Travel Lightbulb

 If you've followed Travel Lightbulb over the years, you will know just how passionate I am about travel! So much so that ten years ago, I decided to start a little blog. It was just a hobby; but the more I travelled; the more I blogged, and the more popular it became with friends and family. From trips to my beloved Portugal, to far flung Caribbean escapes - I like to think I've brought you some quirky places to visit...something a little out of the ordinary. I've certainly had fun exploring new countries, and meeting all sorts of people along the way. After ten years; the sun is setting on Travel Lightbulb, and I am FINALLY making my dream move to Portugal. It has been on the cards for some time, and I'll be putting my blogging skills to use in our new venture. My husband and I have started a blog to chart our journey South; and will be setting up a business called 'Castaway Portugal' which will launch in 2022.  Thanks so much for your incredible support over ...

 I'm sure, like me, you missed out on plenty of holidays in 2020 - so are you now keen to travel? To see the world in 2021? I'm determined to make up for lost time this year, and to make my dreams happen.  Many signs point to a quick rebound partly because people missed it so much last year, but many people will be taking trips that they postponed in 2020, and using flight and holiday vouchers before they expire. One thing I think may have changed is the way we plan our holidays. Travel agents say people are nervy about booking too soon, in case their situation changes, or in case a country drops off the list of travel corridors.  They also believe there are plenty of travellers who will be willing to spend more, given they saved money during a year of restrictions and lockdowns. One thing is for sure - none of us have enjoyed having our sense of freedom taken away from us, and  I believe there will be a pent-up demand when restrictions are lifted. Bring it on!

 Time to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope Santa has been good to you and that you haven't ended up on the naughty list!  It may not be the sort of family time we're used to but I hope you all still manage to have a wonderful time and are all staying safe and healthy. Seasons greetings everyone x

 For those reading my blog in the UK.....here we go again! Back to where we were in March, staying home, saving lives and dreaming of a time when we'll be allowed to roam the world again. It's a challenge to write a travel blog at a time like this, but many of you have been in touch to say my blog posts are cheering them up so I'll be plodding on through as best I can! I'll still be bringing you some ideas of those off the beaten track places in the coming months, so perhaps as you stay inside in the dark dreary weeks ahead you can continue to hop over to Travel Lightbulb each week for a spot of armchair tourism! Keep your chin up everyone - together we will get through this. 

It feels like the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives forever, but I have finally managed to find one small positive to come out of it. When the tough restrictions came in earlier in the year, we all suddenly became obsessed with getting our permitted hour of exercise in each day. While travel was restricted I don't think I'm alone in saying many of us discovered wonderful walks right on our doorsteps.  I have friends who live in big cities who discovered beautiful winding lanes, and canal walks which were much more enjoyable without the crazy crowds that would normally occupy those parts of the UK. I'm lucky enough to live on the outskirts of a city, within close reach of the countryside, and I unearthed some wonderful walks and the best bit was there were hardly any other people around.  It has been difficult to stay positive with everything that we're experiencing in the world just now but keep your chin up; get out in the open air whatever the weather and discov...

 It's now over six months since restrictions came into all our lives. Things have changed in ways that we could never have imagined at the turn of the year. None of us know what is going to happen with the pandemic, but one thing I think we'd all agree on is that it has changed travel forever. There are many people who've decided that staying home for now is the best thing to do. There are others that feel that this pandemic shouldn't put our lives on hold, and that we should still travel if it feels safe and possible to do so.  When numbers were lower in the UK in July, I decided to head off to my little hideaway in Portugal. My own experience of travelling back then was a fabulous one - empty flights; no queueing at airports, and deserted beaches. However good that felt at the time though, it's clear that isn't sustainable for airlines and the businesses that rely on tourism. Travel was as popular as ever at the start of 2020, before grinding to a halt by Marc...

Travel is a huge part of a lot of our lives and it has felt so strange in recent weeks, no matter how essential this is for our health, to be so restricted to where we can go in the world. Our well-being is the most important thing, and I'm sure you're with me when I say let's hope this all sorts itself out soon so we can go back to normal. Maybe this horrible situation will make us appreciate everything a little more too.  I did consider pressing the pause button on my blog for a little while, but came to the decision that this won't last forever, and perhaps now is actually the perfect time for us all to research some great new places to visit and to make travel plans for when the virus is under control. Stay safe everyone and let's hope that this is all over soon. 

Happy New Year to you all!  I must say I'm a big fan of New Year - a new start....new beginnings....and this year, there's a bonus - we have entered a brand new decade!  I hope this is a happy and healthy one for you and your families, and I also hope it's a great year of new discoveries and travelling! I have neglected my little blog - I promise to sort that out in 2020! Mandy x

Those of you who know me well will be well aware of just how much I love Portugal. I've been holidaying in the country since I was a little girl, and am now lucky enough to have a little hideaway there. It came as no surprise to me that Portugal has been named Best European Destination for the third consecutive year at the World Travel Awards Europe - the travel equivalent of the Oscars.  All in all, Portugal won an incredible 26 awards, with Lisbon being named the best city break destination, and the Algarve as Europe's Leading Beach Destination. So many people I meet have yet to visit the country and I have to say they're missing out! It's easy to get off the beaten track; avoid the tourist hotspots and find your own piece of paradise - even in the busier summer months. If it's not on your list, it should be.

