The 2016 #Take12Trips update, looking at the last 12 months of this incredible travel challenge started by Claire. I will be honest and say it’s Cathy of Mummy Travels who first introduced me to this challenge by leaving a comment on a post. This was over 12 months ago and I couldn’t be more grateful, it’s like the push that I needed to start this journey. I had longed to travel for many years but; financials, commitments and 9-5 were blocking me.
Obviously this needed to change and I sat down one day and assessed my “responsibility free” life (as I am constantly reminded) since I have no kids. I counted how many weekend days there are in 12 months (104 weekend days). Then calculated how many days bank holiday we get in the UK (8 days) plus how many vacation days I have from work (25+). In actuality I have 137 days a year that I can do some travel damage with.
Now thinking about the funds.
Last year I worked tirelessly to pay of my huge debt but I felt robbed of my life. I decided to discuss with all the lenders about what I can afford and was fortunate they agreed. Then I looked at what I was earning from the blog and decided to dedicate that to travel. But it didn’t end there, I also went out and searched for budget airlines. Finding one that would save me best, I signed up to Wizz Air Discount club and immediately started making it work for me.
The 2016 Take12Trips Update
With all of that tucked behind me I embarked on #Take12Trips challenge which turned into a path of self discovery and accomplishments.
December 2015, with the Wizz Air Discount in the pocket. I booked my first trip to Ljubljana Slovenia. Regular readers know my love for Slovenia is only increased in 2016. To ensure we ended 2015 on a high note, I managed to squeeze in a trip to Lithuania.
Flights: Ljubljana, £20 return and Lithuania, £40 return both with Wizz Air.
January 2016, didn’t even have change to embrace the new year before I booked my trip to Prague. A friend wanted to come too so we decided to make it a girls weekend #checkedinczech.
Flights: Prague, £40 return for two with Wizz Air.
February 2016, it was the month of 3 countries in 3 days. I had booked a flight with Wizz Air to Bruno (also in Czech Republic) but found out it’s close to Vienna and Bratislava. This was one opportunity I wasn’t going to miss, so I booked a bus to Vienna and a train to Bratislava. I would have been happy to stop right here but I caught the wanderlust bug and the universe wouldn’t have it.
Flights: Brno, £15 return, Vienna – €10 return to Brno and Bratislava €15 return to Brno.
February 2016, yes I know I am writing it again. As if 3 countries in 3 days was not enough, I traveled to Amsterdam via bus spend a day. Then traveled back to Brussels via bus again spent a day before flying back to London.
Buses/Flight: Amsterdam, £10 single each, Brussels from Amsterdam €5 single each and £30 each Brussels to London.
March 2016, A friend studying medicine in Poland asked me to visit. I visited Warsaw, though it was blooming freezing and I hadn’t put on proper clothes I had fun.
Flights: Warsaw Chopin, £15 return with Wizz Air
April 2016, always a busy month for me. I had three trips planned: Oslo Norway, Wigan UK and Seoul South Korea. This was another month for the records, it was super busy don’t know how I survived.
Flights: Oslo Rygee, £14 return. Wigan, £80 return to Oxford and £330 return to Seoul.
May 2016, I was still in Seoul South Korea. I decided to rest for the remainder 2 weeks of the month. Traveling as much as I love it tends to take a toll on the body.
Flight: none
June 2016, met some incredible people in Hamburg Germany. I traveled with the Europe from my church and we formed a group called #temptations. We still have the WhatsApp group going months on. I also managed to book myself a trip of a lifetime, a trip to Disneyland Paris and Paris itself. It was a dream come true to have visited Disneyland and another to have explored Paris.
June 2016, I got invited to visit Big Berry a lifestyle glamping resort in Primostek, Slovenia. Having already formed a bond with Slovenia it was a dream come true to receive the invite. Apart from flights, it was an all expenses paid trip – a first for me.
Flight: Church paid 😊👍🏾💯 for Hamburg, £50 return Eurostar to Paris and £80 return to Ljubljana.
July 2016, after the success of #temptations. We decided to meet up in Dublin, Ireland to give me and another friend an early birthday present. To make my birthday month even more special I went to Copenhagen with a friend. Though this was the most expensive of my extended weekends it was worth every penny.
Flights: £30 to Dublin rerun with AerLingus and £300 return to Copenhagen with easyJet.
August 2016, my mother banned me from leaving the country. Yes I am 29 years old but when mother speaks I am 5 and follow the rules to the letter. It was not by choice but I stayed UK bound and visited my parents in Cambridge instead. I also did the most logical think and did a local adventure by visiting Bristol for shopping and Castle Combe to explore.
Flights: none
September 2016, regular readers know I can stop singing about this one. I traveled to Johannesburg South Africa to see family for the first time. It was an experience indeed, I managed to squeeze in Pretoria and Soweto into this journey. As much as I would have liked to do safari, family time is what I was after.
Flights: Johannesburg return, £555 with South African airways.
October 2016, I had just returned from Johannesburg a week before and had to travel to Southampton for university. I had so many assignments due I took a month out. This month it proved difficult to shared; working full-time, blogging and university plus adding in travel.
