-year corporate career in New York City, I had no exact plan where I would go or how long I would be traveling. At that time, the only thing I knew for sure was that I could not go back to the corporate world and live a life of unhappiness. No more “Sunday night blues”, no more unproductive group meetings, no more organizational structures that impede productivity, no more office politics, no more driving to work with my gut trying to get me to turn around.
I traveled nonstop for one year and returned back to my mother’s home in Northeast Indiana November 2018. The first full year of solo travel around the world was exhilarating. Antarctica, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Tibet, Bali to name some of my destinations. I had been sharing with others via my blog about my travel adventures but I also wanted to create a Top 10 list for myself and to help others get a taste of my travel highlights.
Last year I created the Top 10 Most Impactful Destinations of 2018, which was very popular. Since that post, I have done a number of exciting things: wrote a #1 Best Selling book, created a transformational travel company – click here to sign up to receive $1,000 off my next trip to Tuscany and of course I traveled the world again! So after circumventing the globe for the sixth time and visiting my 57th country, it only makes sense to create a new list.
Like last year, this list isn’t comprised of the most beautiful destination or the most cost effective location or the easiest place to travel. This list is about the impact the location had on me as a human being during my visit, which I feel is the most important part about travel.
ON MY WAY TO VISIT ALL 193 COUNTRIES
If you want to stay updated with all of my travels and blogs, enter you information just below this paragraph. I send an email once every 1-2 weeks so it isn’t a lot and you can always unsubscribe if it becomes annoying. But my goal is to visit all 193 countries of the world so you will get to learn all about these adventures by signing up. I’m still trying to map out how I will visit Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, among others! Timing is everything.
HONORABLE MENTION
I wanted to call out four locations that didn’t make my top ten list this year but still were incredible and worth listing. In no particular order:
- Ablanian Alps: Komani Lake boat trip
- Kruger National Park, South Africa
- San Marino, San Marino
- Santorini, Greece (main photo for this article)
10. SLOVENIA
I stayed in Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana (pronounced LUBE-lee-AH-na), which is a stunning capital city full of some of the most amazing food I have ever eaten. However, after staying a weekend, I learned just how beautiful this entire country is. When you visit Slovenia, you must visit Lake Bled, one of the most pristine and beautiful lakes with a small church on an island in the middle. And the mountains in the northern part of the country are stunning. When I visited Ljubljana, I stayed at Turn Hostel which was brand new when I was there in October 2019.
Traveler Tip: Be sure to eat at Pop’s Place and Pop’s Pizza if you want some comfort food. No joke: the best burger and best pizza I’ve ever had in my life!
9. ATHENS, GREECE
I wish I would have spent more time in Athens, however this place had a great vibe. I spent most of my time in the area around the Acropolis and walked through the narrow streets to see most of the sites. It’s crazy to think how much history is in this city. The subway system is easy to use and the city is easy to navigate. The nightlife and restaurant scene is eclectic with plenty of options. I had one of the most amazing Lebanese meals at Feyrouz. It’s a must do. Also, one of the favorite things I did was climbed Filopappou Hill at sunrise and snapped some of the most amazing pictures of the Acropolis. The hill is a large park and no one was there except me! An incredible travel moment.
Traveler Tip: I stayed in one of the nicest, most modern, clean hostels I’ve ever stayed at in my life. If you are a backpacker, STAY AT MOSAIKON! Each room has its own private bathroom and each bed turns into its own pod as the shade cover pulls down to create privacy. The lockers and doors are all activated with your own card that is provided to you. And the location is incredible.
8. ISTANBUL, TURKEY
As an American, I’ve been subjected to a lot of news about in the Middle East and about the country of Turkey. And to be honest, most of the news was not positive and created fears about the region/country. However, since I am a traveler and an adventurer, I had spoken with many travelers who have said Turkey is a stunning place. I had found my way into the southwestern part of Turkey and needed to fly internationally so Istanbul was the logical choice, especially since they just opened the brand new international airport in 2019. I’m very glad I spent several days in Istanbul. The history of the city is incredible and dates back to the beginning of civilization. It has been a crossroads for many civilizations for thousands of years that sits on two different continents: Europe and Asia. I stayed at Cheers Vintage hostel in the historic Sultanahmet neighborhood which houses many historical landmarks. This is the perfect area to stay if you are visiting for 3-4 days.
Traveler Tip: The new Istanbul International Airport is very far from the city. Instead of taking a taxi, take the new public buses that have inexpensive routes to just about any part of the city you want to go to.
7. MOSTAR, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Mostar was a destination that I had never heard of until I reached Croatia and began speaking with other travelers. Mostar is not necessarily on a specific route but is worth the 1-2 hour detour away from the Croatian coast. It is an Old Town with an old bridge with a river passing through. The unique architecture and charming village is worth the stop. And the Mostar Hostel Bojo was the perfect location led by an incredible family.
Traveler Tip: Be sure to visit the town of Blagaj nearby and climb up to the abandoned castle. I met some other backpackers and we climbed up together. The views are stunning and you have an entire castle to yourself. It was an incredible experience. Also, there are unique waterfalls near Mostar that are worth visiting.
6. PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK, CROATIA
I had seen pictures of this park for the past several years online and I knew I had to drive my rental car a little out of the way to make sure I could visit. This park instantly became one of my favorite National Parks in the world. I love waterfalls and this park is positioned over a piece of land that drops throughout many plateaued areas, which creates hundreds of waterfalls to enjoy. The back country lakes and pools are so pristine that you can see down to the bottom. The park has done an incredible job to build unique walkways over the water so you can get up close to the stunning beauty. This is certainly a must see on any trip to Croatia. If you need a place to stay on a budget, I’d recommend staying in the nearby town of Korenica. I stayed at this adorable two bedroom apartment (Apartment Phoenix #12) where the host offered me local liquor when I arrived.
Traveler Tip: Follow walking route H which allows you to see the upper and lower lakes of the park. It includes a tram ride and ferry ride across the lake also. It will take you a good 4-6 hours to make the entire loop.
5. FETHIYE, TURKEY
I had never heard of Fethiye (pronounced Feh-TEE-uh) until I was passing through the Greek Islands during my trip in November 2019. Fethiye is a coastal town located in the southwest part of Turkey. Many British and European retirees have been making their retirement homes in this community and surrounding communities due to the sheer beauty. Huge mountains jut out from the sea and form stunning alcoves and bays along the coast. Fethiye is a large boating community with many marinas and docks to park boats. In fact, this area of Turkey is where many boats are built. The nearby mountains offers some of the best paragliding in the world. I’d recommend staying at the Turunç Hostel which is in the downtown “fun zone”.
Traveler Tip: Be sure to eat at the fist market located downtown near the marinas. You can select your fish from a selection of fresh seafood and the restaurant will cook it to your liking. And just around the corner is a lively nightlife area with bars and restaurants that are packed during the summer months.
4. DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
I don’t watch a lot of TV, Netflix, movies, etc., so I had never seen the series “Game of Thrones”. But apparently Dubrovnik is the setting for the GOT series. It is hard to believe that this city was bombed not that long ago (1991) during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a fortified village that sits alongside the Adriatic Sea. I was lucky enough to stay inside the tall walls of Old Town (the owner of Guesthouse Mika, which is located just outside Old Town, owns several small apartments within the Old Town so you may get upgraded). No vehicles are allowed inside Old Town and the walkways are all paved with marble. It is a beautiful place to just get lost.
Traveler Tip: The highlight was walking around the entire perimeter of the Old Town wall. Go early before the tour groups arrive – you will have the wall and its walkways all to yourself.
3. MONTEPULCIANO, ITALY
Tuscany is filled with small hilltop villages throughout the vast countryside. I came across Montepulciano while scouting out estates to host a transformational retreat for my travel company and I fell in love with the town. Perched up on a hilltop fortified by tall walls, this historic village hosts unique churches and deep underground wine cellars that have stored barrels of wine for centuries. Besides roaming around this quaint village and exploring the shops, the views of the countryside surrounding the village is breathtaking.
Traveler Tip: Stay in this AirBNB when you visit. The couple that owned the home was charming, their place was spotless, and the view from the bedroom was unbelievable.
2. VENICE, ITALY
I’ve seen so many pictures of Venice that I felt like I knew the city well, until I visited and saw the place with my own eyes. Everyone knows that it is a village positioned in a bay where streets are canals traversed by boats. Venetians walk everywhere along narrow pathways between the buildings and housing structures. You can easily get lost among this beautifully crafted urban maze. The architecture and layout of the city is unbelievable. With every turn there is something new to see. I turned my Google Maps app off and just got lost eventually finding my way back to my AirBNB. And of course the food is out of this world. Gelato is a must have in Venice, even if it is chilly. Get here before one day it is under water!
Traveler Tip: Visit the island of Burano when you visit Venice (and yes you can also visit Murano, however Burano is the gem). It is about a 30-40 boat ride and the quaint village, also with canals for streets, is comprised of brightly painted houses.
1. KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
Traveling south by bus three hours from Dubrovnik, we drove around a large bay of water and ended up in a town named Kotor nestled towards the back of the large bay. This town was such a gem. A place I never expected to pass through, however it was on my route through the Balkans and many backpackers rated this place at the top of their list. Cruise ships float into this bay making for such a dramatic entrance. Mountains surround the bay on all sides and this old town sits right on the shore. Kotor’s Old Town is a walled village and high above the village is a unique castle with walls built on the side of the mountain. This is a must see on any Balkan trip. And stay at Hostel Pupa – one of the friendliest hostels I’ve stayed in.
Booking.comTravel Tip: Instead of paying 8 euro to climb up to the castle on top of the mountain, take the free way on the north side of the village just outside of the walls of Old Town. The path takes you up to a cheese house and then veer to the right to climb up to the side of the castle wall. Then there is a ladder to climb through a hole in the side of the castle. This adventure was one of my favorites traveling the world.
