A Reminiscent Recap of my Favourite Getaways Around The Globe

Enjoy an overview on some worldwide destinations that I have visited with highlights and why I would recommend each and every one of them as a travel destination.

Iceland - A Nature Lover’s Paradise
I visited Iceland last November with my best friend and it definitely won part of my heart. It’s absolutely breath-taking in so many different ways… We based our stay in Reykjavik, the country’s charming capital city in a boutique style hotel. The rooms were quirky and there was a cosy coffee bar on site which was perfect to relax in after a day out in the cold. Reykjavik itself is quite cosmopolitan, with a selection of independent coffee shops, bars, shops and restaurants, colourful street murals, museums, old buildings plus a contrast of scenery with the city skyline against a backdrop of mountains.

We of course headed to the Blue Lagoon, a stunning geothermal spa with a bar and a mud mask station. The Blue lagoon is located quite close to the airport so we decided to head straight there upon our arrival in Iceland. There was unfortunately a wind storm on this day, so trying to get a selfie in the lagoon was quite a task with sleet continuously slapping us in the face, and temperatures were below freezing, so getting out of the water wasn’t fun either. Nonetheless, it was magical seeing the illuminated water.

On our first full day in Iceland we decided to experience the golden circle tour in the south coast of the country. We witnessed some incredible natural wonders, including cascading waterfalls, glaciers and towering snow-capped mountains. The weather couldn’t have been better this day; it was freezing of course but we were wrapped up well (bring thermals and hand warmers!!) and the sun was shining while it was snowing. I truly felt like I was in a winter wonderland. Our tour included lunch which was a delicious meat soup with chocolate fudge cake and coffee for desert.

If you haven’t experienced a winter getaway, then you just have to visit Iceland. It is pricey but it’s one of those once in a lifetime destinations. We even got to see the northern lights on our trip which made it even more perfect. I have never experienced such excitement when I was on the coach and spotted the northern lights before we even left the city. I was screaming at my friend and she didn’t believe me that they were making an appearance. Next thing you know the driver pulled up and we witnessed the aurora borealis dancing in the sky. A wish come true!

Prague - The Ideal City Break
Prague is one of the most charming cities I have ever visited. I absolutely loved it because it’s slightly off-the-beaten-path, not a cliché destination. It’s also very cheap with beer costing under a pound in some places and very beautiful with all sorts of architectural wonders. My husband and I pretty much explored all of Prague in a few days, covering a dinner cruise across the city which was a highlight, and a stroll around both the Old Town and New Town. Prague is very quirky with old-world charm, and it’s the little things that appealed to me, like its traffic light system which had cool clicking sounds.

Prague’s Old Town was my favourite spot. It’s like something from a fairy-tale, and something you need to see to believe. The colourful buildings were historic yet well preserved and there was an endless choice of cosy cafes, bars and restaurants. Prague Castle in the Old Town region was awe-inspiring. We walked around the grounds and gardens and found an observation spot which offered unrivalled views of the city’s skyline. Prague was my first ever city break, so this moment was quite special.

Riviera Maya, Mexico - Endless Fun and Indulgence
Mexico was my first long-haul holiday and has got to be my all-time favourite. Mexico caters for everyone. My husband and I stayed in an all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya beside the Caribbean coast of Mexico which had everything we could possibly need and more… From a lazy river to a la carte restaurants, swim up bars and a gorgeous on-site private beach. My favourite hotel facility was the coffee shop where I enjoyed an iced coffee and slice of cake every day after sunbathing. We were waited on hand and foot in this resort and didn’t need to leave our sunbed for a drink. Even the entertainment was amazing – beach parties, theatre performances and more. We weren’t ever used to such luxury!

When we did decide to get off our backsides and venture off site we were very impressed. We enjoyed a shopping spree on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, a famous shopping hub in Mexico which has market stalls, boutiques, renowned high street shops and supermarkets including Walmart. We stocked up on goodies and also came back to Playa del Carmen for a bar crawl and visited the famous Coco Bongos bar, which may possibly be one of the most memorable nights out I’ve ever had. We also took a trip to Akumal Beach, which was very paradisiac with pristine white sands, crystal-clear waters and bustling beach bars.

You could say Mexico is cliché and very popular, but for good reason. It’s amazing and well worth the long flight. Brightsun has a great selection of holidays to Mexico if you’re interested.

Dominican Republic - The Ultimate Laid-Back Beach Getaway
If you’re looking for somewhere special to sit back and relax all day in luxury, then look no further than Dominican Republic. My friends and I stayed in a newly opened property in Punta Cana, and it was superb. Breakfast was the best I have ever had with everything from muffins, pancakes and doughnuts to a full English breakfast and there were several restaurants to choose from, plus the pristine pools with swim-up bars and absolutely beautiful on-site beach where you can ride the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. These waves were very strong though so you do need to take care – my friend got wiped out by one!

The local areas of Dominican Republic were a bit sad to witness, as the country is very poverty stricken. We did embark on a couple of excursions though, including a boat trip to Saona Island. This breath-taking Caribbean island has a natural pool area in the sea with the most crystal-clear waters I have ever seen and colourful starfish that we got to encounter. Saona Island is a private island which hosted a BBQ for us and the other guests with delicious chicken and lobster. Afterwards we had some time to sit back on the beach and take in the alluring surroundings, then we boarded our catamaran pack to Punta Cana which offered some great entertainment and refreshments.

Jamaica - An Ideal Honeymoon Escape
Jamaica had always been on my bucket list as I had associated it with paradise. Montego Bay in particular is where I had always dreamed of visiting, and I had the pleasure of spending two weeks here for my honeymoon last year. It certainly didn’t disappoint! Everything you think Jamaica will be is exactly that, and more. The endless reggae tunes playing, the overall laid back vibe which makes you want to sit and chill all day (and boy did we do just that), the extremely mouth-watering jerk chicken and rice that I still crave every day and the way you’re treated like royalty. A bonus was the all-inclusive sauvignon blanc!

We choose Jamaica for our honeymoon because we planned to literally just chill out all day by the pool in paradise, though we did venture out once on a daytrip via boat to Negril. We sailed past the famous Seven Mile Beach and our journey ended at Rick’s Café, a vibrant bar and party hub with amazing sunsets and a cliffside where people literally jump into the water. We witnessed people doing this which was very shocking! Ah, I’m forever daydreaming of Jamaica… It was the honeymoon of a lifetime and we experienced indulgence from start to finish.

Lake Garda, Italy - A Foodie’s Haven
Lake Garda was the destination of my dreams. I was in my element here for sure. I’m not a lover of crowds, so this trip was particularly blissful and authentic as we stayed in a local village by the lake which didn’t have many tourists. The lake itself is picturesque and very large with little beach areas, and there were a number of shops, restaurants and bars around. We decided to go for a bed and breakfast room basis so we could eat in as much Italian restaurants as possible. The food was just as tasty as we’d hoped, and many of the restaurants were family run which added to the charm. There were also many gelato parlours to choose from so we were in food paradise here. Aperol Spritz was my signature drink which seems to be a local favourite.

During our trip to Lake Garda we decided to enjoy a vineyard tour in Verona which was around a 30 minute drive from Lake Garda. Let’s face it, what’s a trip to Italy without a wine tour? It was everything I could have hoped it to be… Stunning sunshine, some great information about the wine making process and a selection of red and white wines to sample, paired with cheese and salami. I very much enjoyed the regular top ups and must say I was quite tipsy on the coach home! Our wine tour included a stop at a romantic little local town which I didn’t want to leave.

If you haven’t visited any of these destinations, then you should definitely add at least one of them to your bucket list.