A week of pure bliss has come to an end.

I can’t believe we’re back already. Our week of winter sun truly didn’t disappoint.
Antigua was my 50th and best country. I can honestly say I’ve not had a holiday like it before. Huge thanks to Antigua and Peter for making it so special.
The cocktails were free flowing from about 11:00am (unless you class the breakfast mimosa as a cocktail?). We did start taking pictures each ‘cheers’ but we soon stopped as we realised if anyone looks at our photos we may look alcohol dependent.

We spent a lot of time on beautiful Long Bay beach. There are 365 beaches in Antigua - one for every day of the year. We loved the fact the beaches are open to the public so often we’d see the locals going for a swim and the kiddies running and giggling along the beach.
Pineapple Beach Club has as much or as little as you’d like to do. I’ll do a separate post purely on the resort but we definitely took advantage of all they had to offer (and not just the cocktails).
Peter was made up with the gym and we went pretty much every day (except for the one afternoon I napped and Peter went). The tennis courts were well maintained and I took part in a few classes.
My favourite class was the yoga on the beach at 7:30am. It was so relaxing and even when it rained (the five minutes of rain we had all week) it actually felt quite cleansing.
There were lots of water sports available too and Peter even did stand up paddle boarding (SUP) with me. He was adamant he didn’t want to do it but he wasn’t allowed to swim next to me so being the gent he is, he came out with me.

We were also lucky to be taken out on a hobi cat by the lovely Denis and he was telling us about life in Antigua. It sounded just as idyllic as we thought it would be. It seems like they work hard but the normal 40 hour per week. I think sometimes they have other jobs to pick up extra cash. But their downtime is spent fishing for dinner and swimming in the sea.

Although we were doing lots of things, we still had amble time simply relaxing. This resort knows how to relax with so many different ‘relaxation stations’ dotted around. One of my favourite moments was after we finished at the gym one evening, we then laid in a hammock for about an hour simply chatting and chilling.

I have been lucky to visit the Caribbean before but everything was so much more special with Peter. He was chatting to absolutely everyone and it was wonderful seeing how much he makes people smile (although some of his jokes were not understood by the locals).
The people also made this holiday perfect. Every single member of staff was so friendly and accommodating but also all the guests were friendly and even the locals when we were out jogging people would all say hello.
After spending so much time with Peter (it’s the longest we’ve been together the two of us), I’m so sad to be apart again. I know you always get along better on holiday but it honestly was so perfect between us. I truly loved every moment. Even if he didn’t listen to me about staying up late the first night to ensure we don’t wake up early and he slept through but I woke up 4:30am.
We’re so lucky to be heading back to the Caribbean in February. We’re super excited to explore new places together and spend more time together.
This trip has reminded me of a lovely saying I discovered in Costa Rica - Pura Vita. It means ‘simple life’ and that’s exactly what I want from the future.

Beautiful beaches, rum cocktails and swimming with the sting rays.

So far Antigua definitely hasn’t disappointed. After a quick nine hours flight and copious amounts of alcohol (2 wines, 5 Proseccos and 4 vodkas to be precise) we arrived at Pineapple Beach Club and we’re greeted by a cold towel and a rum punch (oh god not more alcohol!).
We were shown to our waterfront room and we’re so impressed with the huge super king size bed and the balcony overlooking the ocean. The moon was huge and it was perfect hearing the sea and the crickets singing away.
Our first night was rather tame as we were both exhausted (and drunk!) so it was dinner, cocktail (yuck!) and bed.
I knew I’d made a rookie error of going to bed too early when I was awake at 4:30am. We eventually both got up about 6:30am and decided to jog to Devils Bridge.
It was only 2.4km away and after jogging along a very dodgy dirt road, we then got back on track and found the sign to Devils Bridge. I was a little confused as the pictures I’d seen before showed this stone bridge that had been created by the ocean crashing into it. We couldn’t see it so we finally headed back to the hotel. I chatted to a member of staff later and she explained it’s actually tiny and lots of people zoom the pictures so it’s no wonder we missed it.

