Best in Travel: 2016 Edition

This year has been the most traveled year for me, ever. I have loved every second of chasing my dreams of seeing the world, meeting new people, exploring new cities, eating foods popular in other countries, and getting out of my comfort zone. I left my full time career to pursue this dream and it was worth every second.
Here are some of my stats for 2016:
Countries: 11
States: 10
Cities: 34
Continents: 3
Beds slept in: 44
Passport Stamps: 9
Currencies: 8
Flights: 31
Boats & Ferries: 7
and countless new friends and memories. 
Every new place I experienced was amazing. Was it always perfect? No. Travel comes with a lot of ups and downs – so don’t let the pretty photos fool you into thinking there was never a bad day. I traveled solo most of the year, and it was amazing. I never thought I could do that and now I don’t know how I could live without it.
I have flown around the globe this year and picked my top 11 places that I went to this year. 2017 is going to be completely different – but I cannot share just yet 😉
If you want to follow more of my adventures, you can follow me here on Instagram.

Here are my favorite memories of 2016:

1. Michigan – Taking my mom on a trip in our home state. I don’t go home a lot to Michigan, but this year I wanted to go home and take my mom to a place that I grew to love as an adult, Mackinac Island.

   

   Sunrise

   

   Arch Rock

   

   Strolling the streets

   
   

   

   Sunrise on the lawn of Mission Point Resort

   

   Mission Point Resort

   

   Island fudge

   
   

   

   Butterfly’s at the Wings of Mackinac

   

   The Parlor in the Grand Hotel

   

   
   
2. Iceland – this was my very first solo trip abroad. I was nervous, but at that point I had already been to 17 countries and felt confident in my ability to navigate and have a great time. I only got to stay for 2 days but it was amazing. I am going back in January to explore more of the country and taking my best friend.

   

   

   Sunrise on the Golden Circle

   

   
   

   

   Iceland

   

   Iceland

   

   
   

   

   

   

   
   
3. Singapore – I fell hard for Singapore. I visited in December right around Christmas and I was starting to get homesick. Everything was beautifully decorate for the holidays, everyone I met was so nice and the food was incredible. I hope I get to go back soon and explore more of this vibrant city.

   

   View from Marina Bay Sands

   

   Little India – Singapore

   

   Sunrise from Marina Bay in Singapore Sands

   
   

   

   Singapore – Ritz Carlton

   

   

   
   

   

   Night at Gardens by the Bay

   

   Indoor waterfall at Gardens by the Bay

   

   Sunrise views of Marina Bay Sands

   
   

   

   Marina Bay views from my hotel room at the Ritz Carlton

   
   
4. Lake Tahoe – this was an unexpected wellness retreat that kind of changed my life. I discovered that I love yoga and am very flexible, I fell in love with the landscapes and how beautiful the area is – and I think I convinced myself that someday it may be home.

   

   Lake Tahoe, CA

   

   Sunset

   

   Dining at Resort at Squaw Creek

   
   

   

   Lake Tahoe, CA

   

   Dining in Lake Tahoe

   

   Fog in the morning

   
   

   

   Six Peaks Grille

   

   Resort at Squaw Creek

   

   Resort at Squaw Creek

   
   

   

   Lake Tahoe

   
   
5. Bali – A long time dream of mine was to visit and I was so fortunate to get to spend 2 weeks there. This trip was near perfect, from hotels, villas, food, Balinese hospitality, massages, cultural experiences – everything. I even finished my MBA while I was here and celebrated my 33rd birthday!

   

   Private pool villa at Kayumanis Jimbaran Villa

   

   Delicious welcome drink at Bisma Eight

   

   Rose bath at Kayumanis Ubud

   
   

   

   Bali

   

   Pool at Bisma Eight in Ubud

   

   Tegalalang Rice Terrace in Ubud, Bali

   
   

   

   Sunset at Kayumanis Ubud

   

   Outdoor rooftop dinner at Bisma Eight

   

   Offering in Bali

   
   

   

   Kayumanis – Ubud

   

   Walking through Paradise at Kayumanis Ubud, Bali

   

   
   

   

   Sunset over the infinity pool at Bisma Eight in Ubud

   

   

   Balcony

   
   

   

   Breakfast at Bisma Eight in Ubud

   

   Ubud Temple

   

   Kayumanis – Ubud, Bali

   
   

   

   Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple

   

   Walking through Ubud

   

   
   
6. Paris – A little unknown fact: I hated Paris on my first visit in 2014. I gave it a second chance this year and loved it. It was a completely different experience and even though I fell down a set of stairs, bruised my bum and hurt my ankle – it was still fabulous.

