A Trip of a Lifetime (Updated**)

I love to travel. Since I’ve been blogging I’ve posted about my trip to Africa here, here, and here, and my trip to Italy here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

I don’t have any trips planned this year. My hope is to save some money and do a trip to South America next year during spring and summer break. I would like to enroll in a language school down there for both vacations and do a little exploring while I’m at it.

Other than that, my travel wishes are really to go anywhere and see everything. My dream trip, though, would be a trip around the world. In fact, there are airline programs out there that allow you to do just that – purchase an “around the world” ticket. The ticket is purchased based on the estimated number of miles traveled. Then, as long as you stay moving in the same direction, you can fly around the world. Of course there are few stipulations about number of stops and the ticket has to be used within a year.

Someday, when I marry rich and no longer have to work, I’m going to buy myself one of those tickets, and with only my departing flight booked, set out for an unplanned adventure, going where I want, staying as long as I want. Doesn’t that sound fantastic?

Every-so-often I pull up the STAR Alliance website and use their travel planner to plan “my trip”. My most recent intinerary includes the following…

Los Angeles –> Chicago where I would spend some time sightseeing as I have never been there before.

Chicago –> Dublin I’ve been to Ireland before, but it is a wonderful country and I would go back in a heartbeat. Here I would travel around this country and then head, via ferries and buses, through Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England, ending up in London where I would spend some time visiting one of my favorite cities.

London –> Madrid I would travel through Spain and Portugal. I’ve never been and both are at the top of my list.

Madrid –> Zagreb I have heard that Croatia is a beautiful place. From there, I would spend some time traveling on bus or train through Eastern Europe.

Zagreb –> Athens After visiting ancient ruins and gorgeous islands in Greece I’d take a ferry to Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul –> to Cape Town Another one of my favorite cities. I spent about a week in South Africa two years ago, but there was so much more I wanted to see.

Cape Town –> Windhoek Namibia is a top priority on my travel list. On one of my other travels, someone told me that Namibia is the best country to visit in Africa.

Windhoek—> Perth I’ve never been to Australia. Of course I couldn’t go without visiting Hula Hank in Perth.

Perth –> Auckland I’ve heard nothing but good things about New Zealand.

Auckland –> Sydney for a few days sightseeing the landmarks of Australia.

Sydney –> Kona The flight back to Los Angeles is awfully long so a stop over/visit at my mom’s house would be nice.

Kona—> Los Angeles Back home.

There you have it…my dream trip around the world. Traveling without an itinerary sounds like so much fun and having the time to do the touristy things as well as spend time like a local sounds amazing.
**Jason was surprised that that was it, and that would be surprised because if I could I would go anywhere and everywhere. However, on this special around the world flight, you are only allowed 16 segments. Some of the smaller airports actually take up 2-3 segments so you are very limited. Believe you me, if it were just open, the list would be a lot longer.

Part of me wants to go by myself. How nice it would be to just go as and where I please without worrying about someone else. On the other hand, although I’m a pretty brave person, sometimes I’m a bit chicken to try new things without a partner in crime. Someday though, I will do it, I might be retired by then, but I will do it!

Do you like to travel? Where have you been? What is your dream trip?