Personal - Blogs & Thoughts: 2024

Upcoming Travels – I Need Your Help!

Big travels on the horizon, but I need your help! Scroll down to find out why…

I woke up today and opened the curtains to see mini droplets of rain clinging onto the window for dear life. Just like me, they didn’t seem ready for today. I looked out at the London traffic whizzing past, churning up water and spraying passers-by with grey/brown dirt. I looked at my phone. Monday 4^th September. It felt undeniably like the start of the autumn term. The back to school dreads were all around, despite those days being long gone.

Just weeks ago I wrote this post The Disillusioned Travel Blogger (if you didn’t read it, please do! It’ll show you there really are two sides to every job / story / weird life decision that you now call a ‘career’). I was chatting about the strange dichotomy of being too busy VS having nothing to do. In the freelance world, there’s a fear of quietness. Quiet times are scary – we like to be busy, we like to be creative, we like to know there’s work coming in and money to pay bills.

Yet, weeks later here I am feeling the opposite. I’ve got this overwhelming fear that I’ve taken on too much and I desperately want to do a good job, and not burn out in the process.

I could use this post to JUST reel off a list of killer destinations I’ve dreamed of visiting. But I’m keen to tell the full story, and not just the InstaGlam version of travel.

So here’s what I’ve got planned, and godammit I’m excited! I just hope a) I remember to breathe, b) I switch off from work occasionally to absorb the magic and beauty of each place and c) I create some kickass content for you guys to plan some awesome adventures too!

Wanderlust Chloe – Autumn Travels

Sicily, Italy

This Saturday I shall be boarding my second MedSailors Yacht! A few summers ago I spent a week sailing around Croatia with MedSailors and absolutely loved it. It’s a travel company that really knows what it’s doing. The vibe is fun and they match you up with boat mates of similar age and with similar interests. Plus travelling by boat allows you to see things you’d never see on foot.

Motivation, disillusionment, and getting sh*t done.

Hello. Are you listening? It’s time to get something off my chest.

Probably just like you, I have a to do list. It’s bright yellow, resembles a post-it note, and sits on my desktop. I add to it. I cross things out. Sometimes I sneakily add things to it I’ve already done just to feel like I’ve achieved more. Guilty. Shh, don’t judge!

After months of it seeming like a never-ending, unachievable list of humungous projects, campaigns and reports, I hit the end. The deadlines were reached, everything submitted… hurrah? Hmmm or not. Rather than popping corks and raising a toast to a successful few months (which, when I think back, it has definitely been with a dream gig for Lonely Planet in New Orleans, video projects in Hawaii, adventures in Spain and Austria ) I freaked out. Yes, yes, yes there will always be things to do. SEO I should study to improve blog post rankings (yawn – that’s one thing I’ll never get around to), Pinterest graphics to make, and blogs I’ve never got beyond a catchy-ish title.

Freelancers fear quiet. Quiet is scary. Quiet is an unknown future. And August is notoriously quiet in the travel blogging world. Why? Most people take holidays around now so a) places are booked up, b) travel prices are high and c) destinations don’t need to increase tourism as they’re busy enough!

It’s funny because I have trips to Berlin, Sicily, Mauritius, the Caribbean and Florida coming up. I’m about to show the world why England is amazing with my Visit England Ambassadorship! WOW what a dream role that is.

If it’s about to be anything but quiet, why am I not savouring this mini silence?

So what do you do when you run out of things to do? Either a self-starter instinct kicks in, or you have a mini-meltdown.

Usually, being a positive, glass half full kinda girl I choose the former, but this time I went for the latter.

I felt disillusioned by Instagram after it seemed to turn its back on content creators like me, who loved posting inspirational travel pics, only to see followers disappearing and likes limping to an all-time low.

I felt disillusioned by my self-made videos after being fed inspirational, big-budget viral vids on Facebook, feeling like I’d never come close without years of training and a tonne of new tech kit.

I felt disillusioned that I was struggling to scramble together enough money to rent a decent flat in London, while others were living in a rose gold world, decorating their designer flats, complete with an endless supply of Jo Malone candle.

I felt disillusioned by far–flung travel after too many back-to-back long-haul trips across the Atlantic led me to the point of exhaustion.

