My High Journey Highlights and Worst Journey Mishaps of 2025

It is that point once more: time to look again on the 12 months and write my annual 12 months in evaluation submit!

This submit is all the time enjoyable to place collectively, because it permits me to have a look again and keep in mind all of the adventures I’ve had within the final 12 months. It is all the time a humbling process, too, as I am reminded simply how fortunate I’m to nonetheless be doing what I really like as my job (which is certainly an accomplishment lately, with AI continuously coming for my web site).

My 2025 travels took me all around the world; I visited 11 international locations on 3 continents, together with a number of new-to-me locales (and one new nation!). I traveled greater than 36% of the 12 months, spending an enormous chunk of it in Europe as soon as once more (practically 3 months there cumulatively throughout 3 completely different journeys this 12 months).

(And sure, this 12 months I am protecting each my journey highlights and lowlights multi function submit, as a result of I am all the time making an attempt to maintain it actual with you round right here.)

2025 journey by the numbers

This is my 12 months in journey by the numbers:

• International locations visited: 11 – USA, Canada, the UK, France (x2), Finland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Japan.
• US states visited: 6 – I did a little bit of journey inside Ohio, and I additionally went to New York, DC, Oregon, Florida, and Massachusetts.
• Whole flight legs: 31 – Solely 2 extra flight legs than in 2024. I pleasure myself on preserving this quantity as little as I can; I am unable to discover many direct flights from Cleveland, however I attempt to take trains or drive as a lot as doable as soon as I get to my vacation spot.
• Variety of street journeys: 5 – I did street journeys this 12 months in Oregon (briefly), Austria, Normandy, Nova Scotia (solo street journey!), and Italy.
• Days on the street: 131 (roughly 36% of the 12 months, and simply 3 days greater than I traveled in 2024)

Some notable issues that occurred this 12 months embody:

1. I visited a brand new nation! – I’m a creature of behavior and actually do like to re-visit locations that I really like. However I’ve a unfastened purpose of visiting a minimum of one new nation per 12 months, and this 12 months it was Japan!
2. My sister-in-law obtained married – We went to her wedding ceremony in Oregon and had a lot enjoyable!
3. I began one other web site – As a result of I’m apparently a glutton for punishment, I began one more web site. It is known as On the Grid Journey, and it is targeted on System 1 journey world wide! It has been enjoyable to fit extra F1-related issues into my travels this 12 months.

My high 10 journey highlights from 2025

That is all the time robust to slender down to only 10, after which to sum up these 10 highlights in only a paragraph or two — however I’ve accomplished my greatest!

Listed below are my most memorable journey highlights from the final 12 months:

10. Mates and Cabaret in NYC

I’m going to New York Metropolis each January for a journey media occasion, and normally attempt to tick a minimum of one new “touristy” factor off my to-do checklist every year. In 2025, my journey BFF Ashley really took the prepare down from Boston to satisfy me in NYC for a number of days, and we did a number of memorable issues.

First, we went to the Mates Expertise, the place there are units and costumes and props from the TV present Mates, which we each LOVE. We had a lot enjoyable taking so many pictures there, and even loved a espresso at Central Perk.

After which, on the exact opposite finish of the emotional spectrum, we additionally went to see Cabaret on Broadway with Adam Lambert and Auliʻi Cravalho within the lead roles. The present was uncooked and (sadly) actually spoke to present occasions (the present is ready in Berlin in the course of the rise of the Nazis). Seeing this only a couple days after Inauguration Day hit us arduous, however we each liked it; I am actually unhappy the present run is over.

9. UK winter journey

Elliot and I somewhat impulsively determined to go to London and Edinburgh within the useless of winter — and it was type of nice! I used to be headed to Europe anyway, so we determined to tack on per week within the UK collectively so we may go to an F1 Arcade and see the F1 Exhibition when it was in London, plus spend a number of days in our favourite metropolis (Edinburgh). In Edinburgh, we toured the fortress, went to the Johnnie Walker Expertise, took a day journey to St. Andrew’s, and had the BEST meal at Makars Mash Bar.

