Exciting New Travel Destinations In 2024 For RetiredAndTravelling
We enjoyed some exciting new travel destinations in 2024 and even returned to some favourite spots. We travelled by land and air during the year. But also enjoyed travels on ferry boats, river cruise ships and even travelled in a luxury train overnight.
There were many “firsts” on our travels this year. We enjoyed great Nordic spa visits, stayed at safari camps in Africa and took our first river cruise. Our travels took us to new cities and countries but saw some favourites returned to as well. We enjoyed outdoor adventures and city sites. Along the way we found beautiful colourful art and enjoyed interesting musical interludes.
On our travels we were pampered in some great accommodations and filled with tasty food and drink. We enjoyed the treats we got with the Elite status we had with Marriott Bonvoy. But we also enjoyed more variety in our accommodations this year!
When we looked back, it was fun to see what a great travel year we had in 2024 when RetiredAndTravelling.
2024 By The Numbers
In 2024, we enjoyed a wide range of travels from local staycations at home in Toronto to places that took us 2 days of travel to arrive. We travelled over 50,447 miles ( 81,185 km) by car, train, plane, ferries, canal boats and river cruise boat.
| Distance | |
| Airplane Flight | 42,541 mi ( 68,463 km ) |
| Trains (Canada, Africa, Belgium) | 2,144 mi ( 3,450 km ) |
| Auto Road Trips (Canada, US, Portugal) | 4,667 mi ( 7,510 km ) |
| River Cruise (Europe) | 932 mi ( 1,500 km ) |
| Ferry Boat Trip (US, Canada) | 140 mi ( 225 km ) |
| Canal Tour | 20 mi ( 32 km ) |
| Cable Car Tour | 0.6 mi ( 1 km) |
| Mini Train Tour | 2.5 mi ( 4 km) |
| 50,447 ( 81,185 km ) |
We travelled in new countries for the very first time (Zambia, Zimbabwe and Germany) adding to the over 100 countries we visited. We revisited cities we enjoyed the first time (Quebec City, Phoenix, Vancouver, Cape Town, Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava and Amsterdam). And found new favourite destinations (Savannah, Manitoulin Island and several cities in Belgium).
Our travels used many different types of accommodations. In total, we were away for 135 nights in 2024 with stays in hotels, home rentals, on river cruise ships and even overnight on the Rovos Rail luxury train. Most of our hotel night stays were done with Marriott Bonvoy group hotels to keep building our travel points and loyalty status in 2024. On our amazing African trip, we enjoyed some boutique hotels in amazing locations and 4 nights travelling by train from Pretoria to Victoria Falls. When we found no hotel choices, we booked AirBnb or Marriott Homes and Villas stays for remote locations or unique stays. Our one cruising adventure in 2024 was on our European river cruise with Tauck.
| Nights | |
| Brand Hotels (Marriott 76 / IHG 1) | 77 |
| African Safari Lodges | 7 |
| Non-Loyalty Brand Hotels | 9 |
| AirBnb / Marriott Homes & Villas | 26 |
| River Cruising (Tauck) | 12 |
| Rovos Luxury Train | 4 |
| Total 135 |
It was interesting to look back by the numbers at our exciting new travel destinations in 2024.
A Year of Many Firsts
Over the years we have done so much travelling but this year was a first for many types of travel.
On different trips we enjoyed Scandinavian spa experiences for the first time. On our winter stay in Collingwood, we enjoyed a day at the Scandinave Spa. When we went to Quebec City for a winter long weekend, one day we relaxed by the St Lawrence River at the Strom Spa. Our visit to the Sparkling Hill Resort in British Columbia added more ice cold spa activities. These spa treats took us from hot to cold experiences. It was good preparation for our Viking Cruises Northern Lights cruise in early 2025.
On our great African adventure, we enjoyed our first long luxury train experience. We travelled with Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Victoria Falls. There was much to see from the train and two day trip excursions provided interesting sights when we left the train.
On previous visits to Africa, we enjoyed some great short game drive experiences. We saw far more animals than we expected. But this year we finally planned an Africa Safari adventure that included some amazing safari resort stays. In Zambia we stayed on the Zambezi River at the Thorntree River Lodge in Zambia and then later enjoyed 4 days in South Africa at the Sabi Earth Lodge.
While we did a short Yangtze River cruise with Viking Cruises in China, a classic European River Cruise was on our travel wish list for a long time. So we were delighted when we took our first river cruise with Tauck. Our cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam introduced us to a delightful slow way to travel.
We were delighted with the unique experiences we had on new travel destinations in 2024 when RetiredAndTravelling.
