TRAVEL ADVENTURES PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
TRAVEL ADVENTURES PAST
Happy New Year folks! 2018 was a fantastic year of surprise travel adventures for me. I kicked off the year with a city break to Athens (you can read up on my 22 Athens city break highlights) finally seeing the city steeped in copious amounts of Greek mythology and witnessing the incredible Acropolis for myself.
The next trip was a impromptu break to Riga, which to my surprise was one of my most favourite city breaks to date. It was a total shock to discover a city bursting with so much history and beauty. My first encounter of discovering a Baltic city has definitely put me in the mood to take in more of the Baltic locales and sample the fine dining scene. Find out more in a weekend guide to Latvia’s capital, Riga.
One of my stand-out trips of the year was to finally visit the Amalfi coast and Bay of Naples and tick off the coastal towns of Ravello, Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento and the island of Capri. There were a whole bunch of amazing experiences enjoyed including iconic hotels and day trips. The Amalfi coast truly is a beautiful destination sporting one of the most spectacular coastlines I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. Feel free to read all about one of my favourite hotels, The Belmond Hotel Caruso and my top 5 days trips from Positano.
TRAVEL ADVENTURES PRESENT
As I send you blessings for the new year, I am writing this post from Hua Hin in Thailand. I have been here over the Christmas break taking part in a sustainability project at The Evason Six Senses Spa. I also spent Christmas day at The Hutsadin Elephant Foundation doing some Mahout training with elephants that have been rescued from the tourist industry forced to partake in the cruel activity of elephant rides and performances. Look out for posts in the next few weeks about my experiences in Hua Hin
It has been a fantastic way to spend Christmas giving back to the community in Hua Hin and you can read all about my plans in my last travel link-up blog post entitled, Christmas: ‘Tis the season for festivities of giving.
TRAVEL ADVENTURES FUTURE
As soon as the Christmas festivities are over Dr C and I enter a travel haul ritual for the upcoming year. This year will be no exception, we won’t be rushing into booking anything imminently, as at the end of January we are off to a couple of our major bucket-list destinations. We are headed to Guatemala, Belize and a whistle stop stay in Miami. In true ‘Be’ style, I have hand-picked the hotels in some amazing locations including the colonial town of Antigua and a stunning waterside abode at Lake Atitlan in Guatamala.
Photo Courtesy: Santa Catalina Arch, Antigua, Wikeipedia
Photo Courtesy of Lake Atitlan: Wikipedia
For the Belize portion of the trip, we have opted for remote locations such as the Gaia Riverside lodge, where we will be arriving by tube along the river and staying in a tree house over-looking a waterfall. Our other abode will be the very elegant Mata Chica resort, reached only by speedboat on a private island.
Photo Courtesy: Gaia Riverside Resort
Photo Courtesy: Matachica Resort
I’m pretty sure I’ll be headed back to my favourite city of Florence for a short break and sample some more of the beautiful Tuscan countryside after my romantic photoshoot that Dr C arranged last year for our wedding anniversary in Montefiorelle.
Photo Courtesy: Alberto Sarrantonio Photography
Photo Courtesy: Alberto Sarrantonio Photography
After this I have no firm travel plans but a huge wishlist, which I’m sure I’ll be referring to for inspiration. I guess the world literally is my oyster!
How about you, tell me what your travel plans are for 2019 and what were your destination highlights in 2018?
À Bientôt…
PIN FOR LATER
Binita Shah-Patel
Ahhh! Exciting travel plans for Jan! Can’t wait to follow along! My plans so far are a London staycation, Valencia with Emma, Kenya and India. Excited to plan the rest xx
Bejal
Binita Shah-PatelThanks Binny! Oh wow sounds like you have a busy year planned, will be following along for sure. Happy New Year lovely x
ndsouza2006
What amazing adventures you have had Bejal and the holiday at the end of Jan sounds perfect. Look forward to seeing more of your luxury travels – amazing xx
Bejal
ndsouza2006Thanks Neha, so looking forward to the central America trip as its been in the planning for a while! Thankyou for all your support the past year and can’t wait to share more with you xx
boatmanadmin
We did Sorrento a couple of years ago – it’s so beautiful and I’d love to go back!
Bejal
boatmanadminAgreed, Sorrento is stunning and such a great base to experience the Amalfi Coast from.
Angie Silver
I always think our travel style is so similar!
Bejal
Angie SilverYes that’s so true! Great minds and all that!
Kerry LifeandLoves
Ohhhh I have loved following along with your Thailand adventure. So much so that it has inspired me to find something that I can get involved with this year of a similar vein. I cant wait to read the full details of this trip, but, ridiculously, just seeing that photo of the elephant makes me emotional. I just adore those gracious beasts. Lovely to have “met: you this year, such a positive soul xx
Bejal
Kerry LifeandLovesOh thanks so much for your support Kerry, it has meant the world and you are so kind. I am currently writing teh elephant post and it is very emotional to say the least. I feel so honoured to have met you and hop we can meet in person one day xx
Kerry LifeandLoves
BejalOhh I look forward to reading it (and becoming an emotional wreck lol) Yes I really hope we meet too xxxx
Bejal
Kerry LifeandLovesThanks Kerry, I think the elephant post will be quite the tear jerker! xx
Sammy Summers
You have had such a wonderful travelling year… looking forward to reading all of your new blogs this year xxxxp
Bejal
Sammy SummersThankyou Sammy, you are such a kind soul.Likewise, i look forwad to following your jaunts too. Happy New Year beautiful xx
Camila @ AdventitiousViolet
Oh wow Guatemala and Belize sound amazing! Wishing you the best and plenty of adventures for 2019!
Bejal
Camila @ AdventitiousVioletThanks so much and yes I am quite excited as it’s been somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a while. Happy new Year!
eleanorburfitt
Wow what an amazing way to spend the holidays! 🙂 sounds amazing and look forward to reading about it!
Bejal
eleanorburfittThanks so much Eleanor, that’s very kind of you and I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Laura
How exciting! Guatemala and Belize will be amazing!
Bejal
LauraI simply cannot wait! Such a bucket-list trip!
Sarah
You have so many exciting adventures on the horizon in 2019 – and it sounds like you had a great year of travel in 2018 too. Florence is just gorgeous, and I love your photoshoot photos from there (what a great anniversary idea!). I hope you are able to make it work!
Bejal
SarahThankyou Sarah, I’m really looking forward to the year! I love Florence so much, Went there when I was 18 and think I left a little part of myself there! Really can’t wait to share more amazing trips with you guys.
louiseloveslondon
Happy New Year! As always your photos are gorgeous and I am a little bit jealous about all your upcoming adventures! Lucky girl and have fun:-D
Louise X
Bejal
louiseloveslondonHappy New Year Louise! Aww I am sure it won’t be long before you are off on your travels too. I can’t wait to share all my adventures with you xx
the Curious Pixie
I absolutely can’t wait for to see your Guatemala and Belize trip. The tree house stay sounds epic!
Bejal
the Curious PixieI csn’t wait to go and share it with everyone. It’s a major bucket-list trip!