>> Learn extra: Is the System 1 Exhibition Price It? and 25+ Superior Issues to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

8. Crater Lake within the snow

We flew out to Oregon for slightly below per week for my sister-in-law’s wedding ceremony within the spring, and added a pair additional days so we may discover a bit extra in Bend (which included visiting the final Blockbuster on earth, in fact) and take a day journey to Crater Lake Nationwide Park.

Crater Lake remains to be partially closed in late April/early Could, however we had been in a position to make it to the Rim Village and see the lake beneath a (very thick) layer of snow. The lake is SO stunning this time of 12 months, and we each had been dropping our minds at how tall the snow drifts had been! (They had been 10-12 toes tall in some locations.)

Try this video about our go to:

>> Learn extra: The Good 10-Day Highway Journey Itinerary for Oregon in Summer time

7. Nova Scotia street journey

In August, I lastly made it again to Nova Scotia for a enjoyable street journey and a few distinctive stays. I LOVE Nova Scotia and now have a number of buddies there, so it was nice attending to meet up with individuals like the Hecks and my buddy Cailin from Nova Scotia Explorer AND then additionally do a pleasant solo street journey.

Highlights from my street journey included having a picnic with bison, strolling on the ocean flooring at low tide within the Bay of Fundy, and staying in an expensive glamping dome that I didn’t wish to depart. This was such an ideal summer season street journey with out hordes of different vacationers, and I might gladly do it once more!

>> Learn extra: The Good 7-Day Nova Scotia Highway Journey Itinerary

6. Exploring the Austrian Alps

Ashley and I’ve began an annual custom of doing a street journey round Europe; we have accomplished Slovenia and Poland up to now, and in 2025 our vacation spot of alternative was Austria. I loved our total 2-week journey, however the spotlight for me was the time we spent within the Austrian Alps (what can I say? I really like to have a look at mountains!).

We explored cities like Innsbruck and Zell am See; took cable vehicles and funiculars up mountains (my favourite was positively visiting Dachstein Glacier); and drove some scenic alpine roads. The spotlight of highlights for me was the day we drove the Grossglockner Excessive Alpine Highway, which takes you previous glaciers, snow fields, and Austria’s tallest mountain. It was so stunning!

5. Going to the Monza GP

Having a brand new System 1 journey web site means Elliot and I now have a fair higher excuse to journey to F1 races! And in 2025, we headed to one of many classics: the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. That is Ferrari’s “dwelling” race, and the vibes of the Tifosi (Ferrari followers) are simply unmatched.

We based mostly ourselves in Como after which took trains and shuttles to the observe every day, and lucked out with good climate that wasn’t *too* sizzling. The race weekend itself wasn’t excellent (we ended up doing a LOT extra strolling than anticipated on our first day on the observe), however total we had a blast!

This is a video I made about how a lot the race price us:

After the race weekend, we did a bit of street journey by means of Motor Valley. We visited the Ferrari museums in Maranello and Modena, took a tour of the Imola race observe, and likewise toured a Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese manufacturing facility in Parma and explored Verona for good measure. It was such a enjoyable journey total (you recognize I really like a themed journey!).

4. Cat tour of Japan

Talking of themed journeys… Because the latter half of the 12 months was approaching and I did not have any journey plans after our journey to Italy in September, I panicked barely and booked a slot on a tour that my buddy Sherry was operating in Japan: a cat-themed tour!! It ended up being my favourite impulsive journey determination of the entire 12 months.

We began out in Tokyo by visiting the Fortunate Cat Temple, doing a meals tour round a cat-loving neighborhood, and making some cat-related crafts. Then we took the prepare north into Japan’s Tohoku area the place we went to a tuna public sale, visited the well-known Cat Island for a day, and stayed at a cat-themed resort. We did some non-cat-related issues, too, together with dressing up in kimonos for a day, visiting a sake brewery, and taking an e-bike tour. The tour was SO enjoyable, and such an amazing mixture of actions — excellent for my very first journey to Japan!

