These are the top 6 destinations you were searching for in 2018

After looking at my Google Analytics stats from the past year I noticed the top 6 destinations you guys were looking at were also some of my favourite. Now I know not everyone is searching for these places right from my website but I get a lot of my traffic from Pinterest.

That means, of all of the places in the world, these were the top 6 destinations people found me by. Analytics is so geeky but I absolutely love it. Mostly because it tells me things like this.

There were a few surprises but for the most part the stats didn’t surprise me. Mostly because these 6 destinations were some of my favourite to visit! So what were they? Read on to find out!

Iceland

This one comes as no surprise. Iceland has become one of the hottest destinations in the world in the past couple of years. I’m not sure if it’s its accessibility or the unbelievable views or both. Either way, there’s a good reason Iceland has grown in popularity.

We were lucky enough to have ventured back in 2016 when it was just starting to become popular. While there were crowds in certain areas, for the most part we were pretty much left on our own.

One of our favourite things to do was snorkeling through the Silfra Fissure. You can actually be in 2 places at once! The Silfra Fissure takes you between the North American and the European tectonic plates. I mean really, where else in the world can you do that? The tour can be a bit expensive but I promise you it’s worth it.

The best thing about Iceland is that you can go for 3 days or 10 and still find things to do. Even travelling for 10 days there were a few destinations we had to leave off our list. Plus, it’s a spot that’s amazing in Summer or Winter. While your activity list may be a bit smaller in the winter, it’s still worth considering for your visit.

The other best thing I found about Iceland and likely why it’s made it into our top 6 destinations are the accommodations. There are so many different types of places to stay. You can read all about the places we stayed at during our trip to Iceland or head on over to Airbnb to search for yourself!

Bali

One of the more popular destinations in South East Asia is Bali. It’s for good reason as well. If you enjoy yoga, healthy eating, breathtaking beaches, modern architecture and partying then you’ve found your next spot.

We spent a total of 2 weeks on the island and truthfully it wasn’t enough. I mean sure, we got to see all of the major sights but Bali is a place you could move to without a question or a moment of hesitation.

During our visit we visited Canguu, Seminyak, Ubud and the Gili islands. Canguu is often considered a surfers paradise. As I’m not a surfer it definitely wasn’t my favourite spot on the island. However, the beatuiful beaches make it worth visiting.

Seminyak was a great spot for easing into the culture shock we felt in Asia. You’ll find many of your favourite North American clothing stores and some fancier restaurants like the Potato Beach Club.

The Gili islands are the best place for those looking to get off the grid. The main island, Gili Trawangan has no motorized vehicles on it. You can bike around the entire island within a couple of hours (which is something I highly recommend).

Ubud was by far my favourite spot. With Eat, Pray, Love being one of my favourite movies (and books) I just couldn’t wait to explore the infamous area. I honestly was not disappointed. Taking part in a yoga class at the Yoga Barn is, to this day, one of my favourite travel experiences.

California

For those of you that have been reading this blog for some time (thank you) you may know that California is where Ben and I first met. Growing up in North America California is one of those states that you see on TV over and over and over again. It only makes sense that it makes the top 6 destinations list.

We spent just under 2 weeks and managed to see almost everything the state has to offer. I say almost everything because we drove up the coast along Pacific Highway 1 and missed Yosemite and Joshua Tree. Had we had more time, or perhaps planned accordingly there’s a good chance we would have hit it.

The most disappointing part of the trip? The Hollywood Stars tour. Honestly just don’t do it, it’s such a waste of money! Although, if you ignore everything the guide is telling you, it’s a great way to see outside of Hollywood boulevard.

Our two favourite spots in California were San Diego and San Francisco. Both had completely different things to offer but in the best ways. San Diego is far more laid back and has a small town feel to it which I loved. San Fran felt more hipster and had a lot more of the popular sights to see. Plus, it’s really close to wine country.

Croatia

Ah Croatia, my first real trip to Europe. It seemed like a strange choice considering I hadn’t ever been to London, Paris, Amsterdam or even Rome but I couldn’t have been happier with the choice!

We managed to see all of Croatia in 10 days. It took some pre-planning but it was completely doable and we never really felt rushed. Unlike California, I’m actually hard-pressed to find a favourite city in Croatia. They were all so beautiful in their own way.

I will say Dubrovnik took my breathe away. There’s something about the ancient city that is just completely magical. I had no idea what to expect before visiting (at the time I hadn’t really researched the trip) which I think helped to add to my surprise.

If you do plan on driving I will say it’s a very easy way to get around. The roads feel a lot like Canada. There are toll roads almost everywhere so make sure you factor that into your budgeting (we definitely didn’t and it ended up being a huge pain in the ass).

The other major spots we hit were Split, Zadar, Zagreb, and Plitvice Lakes. Each one is worth visiting for it’s own reasons but I would spend a little more time in Split and Zadar if you love history and beautiful towns. Plitvice Lakes are obviously a good spot for nature lovers!

New York

Arguably the most famous city in the United States is not to be missed. New York is a favourite among tourists from Europe, Asia or North America. How can it not be? There is so much to do and see. Almost all of our favourite TV shows take place here: Gossip Girl, Seinfeld, Friends, Sex and the City – I could go on. Not to mention the number of movies that were filmed here as well.

Having been now several times, I would recommend visiting in the Spring or Fall. On our last visit we went in the dead of summer and it was stinking hot. Not to mention most of the local New Yorkers venture out of town for the summer.

I’m not going to list all of the cool places you can go and visit because in New York, there truly is something for everyone. Hit up the tourist places like the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State building. Then once you’ve seen the big things move on to the unique little pockets of NYC.

England

There’s no surprise that England rounds out the last place on the top 6 destinations you guys are searching for. I have an intense love affair with England. There’s just something about the people, the way of life, the history that keeps me enthralled and obsessed.

I think the mistake that most people make when going to England is that they don’t venture outside of London. Yes, London is one of the most iconic cities in the world (and for good reason) but there are so many other places to discover in this small country.

For anyone who asks me, The Cotswolds are actually one of my favourite places in the entire world. The small cottages with thatched roofs and tea houses make it the quintessential English countryside.

Another popular spot that people seem to be searching for is Canterbury. Home of the Canterbury tales and some of the most beautiful streets in England it’s no surprise people want to visit. It’s an easy day trip from London as well.

Another simple day trip from London and a place you HAVE to visit is Oxford. There is just so much history in this small town it’s hard to fathom. It’s where the Chronicles of Narnia were established and some of the greatest people in human history studied.

So tell me, which destination will be on your 2019 list?

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