2014 Year in Review

In terms of travel, 2014 was our busiest year yet. We do not take this for granted and are very thankful for both the opportunity to travel and the experiences and memories made in each place, including in our own home. For documenting purposes and to help us remember this year down the road, here are some stats, notable memories and favorites from this past year, some of which surprised us when we sat down and tallied it all.

Travel Stats

63,101 miles flown.
70 flight segments.
11 airlines.
34 airports.
4 countries. 5, if we count the U.S.A. (not including layovers in other countries)
14 states. (not including layovers in other states)
7 national parks.
59 nights away from home. (not including nights locally at friends' houses or our parents' houses)
4 nights on overnight flights.
2 nights in the airport.
18 airport lounge visits.
13 different lounges.
5 showers taken at those lounges.
14 car rentals.
33 days of driving car rentals.

The Best Of 2014

• The fare that led to a week in Italy.
• Two weeks in South America with family.
• A week in paradise with our F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and falling in love with Kaua'i.
• The fare that led to Austria and Hallstatt, a favorite place.
• Time spent outside hiking and skiing. For the love of fresh air, national parks and friendships.
• Visiting family and friends across the country/world.

The Worst Of 2014

• A 1.5 hour standoff between police and guests in the hotel room next to us at 3 a.m. involving guns, drugs and arrests. Scariest night ever...in Wisconsin of all places!
• Trying to sleep in a lounge in Lima, Peru.
• Getting to the Galapagos and an unpleasant LAN experience.
• Deciding to cancel our $208 Abu Dhabi flights for this coming spring.

Favorites from the Past Year

Airline: Southwest, Air Berlin
Hotel: Park Hyatt in Milan, Italy
Hostel: Hostal Corihuasi in Cusco, Peru
Domestic Lounge: The Centurion Lounges at DFW and LGA
International Lounge: Swiss Lounge in Zurich, Switzerland
Credit Card Offer: 100,000 mile Citi AA Exec
Country: Italy and Austria
State: Oregon
Island: Kaua'i
Domestic City: New York City, NY
International City: Venice, Italy
Town: The Cinque Terre villages and Hallstatt, Austria
National Park: Crater Lake
Famous Sight: The Colosseum and Machu Picchu
Waterfall: Hanakapi'ai Falls, Kaua'i
Hike: too many to choose from! The Kalalau Trail and Hanakapi'ai Falls Hike on Kaua'i, Burroughs Mountain in Mount Rainier NP and Sourdough Mountain in North Cascades NP
Piece of Art: The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci
Bird: the male blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds in the Galapagos.
Sporting Event: Cavs @ Celtics
Memorial: Cannot choose. Pearl Harbor, World Trade Center Memorial, and the Nate Saint house in Shell, Ecuador.
Ice Cream: Gelato at Gelateria de'Neri in Florence.
Picnic: the fresh salami, cheeses, and bread from the market in Austria.
Lunch: Pizza (Anni 50) at Ristorante la Pentolaccia Pizzeria Annicinquanta in Rome and BBQ at Pecan Lodge in Dallas.
Dinner: Carbonara at Antica Trattoria Da Carlone in Trastevere (Rome) and pizza outside at Lucali in Brooklyn, NY.

Wishing you a very happy New Year and many adventures in 2015!