I’m off to Madrid for the 4th time this weekend and I was rereading my guidebook and list of suggestions from a friend and it makes me so happy this feeling of “going back”. No rush about wanting to see all the main things, just going around picking new places.
And I completely agree with you on the concept of return travel. If a place brings you joy, peace, and a bit of magic, you should absolutely return (for me, this is Mendocino, California!) ♥️
Thanks for letting me know Jordan!! I think we’re planning for Barcelona in April, so Casa Vicens will definitely be on the itinerary. And I’ve never been to Mendocino, but it looks amazing!
I once had a job where I travelled to some 30 countries in a year, which was incredible to be paid to travel to so many places but also I barely got to "know" those places so some of them sadly are a checked off place I've been to. I'd do mostly return travel if possible at this current stage in my life, I love the familiarity of the things I've already done and loved -- if I loved a dish at a restaurant I'll go back to that restaurant and only order that same dish over and over because I loved the experience and want that experience again and think I have a similar approach to some travel destinations, if I came out of a trip I would absolutely do the same thing and visit nearly the same museums, parks, restaurants, and cafes again 😅 on my return list is Seoul, Montreal, and London (I'll do London every 3 months if possible 😂)
Wait I didn’t know you used to travel so much for work?! That’s insane!!
And agreed on returning to the familiar things you know you love. Especially restaurants! We did Montreal for the first time last summer and loved it❤️
It’s so true that revisiting places can be even more meaningful than chasing new destinations. I definitely need to take some of this advice and finally go back to a few spots I’ve been meaning to. Mexico is forever on my list, I’ve backpacked there twice and somehow left each time with an even longer list of things to experience.
On the flip side, I need to be a travel repeater in my own backyard. My husband and I moved to Charleston over a year ago, and we still struggle to name a favorite restaurant. We always try new spots instead of building a real connection to one.
Ohhh love this Anna! I’ve yet to explore Mexico and it’s high on the list. And such a great point about exploring locally too! We’re both lucky to live in such amazing places🤍
I love being a repeat visitor! It’s just more fun for me the subsequent times, because I can just enjoy everything without having to jam the major sights in (unless I choose to), or learn how the infrastructure works. The first visit is to tick off all the things you MUST do if you do only get one chance to visit. The next trips are for doing what YOU WANT to do.
Love this post and the concept of "return travel." I’m always seeking out new and exciting destinations for my clients—expanding their cultural horizons and checking off bucket-list spots. But I also have a lot of clients who return to the same place every summer, at the same time, without fail. They crave the comfort of familiarity while still wanting to discover something new. It’s the best.
I’m the same way. I love exploring new destinations (it's how you find the places you love), but there are certain places I’ll always want to revisit when I have the chance. I was just jotting down my Paris faves for a last minute trip next week.
I love your Venice and Copenhagen lists—such great spots. One hotel in Venice I’ve been loving for my clients lately is The Venice Venice Hotel. Highly recommend! xx
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts! I totally agree it’s about finding the balance between discovering the new and re-visiting the familiar places you love. The Venice Venice hotel is also on the list! So thanks for confirming it’s a great spot. Paris is one of those places you could visit over and over and never explore everything it has to offer (which is why I love living here!) I hope you have a great trip.
Revisiting my favorite country (Japan, Italy, Paris, London) is something I'll never stop loving. I completely resonated with the idea here Maddy. I've always wanted to visit Copenhagen!
My outlook on this year is very similar to yours! I am currently expecting my first child and am having a hard time accepting (as excited as I am for meeting my baby!) that it will limit my ability to travel at least for the next 4-5 months. So all we've planned so far is visiting family in Canada for 4-6 weeks in the late summer. I am hoping and am very hopeful that we can maybe hop on a quick ferry from Germany to Copenhagen or a short train ride to Prague before that.
Aww congrats Katharina! I know first hand that feeling, but I promise you’ll be so caught up in the baby you won’t think too much about travel for those first few months (at least that’s how I felt haha!)
I feel this deeply! As I get older I so understand why my parents and grandparents return. Even if they're not seeing more every trip, the memories can be replicated so new ones are created. I hope to continue returning to Negril and Mallorca 💗
Exactly! I love how you mentioned this. I know growing up we had places we returned to every summer and the connection to those destinations is unmatched🤍
I absolutely love Copenhagen! My latest post is about my time spent there and I would easily visit every year if I could!
