First, a little story, since it's finally my birthday month.
It was August 15 of last year, 3 days before my 30th birthday. And I had zero plans for it.
I'd told myself I'd keep it low-key and do something at home. Keep it demure. Maybe dinner with friends, and cozy in bed by 10.
But as I lay peacefully in bed, something started to itch.
I sat up, and walked over to the mirror.
I looked at myself, remembered who the f*ck I am, and opened my laptop.
...Demure? Is that how I wanted to enter my 30s?
Not the brand.
So I booked a last-minute solo trip to Costa Rica with 3 days to spare (you can watch the chaos in my YouTube vlog).
I landed in Playa Jacó at a private retreat and center: Spanish every morning, yoga every evening, salsa at night.
I didn't have my 30s figured out (and I still don't).
But I decided. And I made it happen.
I bring this up because someone recently told me they're sad they didn't travel in 2026.
"Well, it's August, and the month is basically over. December's for family. So really there's three months left to travel. And you can't book anything in three months... So basically, I can't travel this year."
I thought... What? How did we get from the first week of August → 2026 is over?
The mental gymnastics involved in making excuses is Olympic. And I say that because it's exactly what I was doing with my own 30th birthday plans.
I don't want to pretend it's "easy" to travel. It's not. We're all overwhelmed, all thinking about money, all stressed out.
But turning 5 months into zero isn't the answer either. We can't live that way and still live our best, fullest lives!
So before you slide down that slope: slow down. Take a breath, look around.
We're barely past the halfway point of the year. Half a year left. The glass is half empty, OR it's half full, and rising.
So tell me, Reader: what are you waiting to have figured out before you let yourself do the thing you actually want to do?
You have the means. You have the vacation days. You have the Pinterest board.
What you're missing isn't a plan. It's the moment where you stop waiting for one.
So I'm here to help. Below are 10 trips you still have time to take in 2026! Two for every month left. Local, domestic, bucket list, across the world, there's a variety.
Get ahead on them. This is the time.
And remember:
You don't need the whole picture. You need the next right move.
Transparency note: this email contains some affiliate links. They cost you nothing to use, and give me a small note for suggesting the things I love. Cool? Cool.
August
Learn Spanish, surf, and do yoga every day in Playa Jacó, Costa Rica 🌴 This is the exact program from my story: Escuela de Mundio / School of the World: upgraded accommodations, Spanish lessons, surf, and 90-minute guided yoga under one roof for about $2,000/week. Fly into San José (SJO), then it's a 90-minute transfer to the beach which they help organize. So many sidequests to be had from salsa nights to fly fishing. I really fell in love with Costa Rica on this trip. [Check it out →]
Swim with wild dolphins in Bimini, Bahamas 🐬 Want something more domestic, but still bucket list? Have you heard of Bimini? Technically it’s the Bahamas, but it’s right off of Miami and you don’t need your passport. How does this sound: six nights aboard the Dolphin Dream liveaboard boat, sleeping through an overnight crossing and waking up surrounded by wild dolphins who find you before you find them. Departs Riviera Beach, FL, and it’s been on my bucket list for a while! [Swim with dolphins! →]
September
Take a wine cruise on in Portugal with the fam 🍷 I just did this river cruise in June with my mom and grandma! (see my Reel on it here) AmaWaterways sails you through terraced vineyard valleys with a tasting at nearly every stop. Zero itinerary to build. Just show up and let them spoil you. And they truly do: white glove dinner service, an onboard spa, super friendly and accommodating staff, and once you're on board, everything, all drinks and food are included. Yes, unlimited wine. [Cruise it up! →]
Oktoberfest! Lots of drinking, lots of fun.🍺 (Sept 19–Oct 4) Most popularly celebrated in Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart, tents and flights are moving fast for Oktoberfest dates! Direct flights from major US cities make this one of the easiest big trips on this whole list. I personally don't drink beer, but if you are interested in fall weather, German culture, or just like to dance and party with friendly strangers, Oktoberfest should be on your list, and you still have plenty of time to make it happen in 2026. They even have guided experiences with beer and food included, so you can save the mental load of planning. [Plan your experience →]
