Our Travel wishlist for 2017
Writing a travel wishlist for the year is always trickier than a days out one as a lot depends on being able to get time off work and having the money to do it.
Our travel plans have already changed this year with our holiday to Disneyland Paris during the kids extended half term break, cancelled as Hubby cannot get the time off work. To say we are disappointed is an understatement as every time Sebby sees an advert on the TV he exclaims that he wants to go there.
Lesson One: Book school holiday time off as early as your company allows
Lesson Two: Â Ask your partner for written confirmation he has booked the required holiday in plenty of time!
We have one holiday booked already and are visiting Forfar in Scotland during February half term with plans to use it as a base for exploring.
Some of our wishlist we know will happen, some we are busy saving for and there may be one or two that Hubby and I want to visit without the kids in tow.
1. Lapland
After watching the facebook photo’s and updates of one of my closest friends who visited Lapland with her extended family just before Christmas, it has made me determined to visit Santa in Lapland with the kids who are the perfect age as they will be 4, 6 and 9 at Christmas.
I then followed Penny’s trip to Santa’s Hotel Tunturi, her search for Santa and their snowy fun at the resort, including an epic sledge journey – never has the music Let it Go been used so perfectly, which has made me determined we will visit in 2017.
2. Edinburgh
No visit to Scotland would be without a trip to its capital and Edinburgh Castle which is built high on an impressive 700 million year old extinct volcano called Castle Roc.
3. Â Loch Ness
As soon as we told the kids we were going on holiday to Scotland they demanded we visit Loch Ness to see if they could spot the Loch Ness Monster. I am not sure how lucky we will be, however, their wish is our command.
4. Glasgow
I went to Glasgow for my hen do 12 years ago and fell in love with the city – it helps that my best friend from school lives and works there, so will be great to catch up with her whilst we are in her neck of the woods and take the kids to the Glasgow Science Centre whilst we are there.
5. Iceland
My wishlist seems to favour the cold this year and, top of my list for 2016, Iceland is still somewhere we want to visit.
Having met the tourism team at World Travel Market and discovered cheap flights from Bristol, Hubby and I want to do a weekend break to explore (and see the Northern Lights) and then maybe take the kids over there in the summer months when there is more for them to see and do.
6. North Wales
Back in the UK, North Wales is on our list for adrenalin reasons. Back in 2015, Hubby and Kian braved Zip World and enjoyed riding Zip World Titan, bouncing at Bounce Below and scaring themselves in Zip World Caverns, however, they ran out of time to ride Velocity – the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe, so we need to go back and brave it.
There is also the new Fforest Coaster to try at Zip World Fforest!
7. Disneyland Paris
We last visited Disneyland when I was heavily pregnant with Sebastian in 2013 and the kids are all desperate to go back, especially as they have just launched their Star Wars attractions, including Jedi training which Hubby, Kian and Isaac are very keen to try.
I am hoping that this time Eliza isn’t too shy to meet the princesses as she cried last time (she was only 2).
8. Paris
It is a running joke that everyone has been to Paris before me in the family, with Hubby visiting years ago and the teens going with school and Abbey heading over with her boyfriend to see Sam Smith. This year I am determined it is going to be my turn to visit.
9. A Cruise
Last year we enjoyed the most amazing cruise aboard the Carnival Vista and it is something we would love to do again, only visiting different ports. Cruising is such a wonderful way to get a flavour of different countries and we fell in love with Italy whilst we were there.
10. Sicily
After our cruise last year, the one place I wish we had explored more was Sicily as I really wanted to climb Mt Etna, but the kids were too young to do the excursion. I am determined to return and climb this smoking volcano.
Have you got a travel wishlist for 2017?
Image Credit: Shutterstock.com
Talya
Some fab destinations on this list. We have been to Iceland before and would highly recommend it. Make sure you go on a trip to the glaciers if you do – amazing!
Jo
Unfortunately most of my destinations are so expensive! I’d love to go to Canada and I know someone who now lives in Los Angeles and it looks like an amazing place. However, due to our budget we’re scaling down! We absolutely love Cornwall and hope to go later this year. We’re unsure about other destinations just yet.
five little doves
Wow some amazing places there. Our biggest wish would be for Disneyland, the children are desperate to go and yet our bank balance still says not!
