Top Travel Experiences of 2023

It’s been an incredible year of travel and adventure, and I can’t wait to share my top experiences of 2023 with you.

As a food and travel blogger based in Austin, Texas, I’ve had the privilege of exploring some fantastic destinations, both near and far. From road trips in the Lone Star State to my first trans-Pacific journey in more than ten years, it’s been a whirlwind.

Join me as I reminisce about the places I’ve explored in this year’s travel retrospective. I hope it sparks a little wanderlust in you for the year ahead.

International Trips

Vietnam

My most extensive trip of the year was in February when I flew to Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) via Tokyo to attend the wedding of my good friend Nick. Kel joined me, as did several of our friends from the Austin area, which made it all the more fun.

Our first week was spent sightseeing in Saigon and attending the rehearsal dinner and wedding. We then joined the bride and groom on a budget-friendly five-day tour of Vietnam.

Kel wrote about our activities in Central Vietnam, including visits to the Marble Mountains, Golden Bridge, and the ancient city of Hoi An.

Next, we flew from Da Nang to Hanoi in Northern Vietnam for an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay. Afterward, we balanced thrifty accommodations earlier in the trip with a more luxurious stay at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake.

I returned from the two-week trip with a greater appreciation for Vietnamese coffee, cuisine, and culture. There’s still a lot of Vietnam left to see should Kel and I return.

I was, however, ready to leave after two weeks. The chaotic traffic, the constant din of motorbikes, and the air pollution in Hanoi were all getting under my skin. I wanted relief, and I knew we’d find it in Tokyo.

Japan

My first trip to Japan was in February 2011, so I found it fitting to return 12 years later to the month for my second.

Unlike my first solo visit to the Japanese megalopolis, where I couchsurfed to save money, we shared the cost of a comfortable stay at the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku. Our sky-high room afforded beautiful views of the entertainment district day and night.

I ventured out on my own for a few lunches at Florilege and Sezanne, both of which I wrote about for Feastio. The U.S. dollar was robust against the Japanese yen. In the evenings, Kel and I wandered the streets of Shinjuku in…