Earlier this year I vowed to see more of Australia and ended up having an incredible time in 2015 exploring the middle and edges of this diverse and fascinating country.
2016 is set to be a big year of overseas travel for me though. To start with I’ll be seeing in the new year in Scotland as I live blog Edinburgh’s world-famous Hogmanay. Then come April time I’m getting married on a beach in Thailand and am planning my honeymoon somewhere pretty special that I hope to announce soon. I’ve also got weddings in Europe that I’ll be flying back for later in the year and as I’m very lucky to call travel blogging my job who know where else I might end up.
So when Skyscanner asked me what was on my travel bucket list for 2016 I thought long and hard about where I would like to go that I haven’t already been and how I could fit it in around everything I already have planned. I started making some notes and realised my travel wish list had a recurring theme running through it – all the destinations were inspired by some of my favourite films or TV shows.
Although I don’t imagine being able to get around all of these places in 2016, some of the destinations I would love to see are:
Destination: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Inspiration: Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul
These beautifully shot shows literally showed me New Mexico in a new light. I long to drive through the desert in a (legal) RV and visit some of the filming locations on a Breaking Bad tour.
Destination: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
Inspiration: The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race is one of my favourite shows for armchair travel – I add at least 10 new places to my wishlist every season. This year it was watching the contestants take a microlight (like a scooter with wings) flight over Victoria Falls that tickled my fancy.
Destination: Jaipur, India
Inspiration: Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
I loved the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies with the eccentric English cast and classic British humour but it’s the backdrop of India that makes me want to watch them again and again. I did some travel in India in 2008 and said ever since that I want to go back and see more – especially of the Golden Triangle, which connects Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
Destination: Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan
Inspiration: Memoirs Of A Geisha
My obsession with Japan knows no boundaries. Will 2016 finally be the year I get to explore the crazy neighbourhoods of Tokyo and wander the streets of Kyoto in search of Geisha? I hope so!
To find out more about what you can see and do in each of the destinations mentioned above read my full article on Skyscanner Australia.
Now over to you? What’s on your travel bucket list for 2016 and is there a show, book or movie that inspired it?
Some great locations, I have never heard of the term ‘armchair travel’ before, that’s SUCH a good term! I have a film and travel blog and I’ve been working on my film location bucket list for way too long now.
Haha glad I could introduce you to a new term. I think it is usually reserved for travel books but TV and film totally have the same effect on me.
I’m looking forward to the film The Revenent and although I’m unsure exactly where its shot – I’d love to explore the wilderness and National Parks of the USA & Canada.
Very cool list – loved the inspiration! We’re planning to visit Malmo, Sweden and Copenhagen this summer because we’re huge fans of the TV show “the Bridge”. I absolutely adore Sweden and Scandinavia, so it’s not the only reason we’re going, but it is one of the reasons 🙂