Travel Lightbulb

I always think that the end of the year is quite an emotional time. It's a poignant moment to look back at the last 12 months and remember all the good times. I've had some wonderful travel adventures during 2016 and am already planning my trips for the new year. To all of you who are avid travellers like me - happy new year, and happy new travels when they come! Let's hope 2017 is a happy and healthy one for us all xx

It's that time of year everyone.....Christmas is upon us, and I'm sure many of you are getting ready to finish up at work - if you haven't already! I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas when it comes. Take time to relax and chill out, and if you're travelling over the festive period - ENJOY IT! To all of you who dip in and read my blog - thank you for your support.  HAPPY CHRISTMAS!x

Yes, yes.....I know it's not until January, but if you want to be part of one of the biggest Burns Night celebrations, then you might want to grab some tickets to the festival I'm featuring today! The Big Burns Supper, The world's biggest Burns Night celebration is a 10 day festival which runs in Dumfries from the 20-29th January 2017.  This is where Scotland's infamous poet, Robert Burns, spent his final years, and is the sixth year of Scotland's landmark Burns Night event. It features cabaret, comedy, music and entertainment as the town of Dumfries goes bonkers for nine days of winter magic!  One of the most popular parts of the proceedings, The Carnival, will make a return on Sunday 22nd of January. Thousands of people will line the streets of Dumfries, and The Festival has been working with volunteers from across Dumfries, to get people involved in creating floats, masks, and lanterns. If you'd like more information, then head to www....

Travelling can be pretty stressful at times, especially if you have to negotiate your way through a busy airport. So how about an idea that takes the stress out of it all? Well for the 18th consecutive year, the covered space between the terminals at Munich Airport has been transformed into a winter wonderland. There are more than 40 stands, situated amid 450 real Christmas trees, offering seasonal treats and local handicrafts.  The highlight of the market is the huge ice rink - skating is free of charge, and rental skates are available for a small fee. There are also a variety of acts to keep visitors entertained every day from 11am until 9pm including live musical acts helping to create a festive atmosphere. I think it's a fantastic idea, and something that should be replicated around the world to help everyone get in the mood for fun! The Christmas and Winter Market will close on December the 30th. For the full programme of this year's market click here .

Sometimes you just want to get away from it all - and where better to do that than at a place called the "Chillout Hotel"! Their website calls it 'an oasis of peace and relaxation', and it's certainly that. It's situated just 8km from the town of Tarifa towards Cadiz, on Costa de la Luz on the southern coast of Spain. The area is known as one of the world's most popular destinations for wind sports, because of the unique wind conditions in this area.  The hotel is set in beautiful gardens, and is only a five minute walk from Casas de Porro beach. There are plenty of places you can relax and enjoy the surroundings, but my favourite is the beautiful Balinese-style terrace.  The hotel prices are very competitive for what you get, and breakfast is included in the price. While the rooms are functional they have everything you need including air conditioning. The bar and restaurant are both good value, and a top tip for you...the mojitos are i...

If you're looking for something different to do outdoors, then the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is well worth a try. In a world where days out can be so expensive, especially for families, this is also free! It's an open-air gallery in West Yorkshire, showing work by both British and international artists. It was opened in 1977, and was the UK's first sculpture park.  It has a changing exhibition programme, rather than a permanent display so you can go time and time again and see different works of art.  If you're going to spend the whole day here, then you're going to need to eat! Picnics are allowed in the park, but there is also a restaurant, with great views, and a cafe. Both have indoor and outdoor seating so no matter what the weather, you're catered for.  It's a great day out, and just a little bit different. Top tip: If you can, visit on a weekday - it's lovely to wander around without crowds and enjoy the peace and q...

Many people talk about holiday destinations being 'heaven on earth', and for me - that description is just perfect for the Maldives. These wonderful coral islands are completely idyllic, and somewhere that I would love to return to. From the moment I stepped onto the sea plane to get to my resort, I knew I was going to have the time of my life.  There are so many islands to choose from and I took a long time to decide which one was right for me. Veligandu Island Resort was the one for me - great food; fabulous accommodation, picture perfect beaches, and wonderful staff. Why not revisit my original post to read more on one of the best places to honeymoon -  Perfection in the Maldives .

One of the things I love about travelling is feeling like I'm escaping the day to day stresses of life. For me, part of that is putting my phone in a drawer and forgetting about the outside world. For others, it's about constantly putting photos on social media, and showing all your friends and family the fabulous places you're visiting. A recent survey commissioned by WorldSIM has revealed that 31% of travellers still don't use their phone when they travel abroad - perhaps because they're worried about returning home to a monster mobile phone bill because of international roaming charges. That means that a whopping 69% of people do use their phone while travelling. These days it's very rare to see people without a phone in their hand - but when you're on your hols, I find it a bit sad. I do upload the odd photo, and also use my phone to research places when I'm on my travels. However there's a big wide world out there - when you...