2025 Travel Plans

[explanade]

Just booked Portugal in April and France in July.

 

[CosmicDreamer]

Still torn between Portugal and Italy! Madeira in Portugal sounds incredible, but Florence is pretty darn tempting too. This comparison helped a lot (Should I Visit Italy or Portugal? Which is Better for Museums & Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive? | Budget Your Trip) since I prioritize museums and attractions over beaches. Speaking of which, I'm planning to get a local guide in Florence (Florence Private Tour Guides). Out of curiosity, @explanade, what drew you to Portugal?

 

[njhowie]

We have our Hawaii trip first week of April. Will be our 3rd visit since honeymoon, looking forward to it. We visited early last year, so it's becoming more frequent.

A few weeks ago, I booked a cruise for second week of September to Bermuda. Departs from NYC, to it is a breeze with no additional planning necessary.

 

[brett]

Still torn between Portugal and Italy! Madeira in Portugal sounds incredible, but Florence is pretty darn tempting too. This comparison helped a lot (Should I Visit Italy or Portugal? Which is Better for Museums & Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive? | Budget Your Trip) since I prioritize museums and attractions over beaches. Speaking of which, I'm planning to get a local guide in Florence (Florence Private Tour Guides). Out of curiosity, @explanade, what drew you to Portugal?

We have been to both. Several times. Last year was a month in Portugal starting with 5 days on Madeira. We were there 14 months ago. It actually cost us less to fly to Madeira on TAP (through Lisbon) than it did if we had just flown to Lisbon. Lots of flights for Madeira. $30 on easyJet from Madeira-Lisbon (no checked bags).

These are very different destinations. Your choice will depend on your personal preferences. We like May/June for both and late Sept for Florence.

Overall, I would say that Portugal is less expensive. Depends on your travel style.

Keep in mind that you can, and should, reserve entry for Academia and Uffizi in Florence. You can do this on line.

Hop on a local bus (behind the train station as I recall) and spend some time in Siena. Please hour or so ride through the countryside. Or train to Venice or Rome.

 

[explanade]

Still torn between Portugal and Italy! Madeira in Portugal sounds incredible, but Florence is pretty darn tempting too. This comparison helped a lot (Should I Visit Italy or Portugal? Which is Better for Museums & Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive? | Budget Your Trip) since I prioritize museums and attractions over beaches. Speaking of which, I'm planning to get a local guide in Florence (Florence Private Tour Guides). Out of curiosity, @explanade, what drew you to Portugal?

If you have money and time, visit both. If not in the same year, then following year.

One thing about Portugal, April is suppose to be relatively dry and moderate in temperature though on my Portugal trip a couple of years ago, it got very windy.

Then you have the rest of summer and fall to visit Italy as well.

I have Portugal and Madeira planned in April. Will try to get to Italy in the summer.

 

[CosmicDreamer]

We have been to both. Several times. Last year was a month in Portugal starting with 5 days on Madeira. We were there 14 months ago. It actually cost us less to fly to Madeira on TAP (through Lisbon) than it did if we had just flown to Lisbon. Lots of flights for Madeira. $30 on easyJet from Madeira-Lisbon (no checked bags).

These are very different destinations. Your choice will depend on your personal preferences. We like May/June for both and late Sept for Florence.

Overall, I would say that Portugal is less expensive. Depends on your travel style.

Keep in mind that you can, and should, reserve entry for Academia and Uffizi in Florence. You can do this on line.

Hop on a local bus (behind the train station as I recall) and spend some time in Siena. Please hour or so ride through the countryside. Or train to Venice or Rome.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences to both destinations, @brett! It’s great to hear that Portugal, especially Madeira, can be more budget-friendly with plenty of flight options. Since I’m focusing more on museums and attractions, your tips about Florence are really helpful. I’ll make sure to book tickets for the Uffizi and Academia in advance to save time. Exploring Siena and possibly squeezing in a day trip to Venice or Rome sounds fantastic. Really appreciate the insights!

 

[CosmicDreamer]

If you have money and time, visit both. If not in the same year, then following year.

One thing about Portugal, April is suppose to be relatively dry and moderate in temperature though on my Portugal trip a couple of years ago, it got very windy.

Then you have the rest of summer and fall to visit Italy as well.

I have Portugal and Madeira planned in April. Will try to get to Italy in the summer.

