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Our Dream Destinations [Future Travel Plans]

I never stop dreaming about my next destination, but it has been so long since we could travel. I know the day will come soon enough when we can climb on a plan with our passports and head out to the great unknown.Where should we go? Where will you go?


As I start to plan where to go, I asked some travel bloggers to chime in with their thoughts. I’m not sure how much it has helped, because they all make great arguments for the places they have written about. Can I ask you a favor? Can you help me out? Read the posts and look at the amazing photos below. Then in the comments tell me which countries I should go to, and which ones I need to get to first. Please!

Where would you go next?

A mule standing next to a a small mountain top shrine in Albania.

Albania – Giulia from Blocal Travel Blog

The thing I liked the most about Albania is the genuineness of the place: secluded beaches, unspoiled nature, fresh food and easy-going people. I especially loved the crystal blue sea and the abandoned stone houses scattered throughout the country. It is the perfect place to relax and step outside from our hectic routines.

Guilia has tons on her blog about Albania.  Check it out!

Kach in an Armenian field.

Armenia  – Kach from Two Monkeys Travel

My first ever backpacking experience was a week in Armenia and it will always be a memorable trip for me! During the trip, my 4 travel buddies at that time agreed that we would go to different tourist attractions including Karahunj which is called the Stonehenge of Armenia!

Check out Kach’s site.  They went RTW! Wow!

Old and new buildings in Azerbaijan at sunset.

Azerbaijan – Edna from Expat Edna

Azerbaijan is an intriguing mix of East and West, modern and ancient. Its capital of Baku is a booming city along the Caspian Sea, while a visit to the countryside feels like stepping back in time. The cuisine is delectable, with specialities of the region including tea with jam and piti soup, a hearty mix of chickpeas, bread, and lamb.

Check out Edna’s blog with more on this fascinating country!

Minsk cityscape view with leafy trees, sparkling lake, and the buildings of the city.

Belarus – Jub from Tiki Touring Kiwi

As the last dictatorship in Europe, acquiring a Belarus visa is not straightforward making you appreciate your time that little bit more. I really liked how there were no touts asking me anything due to the lack of tourism, though this did make it harder to accomplish basic things from time to time.

Check out what else Jub has to say about this mysterious country!

Pedestrian street and old buildings in the old center of Minsk.

Belarus from Kamila of Kami and the Rest of the World

Belarus seems like the place we know nothing about and due to difficult visa situation not many travelers visit it. Too bad as it’s one of the most pleasant countries I’ve ever been to! I didn’t know what to expect from Belarus and it took me by surprise! Cities are really clean and villages neat, Grodno is a great example of beautiful Eastern European architecture and Minsk is a mix of Soviet and modern style. But most of all people are super friendly and helpful and are just happy to welcome travelers brave enough to visit their country. Belarus is a true off the path experience, so worth the effort! Do your best to go there before it changes!

You can find out much more about this wonderful place and others at Kamila’s website.

Tallinn old town street with shops and cobblestones.

Estonia – Sharon from Where’s Sharon

Estonia This tiny country tucked away in Northern Europe is full of surprises – the main one being just how gorgeous the Old Town of Tallinn is. This medieval Old Town is definitely one of the most beautiful in Europe and worth a visit to Estonia in itself. There’s also Estonia’s Soviet past to explore, lots of natural attractions and an interesting culture.

Sharon has written a really great Tallinn guide here, check it out!

Wooden walkway through the Konnu Suursoo bog through marshy pools.

Estonia – Lance and Laura from TravelAddicts

Estonians love nature and Estonia is a natural wonderland.  One of the highlights is the Konnu Suursoo bog, which is part of the Pohja-Korvemaa Nature Reserve.  Many people visit Tallinn or resorts on the coast, but there’s a lot of beauty to explore in Estonia.

Check out Lance and Laura’s post on Estonia: Travel Addicts

View of Helsinki from a helicopter.

Finland – Inma from A World to Travel

After visiting Finland three times, I’d recommend everyone to stop in this Nordic country during Winter for a once in a lifetime experience. Either if you are into ice-skating in a wild lake of a remote Kimiton archipelago island, uncovering traditional little shops in Turku or flying in an helicopter over Helsinki and Suomelinna, the unique light and warm Finnish people will blow your mind. Enjoy!

Check out Inma’s blog!  A World to Travel

Jagged mountains behind an alpine meadow in Georgia.

Georgia – Kirsty from Kathmandu and Beyond

We were struck by Georgia’s diversity. For a small country, it packs a punch in terms of things to do, from the Black Sea coast to snowy mountains peaks. As well as some great hiking, we loved exploring the ancient Orthodox monasteries we found dotted all over the country. And, last, but not least, the warmth of the people contributed hugely to our happy memories of Georgia.

Check out much more on Kirsty’s site:  Kathmandu and Beyond

Gergeti Trinity Church sits high up on a lonely hill in Georgia.

Georgia from Jub of Tiki Touring Kiwi

Georgia has a great variety of activities, whether you like the beach, mountains or would rather drink wine in the wine region.

Georgia post link: Tiki Touring Kiwi

Pristina rooftops at sunset.

Kosovo from Stefania of Every Steph

When I visited Kosovo last summer during a Balkans roadtrip, I didn’t have particular expectations, but it turned out to be my favourite country in the region.

