Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.
Today (December 23, 2019): My 10 best travel experiences of 2019.
As the year 2019 is drawing to a close, it's a good time to reflect on the headlines and stories that shaped the past year. At first, it seems that a lot of bad news dominated the headlines in 2019, with global trade wars, never ending tensions in the Middle East, unrest in Hong Kong, and the damaging effects of climate change. But there were a lot of good things happening out there too: same-sex marriage became legal in Taiwan and Ecuador, governments worldwide are taking a stand on plastic pollution, and scientists got a step closer to curing diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer, and cystic fibrosis.
2019 was also a remarkable year for travelers. There were disturbing events such as the terror attacks in Sri Lanka and Christchurch, financial difficulties of several low cost carriers, the Notre Dame cathedral fire, and the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash. But all in all, the travel industry boomed, with record bookings and income. Since this is a travel blog that tries to give you a daily moment of travel inspiration with a focus on my personal stories, I hereby share with you my travel highlights of 2019. Early 2020, I'll share what to expect from me in the next year.
There is more information (with trip reports & Youtube clips) below the slideshow. You can share your own 2019 travel highlights in the comments section below.
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10. EXPERIENCING BRITISH AIRWAYS' NEW (SOFT) BUSINESS CLASS PRODUCT
In 2019, I flew Business Class in a Boeing 787 of British Airways from the Seychelles to London. While the carrier's Business Class (dubbed Club World) raised the bar worldwide two decades ago with the introduction of the first fully lie-flat seat, the seat itself is now dated (although British Airways introduced an excellent new Business Class seat last summer). While I have flown British Airways many times in the past, their deteriorating service made me switch carriers a few years ago. However, I decided to give the UK flagship carrier another try on this particular occasion because of the convenience of its Seychelles route. And boy, I was pleasantly surprised, because British Airways has dramatically stepped up its game with the introduction of new and impressive service concepts (e.g. catering, bedding, etc …). In fact, this flight made me change my opinion, and I will gladly fly the airline again in the future.
9. AMAN & OBEROI TOUR IN INDIA
Stretching from the Himalaya mountains and the Ranthambore jungle to the beaches of Goa and the lush tropical greenery of Kerala, India is larger than life, with a population that exceeds a billion, 23 official languages and more than a million square miles of land. With more than 5,000 years of history and an amazing array of natural landscapes, it could truly take a lifetime to experience all that India has to offer. And while India inspires, astonishes and enlightens many who tread her soil, deciding where to visit in the country is probably the one thing that caused me headaches and indecision, since India is so vast and varied. Like many first-time visitors, I focused on the destination of Rajasthan, because of its opulent palace-hotels, ancient forts, and safari drives.
Read my trip reports of my tour in India here:
8. A HOLIDAY ON THE GREEK ISLANDS OF SANTORINI & MYKONOS
Santorini is arguably one of the world's most idyllic islands. Perched high above the deep blue Aegean Sea, Santorini's whitewashed villages are clustered atop dramatic cliffs, with black sand beaches resting at the bottom. The island was shaped some 3,600 years ago by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, which left a giant water-filled crater measuring about 12 by 7 km (7.5 by 4 mi) and surrounded by 300 m (980 ft) high cliffs on all sides. The popular island is also known for its unique and ultraluxe hotels, where rooms and suites are often carved into the rocks. I combined my Santorini holiday with a visit to Mykonos, that other famous Greek island, mainly known for its party lifestyle next to none, its LGBT welcoming ambience, and its many beautiful but crowded beaches.
Read my trip reports of my holiday on the Greek islands here:
7. FLYING BUSINESS CLASS ONBOARD AN AIR FRANCE B787 DREAMLINER
In 2016, Air France welcomed its very first Boeing 787. Today, the flagship carrier of France has 9 Dreamliners in its fleet, operating flights to several long-haul destinations, such as Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Bamako (Mali), Bogota (Colombia), Boston (United States), Detroit (United States), Guangzhou (China), Montreal (Canada), Nairobi (Kenya), Male (Maldives) and Osaka (Japan). The Boeing 787 features Air France's most recent Business Class cabins. There are a total of 30 Business Class seats, with a 42-inch (106 cm) pitch, configured in a 1-2-1 layout, with direct aisle access for all passengers. Each Business Class seat converts into a 2 meter (6.5 ft) fully-flat bed, with soft seat cushions, a silky duvet and an oversized feather pillow.
Read my trip reports of my flights in Air France's B787 Dreamliners here:
6. A TRIP IN THE WORLD'S BEST BUSINESS CLASS, THE QATAR AIRWAY QSUITE
Qatar Airways is one of my favorite carriers for flying Business Class. The carrier's so-called 'QSuite' offers the industry's first-ever Business Class double bed, with privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room. Adjustable panels and movable TV monitors on the center four seats even allow colleagues, friends or families traveling together to transform their space into a private suite, so they can work, dine and socialize together. Each seat is crafted with thoughtful and luxurious details such as hand-stitched Italian leather and satin rose gold finishing, bringing an unprecedented level of luxury, privacy and style to Qatar Airways' Business Class offering. I flew the QSuite from Frankfurt (Germany) to Doha (Qatar).
Read my trip report of my Qatar Airways QSuite flight here:
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