Travel past
I was a late starter to travel – not going much further than France until I was 18. But a university trip to Thailand opened up a new world to me and the travel obsession took hold. My trips got longer and longer until I gave up my job to spend 16 months travelling around Asia and Australia back in 2003. Since then I’ve been combining my love of travel with life and work at my home base in Cheltenham. I still fit in as much travel as I can though, and always have to have the next trip (or three) to look forward to. Here are the places I’ve been so far – linked to articles where I have them. I’ve visited 39 different countries, but that’s only about 21% of the world, so there’s a lot more travelling still to do!
Europe
- Austria: Vienna, St Anton
- Belgium: Brussels, Bruges
- Croatia: Dubrovnik
- Czech Republic: Prague
- France: Paris, Normandy, Brittany, Reims, Honfleur, Lille, Nice, St Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Carcassonne, Beaune, Soulac-sur-Mer, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, Méribel, St Jean d’Aulps, Strasbourg
- Germany: Dusseldorf, Duisberg
- Greece: Rhodes, Symi, Corfu, Olympia, Santorini
- Hungary: Budapest
- Iceland: Reykjavik
- Italy: Venice, Bologna, Rome, Bolsena, Tuscany, Umbria, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Catania
- Ireland: Dublin
- Monaco
- Montenegro: Kotor, Perast, Sveti Stefan
- Netherlands: Amsterdam
- Norway: Bergen, Flåm
- Portugal: Porto, Lagos
- Spain: Barcelona, San Sebastián
- Switzerland: Geneva, Zermatt, Lucerne, Chur, Lugano, Locarno, Interlaken, Celerina
- Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus
- UK: I’ve lived in Ross-on-Wye, London, Oxford and Cheltenham, and visited Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Chichester, Bath, Manchester, Liverpool, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast among others
- Vatican City
Middle East
Africa
Asia
- Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kampot, Siem Reap
- China: Hong Kong
- India: Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Calcutta
- Indonesia: Bali (Legian, Ubud, Nusa Lembongan, Tanjung Benoa), Lombok (Gili Islands)
- Japan: Tokyo
- Laos: Vientiene, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Penang, Perhentian Islands, Tioman
- Singapore
- Thailand: Bangkok, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Kanchanaburi, Ko Samet, Chiang Mai, Pai, Sukhothai
- Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Halong Bay
Americas
- Costa Rica: San José, Tortuguero, Cahuita, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio
- USA: New York, Massachusetts (Boston, Cape Cod), California (San Francisco, Sonoma, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles), Nevada (Las Vegas), Arizona (Monument Valley, Sedona), Utah (Bryce Canyon, Zion, Kanab, Moab, Arches, Canyonlands), Colorado (Durango, Mesa Verde), New Mexico (Taos, Santa Fe)
Caribbean
- Bahamas: Nassau
- Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman
Australasia
- Australia: Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Whitsundays, Fraser Island, Brisbane, Sydney, Blue Mountains, Canberra, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Barossa Valley, Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Margaret River, Pemberton, Bunbury, Perth, Fremantle, Kalbarri, Karijini, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Broome, Kununurra, Darwin, Kakadu, Alice Springs, Uluru
- New Zealand: Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitomo, Rotorua, East Cape, Gisborne, Lake Waikaremoana, Napier, Taupo, Turangi, Wellington, Abel Tasman, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch, Akaroa, Kaikoura, Marlborough, Dunedin, Catlins
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On the Luce 
lovely blog, diving in to read some other posts 🙂
http://www.tinkerbelle86.wordpress.com
Thanks! Just getting started with this whole blogging thing but hope to have some more posts coming along soon.
Lucy
A bit jealous of your many travels! I’ve been to Belize, Guatamala, Dublin, Navan, Slane, Cork, & Kinsale Ireland, Edinburgh, Scotland, Paris, France and also London, Cambridge, Wales, Bath, Oxford, Stratford, Canterburry, Leeds, and a few other places in England.
I am dying to see Italy, Germany, Czech Republich, Spain, Norway, and many others!
That’s the problem with travel – it’s very addictive! I’d love to do Belize and Guatemala, it looks like such a gorgeous part of the world. Maybe next year!
wow, so jealous of all your travels! how did you manage 16 months off? our longest is 4 weeks. lucky you!