Comply with @catladytours to see what Sherry does subsequent; extra Japan cat excursions are within the works!

3. Visiting Kyoto

After the cat tour, I stayed in Japan to discover extra by myself. I noticed so much round Tokyo, and likewise hung out in Kyoto and Kanazawa. However Kyoto was by far the spotlight for me; I spent 4 nights there, and it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient time! I may have simply spent a complete week exploring Kyoto and taking day journeys.

Because it was, I did a number of the most original issues in Kyoto, together with taking a ramen cooking class, spending time with a maiko (apprentice geisha), consuming my means by means of Nishiki Market, and strolling over actual nightingale flooring at Nijo Fort (as a longtime fan of Throughout the Nightingale Flooring, this was SO cool to me). I additionally visited some distinctive temples/shrines in Arashiyama, and spent the higher a part of a day mountaineering the “again means” up Mt. Inari to get away from the crowds at Fushimi Inari.

For me, Kyoto lived as much as all of the hype, and I might love to go to once more sometime.

2. Lapland in winter

Now we have to rewind to earlier within the 12 months for this one — which ought to communicate to how epic it was since hardly the rest was in a position to high it this 12 months! I went to Finnish Lapland for per week with my buddy Kat from World Huge Honeymoon again in late February, with the purpose of chasing the Northern Lights. Properly, the climate did not cooperate for multiple aurora exhibiting, however wow did we’ve got a enjoyable journey!

I am in love with the Arctic usually, and this journey was equal elements thrilling and enjoyable. We did enjoyable issues like met Santa Claus, went dogsledding, explored a resort made totally of ice, took a showshoe hike, frolicked with reindeer, sauna’d identical to the Finns, and stayed in a glass igloo cabin. Seeing the Northern Lights solely as soon as actually didn’t dampen the expertise in any respect.

>> Learn extra: A Good 10 Day Finland Itinerary in Winter (Helsinki + Lapland)

1. Versailles Grand Masked Ball

And now for my favourite factor that I did this 12 months… and for as soon as it wasn’t troublesome in any respect to determine which journey/expertise would take the highest spot! Essentially the most epic factor I did in 2025 was going to the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles.

This annual costume ball takes place on the opulent Palace of Versailles simply exterior of Paris, and is an all-night EDM dance celebration within the Orangerie and gardens of Versailles. (Sure, actually!) It is so extremely epic, and was made much more enjoyable as a result of I went with a bunch of buddies.

The ball takes fairly a little bit of planning to attend (you need to get fortunate with tickets, discover a costume to lease, make a plan for getting there, work out your hair, after which keep up all evening to bounce!), nevertheless it was 100% value it. I am not normally a celebration individual and I have not been to a membership since possibly 2008, however I had absolutely the time of my life at this occasion.

Tickets are already offered out for the 2026 ball, however I actually do suggest placing this in your bucket checklist for a future 12 months.

>> Learn extra: A Full Information to Attending the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles

Whew, what a 12 months! And that is not even all of it. In 2025, I additionally spent a while in Prague, noticed the cherry blossoms once more in DC, had seashore time on Anna Maria Island, spent numerous time in Paris, additionally went to Kanazawa in Japan, lastly visited Normandy in France, and went to Boston to see buddies.

I am excited to see what adventures 2026 will deliver!

4 worst journey mishaps of the 12 months

This submit principally targeted on my journey highlights from the 12 months. However I by no means wish to make it seem to be journey is just ever excellent and enjoyable — as a result of it positively shouldn’t be!

I’ve loads of dangerous days on the street, too; days the place I really feel drained or sick or lonely, or days the place nothing appears to go proper. These are additionally actuality, particularly while you journey as a lot as I do! So I wish to acknowledge a few of these days, too.