Sunday night was the prime night to head to Shirley Height. We were told it wasn’t to be missed. We arrived to a great steel band playing and were met by an amazing (yet hazy) view. After taking some pictures we had a walk around to see what else was around.

We decided not to eat there so we most hung around and listened to the band. We arrived about 4:45pm and wasn’t heading back till 8:00pm. To be honest, we got a little bored. After seeing the view, having a little dance and a beer, we were ready to head back.
One of the highlights of the evening was seeing Ainsley Harriett. An old colleague saw him in Barbados and it turns out he’s visiting eight Caribbean islands in four weeks.
Today was the day I was super excited for. We’d booked a trip to swim with the string rays. I’m always very conscious when I travel about the travel industry exploiting animals so I did plenty of research on Sting Ray City and discovered the sting rays are completely wild. They hear the boat engines and head over to be feed.
Of course they are wild animals so you have to be cautious. Simply things like when in the water, shuffle your feet along the sea bed instead of taking steps and if you don’t want them close to you, push them away.
The experience was even more incredible than I could’ve imagined. We were so lucky and we’re the first boat to arrive. It was just Peter and I and one other couple. We had about 50 sting rays excitedly swimming around us.
I must admit I did squeal like a little girl multiple times. They were huge! The females can grow up to 6ft wide (taller than Peter) and the males were much smaller (yet they have two penises).

Peter was overwhelmed with the experience too. He had the biggest grin on his face and he was even still smiling when one of the females could a little too excited and gave him a hickie on his leg (ok bloody thigh!).

After the incredible trip this morning we heads back to the resort to chill and play around on the beach. Peter is amazing and humours my requirements to mess around with acrobatic antics.

Antigua is incredible. I’m so blessed that I’ve got to experience my 50th country with the man I love. Peter has loved every moment so far. It’s been utter paradise. Here’s to plenty more rum punches and cocktails this holiday.

Bring on Country no. 50 for Peters 40th Birthday

So the cat is finally out of the bag, Peter knows where we’re going for his surprise birthday trip. 

I can’t believe I booked this trip nearly six months ago. Peter and I had only been together a few months but I guess I knew early on that Peter is pretty special. 

Over the last six months I’ve tried to keep it a secret where we’re going. I thought I would throw Peter off the scent with a few little bits of information. 

Because of all these little bits of info, Peter came to the conclusion that we must be going to The Canary Islands. He then worked out which islands I’ve visited and came up with either Gran Canaria or Fuerteventura for our trip. I simply said no comment. 

Then a while later he said maybe it was the smaller islands, I kind of went along with this as it was true, we’re visiting a small island. 

The most stressful part of all the planning was actually getting checked in and through security at the airport without Peter finding out. 

Even when I parked up, I had to keep Peter away just in case they asked for our flight details. 

At check in, I had to embarrass Peter a little by putting an eye mask on him (he had a choice of a bunny or leopard print - which one do you think he chose?) and I guided him over to check in. I spoke to them before bringing Peter over so they knew to keep quiet. They must see this thing all the time but they were really sweet. 

I confiscated Peters boarding pass and we made it through security ok. After a little shopping it was time to head to the airport lounge. 

I’ve got a Priority Pass account so we headed to the lovely No.1 Lounge. I love heading to a lounge before a long flight (there’s a clue..) and despite it being 8:00am, it’s always wine o’clock or Gueinessn o’clock at the airport. 

It was now time to tell Peter where we’re heading to. I said to him that my sister Tammey wanted me to video it and for him to ‘act surprised’ although he kind of knew where we’re going (or so he thought!) so I set my phone up to record and asked Peter to guess where we’re going to, of course he guessed *insert place* first but after a few guesses I gave him his boarding pass to read where we’re going to... St. John’s, Antigua. 

Peter was so shocked! I think he thought I was messing around. I know this is a big trip but Peter deserves this so much. 

Peter is the most incredible man I’ve ever met. He is kind, thoughtful, annoyingly funny (only at times, sometimes just annoying lol) and he is also an incredible father and the best boyfriend. He truly deserves this trip so much. 

I feel guilty that we’re not able to bring the kiddies with us but they’ll be plenty of time in the future for more family holidays together. 

