In the last two years we’ve been to a long list of countries. But instead of bragging about the number of countries we’ve been to… because I could count layovers like South Korea (which we barely saw), I thought I’d share experiences.
Many of these experiences are captured in photos that I’d like to do the story-telling for me. Briefly I’ll mention our flights:
Out of 97 flights (segments at least) we have paid for 9.
Those 9 flights were an average of 1 hour each (6,150 miles flown in those 9 flights). A small portion of our total flights.
Out of 63 international flights “only” 8 were in business class and 1 in first class.
If you don’t understand how this is possible, simply look at my post on Best Travel Credit Cards. That is honestly all it is.
Here are 74 (unedited) (#nofilter) photos representing our last two years of travel:
China: Yangshuo, Jingzhou
Bali, Indonesia
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi (2)
Thailand: Krabi, Bangkok
Sri Lanka: Negombo protests, Trincomalee (3)
Cambodia: Angkor Wat (2), school near Phnom Penh
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hong Kong
Tokyo, Japan
Guam
Saipan
Singapore
Sydney, Australia
Queenstown, New Zealand
Fiji
Rarotonga, Cooke Islands
Pisco Elqui, Chile
Easter Island
Machu Picchu, Peru
Aruba
Panama City, Panama
Puerto Rico
Greece: Zakynthos (2), Athens
Bucharest, Romania
Budapest, Hungary
Germany: near Garmisch, Berchtesgaden
Austria: Salzburg, Hallstatt, Gosau, Innsbruck, Vienna
Bratislava, Slovakia
Kiev, Ukraine
Vilnius, Lithuania
Warsaw, Poland
United Kingdom (England & Scotland): London (2), Edinburgh
Paris, France
Pilanesberg, South Africa
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Thanks walking through the last two years with us!
Some of these places we spent a month, like China or Indonesia. In Thailand we spent two months. But in many places around Europe we only spent a week or two.
What are you using to generate your flight map?
I too would like to know. It would be nice to have a map photo of all travel we’ll do in 14′.. please share
http://www.gcmap.com
Yep, thanks Ryan.
Well you have a disciple in me. I’d love to hear more about how you plan your travels!
:-p Good idea Kyle.
Actually, I’m not sure that would be a long post.
1) Decide where I want to go.
2) Book it.
3) Show up.
4) Decide where I want to stay. :-p
5) Go somewhere else when I want.
That’s most of our trips.
But maybe I can figure out something useful we do. :-p
Wow. This is why we do what we do. It may take me two decades to do what you have done in two years, but the joy is in the journey!
Thanks for commenting Rachel.
In my opinion, it’s about experience, not about the number of places. Ya know, putting check marks next to your bucket-list. :-p
I hope you knock off all your bucket-list in the next 20 years. You’ll be way ahead of most people. 😀
Nice photos, this is one of the reasons why I enjoy your blog. It is refreshing to see someone post content on the actual destinations instead of first class interior photos or the latest credit card offer (that info is interesting but too many blogs do it as their only focus). What camera gear are you using? I would imagine you are the “travel light” type?
Yea, First Class is cool. But it’s not why I travel. I lost interest. :-p
It’s funny because when I first started this blog (3 years ago now) I thought I had to post all that crap. And guess what, no one read it. And one day I gave up and started being me… and people started reading. So I’m very glad to hear that people actually care about similar things as us and that I don’t have to pretend I don’t fly economy. :-p
Well, we’ve been using a Nikon D40 with an 18-105. It’s a great camera for the price and 18 is a good base for travel. Starting at 35 or something is too narrow.
We used to travel VERY light. Now because of a start up project we’re doing with some folks we have to carry a bunch of tech computer crap. But ironically, that bag is bigger than our personal stuff. Maybe I’ll talk more about my crazy business ventures later and that will explain some of my pack habits. :-p
Wow! I think the pictures do a great job of telling the tale of the last 2 years.
If pictures are worth 1,000 words… it’s a 74,000 word post.
Thanks for reading all that Dave! :-p
Unbelievable! And, very inspiring. In my husband’s retirement years we plan on taking one major trip each year and have already taken two: Austrian Alps and the Dolomites, Thailand and Myanmar. In the fall we’re headed to SW France for a month. It’s basically what we can afford, with all our other expenses. With your help, though, we may be able to afford more!
Your blog is such a wealth of ideas and the photos tell a beautiful story! We both have the photo bug – it’s how we remember our trips. This photo-post was a terrific idea.
Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks Sue. Photos are a great creative outlet for any traveler to not only express their travel experiences but obviously to remember trips.
The other day I was going through our China photos for something and 30 minutes later I was totally off track just browsing our pics and remembering the experience.
Anywho, would love to get to Myanmar this year! How was it?
Thanks for the comment Sue.
I discovered travel hacking 3 month ago. Slowly and steadily applied couple reward cards and learning the rope along the way.
I started to read travel blogs recently. I am glad to find your blogs and find out you live in Charlottesville. Wow,I live in Waynesboro. So glad to find a hacker in the neighborhood. I am loving your contents here. Will try to devour all the info ASAP.
A technical question:is Southwest worth a Chase application? The recent offer seems very attractive,but I couldn’t figure out if it is an airline I can make a good use of. What’s your suggestion? Since we locate at the same area. Do you find yourself use Southwest a lot?
It would be awesome if you do some meetup with some local point junkies. Any plan to do something like that?
Hi there!
Hope you’re keeping well!
I’m Flora and am an avid reader and blogger, a passion which I think we share.Your blog “travelisfree.com” is by far the most interesting I have come across in the recent past, hands down!
The writer in me is yearning to write a piece for your blog.The best part is I won’t be charging you a penny, but in return all I need is just one link within the article or to my author bio.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Regards,
Flora.