Going Awesome Places
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γγγ«γ‘γ― Reader! It's been a chilly month here in the north but we're excited to brrrrrrr-eak out with inspirational travel ideas that you can act on for this year. It's never too late to put plans in motion we say βοΈ. Here's what we have in this month's newsletter:
If you haven't yet, make sure to check out the latest on our social channels: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. BEST DESTINATIONS IN 2025Last month, we botched the "most underrated destinations" link as it was meant to go to BBC's annual list of the best destinations so this month we figured we'd get back to it and write about a few of the ones that we've been lucky to go to and also a few others that are on the list. Naoshima Island, JapanWe were lucky enough to go to Japan's "art island" as part of our Shikoku itinerary and it lived up to the hype of it being a unique space flowing with creativity, stunning landscapes, modern art and architecture, and of course Yayoi Kusama's yellow-polka-dot pumpkin. Why visit in 2025: Spring 2025 sees the opening of the Naoshima New Museum of Art, designed by Tadao Ando.
Western Newfoundland and Labrador, CanadaThis was a dream of a trip last year when we got to spend 3 days in the epic Gros Morne National Park. Whether it was the Green Gardens Trail, the Tablelands, indigenous experiences, Western Brook Pond, or the musical genius of Anchors Aweigh, I was truly blown away. The thing is though, there's so much to see in Western Newfoundland. If I were going back, I'd do more of the whole Viking Trail, and then take the ferry up to Labrador. Why visit in 2025: This year marks the projected completion of the last stage of the 1,200km Trans-Labrador Highway so make sure to include Labrador in your trip!
Hawaii, USANot exactly an underrated destination but as you know, Maui was devastated by wildfires in 2023. Since then, there's been a dramatic downturn in visitors which has really hurt the economy. They've been trying to get the word out that they're open for business. In a way, now's a great time to visit because it's not as busy as before. And as you put together an itinerary, make sure to also visit our favourite island, Kauai. Why visit in 2025: As part of the rebuilding and restoration, there's the MΔlama Hawaii programme that pairs travellers with more than 350 volunteer opportunities. In exchange, youi receive either discounted or free stays.
JordanThis has been on our list for a long time, in part, thanks to moves such as Dune, Star Wars, and The Martian. The more we've been looking into it, the more we're learning that there's more to Jordan than just Petra and Wadi Rum. More than just the desert, there's also incredible social enterprises, local experiences, great food, and diverse outdoor adventures. While there are conflicts happening in the region, both the UK Foreign Office and US State Department have said that Jordan is safe. Why visit in 2025: There are 33 protected land and marine ecosystems so that means being able to see the rare Nubian ibex, bird watching, and amazing scuba diving. Aqaba Marine Reserve was just added to the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. AzoresThese 9 islands in the middle of the Atlantic have slowly but consistently grown as a destination these past few years. It's one that we've also had our eye on and would love to come explore its dramatic coastline, lava tubes, emerald lakes, hot springs, and marine wildlife. Why visit in 2025: With new legislation in 2024, they've designated a new Marine Protercted Area that safeguards coral, sharks, and 28 species of whales and dolphins. Anyone here scuba divers π€Ώ?
This Month's Travel DealsHere are a few selects from February that are still valid. Remember, we have our deals group on Facebook. It's free to join if you haven't yet!
βοΈWhat's New on the SiteIn case you're not subscribed to our "let us know whenever you publish something new" list, here are our new posts and a couple we spruced up for 2025. β βοΈ What's Next at Going Awesome PlacesThe big focus for this month is health and so I've been focusing on physio and going to the gym to continue to rehab the knee. It's crazy to think that it's been 7 months already and the knee still isn't fully covered. A snowy February has also meant more time to focus on the website and making use of the new studio as well. More to come on all of those bits! πͺ Travel TidbitsWe Have Viator Codes!We're not opening this up to the public yet but for our most dedicated fans, we're offering the ability to create custom 10% off discount codes for you on Viator. Here's how it works: Simply e-mail us with the subject "Viator Discount" and in the body, let us know what tour you'd like to use it on (with the link). It'll take us some time to iron out the process because it's quite manual but we'll reply back in at most 2 days. Travel newsHere's the latest from the industry with a few articles that we think you'll enjoy.
How's You Jet Lag?
β Another jam-packed newsletter. Thank you again for being with us on this journey. Thanks for everyone that's shared with us your travel plans for this year. If you haven't written to us, feel free to just reply to this e-mail! Cheers, Will Tang Affiliate Disclaimer: To cover the cost of my email software and the time we spend writing our content, we sometimes link to products that we recommend. Keep up to date with the latest: β€οΈ Looking for ways to support us? We have a tip jar set up. |
βGoing Awesome Places
LOVE TRAVELING? Join Ticket to Awesome for travel hacks, discount codes, best gear, and guides to help you save money and plan the most epic trips.