Thanks so much for the suggestion, @explanade! Visiting both Portugal and Italy sounds like a dream, but my wallet's giving me the side-eye just thinking about it. I'll definitely consider prioritizing one for this year and the other next. Fingers crossed for better weather in Portugal when you return on April. I also read that Madeira's weather can change rapidly.

 

[explanade]

Thing I've heard about Madeira is that sometimes flights are delayed or canceled because the winds are too strong.

 

[brett]

Thing I've heard about Madeira is that sometimes flights are delayed or canceled because the winds are too strong.

Based on where the airport is this would not surprise me. We had no issues either way. I can well imagine this happening in the fall/winter months.

Part of the runway is elevated, like an overpass, built on stilts past the end of terra firma!

 

[ugeauxgirl]

Hi, all! Haven't been here much lately. I've decided to do an a fall trip each year when my husband does his annual fall fishing in Louisiana. Our youngest child will be in college this year, so this year I'll be spending 3 weeks in Peru doing a language course and then hike the Inca trail to Macchu Pichu (sp?) Also we want to spend a month in July/Aug anywhere that is cooler than here in south Alabama. We're currently thinking Colorado. And there will be the annual extended family vacation- not sure where that will be yet, as I am an attendee and not the planner.

 

[2017ish]

Just two trips booked so far. Jan. 1 for a week in Bonaire to make sure all of our dive gear is working properly.

Feb-May we have a bit less than two months in Bhutan & Nepal, mostly trekking. Starting the trip with 12 days diving in Raja Ampat (plan to ship our gear back [store our gear in Singapore, which is our round trip port.] so that we can travel light for the long part of the trip). As usual, DW put this one together for us.

Tentatively planning on Madagascar for October, but we'll see... Could be another North American driving trip instead.

Well, DW decided that choosing between options B or C was silly, so we are doing both. Car trip late May to early July to Acadia N.P. and the Atlantic provinces. We'll pick up hikes in the various N.E. states to check them off our list, and hit Niagara Falls on the way back.

September and October will be Madagascar (5 weeks), and, since we are in the neighborhood, less than a month for a self-driving safari trip in Namibia, with J-Berg and Victoria Falls as bookends for the Safari.

 

[DrRoy]

Viking cruise on the Nile plus Petra extension, tour the Carolinas for a couple weeks plus DW's family visits, and 3 weeks in northern CA and southern OR. The latter two trips will add 3 new national parks to our list bringing the total to 56 of the 63 parks.

 

[fosterscik]

Two diving trips booked so far: 7-night liveaboard around the Galapagos islands in February and then in May, 4 nights relaxing in Ubud (upland Bali) followed by an 11-night liveaboard in the Komodo National park. The 2nd dive trip is on the same boat we used to cruise the ring of fire on our recent Banda Sea adventure with the same group of divers. Everyone else on that Banda cruise regularly dives together and they were a great group of fun experienced divers. We were lucky enough to be invited to join then on this latest charter. They are looking for one other couple to fill out the boat this time, so we won't be the newest newbies on this one! Should be epic .

 

[steady saver]

We're headed to Hawaii on New Year's Eve day and staying the month of January. We love Oahu and will park ourselves there but plan to go to another island for a short visit. Haven't decided which one. I love Kauai, have been to the Big Island but only briefly when kids were young. Have never been to Maui. So we shall see. Planning a month long rest and regroup. We start on renovations to the old farmhouse in February...In some ways not the best timing and in other ways getting away to a totally different locale is exactly what we need.

 

[audreyh1]

Each island is different as you already knew. Maui is also quite different from the others. We enjoy Haleakala although it might be snowed in in January. The northwest beaches are very nice. We very much enjoyed staying near Napili Bay. Ka’anapali beach area is lovely too, but far more crowded. I’m not sure how winter weather affects strong surf on that part of the island. January should be good for whale watching though.

 

[1242Vintage]

Every January wife and I head out on a week-long trip with youngest daughter. This year it’s Puerto Rico. Daughter is a kick to travel with and makes the trip and our time together so much fun!

 

[Doribe]

I have two trips planned for 2025. The first is a spring trip to the Netherlands with a total of five friends. We will be on our own and are still planning the itinerary.

The second trip is in November of 2025 with Road Scholars to India for 21 days.