For now this trip is all about Peter to celebrate his big 40. We actually return home on his birthday so that’s perfect as we can have a wonderful family meal together to celebrate. 

So we’re on our third drink of the morning and it’s still early. I can’t wait to share some of the beautiful sights of Antigua with you all. But for now see you later cold England. 

Thought on Tenerife

I've always had fun when I've visited the Canary islands. I've visited Lanzarote twice, both times have been out of season, so I've enjoyed some winter sun. I booked this four night trip with my sister as her lovely hubby paid for the trip for her birthday.

The lead up to the trip was a tad stressful to say the least. Poor Tammey being ill and me stressed about my workload meant I really wasn't looking forward to going away. Usually I love the excitement and planning of a trip but even when I booked it, I was a little preoccupied and didn't do my full due diligence. This was certainly evident from some of the 'issues'.

Trying to make the most of the trip, I booked the earliest flight out. This meant being up at 2:30am and we arrived at the airport well in time to hit Weatherspoons and have a glass of wine at 4:00am. That's certainly the earlist time I've drunk wine before (I guess with the exception of partying into the early hours which hasn't happened that often).

We flew with Ryanair. I always say you get what you pay for but I think Ryanair are getting worse. Since changing their baggage policy, you now have to pay for even a small holdall bag. Luckily we were caught between the changes so we were able to bring a small handbag onboard and our small holdall bag went in the hold free of charge. I didn't get to sit next to Tammey but we did both get window seats which helped us have a little nap on route.

We flew into Tenerife South however we were staying in Tenerife North (first rookie error identified). Luckily I'd pre-booked shared transfers and the bus full of people were all heading to the North (it shows it wasn't just me with my error).

The actual drive time to Puerto de la Cruz (some 90km from the airport) was only an hour however the multiple drop offs to hotels took an additional 45 minutes. I was tracking our location on Google maps and we were so near to our hotel at one point yet it took another 20 minutes to be dropped off.

We stayed at Gran Turquesa Playa hotel on an all inclusive basis. I had read the reviews a few times and they seemed to be fairly mixed. It was only a three star hotel so I never expected too much however I was still a bit disappointed with a few things.

The actual hotel was lovely and clean. A nice big swimming pool, good size roomed and although the food wasn't the best, we did always find something to eat. What let the hotel down were the incredibly rude guests, mainly the Spanish.

They seemed to not follow basic social etiquette. For example, waiting for a table to be cleaned then just blurt something in Spanish then sat down. Or even pushing in front on the lifts when they could see Tammey uses a walking aid. Anyway enough of the negatives.

I love getting up on the first morning to go for a jog and explore the local area. This is the perfect way of getting my bearings and seeing the area when it’s nice and quiet.


The area of Puerto de la Cruz is a more traditional resort. It didn’t have the usual rows and rows of tacky shops selling yelping puppies and glowing things you throw up in the air. There were some traditional Spanish high street shops, restaurants and not an English/Irish pub in sight.

The beach was beautiful. Raw volcanic sand which glistened in the sun and was so soft underfoot. The sea was pretty rough but I actually enjoyed jumping the waves.

After quite a few days simply sunning ourselves by the pool (and of course day time drinking on the all inclusive package), we decided to hire a car on our last day. It was an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, explore the island and not be stuck on a transfer bus for hours.

The roads were good conditions and with google maps it was easy to navigate our way up the mountain to the Teide National Park. Now the navigation was the only simple thing. Whilst the roads had no pot holes, it didn’t make driving on narrow roads with a very steep incline easy. At one point there was a stop sign however I had such fear of rolling all the way back down that I may have ignored the sign and hoped for the best (we made it!).

The views driving up the mountain were incredible. The scenery along the way went from lush smelling pine trees to exposed rock face and finally a sandy land. It was hard to remember to concentrate on driving and not keep pointing out the window.

After a pit stop at the top and a little walk to stretch our legs, it was time to drive down the other side. It was much easier driving down than up! We decided to stop in Playa de las Americas for the afternoon.

We’d heard this side of the island is where the Brits tend to stay and from the large beer bellies and ample swearing we were welcomed with, it was indeed chav city de la Americas.

