Year of Travel 2025 in Review and What I’m Doing in 2026
16 Flights - 11 Countries
Twelve months, countless miles, iconic scenes and more stories than I expected. This is what my Monthly Travel Challenge 2025 really became.
The Monthly Travel Challenge 2025 was meant to be a simple “face your fears” moment, conquering one flight at a time. But it quickly turned into the year that properly rewired how I see travel (and myself).
What started as a way to get over my fear of flying became 11 trips deep, thousands of miles from home, a camera constantly in my hand, and a growing confidence I didn’t realise I was capable of building.
It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t always cheap, and it definitely wasn’t always comfortable… but it gave me memories, momentum, and a very real feeling that this is only the beginning.
The Short Read
A year of patience first: An upcoming operation and rehab mean early 2026 stays flexible, with plans paused until I know what is happening.
Freedom to travel smarter: With generous annual leave and flexibility at work, I can travel outside school holidays and avoid peak prices.
History calling loudest: Athens is high on the list, especially the Acropolis now fully revealed again after years behind scaffolding.
Some places can wait: The US has incredible potential, but current politics mean it’s not the right time for me, and that’s okay.
Short trips, big variety: England, Scotland, Mallorca, Iceland, and Norway all fit neatly into long weekends.
Long-haul on the horizon: Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand are all options and feel like the bigger rewards once my health is back to 100%.
2025: The Year I Built Confidence One Flight at a Time
The Monthly Travel Challenge 2025 started as a simple way to get over my fear of flying. It also allowed me to see the world as well as picking up my camera more, but it ended up changing into something far more than I expected.
With every trip I grew in confidence, felt a little braver, and became less anxious about travelling and being somewhere unfamiliar, especially when solo travelling. What began as a challenge quickly turned into a habit. I’ve always held the view the UK is not going to be my permanent home but was held back due to my fear of flying.
So I learned what kind of trips I love, what drains me, and what I want more of. Dare I say more sun! I’ve never been a sun lover but spending time on coastlines and in the hotter climates has swayed me, especially since I’ve felt the UK’s been grey and wet a lot in 2025 despite actually being the warmest year on record.
Without a doubt something I don’t like is long-short weekends, so what I mean by this is leaving on Friday at 6pm and coming back on Sunday 4pm. It’s too much of a rush and wears me out. So I’d now properly always try to tag on a four-day break unless I get early Friday and later Sunday travel times.
So to add to this year has allowed me to gain a better understanding of different locations, cultures and what I like and don’t like. So it’s fair to say I caught the travel bug, (although I must admit not going anywhere this January is something I’m looking forward to).
Looking back, the photos (and fridge magnets) have become anchors for core memories that allow me to talk about my experiences to others, but also a reminder of where I want to grow next, pushing my photography and videography (I do hate recording video tho, but I am hoping the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 will help) to be more creative and storytelling.
Without a doubt this last year has shown me that I need to get fitter for the more demanding trips I’m drawn to such as the Dolomites or Base Camp at Everest. Being flown back on a helicopter is not on the bucket list.
11 trips, flights and accommodation came to £6,268.04 and for all but two journeys (Marrakesh and Japan) that usually covered two people. I did go over my original £275 target a few times for travel and accommodation limit. Japan being the biggest spend by far at £3,145, making up just over half of the total for the year.
Whilst I did have three trips that didn’t even involve flights, I’ve managed to cover 24,405 miles (which has made me feel a little guilty about my carbon footprint). With one long-haul trip to Japan and the rest short-haul flights around Europe, my share of flying for the year comes out at roughly 3–3.5 tonnes of CO₂ (or around 6–7 tonnes CO₂e when you include aviation’s high-altitude impacts) according to ChatGPT.
So I’m going to sign up for the tree planting on www.offsetbritain.org to help, it’s not a magic fix for the world, but a step in the right direction.
Year of Travel Flight Data from the App called flighty
My Top Five Favourite Trips
Italy, Rome & Vatican City
Japan (Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo)
United Kingdom, Cornwall
Croatia, Pula & Rovnji
Germany, Berlin
Rome & Vatican City and Japan (Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo) sit right at the top for me because they delivered that “pinch me, I’m really here” feeling every single day. Rome felt like walking through living history, with iconic landmarks, hidden side streets, and unreal light that I’ve never quite enjoyed street photography as much as being in Rome. Japan was on another level entirely, from the reflection and meaning of Hiroshima, to the neon chaos of Osaka, the timeless calm of Kyoto, and the futuristic rush of Tokyo. It challenged me, pushed my stamina, and gave me some of my strongest core memories of the year, despite being poorly.
Cornwall, Croatia (Pula & Rovinj) and Berlin were favourites for totally different reasons, but all hit the spot: atmosphere, character and that feeling of being properly present. Cornwall proved you don’t need to go far to reset, with coastline light and quiet moments that always deliver, 2026 I’m hoping to go back a little earlier, maybe early May. Croatia surprised me with its colour, relaxed pace and the sea was the clearest sea I have ever seen in my life, whilst Berlin gave me one of the biggest history lessons and experience I’ve ever experienced. They’re the trips that made me realise I don’t just love travelling… I love how travelling enriches me.
2026: The Year of Health
(So 2027 Can Be the Year of Big Adventures)
Unfortunately, I have an operation due at some point that will impact on my mobility with a six-week layoff for rehab. So until I see the surgeon at the end of February I’m trying not to make plans. So if 2025 was the year of travel, 2026 will turn into the year of health as after this operation I’m looking to focus on health and wellbeing in order to do some of the more challenging adventures in the world in 2027.
I’m very lucky at work that I can get up to 35 days leave plus bank holidays and can work them around any time of the year pretty much, so can avoid school holiday prices. Which gives me an advantage in booking trips. Although something I have learned is that it’s not always a good idea to budget so low-end if you can help it!
I’m dying to go to Athens to experience all the history at the Acropolis of Athens, especially since the Parthenon has had all the scaffolding taken down for the first time in 20 years.
America…there are so many places you could go for unique views and unique experiences but I’m just not comfortable with the political issues that are currently in the news so feel this will be a bit of a wait before I consider visiting.
Locations and Duration Ideas
England (Some one-night trips, seaside town weekends)
Scotland (Isle of Harris and Glencoe, longer weekend)
Mallorca (Cuevas del Drach, longer weekend)
Greece Athens (Acropolis of Athens, longer weekend)
Greece (Kefalonia, one week)
Iceland (Northern Lights, longer weekend)
Norway Oslo (See The Scream and do a floating sauna, longer weekend)
Sri Lanka (2 weeks)
Australia and New Zealand (December, 3 weeks)
Final Thoughts
I didn’t expect a travel challenge to change my mindset, but it did and I’m very grateful at what it’s now opened up for me.
So 11 trips later, I’m not the same person that first stepped onto a plane feeling anxious and out of control. I’ve built confidence in small steps, collected memories I’ll carry for years, and I’ve learned what kind of places light up my soul and make me feel happy. All those quiet streets, big views, the iconic landmarks, and the moments in between when you’ve got the camera in your hand and you capture a moment.
2026 is likely going to be a slower year, with my health and recovery taking priority, but that’s part of the journey too.
If you’ve got any recommendations for where I should go next, whether it’s a one-night UK escape or a big bucket-list adventure, let me know in the comments.