Hi, the 16 months was after a whole lot of saving beforehand and quitting my job! Most of the other trips have been a bit shorter, though I did wangle a 2-month sabbatical from my last job. I’m freelance now so have to resist the temptation to give myself the whole year off!
I saw more of Belize, Guatemala was just across the border to one of the big market areas.. that was pretty interesting though.. It was actually my high school senior class trip, being a church school we opted to go on a mission trip for the 3rd year in row. We spent 10 days altogether there, the last 2 nights we were on an island, but the other days did some other things. It was quite an experience. My first time out of the country – in March 2000. Ages ago now.
Quite the impressive list of places. We’re just getting started on our resume of travel, in Korea now teaching and gathering info for a book! http://www.everythingbutkimchi.wordpress.com
Thanks. Korea must be a fascinating place to spend some time – and you’ve got so many great places to travel to in that part of the world too. Good luck with the book and happy travels!
Great blog, just stumbled upon it from a comment somewhere. Traveling really does get addictive! I’ve managed to travel at least every 3 months or so with a full time job. It gets a bit exhausting at times but I just can’t stop. Your travel past is very impressive! I started blogging on and off since about a year ago, I think I’ll dedicate more of my time on it. Did you buy your domain through wordpress or hosted elsewhere? I’m still so confuses with the whole wordpress deal.
Hi Antoinette, thanks for stopping by! Your travel style sounds a lot like mine, I usually managed to get away every few months while I was working, though now I’m freelancing its a lot easier. The travel wish list never seems to get any shorter though! I’ve only had the site about 4 months and am really enjoying it, though it can take up a lot of time. I got my domain through WordPress and they do all the hosting which has been pretty easy. Good luck with developing your site – looks like you’ve been to some really interesting places.
you’ve been to world’s best places. hope you consider visiting Philippines anytime soon. I love reading your travel adventures, such an inspiration Ms. Lucy.
I would love to visit the Philippines some time – so many great places to see!
It is my dream to be like you!! Is it really possible to get by as a freelance writer and travel all over the world at the same time? How do you do it?
Hi Stephanie, well I hope so! I did work full-time for about 10 years so built up some savings and some good contacts before I went freelance, and I try not to splash out too much on anything other than travel. Last year I travelled a lot but this year I’m working more, so it varies, but it’s been good so far to be my own boss. The best thing is the flexibility as you can work from anywhere, so can house sit or do other cheap ways to travel. Good luck if you decide to go for it one day!
The list is long but I see you have missed Sweden ;), come visit some time!
I’ve got a big Scandanavia shaped gap on the list so far! Would love to come to Sweden, hopefully I can fit a trip in soon.
Amazing! I love reading your blog. Since you have a unique kind of love for South East Asia. Visit Borneo. I live in Brunei Darussalam, Borneo. You’d be up for a whole lot of new experiences and adventures!
Thanks, I would love to visit Borneo and Brunei some day, it’s a big gap in my South East Asia experience that will have to be filled soon!
Wow, what a great travel history, and a great blog, I think that I’m going to make one of my own.
I only hope my travels carry me to as many destinations you have been to. It’s really impressive!
Great list of countries. Some I have been to and some are on my list. I have visited 36 countries so far and hoping to add a few more while living in Paris for 3 years. Will spend more time exploring your blog later as it seems to have some very nice articles & pictures. (Suzanne)
Thanks for visiting, and lucky you spending three years in Paris! I spent only a few months there last year but loved the city (you’ll find lots of Paris posts on the site) and it’s a great base to travel around Europe. Happy travels!
I used to live in Cayman, what do you think of it?
Nice place to live! I only had a week there so didn’t have time to see as much as I’d like but had a really great time, loved the beaches and the laid back atmosphere. Must get back to the Caribbean some time, I could do with some sun!
Yeah, I’ve been gone for atleast 7 years! I miss it. Did you see the turtle farm?
Hi Lucy, AWESOME blog! But I am missing Stuttgart on your list of German cities 🙂 Why it’s worth visiting? Well, check out my blog called “Living in Stuttgart”… 😀 http://living-in-stuttgart.com/
Hi, my German travels are definitely a bit lacking! I haven’t been back there for years and have so much still to see, Stuttgart included. Hopefully I can fit in a big Euro trip next year and will check out your site for some tips.
Nice collection of places you’ve been to; off to see where you’d like to visit next.
