Loving the fact that it was warm enough to wear just my thermal top in Boí Taüll, Catalonia There is absolutely nothing worse than getting cold while you’re skiing. Well, maybe one thing and that’s getting hot. I often find that while I’m on the slopes I’ll be freezing one minute (usually on the lifts) and …
Monica
There is nowhere on earth quite so peaceful as an empty ski slope. The snow wraps itself around like the mountain like a thick layer of bubble wrap making everything softer, quieter, gentler and even more beautiful than you could possibly imagine. The snow takes away the sharp edges, the mismatch of colours, the dirt …
While I was travelling in Australia I spent six months working on a scuba diving island called Mackerel Island. Before this, I’d never intended to learn to scuba dive because: a) I’m a total wuss b) I’m not very good at swimming c) I’m scared of fish d) It’s expensive e) I hadn’t realised how …
On Monday I revealed one of my many travel confessions; I’m the most antisocial snowboarder that ever lived. I hate seeing other people on the slopes and will happily hog an entire run if it means I won’t knock anyone flying or go flying myself. If you ever see me snowboarding, stay away because I …
Over the past two weeks I’ve been sharing tips on travel blogging and explaining why I think everyone should have a travel blog. I’ve now received a few emails asking how you actually set up a blog so I’ve decided to go back to basics and share the first few technical steps on how to start …
Last week while snowboarding in Catalonia I discovered something about myself I don’t like; I’m an incredibly antisocial snowboarder. I like to think of myself as a friendly, sociable type but when it comes to snowboarding I like to be as far away from other people as I possibly can. As I see a flash …
If there’s one thing that stresses me out about travelling it’s getting to the airport on time. Anyone that knows me may find this hard to believe because I’m pretty much one of the most relaxed people in the world. But when I’m sat on the train at 5am, biting my nails nervously and imagining …
I am so excited to share my next big trip with you all. In my February review I mentioned that I had a big and exciting trip coming up and here it is….! On April 9th I’m flying out to Miami and then I’ll be flying out to LA to begin a tour with Trek …
On Thursday I’m going on a snowboarding trip to Catalonia. As I began packing I had flashbacks to my last skiing trip in Canada when I packed virtually every item of clothing I owned. Better to be safe than sorry, right? Well no, not always. My suitcase was so heavy I could barely even wheel …
When I tell people that I spent 18 months in Australia and I drove around the entire country in a campervan they automatically assume that I must be loaded. Australia is an expensive country for us Brits so, while I wish I was loaded, I had to work really hard to be able to do …
Did you know that short holidays and weekend escapes can make you just as happy as a longer holiday? With this in mind, I vowed to take more weekends away this year and decided to explore more of what I’ve got right on my doorstep. Here in the UK we have so many quirky, cool …
After looking at these photos you’d be forgiven for thinking that Portmeirion is a pretty Italian village. But is it…? Portmerion has the quaint and brightly coloured houses and narrow, winding streets of a traditional Italian village. There are some beautifully grand buildings with spires and domed roofs. There are ornate details in unexpected places …
Wondercool is Copenhagen’s answer to beating the winter blues; It’s February and we’re all tired of the cold and dark days, no one wants to go out, tourism is low and restaurants and bars are quiet. What better time of the year to lift our spirits than with an art and culture festival? Wondercool is …
Everyone has a routine when they travel somewhere new. I like to go straight to my hotel and get rid of my bags. I then head down to reception and ask the receptionist for a large map and for all their recommendations on places to go, see, eat, drink and things to do. I then …
Last week I was in Copenhagen for Wondercool winter festival and I just wanted to show you a quick peek at what I was up to. Despite the cold, Copenhagen turned out to be one of my favourite cities in Europe (bold statement I know!) and Wondercool was incredible so I’ll be writing all about …
I genuinely believe that everyone should write a travel blog to document your trips. One of my favourite things about blogging is reading about my past adventures and each old post brings back so many amazing memories. You don’t need to write lengthy essays everyday or be a world-class photographer, you just need a passion …
When writing about Lake Vyrnwy Hotel I could tell you all about the history of the hotel, the tasty menu, the great selection of wine, the friendly staff and the beautiful old building. But, let’s be honest, when you’re staying at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel it’s all about the view. And what a view it is. Imagine waking …
Tomorrow morning I’m flying to Denmark for Copenhagen’s fourth annual Wondercool festival! I’ve become a little obsessed with Scandinavian coolness recently and I don’t just mean the temperature. I’m not alone in my obsession and ‘Scandimania’ is spreading worldwide. You see, the Scandinavian’s are just so damn cool. There’s even a new book out by …
I went on a yoga, Pilates and detox retreat on the gorgeous island of Fuerteventura to chill out and have a peaceful, healthy week in the sun. I knew I’d come home feeling re-energised but I hadn’t thought that I would learn so much while I was away. I learned about my body, my health and …
One of my (many) resolutions is to take more short breaks and weekend escapes around Europe. I know I’m not alone in the fact that there are so many amazing places right on my doorstep that I’ve never travelled to. Here are 52 weekend away ideas to get you started! When a country is easy …
New York is one of the most famous cities in the world and was a place I’d been desperate to visit for years before I finally went in December. It’s a city that is familiar to all of us; one that everybody seems to know and love before even setting foot on its streets. Despite …
Two weeks into the New Year and my resolution to get fit and healthy was already waning. Why do we set ourselves resolutions at the hardest time of the year? Throughout December my body had been holding on to all those Christmas puds as though we were going into hibernation, so it was more than …
So you’re looking for somewhere to stay for your next holiday. Do you: a) Opt for a standard budget hotel that is as generic as a Primark cardigan. You know the type; they’re boring, they’re unmemorable, they’re beige and they all look the same as soon as you’ve closed your room door. The overall experience …
Berlin has become the unofficial street art capital of the world and you can find street art on every corner of the city. In fact, it isn’t just on the corners, it’s everywhere. Every blank wall has become a giant canvas for whichever artist is brave enough and talented enough to spray, paint, stick or …
If there’s one thing that keeps me motivated to exercise, it’s having a sexy gym kit. I know it shouldn’t matter. I’m working out to get sweaty and, let’s face it, I’m rarely in my gym kit for more than an hour but having a kit that looks good and feels good really motivates me …
“I’ve done South America, China and India. Where have you done?’ DONE. It’s just a tiny four-letter verb. It’s just a word. It’s inoffensive and means so little so why does it wind me up so much? ‘Done’ can’t offend anyone but when it’s used in this context it makes me cringe. How the hell …
The Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan is one of the most iconic buildings in New York, if not the entire world. When I visited New York I couldn’t wait to see it and to take the trip up to the top. Image Source Here are some things you need to know: Facts about the …
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic 2013, enjoyed the New Year celebrations and you’re now looking forward to a fresh start in 2014. For my New Year’s resolutions this year I want to find the perfect balance between travel, work and spending time with friends and family. And, like most …
When I travelled to New York I had a very strange feeling. It was a feeling that I hadn’t experienced anywhere before. New York was a completely new place to me but it all felt so familiar. I recognised entire streets, the monuments felt like old friends and I knew exactly what I wanted to …
I feel bad even calling this a challenge because we all know it was the best ‘challenge’ ever. World Duty Free set me the task to buy all my Christmas presents from their store in Terminal 5 (read more about my travel blogger shopping challenge here). As always, I was running a little behind schedule …