TRAVEL Archives - Megan Taylor

THE GIRL’S GUIDE TO TRAVELLING WITH ONLY HAND LUGGAGE

Hello from a girl that needs her creature comforts around her at all times to feel fully comfortable and anxiety free. Until August this year I had never travelled with only hand luggage in my entire life. The only reason I travelled with only hand luggage on this particular occasion was because I had a new beautiful suitcase which is hand luggage appropriate and I was only going away for a couple of nights. I was also comforted by the fact my family were already on holiday where I was travelling to so if I forgot anything they would probably be able to rescue me. That being said I actually didn’t borrow anything…apart from a plug adapter which I forgot even though I have 10 of them at home from past forgetfulness! So, I am here to tell you how this rather high maintenance traveller managed to go abroad with only hand luggage only.
Excuse the gorgeous summer imagery. This post, of course is still applicable for chilly City breaks too…although make sure you travel in your winter boots because they take up far too much space in a hand luggage suitcase and are super heavy.

PLAN AHEAD

The main thing you need to do when travelling with only hand luggage is to plan and be prepared. Do your research as to how much liquid you can travel with in your country, how heavy your hand luggage can be and how big your mini suitcase can be. The suitcase I have from American Tourister is luckily cabin size approved so I didn’t have to worry. If you are going to go with only hand luggage and make the effort to downsize your belongings you are taking you need to make sure you aren’t going to get to the airport and be told you have to pay to check in your slightly oversized luggage. Read below for my outfit planning tips.

THE GIRL'S GUIDE TO TRAVELLING WITH ONLY HAND LUGGAGE | MEGAN TAYLOR

(Suitcase from American Tourister)

BEAUTY PRODUCTS

As a beauty blogger I am a big lover of my beauty products and make up but the ban on big quantities of liquid makes this addiction a little tricky. The only products that I went full size on were my face SPF, cleanser and foundation because I want these to be totally clean when I put them on my face rather than decanting into something else. I decanted eye make up remover and body wash into small plastic containers. I had a small shampoo and conditioner from a hotel which I took with me. At the airport I bought a bottle of SPF for my body and left that in France as it was too big to take home, this upset me a bit though as it felt so wasteful. I did the same with toothpaste, hairspray, razor (most pricy thing to buy and get rid of! If you aren’t a pain woss like me, you could opt for a wax?) and deodorant…again, this felt wasteful 🙁 With my make up I managed to go with a super pared down make up bag. I opted for two creamy eyeshadow sticks in different colours, an eyeliner, the foundation I mentioned earlier, a cream blusher, mascara.
Oh and I also gave my eyebrows a good tweezing the day before leaving. A tweezer is something I would be devastated to have confiscated because I really get attached to my tweezer, I find that they mould to my grip like a fountain pen.

FASHION ITEMS

A big planning tip would be to make a note of everything you are planning on doing during your trip away. I knew that I was going to be going out for two nights so needed two cute dresses and the same pair of shoes for each. I knew that I was going to go for a run one morning, so I took the smallest running clothes possible and my lightest pair of trainers. I was planning on spending most of the time on the beach so I took two bikinis, one pair of flip flops and two beach dresses that could double up as cute enough to wear to breakfast or strolling around the streets and morning markets. Luckily I didn’t have any clothes that I needed to shoot for work so I didn’t have to take any specific clothing and could just go for the lightest small items as possible.

THE TRUE COST

Even though you are saving money on not paying to check in a suitcase you are actually still going to have some spendy moments. Once you have gone through passport control you will probably have to go to Boots to buy yourself the beauty essentials. I suppose if you are only going away for a couple of nights you could get away without buying shampoo and conditioner. I have noticed that travel sized products are so much more expensive than their full sized equivalent. I would suggest investing in some nice travel sized containers that you can decant into rather than spending a fortune on travel sized goodies.

I have to admit the whole experience of travelling with only hand luggage was incredibly freeing. Not having to queue to check in and not having to wait for your luggage on the conveyor belts made me feel a big sense of smugness. If I am going away for a proper length holiday or trip of a week or more I will probably go for checking in a full sized 20kg suitcase but for a weekend away I may just try the hand luggage only thing again. Have you ever managed to travel with only hand luggage? Tell me your words of wisdom too please 🙂 x

WHY YOU NEED A TRIP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE

Hello Autumn, is that you I see? 🍂Autumn has crept up after the long hot summer and I am really excited about it. To me, Autumn conjures up thoughts of exciting layered fashion, Strictly Come Dancing, hot chocolate and long walks in the woods followed by cosy cuddles by the wood burning fire. With the kids going back to school, adults back to work and the roads and trains being busier in the mornings, it has got me thinking…I need a long weekend away 😉 As a bit of a suburban dweller it has taken me a few years but I believe I have aced the art of a long weekend in the countryside. Let me tell you why you too need a trip to the countryside…oh and also the fashion items you will want to take with you.

This post is sponsored by the wonderful Celtic & Co. Shop their clothes here.