Interesting Ways To Explore On Our Travels
We found so many interesting ways to explore on our travels in 2024. On the safari excursions in Africa, we loved the jeep tours that took us so close to amazing wildlife encounters. We enjoyed cruising on the Zambezi River for a sunrise and sunset look at life on the river.
When we were in Africa, we could not pass on the chance to see the stunning Victoria Falls from the air. It was the perfect way to see this treat.
2024 was a year of interesting water exploration. On our weekend escape to Savannah, we took the paddlewheel steamboat for a tour along the waterfront. Our road trip to Michigan included a ferry boat trip across Lake Michigan on the SS Badger steam ferry. Later on this trip, we took the colourful Chi-Cheemaun Ferry when we finished our stay on Manitoulin Island.
When we finished our river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, we enjoyed a great tour of the canals in Amsterdam. Heading from there for a stay in Belgium, we loved all the opportunities to see the charming cities from the canals.
We explored so many spots by foot. But in new travel destinations in 2024 we found fun ways to see the sights from different perspectives as we headed out RetiredAndTravelling.
Staycations Gave Us A Break When We Were At Home
When we were not travelling on larger trips, we usually headed off for short road trips. But in 2024, we planned a few staycations to enjoy our home city of Toronto as a tourist. It was a great way to take a break and splurge a little.
Our first staycation took us to downtown Toronto when we booked tickets to the Chicago musical theatre show. It was great not to have to drive home after the show ended.
Our second staycation in Toronto was a treat for David’s birthday at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto. We enjoyed a great Afternoon Tea experience with family. And relaxed in the amazing spa at this luxury hotel. Definitely a real staycation treat at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto.
Sometimes new travel destinations in 2024 did not take us far from home.
City Visits Provided Many Sights
We loved visiting new and favourite cities on our travels in 2024. Our year started with a first visit to Quebec City in the winter. We enjoyed the magical winter wonderland we found on this visit.
A spring getaway took us to Savannah in Georgia for the first time. We found so much to see in this charming Southern city. In the summer, we visited Green Bay in Wisconsin and experienced our first NFL football game experience. And as the temperatures dropped in Canada, we returned to Phoenix for a 9 day relaxing stay.
Our great African adventure took us back to Cape Town in South Africa. This was a city we were always happy to re-visit.
When we took a river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, we delighted in returning to Budapest. Even if we did find the city flooded. From Budapest we returned to Bratislava and Vienna for a mix of new experiences.
On our river cruise, travelling along the Danube to the Main to the Rhine rivers provided us with so many great small cities in Austria and Germany. Each offered charming sights and fun experiences along the way.
After our river cruise we headed to Belgium and travelled around the country by train. We enjoyed a short visit to Antwerp. A longer stay in Ghent gave us time to do a great day trip to Bruges. Our last stay in Belgium was in the larger city of Brussels. On our 9 day visit to Belgium, we sure got a good look at this country.
We enjoyed visiting such a great variety of cities as re-visits for new travel destinations in 2024.
Churches, Castles And Palaces On Our New Travel Destinations In 2024
On city visits we often found beautiful churches. Steeples drew us in for looks as we wandered around Savannah. On our visits to old Quebec City, we loved visiting the historic churches in the city.
Perhaps the most interesting church we visited was in Johannesburg in South Africa. We toured the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto. In 1979, the students rioted protesting their right to be taught in their native language. This church and those hiding there was attacked. We saw bullet marks in the ceiling.
All along our cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam we found lovely churches in the small towns we visited. And explored the beautiful Cologne Cathdral. When we moved to Belgium, the churches were bigger and more ornate. And when we finished this fall trip, we found a tiny local church when we explored the port town of Peniche.
We often found churches on our travels. But this year we were also delighted with the castles we saw on our travels. As we cruised along the Rhine in Germany we sat on the upper decks and watched castle after castle pass by on the high hills.
When we explored Ghent in Belgium, we took a canal cruise and saw the massive Gravensteen Castle. We were sure there were many more castles to discover in Belgium on a return visit.
On our river cruise, in Vienna we toured the Schonbrunn Palace and marvelled at the interior and exterior sights we discovered. Later when we stopped in Regensburg, we took a tour in the Thurn and Taxis Castle (the St. Emmeram’s Palace). This palace was still inhabited but was open to the public for tours. Such a stunning palace to visit.
Churches, castles and palaces were just a few of the architectural treats we found RetiredAndTravelling at new travel destinations in 2024.