I've always chosen to visit new destinations when I travel, because there's so much I want to see and I know I won't be able to see all of it. But there are definitely a few destinations, including Copenhagen, that I fantasize about visiting again because I loved it so much. I'm yet to make any repeat visit to a destination, so I don't have any experience in that. But I reckon it would feel really comforting and familiar, whilst also being insightful, to visit a place I've already been to.
I’ll have to check out your latest post on Copenhagen! I agree that re-visiting places can bring about a certain familiarity and nostalgia, and also depending on when you visit, it can feel like a completely new experience! For example, depending on the season, or if years have passed since your last visit🤍
Yes, that makes so much sense! The only place I have returned to was my country of birth, at age 17, after having left at age 14. Even the space of those 3 years gave me so much insight when I came back to visit. I've yet to return as an adult, and I'm certain I'll have many more insights if I do 😅
London, NYC and Paris are forever staples! Can’t go wrong. Confident you’d love both Copenhagen and Croatia too. Was really surprised by our time in Croatia!
It's amazing how a place can transform once you get to know it. I remember hating Bangkok when I went there for my first short trip. It wasn't until I went back a couple times, and then eventually lived there, that I truly fell in love with the city.
I love this Kaila! That’s another great perspective on re-visiting places a second time even if you didn’t enjoy it the first! I recently experienced this and was so happy I took the chance to return to the city🤍
I can’t stop going to Paris 🫠
Totally understandable! From someone who lives here😆
I’m off to Madrid for the 4th time this weekend and I was rereading my guidebook and list of suggestions from a friend and it makes me so happy this feeling of “going back”. No rush about wanting to see all the main things, just going around picking new places.
I love that approach! I hope you have a great trip back to Madrid🤍
For me its Albania, I've been dying to explore it!
Love it! The design look so cute!!
Thank you Naju!
Casa Vicens is my favorite sight in Barcelona!
And I completely agree with you on the concept of return travel. If a place brings you joy, peace, and a bit of magic, you should absolutely return (for me, this is Mendocino, California!) ♥️
Thanks for letting me know Jordan!! I think we’re planning for Barcelona in April, so Casa Vicens will definitely be on the itinerary. And I’ve never been to Mendocino, but it looks amazing!
I once had a job where I travelled to some 30 countries in a year, which was incredible to be paid to travel to so many places but also I barely got to "know" those places so some of them sadly are a checked off place I've been to. I'd do mostly return travel if possible at this current stage in my life, I love the familiarity of the things I've already done and loved -- if I loved a dish at a restaurant I'll go back to that restaurant and only order that same dish over and over because I loved the experience and want that experience again and think I have a similar approach to some travel destinations, if I came out of a trip I would absolutely do the same thing and visit nearly the same museums, parks, restaurants, and cafes again 😅 on my return list is Seoul, Montreal, and London (I'll do London every 3 months if possible 😂)
Wait I didn’t know you used to travel so much for work?! That’s insane!!
And agreed on returning to the familiar things you know you love. Especially restaurants! We did Montreal for the first time last summer and loved it❤️
It’s so true that revisiting places can be even more meaningful than chasing new destinations. I definitely need to take some of this advice and finally go back to a few spots I’ve been meaning to. Mexico is forever on my list, I’ve backpacked there twice and somehow left each time with an even longer list of things to experience.
On the flip side, I need to be a travel repeater in my own backyard. My husband and I moved to Charleston over a year ago, and we still struggle to name a favorite restaurant. We always try new spots instead of building a real connection to one.
Ohhh love this Anna! I’ve yet to explore Mexico and it’s high on the list. And such a great point about exploring locally too! We’re both lucky to live in such amazing places🤍
For me it’s Rome, again and again (and again). I can never get enough of her beauty.
Totally understandable! I visited Rome for a second time recently and still feel like I need a return trip soon 🤍
You get it 😍
I love being a repeat visitor! It’s just more fun for me the subsequent times, because I can just enjoy everything without having to jam the major sights in (unless I choose to), or learn how the infrastructure works. The first visit is to tick off all the things you MUST do if you do only get one chance to visit. The next trips are for doing what YOU WANT to do.
