It took me almost 22 hours to reach Florida Keys. It began at 6.30am on Sunday morning with a drive to Manchester Airport, a quick flight to Heathrow, an 10-hour flight to Miami and finally another quick flight to Key West. Whoever said travelling is glamorous had clearly never spent 12 hours in economy and a …
Posts from: January 2016
I’ve just returned from a weekend in Valencia and I’m still buzzing from the trip. It had everything I could possibly want from a weekend away; culture, history, art, shopping, great food and drink, affordable prices and easy flights. Everything about it was absolutely perfect and Valencia makes such a great city for a weekend …
THE OLD STOCKS INN – Things are not quite as they seem in Stow-on-the-Wold. There’s a defector in town. A quiet rebellious type; happy to rub shoulders with the elegant tearooms, polished antiques shops and prim galleries, before necking a Gimlet and heading back to the bar with a swagger that’d put a Bond villain …
MARSEILLE, France – France’s second largest city is known for having dirt under its fingernails. Founded by the Greeks some 2,600 years ago, it has uncoiled itself inland from gritty docklands over the centuries and grown a reputation as port with a seedy character. The Marseille I saw on my second Silversea shore excursion, however, (my …
If ever there was proof that you don’t need to go far to find an exciting and memorable weekend getaway, Edinburgh is it. The recipe for a perfect short break is a destination that doesn’t take long to reach, is easy to get around, and one that offers plenty of charm, attractions and a generous …
Our recent trip to Mexico City resulted in a rather unexpected experience. We were only there when an earthquake occurred! After the euphoria of surviving wore off, it became glaringly evident that we had absolutely no idea what we were supposed to do in the event of an earthquake. So here’s my handy little earthquake survival …
A trip to Holland to the famous city of Amsterdam has got to be one of the easiest and most fun weekends you can have. The flights are dirt cheap and short; perfect for those on a budget, restricted on time or who don’t like flying. The accommodation choices are endless, from hostel to 5* …
Since uploading the post on Wednesday about the ‘What vacationer are you?’ I’ve been thinking a lot about my travel style. It took me a long time to figure out what my travel style is because I so often followed guides and ‘top 10 lists’ and recommendations from other people. When I was taking blog trips …
I’ve stayed in more than my fair share of airport hotels. They’re usually pretty depressing with views out to brick walls, overpriced mini bars and the same bland décor across the world. The staff are usually rude, the breakfasts are inedible and I usually have a terrible nights sleep before catching an early morning flight. …
Is anyone planning a holiday and feeling a bit overwhelmed? There are so many places to go, so many things to see, so many things to do. If you’re anything like me, your bucket list is just getting longer and longer and holiday planning can be tough when you just want to go everywhere! To …
If you’re looking to plan a 5 day trip to Spain’s third-largest city then read on for my guide to Valencia. In today’s Valencia guide, you’ll find my full five-day itinerary and suggestions on places to eat, see and stay while you’re in the city. If you saw Sunday’s post then you will already know …
Driving into the village of Downham is like driving through a portal and emerging into a world that existed 100 years ago. If I were to describe it as ‘quaint’ it wouldn’t quite do it justice, as it’s so much more than quaint. Downham is beautiful and charming and cosy. It has an old fashioned …
“Why have I not been here before!?” This was a genuine question I kept asking myself just a few hours after I’d landed in Valencia. This city is gorgeous. It’s warm and it’s beautiful and it’s interesting. It’s historical and filled with culture but also modern and filled with young creativity. It feels a …
If I could combine a few things to make the perfect weekend, it would be travel, treatments, food and wine! So if this sounds like your idea of a great weekend, book yourself a few half days, and prepare to melt into blissful abandon on this spa and food combo in 48 hours in County …
Packing for a skiing trip can be difficult because you pretty much want to take every single warm item of clothing you own. You’ll want to be rugged up during the day but stylish in the evening and still warm enough to walk around in the snow. I’ve been skiing a few times now and …
It sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? Getting your baby’s first passport should be a breeze, but actually it’s a bit more than a tick box exercise. However, with this guide you’ll easily get it sorted. Promise. I guess before I give my advice I should point out that I’m referring to a UK passport. I …
If you’re easily spooked, it’s best not to walk around Edinburgh alone at night. The old town is made up of dark, narrow alleyways, with hundreds of years of history clinging to its walls. Without a doubt, nefarious characters skulked these cobbled streets, mingling with wealthy residents, merchants and the city’s hoi polloi. Many of …
I find that searching for accommodation and finding ways to save money when booking hotels to be the hardest part of holiday planning. There are so many gorgeous hotels, so many websites to book them on and lots of confusing reviews. The hotel is often the most expensive part of the trip so it’s really …
Welcome to the first Weekend Reads of 2016! It’s been a big and busy week in the blogosphere. The first week of the year sees bloggers sticking to their New Year’s resolutions and posting more so there’s a lot for us to read! And please tell me I’m not the only one who has spent …
Anne recently spent 24 hours in Mexico City when she was visiting for Corona Capital 2015. Here’s what she got up to in such a quick trip… If you only have 24 hours in Mexico City, and really want to get a taste of the city, then this combo is for you. It will give you …
Welcome to the new feature on The Travel Hack called Weekender of the Week! Each week I’ll be bringing you a quick weekender idea to inspire your next weekend escape. This week it’s all about a weekend in the Algarve, Portugal. Most of us think of the Algarve as being a week-long destination. Of course, it’s a …
I feel like New Years resolutions aren’t the cool thing to do this year. Everyone is talking about celebrating your achievements rather than setting yourself unrealistic challenges. Other people are talking about small ‘goals’ and other people have ditched them all together but they never stick to them anyway so what’s the point? But I …
Are you travelling to London in 2016? Here are the London apps you need to download to make your trip to the Big Smoke a breeze. Do you remember a time when we used to travel with heavy guidebooks and paper maps? When you had to go into internet cafes to check your emails …
One of my favourite rooms in our whole house to decorate has been George’s room. It made me weirdly sad that I wasn’t able to decorate a nursery while I was pregnant as we were living with my parents while we renovated our own house. I guess it was that nesting instinct kicking in but …
Claire gives us the highlights and a perfect itinerary for a wintry weekend in Painswick, PAINSWICK, Gloucestershire – Her charms are often eclipsed by her more glamorous Cotswolds sisters, but thankfully Painswick (affectionately known as the Queen of the Cotswolds) is steadily coming into her own as a perfectly pretty weekend destination for a younger …
Do you know what ‘Shiok’ means? No, I didn’t either until I watched this video by the Singapore Tourism Board. It’s a word mostly used in Singapore and is used to express pleasure or the highest quality. It means ‘amazing’ or ‘awesome’ but it’s shorter, snappier and all together cooler. Shiok is a good …
Have you ever felt like New Year’s Eve was…well…a little bit of a let-down? There’s something about the anticipation – the expectation that I absolutely must have an epic time – that leaves me with a nagging sensation. A feeling that my New Year’s Eve experience isn’t going to be quite good enough. But that’s …
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you’re well and enjoyed the Christmas festivities. It feels strange for it all to be over so suddenly. One minute we’re knee deep in mince pies, fairy lights and panic buying presents. The next minute we’re all detoxing and dieting, saving money and digging out our running shoes. I’m …