Where Angie Wandered in 2024: My Ultimate Travel Review
As 2024 ends and I write my yearly travel review, I look back on this year's trips with immense happiness.
I visited some fantastic European destinations this year, including Spain, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Greece, Germany, Austria, and Slovakia, and I would like to share them with you. I hope my travel review gives you ideas for places you can visit in the future.
This blog post includes affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer and privacy policy for more information.
March 2024 - Tenerife Travel Review
Having already visited Lanzarote in December the previous year, we were keen to enjoy some warm spring weather with a visit to Tenerife in March. Unbelievably, this was my first visit to Tenerife, despite having visited all the other Canary Islands several times, and I was curious to see how it compared. I am pleased to say it was a great holiday, and the March weather was mostly warm. Yes, we sunbathed, but the seawater was too cold for us.
The H10 Costa Adeje Palace was our home in Adeje for 5 nights, and as is the norm for the Where Angie Wanders team, we hired a car to explore the island. We drove through untouched landscapes and visited the small hillside village of Masca, the seaside town of Garachico, and Puerto de la Cruz, a good place to explore if you love street art. We didn't make it to the summit of Mount Teide, but we admired its snow-capped peak from several viewpoints during our drive. It is pretty impressive!
April 2024 - France / Switzerland / The Netherlands Travel Review
I am not a person who can sit still for too long (much to my husband's despair), and so most of my travels involve many stopping points, which was the case when we visited France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands in the Spring of 2024. We had already done a pretty cool European Road Trip a few years earlier, but this holiday was extra special because it celebrated my husband's birthday and retirement.
I had planned an 18-day trip to include the sights and sounds of Paris (mainly to see a show at the Moulin Rouge), champagne tasting in Reims, bike rides in the Alsace countryside, a whistle-stop tour of Basel in Switzerland and a trip back to Amsterdam (last visited together in the 1990s), followed by a stay in Rotterdam to see the windmills and tulip gardens linked with the Netherlands.
Paris
Paris has never been one of my favourite places to visit, but it has something I have always wanted to experience: the Moulin Rouge. For this reason, France's capital made it onto my European road trip itinerary.
I also wanted to visit the surrounding area of Montmartre in the spring to walk along its blossom-filled streets and see popular attractions like the Sacré-Cœur.
We stayed at the Citadines Apartments next to the Cemetery of Montmartre.
I love a good cemetery, and this one was filled with interesting headstones and the graves of famous people. We also took a cruise on the Seine and wandered the cobbled streets of Le Marais, with its small boutiques and historic landmarks.
We also went underground to the catacombs, the resting place of over 6 million people. Having already visited the smaller catacombs in Kutná Hora and Brno, both in the Czech Republic, the Paris catacombs were mind-blowing.
Reims
Colmar
Basel
We stayed at Hotel D in Basel for 2 nights, which gave us enough time to explore one of Switzerland's most beautiful cities and see all the famous landmarks, from Basel Cathedral and the surrounding Old Town to the Dreiländereck. This unusual monument, resembling the nose of a jet plane, marks the exact point where the borders of Switzerland, France, and Germany converge.
Close to the monument, you can walk across a footbridge over the Rhine from Basel and end up in Germany. Cross another bridge from Germany, and you will be in France. Then, reverse your walk to get back to Switzerland. It certainly messes with your mind!
Amsterdam
The last time we were in Amsterdam, we were just married, so it was nice to revisit all these years later (34, to be exact!). We opted to stay outside Amsterdam in Zaandam as I wanted to stay in the Inntel Hotel, which looked like it was made from Lego bricks!
From Zaandam, it was easy to hop on a train back to Amsterdam Central, from where we visited the historic Zaanse Schans to see its windmills and listed buildings as well as the world-famous Keukenhof Tulip Garden, which attracts thousands of visitors each year in Spring to see its extraordinarily beautiful flower displays.
You can read more about the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in my blog post.