RUN THE MOUNTAINS

Wether you walk or run, go and seek some adventure. Relaxing is so much more rewarding after working. My parents’ house is surrounded by mountains. They are right in the middle of the Brecon Beacons so we are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking our spot. Liam and I tend to run the Skirrid, Derry or the Sugar Loaf. Once you reach the peak and see the epic views you will feel accomplished and literally on top of the world. Once you have conquered your mountain or field or even the block you will be filed with fresh air and ready to justify a pub lunch.

LAZY PUB LUNCHES

Long lazy pub lunches are so much better in the countryside. The pubs feel so much cosier, especially in Autumn/Winter. There are often log fires and cosy little nooks to sit in with your loved one. What I also adore about the country pubs is that 99.9% of them I have visited have allowed dogs. I know not everyone is a dog person but I feel they add to the relaxed care free vibe. I am vegetarian and spent my childhood avoiding pub lunches with my family because they were so bad at catering for veggies. With time that has completely changed, you can’t get away from sweet potato fries and halloumi and for that I am forever thankful.

WHY YOU NEED A TRIP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE | Megan Taylor

• TRACKIES • SLIPPERS • CARDIGAN •

QUIRKY CAFES

Continuing on the food conversation, I am here with my love of cafes. I love stumbling across quirky little cafes around small towns. They all tend to be little independents which makes you feel like you are supporting the community. Abergavenny in South Wales is filled with them, my favourite being The Chapel. The food is fresh and exciting and they even serve alcohol to go alongside your cake…perfecting at it’s finest. I am in Abergavenny this weekend for the Abergavenny Food Festival and can’t wait to eat all the cheese.

SIT BY THE FIRE

My parents have a lovely wood burning fire and we light it the second we arrive. If we aren’t going out for the day we light it first thing in the morning giving full on Little Women vibes (one of my favourite books). The sound and heat of a roaring fire with a cosy old movie on in the background is absolute heaven for me. I do however have to fight my dog Coco to the hotspot in front of the fire.

• CARDIGAN •

FORAGING AND FARMER’S MARKETS

As I said earlier, I am off to a food festival this weekend which we do most years. The opportunity to discover new food and nibble goodies whilst talking to the owners is something that I am loving doing more as I have got older. When I was younger I hated my parents taking forever between each stand but I am now that person. If you go out for a walk make sure you bring a bag, you never know what you may find. Liam and I have been known to come back with berries, mushrooms and even apples to cook up a storm with.

CUDDLE

If you are in the countryside with a loved one then a cuddle is definitely in order. Pop on your cosy clothes and snuggle up together for extra bonus romantic points. I adore these lounge pants (remind me of Rachel from Friends ‘Apartment Pants’) and slippers for perfect lounging attire.

Are you a fan of being in the countryside or would you rather be in the City?

WHAT TO PACK

The weather can be obviously be a bit skitty. One minute it is raining and cold, the next sunny and warm. The most important factor for me was to have a pair of boots for walks and slippers for the minute you walk in the front door. This cardigan was my saviour last time we went to Wales, it was warm-ish so I was in a dress and flip flops but when we were walking around town there was a strong breeze. I popped this cardigan on and I was super cosy. I am not your best friend when I am cold 😉 . Oh, also, I got Coco a matching jumper to my cardigan for ultimate cuteness. I also adore these lounge pants because even though they are merino they don’t itch, even in the slightest! Also, after 3 days of lounging about the house in them, they didn’t get saggy knees, that’s a sure sign of an amazing pair of trackies.

• BOOTS • SCARF • DOG JUMPER •

HOW TO BOOK AN AMAZING HOLIDAY EVERY TIME

I am often asked by friends and family for holiday recommendations or even to find them a holiday. Finding a great holiday can be blooming tricky and time-consuming task. I don’t mean to brag (although I totally am ;P) but every holiday I have booked has been amazing!! Of course, a good holiday is what you make of it. Any holiday can be good or bad depending on your mood but I have always been thrilled with the locations and hotels I have booked for both summer and city breaks. I thought I would share my process in seeking out those gems and name the hotels that I have stayed at that I can remember off the top of my head in different countries where I have loved the hotel and the location.

TOP TIPS FOR HOLIDAY SUCCESS

TIME

It can take time to find your dream holiday but allow yourself that time, each lunchtime or evening whilst keeping half an eye on the Love Islanders latest antics. When it comes to booking a holiday you do not want to rush the task. I have heard rumours that the time of the week you book is imperative and that on Tuesday evenings the prices are often higher. I’m not certain if this is true with regards to the exact time and day of the week but I have found that the stored cookies thing is true. When I have been to book a holiday a few days after researching the price has gone up. I suggest you either delete all your cookies or do your research on a different laptop/tablet/mobile than the one you are going to book on.

5* BABY

It may be a bit cheeky but my first port of call once I have decided on the country is to go onto the Mr & Mrs Smith website and see which hotels they recommend in the country. They only recommend the most lush holiday spots, I always trust their opinion. Sadly I have always found much cheeper option on other holiday providers websites so I use them solely as a research tool. If I can’t find their recommendations anywhere at an affordable price I will then use the following 5* tactic. I go onto the typical sites including Olympic Holidays, Thomas Cook, TUI etc then input the country and dates I want and only search 5* hotels. If I can’t afford any of the 5* hotels I open up the search to 4* hotels. If I can’t find anything in those two brackets I move on to a different country of choice. I am a homebody and I need my creature comforts when in a strange and unfamiliar place, therefore I really need my hotel abroad to be lovely and a complete safe haven.

