When looking for a quick getaway that would have nice weather and not be too far to travel the logical choice seemed to land on Portugal.  Having looked around we found a great deal in a place called Faro. Most people just pass through to the more popular locations we thought it would be nice to go somewhere a little quieter.
 
We managed to get a hotel right on the sea front and though we went in December it wasn’t to warm but we still had sun and blue skies.  The town itself wasn’t too big but had a wonderful mixture of old and new. The town was split into an old town and new with a old fortress wall surrounding the old town.
 
Within the old town it was like you were being transported to another era. With cobbled streets some of the most magnificent churches and an amazing cathedral that literally took my breath away.  We travelled to the top of the cathedral where you could experience breathtaking views of the city and out to sea.
 
The most memorable part of the tri had to be the food. We wanted to experience as much of the local cuisine as we could. We found a quaint little bakery behind our hotel that was packed with some of the most phenomenal cakes, pastries and breads. As Faro is a fishing town a majority the restaurants serve freshly caught fish and produce which results in some the most amazing food you have ever tasted. One aspect of the trip we could not get enough of was the orange juice. Orange trees can be found everywhere in Portugal and a lot of the local café’s and restaurants serve freshly picked oranges on their menu. I guess I had never really tasted oranges that were juiced on the same day they were picked but it was amazing. We ordered a fresh glass everywhere we stopped.
 
Though our stay was fleeting it was memorable we loved every minute and vowed to return. From the amazing food, history and not to mention the sunsets we were transported to another world. It is a place I would recommend to travel too if you want a quiet seaside getaway.  It was by far one of our most relaxing vacations to date.
 
S

 
Egypt has always been a place that fascinated me as a child with stories of pyramids and mummies. Though our holiday didn’t consist of much history tours it was still one to remember.
 
We have travelled to a fair few countries but Egypt was our first ever all-inclusive holiday. We had planned this trip with one goal in mind ultimate relaxation.  We were nervous at first we all hear horror stories of Egypt and the unrest in the Middle East but we had never felt more safe. There was no cultural divide and we were made to feel welcome by locals and staff.
 
We spent few days relaxing but you can’t go to Egypt and not explore. We arranged for two outings with the hotel first we went out in a glass bottom boat on the red sea it was amazing!! We travelled out to the coral reefs and were given the opportunity to see the reefs up close and personal. Having never seen a reef before I was captivated by the life that can be seen. It was mesmerizing.
 
Following the trip on the boat we had a quick tour of the city with a chance to walk through the market, see some of the most beautiful mosques and do a little shopping as well. The second trip we booked was one I would never forget.
 
We started with a Jeep ride, which would have made health safety offices cringe as we went over sand dunes and travelled deep into the Sahara Desert. Our destination was an outpost in the dessert. Our tripped was an action packed adventure we were to start with a quad bike ride through the desert followed by a tour of a village deep in the dessert, camel ride and a show under the stars.
 
It was one of the most amazing days I had ever experienced it was our chance to fully immerse ourselves in the culture it was amazing.
 
This holiday was full of a lot of first for use to snorkelling, quad biking, camel riding and actually making time to relax. We loved every second of our adventure. So much so we are travelling back next year! We met so many lovely people and felt so much at home. My advices don’t let all the horror stories that we see in the media stop us from exploring the world. Many people told us not to go when they found out where we were going but I believe that this holiday is in my top favourite of all time.
 
S

 
So not that long ago I went on a holiday I had only dreamed of and travelled across the world to Indonesia to stay on the Island of Bali.
 
I had always dreamed since being a kid of going to Indonesia but I never thought I would get there. I guess dreams do come true!
 
It was another world.
 
When I travel I like to embrace the culture and learn as much as I could about how other people live. I am privileged to live in the UK and I know a lot of people all around the world want to come here but I think it’s important to see how different people live.
 
So when we landed we were asking so many questions about how everyone lived and the culture. It wasn’t long before a lot of our questions were answered as we speed through the streets to our hotel we were taken aback by all the colour!
 
Everywhere you looked was a shrine or temple surrounded by bright cloth and flowers. The air was filled with the aroma of food from the street-venders and the statues were amazing.
 
We were so taken aback about how welcoming everyone was and how kind and well mannered they were. We were lucky to have a hotel close to the beach so as soon as we unpacked that was our next stop.
 
We walked down the street just taking everything in. It was like the city was full of life there was so much going on. When we made it to the sea we were amazed it was like a tropical paradise the perfect getaway.
 
After a day of exploring and struggling in the heat we hired a driver and went exploring up to the rainforest. Never in my life did I think I would ride an elephant and stroke and feed a Bengal tiger. It was trip of wonders and once the day had finished we were in awe of what had happened.
 
The next few days were spent exploring the city where we were staying and getting to know more about the culture. We spoke to a monk at one of the temples and had a look around the local markets and shops.
 
I was so shocked at how much life was celebrated they valued everything they had and protected the nature and world around them. It was such a comparison to the western culture, which seems to forget these lessons. The more we learnt the more we realised that maybe in the west we have it a little bit backwards.
 
We had another chance to explore the rainforest where we saw how much different they lived we saw the rice fields and temples and drove through towns.
The air was full of chatter and laughter and everyone was so kind and gentle.
 
We met so many amazing people and we were so grateful for everything that we got to experience.
 
One thing that I realised was that the longer you think about something the more likely you are going to talk yourself out of it. Embrace it in the moment and let it lead you where ever.
 
 
S