Montenegro is a small, yet stunning country located in Southeast Europe on the Adriatic Sea. It’s known for its diverse landscapes, which include rugged mountains, deep canyons, and picturesque coastal areas. Podgorica is the capital and largest city, though many visitors are drawn to the coastal city of Kotor for its historical charm and scenic beauty. Montenegro’s compact size means that you can experience a lot in a short amount of time, making it a great destination for both relaxation and adventure.
Dubai, renowned for its opulence, innovation, and luxurious lifestyle, boasts an array of exceptional hotels that redefine hospitality at every turn. From gleaming skyscrapers gracing the skyline to pristine beaches along the azure Gulf waters, Dubai's hotels offer an unparalleled blend of modern comfort and Arabian hospitality.
Whilst Dubai is known for being a modern metropolis, it’s also a coastal city which is a huge perk, as there are many fancy 5* hotels and beach clubs dotted all along the seafront. The city has over 300 days a year of sunshine and blue skies - spare a few days for sandstorms. Given the near-perfect weather all year long, Dubai is also famous for its brunches… on the beach! Any day or time of the week - unlimited food & drinks, DJs, infinity pools and a bloody good time awaits you. And maybe some crazy Brits…
One of the most famous, and visited landmarks in the Untied Kingdom. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument dating back to around 3000 to 2000 BC. It features a circle of tall standing stones weighing about 25 tons each. The larger Sarsen stones were brought from quarries 25 miles away, while the smaller bluestones came from 150 miles away in Wales.
When I look back on all the places I’ve been to, Monument Valley always ends up being in my top 5 most memorable. When I first saw photos of this magical place, many years ago, I knew I had to visit. I’m a sucker for grand, natural landscapes, especially those in the raw desert.
Never heard of punting? Well, stop right there, and let me give you all the information you need for this wonderful experience! Punting in Cambridge has to be one of my all-time favourite things to do in England. Venice vibes… but a bit colder.
Cambridge is a city in the East of England, only 50 miles north of London. The city is famously known for it’s university, gorgeous architecture, and of course punting along the River Cam.
From the bustling city of Amman to the deep history of Petra. From the Mars-like desert of Wadi Rum to the lowest point on Earth at the Dead Sea. Jordan has so much to offer. There’s no glitz and glam here - just thousands of years of natural gems that speak for themselves. I was introduced to Jordan at quite a late stage and I before I knew it, I was booking flights and accommodation. I am normally a huge travel planner, sometimes years in advance, in this case I didn’t have time to build expectations. And I’m glad I didn’t.
Iceland is a country that should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. It’s not every day you’re surrounded by raw, natural beauty and dramatic, un-touched landscapes, that Iceland has. There’s so much to see and do that you’ll need multiple trips to cover the whole country.
Iceland, Iceland, Iceland. Where do I even begin? It was an absolute thrill to experience many of the wonders that this incredible country has to offer, and an even bigger dream of mine to capture the endless beauty and dramatic landscapes, that I had thought about for so long. It’s a place where every photo taken, is worthy. In my opinion it’s pretty difficult to take a bad picture here. From the geysers to the glaciers, and from Seljalandsfoss to Skógafoss. Every corner of this magical country is picture perfect.
After what feels like a lifetime of wanting to travel to Iceland… I finally did it! And it was everything I could have imagined, AND MORE. Seriously though, there is no other place like it on the planet. Truly one of a kind. Waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs, black sand beaches, volcanoes and of course cute Icelandic ponies. They don’t call it ‘the land of fire and ice’ for nothing.
Are you still not sure if Dubai is for you? Then let me convince you, the best way I know how - through photos! Dubai has everything you could possibly need within a 20km radius, including every kind of landscape. Beautiful beaches, skylines of skyscrapers, dreamy deserts, and also mountains, can be found only an hours drive away from the city.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Dubrovnik is one of my favourite places on the planet. The combination of the dramatic coastline, turquoise waters, orange-roofed buildings, the mountainous backdrop and the European summer feels, are the best. Dubrovnik has become quite the hotspot in recent years due to the accessibility of surrounding countries and, of course, Game of Thrones fans. Walking around the Old Town, swimming in the Adriatic sea and the view from Mount Srd are all my highlights.
One of the oldest cities in the world and Egypt’s second largest after the capital, Cairo. Located in the north of the country, on the Mediterranean Sea. Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great - hence the name. The population of the city is only 5.3 million, compared to London’s 10 million. It may have half the number of people, but it certainly feels like WAY more.
Rome is one of Europe’s oldest and most popular cities. Rich in history, iconic landmarks and architecture. Not to forget that it’s THE place to immerse yourself in Italian cuisine. No guilt required when trying all of the pizzas, pastas and gelato. Washed down with glass of red wine. Honestly, no other delicacies matter here.
Venice is one of the worlds greatest cities, famous for the car-less streets, picturesque canals, gondolas, the Rialto Bridge and many historic buildings.
A romantic city, perfect for a weekend away with your loved ones. Or a solo trip that will re-ignite your soul for food, passion and love. The relaxed Italian way of life rubs off on everyone that visits.
I’m 31 & a British expat, currently living the dream in Dubai. I have a huge passion for travel, photography & have over 45 countries ticked off my bucket list. I used the 2020 lockdown to produce runawaysoph.com, which is now home to 50+ posts of my favourite experiences. Stay tuned to see where I travel to next…