Listed below are a few of my worst journey mishaps from 2025 (fortunately there weren’t that many, and none had been an enormous deal within the grand scheme of issues):

4. Being let down by Hallstatt

Throughout our 2-week street journey round Austria, Ashley and I bumped into a number of snafus (she wrote about extra of them in her personal 2025 recap), however I might say the one which made me probably the most unhappy was being utterly let down by the city of Hallstatt. The tiny little lakeside city has gone viral throughout social media, and so it wasn’t actually a shock that overtourism has come for it.

A part of our expertise was our personal fault; we had initially needed to remain in a single day in Hallstatt to have the ability to expertise the city within the mornings and evenings with out the bus excursions and day trippers. However there aren’t actually that many resorts on the town, and by the point we had been reserving our lodging, all the nice spots had been already full (or means exterior of our funds).

So we did the factor we did not wish to do, and visited Hallstatt as day trippers. We had a plan to have lunch, do some buying, and see some native websites to a minimum of contribute economically to the place. However it ended up being more durable than we imagined! Discovering parking was a complete debacle; discovering a spot to have lunch was additionally troublesome; and three out of the 4 issues we would deliberate to do whereas on the town ended up being closed!

Evidently, after a pair hours of being elbow-to-elbow with busloads of different vacationers and disgruntled service employees, we couldn’t wait to go away. Proper now, Hallstatt is being liked to loss of life, and I personally wouldn’t suggest visiting until you go within the low season and keep on the town for a minimum of an evening or two.

The lesson: Overtourism is an actual factor, and typically it is actually value skipping a spot so you are not contributing to the unfavorable impacts. Keep in mind that you do not *have* to go to a spot simply because it is throughout Instagram; there are all the time different choices! (In our case, we loved the close by city of Unhealthy Ischl infinitely higher.)

3. Lake Como ferry stress

Throughout our fall journey to Italy, Elliot and I based mostly ourselves within the city of Como for 4 nights with the intention to go to the F1 race in Monza — another day than we actually wanted in order that we had time to discover a little bit of Lake Como, too. I assumed I had an amazing plan for our in the future, which included a pair ferries to go to two of the preferred cities on the lake (Bellagio and Varenna). However what I hadn’t counted on was the truth that shopping for ferry tickets round Lake Como makes zero sense!

We wanted quick ferry tickets from Como to Bellagio and again (45 minutes vs. 2.5 hours for the common ferry), after which fast 15-minute ferry tickets from Bellagio to Varenna. Besides that you just can’t purchase any quick ferry tickets on-line; you need to stand in a bodily line on the ferry workplace. And in the event you want return tickets? Properly you possibly can’t purchase these collectively. You should buy the ticket *to* Bellagio, however then you could stand in line once more in Bellagio to purchase your return ticket to Como.

We ended up lacking the preliminary quick ferry we needed to take as a result of the road was so lengthy/gradual, so we needed to wait 3 hours for the subsequent one. After which it felt like we spent many of the day standing in strains to both purchase all the assorted tickets we wanted, or ready for the boats themselves (most of which had been late).

Total we noticed what we needed to see and obtained some stunning pictures of Lake Como, however the in-the-moment expertise was rather more demanding than anticipated!

The lesson: All the time have a Plan B (and typically a Plan C) when touring — and particularly when touring in Italy. Generally the best way issues work simply do not make sense, however you need to roll with it and do the most effective you possibly can. Apart from getting up additional early to face within the preliminary ferry line when it opened, there wasn’t something we may have accomplished in another way to make our Lake Como day go extra easily. If you wish to spend simply in the future exploring Lake Como, I might not suggest Como itself as a base; keep in Bellagio, or simply guide a day journey from Milan!

2. Horrible climate in Lapland

There are many issues you possibly can management and plan for in relation to journey. However one factor that is totally out of your management is the climate. When Kat and I had been initially speaking about planning a Northern Lights journey final winter, she initially needed to go to Iceland; however since I have been to Iceland twice within the winter and by no means as soon as noticed the aurora there as a result of clouds, I steered we attempt Finland as an alternative.