Thanks, this year’s travels have been a bit unusual as I’ve done a lot at the start of the year and haven’t planned a lot for the second half, a spontaneous trip or two might be in order!
Hi, Lucy! We invite you to visit our beautiful country between Asia and Europe – Russia! If you want, we’ll help to make your journey really exciting! Until then, welcome to our blog!;)
I would love to visit Russia some time and will get in touch when I manage to fit it in!
Hope, it will happen soon! =)
Your travels inspire me! Fun blog, thanks for sharing
Thanks so much, glad you are enjoying it!
Can we switch places? Such a dreamy blog! I hope you had a great time in the Bahamas 🙂
This is super inspiring. It’s exactly what I wanna do everyday, travel and immerse myself in cultures different from my own. You’re so brave and lucky to this. Kudos.
Thanks so much – and wishing you lots of travel adventures to come!
You’re so welcome. Any tips on how I should start? 🙂
I am beyond envious of your travels! I do have one questions though: How on earth do you pay for everything? I am eager to travel! I finish school for Software Engineering in the spring. Although my field will allow me to live comfortably, I will still have to build up vacation time at my job and so forth. I will not have the luxury of quitting work to travel, because traveling costs a great deal of money. I am curious as to where your funding comes from, and if you have any financial tips for me?
Well I worked full-time for about 10 years and saved up money, fitting in smaller trips in my vacations. I also took a three-month sabbatical from work once. Now I work for myself remotely so I can work when travelling if I want to, which opens up house-sitting and other cheap methods of travel. I live pretty cheaply (no car, don’t eat out much or buy things new) and save up as much as I can. Travel is my passion so I don’t mind going without other things if it means I can spend more on it. Good luck with your career and future travels!
Thanks! I am quite envious that you get to work remotely! Good luck to you as well!
I did not see a way to comment under your comment, but thank you for the advice! Cutting certain things out will definitley help! I look forward to your new blog posts. Your life is very inspiring to me.
Hi I’m a new follower of your blog and I absolutely love it. I find it a huge inspiration. I love traveling and have been blessed to travel to many places internationally myself as well (definitely not as many as you!) I always tell my family that I could find peace and see myself backpacking across the world see all the wonders there are out there. I’m only 21 right now but I look forward to moving to Europe after college and expanding my travel ventures!
Pięknie! Zapraszamy do nas 🙂 rodzinablog.wordpress.com
Hey Lucy,
I’m quite new to the whole blogging thing but I also love travelling. Looking through your blog I noticed you have been to Rekjavik, Iceland. In March I am going for a week trip. I managed to score some pretty cheap flights from Manchester.
I’ve done loads of research as I always do but I like to ask people who have been if they would recommend anything to do, see, visit there. Even if its just a decent little bar of the grid or something, anyway it was nice looking through your blog and I look forward to your future posts.
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul, Iceland is fantastic, sure you will have an amazing time out there. It’s been a few years since I was there so probably not too much help on restaurant/bar suggestions (a lot of bloggers seem to have been there recently so you should have no trouble finding some info) but I would recommend climbing up the Hallgrímskirkja for a great view of the city, driving around the Golden Circle, and if you’re feeling brave the snorkelling at Silfra is supposed to be fabulous (if a bit cold!). Have a great trip and look forward to reading about how you get on.
I just stumbled on your blog, it’s awesome! I love your angle too – a little bit of luxury! Really enjoyable and wonderful writing! xx
Thanks so much Lucy – and best of luck with your site too, will be following along!
Really good blog. I defiantly subscribe to the idea that travel broadens the mind. Looking forward to reading more.
Thanks so much for visiting, should have posts from Morocco, Norway and more coming up in the next few months!
Very nice blog Lucy. Have you ever considered going to Taiwan when you get a chance. It’s full of beautiful landscapes, not very touristy, lots of culture, and friendly people everywhere. I’ve been living here for over 2 years exploring all the best spots around the island. You should check out my most recent post about one of my adventures dirving around the island by scooter:
http://mytefl.net/blog/teaching-in-taiwan-farmers-saved-us/
Thanks James, I would really love to visit Taiwan one day, I have a friend who spent her honeymoon out there and said it was fantastic and the people were incredibly friendly. Will definitely check out your post to find out more. Happy travels!