We stopped for some lunch at a horrible place where I found a hair in my food. After this we decided to check out the beach. It was again pretty choppy here but they’d created a cove so you could swim safely. After catching some last minute rays it was time to head to the airport.

I decided to quickly get changed in the car so whilst changing I didn’t realise there was a man sitting over the other side who got a very clear view of my tan lines - opps.

The flight home with Ryanair was as horrible as ever. Late flight and people waiting on the tarmac to board the plane when they were still offloading the last passengers. This obviously left no time to clean the plane which was evident when I pulled the tray table down and it was full of food - yuck.

Overall Tenerife is a nice island but I have no desire to return. Your choice is chavvy Brits or rude Spanish.

Podstrana - Split - Omis

I wanted to share some of the highlights from the places we visited in Croatia. Although we only stayed for four nights, we were lucky to explore a few of the surrounding areas.


After extensive research, I decided to book Villa Pinocchio which is in the town of Podstrana. We flew into Split airport and Podstrana was a 30 minute taxi ride away. The hotel kindly arranged a taxi for us at a cost of roughly £30 one way. For our return journey, we actually used Uber and this was only £22.


I'll start of by explaining the area of Podstrana as this was our 'base' in Croatia.


Podstrana

As mentioned before, Podstrana is only 30 mins away from the airport. It is also only a 20 minute bus ride into the main area of Split.


The buses are fairly regular (run every 20-30 minutes) and pretty cheap (roughly £1.20 pp. each way). You can buy a ticket on the bus and sometimes these need validating.


The area of Podstrana is located directly on the Adriatic coast. The beaches are man made and pebbly (so bring your water shoes). The sea was relatively calm whilst we were there and it does gradually get deeper the further out you go (go figure...).



The area mainly has small family run b'n'b's as well as a few larger hotels. One of which is the La Meridien Lav Split which is a stunning five star hotel with it's own private marina for all those super yachts.


The area has a number of restaurants which are mainly seafood or Italian restaurants. There is also a few supermarkets (mainly the Ribola chain) as well as an excursion company which also hires bikes (£8 for six hours).


Overall it is a pretty quiet area but it has everything you'd need for a short break. We found a great place called Beach Bar Lungomare (say hi to Lulu the dog) which sells cocktails by the litre for roughly £12.


The area is great if you want some beach time but are also keen to explore Split centre. If you're heading to the Split area for more than three days then I'd say this could be a good base for you.


Split

Moving onto Split now. Although we wanted to explore the historical area of Split and see all the beautiful Roman ruins, we also wanted more than just a 'city break' hence why we didn't want to stay in a small hotel located in city centre.


The hotels in Split are nice and traditional however there's no beach in Split centre (it's on the sea but only boat trips/ferries) and most hotels don't have a pool. Some people won't mind this but I wanted the opportunity to swim in the sea and cool off in the heat.


We headed into Split one morning and found that within maybe four hours, we'd seen all that we needed to see. Diocletian's Palace is the main place we wanted to check out. We wasn't sure what to expect but it was beautiful. Lot's of little archways and allies led to the main bell tower and cathedral. We paid the £2 to climb the bell tower which dates back to the 13th century.


The views from the top were breath-taking but I must admit, I was a tad scared of the height and the rather low railings.




Split has lots of little bars and restaurants. Again the main cuisine is seafood and Italian. They are also fairly reasonably priced. Of course those directly along the waterfront or in the main square tend to be more expensive but overall we paid £25 for a main meal and a beer/wine each.

I must admit the shopping was not particularly exciting. Thankfully it wasn't full of the usual tourist tat but it also didn't feel like there was anything worth buying (which speaks volumes from the self-confessed shopaholic). We did find lots of stalls selling lavender products and jewellery made from Adriatic coral though.

Most of the excursions leave from Split centre. The boats obviously from the main waterfront and other trips from the various offices. What I found very odd was when booking an excursion, they do not pick you up from your hotel. I've always been used to being picked up directly from the hotel and dropped back so this was a surprise to me.

If you only had two nights in Split then I'd say to stay in Split centre. That way you can soak up the atmosphere at night (apparently they have live music in the main square) and simply wander around and take it all in. However, if you have a longer trip and like the beach then Omis should be your choice.

