TOP 10 TRAVEL GOALS 2019

Well….we have only gone and won £100k on a scratchcard (not true)!

That’s right…ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND smackaroonies!

Mummy went out yesterday morning to drop Lily-Belle at school and popped into the local shop for ‘essentials’.  As she queued a thought entered her head, ‘if that couple down the road can win £115 million, surely we might get lucky and win a few quid that could pay for our next holiday’.  Scratchcard purchased and a few scratches later, winner, winner, chicken dinner…£100k…we’re still letting it all sink in!  Madness!

Now, some of our readers already know that Mummy is the ‘Budget Queen’ and lover of all things holidays!  Not content with the cold hard cash making a cosy home in our bank account, she has come to the conclusion that life is far too short to live with regrets.  Guess what?  We have decided to blow the lot on seeing those places that we have dreamed of for so long. 

After a long night checking out villas on Clickstay, we now have our TOP 10 TRAVEL GOALS 2019 plans in place.

So here goes, our TOP 10 TRAVEL GOALS 2019…..excited!

February

It’s the middle of winter here on the island of Ireland and snow has fallen across the province, so we’ve decided the first trip of 2019 should be to somewhere warm, a place where we can rid ourselves of our pasty white skin…Australia it is then.  Our first trip will take us to the beautiful town of Cairns to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World; the Great Barrier Reef!  Daddy is a qualified PADI Diver so this is right up his street.  Sea Temple 205 Palm Grove looks stunning and the girls are going to love the pool.  Mummy is looking forward to some R&R in the onsite Spa, and Daddy, well…I’m just hoping to join up the freckles to get a ‘ginger’ tan!

Sea Temple 205 Palm Grove:  click to view
Cost:  very reasonable at £3,857 dingo dollars.

March

March 2019 is a BIG month in the Callaghan household; it’s Mummy’s big 4 0 birthday and also our 15th wedding anniversary!  I know what you’re all thinking, ‘how on earth have I put up with Mummy for all those years’.  The answer…medication (only joking of course).  We spent our honeymoon in a luxurious beach villa in the Maldives, so the beautiful Olana Beachfront Apartment that we have chosen is right on the beach in the Black River region of Mauritius.  Perfect location to explore the beautiful Black River Gorges National Park.  There are so many wonderful things to do on the island but we are especially looking forward to snorkelling in the crystal clear water and watching the dolphins go by whilst eating breakfast!  

Olana Beachfront Apartment:  click to view
Cost:  prepare to be amazed…only £3,108 which is equivalent to a large bucket of sea pearls.

April

It’s still cold on the island of Ireland so we are sticking with a warm sunny destination.  Well, why not, we have just won £100k on the lottery!  Although we love our holidays, neither of us have done the backpacking craze, and in all honesty, we are not about to start!  Thailand is one of those places loved by backpackers so we thought we must pay it a visit!  Booking a Villa in Koh Samui seems to be very popular and it’s easy to see why!  Absolutely stunning, and we’re sure you’ll agree that the Exclusive Five Bed Beach Front Villa on Koh Samui is absolutely stunning too!  What are you planning on seeing and doing I hear you ask…SO MUCH!  Swim with turtles at Koh Tao, check out the Big Buddha shrine and take in the spectacular Namuang Waterfall.  Can’t wait!

Exclusive Five Bed Beach Front Villa on Koh Samui:  click to view
Cost:  definitely not for budget conscious backpackers, £17,412.  That’s a lot of pot noodles!

May

For those of you who follow our blog, you will know that we amor Italy and find it impossible to stay away.  Winning so much money on the lottery is never going to change that!  Last year we stayed in a fantastic campsite in Tuscany.  We also spent an afternoon in the beautiful city of Florence which was far too short.  I remember driving up to Piazza Michaelangelo and going past the most amazing houses so we thought, ‘why don’t we stay somewhere like that’.  Not the cheapest but how amazing does this Florence Dream Villa look…Mummy is really hoping it comes with a live-in Chef to make her favourite Penne Arrabiatta…don’t ask!  The ‘Penne Arrabiatta’ is a whole post in itself!

Florence Dream Villa:  click to view
Cost:  not campsite rates at a whopping £18,475

July

As parents we try our absolute best to not have the girls miss out on school.  With this in mind we plan on making the most of the 2019 summer holidays!  The girls have always wanted to visit Disney and we’ve seen that there’s a great Villa To Rent In Four Corners, Florida.  It’s my (non-disclosed age) birthday on the 1st and of course Independence Day is on the 4th July, so I’m sure it will be a truly memorable holiday.  Disney is definitely on the ‘visit’ list and we also need to head over to Clearwater Marine Aquarium to see Winter from Dolphin Tale.  Lily-Belles ultimate dream is to swim with rescued dolphins Winter and Hope!

Villa To Rent In Four Corners, Florida:  click to view
Cost:  cheap(ish) at £5,232, we aren’t going to spend much time here apart from chilling in the pool.