TRIP ADVISOR

I always check my hotel on Trip Advisor. I couldn’t believe it when I was booking our holiday in Zante at Zante Maris Suites and there was not a single negative review. This is totally unusual, some people are grumpy and have a cruddy holiday and write rather unfair reviews on trivial problems. I do however sometimes get sidetracked by these negative reviews. I do also quite like to have a look at the customer hotel holiday photos as they portray a much more realistic view of the hotel than the professional holiday snaps.

INSTAGRAM

Another place that I research my potential holiday is Instagram. Some hotels have an Instagram account and you can look at photos they were tagged in by real holiday makers. If they don’t have an Instagram account you are still likely to find the hotel through a hashtag or location where holiday makers have taken photos and geotagged their location. Our latest hotel we went to didn’t have an Instagram account but lots of Instagrammers and holiday makers had shared pictures of them swanning about drinking cocktails and hanging out on their balcony private pools and it all looked ever so dreamy and I could picture myself there too.

GOOGLE MAPS

A great way to check if you really want to pick a holiday spot is to use Google Maps street view. These images are often taken out of season and even the most dreamy holidays I have been on, such as our honeymoon at Bill & Coo in Mykonos looked a bit daggy on Google Maps even though it wasn’t daggy, even in the slightest. Use the street view to map your route to the local town, can you walk there? Is the beach near? Are there restaurants close enough?

HOW TO BOOK AN AMAZING HOLIDAY EVERY TIME | Megan Taylor

MY FAVOURITE HOTELS

GREECE

ZANTE – Zante Maris Suites

RHODES – Atrium Palace

CRETE – Insula Alba

MYKONOS – Bill & Coo

ITALY

FLORENCE – Continentale

VERONA – Palazzo Victoria

ROME – The Westin Excelsior

VENICE – Hotel A La Commedia (best places to eat & drink in Venice)

TENERIFE

(I stayed in these 3 hotels whilst filming a commercial, so I didn’t pick them but they were amazing, especially the one in the West)

SOUTH – Sheraton La Caleta (Adeje)

NORTH – Iberostar Grand Hotel Mencey (Santa Cruz)

WEST – Melia Hacienda Del Conde (Buenavista)

I hope my holiday booking tips can help you too. Have you got any other tips that you have used which I need to include? Or, any amazing hotel holiday hot spots that I have missed off my list?

WHAT’S IN MY TRAVEL MAKE UP BAG

I recently went away to my parents house in South Wales. We were only heading there from Friday lunchtime until Sunday lunchtime. Yet, in this small space of time we had planned a run, an afternoon tea, cocktails and lounging about in front of the fire if at all possible. I recently bought a new make up bag from Oliver Bonas which deserved to be photographed, so I thought I would show you my ever so “slightly” reduced make up collection which I took with me.

SKIN

So, as always, I use a serum rather than a moisturiser. If you want to know the exact reasons why I recommend this then check out my recent blog post on serums and face oils, but briefly… It’s great for your skin and makes make up application a dream. I use this one by Angelico for oily skin. It smells divine and works wonders on my skin.
For my foundation I use a mixture of Rimmel’s Wake Me Up and La Mer. The La Mer is nice and light, whilst the Rimmel foundation is a little thicker and has a better coverage. For concealer which is necessary for my dark Italian under eyes I use this palette by NYX because it has a nice mix of colours to blend in whatever the time of year and have recently started using this liquid concealer by Nude which is quite thick but blends well.

WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL MAKE UP BAG | Megan Taylor

EYES

As you may have read recently in my Mother’s Day Gift Guide, I am in love with this Too Faced Peach Palette…no, it didn’t make its way to my mum, I love it too much hehe. This palette is full of the perfect pinky nude tones for Spring and is nice and compact to travel with. For my eyeliner I have always, ever since I can remember, loved Rimmel’s Kohl liner in Jet Black. In the last few years the Eyeko thin liquid liner has been an absolute staple. It is only with this liner that I can perfect a steady cat flick. For my mascara, again it has to be Eyeko…I adore their mascara formulation and their brushes always give you the perfect separated long lash look that I am after. Last but not least, I use Eyeko’s eye lash curler. As you can see, it is well used and the nice velvet handles are starting to come apart 🙁

LIPS & CHEEKS

I didn’t bring any contouring goodies on my trip as I only really do that if I am going to a big event. Yet, I alllllllways wear blusher. As you can see, I really should give up on this blusher as it is kind of invisible now, but I loved it ever so much. This was a blusher from Trifle and had three colours in which I used daily as one colour by swiping my brush across all of the three. For brushes, I took a lip brush which I actually use for my concealer palette as it has great accuracy, for foundation my Real Techniques blending brush and for my cheeks my Models Own brush. All of these brushes are in my Make Up Brushes blog post which I wrote a couple of months back. For my lips I took my two staples of Clarins Joli Rouge and Joan Collins. Both of these colours give only a little hint of colour and therefore I find that you can apply it without needing a mirror.

