Elle and I spent three days at Watergate Bay Hotel on the north coast of Cornwall. We enjoyed their Taste of the Bay package which allowed us to dine at Zacry's restaurant, The Beach Hut and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall. We also had an incredible surf lesson, yoga session, spa treatments and plenty of time …
Elle Croft
Today Elle is sharing her favourite Harry Potter hotspots in London and the unmissable sights Harry Potter fans can't miss! Any Harry Potter fan who knows an Augurey from an Occamy will also know that there are a few places in the world where Muggles can have a real encounter with the magical world …
Elle recently travelled to Belfast and had an incredible trip exploring the stunning are around the city. If you're looking for a weekend break beyond the city then check out her travel guide to the area around Belfast. She appeared in the distance, slipping into view from behind a dramatic cliff. I stood, stunned, …
London may be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but that doesn't mean that you can't find free things to do in London! In fact, some of the best things to do in London are actually free so whether you're a local looking for some inspiration or you're a visitor on a budget, …
Japan's big cities are intoxicating. Fast paced and modern, destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are unlike anywhere else on earth, so it's little surprise that they're becoming more and more popular with travellers from Britain and beyond. But these cities, heady and irresistible as they are, don't offer visitors the full picture of a …
It may not be at the top of every traveller’s bucket list, but Timisoara is a city you’re going to be hearing about a lot more in coming years. Which of course means it’s best to book your flights now, while it’s still relatively undiscovered. Since being named the 2021 European Capital of Culture, the …
The countdown began months ago. In fact, the date has been marked, in big bold Sharpie letters, on my house calendar, leaving no doubt as to what’s happening that Monday night: GAME OF THRONES. Season 7 begins on July 17, and it could not come quickly enough. What have we all been amusing ourselves with …
Confession time: after I accepted this particular blog trip invitation, I actually had to look up Lithuania on a map to see where I was going. Turns out, it’s one of the Baltic states, nestled between Poland, Latvia, Belarus and the Russian province of Kaliningrad. Having previously visited both Riga in Latvia and Tallinn in …
Bristol is one of the UK's most vibrant and creative cities, with plenty to offer a weekend visitor. It's full of history, bright street art and mirror-like canals that reflect candy-coloured houses and intriguing architecture. For families, there's plenty to explore: the Aquarium is a deep blue treasure trove of learning and fun, the SS …
How many times have you read a blogger’s review of a hotel and seen that they get special treatment - macarons on arrival, or champagne in the room? I’m not saying it’s a bad thing - I love those little touches that make me feel welcomed. But have you ever thought ‘that’s nice for you, …
They say you should never judge a book by its cover (although I admit to being guilty of that many times before). I think anyone who works in travel should update that saying, to ‘never judge a hotel by its exterior’. There are some hotels that are grand from the moment you lay eyes on …
Have you ever stayed at a hotel that you wished you could live in forever? Not just because of the luxury - the crisp sheets, the welcoming smiles, the epic breakfast - although that’s something I could do with forever. But because it just feels like home. I experienced this feeling recently when I visited …
If you've got a spare 3 days in Los Angeles then today's post will be perfect for you! I recently visited LA on a whirlwind trip and packed as much in as I possibly could into my time there. Today's post is a full 3 day Los Angeles Itinerary, so if you're looking to spend …
Last summer, Monica and I travelled to Southern France for four days. We travelled to France by train but then went our separate ways once we arrived in Paris so we could cover as much ground as possible. I had no idea we'd each see and do so much and we both has incredible trips. Last …
Elle has just returned from a incredible trip to California. She shares her guide to Newport Beach along with so many gorgeous reasons to visit! If you were a fan of the noughties teen drama series The O.C., you’ve probably heard of Newport Beach. But chances are, all you'll know about the destination is its …
In a small corner of Japan's southwestern Kyushu Island, the little-known destination of Oita Prefecture awaits. It's a region that boasts plenty of natural beauty - think hot springs, mountains and beaches - as well as a rich cultural and religious heritage. Oh, and mouthwatering food. I landed in the Prefecture's capital, the city of Oita, just …
There's no denying that a Japanese kimono is a thing of beauty. It's elegant, traditional and more than just a little bit cool. But there's one thing that a kimono is not. A kimono is absolutely not easy to put on, as I learned when I visited Kitsuki Castle Town in Japan's Oita Prefecture. This …
The first thing I noticed about my hotel room was that there was no bed. Curious, I looked in cupboards and searched for hidden panels in the wall where perhaps a Murphy bed could be hiding. Nothing. Then it dawned on me. My room search had revealed that another fairly important feature was missing from …
With just one day in Tokyo, an enormous city bursting with sights and flavours and jaw-dropping contrasts, how much can you really see? This was the unenviable task that Sam, my guide, was given when he met me at Asakusa View Hotel on a sunny Sunday morning. I've been to Tokyo before, briefly and many …
If you’ve been following October’s Destination of the Month, you’ll probably have picked up by now that I’m just a little bit obsessed with the Yukon. It’s an area of the world I knew very little about before I arrived, so I was totally blown away by the beauty, the friendly people, the absolute wilderness all …