 

This next trip isn’t terribly exciting but we have been asking Mummy’s parents to have a holiday with us and the girls for quite some time.  Mummy really doesn’t understand why they don’t want to travel with us; but if I was them, I wouldn’t want to travel with us either!  The Callaghan Posse are ALWAYS late, The Maclaine Crew are ALWAYS early!  And who needs the added stress of being late when on holidays (Mummy does, she thrives on it).  Anyway, her Dad finally agreed that we would all go on a short holiday to Scotland!  If we are going to Scotland I have decided that we should become King and Queen in a Timeless Castle.  What do you think of this beautiful Scottish Castle located in the Scottish Borders?  Perfect for us all to have our own space; if you know what I mean, and for Father-in-Law to enjoy the rolling hills and local heritage.

Timeless Castle:  click to view
Cost:  this trip will empty the sporran of £8,567 but I’m certain it’ll gain me a few Brownie points!

August

Historically, most August’s in Ireland the weather is shocking and wet!  Irish summer is normally over before it has even begun, so we have decided that we will probably need to catch a few rays after our trip to bonnie Scotland!  Greece is a country that we have never been to; it looks absolutely stunning in photos and we love the beautiful white washed villas.  Oh yes, we are also very fond of falafel, so where better than Greece to get the authentic deal!  As we are not expecting for the ‘in-laws’ to have had a change of heart about travelling with us after their Scottish stay, a little villa for four is all that is required or desired.  The Zephyros Guesthouse in Santorini looks perfect with it’s white-washed walls and tiled terraces.  We especially love the outdoor seating area and I think you will agree that it is definitely ‘insta-worthy’.  In a word…wow!

Zephyros Guesthouse:  click to view
Cost:  £6,270 I’m getting seriously concerned about what is left in the ‘scratchcard’ money pot!

Our Top 10 Travel Goals 2019 list would not be complete if we didn’t live it up in the South of France.  The town of Molleges is calling to us and we have totally fallen in love with this rustic villa named Water Lily House.  I just love the name of this picture perfect property!  This ‘gorgeous gaff’ is just how we would expect a dreamy French villa to look.  Astonishing and just perfect to relax in before the start of the new school term.  The grounds are like something from a 1930’s movie and have you seen the cooker…not that I/we plan on cooking!  Lily-Belle and Matilda can’t wait to take a dip in the pool and tackle the climbing frame.  No trip to the South of France would be the same without ‘rubbing shoulders’ with the rich and famous in Saint-Tropez…don’t mind if we do!

Water Lily House:  click to view
Cost:  £14,561, well it is the South of France.  Not known for cheapy-cheapy!

December

I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of Christmas or New Year.  Personally I would prefer to go away for 2 weeks at this time and come home when it’s all over and normality has returned to the homestead.  Mummy always refuses to holiday at this time due to the excessive cost!  There’s no excuse now, we’ve just won mega-bucks on a scratchcard, Chalet Mont Blanc in Val d’Isere here we come!  This delightfully characteristic French ski chalet is what dreams are made of; just look at those views!

Chalet Mont Blanc:  click to view
Cost:  £18,733 so I don’t think Santa will be coming this year….he’s skint!

Last, but by no means least, New Years Eve in (drum roll please…drrrrrrr) NEW YORK CITY!  What better way to end 2019, a fabulous year of travel; than by ringing in the New Year in Times Square.  There are no villas in NYC but we are really lucky to have found this Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Duplex In Manhattan.  A lovely apartment that is centrally located.  There will be lots of shopping of course; not by Mummy, but me, one can never have too many shoes you know…that is if we have a penny left in the pot!!

Gorgeous 2 Bedroom Duplex In Manhattan:  click to view
Cost:  Saving for the shoe shopping spree so £3,093 all in…bargain!

Ok, if you’ve got this far we have a HUGE CONFESSION to make…….

….we haven’t actually won a £100k on a scratchcard…fooled ya! 

This TOP 10 TRAVEL GOALS 2019 post is our entry into the Clickstay Travel Blogger Competition for the chance to win a £600 Clickstay™ voucher!

We apologise for trying to pull the wool over your eyes, harmless ‘bants’, but we also hope you enjoyed reading our Top 10 Travel Goals 2019 post.  Rest assured, if we do win £100k or more, then these ‘fantasy’ trips will quickly become a reality.  If you tally up the cost of the accommodation listed above, these trips total £99,308… which means there will be a little left over for Daddy to buy shoes in New York City.  Win a £100k on a scratchcard…if only…in our dreams!   

Around the World In 18 Years would really appreciate your VOTE in the Clickstay Travel Blogger Competition.  Your vote could help us win the top prize which is a £600 holiday voucher from Clickstay.  It’s not going to pay for that stunning Italian Chateau or the beachside villa in Koh Samui, but out of this world accommodation is not what is important to us for our holidays.  What is?  Spending quality time together as a family when we travel!  Thanks for stopping by.

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