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Here's a fun open thread for today: What is your fantasy vacation these days? Where are you itching to go once the pandemic is over? (With all of the consequences of climate change, fires, and more, has anything moved higher on your list?) Another fun question: What are you doing to get your travel fix in the interim?
We recently(ish) discussed the actual 2020 vacation travel everyone was planning that was derailed by the dumpster fire that is this year, as well as the scaled-back actual plans people were making. But we haven't discussed fantasy trips!
My own fantasy travel in 2020 answers:
I've always enjoyed travel, but the pandemic has made me realize how little of it I've truly done — we were kind of waiting for the kids to grow up a bit so we could actually enjoy the trips more and not get too stressed over vacation planning. (What do they say, any travel with young children is a trip, not a vacation?)
My own answers are kind of the same ones they've been for years, which just shows you how untouched my bucket list is: Bali. Paris, always. Buenos Aires, which one blogging friend told me is like the Paris of the South (pictured at top). If we're talking “fantasy travel” I'll add VIP trips to Disney(s) since I don't think we'll be going otherwise at this point. I'll be following everyone's answers closely!
{related: how to find the vacation destination that's right for you}
While the pandemic rages on (and travel as an American is very limited), we've been doing a few things to get our travel fix:
- Universal Yums: I decided this was a fun way to do virtual travel with my kids because, let's face it, we all really like the snacks– the most. Every month, the company picks a foreign country and sends us treats from there. The subscription is $25, and each month we get 8–12 treats. I make the kids learn a bit about the country or its history before we sample the treats; sometimes that's just YouTube videos. (Here's my referral link if you'd like to try Universal Yums!)
- Les Mills on Demand (affiliate link): Some of their workouts have been filmed on top of mountains and just off the shore of lakes or bays — there's drone footage throughout of the instructors doing yoga or kickboxing or whatever against gorgeous vistas. It's a really tiny taste of travel but sometimes sates that sense of wonder you get from a beautiful view.
- Travel magazines: I've never subscribed to a travel magazine but I just decided I want to — what are your favorites, ladies? (My usual research process here would be to go to the bookstore, sit down with 10–15 magazines and pick 1–2 to buy or subscribe to — which I won't be doing right now, alas.) Awww, here's our last (long ago!) thread on the best magazine reads.
How about you guys — where will you go on your fantasy vacation?
Like today's fantasy open thread? Here are others we've had in the past…
Stock photo of Buenos Aires via Stencil.
Anon
As a Bay Area resident, this pic with the orange sky freaked me out!
I had a solo trip to Paris booked for May this year. Flying business class. Staying at the Park Hyatt Vendome, which is my favorite. I would just like that trip back!
Kat G
Ah, sorry — the orange California sky right now is crazy. Be well out there!
Anon
2021
Abby
I had a trip to Peru for this past June. I think that’s our next trip whenever we can safely travel again, but I’d REALLY love to go to Oktoberfest next fall to celebrate DH’s 30th birthday. I have low hopes that’ll happen though, so in the meantime I’m just dreaming of skiing this winter.
Carmen Sandiego
I really had my heart set on going to Italy this fall. I clearly had to let that go, but am hoping to plan it for next fall. In that vein, anyone have any particular areas of Florence they recommend staying in, or any favorites spots in Tuscany for a day/overnight trip from Florence? (*I promise I am not going anywhere right now or booking anything, this is just daydreaming/research!)
Imah
We went to Florence last year and I LOVED it. You will have the best time. We stayed near the Duomo (which I would actually skip given the long line) at a place called Aida Opera Florence Apartments. It was the perfect spot, near a grocery store, tourist spots. We were within a mile of everything and it had air conditioning and a washer/dryer. It was nice staying in a one-bedroom apartment after staying in a tiny hotel room in Rome a few days prior. I also highly recommend going on a Progressive Food Tour through a company called Curious Appetite Travel. This was amazing. You are lead by a sommelier (sp?) on a walking tour through Florence. You go to four restaurants and get wine tastings at each place in addition to appetizers, pasta, steak, and gelato. The gelato place, Gelateria de Neri has the best gelato I have ever tasted.
