Holiday
Holiday Blogs
This is the home of all the travel blogs I’ve written on holiday destinations I’ve visited!
From wine tours in Lanzarote to my thoughts on some of the best restaurants I’ve visited across the world, find out my thoughts on some of my favourite holiday experiences!
Happy exploring!
What Is St Kitts Like For A Holiday?
Wondering what St Kitts is like for a holiday? From rainforests to beaches, find out what it’s like to visit this Caribbean island.
Yes, it’s true. After a week in St Martin in March, I returned to one of my favourite parts of the world – the Caribbean, for another week of adventures. This time I flew to neighbouring island St Kitts. Firstly – despite being just a short hop from one another, you couldn’t get two more different islands. Secondly – what a gem of a place St Kitts is!
I knew very little about the island before visiting. I wanted to keep it that way in order to soak up the atmosphere, understand the people, take in the culture and as always, make my own adventures.
So what is St Kitts like?
St Kitts is beautifully untouched. People say “quick, go to Cuba before it’s too late”… well after visiting both islands, I’d say St Kitts feels less commercial; tourism hasn’t invaded or destroyed it. Somehow, it’s retained its own character. Other than a Marriott and a KFC, every restaurant and hotel was ‘local’. It’s quite an achievement considering the number of enormous cruise ships that dock each week.
We started our week at Ocean Terrace Inn, a smart hotel overlooking the bay of Basseterre – the island’s lively and colourful capital.
As with neighbouring islands, St Kitts is mountainous with Mount Liamuiga standing tall at 3,792 feet. Beaches, mountains, volcanoes, and rainforests – a photographer’s dream!
Dramatic views from Timothy Hill in St Kitts! Great day so far touring the capital Basseterre, kayaking, enjoying the beach and checking out some of the top views! Next up – cooking demo and a special West Indies dinner! Follow live over on snapchat >> wanderlustchloe A photo posted by Chloe Gunning wanderlustchloe (@wanderlustchloe) on
The island’s past is deeply rooted in the sugar production industry. It’s a dark history, but one it’s important to hear in order to get to know the place. You can’t travel far without passing an old plantation, estate or sugar mill, and Ottley’s Plantation Inn – an 18th century sugar plantation with 35 lush acres of gardens, rainforest and beautiful accommodation was a highlight.
Marrakech’s Top Spring Hangout: Buddha-Bar Marrakech
Warm sunshine, refreshing cocktails, delicious Asian tapas, all set to the chilled beats of ethereal house music. It’s official – spring has sprung in one of my favourite cities, Marrakech!
High season has arrived, bringing with it tourists from near and far. After hours exploring the incredible sights and sounds of the medina, Jemaa el-Fna Square and taking in the colour and culture of the city, the chic new terrace at Buddha-Bar is the perfect place to unwind.
Thankfully the cocktails are a LOT better than the ones I made with expert barman Houssam in January! Top new creation Tikech is a subtle blend of Pink coral flower, coconut water, passion fruit and pineapple – one sip of that and you’ll know not only that spring is here, but that summer isn’t far away either.
Things To Do In Valparaiso, Chile: Best Street Art In Valparaiso, Restaurants And More
Covered in street art, this is without doubt one of the most colourful cities in the world. Ready? It’s time to find out the best things to do in Valparaiso, Chile.
Valpo to its locals, Valparaiso to the masses. and a mouthful for tourists to pronounce (here goes nothing “Valpar-aa-eeee-so”)… Whatever you choose to call it, you’re guaranteed to come away agreeing Valpariso is a beautiful, vibrant mess.
As I clambered up a set of colourful mosaic steps, past an ancient red and yellow funicular, along a street with giant murals and houses painted pastel shades, I felt like I’d FINALLY arrived in Chile. After a moderately underwhelming start to my trip in the capital Santiago, this was the burst of energy I’d been waiting for! Unlike anywhere I’d been before, I could feel its South American feistiness seeping into my soul.
Sushi Masterclass Experience at Buddha-Bar Marrakech
Testing out my sushi making skills at Buddha-Bar Marrakech.
They say it takes years of training to become a sushi master. I had only a few hours, but I was determined not to make a fool of myself. The setting? Buddha-Bar Marrakech – the city’s hottest new bar and restaurant.
My Buddha-Bar experience started here, with a delicious dinner of Asian fusion dishes. After enjoying it so much, I was invited back the following day to don an apron, and spend some time learning from the masters. It wasn’t just about sushi, I also had the chance to test out my pastry skills too!
Check out the video of my luxury weekend in Marrakech and scroll down to read all about it!
I love the buzz of a professional kitchen. Considering the high level of stress, I’m always amazed at how tidy they are. Between 4-7pm, the stark white polished kitchens of Buddha-Bar were a hive of activity, with sushi rice being prepped, ice cream being churned and pastry being baked. Piles of sliced spring onion and strips of avocado lay ready to be rolled into sushi, while across the room the deep fat fryer was crisping up some spring rolls. The air was rich with the scent of ginger, garlic and chilli, and several sous-chefs were busy on prep duty. It’s easy to lose sight of how much labour goes into creating one gourmet dish, but as I stood there, I appreciated the previous night’s meal even more.