 

[steady saver]

Each island is different as you already knew. Maui is also quite different from the others. We enjoy Haleakala although it might be snowed in in January. The northwest beaches are very nice. We very much enjoyed staying near Napili Bay. Ka’anapali beach area is lovely too, but far more crowded. I’m not sure how winter weather affects strong surf on that part of the island. January should be good for whale watching though.

Thank you fo much Audrey! We may give Maui a try. I know Oahu has mixed reviews with some fans of Hawaii but we have special memories there. My parents rented a place there for a few years in the same condo on Waikiki beach that we'll be staying at. They made over 50 trips to Hawaii over the years and most were in Oahu where they developed friendships and where those friends (mostly now deceased) extended friendship and hospitality to us the times we took the boys there when they were young. I love Kauai for its beauty and peacefulness and I love Oahu for the memories and history I have with the island. But it may be time to check out Maui for a few days, so thanks for your thoughts.

 

[audreyh1]

I have two trips planned for 2025. The first is a spring trip to the Netherlands with a total of five friends. We will be on our own and are still planning the itinerary.

The second trip is in November of 2025 with Road Scholars to India for 21 days.

If it includes mid-April to May 1 you definitely want to include the incredible spring blooms. The region is between Haarlem and Leiden near the coast and also easily accessible from Amsterdam. The region is called The Duin-en-Bollenstreek (Dune and Bulb Region). The Keukenhof is one amazing sight in full bloom, and cycling off road along the blooming fields is also awesome. Spectacular coastal dunes there, also with cycling paths, they have a neat cross-country color-coded bicycle path system. Can be quite chilly still.

 

[iloveyoga]

I have two planned so far, hopefully there will be more. Anna Maria Island area in January with two friends and then Cape Cod in May for my nephew's wedding. All five of my sibs and at least some of their families will be there, will be fun.

 

[brett]

It will be 7-8 weeks in either Thailand/Malaysia/Vietnam or Mexico this winter.

Not yet sure which.

Probably Italy in either May or October.

 

[c4t3rp1ll4r]

Mexico City in April, which is new to us, though Mexico as a whole is not.

Europe trip in July where we fly into Paris for two days (it was cheaper using points to fly into Paris than anywhere in Italy, our intended destination), then hop on a regional flight to Milan. Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Turin, then back to Milan to fly out (it was equally cheap to fly out of Italy, for this leg). We're going to do a day trip to Lugano, Switzerland now that we know there's a short train ride, and probably a day trip to Parma from Bologna. Lugano, Bologna, Genoa, and Parma will all be new to us.

Hopefully Detroit in August, though nothing is nailed down yet.

We always try to go somewhere sunny at the end of the the year (to get away from the PNW gloom) but haven't gotten that far in 2025 planning yet, this year we didn't land on a place until October.

 

[MuirWannabe]

Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for Christmas.
Vegas in January
Norway cruise in February for the aurora
Some southern NP’s in April (maybe also a Caribbean charter)
Ireland in May
Breckinridge in July
Washington in August

 

[scfr]

We're in the planning stages of a road trip to Grand Junction, CO. We'll visit Colorado National Monument and Arches National Park, plus some other sites along the way. Early fall is the most likely time. We may have an EV by then, so timing charging stops will add an element of learning to the planning.

 

[rodi]

We had to cancel our big Italy trip this fall because of a sick dog (terminal, inoperable tumor) and my husband needing to go through cancer treatment.

So - next year we start (on Jan 1) with 10 days in NYC for our anniversary. Older son will still be on break between semesters and can watch our dog.

We'll close the year with about 80 days in Italy for me to learn Italian to a proficiency level to pass the livello b1 test and take the test. This is replacing the trip we cancelled for this fall. We're looking at a few options for the middle of the year... but we want to wait and see the dog's longevity and how my husband recovers from radiation for his PC.

It sucks having to put stuff on hold during what should be the go-go phase... but it is what it is. We're definitely going to hit the gas on travel when we are clear of these issues.

We've been adding to our plans. The dog, unfortunately, is no longer a factor....

Jan - NYC 10 days
Feb DH Is doing a cross country road trip to visit family
March - camping Big Bend and Carlsbad Caverns
June - SLO for younger son's graduation
July - road trip to Bellingham WA to see BFF
Late August - North rim of Grand canyon
Mid September Transatlantic cruise to Barcelona, where we fly to Florence for 70 days while I do Italian lessons and hopefully pass the language exam I need to get dual citizenship. (Husband already has dual citizenship)

It's a lot.