2014 Year in Review

-I backpacked through Cambodia and Vietnam for 5 weeks… and I’m still working on the trip report 😛

I met Marissa, who is now a contributing author on the blog

-I visited a bunch of new countries including China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Panama, South Korea, Guatemala, Denmark, Saba, Japan, and Hong Kong

-I ate a raw, still-moving octopus in South Korea and at a Michelin 2-Star restaurant in Tokyo.

-I visited a Washington State and Southern California for the first time.

Yosemite Falls Overlook Upper Falls

-I did some crazy things with air tickets, and booked a few other mistake fares – mostly to be flown in 2015.

-I partnered with the Travel Education Network and will be teaching some awesome travel classes starting in 2015.

-I spent my birthday in Italy and Slovenia, Christmas in Hong Kong, and am in Kep, Cambodia for New Years!

Thoughts for Next Year

-I’m looking forward to visiting Africa for the first time [Egypt], and I am also hoping to make my first visit to South America.

-Oktoberfest!!!

-I am  planning to maintain my Hyatt Diamond status through either stays or nights (undecided at this point), and all other hotel status through credit cards. Depending on how much hotel staying I am doing, I might try to qualify for Hilton Gold again, but only if I am sure I can make Hyatt Diamond. I will probably not re-qualify for Kimpton Inner Circle, since they were bought by IHG – but only time will tell what exactly will happen there.

-I’ll be doing more domestic travel, mostly related to the Travel Education Network, and my international travel schedule will remain pretty busy – I already have quite a few trips booked for next year, so far covering 3 continents, and I definitely have more to plan!

-2014 has been a crazy year, to say the least! I’m looking forward to 2015.

Statistics

Miles Burned: 298,479

Miles Earned [Through Flying]: 95,466

Cost of All Air Tickets: $3,384.31

Cost per Mile Earned: 3.55 cents

Flying 

Miles – 103,799

Segments – 80

Longest Flight – Detroit (DTW) – Seoul, South Korea (ICN) 6,628 miles, 13:36

Shortest Flight – St. Maarten (SXM) – Saba (SAB) 28 miles, 0:15

Total Airports – 51

Total Airlines – 19

Total Aircraft Type – 17

Total Routes – 71

Total Countries – 21

Maps –

Screen Shot 2014-12-28 at 10.24.40 AM

Screen Shot 2014-12-28 at 10.24.49 AM

Status Achieved – Southwest Companion Pass; Status Match: Alaska Premier Gold 75K

Sleeping

Hostels – 24

Liveaboard – 1

IHG – 6

SPG – 3

Hilton – 1

Hyatt – 22

Choice Hotels – 1

Kimpton – 8

Marriott – 5

La Quinta – 2

AirBnB – 12

Other Hotels – 14

Bungalows – 13

Homestay – 2

Planes – 7

Busses – 4

Trains – 2

Camping – 5

Couchsurfing – 1

Jjimjilbang – 1

Total Nights – 134

Status Achieved/Maintained – Earned: Hyatt Diamond, Kimpton Inner Circle; Through Credit Cards: Club Carlson Gold, IHG Platinum