Carmen Sandiego
Thank you so much! I’m saving all of this away and now looking longingly at delicious food tours! This all sounds amazing!
Equestrian Attorney
When we went to Florence, we stayed on the south bank of the Arno (Oltrarno), a few minutes away from the Ponte Vecchio. I would really recommend it – the south bank felt less touristy and there was a cute café popular with the locals right down the street, yet we were steps from most of the major attractions. I highly recommend the Boboli gardens and walking up to San Miniato al Monte. Ugh, now I really want to go back. I really enjoyed Fiesole as well.
Carmen Sandiego
Thank you! Saving this as well. This is definitely perking me up a little this afternoon!
Anon
Counter: We also stayed in the Oltarno, and while it was less touristy than the other side of the river, we still saw only tourists/Americans in every restaurant we went to. It is also a pain to have to go to the other side of the river for everything, and it was much more difficult to pop into the hotel for a rest or to change before dinner etc. It was very hot when we were there, and I think one of the days we were in Florence we walked 13-14 miles mainly because we kept having to cross the river.
kk
On our honeymoon we stayed a night at the Villa Cora, near the boboli gardens. It was LUSH! If you can go for dinner or a drink, I cant recommend it enough.
My favorite food in Florence was at osteria vini e vecchi sapori. It’s tiny and tight, but the food was SO good!
Carmen Sandiego
That rooftop terrace! Gorgeous!
Anonymous
Italy was our last trip, and I LOVED Florence. We stayed at Ad Astra, which is a boutique hotel in a mansion (lower floor still lived in by the owner) set in the largest private garden in town. It’s on the less touristy side of the river and a bit of a walk from tourist sites, but quirky and delightful and worth it.
Carmen Sandiego
So beautiful!
Thanks so much to everyone who commented – I’m saving all of this, and can’t wait until it’s safe to travel again!
Anonymous
Oh, other recommendation: definitely get reservations to climb the duomo, but don’t bother standing in the very long line to go inside the cathedral itself. You will go through part of it ont he climb up, and the inside is honestly not that impressive and was not worth the wait after we had already climbed.
Anonymous
Oh, other recommendation-definitely get a timed reservation to climb the duomo (get the earliest available). Do not stand in the very long line to go inside the cathedral itself. You go inside briefly on the climb, and it is not impressive enough to spend an hour or two in line to get inside just to see the cathedral interior when the highlights are really the dome and the outside. There are other prettier churches, including a few others in florence (basilica santa maria and the princes’ chapel)
Anon
We did a Walks of Italy tour that skipped the line to the David and the Duomo– highly recommend. We also did a tour through “Fun in Tuscany” (I know, awful name) that took us to two vineyards and San Gimignano. If we had had more time, I would have rented a car, but given our time constraints, this was perfect.
Food tip– This is not a city to go to fancy restaurants. DH wanted to go to a Michelin star restaurant, and we did that in Florence. It was our worst (and most expensive) meal in Florence. Tuscan food is very much old-school cafeteria style cooking. Our best meals were at sandwich shops or various other low-key places we found.
S
Agreed on the fancy restaurants! Best food we’ve ever had was Mario’s in Florence.
Senior Attorney
This one was actually in the early planning stages last year, but alas is now a fantasy for a variety of reasons including but not limited to the pandemic: Fly to Chicago, join two other couples and get on a private railcar with both an observation deck on the back and a dome up top, take it to Washington DC via a route highlighting fall foliage. Three nights in DC sleeping on the train at the railroad station, then take the train to New Orleans, spend two days there, again sleeping on the train, and then train back to Chicago and fly home.
It was going to be amazing. This is the train car: http://www.pugetsoundrailcar.com/sierrahotel
Z
That sounds incredible. I had no idea this was a thing.
Go for it
Saved!