Do you use any of these products? Goodness me, that was actually quite a lot of make up hehe.
Although…I used it all.

THE PERFECT OUTFITS FOR A CITY BREAK

Welcome to the winter season. Are you planning on a city break during this festive month? Or are you simply planning a trip to your local shopping centre? These outfits that I have chosen are all super practical…no painful high heels in sight 😛 This is a little insight to what I wore when I spent 3 days in Florence with my lovely hubby last month and which happened to be the perfect outfits for a city break. Make sure you let me know in the comments which outfit is your favourite.

KEEP YOUR BOOTY WARM WITH A COAT

My mum has always told me to buy myself a good coat to keep myself warm but I have never found one that is quite right. That was until now. I adore the fur collar trim which dresses up the coat a little bit. The structure of this coat is really lovely, it holds its shape and I have found it works with any outfit, both dressier and casual looks. Because the coat is relatively plain in its detailing I styled it up with my cute stripy cashmere knit hat.
(Hat • Coat • Bag • Jeans • Boots)

FAUX FLUFFY JACKET

How freaking adorable is this jacket!! I am in love with the cuteness. I have had so many compliments when I have worn this jacket. Also, not that you can see in the photo, but the lining is a stunning dusky pink satin which tops off the gorgeousness. This faux fur jacket is super warm and looks great with a casual day outfit but immediately makes you feel like you have tried a little bit harder with your look when you stick it on? As I was travelling around Florence I had to make it a bit cooler and “Italian” with my big And/Or sunnies.
(Sunglasses • Jacket • Jeans • Boots)

FANCY FLORALS

This outfit is my new go-to for dressed up day style. My pleather pleated skirt goes with so many things. You can dress it up with a blouse tucked in or dress it down with a statement tee tucked in. On this misty morning in Florence I paired it with this embroidered wooly jumper and my new favourite “man repeller” glitzy shoes. I say man repeller because men don’t seem to like them but most girls stop me and ask me where they are from. These shoes are my biggest happy item at the moment, they are the comfiest party shoes for the festive season that I have ever owned.
(Jumper • Skirt • Tights • Shoes)

IT’S PARTY TIME

As you may I have noticed, I am up for a couple of awards in the UK Blog Awards. If you haven’t voted, then please do here. I of course used this outfit as my celebratory picture to tell everyone that I was nominated, but the biggest question everyone had was, where is your skirt from haha. Well, you can buy it here and you will be so happy with such an amazing art deco sequin party skirt.
(Jumper • Skirt)

Which is your favourite outfit?

A Romantic Night In The Cotswolds {The Painswick}

As I sit here writing up my blog on my night in The Cotswolds I am listening to The Holiday soundtrack. I know it’s not yet Christmas but I feel like I was on the set of The Holiday (the English, Cameron Diaz part of the movie) during my romantic trip in The Cotswolds. You know that part where Cameron Diaz meets Jude Law in a cute little country pub at Christmas time and when she scoots down the country lane in her Mini, well I felt like I found the exact same vibe in Gloucester. Liam and I stayed at The Painswick hotel for our wedding anniversary. It is our 3rd wedding anniversary and it was so lovely to do something special for occasion. Last year we spent our time celebrating at Soho Farmhouse but the year before we didn’t do anything (read about our trip here). I am definitely in the mood to keep up the tradition of staying somewhere special for our anniversary, where do you think we should go next year?

THE VENUE

As we drove up the steepest hill (not on a mountain) I have ever driven up we approached the impressive and rather grand Painswick hotel. The grounds surrounding the hotel look out over the beautiful distant scenery. You can sit out on the decking, or for a more intimate and luxurious spot you can hide out on the balcony cradled in flowers. I love how the hotel only has a few rooms, meaning that there is always a hushed and relaxed vibe. Little cosy nooks by the fire really drew me in along with the free pool table where, if I didn’t lose, I would have played all night long. Our room was cosy but spacious enough and looked out over the gorgeous view. I made full use of the stunning round window by forcing Liam to do a mini photoshoot of me with the light streaming through. I have always dreamed of having a window with a windowsill big enough that I could perch in and gaze out of like in a romantic movie. The bathroom was filled with Ren products which I adore and fluffy dressing gowns. (Book here).

A Romantic Night In The Cotswolds {The Painswick} | Megan Taylor

HIGH TEA

When we arrived in our room we were welcomed to freshly baked madeleines and cookies which were the perfect sweet treat after a long drive before we wondered around the town. After a little photo shoot/mooch around we sat down in the living room area for high tea. I had a lovely fresh mint tea and a vegetarian selection, whilst Liam had a meat high tea which consisted of an incredible looking scotch egg and pork pie and some toasted meaty sandwiches. The highlight for me was the chocolate brownie which I can safely say was my favourite brownie I have ever eaten in my life!! The only negative thing I have to say about my whole experience is that the vegetarian high tea lacked a little. Sadly I was only presented with two small finger sandwiches and the rest was cakes. Although I generally have more of a sweet tooth, I would really have liked some more vegetarian savoury options to match with Liam’s more hefty high tea. It would have been nice to have a mozzarella toastie or a cheese and pickle sandwich for example.