October
Cayman Islands 🏝️ Warm, quiet, and easy in October. My full 5-day solo itinerary with every spot I hit is linked. People are still so shocked when I tell them my private, luxury bungalow was only $300/night—never assume a spot is expensive before you do your own research! My Mamma Mia night at Mambo Italiano will also go down in history. Go solo, or take your girlfriends! [Steal my free itinerary →]
Visit Sleepy Hollow before Halloween 🎃 A little more local. About an hour north of New York City, Sleepy Hollow is a real town you can really visit, and gets really excited about Halloween and fall festivities! It’s a huge rush every year, but you’re smart because you have a seat in The Exit Row 🌺✈️ and are thinking about it August when it’s still affordable 💅🏽 Right now hotels are as low as $135/night the week before Halloween. The lowest-lift, lowest-cost trip on the list. (It's even cheaper if you book it with points, like from the Chase Sapphire Reserve*) Here’s a hotel people frequently stay at: [Check out hotel options →]
November
Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand 🏮 (Nov 24–25) Thousands of sky lanterns released into the sky at once. Official tickets include dinner, two lanterns, and transfers, and they sell out months ahead, so this is the one to lock in now. Such Tangled vibes. I would cry my eyes out with joy. Make sure you bring a good quality camera, because this is THE opportunity to get photos for the gram. [Get tickets →]
Great Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania 🦓 By November the herds are moving across the Serengeti and into the Seronera Valley. Anyone else watch Eliza Thornberry, Crocodile Hunter, or even Zaboomafoo as a kid? 👀 Because I am a wildlife fanatic now, and this migration is at the top of my bucket list. The secret is, lodges quietly cut rates in half right before December's high season. Underrated month, over-delivered payoff. Check out this gorgeous wildlife lodge in Seronera with a pool or this luxury Serengeti camp with picturesque views!
December
New Year's Eve! Do it big, go abroad! 2 million people rush to Copacabana Beach 🇧🇷 every year for the party, Brazilian music, and fireworks over the Atlantic. So many of my friends have gone to NYE in Brazil and said yes, it’s crowded… yes, it can be expensive (if you wait too long)... But yes, it’s so worth it. It’s truly a party that doesn't end until sunrise. [Peep hotel options →]
Otherwise, a New Years Eve trip worth doing is Cape Town in South Africa 🇿🇦If you haven't been introduced to Cape Town, you're missing out. The vibes are just unmatched. December in South Africa is the most elite weather of the year. You will have a great time, and you're still very early and can make the trip happen if you start planning now. Plus if you're a thrill-seeker like me, then you'll LOVE the paragliding over Cape Town I did. Stunning. [Start planning now →]
Since we're on the topic of not waiting until it's figured out, here's mine:
I've gone through so many phases as a travel creator, and in my personal life too. The engineering girl. The study abroad girl. The digital nomad girl. The New York girl.
I'm somewhere in a new era right now, and for a while I've been rushing to name it before it's even finished taking shape.
I'm claiming that I don't have to wait until I've named this chapter to keep living it. Turning 30. Figuring out my priorities, my family, my absolutely un-killable love for travel, and how to hold all of that at the same time as bigger financial goals, bigger impact, and just trying to survive whatever the U.S. is doing right now.
Here's the part I do know: I started telling stories online to find my people. Not views, not brand deals: my people.
I don't need the rest of it figured out to keep showing up for that.
So however you found your way here, I'm glad you're one of them, and I'd love to hear from you too!
P.S. Reply and tell me the one thing you've been waiting to have figured out before you finally just do it. You don't need the whole plan, just the next right move. Some days I need that reminder as much as you do.
Til next time,