Howdy Insiders!

Welcome to spring....I think? We've had a pretty mild winter in Toronto this year until it started snowing again. Looking forward to a season of regrowth and blooming.

This has us thinking about some of our favourite trips from over the years and hopefully give you some inspiration for your future travel plans.

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Memorable Bucket List Trips

A common question we get is, where our favourite spot in the world is. It's always tough one to answer and I always say that I can't name just one, but can instead give a list of a few of our most memorable trips.

Here are 5 bucket list trips that we've done over the years that we wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

1 - Safari Dream Come True in South Africa

As part of our honeymoon, we split our time between Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve which are next to each other.

Between the two, I have to say, I enjoyed the luxury of Elephant Plains but there's something to be said for the choose-your-own-adventure nature of doing your own game drives.

For first timers to Kruger National Park, make sure to read our guide. It might also be fun to watch our vlogs from back then to see what it's really like!

While many will say that the safaris in countries like Tanzania, and Kenya are better, we loved being able to connect Kruger National Park and Cape Town.

Highlights:

Seeing the Big 5 in real life
Close encounters with wildlife
Lion howls
Bush walks

What we would do differently if we went again:

Visit other rest camps in Kruger National Park
Connect this with driving the Garden Route in South Africa
Stay at a more luxurious property such as the Kruger Shalati

2 - Epic Road Trip in Iceland

This one is always near and dear to our hearts because it's where I proposed to Chantelle in torrential rain. We also have fond memories of listening to Kaleo non-stop while driving. Who here is a fan?

Our 8 days in Iceland allowed us to see many of Icelands highlights, covering the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Southern Iceland.

If you're renting a car, make sure to check out our guide to find out how to save money.

Highlights:

Glacier climbing
Hot springs/swimming pool in the middle of a mountain valley
Northern lights
Endlessly photogenic

What we would do differently if we went again:

Go in the winter to go ice caving
Experience midnight sun in the summer
Drive the full loop around Iceland
See the East Fjords
Whale watching
Hike the Laugavegur Trail
Use a campervan instead of a car

3 - Paradise in French Polynesia

This was our last trip before the world shut down in 2020. We just made it back in time and were so thankful to have been able to visit The Islands of Tahiti for 2 weeks.

Through our 2 weeks, we were able to show that it was possible to do Bora Bora on a budget (hint: it involves smart use of hotel points) and that there was more to see than just overwater bungalows.

Highlights:

Okay, I must admit, those overwater bungalows are pretty awesome but it's just one part of French Polynesia.
Shark highway in Fakarava
Playful dolphins in Rangiroa
Eat, sleep, dive, repeat

What we would do differently if we went again:

Even within the Society Islands, we've heard great things about islands like Maupiti, Taha'a and Raiatea.
Spend more time jumping between other small islands in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
Extend into the Marquesas

4 - New Zealand's Middle Earth

If there's one place that I can go back to again and again, it'd be New Zealand. I've been able to go twice and it's the kind of place that is just "WOW" at every turn.

In our latest trip, we spent 3 weeks in North and South Island - part of it we did on our own, and the other with a bus tour called Flying Kiwi where we camped all around the country.

Highlights:

Hobbiton
Skydiving
Black Water Rafting
Glacier climbing (sadly it's only heli-hiking now)
Maori cultural experiences

What we would do differently if we went again:

One area we missed was the eastern coast of South and North Island.
Hike the Milford Track

5 - Classic Inca Trail and Amazon

Peru might be one of the most physically challenging trips we've done. Let me just say that altitude is no joke!

Altitude aside, our 2 weeks in Peru was pretty incredible. Not only were we able to complete the Inca Trail (where I also had to carry Chantelle on my back after she twisted her ankle on the final push to Machu Picchu), we also stayed in the depths of the magical Amazon jungle.

If you know someone that's booking an Inca Trail trek, remember we have a partnership with Alpaca Expeditions where you can get free walking sticks and sleeping pads. Find the details in our Inca Trail Hike Guide.

Highlights:

Seeing Machu Picchu at sunrise
Cultural experiences in the Sacred Valley
Cooking class in Cusco
Macaw parrot bird watching

What we would do differently if we went again:

There's some FOMO about Rainbow Valley
Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Puno and Lake Titicaca

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This Month's Travel Deals

Here are some of the top travel deals that we spotted in February.

Remember, the most up to date page is the deals page and we also share the really good ones on our special FB group.

G Adventures: Flash sale - 25% off select trips worldwide. Sale runs from March 21 - 29, 2024.
Mountain Hardwear: 60% off snowsports apparel and gear with coupon code SNOW60. Promo ends March 31, 2024.
Airalo: Use the code APR15 and new customers get an additional 15% discount on all Airalo eSIMs. For existing customers, use APR10 to save an additional 10%. Starts April 1 and ends April 30, 2024.
Enterprise: Save 15% off mid-week van rentals. Valid for all van rentals made between 15 January and April 10, 2024.
Rebook: We recently discovered this platform but they basically monitor hotel rates after you've booked it so you can get alerts on when it drops, allowing you to cancel & rebook. Sign up here.

What's Next at Going Awesome Places

This is another quiet month for us, primarily planning for how the rest of the year will shake out and continuing our work from our travels last year.

This Month in Travel

Here are a few interesting articles we found this month. This sure inspires wanderlust and could be your ticket to awesome ;)

Google and AI - Google has plans to build an AI tool that'll create itineraries based on prompts from users. Would you use a tool like that?
Maui is ready - With many avoiding Maui because of the devastating fires, it's actually hurting their economy. The tourism board's new message is to welcome visitors back with a campaign called Mākaukau Maui.
Travel trends in 2024 - Article by CN Traveler that highlights trends that will shape travel this year.