2022 started to feel like a return to pre-pandemic travel, and it felt great to be able to continue exploring our wonderful world! We had a variety of trips this year, from week-long (and weekend) cruises, to a girls trip, to paid travel campaigns with tourism boards. We even traveled for the majority of the summer! So without further ado, here are our top 5 travel experiences in 2022:
5. Colombia
This year we kicked off our summer travel season by spending a few weeks in Colombia, and aside from a few unfortunate days when we were sick, we had a great time! We started our visit in Cartagena, where we got to explore the city’s old town. We loved seeing all the creative murals and street art throughout the Getsemani neighborhood. We also caught some great performances at the clock tower plaza, and admired the architecture as we strolled down the cobblestone streets. The highlight of our time in Cartagena, though, was the boat tour we did of the neighboring islands. The Islas del Rosario are about an hour from Cartagena by boat, and our tour took us around the islands for sightseeing, with a few stops for snorkeling. We also stopped at one of the islands’ beach clubs for lunch, and had a fun and relaxing day exploring.
From Cartagena we flew to Medellin, where we spent the weekend in the neighboring town of Guatape, about 2 hours from the city. This area is known for its scenic lakes and riverways, and a boat tour gave us a great view of the region, as well as a close up look at one of Pablo Escobar’s former homes. After returning to Medellin, we picked up a stomach bug and unfortunately weren’t able to enjoy much of the city, but we do hope to go back for a proper visit next time!
4. Dominican Republic
Jess and I spent out 10 year wedding anniversary at an adults-only all-inclusive resort back in 2021, so we were happy to bring the kids to this wonderful island a year later. We spent a long weekend at the Club Med in Punta Cana, and that was our introduction to a really unique resort experience! We loved the dedication that each of the staff members had for all the resort guests, and this kids club had one of the most involved set of activities that our kids loved participating in. Kids that stay for the full week get to learn full choreographed dances and get to perform them at a weekly talent show.
The big highlight of our stay at Club Med, however, was the Circus School. The whole family got to learn how to perform on a trapeze, as well as try to flip off and into the net below. The performers were wonderful teachers, and even better at the show where they highlighted their world-class skills.
Although we didn’t get a chance to explore Punta Cana, our stay at Club Med left a great impression and we hope to return to the Dominican Republic to see more of what this island country has to offer!
3. Nevis
This small island in the Caribbean (next to St. Kitts) totally charmed us since the moment we arrived. On this trip we collaborated with the Four Seasons Nevis, who hosted us for an amazing week of sightseeing, relaxing, and cultural enrichment. The hotel itself is magnificent, and you arrive in style on a chartered boat ride from St. Kitts. While in Nevis, we got to check out their hot springs, snack on delicious fruits and meals at the annual Mango Festival, and tour Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace and museum. At the resort, we spent warm days dipping in the pool, played a round of foot golf, and Jess and I got to relax while the kids had fun with activities at the kids club. Ultimately it was a perfect summer destination that we’d love to return to one day!
2. Wonder of the Seas Cruise
Cruising with Royal Caribbean has become one of our favorite travel experiences, and sailing on Wonder of the Seas was no exception! Royal’s newest ship, the new largest in the world, is filled to the brim with family-friendly activities, fantastic shows, amazing food, and fun destinations to visit. We sailed out of Miami and visited Cozumel, Costa Maya Mexico, Roatan Honduras and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay. While onboard, we really enjoyed the shows at the AquaTheater, surfing on the FlowRider, and checking out a bunch of their specialty dining restaurants. The kids loved spending time at the Adventure Ocean kids club, and many times didn’t even want to leave because they were having so much fun. After a full week sailing, there were still a lot of things that we didn’t even get to do (like watch the ice skating show or go on the rock climbing wall) and we look forward to another WONDERful sail sometime in the future! If you want to learn more, check out our comprehensive travel guide to Wonder of the Seas.
1. Iceland
We already had high expectations for our couples trip to Iceland, but we weren’t expecting this beautifully scenic country to surpass them by so much! We spent a week in Iceland marveling at the newest volcanic eruption, soaking in the sunset at the Blue Lagoon and walking along a waterfall-filled canyon in what turned out to be the best hike we have ever done IN OUR LIVES. We also witnessed the majesty of one of Europe’s largest waterfalls (Gulfoss), walked between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, and slept next to a geyser. We visited iconic black sand beaches and mountains featured in Game of Thrones, kayaked in a lake filled with icebergs, and hiked on top of a glacier. Our trip also included spending enjoying delicious food and drinks in Reykjavik, and touring lighthouses and scenic little coastal towns.
Honestly, this trip wasn’t just our favorite this year, it may be the best travel experience we’ve ever had. Although we didn’t take the kids along for this one, we’re already itching to bring them to experience the magic and cross off some more bucket list items that we didn’t get to do this time around (like seeing the Northern lights). For a more detailed itinerary of our 7 day trip, check out our guide here!