NIGHT CAP

We ate dinner out at a local pub which was so tiny and really cosy. After dinner we headed back to the hotel for a nightcap and a game of pool. The games room is crammed with all of the board games you could wish for which you can then take back to your room to play, which we dutifully did and Liam surprised me with a bottle of Champagne. I love how this hotel has chilled champagne glasses in their mini bar, I have been to so many hotels where there are only tumblers in the room. The cocktail that we had in the bar at the hotel was called Kemps Lane and was so good that only 4 hours after we left the venue Liam had popped to Waitrose for all of the ingredients to make it again.

BREAKFAST

Breakfast was incredible!! Literally fabulous!!
I loved how there was so much on offer at breakfast. Most hotels just have the standard continental brekkie of cereals and croissants and always nasty slimy eggs but the breakfast at The Painswick was on another level. The two biggest highlights from breakfast for me which I would highly recommend were the chefs fresh tonics (I had the Apple and Ginger) and the homemade hash browns…I could have eaten so many of these. I tried a completely un-me and random breakfast dish of what was essentially eggy-bread dusted in cinnamon which seemed so peculiar but was strangely more-ish, it was insanely filling. I am sure you can visit for breakfast even as a non-guest so if you are in the area I suggest you head on over asap.

Have you been to the Cotswolds before? I definitely want to stay here again one day and explore the area in greater depth, everything was so idyllic.

(Wearing dress from Oasis , watch from Daniel Wellington (for 15% off use the code itsmegantaylor .))

Where To Eat And Drink In Venice

I am one of the biggest fans of Venice that you will meet. The romance, the atmosphere, the lack of cars, the water, the drinks…the experiences you can have. It is ever so wonderful and after a few successful trips I am here to tell you the best places to eat and drink from my experience. Now, I hope you don’t expect a cultured opinion of Venice here as every time I have been I have intended to people watch, amble about and broken it up with plentiful Aperol consumption. I have given this list to 5 friends now and every one of them visited each and every place I suggested and loved them all, visiting a few of them more than once on their trip.
…oh and I have also included the details of my favourite hotel that we stayed in.

(Check out my last blog post on Venice and Burano here.)

RESTAURANTS

AL VECIO MARANGON
Dorsoduro, Calle Toletta, Sestiere di Dorsoduro, 30100 Venezia, Italy • +39 041 523 5768
Liam and I stumbled by this true Italian restaurant on our first Italian night and had the perfect evening. The first time we went here about 8 years ago 99% of the people in the restaurant were Italian but these days tourists have caught on and queue round the corner to get a table. The food is true home cooked Italian goodness and for a glass of Aperol at on only 4 Euros what have ou got to lose? The staff may seem rude but I promise it is just lost in translation so ignore the bluntness as they really aren’t trying to be rude. This is the restaurant where you will have a true Venetian experience at an incredibly cheap price.

ROSA ROSSA
Sestiere San Marco (Calle de la Mandola) 3709, 30124 Venice, Italy • +39 041 523 4605
This is another of my favourite restaurants in Venice. The food is fabulous and the drinks are lovely. Get a table in a deep corner for the perfect romantic cosy setting at night. If you can speak a teensy bit of Italian you will get even better service. The staff here were so lovely and friendly and got us super drunk ?.

BARS

A LA COMMEDIA
S. Marco, 4596/A, 30124 Venezia, Italy • +39 041 277 0235
We stayed at this hotel a few years ago and had a lovely time (review further down this blog). Head straight in and take the lift to the top floor for a rooftop bar. The cocktails here are fabulous but beware they are holiday strength. After only a cocktail and a half Liam and I had to stumble on back to our room. The roof is full of tall outdoor heaters and there are blankets on every seat for you to wrap up in.

BACARO JAZZ
S. Marco, 5546, 30124 Venezia, Italy • +39 041 528 5249 • 12pm–3am
Tacky is probably the best way to describe this gem! Tacky and Gem, probably not two words that you would expect together but honestly this is perfectly tacky and an absolute gem hehe. Liam and I have had such great times in this student style bar. The cocktails are incredibly cheap (especially so during happy hour), the food is a bit pub-esque, there are bras lining the ceiling. The atmosphere is continually buzzing and the bar is open super late. We have such good memories from this bar that we even named one of our tables at our wedding after it ?

CASUAL DAY BAR / CICCHETTERIA

UN MONDO DIVINO
Sestiere Cannaregio, 5984/A, 30121 Venezia, Italy • +39 041 521 1093
Here you will find true Italian style tapas/cicchetteria style nibbles. Every time we went here it was very quiet and there were no English or Americans to be seen. It isn’t that I have a thing against my own kind hehe, but if you find a spot in Venice that isn’t swarming with English people and you are actually surrounded by Italians it means that the Italians approve which is what I am after, a true Italian experience. This spot is super cosy, adorable and cheap. Head here for an afternoon Spritz and small nibble to keep you going whilst pottering around the lanes. We sat in the right hand side of the bar, nestled in the corner allowing us to people watch and be super close to the bar for an Aperol top up.