Flights: none
November 2016, I was ready to call it for the travel challenge until a friend asked me if I wanted to go abroad for a weekend. Before I even finished my deadline assignments I said yes to her and we were booked. We had chosen Budapest to begin with but the deal didn’t pan through so we went to Italy and visited Milan and Venice instead.
Flight + Hotel: £129 each, train to Venice from Milan €20 each then maestre to Venice €15 each.
It’s has been an incredible year that it’s shocking to be to be sharing The 2016 #Take12Trips Update. Did you participate in the challenge?
What are your #Take12Trips Update?
Baby Isabella says
You’ve had a great year for travelling! Loved your post to Prague, we’re yet to fly with Whizz Air!
Anosa says
Thanks so much, you should definitely give Wizz Air a go
Annie Brooks says
This is the kind of post I needed! I want to get planning some smaller trips and some of these could work really well.
Anosa says
I am glad to have shared. Hope you manage to visit some of these places
Stella Kashmoney says
You have been so busy travelling this year. I am super jealous. Go on holiday in a few weeks and can’t wait.
Anosa says
Awww thanks Stella, where are you off to?
BRAND AND BEAUTY says
What a great 12 months you had! I am so jealous that you went to Disneyland that is definitely something I want to do 🙂 I hoped you enjoyed Oslo, which is the city I have lived my whole life (before i moved to UK). Great post, inspired me to travel more!
Anosa says
I sure did enjoy Oslo I had so much fun staring at the cute and tall Norwegian men lol. Glad to have inspired you
Francesca Nelson says
I would so love to travel so much!!! Hopefully we can get some family trips in 2017!!!
Anosa says
Wishing you the best for 2017
Jade Bremner says
What a bargain those flights were. We are hoping to go to Dublin next year for a weekend x
Anosa says
I bet that would be awesome, I had fun when I last visited
Chichi says
girl this is inspiring! i need to look at those flight options to get cheap tickets! very helpful post!
Anosa says
Awww I am glad to hear that. Get on those flights
Rhian Westbury says
You did so well this year and such inspiration when it comes to travelling. I’ve done a similar thing this year and made sure I was out of the country every month this year, next weekend is my final trip of 2016 x
Anosa says
Thank you Rhian, I appreciate you saying that. Have fun in Geneva, I am off to Nice and it might be my final trip of the year too
Hungry_Healthy_Happy says
I would love to go to slovenia and it sounds like you got a proper bargain with those flights.
Anosa says
Yes I did, and Slovenia is an amazing country with so muhc green and awesome places to visit
Beautyqueenuk says
You have done so amazingly well and managed to get some brilliant bargain, I need to learn tips from you!
Anosa says
I sure have Rachel, I only have one word ~ skyscanner lol
Melissa Zia says
Such a great year, I really want to do some travelling one day. I haven’t been on holiday in a while but hopefully soon
Anosa says
It has been an awesome year indeed, I hope 2017 will be the year you do some travels
Lily Mae says
Sounds like you’ve had one very exciting year!! I wish I had the time between working and going to university to travel the world and see half the things you’ve seen and experienced. Where are you thinking of travelling to next?? 🙂
Anosa says
I am heading to Nice, France next weekend.
I decided to prioritise my life. I too have work, university and blogging but we all have different levels on busy.
Sarah Bailey says
Wow it’s really interesting to see how much you spent – it seems like you really managed to dig out some bargains! WOW!
Anosa says
I love digging for deals, these days there are so many options available some cheaper than others
Tamsin - Eco Fluffy Mama says
You’ve had a great year! I wish I could afford to do this, but alas I can’t. We do one holiday a year which is usually camping. My son loves it, though.
Anosa says
I think you should do what you’re able and what the family loves. I am not sure if and when I have a family we will continue this kind of travel.
Elodie says
I can’t believe how cheap those flights were! I’ve always wanted to go to Seoul, but never found anything that cheap – otherwise, you bet I’d have gone already! You definitely inspired me to travel more in 2017!
Anosa says
Hahaha, I sued skyscanner for long distance trips and thats where I get 90% of my deals
Natasha Mairs says
Wow! what a great year you have had and I can’t believe how cheap some of the flight were!
Anosa says
Thanks Natasha, when you search for them there are there for sure
Joanna says
You have had such an amazing year of travel I wish I could travel more as there are so many places I want to visit.
Anosa says
I did, thanks Joanna and hope you’re able to travel to some places you wish to see soon
jigsawparenting says
Wow you have had a great year travelling and I am amazed at how cheap some of these flights are. I sure wish I could travel more.
Anosa says
I was surprised too when I saw some of these deals but so worth it for sure
Milly says
You’ve had an amazing year in travel! Definitely going to try a challenge like this in 2017 I think!
Anosa says
I hope you do as its really awesome and fun
Jenni Grainger says
What an incredible year, you have seen some amazing places
Anosa says
I sure have and thanks so much
LaaLaa says
I’m hoping next year I can do some travelling, I need it and this has me itching for that x
Anosa says
I hope you’re able to travel more next year
Jo Wiggins says
I agree about Dublin being expensive but it’s worth it, it’s an amazing place. I only managed to get away once this year due to having a newborn but already got 2 trips booked for next year x
Anosa says
It’s definitely worth the visit for sure. I am wishing you a travel filled 2017