We only spent one evening in Amsterdam and opted to stop in a historic pub for dinner and drinks and join a Red Light District Tour with GetYourGuide. Our guide provided us with a wealth of information about the area's history and the regulations and maintenance processes in place.
Rotterdam
June 2024 - Southern Ireland Travel Review
In June, I spent 10 days in Southern Ireland - just me, hubby and a rental car, and we had a blast exploring the Emerald Isle. We had already been to Dublin years ago and wanted to see the Irish countryside, which we had heard so much about. It didn't disappoint.
Dungarvan
We started our trip in a lovely apartment at Macs Townhouse in Dungarvan, a small harbour town in County Waterford.
From there, we hopped on bikes and rode the Greenway trail that leads to Waterford City. It was a fabulous place to cycle, and although we didn't make it to Waterford on our bikes, we did visit Ireland's most famous city before our trip came to an end.
While in Dungarvan, we also drove to Cobh, the town from which the Titanic sailed, and to Blarney Castle - and no, I didn't kiss the Blarney Stone.
The Comeragh Mountains were a big hit with us for their dramatic appearance and waterfalls, as were the golden sandy beaches in County Waterford.
Cork
Our second stop was at Gougane Barra in Ballingeary, Cork, best known for its idyllic lakeside church and forest. We stayed for one night at Gougane Barra Hotel, which gave us enough time to explore the forest, which is like something out of a fairy tale, and see the church.
Killarney
Moving on, we stayed at The Europe Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry. Voted as one of Europe's top 5* luxury hotels, it delivered on all counts, from its stunning location by a lake and in the shadow of Ireland's highest mountain to the service and comfort one would expect from a resort of this calibre.
In addition to enjoying all the spa facilities the resort had to offer, we took time out to drive to the Dingle Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way. As the name implies, the coastline is indeed very wild and dramatic.
Wicklow
After our time in County Kerry, we drove to the Wicklow Mountains to stay at Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort. We visited Wicklow Mountains National Park, and it was incredible.
The park was filled with Irish magic, featuring mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and even the ruins of a 600-year-old monastic settlement. I urge you to visit if you ever make it to Southern Ireland.
We finished our trip with a visit to Howth, a seaside harbour town close to Dublin. We also popped into the Kildare Village Outlets for a spot of tax-free shopping (remember, you can claim tax back on items bought in Southern Ireland as they are in the EU and we are not).
All in all, our trip to Ireland was great, and it is somewhere I would like to explore a little more.
August 2024 - Mediterranean Cruising Travel Review
August is my birthday month, and I wanted to do something a little different from usual. That materialised as a Virgin Voyages Cruise from Barcelona to Marseille, Cannes, Palma and Ibiza.
I had only done one cruise before this one, and I didn't enjoy it. Yes, the destination to the Norwegian Fjords was fantastic, but the dining, passengers, and entertainment just put me off wanting to cruise again. That all changed once I stepped aboard the Scarlet Lady, which was perfect from beginning to end. Virgin Cruises has restored my interest in cruising, and I would love to do another one.
September / October 2024 - Greek Island Hopping Travel Review
As the summer heat began to die down, I headed to Greece for 18 days. While I love sunny days and balmy evenings, I don't enjoy temperatures in the 40s, which Greece often experiences in the summer, so September/October are the perfect times to visit.
Rhodes
I started in Rhodes at a Mayia Resort, which I had loved so much the prior year that I revisited in 2024. After my son's wedding a week earlier, this was an opportunity to unwind and relax in beautiful surroundings, which is exactly what we did.
We had already seen all the landmark sights in Rhodes, including Lindos, one of the island's top attractions, so we didn't feel we were missing out. Still, we rented a car and drove one evening to Prasonisi Beach, where two oceans meet. It's a fantastic spot to watch the sunset and see the kite surfers soar into the skies on the crest of a wave.
