South America
I’m putting in the entire continent here because I have not been to a single country down there. So, let 2024 be the year that adds a fourth continent to my list!
Right now, the likeliest itinerary for me is Argentina–Uruguay (via ferry)–Chile, and depending on how iVisas are processed, I might be able to squeeze in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro too.
Another closer route but no less exciting is Colombia–Ecuador–Peru. And if I fly with Copa Airlines, a couple of days in Panamá won’t be a bad idea.
Qatar
The country’s flag-carrier has been doing the Qatar Stopover program for a few years now, where you can add a stay for up to four days to this middle eastern destination without affecting the overall fare. I’ve done a similar trip last year with Copa Air and their Panamá Stopover, so I’m quite familiar with the program.
But there’s a bigger question here: If I’m only stopping over Qatar, where will my onward journey be? Glad you asked, because that would be…
Fukuoka, Japan and Seoul, South Korea
Last year, Seoul was part of my Where to go from here story, but didn’t get to visit South Korea’s lively capital because of cost. Mind you, it’s not that tickets were any more expensive than usual; it was because I’ve spent quite a bit of money with previous trips that flying halfway across the world would have gone over my yearly spend.
Let this year be the year when I can finally come back to Asia post-Covid-19. The fact that Qatar flies to either country, I can hit three countries with the same ticket.
Florida
Last year’s trip to Miami for an evening, before going out on a Virgin Voyages cruise, reminded me of how much I enjoy the Sunshine State.
This year, I’m dedicating a few days in Miami, during the summer, which is surprisingly not the busiest season for the city. Plus, I’d like to drive to the Key West as well as Orlando, for a much-needed return trip to the now-pricey Magic Kingdom.
Photos (Buenos Aires) Regina Pivetta, (Qatar) chris clark, (Seoul) Ethan Brooke, (Key West) Mikhail Nilov
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