My 2024 trips: a year in review
Another year is about to go by, and it’s time to reflect on the destinations that I visited this year, and to start dreaming about the ones I’ll be exploring in 2025. Even though 2024 was quieter in terms of travel compared to previous years, I still had my fair share. Here’s my year in review, including my tentative travel plans for the upcoming year!
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My year in review: 2024 travel recap
Before diving into the details of each destination I traveled to this year, let me break down those trips month by month for a quick overview.
👇 Below is a recap of my 2024:
- January ☀ : I welcomed the New Year in southern Spain with my family, in the province of Málaga. We enjoyed exploring the sunny Costa del Sol and we hiked the popular ‘Caminito del Rey‘
- February 🥳: I stayed in the Basque Country, where I celebrated Carnival; I also went on a day trip to Vitoria with some friends, and we had a family gathering in Tolosa.
- March 🇺🇸: I spent almost two weeks in my beloved Washington DC on a work trip for a training.
- April 🍰: I enjoyed quite a few outdoor activities with the arrival of spring back home, and we also celebrated one of my favorite traditions in my hometown: the ´opilla´.
- May 🚗 : I went on a road trip with my family throughout northern and central Spain exploring historic destinations.
- June 🔴⚫⚪: I went to Valencia with my brother on a long weekend, and to wrap up the month in style, we celebrated my beloved festival of San Marcial in my hometown, Irún.
- July 🎤: we organized a surprise trip to the concert of the Mexican singer Luis Miguel in Pamplona, and on our way back, we visited various destinations in Navarre. I spent the rest of the summer on a glorious staycation, enjoying my favorite plans back home.
- August ⛱: I staycationed a lot, but I also traveled with my Dad to Castile and León to visit a few family friends in the Burgos province.
- September 🎈: I celebrated my birthday, the Alarde in Fuenterrabía and I attended the International Film Festival taking place in San Sebastián too.
- October 🪩: I spent a weekend with friends in Madrid to attend the Nostalgia Milenial festival.
- November 🍷: during the Halloween weekend, I spent a few days in France, in the area of Bordeaux and Les Landes with a friend. I also delivered a presentation about my trip to Ethiopia last year, I went on a day trip to Bilbao, I had another family reunion in Tolosa and I discovered the Aquarium in Biarritz with some friends and their kids.
- December 🎄: we welcomed part of my family from Catalonia back home and we took them around the French Basque Country. The rest of the month was busy with a whirlwind of Christmas celebrations with family and friends in the lead up to the New Year.
In terms of destinations, here´s the full list sorted by country.
Countries traveled in 2024: 3 (see below)
- France: Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
- Spain: Andalusia, Asturias, Basque Country, Cantabria, Castile – la Mancha, Castile and León, Community of Madrid, La Rioja, Navarre, Valencian Community.
- USA: Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC.
🗓️ In short, 2024 was quite busy in terms of travel adventures, but less so than the previous year. The upcoming 2025 promises to be more intense though! Here´s the reels video recap on my Instagram account in case you´d like to take a look.
2024 year in review, trips by month
January: Spain 🇪🇸 (Andalusia)
I kicked off 2024 in the province of Málaga, in the region of Andalusia, in southern Spain. During the week that I spent there with my family, I visited the beautiful cities of Benalmádena, El Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga and Mijas along the sunny Costa del Sol.
We also hiked the popular ‘Caminito del Rey‘, located in a deep gorge amidst breathtaking landscapes and featuring a picturesque suspension bridge. In my experience, this renowned hiking trail lived up to the hype and is certainly one of the best things to do in Malaga!
Get inspired around the province of Málaga!
El Caminito del Rey: the most popular hiking trail in Málaga
El Saltillo: hiking the Gran Senda de Málaga from Canillas de Aceituno
Top things to do in Málaga, the capital of Costa del Sol (+ map)
What to see in the Málaga province: 12 destinations inland & along Costa del Sol
After returning back home to Irún, it was time to celebrate the Tamborrada in San Sebastián. This yearly drum festival takes place in the capital of Guipúzcoa and lasts for 24 hours, from midnight on January 19th to January 20th. This vibrant and iconic drum parade honors the city’s patron saint, Saint Sebastian. Kids, men and women dress in colorful, traditional costumes, marching through the city representing different gastronomical associations (called ´sociedades´) or schools.
February: Spain 🇪🇸 (Basque Country)
At the beginning of the month, we celebrated Carnival with my friends. It´s always cool to dress up and have some fun!
In mid- February, I traveled with my girlfriends to Vitoria, the capital of the Basque Country. During this day trip, we visited one of our friends who lives there. We enjoyed a glorious sunny day catching up, doing a walking tour around this historic city and eating at a delicious Italian restaurant (Dottor pizza vino&cucina).
