A Brummie Home and Abroad’s Top 10 Posts of 2023

It’s that time again when I look back on my most popular posts of the year – the posts that made you think, made you laugh or just inspired you to travel, read or see a show! 2023 was my best year for blog views ever – and that was despite my summer blogging slump. Over 19,000 people visited A Brummie Home and Abroad and viewed 24,000 blog posts. I have no evidence to back up whether this was Ma Lee visiting 18,999 times.

Want to see my most popular posts of 2022? Read more here!

5 most-read A Brummie Home And Abroad posts in 2023

No 5: Switzerland: Why we chose a rental car over train travel

This was a subject that I researched extensively prior to our 2019 visit to Switzerland. We wavered constantly between train and car, and in the end, settled on driving. It gave us flexibility in terms of the places we visited, and meant we were never beholden to a timetable. In theory, it also would have worked out cheaper. If it wasn’t for those speeding fines… If you’ve made a decision on how to travel through Switzerland based on our experiences, please let me know in the comments!

No 4: Three Scottish Highland roads that are a dream to drive

Our 2018 trip to the Scottish Highlands was the subject of this, my fourth most popular blog post of 2023. The views you can see on these roads are just spectacular, and many can be experienced without having to do any strenuous hiking. Which is always a bonus. Of course, taking a walk to the Fairy Pools on Skye is a must-do – although you may not want to experience them in the same way that Mr Fletche did…

No 3: 10 Travel-Related “Would You Rather” Questions

This has been a popular post since it was published back in 2019, and is actually my most viewed post of all time. A follow-up to this has been sitting in my drafts for a while, but based on my experiences this year, how about this question… Would you rather sleep on an airport floor, or wait two hours for a taxi?

No 2: Things to Do With Grown-Up Parents in London

I love that after debuting at No 1 in my most popular new post of 2022 list, you’re still asking the question “What DO I do with grown-up parents in London?”. Ma and Pa Lee are regular stars of the blog now, with plenty of mentions in my Norwegian Fjords series, and as holiday trends constantly change, maybe going on your holiday as a grown-up with your parents is now a thing? Channel 5 travel shows would certainly suggest that it is!

No 1: Top 8 Places to Visit in Tenerife With a Rental Car

This one has been in the Top 2 of my most popular blog posts for the past five years now, and over 2,500 people have read this blog post in 2023! Tenerife remains a popular holiday destination all year round, and this post’s enduring popularity shows that visitors want to do more than just soak up the rays by a pool and explore more of this stunning island. Long may this blog post reign!

5 most popular NEW Brummie Home And Abroad posts of 2023

These are those brand new posts from 2023 that have captured your attention!

No 5: 6 Wonderful Places to Visit in Halkidiki

2023 will always go down as a special year for A Brummie Home and Abroad, thanks to Jet2 offering me the opportunity to spend a week in Halkidiki in springtime in a luxury hotel. Mr Fletche even got to come along for the ride. And he earned his free holiday by chauffering me around the peninsula, exploring some of the most beautiful spots in Halkidiki. It’s a region of Greece I’d never considered before, but it captured our hearts. And if you’re not dedicated to soaking up the sun, April is a great time to visit.

No 4: Haugesund Highlights: Our Final Cruise Stop

It surprised me a little that this was the most popular of the three Norwegian destination posts published this year. Alesund was a cute and colourful little town, whilst Olden had the most incredible scenery. But before our trip, Haugesund was the port I could find the least information about. And maybe that’s because – well, there’s just not that much to do there. The main discussion on this blog post is whether it’s worth paying out for the Hop On Hop Off Bus. My opinion? Read the post to find out!

No 3: Cruise Ship Review: Feeling Like a Celebrity Onboard the Celebrity Silhouette

I wasn’t sure if I’d be a “cruise person”. All that organised fun. Formal nights. Hours trapped in a floating hotel, with the same old faces. Holiday camp style entertainment. Old age pensioners. Thousands of people clogging up port towns for a couple of hours, spending no money in the local economy. And surely cruises aren’t good for the environment? Spoiler alert, I loved our cruise and I loved Celebrity Silhouette. In the interest of research, and comparing cruise lines and ships, we’ve even booked up for another cruise in 2024, this time testing out whether P&O can live up to the high standards set by Celebrity.

No 2: Guinness Storehouse in Dublin: Is It Worth It?

It’s absolutely true what they say about Guinness in Dublin – it’s definitely better than anywhere else. And there are hundreds, if not thousands, of great places to drink Guinness in Dublin. So is it really worth visiting the Guinness Storehouse? I think so. And judging by the fact that it’s just been named the world’s leading tourist attraction, a lot of other people think so too. In fact, the views on this blog post spiked the day after the award, so hopefully I’ve convinced you to visit on your next Dublin trip.

No 1: The Perfect Packing List for a Norwegian Fjords Cruise

From the moment we booked our Norwegian Fjords Cruise, and invited Ma and Pa Lee along to join us, the main topic of conversation was “What Do We Pack?”. There was so much to consider – hilly early morning sail-ins, lazy days onboard the ship, exploring towns and cities. Not to mention dressing for those evenings aboard. As this was my most popular new post of 2023, I assume many of you are asking the same question. The key points in this blog? Comfy shoes. And layers. And stretchy waistbands.

Thank you to everyone that has read, liked, commented or shared my blog posts in 2023 – I hope you’ve found one of your favourites among my Top 10 Posts of 2023! I’d like to wish you all the a very Happy New Year and I look forward to sharing even more with you in 2024.

Emmalene xx