According to our records, this is the 40^th blog I’ve written since starting WKM in 2020.  The previous 39 have been focused mainly on economics and investment and I thought to mark my 40^th, I’m going to completely change the focus.  If you want to hear or read about my economic and investment thoughts then I’d be delighted to have a chat.  If you’d like to hear my thoughts on where you should go on holiday next year, then keep reading!  It can be dreary as we head into winter in the UK, so here is some uplifting holiday inspiration for three of my favourite destinations!

I don’t have children, which gives me the freedom to go on holiday where I want to go, when I want to go.  I’ve been fortunate enough to travel extensively and like most people, I love to travel – it gives you a sense of freedom and escapism from normal life.

All year sunshine, scenery and wildlife – Costa Rica

The go-to places for winter sun are generally the Canaries and Dubai.  I would argue that Costa Rica is a far better option.  It is slightly further than Dubai but for that extra distance you are rewarded with hotter temperatures and a world of rainforests, wildlife and beaches that are unique.  There is so much to see and do in Costa Rica.  I went in 2022 and had the pleasure of picking coffee at Starbucks’ global research hub (below left) and trekking the Arena volcano (below right) whilst walking through cloud forests and seeing toucans and pumas.

I travelled to the Pacific coast, where you will find pristine empty beaches (me at Tamarindo) and great food.  The last stop was one of the best hotels I’ve ever been to – Rio Perdido, which is a remote resort perched next to a canyon, that you can zip line through (I was brave enough).  At the foot of the canyon are natural warm pools, which will help you look young again!

Costa Rica has everything you’d want in a holiday and is a great choice for kids too.

Culture, history, scenery and Asian food – Vietnam

For a trip to Asia, there are so many options and my other highlights would include Japan and Malaysia (including Borneo) for similar adventures but Vietnam has it all.  Hanoi is probably my favourite city – we did a food tour, which is a must (egg coffee is also a must!), along with train street (below) and trips to Halong Bay (including kayaking, below) and the awesome scenery in Ninh Binh.

The classic trip in Vietnam is down the East coast, which is what we did and despite missing out on Hue due to flooding, we did a beautiful bicycle trip through paddy fields in Hoi An along with a cookery course to try and reproduce some of the amazing local food.  The nearby Golden Hands bridge was also a sight to see.  A beach stay at the excellent Mia Resort near Nha Trang was next before heading to Ho Chi Minh, where the history takes over and no trip to Vietnam is complete without learning about the war from their perspective.  The brutal War Remnants Museum is a museum unlike any other and highlights how evil humans can be to each other while the Chu Chu tunnels show how tough life was for the soldiers.  We did a tour of the city on Vespas (below), which was a brilliant way to see the sights without getting stuck in traffic!

Vietnam has so much to see and do and is more budget friendly than Costa Rica.  I didn’t get chance to Sapa in the north or the Mekong in the south so it gives me an excuse to go back!   Vietnam is also very kid friendly.

A European city break for car lovers and foodies – Bologna

I did a long weekend with my brother Neil to Bologna in 2024 and it was everything that you want from such a trip.  Within an hour from Bologna, there is the home of bolognese sauce (obviously!), Parma ham, parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, tagliatelle, tortellini, lambrusco wine and probably many others that I don’t realise.  It is a dream for foodies! There are so many options but the best pasta I’ve ever eaten was at Sfoglia Rina, where the queue was worth waiting for.  We also did a food trip with a chef near Modena to see parmesan (below left) and to taste balsamic vinegar (below right), which they put on everything, even ice cream! Like Guinness in Dublin, things taste so much better when they are locally made.

This region of Italy is also known for something else – cars and bikes! Within a few miles of Modena, you can find Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani and Ducati.  Before visiting, I wasn’t a Ferrari fan, however the museums (plural!) give you the feeling of just how special the brand is.  I, at the time, owned a Ducati, so it was special to get discounted access to their museum too.

Bologna is a relatively quiet city but has so much to offer and you can easily fill a weekend there.

My trips for 2026

At present, I have two trips planned so far.  The first is a trip to Chile and Argentina in February.  It’s great to get away at the start of the year to somewhere warm, when it feels like it has been winter for forever in the UK.  I’m going with three friends, so it should be a great couple of weeks exploring the Atacama desert, Santiago, Patagonia, Buenos Aires, penguins and much more!

I’m also heading to Gothenburg in Summer with the same friends to watch Luke Combs, a US singer.  I love combining music with travel and I’m never been to Sweden or seen Luke, so that’ll be a fun weekend.

There are so many benefits to going on holiday.  It doesn’t have to be as far away as Costa Rica or Vietnam to see those benefits.  The UK has so much to offer too and that sense of freedom and escapism can be found in Scotland or Norfolk too.

If anyone has been to or planning to go to Costa Rica, Vietnam or Bologna, let me know or if you have alternative suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them!

Hope you enjoyed this slightly different blog – the next one will be back to normal!