   

   Paris

   

   Hilton Paris Opera

   

   Hilton Paris Opera

   
   

   

   Eiffle Tower

   
   
7. Dubai – This was the most surprising trip I took this year. Everyone told me not to go, they were afraid of terrorist activity, etc. I actually have never felt safer than when I was there. So thank you Dubai for not being the negative things that people kept circulating. Dubai is very luxurious and known for having either the biggest or top biggest things in the world. On my trip up to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, I almost had a panic attack from my fear of heights. But I made it and I conquered those fears!

   

   Take a boat tour

   

   Visit the Burj Al Arab in Dubai

   

   Dine at the Burj Al Arab

   
   

   

   Balcony breakfast at Sofitel

   

   

   Visit the tallest block in the Marina

   
   

   

   Try to get a selfie with a camel

   

   Dubai

   

   Top of the Burj Khalifa

   
   

   

   Visit the spice market

   

   Take a bus tour of Dubai

   

   Feed the birds

   
   

   

   

   Rapids at Atlantis in DUbai

   

   Dubai Miracle Garden

   
   

   

   High Tea at the Peacock Lounge in the Waldorf Astoria

   

   Sofitel Dubai the Palm Reosrt

   

   Feed the stingrays at the Dubai Aquarium

   
   
8. Philippines – I was fortunate enough to spend almost a month here exploring some of the 7,000+ islands. I will never have enough time to see all the wonders of the Philippines but if there is only one place you go next year – I think this should be it. Its affordable, the Filipino hospitality is incredible, the landscapes change often, and you will never run out of things to do.

   

   

   

   
   

   

   Big Lagoon

   

   El Nido – Philippines

   

   
   

   

   Davao, Philippines

   

   

   
   

   

   Davao, Philippines

   

   Fairmonot Makati – Philippines

   

   View from the top

   
   

   

   

   Manila, Philippines

   

   Palms

   
   

   

   The Church of Baclayon

   

   Chocolate Hills in Bohol

   

   Singapore Sling at the Fairmont

   
   

   

   

   Private island dining in Davao

   

   Pearl Farm Beach Resort – Davao

   
   

   

   Monkey in Davao

   

   Maruya

   

   Davao

   
   

   

   views and hues

   

   Kids playing

   

   Suman Chocolate

   
   

   

   Filipino Eagle

   

   Sunset in Bohol

   

   Lobok River in Bohol

   
   
9. Germany – I went to two cities in Germany: Dusseldorf and Dortmund. I loved both cities and cannot wait to explore more of this country. The food is phenomenal and so is the beer!

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   
   
10. Virginia – I reside in Northern Virginia and spent some time exploring my own state this year. My state really offers it all: cities, countryside, beaches, and mountains. We even have over 250+ wineries. If that is not enough reason to visit, I don’t know what is.

    

    Great Falls, VA

    

    MIddleburg, VA

    

    Room Decor

    
    

    

    Goodstone Inn Grounds

    

    Lansdowne Resort

    

    
    

    

    

    

    
    

    

    Sunset at Primland

    

    Primland Resort

    

    
    
11. Amsterdam – This city is so photogenic. All the canals and the row houses are perfect. A lot of people ride bikes in the city to get around, but the city is easily walk-able. There is also a lot of opportunities for gelato!

    

    Row houses

    

    Try the Millefeuille at Mr. Porter in the W Amsterdam

    

    Gelato

    
    

    

    Exploring Amsterdam

    

    The amazing top deck pool at the W Amsterdam

    

    Amsterdam

    
    

    

    Garden

    

    More canals and cafes