Outdoor Adventures Got Our Adrenaline Up
Every year we seek out new amazing outdoor adventures. We started the year with winter experiences. Wandering in Quebec City, we saw this city as a winter wonderland. Then heading north from Toronto, we spent a few days at Blue Mountain in Collingwood. We found winter sports all around us.
Travelling along the Sunshine Coast we sought out fun water activities in British Columbia. When we visited Michigan, we explored the interesting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We chased waterfalls on our road trips around Canada and the U.S.
Our safari adventure in Africa started with a stunning visit to Victoria Falls. But it was really the wildlife adventures that left indelible memories. When we stayed on the Zambezi River in Zambia, we had great wildlife encounters every day. When we moved to the Safari camp in South Africa near Kruger National Park, our wildlife encounters left us thrilled by how close we managed to get to the wildlife.
When we returned to Portugal in 2024 we explored a new area. And were left awed by the natural outdoor beauty we found around Peniche.
Visiting new travel destinations in 2024 we enjoyed such a variety of amazing outdoor adventures.
We Found Great Art In So Many Places
As we travel, we are always on the lookout for interesting art. And in 2024, we were not disappointed. We started our year with a winter stay in Quebec City and enjoyed a day trip to the fascinating Hotel De Glace. We were amazed with the creativity found in the ice carving art we found throughout this ice hotel.
From ice art we next found stunning Swarovski crystal art on our stay at the Sparkling Hill Resort in British Columbia. Everywhere we looked we found beautiful and colourful sparkling art.
Our summer road trip to Michigan provided several opportunities to see outdoor art. Our exploration of the Great Mural Project in Saginaw started with a colourful art display on outdoor silos. And continued with interesting murals around town. On a day trip to Holland in Michigan, we found several interesting collections of metal art.
When we finished our Michigan road trip, we headed back into Canada at Sault Ste Marie. We found yet more colourful street art here. And again when we visited Manitoulin Island for the first time.
On our visit to Amsterdam, we spent part of a day exploring the Rijksmuseum art gallery. We got a good look at traditional Flemish art. A very different experience than much of our street wandering to find art.
We loved the variety we found in art when we visited new RetiredAndTravelling travel destinations in 2024.
New Travel Destinations In 2024 Gave Us Lovely Musical Interludes Too
In addition to art we enjoyed some lovely musical experiences in 2024. When we visited Savannah for a long weekend, we enjoyed a Jersey Boys show at the Historic Savannah Theatre. We did not know much about the Jersey Boys music but we sure enjoyed the entertainment.
On our Tauck river cruise, we were delighted with several different musical evenings. In Budapest, Tauck planned a lovely evening event at the Hungarian Academy of Science Palace. During the dinner, entertainers played local music and dancers put on a show. In Vienna, we were treated to the planned night out at the Palais Pallavicini. We enjoyed an Imperial Viennese Evening with an amazing evening of dance, opera and classical music performances by artists in period dress.
As we cruised from Budapest to Amsterdam, several of our day trip excursions added more musical entertainment. On our stop in Rudensheim, we visited Siefried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet (Siegfried’s Mechanisches Musikkabinett). The museum housed a vast set of fascinating musical instruments that played on their own with different means providing the musical score.
We were certainly well entertained at new travel destinations in 2024.
Tasty Food And Drink Experiences
When we travelled we often sought out local foods and drinks to try. On our great trip to Africa we were delighted with the variety and amount of veggies we were served with our meals. We even learned that “baby marrow” was in fact a small veggie and not bone marrow from a baby animal! We tried springbok and ostrich meat several different times. And even tried bacon wrapped wild boar.
On our travels around Belgium, these chocoholics sampled a lot. We loved the huge portions of mussels we found (“moules et frites”) and learned to ask for Belgium Fries (double fried) and not French Fries. We found waffles covered in every treat you could imagine.
On our visit to Stellenbosch in South Africa, we spent several days doing wine tastings. Visiting the Ice Hotel in Quebec, we found some tasty ice cold drinks. And everywhere we went David found the interesting stout beers he liked.
We were always open to new and favourite food experiences. On our safari stays in Zambia and South Africa, we were introduced to the “sundowner” tradition. As the sun set, the safari excursion stopped for a snack and a cocktail. A perfect way to finish the day. Or even start the day with a “sun-upper”.
We found tasty ways to enjoy new travel destinations in 2024.
RetiredAndTravelling – A Year Of Great New Travel Destinations In 2024
We had a great year of new travel destinations in 2024 when RetiredAndTravelling. And we even went back to some favourite spots. A great variety of transportation modes gave us views from different perspectives.
We had many “firsts” on our travels this year. Nordic spa visits, safari camps in Africa and a river cruise were so good we knew we would do them again. Great outdoor adventures and city sites offered us such variety on our travels. Colourful art and interesting musical experiences kept us entertained as we ate and drank our way around the world.
