2018 has been a pretty busy year in terms of travel for me and I’m so lucky to have visited some fantastic countries. I’ve also really enjoyed writing about it all 🙂
Click on each image to read a detailed blog about each trip…
The first trip was to Hamburg in January to visit my friend who was in a play there…
There wasn’t a massive amount to do and it’s certainly not the prettiest place in the world as it’s largely industrial, but it was nice to see my friend and explore a new place.
A week later I went to Venice for a weekend away with my boyfriend…
Venice is stunning and I would definitely recommend going. Unsurprisingly, Venice is popular with couples as it’s known for being one of the most romantic cities in the world. Most opt for a summer trip but Venice looked stunning in January and I believe the flights and accommodation were cheaper because of the time of year.
In March I travelled to Berlin for a long weekend with my friend…
Berlin is an amazing city. Some of it is not particularly picturesque, (especially East Germany as it was the socialist ‘workers’ and ‘peasants’ state’ until 1990), but it’s full of history and a fantastic location for a mini break.
Also in March I went to Oxford for a night away with my boyfriend…
I don’t think you need too long in Oxford but it’s certainly worth a weekend visit. Beautiful buildings, lots of history, great restaurants and to top it off, a gorgeous palace!
April = the annual work trip to Miami for one of the events I run…
I do love Miami but I wonder if I’d love it as much if I wasn’t staying in the luxury of the Four Seasons. South Beach is a fantastic beach and Ocean Drive is a lot of fun, but some of the luxury clubs can be expensive and pretentious. You have to have a bit of cash to have a good time.
For the May bank holiday I spent the long weekend in the Brecon Beacons with a big group of friends…
Whilst this was a very simple trip, it was honestly the best. If you have great friends being all together wherever you are is amazing, let alone in a stunning Welsh national park!
In June I travelled to Rome for a friends wedding…
Rome is absolutely amazing. It’s an iconic city with so much to see and learn about – you won’t be bored. A lot of attractions you can go in for free or for a small cost, and if you decide to explore on foot, you can certainly see Rome on a budget.
In July I went to Lisbon for a week with a couple of friends…
Lisbon is lovely and definitely worth a short trip. I wasn’t as wowed as I have been by other cities, largely because it’s quite dirty and covered in graffiti (although I suppose that adds to its character).
In August I went to Krakow for a few nights with 2 friends…
Overall I thought Krakow was incredible. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I was surprised at how beautiful and full of life the city was – it truly is a hidden gem.
Auschwitz obviously wasn’t an enjoyable experience but it’s something I believe everyone should see once in their lifetime.
Also in August I travelled to Thessaloniki with my boyfriend for a few nights…
I loved the hotel but Thessaloniki certainly didn’t wow me. If you want a relaxing break in a beautiful hotel and have a bit of cash to spend then the Hyatt is lovely.
In September I spent a weekend in Budapest…
All in all, I think Budapest is amazing. Beautiful, lots to see, great for exploring, fantastic for partying!
I spent my birthday weekend Devon with a big group of old friends…
Salcombe is stunning and you can’t beat a weekend away with great friends.
October = the annual trip to Hong Kong for one of the events I run…
I absolutely LOVE Hong Kong. Think it is such an amazing place with so much variety and would definitely recommend you go and see it for yourself 🙂
After the work trip I flew straight to Chiang Mai…
Chiang Mai is a really cool place to visit for a few nights, but the main reason I was there was for the elephants. I spent a week volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park…
It was the most incredible, eye-opening, heart-breaking (yet heart-warming), totally inspiring experience. I know I will visit and volunteer as much as I can for the rest of my life.
After ENP I went to Siem Reap for a super quick trip…
Cambodia was a country I was totally unaware of and so I am very glad I visited. Angkor Wat was absolutely stunning… I was honestly amazed. Strongly recommend going to see it.
On the way back to London we spent a couple of nights in Bangkok…
Bangkok is an interesting place and it’s worth spending a night or two there if you have the time.
Finally, I live in London and have put together a list of places to eat there. I am working on a sight-seeing blog but it’s taking forever as there is so much to do and I have so many pictures to go through to put it all together. Will be epic when I do though as London is the best city in the world 🙂
Looking forward to another year of adventures in 2019…
Coming up:
- Riga (Latvia)
- Marrakesh (Morocco)
- St Petersberg (Russia)
- Miami (US)
- Zurich / Lake Lucerne (Switzerland)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Travel with Shan 
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