AI STAGNERI
Calle Dei Stagneri, Venice, Italy • +39 041 522 7341
Liam and I were here at the beginning of every night for a couple of Aperol’s and free crisps or some Italian bread goodies before dinner. We would even pop back here before going back to our hotel for a night cap of Sambuca ?. Sit in one of the booths and observe the locals popping in and out chatting to the bar owner with conversational Italian and pretend that you are one of them. One night that we were here we bumped into a couple that had literally just got engaged so we celebrated with them for a little bit…so much goes on in this bar.

HOTEL

A LA COMMEDIA
S. Marco, 4596/A, 30124 Venezia, Italy • +39 041 277 0235
Liam and I didn’t have the most expensive room in the hotel but it was perfect for us. It was cosy yet not too small. When I say it was cosy, I don’t mean it was too small, I found that because it was decorated in a dark Venetian style it felt cosy and had a wintery vibe. Our room was on the top floor and looked out over the streets and a local duomo. The rooftop bar made this bar the perfect spot to see the sights from high up. The location of this hotel is perfectly central and walkable distance to all of the sights you will want to visit.

BURANO V MURANO

MURANO
Famous for its glass. Very sleepy town and quite frankly a little bit dull and could be walked around in half an hour. Beautiful Christmas decorations in the glass shops.

BURANO
Adorable pastel coloured houses and super buzzy down the main street. If you are picking to do either Burano or Murano…100% go to Burano. If you fancy seeing what Burano looks like…how about watching my cheesy YouTube video here…oh, and don’t forget to subscribe xx

Have you been to Venice? Where are your favourite spots?

The Angel // Abergavenny // Wales

If you find yourself in the Brecon Beacons for a walking trip or on a romantic trip away to South Wales then I can highly recommend staying in Abergavenny for a super chilled break away from the buzz of London or any other town for that matter. I have just got back from a trip to Waitrose in Abergavenny with my mum and we were chatting about how laid back, jolly and smiley everyone was. Back home, in Surrey, even though you aren’t quite in the hub of London, you are very aware of the majority of people being in a constant rush (I must admit I am one of those people). If you are wondering where to stay or where to have a drink then I have the place for you…

Location

I am half Welsh and my dad is from Abergavenny where The Angel is located. I have spent my whole life visiting Abergavenny and have always loved it. Since the famous food festival started back in 1999 I have seen Abergavenny modernise greatly and get more and more popular. The Angel Hotel is the biggest hot spot for cocktails along with being a lovely place to stay or have high tea.

Food & Drink

At The Angel you have the option of having a posh 3 course meal, high tea, pub-style lunch, bar food or simply stop by for top notch cocktails. On a recent trip to Abergavenny a group of my friends and I went for an evening of cocktails and some bar food. We arrived at peak time yet still managed to find a little nook big enough for six of us to have 3 huge sofas and table service.

What We Drank

We all tried a couple of cocktails each yet the favourite was definitely HIDDEN TREASURE. With the rich flavour of rum and raspberries, I was in heaven and could drink these all day everyday!

If you go, let me know and let me know which cocktail you choose
☆

Petersham Nurseries // London

If you are looking for a festive family outing or dog friendly foodie spot in London then look no further. Liam and I try and make time each Christmas period to visit Petersham Nurseries on the outskirts of London because it is the perfect twinkly spot to have some food, do a spot of shopping and catch up with friends. Have a little read of my blog to get inspired for a visit.

FOOD

At Petersham Nurseries there are two foodie spots, the cafe and the restaurant. The restaurant has incredible Michelin starred cuisine but you have to book very far in advance to get a table. You don’t have to book to eat at the cafe and the food is still incredible with yummy homemade soups, quiches and cakes on offer. I had a bowl of pumpkin soup and a steaming hot glass of apple and beetroot juice which were incredible.

SHOPPING

The shopping at Petersham is based around the home and garden. Everything is incredibly inspiring. The Christmas decorations are ornate, delicate, traditional and often intricate. Liam bought me a few new decorations on our visit…they will be featured in my video coming out at the beginning of December.

DOGS

I hate leaving Coco at home and I really don’t like places that are not dog friendly. My gorgeous pooch is mini and spends most of her time on my lap, also she isn’t slobbery or smelly or yappy so is the perfect coffee shop companion. Petersham Nurseries are completely wonderful and dog friendly which is why they are fabulous.

CHRISTMAS

If you fancy a nibble and stroll somewhere festive to get you in the festive mood then you must head to Petersham at about 3pm this winter for the perfect Christmas dusk twinkle and sparkle.