2024 was a busy year for us. We started the year with only our African adventure planned but we soon filled our travel calendar. The year ahead looked like another exciting year with many new travel experiences.
We start in January with our first Viking Ocean Cruises trip on a cruise to Norway for Northern Lights. In April we are cruising in the Caribbean on the new Oceania CruisesVista to warm up for the coming summer weather. We so enjoyed our expedition cruise to Antarctica with SilverSea Cruises. So in the Fall we return to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise to experience our first SilverSea classic cruise. And you know we will add another month of European travel to that trip! This planned travel for 2025 will only be the beginning of another great travel year.
Did you enjoy some new travel destinations in 2024? What was your favourite?
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What an incredible year of travels you’ve had! I’ve been following your journeys for years, but I hadn’t realized you’d never been to Germany before. Regensburg is definitely an unusual yet absolutely worthwhile choice to start exploring the country. And you must go back to Belgium—there’s so much more to discover! While Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges are wonderful, the smaller cities like Namur, Leuven, and Liège feel more authentic. Wishing you happy travels in 2025!
We sure loved our travels in 2024. But each trip adds so many other spots to visit. We know we will never stop travelling! Thanks for the suggestions for Belgium.
You had another wonderful year of travel and to some great destinations too! I would love to do the Rovos Rail, what a luxurious way to see the beautiful sights of South Africa. The Ice Hotel was so cool as was your river cruise here in Europe. You guys really know how to travel well!
We were so delighted with the range of new experiences we had on our travels in 2024. Looking forward to a new year.
What an incredible travel year you’ve had in 2024! The variety of experiences—from luxury train journeys in Africa to Scandinavian spa visits and exploring both new and familiar destinations—sounds absolutely amazing. I love how you’ve balanced adventurous outdoor activities with moments of indulgence, like boutique stays and river cruising. Traveling over 50,000 miles and visiting so many unique places like Manitoulin Island and Victoria Falls is truly inspiring. It’s also fascinating how you’ve incorporated loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy into your travels, maximizing comfort and benefits. Thank you for sharing this detailed and inspiring recap—it’s definitely motivating me to plan my own year of exploration!
We did indeed try to palace adventure and relaxation a little more in 2024. A great way to experience some new things. Happy to motivate your future travels.
What a truly wonderful year you had in 2024! I love how much nature, art and good food you managed to fit in, all while exploring sooo many new areas! Was the highlight flying on Victoria falls? Of all the things you mentioned, that really stands out – what an epic experience!!
We had so many highlights in 2024. Victoria Falls from a helicopter was high on the list. As was being so close to the wildlife in Africa.
Wow, you’ve covered quite some ground this year! We were in Peniche earlier in the year too (not our first visit), and just love the town and coastline. Have you had a chance to visit the Berlengas Islands from there?
Sadly we missed visiting the Berlengas Islands when we were in Peniche. The weather was not good enough for the boats to go out. But worth a return visit for sure.
Wow, what an amazing and adventure-packed year you’ve had! So many exciting trips, but the African destinations really stand out to me—safaris and stunning landscapes make Africa a must-visit. Thanks for the inspiration!
It was amazing to start our big travels in 2023 in Africa. It sure set the bar very high for the year’s experiences.
Wow! What an incredible year of travel and adventure! Your African Safari trip and the River Cruise have inspired me to add both to my travel bucket list. Thank you for sharing and for the inspirations!
I am so glad to have inspired you to add some things to your travel wish list. We sure checked some boxes this year!
What a year! I hope that 2025 holds some fun new adventures for you both.
We did indeed have an amazing travel year in 2024. Looking forward to some new challenges in the new year.
So many great ideas and beautiful photography.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Honestly, your full-time job is traveling now that you are both retired. The miles you logged are impressive. I love the range of travel experiences from train travel to river boat trips. I look forward to your 2025 posts.
We too enjoyed the great variety in our travels. And look forward to another fun year of travel.
Wow, what a YEAR! I love all the details and photos. You reaffirmed my bucketlist wishes to get to an African Safari, see the Victoria Falls, and go to Quebec City in the winter time. We also did Budapest, Bratislava, and Amsterdam this summer. It was extra special because I got to meet a cousin in Budapest who I never met before (he’s from Slovakia)!
Fun to meet family when travelling. Glad to have confirmed some great spots for your future travels.
This post is such a great way to reflect on the year and look forward to the next! It was so much fun reading about your 2024 adventures around the world! You visited so many places, that‘s amazing! I especially loved your European travels and the fact that you‘ve visited Germany – my home country 🙂 to many more adventures!
