Best of 2022 - Travel Like Anna (2026)

Want to get more out of 2022 travel like anna without the guesswork? Below we walk through the essentials in plain language, with practical steps you can use right away.

Key Takeaways

• Each month of 2022 felt like a different life.
• It was a blur of places throughout four continents, both new and old, and reunions with old friends.
• I finally feel like I’ve gotten my old life back, the one I spent over a decade building.
• Each year, I share a recap of my favorite adventures and photographs.

How 2022 Travel Like Anna Really Works

Worth noting: here’s the 2022 edition! I started and ended the year in my two favorite cities, Buenos Aires and Chiang Mai.

• These two places couldn’t be any further apart or any more different.
• I reluctantly flew back to the States in the spring.
• More importantly, i spent the month of March visiting my parents and building a bed in my dad’s shop. (My dad makes 18th-century furniture for a living, and I’ve built several pieces in the past.) Then, the road trips started, Ocracoke Island followed by Austin and Marfa.
• For the summer, I bounced between Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast for work trips.

Getting the Most From 2022 Travel Like Anna

Then, September was a dream, I sailed through the Mediterranean on the Sea Cloud, a historic four-mast sailboat, for work. I literally got paid to spend a month traveling near Europe teaching photography! (2011 Anna, who was making barely $20-30K/year working retail and waiting tables and wondering if she’d ever make a living as a photographer, would be so proud.) All of the work I lost during the pandemic came back at the same time.

• Remember that by October, I was genuinely burned out.
• I spent the month in Italy traveling with a friend for part of the time then solo.
• I got sick for the first time in years, a terrible bout of tonsilitis followed by COVID.
• After resting up at a lovely Airbnb in Lecce, Italy, I made my method to Asia, where I belong.

Tips That Make a Difference

As a rule, i’ve spent most of my life living on a bridge between Asia and the U.S. unable to pick a side. I’ve consistently known I belonged in Thailand but was too scared to commit since I thought I had to live in America to have a career outside of teaching English.

• I finally built a career that allows me to be location independent most of the time so I can spend more time in the places that feel like home, Buenos Aires and Chiang Mai.  (If you didn’t see my Washington Post story on Buenos Aires, check it out!) Here’s some of my favorite adventures this year!
• Marfa, Texas  El Cosmico, a luxury campground and hotel in Marfa, Texas, has a series of unique types of accommodation for rent including this ’49 Mansion.
• In short, there’s no place quite like Marfa, this funky West Texas town was a former railroad stop and military base.
• When minimalist artist Donald Judd moved to town in the 1970s, his goal was the create large-scale permanent art installations, which put Marfa on the map as an arts destination.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

This spring, the Central Marfa Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, including some of Judd’s properties. I made a trip out to Marfa to write about this for the Washington Post and check out the dive bars, Casita Bar is the best spot in town.

• Worth noting: it was my third time making the trek to Marfa, a six-hour drive from Austin. (POINTER: It’s much more enjoyable to take the backroads instead of I-10 and almost as fast.) This shot is from El Cosmico, a lux bohemian campground where you can rent vintage airstream trailers like this one for the night.
• Ocracoke, North Carolina Portsmouth was one of the largest settlements in the Outer Banks in the 1770s.
• The last two residents left in the early 1970s.
• Bodie State Historic Parkin California.

Is 2022 Travel Like Anna Worth It?

More importantly, ocracoke is one of my favorite beaches in the U.S. and is worth more than a day trip. If I ever decide to write a novel, this is where I’ll go. (Be sure to read my Washington Poststory on Ocracoke!) Haida Gwaii, British Columbia In May, I traveled by boat from Seattle to Sitka, Alaska for a work trip.

• On our voyage, we stopped by Haida Gwaii, an archipelago off the west coast of British Columbia frequently referred to as the Galapagos of Canada for the endemic wildlife.
• It’s also famous for a UNESCO site, SGang Gwaay, the site of a 19th-century village and memorial poles.
• Remember that we were cursed with terrible weather and the roughest seas I have ever experienced.
• Despite that, I did get some wonderful photos, including this shot of a flying bald eagle.

Where the Real Savings Hide

The eagle was sitting on the beach as my co-worker and I were slowly walking toward him hoping to get close enough to get a solid shot. Out of nowhere, a car pulls over the side of the road, a door slams and a dog starts barking, scaring away the eagle.

• As a rule, as the eagle flew away, I shot a few frames reactively and ended up with my best image of a flying eagle.
• It only took three seasons of working in Alaska to get this shot!
• Bend, Oregon The Tam McAruthur Rim Trail, Three Sisters Wilderness, Bend, Oregon.  Two of my friends spent most of the pandemic on an RV trip near the country.
• They stopped in Bend, fell in love with the city and traded their RV for a house.

A Closer Look at 2022 Travel Like Anna

In short, i instantly had to go visit to see what all the hype was about, Bend is a year-round adventure playground also famous for craft beer. I spent two weeks hiking by day and sipping a tasty brew each afternoon.

• Of course, I wrote about it for the Washington Post!
• This shot is from one of my favorite hikes, The Tam McArthur Rim Trail.
• Worth noting: a Gnome in Rome My first trip to Rome was in college, a drunken blur of ruins and pasta dinners.
• In late October, I went back to visit for five days with a friend and was surprised by how much I loved the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on 2022 travel like anna?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. I started and ended the year in my two favorite cities, Buenos Aires and Chiang Mai.

Is it worth shopping around for 2022 travel like anna?

Usually yes. These two places couldn’t be any further apart or any more different.

What should I check before buying?

Read the terms, confirm any code still works, and factor in shipping or returns. I reluctantly flew back to the States in the spring.

Smart Ways to Save More on 2022 Travel Like Anna

• Sign up for the retailer newsletter to catch first time and seasonal discounts.
• Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.
• Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
• Time non urgent purchases around major sale events for the deepest cuts.
• Leave items in your cart for a day; some stores send a follow up discount.

Final Thoughts

Put these ideas to work and 2022 travel like anna gets a lot less expensive. Bookmark this page, check back for fresh deals, and let the savings do the talking.

Originally published at savingswitch.com.