On the Road Again: My 2018 Travel Plans

Nearly a year after moving back home from Edinburgh, I feel like I finally have my shit together.

Just kidding! I’m still a bit of a hot mess, flying by the seat of my pants on the daily. But I’ve managed to throw together a plan of action for my life for the next few months, and that my friends, is my biggest accomplishment of the year so far.

Long story short, I’ve decided to give the location independent/digital nomad life a go. I’ve been freelancing since I came back from Scotland, so I figured it’s the perfect opportunity to take my work on the road and avoid adult life once again.

I’m a bit apprehensive about trying to balance work and travel, but there’s no way of knowing whether I’ll succeed unless I dive in head first and give it a shot, right?

So, here are my (rough and tentative) travel plans for 2018.

Back to my beloved Edinburgh

My first trip of 2018 was (surprise, surprise) Edinburgh. I flew there in January for two weeks to escape the horrendous Canadian winter (you know it’s desperate times when my winter escape is Scotland) and had a lovely time revisiting my favourite city and catching up with all my favourite Scots.

Since I just can’t seem to stay away from this city, I’ll be basing myself in Edinburgh for a while starting in May. I’ve made a pact with myself to ignore all the tempting cheap flights around the continent and explore more of Scotland while I’m there. There are so many Scottish destinations on my wish list (The Outer Hebrides! Shetland! Orkney! The North Coast 500!) and I’m determined to explore more of the country.

A weekend in Amsterdam

Okay, so when I said I’m not going to leave Scotland for a while, I meant with the exception of a weekend in Amsterdam. A few friends have planned a trip there in May, and there’s no way I can pass up the opportunity to spend what is sure to be a debaucherous weekend with a fantastic group of people.

It’ll be my second time in the Dutch capital, and while Amsterdam isn’t my favourite city by any means, I’m looking forward to revisiting in spring and eating all the fries.

Serbia

After basing myself in the UK, I’ll probably be completely broke need to head somewhere a little more budget-friendly. I fell head over heels for the Balkans last year, and I’ve been looking for an excuse to get back ever since – so I’m thinking of heading to Belgrade after Edinburgh.

Read More: 7 Reasons I Fell So Hard for Bosnia

I’d love to squeeze in jaunts to Albania and Bulgaria while I’m there, but I’m not sure how feasible it will be just yet.

Portugal

Portugal is a major travel oversight of mine. I kept telling myself I’d visit at some point while I lived in the UK, but it somehow eluded me. For two years.

There are relatively cheap and direct flights from Lisbon to Toronto, so I might try to work in a stint in Lisbon on my way back to Canada. But again, I have no idea how feasible this is, or if I’ll end up in a completely different part of the world. Who knows!

Leaving Edinburgh was tough, but for the first time in months, I’m feeling excited for the year ahead. It’s full of uncertainty, but if there’s anything 2017 taught me, it’s to embrace the unknown.

Read More: Highlights, Lowlights, and Lessons: 2017 in Review

I’d love to hear your recommendations for any of the destinations I’ve listed, so please let me know in the comments! And tell me: What are your travel plans for the rest of 2018?