After a brief article introducing the TravelGuys context in 2024, it’s time to take stock of this year’s travels.
For the sake of consistency, as in my 2023 retrospective, I’ll be talking here about 2024 publications, which includes a remainder of 2023 trips and a large proportion of 2024 trips. And I’ll be sure to tease you a little by mentioning the 2024 travels that will be published in 2025!
Here we go!
2024: the return of the classics and a few novelties
2024 was not a year of great discoveries, or only on the edges. Rather, it was the return of some of the great classics that I had neglected for a few years, and a few new additions, but rather on short trips, without going off to discover new far-flung destinations.
So I started with Vietnam, where I visited for the 3rd time. No real discoveries apart from the island of Pho Quoc and the specific attention I paid to the local gastronomy. On the other hand, the way I organized the trip gave me the opportunity to discover Oslo on the way back.
Then a destination that was still new a year ago, but to which I returned for the second time in 15 months: Australia. Familiar country but new cities with the discovery of Adelaide and above all Melbourne. A trip that will also give me the opportunity to try out some new hotels and restaurants in Gothenburg on the way, but you can’t say that Sweden’s second largest city is a real novelty here.
We I moved on to a classic: Lyon. A fast, non-touristy but high-quality gastronomic stay for my birthday.
Then the first real discovery of the year…an hour from Paris with a short stay in Amiens.
Back to a familiar destination with Sicily. A well-known destination, but one I’d never explored in depth before, so I was finally able to take the time to really get to know Catania, Taormina and Syracuse.
And, as far as publications are concerned, I end with Porto, which I hadn’t heard of before, a gap that has now been filled.
Other trips you’ll discover in 2025 include a very fast trip to Lisbon to see a show and the discovery of Dijon before the highlight of the show.
By the highlight of the show, I mean a trip to the USA, where after two classics, Boston and New York, I’ll be moving on to New Orleans. Just back in France, I’m off to Singapore and Bali. I told you it was a return to the old classics. It’s now mid-August, and it’s at this point that wisdom will have me stepping back for an indefinite period, having other problems to deal with and nothing to look forward to as far as loyalty programs are concerned. But that’s a subject for later this week.
Airlines: Discovery of ANA, Turkish confirms, farewell to SAS and a return on Air France
So this year I discovered ANA, with which I flew to Australia. Really good, even if the management of IRROPs could have been better when a flight was cancelled and I had to fend for myself. It’s not Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines, but just below them, and that’s fine.
For Vietnam, I chose Turkish Airlines, which once again proved to be one of the top airlines. On the other hand, domestic flights on Vietnam Airlines left me with mixed memories, with cabins and services that varied greatly depending on the destination.
My trip to Sicily was an opportunity to get to know ITA, Alitalia’s successor. The service wasn’t impressive at all, but I did fall under the spell of the business class cabin of their A321Neo.
For me, 2024 was also the year of my return to Air France and KLM’s medium-haul routes. As you know, we’ve never been thrilled with the product, but I’ve decided to give it another chance, and I have to admit that the clear progress we’ve seen in long-haul in recent years, and which is public knowledge, is starting to trickle down to medium-haul. A successful test for our flagship airline, which convinced me to choose it to fly to Asia, resulting in an exceptional experience. But you’ll find out in a few months.
Something else you’ll be reading about in a few weeks’ time: my farewell to SAS, not without regret. The Scandinavian airline was about to leave Star Alliance, and its much-loved Eurobonus frequent flyer program was no longer of any interest to us. My trip to the USA was therefore an opportunity to redeem my Eurobonus points and bid farewell to this airline for which we had a real affection.
SAS…we’ve loved each other so much… but we’re going in separate directions. Maybe our new loyalty program policy will allow us to fly with you again one day, but it will never be like before.
Hotels
This year was an opportunity to discover some very fine properties and to confirm the level of some others. Here are my most notable memories.