A few days later, we had a family gathering in Tolosa, a town that was the capital of Guipúzcoa between 1844 and 1854. It´s always a joy to be reunited, especially around delicious food! 🙂
Explore the Basque Country!
Camino de Santiago: hiking from Irún to Deba along the ‘Camino del Norte’
My top five museums to visit in Guipúzcoa
Restaurante Iribar: the best grilled fish in Getaria
March: USA 🇺🇸 (Washington DC)
Just three months after my last work trip, I was back in my beloved Washington DC, the capital of the USA. After being an expat for so many years, it´s always great to return to your second home away from home. 🙂
This time around, I spent 12 days there to attend a training. As usual, my stay was packed, meeting up with colleagues and friends, going back to my favorite places and discovering new ones (such as Tanger Outlets in Oxon Hill, Maryland, for shopping) and also trying new bars and restaurants such as Emissary (delicious coffee), Lyon Hall (in Clarendon, Virginia), Tiger Fork in Blagden Alley or Vagabond (great for cocktails).
Further, my visit to DC was eventful to say the least, with the State of the Union address and the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles all happening during the same week! I really enjoyed following those from my hotel room. 🙂
Browse my other posts about Washington DC.
Biking along the C&O Canal in the fall
Embassy Row & the National Cathedral
Exploring Georgetown (part I) & part II
The beautiful Cherry Blossom in Washington DC
April: Spain 🇪🇸 (Basque Country)
With the arrival of spring back home, it got nicer to plan outdoor activities. During the month of April, I hiked to mount San Marcial and around Olaberria in Irún, I met with friends in San Sebastián and I biked to the beach in Hendaye.
We also celebrated one of my favorite traditions in my hometown: the ´opilla´. This is a cake that godmothers give to their godchildren on April 25 while they are single. To learn more about this story, read my post.
May: Spain 🇪🇸 (family road trip)
At the beginning of May, I did a seven-day road trip with my family around 16 monumental destinations in Spain, visiting various regions of the country, including Cantabria, Asturias, Castile and León, Castile-la Mancha, the Community of Madrid, La Rioja and Navarre.
During this road trip adventure throughout northern and central Spain, I loved exploring so many destinations, big and small, rural and urban, old and brand new on my travel bucket list. It only reconfirmed how beautifully diverse my country is, and was a stark reminder of the stunning heritage we should aim to preserve for both current and future generations. I specially enjoyed discovering Spanish locations off the beaten track such as Soria or Guadalajara (the landscapes in this province were a dream come true!).
Read the full post to learn more about our Spain road trip!
June: Spain 🇪🇸 (Valencian Community)
In mid-June I went to Valencia with my brother on a long weekend. Although I had visited various times beforehand because we have family there, I loved taking the time to discover this Mediterranean city at a slower pace.
As the capital of the Valencian Community and Spain’s third-largest city, Valencia (also known as València) offers a fascinating blend of historical heritage, modern architecture, vibrant culture and world-famous food thanks to the ‘paella‘.
Browse these other Mediterranean destinations!
France (French Riviera, Marseille)
Spain (Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Cádiz province, Málaga province)
UK (Gibraltar)
To wrap up the month of June in style, we observed my beloved festival of San Marcial in my hometown. Every June 30th, Irún celebrates San Marcial, a military parade in commemoration of the victory of Spanish troops over the French enemy back in 1522.
If you’d like to know more about this historic event, including key words and dates to be aware of and how to get dressed for this special occasion, you can read my post about the Alarde in Irún.
July: Spain 🇪🇸 (Navarre)
At the very beginning of the month, we organized a surprise trip for my Mum. We went to the concert of the Mexican singer Luis Miguel in Pamplona, the capital of Navarre. It was an absolute hit, there were even mariachis playing on stage! On our way back, we visited the medieval village of Olite, the Natural Park of Señorío de Bértiz and Doneztebe-Santesteban.
I spent the rest of the month, and of the summer actually, on a glorious staycation, enjoying my favorite plans back home: catching up with family and friends, cooking and eating good food or relaxing at the beach.
Check out these beach destinations.
A fun Memorial weekend in Philadelphia, Six Flags & Rehoboth Beach
Spring break road trip (part III): northern Florida
The perfect summer day trip: Bidart & Biarritz
What to do in the Cádiz province (Costa de la Luz): Barbate, Tarifa, Trafalgar & Vejer
August: Spain 🇪🇸 (Castile and León)
During the month of August, I greatly enjoyed staycationing and taking advantage of the beautiful area I´m lucky to call home: Fuenterrabía, Hendaye, Irún or San Sebastián. I love the summer season!
In mid-August, I traveled with my Dad to Castile and León to visit a few family friends in the Burgos province. We spent our summer days relaxing in the villages of Castrovido and Salas de los Infantes. We also did some hikes to Peña de Villanueva and to the nearby glaciar lagoons in the Demanda mountain range (Lagunas de Neila).