It probably doesn’t sound like an obvious choice for shopping, but the city of Edmonton in the Canadian Province of Alberta is, surprisingly, the perfect destination for a shopaholic. Dangerously good, but perfect. Whether you love huge malls with international brands and gleaming department stores or you’re more fond of independent boutiques and hunting for …
There’s something about the Yukon that just gets under your skin. While I was there I heard the same story over and over again, from countless people. “I came for a week, for a holiday,” they’d say with a shrug. “That was twenty years ago.” “So what made you stay?” I’d ask, and they’d simply …
Do you know what silence sounds like? It might seem like a stupid question, but until I travelled to the Yukon, I’d never experienced true, uninterrupted silence. It was one of the most startling things I noticed while I was there. Life in London is noisy at the best of times, so for me, silence is …
When I arrived in the Yukon, I announced to my guide that I wanted to see two things: a moose, and the northern lights. I knew better than to expect the aurora borealis - also known as the northern lights - on demand. There was a time when I was obsessed with seeing them. I …
Kluane National Park was one of the highlights of my trip to the Yukon. By the time I reached the park, I’d had a few days exploring this vast Canadian Territory, so I thought I had seen all of the breathtaking scenery there was to offer. How wrong I was! Kluane is an area of …
Whitehorse is unlike any city I’ve visited before. As the capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory, Whitehorse is home to just under 30,000 people - almost the total population of the entire Territory - and it’s so far north that you need to drive south to reach Alaska. Yukoners who live in Whitehorse value living among nature (which the …
Elle has just returned from an incredible trip to the Yukon in Canada where she joined the press team and followed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their Canada Royal Tour. If you've been following Elle's trip on Instagram you will have seen how beautiful the Yukon looks! Today, Elle is sharing her experience …
Edmonton’s one of those destinations that sort of sneaks up on you. As soon as we arrived, and crossed over the North Saskatchewan River, we were struck by our first glimpse of the city. It’s surrounded by parklands and greenery, so it’s got a lot of natural beauty to offer, but there’s so much more …
Did you know that the average Brit spends around £65 a month on alcohol? It's amazing how quickly a few drinks here and a bottle of wine with the groceries there adds up. A whole year of drinking, on average, costs around £780 per person. That's a return flight to Australia, or a couple of really …
I’m so excited to announce that next week I’ll be flying to the Yukon for a week of exploring, and a little bit of Royal spotting. Yep, you read that right. Royals. The Royal Visit to Canada The Royal Family recently announced that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be embarking on an incredible …
Edmontonians are proud of their city’s food scene. Get talking to a local about their hometown (it’s easy, they love where they live) and food is bound to come up early in the conversation. And it’s easy to see why, when there are so many incredible cafes, restaurants and bars dotting the city. They even …
I arrived into Nîmes as the sun was going down. The golden light reflected off ancient Roman buildings, the warm air carried smells of dinners being served closeby, and the square I walked through to find my hotel was filled with strolling couples, laughing kids and a couple of older ladies laughing together on a …
In just a few weeks I’ll be driving to Portmeirion to attend my very first festival: Festival No. 6. I’m a bundle of excitement and nerves, so to calm the latter I’ve spent quite a bit of time researching what I should pack to make this experience not just survivable, but enjoyable. Although I'm not a …
Have you ever experienced the real France? I'm not talking about the sidewalk cafes of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, or candy-coloured pastries stacked prettily in a window. What I'm referring to is the baguette-in-a-handbag-on-the-way-home-from-the-markets kind of France, usually found in tiny towns in the countryside. And one town in particular, tucked into the gorgeous scenery …
Deftly straddling the Gardon River, the Pont du Gard is an aqueduct that was built by Romans in the first century. The three-tiered, arched bridge dates back some 2,000 years and was created to carry water from the source in Uzès to the cosmopolitan town of Nîmes, where it was used for decorative fountains, home sanitation …
It's no secret that France excels when it comes to food and drink. In fact, for many people (myself included) it's one of the reasons I visit the land of fromage et pain. I knew I'd eat well throughout my recent journey to Southern France...I just didn't know I'd discover new French favourites that I'll …
If you've only got 3 days in Dubai, then today's post is perfect for you. Dubai is one of the largest cities in the UAE so it should come as no surprise that there are lots of things to see and do in the city. To help you to narrow down your itinerary, we've put …
Before I travelled to Cebu I had no idea what to expect. I should have learned by now that it's the places I have no preconceptions of that blow me away the most, and Cebu was no exception to this rule. Of course, the Philippines isn't the sort of place you go to for a …
Hi, I'm Elle, I'm 31 and I've never been to a festival. *waits for horrified gasps to die down* Yeah, I know. The thing is though, in Australia, where I grew up, festivals aren't the rite of passage that they are here in the UK. But probably more importantly, I'm scared of camping. We broke up, …
As if getting to travel to the spectacular Philippines wasn't exciting enough, I was in for a big surprise. When I received my invite to experience the inaugural Emirates flight from Dubai to Cebu, I didn't even try to play it cool before responding with an eager "Yes please!" It was almost as an afterthought, …