Chronologically, I’ll start with Vietnam and the excellent JW Marriott Hanoi, whose only fault is that it’s off-center, but it wouldn’t have been possible to build such a complex in the city. Then there’s the very surprising JW Marriott Emerald Bay in Phu Quoc is a superb resort with a rather unique storytelling. And in both cases I was entitled to exceptional upgrades.
Let’s move on to Australia, where the only place I really came out of was the Ritz Carlton in Melbourne. It’s a brand-new establishment, with beautiful rooms and a superb swimming pool. For the rest, Australia reminds me a little of the USA when it comes to hotels, but better. Good, but not great, and stingy when it comes to loyalty programs. So I was a little disappointed by the W Sydney and very disappointed by the W Melbourne.
While I’m at it, I’ll add the Moxy Sydney Airport to the list of satisfactions, as it’s very nice and conveniently located near the airport.
In Sicily, I finally got to try out the recently opened Ortea Palace in Syracuse. Again, a very fine property with a superb upgrade.
My stay in Porto gave me the opportunity to discover the brand new Renaissance Lapa. A little out of the way, but a beautiful property.
For the articles to come, the American hotel industry confirms the opinion I had of it and why I avoided this country as much as possible in recent years: very mediocre, service not up to scratch and stratospheric prices. On the other hand, my trip to Asia was of a completely different kind, with a return to a recently renovated hotel with which I have a real affective relationship (the Laguna Bali), a superb upgrade to Le Méridien Jimbaran, also in Bali, and my first Edition hotel in Singapore.
Next, let’s talk about my connection cities. As is often the case, it’s Gothenburg that I bring back my best memories, with the discovery of Jacy’z and its superb Pool Club and the Draken, which I found very cosy and to which I returned later to try out their beautiful spa, which wasn’t yet open during my first stay. But you’ll see in a few months. Still in Gothenburg, I was conformed to the excellent standards of the Radisson Blue Scandinavia, which you already know, but where I had one of the finest upgrades of my “career” before leaving for Australia. Finally, I’d like to mention, to my great surprise, the Scandic at Gothenburg Landvetter airport, which really surprised me, particularly with its spa overlooking the tarmac.
Restaurants
Flying and sleeping are fine, but sometimes you have to eat. Here again, I’m not going to give you an exhaustive review, but just a few of the properties that stood out for me.
I’ll start with number one, undeniably my best gastronomic experience in a long time and one of the best historically: Mère Brazier, a monument to French cuisine.
Still in the gastronomic and starred category, I’d recommend Cortile Spirito Santo in Syracuse, Yakikami in Melbourne (Japanese), Saga in Gothenburg (Singaporean), Anan in Saigon (Vietnamese), Tung Dining in Hanoi (fusion), Freyja in Melbourne for lovers of Scandinavian cuisine, and In Diferente in Porto for Portuguese cuisine with a French influence.
For more affordable dining, fans of Middle Eastern cuisine should head to Aalia in Sydney. For Portuguese cuisine, go to Cantinho do Avillez, Cafeina or Gruta in Porto. For Indian cuisine, visit Delhi Streets in Melbourne.
In French restaurants, I liked Ail des ours in Amiens. And how could I forget Veau qui tête at Rungis market!
What projects for 2025?
As I write, I’m full of ideas but nothing concrete. Too many other priorities to manage, too many problems to solve, it’s impossible for me to project myself onto anything. At best, the machine will start up again, at worst 2025 will be an opportunity to do things differently, without constraints, especially since, as you’ll see in my next article, I’m freeing myself from loyalty programs, at least for the most part.
So, will 2025 be a year of improvisation and freestyle, before returning to the old routine in 2026? Why not.
Bottom line
A rather rich year of travel when you consider that it lasted less than 9 months before I put my foot on the brake, telling myself that I had nothing to gain by doing more. Fewer discoveries than in other years, but the pleasure of going back to places I loved and had somewhat neglected. The safety and memories option before a short break.
Image : 2024 trips by daphnusia images via Shutterstock.
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