Hello everyone. I'm pleased to say that after a busy few months, I'm back! Travel Lightbulb was always set up as a hobby, and sadly sometimes life (well....work to be honest!) gets in the way of that. I'm sorry I had to take a little pause in proceedings, but the good news is that I've been on my travels again and have a few amazing tips for you all.  This time, Italy was the destination of choice and I'll be sharing some of the brilliant places I've found over the next few months. I have a summer of travelling planned, so I'll be doing plenty of rambling on here in the coming weeks! It's nice to be back....and thanks as always for following x

Wondering where I've gone? Well that's nice because that means you care! I've had a really busy time of it with my "day job", so have struggled to keep up with the blogging. I'm currently taking some time to write up all the wonderful places I've been finding for you, and am hoping to have things up and running again soon.  Bear with me - I promise the wait will be worth it, I've got some cracking places to share with you in the coming months, and have already started planning this year's travel destinations. More on that very soon. Happy travelling to you all, and for those of you who are also busy with the day job....happy travel dreaming!

I really can't believe we're almost at the end of 2018. The year seems to have flown by, but it's been filled with wonderful times spent discovering new places, and re-visiting wonderful countries.  As you prepare to ring out the old, and look ahead to 2019, make sure you take a moment....life passes us all by so quickly, so pause....reflect...and then party! Thanks to everyone for supporting my little travel blog over the years. I wish you all a happy new year when it comes. xx

As this is my last blog post before the 25th of December, it's a simple message. I just want to wish you all a very happy Christmas!  Wherever you're spending the festive season, make the most of precious time with your loved ones, and enjoy the festivities! From Travel Lightbulb.....have a wonderful Christmas! xx

Many of you will be embarking on holidays in the coming weeks, as you head off to celebrate Christmas and New Year somewhere special. So I've come up with some top tips to help you have the best holiday ever.  Many people booking a holiday at Christmas time want to go somewhere warm, which means prices in places like the Caribbean and Mexico can be extremely high. Instead, why not go closer to home, to Italy, Greece or Spain - there is a much higher potential for cheap airfares.  Depressingly, lost bags on busier travel days of the year have a 50% increase, so the chances are you've got more chance of losing your bag in December than in March. Make sure you have a change of clothes so you aren't caught out!  If you're on a budget, consider celebrating away from home at the start of the New Year, rather than in the peak Christmas period. Travelling after January the 3rd can cut prices dramatically, and can also mean your destination is a bit less...

With Halloween on the horizon, I thought I'd feature something a little bit different this week rather than the usual spooky, haunted house ideas! For those who don't know what dark tourism is, it's visiting destinations usually associated with death and suffering.  It's a trend that is on the rise with British holiday-makers, and data released by Kiwi.com has revealed the top destinations visited by Brits in recent years. Considered the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident in history, Chernobyl has become an unlikely tourist destination in recent years, as travellers risk being exposed to lethal levels  of radiation in a bid to get a glimpse of the derelict town which has been left untouched since 1986. Another destination that draws many is Auschwitz, the concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II. Having been truly horrified after my own visit to a concentration camp in Germany, I think it's import...

Road trips are a great way to see the sights at your own pace, and discover new places that are totally off the beaten track. If you've never travelled this way, then I'd highly recommend it!  I regularly post my travel pics on social media and TravelSupermarket recently analysed some of the most picturesque pit stops and driving routes that get shutters clicking whilst on a road trip. The most Instagram-worthy road trip in the world, and the most popular over the summer months is....Route 66. Incredibly, the 2,448 mile long American hot spot was papped 1,198,035 times - no surprise given its stunning views! Second on the list is the stunning Great Ocean Road in Australia. It winds alongside the wild and windswept Southern Ocean, home to the world-class surf at Bells Beach and the craggy limestone spires of the 12 Apostles.   Closer to home, the UK has also made the top 25, with Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland making it the 20th most ...

I've visited many busy tourist destinations in my years of travelling, from the crazy crowds at Machu Picchu, to the madness of Tokyo. I loved every minute of those trips, but there's also something wonderful about discovering places that are almost devoid of tourists. The last time I went to Rome, my main aim was to find places where the locals hang out, and avoid the tourist traps. I proved it was possible, and even came home with money....from Rome....amazing! A survey by Travel Supermarket has revealed the fastest growing tourist destinations across the globe, and the places we should be visiting before the get oversaturated with fellow travellers. Top of the list is Jakarta in Indonesia, with visitors numbers predicted to double by 2025.  India has the highest number of destinations set to grow the fastest in the next seven years, with Jaipur likely to see an 88% increase in tourism.  The research shows that if you want to be the first to go som...

I'm a very positive person, but I start this blog post on a negative note! I'm not a fan of whoever said all good things must come to an end, because my summer of fun has just finished! I had an absolute ball discovering new places in the Caribbean, and Portugal - two of my favourite destinations.  However it's now time to return to reality, and get back to the day job I love! The good thing is, I have some wonderful places to share with you over the coming months, from funky beach bars to a stunning part of Portugal with no tourists. I hope you'll keep following my blog, and if you have any suggestions of your own from your summer travels, I'd love to hear about them. 

Who would have thought that my little travel blog would reach the grand old age of seven! It's been such a great journey and I'm proud to have had lovely reactions to my travel musings with those of you who take time to read it each week.  Thanks so much for your support, and keep travelling!

In just four days time, I'll be finishing work for a couple of months and heading off on my travels. Not only do I plan to find more amazing places to feature on my blog, but I also need a bit of downtime, so forgive me if I don't post for a few weeks - I'll be back with some holiday ramblings very soon!  In the meantime I'd love to hear where you plan to go this summer, whether you're planning an exotic trip or staying at home to explore the delights your own country has to offer. Whatever your plans, let me know them, and if you find anywhere I should be featuring on my blog....please get in touch. Happy travelling, and don't worry.....the 'lightbulb' will be switched on again soon!