Travel bucket list: The 6 events you won’t want to miss in 2018

If there’s one thing for certain about Australians, it’s that they love to travel.

But with so many amazing overseas destinations to choose from, it can be seriously hard to narrow down the choices.

To make that decision a little bit easier we’ve pulled together some of the biggest, and most anticipated, events of the year that certainly need to be at the top of your 2018 travel bucket list.  

9-25 February - Winter Olympics

Location: South Korea, Pyeongchang

After four long years the Winter Olympics is finally here - and given the amazing location of the 2018 installation of the games, the wait has certainly been worth it. Nestled in the northeast corner of South Korea, Pyeongchang County is an absolute dream destination for snow and outdoor lovers with plenty of terrain for skiers, boarders and hikers.  

Best of all it’s only a 2.5 hour drive from South Korea’s capital Seoul, so if you fancy a break from the events or the snow you’ll be able to duck back into the city to take advantage of some amazing food and culture.

Just remember that if you do manage to find the time (or space) to hit the slopes while you're over in Korea, you’ll probably want to look at taking out snow insurance to cover yourself and your gear.

May 19 - The Royal Wedding 

Location: London, England

Move over Paris, because there’s a new city of love - and it’s London. Well, for one day in late May that is! For fairytale lovers and monarchists, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding is sure to be the stellar event of 2018 - especially given that Prince William and Kate Middleton’s nuptials in 2011 attracted a crowd of nearly 1 million people to the streets of London to celebrate.  

So if you’re keen to make the journey to join the May celebrations make sure you get yourself the best value for your money by comparing currency deals now to lock in some pounds (and euros if you hit the continent) before you fly so you avoid those excessive fees at the airport.

14 June to 15 July - 2018 FIFA World Cup

Location: Throughout Russia

The world’s most popular sporting event and showpiece of the beautiful game, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is almost here! Bringing together football’s biggest stars for a month of matches and intrigue, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to get yourself to Russia (if you can) to soak up an event watched by a global audience of more than 3 billion people.

With games throughout the country in cities like Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Sochi to name a few, visitors attending games will have a great chance to truly explore Russia and soak up what will no doubt be an amazing atmosphere.

3-27 August - Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

If you feel like you need a real dose of culture (or laughter) in your life, not to mention an amazing city to base yourself in, then there’s really only one place to head. The annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the world’s biggest arts festival, with the 2017 edition featuring a whopping 53,232 performances over the month of August. Theatre, comedy, music and dance acts abound throughout the festival, plus there are plenty of free events for travellers on a budget.  

Fancy a break from the entertainment? Well you’ve got the rest Scotland, the United Kingdom and Europe on your doorstep, so what are you waiting for!  

October 31 to November 2 - Day of the Dead Festival

Location: Throughout Mexico

The Day of the Dead Festival (Día de Muertos in Spanish) is held throughout parts of Mexico each year, but there are similar Festivals of the Dead all across Central and South America. Contrary to its name, the festival is actually a bright, party-like occasion with processions, flowers, food, dancing and drinking, though the crux of the occasion is to pay respect and give offerings to the dead.

Sound like a trip you just can’t miss? Whether you head to Mexico or somewhere else in The Americas, keep your purchases abroad as low as possible by finding a travel-friendly credit card with no overseas transaction fees.

Year Long Event - 300th birthday celebrations in New Orleans

Location: New Orleans, USA

It’s not often that a city throws a year long party. What’s even rarer is if the reason for that party is to celebrate a tricentennial. Well it turns out that 2018 marks the 300th birthday of the iconic city of New Orleans, and to celebrate, the city will be hosting events to highlight the culture and history of the city throughout the entire year. Given that New Orleans already enjoys a reputation for partying, music and amazing food, you’d better expect an even better atmosphere throughout 2018!  

If you do book yourself a trip to The Big Easy in 2018 to take advantage of the birthday celebrations, just make sure you secure yourself some travel insurance in case you party a bit too hard!