That’s a great point too! Subsequent trips can definitely be a bit more leisurely and locally-driven!
Love this post and the concept of "return travel." I’m always seeking out new and exciting destinations for my clients—expanding their cultural horizons and checking off bucket-list spots. But I also have a lot of clients who return to the same place every summer, at the same time, without fail. They crave the comfort of familiarity while still wanting to discover something new. It’s the best.
I’m the same way. I love exploring new destinations (it's how you find the places you love), but there are certain places I’ll always want to revisit when I have the chance. I was just jotting down my Paris faves for a last minute trip next week.
I love your Venice and Copenhagen lists—such great spots. One hotel in Venice I’ve been loving for my clients lately is The Venice Venice Hotel. Highly recommend! xx
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts! I totally agree it’s about finding the balance between discovering the new and re-visiting the familiar places you love. The Venice Venice hotel is also on the list! So thanks for confirming it’s a great spot. Paris is one of those places you could visit over and over and never explore everything it has to offer (which is why I love living here!) I hope you have a great trip.
P.S. Always love reading your Substack🤍
So excited to hear about your move and your new life! Xx
And thank you- that means so much to me. 🏹 thank you for reading.
Revisiting my favorite country (Japan, Italy, Paris, London) is something I'll never stop loving. I completely resonated with the idea here Maddy. I've always wanted to visit Copenhagen!
Thanks for reading Dee! Would love to visit Japan. It’s at the top of my list. Copenhagen is so great🤍
My outlook on this year is very similar to yours! I am currently expecting my first child and am having a hard time accepting (as excited as I am for meeting my baby!) that it will limit my ability to travel at least for the next 4-5 months. So all we've planned so far is visiting family in Canada for 4-6 weeks in the late summer. I am hoping and am very hopeful that we can maybe hop on a quick ferry from Germany to Copenhagen or a short train ride to Prague before that.
Aww congrats Katharina! I know first hand that feeling, but I promise you’ll be so caught up in the baby you won’t think too much about travel for those first few months (at least that’s how I felt haha!)
Thank you Maddy! That's so comforting to know!! And like I said, I am also super excited for that baby bubble.
I feel this deeply! As I get older I so understand why my parents and grandparents return. Even if they're not seeing more every trip, the memories can be replicated so new ones are created. I hope to continue returning to Negril and Mallorca 💗
Exactly! I love how you mentioned this. I know growing up we had places we returned to every summer and the connection to those destinations is unmatched🤍
I absolutely love Copenhagen! My latest post is about my time spent there and I would easily visit every year if I could!
I've always chosen to visit new destinations when I travel, because there's so much I want to see and I know I won't be able to see all of it. But there are definitely a few destinations, including Copenhagen, that I fantasize about visiting again because I loved it so much. I'm yet to make any repeat visit to a destination, so I don't have any experience in that. But I reckon it would feel really comforting and familiar, whilst also being insightful, to visit a place I've already been to.
I’ll have to check out your latest post on Copenhagen! I agree that re-visiting places can bring about a certain familiarity and nostalgia, and also depending on when you visit, it can feel like a completely new experience! For example, depending on the season, or if years have passed since your last visit🤍
Yes, that makes so much sense! The only place I have returned to was my country of birth, at age 17, after having left at age 14. Even the space of those 3 years gave me so much insight when I came back to visit. I've yet to return as an adult, and I'm certain I'll have many more insights if I do 😅
I try to return to London, Paris, and NYC every year. I’d LOVE to return to Venice 😍 On my radar: Copenhagen and Croatia.
London, NYC and Paris are forever staples! Can’t go wrong. Confident you’d love both Copenhagen and Croatia too. Was really surprised by our time in Croatia!
It's amazing how a place can transform once you get to know it. I remember hating Bangkok when I went there for my first short trip. It wasn't until I went back a couple times, and then eventually lived there, that I truly fell in love with the city.
I love this Kaila! That’s another great perspective on re-visiting places a second time even if you didn’t enjoy it the first! I recently experienced this and was so happy I took the chance to return to the city🤍