The joke was on me, as a result of we ended up visiting Lapland throughout a stretch of actually horrible climate! It was unseasonably heat (hardly any snow on the bottom), and utterly cloudy the entire time. We did handle to see the Northern Lights one evening, fortunately (we needed to drive to Sweden!), however I do know we had each hoped to see them extra than simply as soon as!

No less than there was tons to do in Lapland, although, and we had no hassle filling our days. It was a tremendous journey total, however the climate positively was not splendid.

The lesson: Even with the most effective intentions and planning, the climate would possibly nonetheless do you soiled on a visit. I all the time, all the time counsel individuals planning Northern Lights journeys to handle their expectations, and all the time plan different issues to do this do not revolve round clear skies.

1. Nightmare Airbnb in Paris

I do not have a tendency to make use of or suggest Airbnb any longer, as I’ve lots of considerations about how short-term leases have an effect on native communities, and likewise understand how straightforward it’s to rip-off individuals lately on Airbnb. However, in some circumstances it nonetheless is the most suitable choice. Like when there have been 5 of us all headed to Paris to go to the Versailles ball and we needed to remain collectively in a single place the place we may prepare dinner some meals and all prepare collectively.

Discovering any kind of room in Paris that may accommodate 5 grownup ladies is hard — particularly while you’re touring in June and in search of someplace with air-con! Kat discovered a number of house choices, and all of us agreed on one which appeared to supply what we wanted.

The house was comparatively near the metro, had an elevator within the constructing, and was listed as with the ability to sleep a minimum of 6 adults. It additionally was listed as having 2 loos and air-con. The pictures made it look a bit quirky in a really Parisian means, however there weren’t any massive pink flags concerning the place as a complete.

After which we obtained there. On the one hand, this house represents what I want Airbnb nonetheless was: it was a really clearly lived-in house that the house owners lease out after they aren’t on the town (or, on this case, most likely rented out as a result of there have been a bunch of huge occasions occurring in Paris that week they usually noticed a chance to make some cash).

However the house was a bit of *too* lived-in. There was litter and an excessive amount of dusty furnishings in each single room, to the extent that there was nowhere to open a suitcase. There was rotting meals and mildew within the kitchen. There have been really 2 *half*-baths, that means only one bathroom and one bathe (which was stained, slow-to-drain, and affected by actually dozens of almost-empty bottles of shampoo and female care merchandise).

And the kicker was that the marketed “air-con” was really one moveable A/C unit that was damaged. We had been prepared to miss every part else, however after we reached out to the proprietor concerning the A/C stating that we actually wanted it because it was 90+ levels in Paris that week and we had a ball to prepare for, she then proceeded to flat-out deceive us for DAYS about getting the unit mounted. After which tried to gaslight us about it after we known as her out on it.

We ended up preparing in 94-degree warmth, blasting followers at ourselves and opening each window within the place. That a part of the day was past depressing.

I additionally discovered it actually troublesome to bathe, and by the third day of bathing in 2-inches of standing water as a questionable bathe curtain caught to me, I might had it. I really went and booked a resort for myself for my final 2 nights in Paris as a result of I simply wanted out of there.

If I hadn’t already been anti-Airbnb, this expertise would have turned me.

The lesson: I’ll keep on with resorts any further. (Which I already principally do, however in hindsight I want I might have pushed extra for a distinct choice in Paris, even when it meant paying a bit extra for a number of resort rooms.)

All in all, my journey mishaps had been mere inconveniences that did not actually put any dampers on my journeys ultimately. I positively contemplate myself fortunate, and understand how privileged I’m to solely be whining about cloudy skies and crappy Airbnbs. This is hoping my journey mishaps stay this “straightforward” within the years to return!

I have already got a number of thrilling journey plans for 2026, so I stay up for seeing you again right here once more subsequent 12 months!

How was your 2025 by way of journey? Did you could have any massive highlights or main mishaps?

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by means of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!