Travel Diaries: From First Flights to Dream Destinations
Growing up, holidays were a rare treat in our family. My mum had a big fear of flying, so most of our getaways were ferry trips to Jersey or the odd cruise to Spain or France. But my dad? He always encouraged me to see the world. He used to say, “Explore before you take life too serious ” — and that stuck with me.
After losing my dad at the start of 2024, I needed something. A reset. A sense of excitement. The kind I felt on my very first flight in 2023 to Rome. So I booked a solo trip to Alicante. It was an easy flight, quick transfer, and I stayed at a stunning Meliá hotel right near the beach, shops, and loads of great bars and restaurants. It wasn’t just about the sights — it felt like the escape I needed. Seeing all these places I’d talked about at work actually come to life? It was something else.
Amsterdam Adventures (x2)
Next up was Amsterdam — a quick ferry trip and a long weekend that totally stole my heart. The city is beautiful, the food scene is amazing, and the vibes? Immaculate. We loved it so much, we came back in May to catch the tulip festival and enjoy the warmer weather. The first time, we stayed at Inntel Hotels Amsterdam — second time, it was the Leonardo. I’d absolutely love to work with hotels here. So many amazing properties outside the city centre are totally overlooked just because they’re not walkable to everything. I genuinely believe I could help those places find their audience and fill their rooms.
Majorca for the Summer
In summer 2024, we headed to Majorca and stayed in Palma Nova at Aluasun Torrenova — brilliant spot! We were close to the beach, had fun stuff like crazy golf and water parks nearby, and could walk to the buzzing nightlife in Magaluf (which was very my vibe). Would 100% go back, maybe next time to a quieter part of the island for a more chilled-out stay.
Big Girl Moves & Christmas in Barcelona
After that trip, I took a little travel break to hit a major life milestone — I got a mortgage at 23! Spent the rest of the year getting settled into my new place. But to celebrate, we did a festive trip to Barcelona in December 2024 and stayed at the H10 Marina. Incredible location with direct transport to all the landmarks, and the spa? Honestly one of the best I’ve ever been to. The only downside was the weather — we braved a proper thunderstorm while we were there!
2025: The Year of 12 Trips
This year, I set myself a little mission: 12 trips in 12 months. As many new places as possible. So far? We’re off to a cracking start.
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January: Lanzarote
We kicked off with winter sun in Lanzarote, staying in Playa Blanca at the Elba Lanzarote Royal Village. It was a unique resort — the rooms were in little villa-style buildings separate from the main hotel. Loads of excursions on offer, from boat trips to snorkelling. Great spot for some off-season sunshine!
February: Tenerife
We loved the Canaries so much we did a round two — this time to Tenerife, staying in Costa Adeje at Iberostar Waves Las Dalias. Epic sea views and so much going on at the hotel, we were never bored. The highlight? Siam Waterpark — 10 minutes from our hotel and the best waterpark I’ve ever been to. We also visited the Monkey Park, where we hand-fed the cutest animals.
March: Morocco
Me and my best friend headed to Agadir and stayed at Agadir Beach Club, right on the beach. The hotel was very traditional, with authentic Moroccan decor and food. We packed so much in — camel rides, hammam spa, Moroccan tea breaks, and even quad biking with jaw-dropping views. The hotel wasn’t quite my style, but the experience? Unforgettable.
April: Turkey (The Big One)
This was the trip I’d been counting down for — a luxury stay at Korumar Ephesus Resort & Spa in Kusadasi. Massive resort with everything: a patisserie, game rooms, an on-site waterpark, private beach… the list goes on. Food was incredible too, with a mix of local and international dishes. The area outside was super quiet, but honestly, we didn’t need to leave. I love a big resort where everything you need is just five minutes away.
May: Paris for a Birthday Treat
My partner turned 25 and I wanted it to be special — so I booked a one-night trip to his dream city: Paris. We stayed at Meliá La Défense with stunning Eiffel Tower views and a metro station right underneath. We packed so much into 24 hours — all the big landmarks, some shopping, and even a visit to Carette Café. Paris is hands down the most picturesque city I’ve been to, and I can’t wait to go back.
June: Dublin in a Day
June was a quickie — a 12-hour day trip to Dublin with some mates. We flew out early and came back late, and squeezed in everything: Trinity College, exploring the buzzing streets, loads of shopping at Arnotts, and a cheeky pint or two. 23,000 steps later and we’d seen it all. Perfect for a short and sweet adventure.
July: Majorca (Return To The Balearics)
After falling in love with Majorca so much last year, we had to come back! This time we stayed in a dreamy seafront hotel in the area of Cala Millor - adults only, peaceful vibes and 10 minute walking distance from beachfront bars and restaurants, as well as a delicious frozen yogurt shop. And to mark it off the bucket list I even made it into the sea for the first ever time when being abroad.