I felt disillusioned by my body after endless Instagram photos of girls in pretty dresses and bikinis, while I attempted to rid myself of my muffin top… while reaching for a muffin.

I felt disillusioned by my wardrobe, realising I was still wearing dresses from 10 years ago.

I felt disillusioned by my relationship, worrying I’d chosen a career that took me away from someone I cared about, more than it allowed me to be with him.

Taking in the incredible view of sunrise from Mount Batur, Bali

But, this isn’t a pity blog. It’s a get sh*t sorted and get on blog. I’m usually a positive bean but everyone has off days. And it’s good to share right?

And reassuringly it’s not just me… a heap of my travel blogging pals have talked about similar struggles recently.

Exploring Bayou Pigeon - the swamps in Louisiana

Because even we need a break sometimes!

I fancied writing a mini Friday update, as it’s been such a jam packed few months of travel, I feel I’ve barely had a second to share anything personal.

Whoaaaa, so 2017 has been non-stop. I’ve already hit 29 flights and zig-zagged across the Atlantic to the US, Canada and the Caribbean 4 times. I’ve explored some of Europe’s most stunning scenery in Switzerland and Austria, got caught in a blizzard in NYC, discovered how wonderfully raw and rugged Hawaii is, lived a colourful life in Antigua, channelled my inner Indiana Jones in the Lost City Of Petra and eaten my bodyweight in tapas in Spain. It’s been incredible. Exhilarating. Oh… and exhausting.

Watching surfers on the North Shore, Hawaii

Snapping pics of beautiful Innsbruck in Austria

When not travelling, I’ve been tap tap tapping on my laptop (as I am now – if you listen carefully you can hear me…) unpacking, packing and heading to the airport again.

It’s the routine that’s not a routine. A lifestyle that throws the average 9-5 out the window. And while many people dream of travelling for work, actually it can be a struggle to keep up the pace. The jetlag, the deadlines, the freelance fears of paying bills. It all takes its toll.

One of my favourite things this lifestyle has been getting to know a bunch of awesome travel bloggers who I can chat about things with (I’m talking about you lot Emily, Jess, Angie, Claire and Laura and of course Macca!) We share our exciting news, tired days and support each other. We all work hard, but appreciate the benefits of a good break from it all too!

With Macca and Emily on Mount Batur, Indonesia

What do you look for when you’re booking a holiday, and have your habits changed over the last few years? It’s pretty likely the answer is YES!

As someone who travels for a living, and hopefully inspires you to venture on a few trips too, changes to holidaying could mean big things!

Just a couple of days ago, a UK travel survey dropped into my inbox that really got me thinking. I get plenty of reports on the travel industry, packed with stats, facts and figures. 90% I wave goodbye to pretty quickly! But it was interesting to see that in this particular study, holiday habits are really starting to change.

I asked friends and family about it, and similar to the survey, price, weather and reviews were three of the top things they researched thoroughly before parting with their hard earned cash. I used to get obsessed with checking the weather before my holidays. Refresh. Sunny. Refresh. Sunny. Refresh. Showers. Damn, I wish I hadn’t looked. And repeat…

I round up the best of the summer fashions, from tropical print playsuits, to cute bikinis, so you’re guaranteed to look gorgeous on your summer holiday!

It’s fair to say that as I’m away so often, I don’t get to shop much. And when I do, it’s mainly online (HELLO ASOS!!) I’ve always enjoyed picking out new things, and I LOVE the feeling of going out in a whole new outfit. Just this week though, I’ve been looking ahead to summer and spotted a few dreamy items I really want to snap up before my next sunshiney adventure.

When it comes to summer holidays, I like to keep things simple in a playsuit or dress, usually over a bikini. If you’re not jet-setting too much, then it’s important to keep things budget friendly too – after all, how often will you really get to wear those skimpy outfits in the UK? Everything below is under £35, and many items are around £20! This year there are some awesome prints and styles around, so time to round up a few looks I’m lusting after right now!

Floozie By Frost French Pom Pom Basket Beach Bag – £25

I absolutely adore this fun beach bag! It’s the perfect size for suncream, wallet, sunnies, a towel and a phone… plus those all important beach snacks! Plus we all know pom poms are in this season!

Personal Blogs

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