If you make a trip to Petersham Nurseries make sure you tag me in your pictures x

A Romantic Trip To Soho Farmhouse

Last week Liam and I decided to book a couple of days off work to celebrate our two year wedding anniversary. After reading about Soho Farmhouse in a magazine last year it has been on my list of places to go ever since. Keep on reading for my review of the venue and what you can expect if you visit.
Trundling down a couple of miles of well preened country lanes we knew we had arrived on Soho Farmhouses’ soil. From the moment we drove into the front entrance to the moment we left we were living in a relaxing bubble. Literally nothing compares to the experience we had here. Some people want to compare Soho Farmhouse to Disneyland for adults or Centre Parcs but once you have been you will realise its not the same as anywhere else that you have been.
Once your booking at Soho Farmhouse has been confirmed you will be sent your itinerary along with the house rules…these house rules include not taking too many pictures around the social areas. Our farmhand explained this is just so that you don’t snap shots of celebs boozing or sunbathing in the background. Even as a non-celeb I kind of love this. The lack of photo taking meant that I didn’t constantly have my phone glued to my hand ready to Snapchat each breadcrumb that I was about to nibble on. This being said, I still documented some of our trip for prosperity. Another rule was to not chat on the phone in the social areas, again this added to the pure relaxing vibe the venue oozes.

ACCOMMODATION
There is a choice of a studio cabin, group house or tepee style glamping tent. We had a studio cabin which was equipped with the biggest, most comfortable bed on the planet, rainfall shower, bathroom, outdoor bathtub, umpteen Cowshed beauty products, wood fire, kitchen and a TV with FREE new release films!!
(We stayed in cabin 5)

ACTIVITIES
Where do I start? We were there for 48 hours and struggled to fit everything in. Some of the activities are…
rowing boats, swimming pools, gymnasium, sports classes, cookery classes, cocktail bar(s), restaurant(s), cycling, cinema, horse riding, football, air hockey, snooker, ping pong, massages, treatments, foosball…and so much more.

HIGHLIGHTS
☆ Converted milk floats which transport you around from location to location.
☆ Insanely high internet speeds even when you are in the fields…do they have wifi hubs located under the grass??
☆ Some of the converted milk trucks are actually mini cocktail bars and you can book a time slot to have them come and hang out outside your cabin to give you quality uninterrupted cocktail barman time.

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There is so much more that I want to tell you but I don’t want to ruin the whole mystery of the Farmhouse illusion. You must book to go as soon as you can, you will, without a doubt have a fantastic time. Also, if you live South of Oxfordshire I highly advise a pitstop to Bicester Village on your way home for a spot of discounted designer shopping and some top nosh at the Farmshop which is in actual fact also under the Soho House umbrella.
Let me know if you go x

How To Travel First Class With An Economy Budget

The price of travelling first class seems to be similar to my mortgage payments for a year. I’m not sure I can quite justify paying that amount of money for a seat/bed and some grotty food therefore I have come up with these top tips of how to travel first class on an economy budget and make everyone around you insanely jealous.

1. Comfort
A key draw to travelling first class is your comfort. Whilst you can’t transform your seat into a bed when you are in economy you can make yourself comfortable. You could pay £15 for the more spacious seats yet for me I hate this as you have to put your handbag in the over-head locker. I prefer to make the most of my squishy cubby hole. I make sure I am in the window seat so no one can disturb me with their toilet needs and you will then be able to rest your head on the wall. I always bring a plush tracksuit and slipper socks with me. I travel with this one from The White Company because it doesn’t look too much like pyjamas. I get changed in the toilets before boarding the plane.

2. Posh Nosh
Before you board the plane take a shopping trip to Pret and get a bag full of scrumptious yummies. You could also pick up an orange juice for an in flight mimosa. Purchase a small bottle of bubbly on the plane and extend its use by adding juice to each glass of fizz.

3. Movie Mania
First class and long haul flights may well have the latest unreleased movies but there are likely to be hundreds of released movies that you are still yet to watch. I like to download a load of movies from iTunes onto my iPad. I also trawl across iPlayer and 4oD for the latest episodes of shows that I haven’t had time to catch up on. iPlayer often has a few select movies that you can download for free. Last summer I watched My Week With Marilyn after downloading it for free from the BBC iPlayer and it was a wonderful movie.

4. Cosy
A large cashmere scarf that will double up as a blanket is perfect for that cosy feeling. Snuggle up under your blanket whilst watching your movie and sipping on your mimosa.

5. Pillow talk
You know those ugly looking neck pillows that have been circling airports for many years well now they have stepped things up with some cute furry cuddly toy pillows. I have a monkey that Liam bought me on holiday many years ago and is still travelling around the world with me.

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SHOP THE LOOK

WHERE TO EAT, DRINK AND STAY IN HAMBURG

Last weekend a group of us went to Hamburg to get in the festive spirit.
I have always wanted to go somewhere like Germany to experience the Christmas markets and Hamburg definitely lived up to my expectations.

Where we stayed: Radisson Blu, Hamburg
Where we ate dinner: Hans Im Glueck
Where we ate brunch: Alex Pavillion
Where we ran: Alster Lake

The weather was appropriately cold and I dutifully wore five layers of clothes.
As a vegetarian I really struggled to find food I liked yet I guess this was to be expected in Germany.
The sweet treats were however scrumptious.

Top Christmas Markets In Hamburg:
1. Winterwald
This was my favourite market as there were far less tourists.
Hidden in the back streets you really felt as if you had stumbled across a hidden gem.
We sat and drunk Glug spiked with Rum in the Christmas tree garden.
The only problem was that we didn’t find this market until half an hour before we had to leave for the airport.

