We traveled to Iceland, Canada, Normandy (with Paris and Mont St Michel), Peru (Machu Picchu, Cusco, and the Amazon) and Croatia 2024.   Here are some of our best travel experiences of the year:

Best Hotel:  It has to be Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.  It is iconic, the service is impeccable, and the hotel is just overall, top-notch.  Honorable mention goes to the Aranwa Hotel in Cusco as well as the Machu Picchu Pueblo and Inkaterra Amazonica in Peru.

Best Airports:  Domestically, the best airport we flew into was Kansas City International Airport.  It is well laid-out, easy access, clean, and large.  Internationally, we're kind of forced to say the best airport we flew into was Keflavik Airport in Iceland.

Best Website to Book European Trains:  Try www.trainline.com

Best View:  As always it is the view at Machu Picchu.  

Best Breakfast Buffet:  The award goes to the one at Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.  Maple syrup.  Eggs and way you want them. Cheeses.  Sausage, ham, charcuterie.  Fresh fruit, pancakes, yogurt, unbelievable pastries, 

Best Lunch Buffet:  We have to give it to Tunupa in the Sacred Valley of Peru.  Delicious salads, authentic dishes.  They even have sushi and alpaca.  All set in a beautiful hacienda on the Urubamba river. 

Best Travel Accessory.  There are a few awards here.  The Wander Plus Anti-Theft bag was a big hit among our travel friends.   The battery-powered fan was a life-saver in the Amazon jungle.  And of course, Apple Air-Tags did a great job in tracking our stuff. 

Best Trip by Sea:  Island-hopping in the Adriatic Sea on the MV Admiral. 

Best and Most Awesome Nature Experience:  Had to be the amazing howler monkeys in the Amazon jungle.  The river otters were not bad either. 

Best Emotional Experience:  Being able to follow the path of Medal of Honor Recipient Jimmy Monteith on Omaha Beach in Normandy.

Best Airline:  None of them are really good but we had a great experience on Croatia Airlines.  On time.  Comfortable. Reasonably priced.

Best Restaurants:  This award is completely subjective, but we liked Chartier in Paris, Alphonse in Quebec City, but the best was Chi-Cha in Cusco, Peru.

Best Train Ride:  From Machu Picchu to Cusco in Peru.  Fantastic views!

Best Water Experience:  The Blue Lagoon in Iceland has geothermal baths but nothing is as fun as swimming off the back of our ship on our Croatia cruise. 

Best Tour:  Without a doubt, Omaha Beach in Normandy.

Best Lunch:  It is worth going to Iceland just to go to Friðheimar for lunch.  Hydroponically grown tomatoes make the best tomato soup.  The bread is unbelievably fresh,  

Best Weather:  Croatia.

Best Bar:  1608 Bar at Le Chateau Frontenac is tops!  The Holt Hotel in Reykjavik has a good one too, especially on nights where they have entertainment.   Loved the bar at the Inkaterra Amazonica in the Amazon jungle too. 

Best Street Food:  The hot dogs (called pylsur) at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur  in Reykjavik. 

Best Light Show:  AURA in Montreal at Notre Dame Basilica is unreal but nothing beats the Northern Lights in Iceland. 

The Best Travelers:  That goes to everyone who traveled with us in 2024.  Thank you!