Pristina, the capital, is not the prettiest city, but very interesting from a historical point of view; they say Kosovo is the best country for a macchiato outside of Italy, so just sit down at a cafè for some people watching.
A day-trip to the Mirusha waterfalls is worth it to escape the heat!

It was Prizren though, the second largest city in Kosovo, the place I fell in love with: Prizren retains a delightful village feel, life goes on slowly and the glimpse of the city from the fortress at sunset time is oh so pretty!

Check out much more on Stefania’s blog: Every Steph – Green & Glamourous travel blog

The Trans-Siberian railway on a curve in the tracks near Lake Baikal.

Russia from Stuart of Am I Nearly There Yet?

The Trans-Siberian… Is there a train journey as epic as this?! Other train adventures can’t compare to this mammoth journey that spans several time zones through Russia! It’s not the most luxurious experience, but where it lacks polish and sparkle, it has heaps of Russian charm, character and ruggedness.

The coal fired samovar, the babushka ladies selling home-made snacks – Combined with the beautiful Siberian tundra, steppe grasslands and endless silver birch forests, the Trans-Siberian should be on everyone’s bucket list!

Stuart has much, much more on his site, check it out: Am I Nearly There Yet

Stefan and his brother in a Trans Siberian Railway car.

Russia from Stefan of Nomadic Boys

We took the Trans Siberian as a way to get into Asia over land. If you like train travel, this is one of the ultimate experiences for you. We love train travel and in Russia, once you reach deep Siberia around Lake Baikal/Irkutsk, the scenery is just stunning! It’s not for everyone though…after 3 days in a carriage in the peak Russian summer, it does start to smell a bit…!

Find out more about Russia on Stefan’s site: Nomadic Boys

St. Michael's Golden Domed Cathedral in Kiev.

Ukraine  from Kirsty of Kathmandu and Beyond

Travellers are avoiding Ukraine right now because of the trouble in the Crimea and the east but two of the country’s most vibrant cities, Kiev and Lviv are perfectly safe to visit and both wonderful in their own right. We loved the cosmopolitan vibe and beautiful architecture in Kiev while Lviv is home to one of the most attractive Old Towns that we have seen. And what’s more, Ukraine is a very cheap destination to travel in!

Check out much more on Kirsty’s site:  Kathmandu and Beyond

Green street car on a snowy day in Lviv, Ukraine.

Ukraine from Kamila of Kami and the Rest of the World

Many people avoid Ukraine these days, thinking it’s a war zone. Well, it’s true, east of the country deals with a really difficult situation and it should be avoided at all costs, but Ukraine is one of the biggest countries in Europe and the majority of it is safe to visit. And there’s plenty to see and do!

Lviv is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and I bet you will fall in love with it too! Kiev, the capital, can show you the best of East: gold-dome churches and impressice Soviet architecture and recent revolution will make you feel history in every step. But there are also smaller towns like Chernivtsi that are just too charming to miss. Ukraine really is one of the most underrated countries in Europe and these days it’s one of the cheapest destinations to go to!

Check out all of Kamila’s travels on her website.

Thanks to all the wonderful bloggers that contributed to this post. I was overwhelmed at how much information is out there!

Weren’t those some great posts, and certainly inspiration for me to get planning!  Tell me in the comments below which stood out to you as must-sees…and soon!

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Indrani

Tuesday 1st of March 2016

This is a wonderful list, sets me dreaming of places yet to visit. Right now the Finland pic is luring me.

Corinne Vail

Wednesday 2nd of March 2016

Indrani, Yes, We are excited to see what happens!

Frank

Thursday 21st of January 2016

Lots of Eastern European/Caucasus destinations which is refreshing. We spent much of last year in the Balkans and are going back in a few months. This time we want to explore Albania and Macedonia. I'm really curious also about Armenia & Georgia, hardly anyone goes and I love mountainous countries. Really interesting post. Frank (bbqboy)

Corinne Vail

Thursday 21st of January 2016

Thanks Frank, We're hoping to go to Armenia and Georgia in April, so stay tuned for more!

Linda Bibb

Tuesday 5th of January 2016

We have been wanting to go to Georgia. Most people don't know that the country produces some pretty good wine and is pretty liveable. Did you notice that all these destinations are from eastern Europe and western Asia?

Jub

Sunday 21st of February 2016

The Georgian wine growing region is stunning. I ended up at a small wine festival even! And yea, very tasty! Hopefully they start promoting it world wide more and more.

Corinne Vail

Wednesday 6th of January 2016

Linda, LOL, yes...because I really want to finish off the continent of Europe!

Tanja (the Red phone box travels)

Tuesday 5th of January 2016

Interesting ideas!

Corinne Vail

Tuesday 5th of January 2016

Thanks Tanja, Let's see what we can get done!

Victoria@celebratetheweekend

Monday 4th of January 2016

Corinne, how did it you manage to find the posts about all of these places (some rarely get a visit!). I have been to several on your list (mostly by reason of my birth in one of the Soviet Republics- Moldova- have you actually been???I am impressed!). For me, Finland and Georgia sound most interesting, and Russia if you could manage visa and get sufficiently prepared:)

Corinne Vail

Monday 4th of January 2016

Victoria, I have been to Moldova! I loved it. They all sound fascinating to me....thus the conundrum!