We were happy to finally spend some time in Germany this year. So glad we chose the right river cruise to enjoy the lovely towns along the rivers.
Luxury Train Trip and Hotel de Glace are high on my list. You guys have had a wonderful year and I really enjoy following. I think we might actually get to Toronto next fall…hopeful we can connect. Merry Christmas Linda!
Hope you do get to add these things to your future travels. Would love to see you in Toronto. Or on the west coast when we are there.
You’ve had an incredible year of travel! I may need to track my own mileage and hotel stays. It would be fascinating to see the numbers for myself. In 2024, I visited four new countries – Azerbaijan, Egypt, Montenegro, and Namibia. It’s difficult to pick a favorite, but if I had to choose, it would be Namibia. Thank you for the detailed information and for inspiring future travel adventures! Wishing you a fantastic year of travel in 2025!
Thanks Anita. It is indeed interesting to look back at our travels every year. Makes us thankful for a great year and excited for the coming one.
Staycations are something even I enjoy quite a lot. It is great fun, and gives you a chance to enjoy the hospitality in your region.
We were happy we added some staycations to our travel year in 2024.
Wow, what a year! Such a great recap.
Thanks. We sure did have an amazing travel year in 2024.
What a year you have had!!! I espcially loved your Zambia experience.
I have been wanting to visit this region for so long. You’re images made me feel like I was there.
We were delighted with our visit to Zambia on our 2024 travels. Hope you get to visit one day.
This sounds like probably one of the best years someone could have! Sounds awesome! So many great spots I want to visit some day! Thanks for sharing!
I am glad to provide some good travel ideas for your travel wish list.
It sounds like you had an incredibly eventful travel itinerary last year! I would love to also be able to do a river cruise one of these days, they look like they’re so much fun. Hopefully I can travel as much as you did when I retire one day.
We were glad we had so many great travel experiences in 2024. And we’re happy we finally got to experience a great river cruise.
2024 seems to have been awesome for you. Marriott Bonvoy stays look good. Your Elite Status is perfect. I’m glad you cruised along Rhine in Germany and visiting Belgium this year. Feels like you came to visit my home. 🥰 130+ nights away? Wow! I aspire to do that!
We sure did have an amazing travelling year in 2024. Loved all the new things we did this year.
You’ve had a fantastic 2024, full of adventures! I would also like to see Quebec in winter. I’ve only seen it in full sunshine and loved it. I can imagine it has a very charming atmosphere in winter. The river cruise must be a highlight as well. I’ve seen those boats whilst visiting Budapest in summer and add the river cruise experience on my list of things to do in the near future.
We were happy we added so many new experiences on our travels in 2024. Many we will definitely repeat!
LOVE that you sum up the years stats on travels! Super cool!
It is always a lot of fun to look back at our year of travel. Great memories and a spur to book more travel for the new year.
Wow, you had such a busy year in 2024! The luxury train journey in Africa and the safaris look absolutely amazing. It’s wonderful that you also found time to spend with family and friends. Wishing you all the best for your travels in 2025!
We had such a good year travelling in 2024. We have some travel booked for 2025. And in between we are moving across the country. So a busy year in another way.
Wow! You have had a great travel year in 2024! Luxury train rides in Africa and river cruises in Europe. I am impressed you have used your loyalty points with Marriott Bonvoy in your travel plans. You have revisited some places and explored new cities too. Your 2024 travels are truly inspiring.
We started 2024 with little on our plans so it was great to fill the year with so many great travel adventures.
It was really a pleasure to see the list of your itineraries and the smorgasbord of experiences that you had on different destinations. And to be able to explore cities on different transportation ranging from cruise ships, ferry boats, luxury trains, to safari jeeps is truly amazing. And rounding up to 100 countries to your visit and revisiting old ones is a record breaking experience.
We always love to seek out new experiences on our travels. And 2024 was a great travel year.
Wow! You definitely had a great year for traveling. I have been following your blog for years, and you continue to inspire me! So far, my favorite for 2024 is your Safari experience in Africa.
Looking forward to reading more of your travel experiences in 2025.
We sure did love our adventures in Africa in 2024. A great set of new experiences.
You both are role models for retirement! What an active year you had with so many places experienced- the different travel ways you listed told me that you explored many places pretty indepth. Seeing Victoria Falls from above and the safari in Africa are definitely highlights from your trip I would love to copy! Excited to read about your 2025!
2024 was indeed an amazing year for travels. Our plans for 2025 are a bit different but still as exciting!