Omis

I had briefly read about Omis on Trip advisor however it was only a place we would visit if we got the chance to. We loved Omis so much that we ended up visiting it twice during our stay.

Omis is located 41 km from Split airport so would take roughly an hour to get to. On our first trip to Omis, we decided to hire bikes and cycle there. It was only 13 km from Podstrana and it took roughly 45 minutes to get there. The second time we opted for the bus which took about 30 mins (not much quicker than the bike with all the stops!).

As soon as you see the rocky mountains against the green gorge and blue sea - it's heaven. Omis has various shops, restaurants and bars. It has a lot more to offer than Podstrana.


There are two Forts in Omis. Mirabella Fortress is probably the first one you'll see. It sits pretty overlooking the town. You look up and think it's nice and easy to get to. It is quite steep and getting right to the top did require a harsh talking to (they seriously do not know anything about health and safety here) however the views were worth it. It cost roughly £2 to explore.


The second Fort, Starigrad Fortress, is a sneaky one. I didn't actually see it at all to begin with. Peter did and wanted to find it. After cycling (ok part cycle and a lot pushing the bikes up hill - thanks Peter) we came to a tiny sign staying Fortress. We locked the bikes up and set off on foot.

After walking up steep steps for about 100 meters I looked up and realised just how high we had to go, the air promptly turned blue. After giving myself another harsh talking to, we continued on. The hike was approximately 3km to the top and I believe 300 meters high.

Although it was blistering hot, it was really worth the effort. We of course had to pay an entrance fee (only £1.50pp) and were greeted by a lovely man who also sold water (thank god as I was starting to ration our supply).


Other than the lovely (albeit hard) hikes, Omis also has a stunning gorge where you can rock climb and raft down the river. It also has the most stunning coast line. There is another large island opposite so the sea is incredibly calm and also sandy. You could walk out pretty far before it got deeper so this made it a lot safer for children.


Omis had a traditional holiday resort feel to it but without the tacky tourist. A lot of the people there were locals or seem to be from Germany and Italy. I feel bad saying this but thankfully there wasn't large families of noisy Brits.

I would happily visit Omis again. I think the kids would have an amazing time playing in the sea and enjoying the gelato.

Croatia had been on my 'country list' for a few years now and I definitely wasn't disappointed. I always assumed I would do a sailing trip around Croatia and although we did a boat trip to the blue lagoon and a lovely little island which name escapes me, I wasn't that impressed.

Having been on quite a few different boat trips on holiday before, I have been spoilt seeing some gorgeous places and snorkelling in some great locations. Maybe other places in Croatia are better for sailing than Split but either way it was a great experience.

Biking, hiking and strange creatures

Our first holiday together has been wonderful so far. 

Croatia is an amazing country. The countryside is beautiful, a mix of dryness with the limestone rocky mountains and the stunning crystal clear Adriatic Sea. 

The people have been very friendly so far. The area we’re staying in, Podstrana, is right on the sea but doesn’t feel like a typical tourist destination. 

There are lots of small family run b n b style accommodation. It’s much nicer than commercial areas with huge hotels. 

We’re staying at Villa Pinocchio. I loved the name of the hotel and it’s about 15 meters from the sea - bliss.

We explored Split yesterday. We took the bus into the centre and discovered the area. I wanted to see Diocletian’s palace and it didn’t disappoint. 

Wandering through the small archways exploring the hidden treasures Split has to offer was fantastic and (yes I’m going to sound soppy) it’s been even more magical having Peter by my side. 

For years I’ve loved travelling. I’ve enjoyed my own company, I’ve loved my own agenda and answering to only myself however when you have the right person by your side, things just perfectly click into place. 

Peter loves being active, just like me, so we did a great workout on the beach yesterday. One legged squats and far too many hip exercises. 

After yesterday’s workout, I had the grand idea of hiring bikes. I wanted to visit Omis which is 13km away from our hotel. I figured it would be a nice flat ride. My god it was hard work. 

I’m used to riding my lovely light carbon fibre Specialize bike. Not this mammoth uber heavy mountain bike. Needless to say, my butt is sore. 