2. City Hall Market
This is the biggest and most popular Christmas market in Hamburg, sitting outside the Town Hall.
I would strongly advise only going to this market in the daytime and during the week not at the weekend.
We went on Friday afternoon and it was lovely and quiet but on the Saturday evening you could barely move.
There is a Christmas decoration shop at the far end of the market which is well worth queuing to go in.
The shop is filled with millions of decorations and twinkly lights. Decoration range from €1 to €100s.
Top Tip: Make sure you see Father Christmas fly over the market everyday at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm.

What I wore:{Roll Neck Body: Topshop}
Everyone needs the black funnel neck body from Topshop.
It was a great base layer to keep me warm and stop and chilly breeze sneaking up my top.
It makes any outfit look a little more sophisticated.

{Scarf: Zara (similar) . Coat: Zara (similar) . Jeans: Topshop .
Boots: Vagabond . Gloves: Marks and Spencer}

{Roll neck Jumper: Zara (similar)}
I bought this roll neck knit jumper from Zara a few years ago. It is huge and incredibly warm.

{Hauptkirche St. Petri, Hamburg}
I love going to churches in foreign countries and lighting a candle for lost loved ones.
This church had an incredible candle display where you melted an area to stick your candle to.

{Neuer Wall, Hamburg}
A street lined with very expensive shops and decorated impeccably.
{Hat: Zara}

My hubby wore:
{Shirt: Gap . Jumper: French Connection (similar)}

What’s In My Make-Up Bag {travel edition}

Whenever I go away for a long weekend, I try to streamline my make up kit.
I am quite happy with how minimal I have become.
My aunty gave me this gorgeous make up bag on the morning of my wedding day and I have been using it ever since.
It is big enough to fit my make up, serum, deodorant and hair spray. It even fits my hair brushes.
I take the Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics palette with me on trips as it is smaller than all their other palettes
but still has a nice selection of smokey colours for day and night time.
I never use a cream, I always use Balm Balm’s serum because it is super hydrating and
is full of essential oils that are good for healing scarring.
Have I missed anything that you always take on short trips?

Make Up Bag
Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics
Dove
Elnett – Extra Strength
Maybelline – 220
Rimmel Wake Me Up – 103 True Ivory
Eye Shadow Brush
Blusher Brush
Foundation Brush
Mascara
Eyeliner
Lipcote
Balm Balm Serum
Blusher
Tweezers
Eyelash Curlers
Lipstick– Clarins Jolie Rouge
Sharpener
Red Lipstick

A Night Out In Soho

I am very excited to present my first in a series of “a night out in…” blog posts.
Tonight I am starting with one of my favourites… a rather boozy night out in Soho, London.
Below is a map of your night adventure, drawn by my talented hubby Liam. (Make sure you print it out or save the image to your phone and take it with you).

1. Pizza Pilgrims
If you read my blog post, the Best Pizzeria’s In London, you will already know that Pizza Pilgrims is one of my Top 6 Pizzeria’s in Europe.
Where better to start off your night than with a pizza at Pizza Pilgrims.
Order yourself a margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella with an Aperol Spritz on the side.
*Top Tip: Get a seat upstairs by the window for some fabulous people watching.

2. Princi
Princi is like no other place I have ever been. The whole ambience created here is so peculiar and absolutely wonderful during night and day.
It feels like one big party in a grown up cafeteria.
You will meet more foreigners than Londoners in here. Not so much tourists though.
More like Europeans living in London hanging out in their own secret eatery that they never told you about.
*Top Tip: After your hearty pizza it is time to order another Aperol Spritz (they are fantastically large). Order one chocolate walnut cake to share.

3. Amathus
A few doors down from Princi is my favourite Wine Shop (I actually do not like wine but the spirit shelves are abundant). Amathus sell pretty much every alcohol brand you can imagine and more. The owners and all the staff really know their stuff. The staff always recommend the perfect alcohol and if you ask really nicely they let you taste before you buy, if they have it open. Liam and I have spent many a night tasting a multitude of different rums which is then followed by a very large shopping bag.
*Top Tip: Treat yourself to a bottle of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum and Sambuca Molinari for sipping purposes once you get home.

4. Ham Yard Hotel
The last bar tonight is cool, calm and delectable.
As part of the Firmdale Hotel Group, everything feels very familiar to Charlotte Street Hotel, Covent Garden Hotel and Soho Hotel etc. yet Ham Yard has a slightly different cocktail and food menu than the others. Order a cocktail and some frites to soak up some of the boozy tipples for your journey home.
I haven’t tried it out yet but Ham Yard hotel have their own bowling alley and cinema…maybe I should include a trip there next time.
*Top Tip: Order the Havana Nights cocktail for a fresh, fruity, syrupy and boozy hit of rum and Chambord.

5. Home/Hotel
With Picadilly Circus tube station only a few steps away, jump on the tube home.
Once home you can put your shopping from Amathus to good use. I love a yummy night cap of a slowly sipped large shot glass of sambuca or rum before drifting off for a long slumber to many episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Let me know if you go to any of these places and I hope you have a fantastic night with your friends or maybe on a romantic date?