Senior Attorney
We’ve done three private train car trips (have a friend who organizes them) and it is the most amazing thing in the world. Alas, with Amtrak changes the whole concept may be in danger but I hope we will have a chance to do it again in the future.
Imah
I would love to go back to Reserva Conchal in Costa Rica. We stayed at the W resort and it was fantastic. Great pools, tasty drinks, delicious food, wonderful views. We went right before the pandemic but I dream about it alot. I would also go to Disneyworld (VIP style as Kat mentioned) or one of the resorts and Hawaii as those are two places were on our list.
Anonyz
I have a knack for saving up for vacations to places that get destroyed.
Was saving up to visit my college roommate who had moved to NOLA–then Katrina. Was saving up to see a friend get married in Puerto Rico–then Maria. Was saving up for my dream of seeing Mauritius–now some dipshit ran a tanker aground on it.
I should probably just stay home indefinitely.
NYNY
Maybe just plan all of your vacations to Trump properties? For the good of humanity?
Panda Bear
Ha! love it!
Anokha
I endorse this.
Senior Attorney
DO IT.
Ymanon
London. Always.
I’ve been on a few flights (all very safe, low R country), and just ANYWHERE works, to be honest.
Big dream long-haul at the moment is Japan in the autumn, for the stunning gardens.
Senior Attorney
I have Japan on my dream list, too. I was in Osaka/Hiroshima few years ago when my son was stationed near there in the Marine Corps, and would love to go back with my husband and really do it up right and especially make it to Tokyo!
Kristen
We were going to NYC this fall to see Hamilton and go to jazz clubs. Now…hoping for next fall. Also semi-planning a trip to Spain with friends but no timeline as yet.
La vita e bella
My husband and I have an Italy trip booked for July 2021 with three other couples (without kids!). We are renting a villa in Tuscany (it’s surprisingly more affordable than you might think). I am not sure whether things will have improved enough by then for us to go, but we’re crossing fingers and toes.
Berlin wenn nur
Our family had a wonderful spring break trip to Berlin planned, thanks to a lot of help from ladies on this board. (Thank you!)
I’d wanted to go to show my daughter what a rationally-governed society is like.
Senior Attorney
Right? We visited Germany in 2018 and 2019 and everybody seemed so happy and relaxed. I guess health care and reasonable paid leave will do that to a person.
Seventh Sister
Greenland, Iceland, Copenhagen, then Norway to visit an old friend. Would take a month, take the family, and spend $$$$.
Without my family, I’d love to go to Japan for a few weeks (I love them but it would be a fun solo vacation).
Celia
I have yearned to go to the Lake District in the north of England ever since I was a teenager, rereading all the Swallows and Amazons books. I’m in my 50s now, and I have the miles saved up, but I don’t think I could take my (sometimes cranky) dog to the UK. An alternative would be to take him with me to Germany and Italy, driving between Rome, Tuscany and parts of Germany with ties to Queen Victoria (Franconia, Coburg, Kronberg, etc.). I know someone who knows a lot of the former royals in Germany, and I bet I could get some nice introductions. Dream dream dream.
Opal
My dream trip would be to go to Kakslauttanen and stay in the glass roof rooms. More realistically we will probably go to Portugal. Another place we’ve been wanting to visit.
simiyalala
Planned for a while a Caribbean party cruise but it was postponed to 2022. The company nicely gave us our deposits back. I’ll be a tourist in my own NYC.
Aerin
I was supposed to go to Singapore/Australia/New Zealand this summer. Still kind of heartbroken that got cancelled. So that’s gonna be high on the travel priority list when we can get moving again (especially Singapore, since I’ve written a novel set there!) Also after watching the Eurovision movie on Netflix, one of our friends said that we should add seeing the Eurovision final to our travel bucket list and I wholeheartedly endorse that… depending on who’s hosting, of course.
Also, you are an angel for the Universal Yums recommendation. Or might just be evil for giving us more things that we’ll have to track down suppliers for, since that’s definitely a thing we’ve done after discovering a new treat abroad.