LONDON – The Times in the UK asked its writers for their best and worst travel experiences this year.
We especially liked this nomination from Ed Grenby.
Best Experience: New Zealand


Didn’t even exist back in 1999, as far as I can remember.
Certainly, nobody ever actually went there — well, why would you, when you could do Australia instead?
Then came a tiny little enormous behemoth of a fantasy movie trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, and before you could say “hobbit-forming”, somehow the world had woken up to NZ — the ruggedest, prettiest, friendliest, most cultured, least crowded, most adrenaline-burning, most serenely peaceful, best-value-booze-and-foodiest, most just-plain-wonderful holiday destination in the world.
I’ve done three-weekers there twice this decade, and can’t wait for the next one: it’s the once-in-a-lifetime trip you should aim to do every few years (newzealand.com).
Worst Experience: English as a foreign language
What on earth has happened to the vocabulary of travelling in Britain in the past 10 years?
“We had a staycation in an eco-resort in Dorset last August.”
Translation: We had a holiday in a hotel. It had double glazing.
“And last weekend we went glamping in Wales.”
Translation: We went camping. We overpaid.
"And on Sunday we went wild swimming! In the sea!”
Translation: We went for a swim. I am an idiot.