I also managed to squeeze in a reunion with my dear Erasmus friends.
Get inspired by these destinations I visited in the summer.
Family road trip: New York + Long Island, Boston, Niagara Falls, Amish territory + Philadelphia, Toronto
Top things to do in Sierra de Aracena (Huelva): travel guide + map
September: Spain 🇪🇸 (staycation)
The month of September is typically a time to celebrate because we host various birthdays in the family (including my own) and it´s the Alarde in Fuenterrabía as well. These celebrations mark the end of the summer and the return to my daily routine.
Another activity that I like to plan for every year is to watch at least one movie during the International Film Festival taking place in San Sebastián.
For more inspiration throughout the country, feel free to browse this Spain travel guidebook by Lonely Planet.
October: Spain 🇪🇸 (Community of Madrid)
The highlight of my month of October was traveling to Madrid, the capital of Spain, to attend the Nostalgia Milenial festival. We spent a weekend there and it was great to catch up with friends, eat delicious food and sightsee this bustling city.
November: France 🇫🇷 (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
During the Halloween weekend between October and November, I spent three days in Bordeaux with a friend from Vitoria. Even though I had stopped by this French city in previous occasions given how close it is from the Spanish border, I hadn´t really taken the time to thoroughly explore it up until now.
In my opinion, Bordeaux is the perfect blend of architecture, rich history and wine culture. We enjoyed a cruise along the Garonne river, explored the hipster space of Darwin, and ate our way through this French city. Now I can´t wait to go back!
After a few days in Bordeaux, we headed south along the Atlantic coastline to Les Landes. Known for its endless pine forests, vast beaches, and incredible surfing spots, the region is a paradise for nature lovers, surfers, and adventurers alike. We spent a couple of days in Mimizan and Ondres, but this corner in southwestern France treasures a great mix of coastal villages and picturesque countryside destinations worth being explored.
If you haven’t discovered the magic of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region yet , it’s time to plan your trip—you won’t regret it!
Discover the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France!
Best things to do in Les Landes: the perfect blend of coastal villages and countryside charm
Itinerary around the French Basque Country
Things to do in Bordeaux, the capital of French wine
In mid-November, I stepped out of my comfort zone by delivering a presentation about my trip to Ethiopia last year. I was really proud of myself and I enjoyed the experience. Definitely something worth repeating in 2025!
To finish off the month of November, I also went on a day trip to Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, with some friends from my time in Washington DC. It was great to catch up while walking by the main attractions in town, including the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum. Furthermore, we had another family gathering in Tolosa and I discovered the Aquarium in Biarritz with some friends and their kids. Great fun indeed!
December: Spain 🇪🇸 (home)
At the beginning of December, we welcomed part of my family from Catalonia back home. Despite the nasty winter weather, we took them around the French Basque Country (Biarritz, Hendaye, Saint-Jean-de-Luz) and enjoyed delicious food.
The rest of the month was busy with a whirlwind of Christmas celebrations with family and friends in the lead up to the New Year.
Browse these winter destinations!
A day in the Stockholm archipelago: Vaxholm
Best things to do in Stockholm (travel guide + map)
Nordic countries travel guide: top things to do in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
My travel plans for 2025
Even though this year has been quite busy in terms of trips, 2025 promises to be even more intense! And I have to admit I sort of like it, despite enjoying spending time at home with my loved ones too. 🙂
So far, this is how my tentative travel schedule for 2025 looks like:
- Early 2025 🇺🇸: Washington DC for my annual work trip (and I´m also considering traveling somewhere warm in the USA or in the Caribbean after that) + maybe a ski trip in Spain or France.
- March 🇪🇸: Fallas in Valencia (I can´t wait to experience this epic celebration first-hand).
- April 🇲🇦: after having visited Morocco with my Dad in 2014, I can´t wait to return to Marrakech and discover the Moroccan cities of Agadir and Essaouira for the first time!
- May 🇬🇧: we´ll be celebrating the birthdays of two of my best friends in style with a trip to London and the Harry Potter Studios. I´m beyond excited for this one.
- June 🇪🇸: every two years, we travel to our beloved Balearic Islands, specifically to Mallorca. This time around, we´re thinking about exploring Formentera and Ibiza as well.
- July 🇪🇸: to kick off the summer season, we´ll be celebrating a family wedding in the historic city of Segovia. We might sightsee the province and other nearby destinations on our way back.
- August 🇦🇹: another wedding, but this time in the breathtaking Alps in Austria. It will be great to be reunited with friends from Washington DC!
- Late 2025 ✨: other travel plans to wrap up the year might include visiting a good friend in Brussels and exploring the charming Christmas markets in the Baltic countries for the first time.
How did you like this travel recap? Drop me a comment below to let me know which trips were your favorites in 2024, and which travel adventures you´re planning for 2025!
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