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.
-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 –
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
![Russia – Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Velicky Novgorod [VIDEO]](https://carolinelupini.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/russia-500x383.jpg)
![The Dead Sea – Don’t Miss It! [VIDEO]](https://carolinelupini.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-03-11-at-1.44.10-PM-500x383.png)
Crazy year indeed!
So great to see young travelers. Keep up the good work but add some more photos. It helps.
Thanks! Was writing the post from Cambodia and didn’t realize most of my photos were on the computer at home… oops! Will have more in future posts though 🙂
If you’re in phnom penh, you might get a kick out of Howie’s Bar where you play competitive Connect Four with the most talented players I’ve ever seen. See my friend’s post for more info.
http://allegedtraveler.blogspot.com/2008/04/connect-four-cambodian-past-time.html