The cycle along the coast was lovely and didn’t take too long (maybe 40 mins). When we got to Omis, it was breathtaking. 

The mountains were huge and so exposed. Set against the beautiful blue waters in the sea and green waters in the canyon.

We wanted to visit the Fort. We realised there were two. After getting lost multiple times, we set back along the path (I may have told Peter is was wrong before).

After abandoning the bikes, we headed along a rocky path. I then looked up and saw the Fort. It was bloody miles away up high. I may have turned the air as blue as the sea - oh dear. 

However, being the stubborn cow that I am, I persist and despite my dodgy foot (soft tissue damage thanks to pole), it took us about an hour to get to the top. I made a joke that we better not have to pay to look around. We did have to pay, 150kn (about £1.75).

There was a little room at the top with a lovely man called Neina. He has to make that journey each day that he works. He was telling us he sometimes sleeps overnight, I don’t blame him. 

After taking in the magical views, it was time to head back down. Thankfully this was a lot quicker than coming up. Although it was a little more risky as the stones were marble and slippery. 

By this point it was around 3:30pm and we were starving. I definitely think we worked for our lunch so we stopped at a little restaurant in Omis. We ordered what we thought was a burger and chips but it turned out to be a more traditional dish, it was lovely. 

After lunch it was time to head back to our hotel. After the cycle here and the little hike (plus yesterday’s squats) my legs and butt were a little tender. 

Surprisingly it didn’t take too long to get back. Although it was later in the day, I couldn’t wait to head into the sea for a swim. 

Because there were thunderstorms overnight, the sea was a little murky but it was still beautiful. 

In the evening, we decided to walk along to the marina and we were admiring the incredible yacht’s when I noticed something black swimming in the sea. At first I thought it was a type of jelly fish, then maybe a squid and then after an extensive google search we discovered it was called a sea hare. 

These sea hares are native to the Caribbean so we have no idea how it came about to be in the Adriatic Sea. 

I can’t believe how quick the holiday has gone. This was always just a quick break (four nights) but I’m sad how fast it’s going. 

We’ve got a boat trip booked to explore the blue lagoon and some other islands so that’ll be fun. It’s been nice spending time with Peter and exploring country 49 together. 

Country 49 coming up...

I've been having holiday withdrawal symptoms. I've been back from Australia for nearly two months now without leaving the country. We booked to go to Croatia back in March (bold after only being together for about a month) and it's come around so quick.


Croatia has always been on my list of places to travel to. I always assumed I would end up doing one of the sailing trips around all the islands. I nearly booked a boat trip last year but I decided to book a slightly larger boat trip instead, the Royal Caribbean cruise.


I've seen many gorgeous pictures of Croatia on Istagram. Lots of turquoise seas and cute pebble beaches. And some amazing looking food dishes, plenty of fresh seafood and locally produced wine.


We decided to ease ourselves in and booked a four night stay at the adorable Villa Pinocchio. This is situation about 7km outside of Split and right on the beach.


I love the idea of having the best of both worlds. Being right on the beach, being able to relax in a quieter seaside resort (I have a feeling it'll be similar to Marina di Pisa) but then being  short bus ride away from both Split and Omis.


I understand parts of Game of Thrones was filmed in Split. The stunning Diocletian's Palace is a famous place where filming took place. I'm not a fan of GoT however I do love surrounding myself in history.


Although I'm a huge planner (there's an itinerary and check list for most things in my life), when I'm actually away I simply love wandering around and taking it all in. There's nothing better than wandering around cobbled streets and people watching under the hot sun.


It's been a busy year so far in my life with the new job, the wonderful new man (whom I can't wait to enjoy our first holiday together) and my pole dance competitions. This break came at the best time. However, me being the fool I am managed to full blown kick my pole during training and I now have soft tissue damage to my foot and I'm hobbling around on crutches.


I'm really hoping a few days rest will do the trick and I'll be fine to wander around those cobbled streets. Otherwise it will be a much more different holiday and I won't want Peter having to do too much for me.


Either way a few days in the heat, enjoying Croatia will be just what the doctor ordered.