Anosa
I do have a bucketlist written up for 2017 and excited that got 3 items booked up already. Sorry about your Disneyland trip being cancelled hopefully you guys will make it
Niki - Play & Learn Every Day
That sounds like a fantastic travel wishlist, I want to take the kids all of those places too!
Louise Edwards
oooh what a lovely wishlist. We have visited lapland and would totally recommend for the whole awesomeness of it that is like nothing else and also iceland which was brill. We have visited North Wales once but would love to go back as have only scratched the surface. Scotland too is stunning. We have some beautiful places in our own country. think i need to do our travel wishlist for this year! x
Joanna
I’d absolutely love to visit all these places we have not yet planned a holiday for this year as we not sure about what we can afford.
Natalia
These are lovely places! I’d love to visit Edinburgh, but I think I’ll wait till summer haha x
Zena's Suitcase
You’ve picked some great places. Iceland is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, and I’m lucky enough to be visiting in March. I’m super excited about this
Sonia
Lapland is top of my wishlist this year, would love to do Iceland too but don’t think we will be able to do both, look forward to following you adventures x
Clair Kirkwood
Yay, glad to see Edinburgh get a mention. I am very lucky my view from the office window is the Castle. It is really the most beautiful city!
Phoebe | Lou Messugo
Iceland is a “must-see” place it’s absolutely amazing. I lived there for 3 years as a teen and went back again in 2014. I hope you get there. I may well be going to Scotland later in the year as my son may well be going to uni there…he has offers, he just needs the grades! I know another place you should put on your wish list… Lou Messugo villa on the CĂ´te d’Azur!!! Seriously though, I hope your travel dreams come true as it must be soooo disappointing to cancel a trip to Disneyland.
Chloe Ciliberto
So sorry your Disneyland trip got cancelled. I love your bucket list for 2017. I hope you manage to re-book Disney but enjoy Scotland instead. We went to Sicily last year it’s so beautiful! Definitely worth a visit. Your post on the cruise made me want to go on one so badly. x
Adele
I would love to go on a cruise but I worry that there wouldn’t be enough to keep the kids entertained.
Kara
Oh my, there is so much for the kids! We had a waterpark, imax, kids clubs, shows, entertainment, on deck movies, video games, crazy golf, high ropes course and sports facilities. We didn’t get to do it all!!
Fashion and Style Police
Yes I do. I would love to do some more travel this year.
Lilinha
We went on our first cruise last summer and loved it. Would love to go back again, and to take little man to Disney! 🙂
Alina
A great list. I might be going Scotland with work soon (I know it’s not the same but stil…) and I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland 🙂
Sarah
Wao… What nice looking list. These are very Mind blowing places to go for an adventure. I went to Scotland one year ago. And lucky enough to visit in Loch Ness without seeing the monster! This place is fantastic. I would recommend going there who love to take the challenge and adventure.
Cass Bailey
THat’s such a shame about your Disneyland Paris trip! I do love the places on your list and would love to visit most of them too x x
Hassan
Sicily is a great destination indeed. It’s not that expensive and there is a huge number of things to see and do on the island. Of course, that’s expected since it is actually the biggest Mediterranean island. And on your trip, you can also visit Palermo, Italy. The two destinations are among the best you find in the whole of Italy. I had a 7-day stay there in late 2014 and that week is one of my favorite weeks ever.
Here’s a link for a full guide to Sicily and Palermo. I think you may be interested in that as it may help you in your trip. https://www.theitalianguide.net/things-to-do-in-palermo-and-sicily-travel-guide/
And of course,
Enjoy your trip!
Melissa @ The Family Voyage
We just got back from Paris and it was great with kids! Be prepared to carry the stroller up and down stairs at some Metro stations, so bring one that isn’t too heavy. My 5yo loved have a travel watercolor set and notebook to capture the sites we visited – it really helped him engage with the sight seeing.