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Luxe Stay // Four Seasons Hotel, Baku
The Four Seasons brand is synonymous with luxury. And the Four Seasons Hotel in Baku is elegance with old-world charm. I first discovered this incredible property on the trusty old Instagram. I knew if I ever visited Baku, the Four Seasons was where I was staying. Located centrally between the modern city and along the medieval walls of the old town. Only minutes away from the trio of flame-shaped modern towers and steps from the Caspian Sea. The Arrival Baku was pleasantly surprising. Arriving into the modern Heydar Aliyev International Airport was not what I was expecting of a country straddling Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The new terminal was opened…
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Portofino // Escaping life for an Italian dream
Have you ever wondered if you could escape life, where would you go? Well, I had this very conversation last week. And I have it all figured out. Portofino. You may not know where Portofino is, but I can bet you have seen the postcard. Portofino is a little fishing village on the Italian Riviera coastline. It is known for its charm and has become synonymous with elegance and understated luxury. It’s where Louis Vuitton sits next to a local Italian ristorante. Where the rich and famous park their superyachts in summer. And where I dream to own a little café that serves local tapas and has a communal…
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Dubrovnik // exploring the pearl of the Adriatic
Dubrovnik was my third stop in my road trip through the Balkans. I had already visited Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. I had visited Croatia previously but stayed up in the north around Zagreb. This was my first, long-awaited visit to Dubrovnik. And I really do not think I knew what to expect. A little history // Being so far south does not mean Dubrovnik escaped the conflict during the break-up of Yugoslavia. In 1991 Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers of the Yugoslav People’s Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. But after extensive restoration and repair, today it is a prominent tourist attraction.…
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Luxe Stays // Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London
Soaring 125 metres into the sky The Shard is an architectural icon and Western Europe’s tallest building. With unobstructed views across all of London, you can see why a luxe stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard was on my bucket list. The Arrival I arrived in London on the Euro Star from Paris. An easy black cab ride to The Shard and I had arrived. Ok, so I was carrying a backpack and was wearing cargo pants and sneakers…no judgement! But I probably should have dressed up a little! The Shangri-La Hotel only occupies 18 floors of The Shard. The reception is on level 34. Slightly confusing if…
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Montenegro // small but mighty
I was taking a road trip through the Balkans. By the time I reached Montenegro, I had visited Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. I had heard the stories of war, the stories of resilience and the stories of hope. I was excited to be visiting Montenegro, small but mighty. A little history // Montenegro is the smallest Slavic country and is one of the newest countries in the world. It declared its independence from Serbia in 2006. Nothing about the Balkan history is straight forward. State boundaries have changed continuously over the years. Since WW1 alone Montenegro has gone through seven incarnations. It is believed that Montenegro got its…
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Paris // 10 photos to have you dreaming of a getaway
Paris is a city unlike any other. It evokes a range of emotions. I feel like a free-spirited wanderer when walking the streets and lanes. I feel like a romantic when sitting in the parks. And the very first time I visited over 15 years ago, I cried because it pulled at my heart. I never stopped dreaming of Paris. Paris cannot be described; it can only be felt. So sit back and enjoy a photo journey that will have you dreaming of your next visit to Paris. Do you love taking a visual journey through beautiful cities? Well check out my story on 10 photos to have you dreaming…
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Luxe Stays // Burgenstock Resort, Switzerland
Like many of us, I get my travel inspiration from Instagram. And one day aimlessly scrolling through my feed, I saw this image pop up. And I just knew I had to organise a luxe stay! It took a bit of saving. But eventually, I arrived at the magnificent, very luxe, Burgenstock Resort, nestled high above Lake Lucerne. The Arrival Burgenstock is accessible by road but to gain the full experience of opulence you really need to arrive by boat. I arrived into Lucerne by train on a perfectly blue-sky morning. The luxurious, high-speed Burgenstock Catamaran conveniently departs from the wharf directly opposite the train station. It’s a 30-minute trip…
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Sarajevo // inextricably linked to tragedy and hope
Driving through the Balkans region, Bosnia and Herzegovina was the second country on my itinerary. And I don’t think there has been a country or a nationality that has surprised me more. It is remarkable. Its capital, Sarajevo, is linked to tragedy and hope. Scarred by conflict and a history that’s impossibly sad. Yet there is so much strength and pride in the locals. A little history // Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is inextricably linked to tragedy and hope. Yet there is unity and respect where church bells ring next door to the Islam call for prayer. Over the past 20 years, this city has…
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Serbia // exploring the grit, the wild and breathtaking
I was planning a road trip through the Balkans, and Belgrade just happened to be the easiest city to fly in to. So exploring Serbia was added to my itinerary. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought war-torn, dirty, unsafe. I thought I’d do a tour and then be on my way. Well, I was wrong. A little history // Belgrade is situated at the junction of two rivers, the Sava and the Danube – Europe’s second-largest river. Due to its strategic positioning Belgrade has fought in over 115 wars and has been destroyed and rebuilt more than 44 times during its history! It was conquered…
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Luxe Stays // Chelidonia Luxury Suites
Santorini had been on my bucket list for years. So when I finally made the decision to add it onto the end of two weeks travelling through the Balkans I wanted it to be perfect. I trawled through hundreds of properties online trying to find the balance between spectacular, affordability and availability! And then I discovered Chelidonia Luxury Suites. The Arrival // I arrived into the port of Athinios via the Blue Star Ferry from Athens. Didn’t realise it was an 8-hour ferry trip but I upgraded to the front end of the ship and had a quiet, relaxing day cruising around the Greek Islands. The lovely people at Chelidonia…
