Top Travel Memories of 2024: From Cruises to Concerts

What’s the one travel memory that still makes you smile? For me, it’s the memorable moments—from a juicy burger stop in Munich to the thrill of snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. These memories are what make traveling so magical. While flights and hotels often steal the spotlight, it’s the experiences that truly stay with us.

Looking back at past posts, I realized I haven’t reflected on my travel highlights since 2019. It’s time to bring that tradition back! From stormy seas to bucket-list destinations, here are my most unforgettable travel memories from 2024—in no particular order.

Surviving a Storm on Virgin Voyages

We’ve written several times about how Virgin Voyages has gotten us back into cruising. While we won’t turn into full-time cruise travelers, it’s definitely now a part of the mix. In 2024, we took a trip from Miami to the Dominican Republic with a stop in the Bahamas. While we had a great time on the cruise, my strongest memory is going through the worst weather I’ve ever experienced, with the ship crashing over the waves in the middle of the night and being able to see the spray outside our balcony, up on DECK 10!

 

Visiting Portmeirion

Visiting Portmeirion, Wales, has been on my bucket list of trips for decades. While I knew I could get there, it just never seemed to fit into any of our trips, given the time needed to get there from London. Well, things fell into place this year, and I finally got to visit ‘The Village” from The Prisoner television series. Walking through the colorful, surreal architecture of Portmeirion felt like stepping into a dream.

Billy Joel’s Final Shows at Madison Square Garden

We had seen Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden before the pandemic, and it was undoubtedly one of the best concert experiences of our lives. When it was announced that he would end his long-running residency, we decided we had to get tickets to at least one more show. As it ended up, we managed to get seats to two concerts, including the last show.

Though we paid for the seats, covering hotel costs and flights with points made the two trips to NYC much easier to justify. Hearing Billy Joel play Piano Man one last time at MSG was nothing short of magical. The energy in the room was electric—fans singing every word together.

The Mirage and The Beatles LOVE

The one Cirque du Soleil show I’ve loved the most is The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage. All of their shows feature breathtaking acrobatics, but having them set to the iconic Beatles soundtrack, LOVE hit me like no other Cirque show has.

While we’re not big Las Vegas fans, I wanted to return to see the show one more time and say goodbye to The Mirage. This was the first hotel I stayed at on the Vegas Strip, and I have fond memories of that trip with my family.

Rediscovering Schlitterbahn’s Magic

We’re obsessed with Schlitterbahn Water Park in New Braunfels, TX. Over our multiple trips, we’ve also come to like the area in the Texas Hill Country. Since the pandemic, things haven’t been the same at the waterpark. Part of the changes were because of the park’s purchase by Cedar Fair, who have been putting a bunch of money into fixing up decades of needed repairs. This meant the closure of rides for several seasons. After years of waiting, seeing the Hillside Tube Chute open again felt like reuniting with an old friend.

The other changes were due to the park’s inability to hire enough lifeguards to staff all the rides. This meant that one of the big things that initially made us fall in love with Schlitterbahn, getting to float in the river at the end of a tube chute, hadn’t been open since 2020. Finally, in 2024, the entrance to the river was reopened, and our hearts were happy.

My Most Anticipated Flight of 2024.

While I loved flying on Singapore Airlines in 2023, this year, I was most excited about trying Norse Atlantic on my flight from London to Orlando. It turns out that flying with Norse was a good experience and one that I’d do again. While the lack of Wi-Fi was disappointing, Norse Atlantic’s service and comfort rivaled even top-tier airlines’ premium economy offerings.

Runner-up

A runner up to the most anticipated flight of the year was my last minute trip on Spirit Airlines when American canceled my flight home. At least I could snag a middle seat in the exit row, making the five-hour flight tolerable.

2024’s Most Memorable Hotel

My most memorable hotel stay of the year had to be at Nobu Las Vegas. By far this was the most stylish room I stayed at in 2024. From the sleek, minimalist décor to a spa-like bathroom, Nobu’s attention to detail was unmatched by any other hotel this year. I’d gladly stay here again.

Second Place

A contender for the best hotel of 2024 was the Intercontinental Miami. I was surprised by this hotel, which has some unique architectural elements, including the large sculpture in the lobby.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, 2024 was filled with unforgettable moments. From thrilling cruises to dream destinations, it reminded me why I love to travel. What were your favorite travel memories this year? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

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