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Travel

Exploring Dalaman with Hilton Hotels

The last couple of days have been spent in an area of Turkey called Dalaman in collaboration with Turkey’s Tourism board and Hilton.

Dalaman is on the Southwestern coast of Turkey, in the Muğla Province, and it’s an area I haven’t really explored that much. We usually drive straight passed it towards Fethiye/Oludeniz or we stop just before when we’re going to Marmaris. I was excited to see what this area had to offer and what we could explore.

The Hilton Dalaman Sarıgerme Resort & Spa kindly hosted us during out 3 days down there and when we arrived at dinner time on the Monday evening we were in for a treat. Hilton had made a reservation for us at their Chinese restaurant ‘TAO’. I really miss decent Chinese food in Turkey so I was stoked to be able to try their à la carte restaurant which was the best Chinese food i’d eaten in a long time.

Hotels

My stay at Hillside Beach Club, Fethiye

Last week we drove down to Fethiye to stay at the Hillside Beach Club hotel for a couple of days. Their motto is ‘Heaven on Earth’ and it’s only now that i’ve been there that I can truly appreciate this sentiment. It really is like a little piece of heaven nestled inbetween the lush green mountains just a short drive away from the center of Fethiye. I love the fact that they have respected the nature around them and the hotel rooms and buildings just blend seamlessly into their surroundings.

Our room (238) was really different than I was expecting with a lovely open plan layout. As you walked into it you immediately entered the outdoor balcony area which had amazing views over the turquoise sea and the hotel’s main beach.

Burj Al Arab – The Most Luxurious Hotel in The World

Back in December I was lucky enough to goto Dubai and while I was there we got to visit the amazing Burj Al Arab. Built on a man-made island, construction of the Burj Al Arab began in 1993 and was completed in 1999. The Burj Al Arab is one of the most iconic buildings in Dubai and its unique sail-like shape is easy to spot from a far. If you have ever been to Dubai then it will come as no surprise that you will find “the world’s only 7-star hotel” there…..

Travel

Kings Day in Holland with Ketel One

A couple of weeks ago an email landed in my inbox inviting me to experience Kings Day with Ketel One. For those that don’t know – Kings Day (formally known as Koninginnedag/Queens Day up until 2013, when Queen Beatrix abdicated and was succeeded by her son Willem-Alexander) is the Kings Birthday celebrations and the biggest party in the Dutch calendar! I jumped at the chance to attend such a cool campaign, although i’ve celebrated Queens Day in the past this would be my first Kings Day. It was such a fun couple of days exploring Holland, meeting lovely people, eating delicious food and of course drinking great vodka…

My week in pictures

This week has been spent getting ready for Summer (ie: buying more bikinis and unboxing all of my Havaianas) which is well on the way! The weather is so nice these days and it’s been glorious in my favourite little town of Alacati.

Hotels

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

Last week I was lucky enough to visit Paris in all it’s Spring glory and when I was there I stayed at the beautiful and elegant Four Seasons Hotel. Although it wasn’t my first time to Paris, it was my first time staying at a Four Seasons Hotel but now i’m sure it won’t be my last!

As soon as you enter the lobby you’ll be greeted not only by warm and welcoming smiles at reception but also by stunning flower displays by the amazing floral designer Jeff Leatham. We arrived early so as our room was not ready yet we left our bags and went out to explore….

Hotels

Kayakapi Premium Caves, Cappadocia

Back in January we had the pleasure of staying at the wonderful Kayakapi Premium Cave hotel in Ürgüp, Cappadocia.

The hotel, which is sprawled over a hillside overlooking a stunning view of the town below, consists of beautifully restored cave dwellings in the historic Kayakapi neighborhood which dates back to the 18th and 19th century.

Even after staying just 1 night, it comes as no surprise to me that Kayakapi has won many awards on Tripadvisor. The hospitality, attention to detail and overall quality was outstanding.

Travel

Top 10 things to do in Cappadocia

Here are my top 10 things to do when visiting Cappadocia in Turkey…..

Travel

The Cute and Charming town of Alacati

Alacati is a charming old Greek town located on Turkey’s Cesme peninsular roughly 1 hour from the city of Izmir.

I first discovered this cute town back in 2011 when my dad and I went on a last minute staycation getaway to Cesme. We jumped on the dolmus to explore the area one day and ended up in Alacati. In those days there wasn’t as much going on as there is now – There wasn’t as many people or restaurants or adorably decorated shop fronts but it was still charming enough for me to want to go back again and again…

When I first started Instagram, right after that trip infact, it was all my holiday photos of Çeşme and Alaçatı that I posted.

Turquoise crystal clear waters and pastel coloured buildings adorned my feed and I fell in love with Cesme and Alacati all over again. It’s been a 6 year love affair and every Summer I visit as often as I can.

Hotels

Taskonaklar hotel review, Cappadocia

Last week we were lucky enough to visit Cappadocia in the snow. Something I have wanted to do for ages and it was just as magical as I dreamt it would be.

We were there for 6 days, 5 nights and during that time stayed at 4 different hotels. All of which I will blog about but first up, lets revisit Taşkonaklar hotel in the Uchisar area of Cappadocia…. When we arrived it was snowing heavily and we were warmly welcomed by Jo, the friendly manager (and fellow Brit!) She checked us in and showed us around our new home for the next 2 days. Carefully restored using local materials, it was the perfect mix of charm, luxury and comfort…

Travel

Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia, meaning “the land of beautiful horses” is a magical place located in Central Anatolia in Turkey. Known for its unique moon-like landscape, houses carved in rock, whimsical fairy chimneys and magical sunrise hot air balloon rides, it’s a must see place if you ever come to Turkey.

Dubai Travel

Dancing in the Desert in Dubai

One of my favourite activities we did in Dubai was the desert safari. Not because I enjoyed the dune bashing (we didn’t and made our poor driver crawl along compared to the other jeeps due to us feeling sick) but because I have always wanted to goto the desert.

We were picked up from our hotel at 3pm by our driver and driven to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve which was just over an hour away. When we got there we had to stop for a few minutes so they could let some air out of the tires so we could drive safely on the sand. I have never been to a desert before and it was everything I was dreaming of and more. It was just so…vast. Empty, peaceful and beautiful. Even though we had only driven for an hour, it felt like we were a million miles away from the malls and skyscrapers….