Symi
From Rhodes, we took a ferry to Symi. It is a colourful island recognisable by its pastel-coloured neo-classical buildings perched on its hillside. Most travellers visit on a day trip, but we decided to stay on Symi at the ASymi Residences for 4 days to explore the island more deeply. That decision was right, as Symi is so much more than a day-trip destination.
With so many beautiful Greek Islands to visit, it's hard to choose which is right for you, but for our next island hop, it boiled down to a friend's recommendation and the fact that we wanted an island reachable by ferry from Symi. That island was Kos.
Kos
We booked a 3-night stay at D'Andrea Lagoon Resort, a small, fabulous 5* luxury resort. We hired a car and drove across the island, visiting sandy beaches with crystal-clear water, historical monuments, traditional tavernas, and the mountainside village of Zia, where we saw the most incredible sunset.
Athens
Our final stop was in Athens, where we saw all the city's historic landmarks. We stayed at the Acro Urban Suites, which features a roof terrace and an uninterrupted view of the Parthenon.
We booked early-morning Acropolis tickets to beat the crowds (there were still plenty of people there, but perhaps fewer than later in the day), which was a bucket-list experience.
While in Athens, we also took a ferry to the island of Aegina, known in Greece as the pistachio island, which we understood once we strolled its streets and saw shops selling pistachio products. If that nut is your favourite, you will love it in Aegina!
December 2024 - Christmas Markets Travel Review
If you have been following my blog for a while, you will know that I love visiting Christmas markets in December, and 2024 was no exception.
Berlin
My first festive trip was to the Berlin Christmas markets in Germany's capital. I have visited Krakow and Gdansk in past years, where there is just one central Christmas market in the city centre.
Berlin is unique because it has numerous markets in various locations, letting you see some of Berlin's wartime landmarks, including Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Cathedral, and the East Side Gallery, as you travel around the city.
While in Berlin, I stayed at Wilde Aparthotel by Checkpoint Charlie.
Vienna
My second festive trip was to Vienna. I have been to Austria before, but never to Vienna, so I was pleased to be asked by Jet2.com to travel there on a press visit to cover the Vienna Christmas Markets.
Vienna is absolutely beautiful, and at Christmas, the city goes all out, dressing its shops, streets, and landmark buildings to the hilt. If you have been to London at Christmas and seen how sensational the city looks, I can tell you that Vienna is a close contender.
Vienna's markets, like Berlin's, are scattered throughout the city, but they offer a much better variety of unique gifts than I saw in Berlin. For that reason, and because Vienna is a dazzling show of festive joy everywhere you walk, it won my vote over Berlin.
While in Vienna, I stayed at the Renaissance Wien Hotel, perfectly situated opposite a train station, which made it easy to explore the city.
Bratislava
A plus of staying in Vienna is that it's easy to visit other European destinations.
I hopped on a coach to Slovakia for the afternoon/evening to visit the Bratislava Christmas markets and see what the town had to offer. I must say, I was impressed. While the winter markets were more focused on food and drink (which I can recommend), the hilltop castle, cobbled streets, and artisan shops add to the enjoyment of visiting Bratislava in December.
It had the same look and feel as Ljubljana in Slovenia - small and quaint.
Travel Review Conclusion
So, my lovely readers, if you have reached this point, thank you for reading the whole travel review; I hope it has inspired you to visit some of the places I mentioned.
And what has next year got in store for Where Angie Wanders? So far, I have one big trip to Indonesia booked for May/June 2025, but many ideas are floating around in my head, so stay tuned to hear more about my 2025 travel plans!
Until then, happy travels. Please let me know in the comments below if any of the places I visited this year are ones you'd like to explore in 2025.
Please PIN for Future Travel
Angela Price: is an accomplished travel writer bringing extensive expertise and passion to the world of travel.
With over 40 years of globetrotting adventures under her belt and with a keen eye for unique experiences, she has established herself as an authoritative voice in travel, offering invaluable insights for fellow adventurers seeking to uncover the delights of worldwide destinations.
Her motto is “live life wandering not wondering”. Read more about Angie.