As of 2024 there are nearly 200 resorts in The Maldives, so choosing where to stay can be extremely overwhelming. Especially for the honeymooners who have meticulously planned in advance and saved thousands, to go on the most special trip of their life - they don’t want to be disappointed when they arrive.
I was lucky enough to visit The Maldives for my 30th birthday in 2023 - I still can’t believe I can say that! We stayed at the newly upgraded Villa Nautica on the North Malé Atoll, which has been voted the number 1 resort on TripAdvisor for 2024.
There are many reasons why I call myself a water baby. I learned to swim at age 4 and stayed with the same company until I was swimming competitively for them at aged 16. I then became a lifeguard where I actively worked in the position for 9 years, including countless jobs that took me all over the world, from Japan, China and the USA. In 2014 I then qualified to be a swim coach which is the main reason why I’m now based in the United Arab Emirates.
Seychelles is famous for its beautiful beaches, iconic boulders, scuba diving spots, mountainous hikes, and plus the native Seychellois people are incredible cooks! The country is made up of 115 islands, located off the coast of Kenya in the Indian Ocean. Just think of The Maldives - but way more fun!
I always thought that I’d have to wait until my honeymoon or had to be super-rich to visit a place like Seychelles. But here I am, just starting my career in travel blogging, un-married and I’ve just got back from the most incredible six days in, you guessed it, THE SEYCHELLES! (insert crying face!)
I’m only two years away from the big 30 and I’m absolutely terrified. How did this happen? My 21st birthday only feels like yesterday. Age scares me more than anything else in the world. Seizing every moment is how I’ve lived the beginning of my adult life and I’m not going to stop now. I’ve had so many incredible experiences in my twenties - I’ve worked on a cruise ship in Asia, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, moved to Dubai, road-tripped across the USA and backpacked around Italy.
Are you wanting to visit Petra and not sure where to stay? Instead of booking one of the many over-priced hotels, why not add a little adventure to your trip. For only around £20 a night, I have the perfect solution for you! The Hakuna Matata Cave in Little Petra is a 15-minute drive away from Petra’s main entrance.
I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know Jordan existed until a couple of years ago. But now it’s one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited! I spent 4 nights in Jordan with my partner at the end of November 2019, staying in a different place each night - The Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, Petra and Amman. Our trip consisted of staying in a bubble tent in the middle of the desert, walking 25,000 steps around Petra, floating at the lowest point on earth covered in mud and staying in a 4000-year-old cave.
Have you ever wondered where the movies Martian, Transformers and Lawrence of Arabia were filmed? Wadi Rum is the answer - a Mars-like valley in southern Jordan. The whole landscape makes you feel like you’ve been transported to another planet. The red sand, giant rocks and the crisp starry skies are the stuff of dreams. To get the full experience of Wadi Rum, you can stay at glamping sites tucked away in the extensive desert - managed by Bedouins.
On everyone’s bucket list - right? I studied Ancient Egypt in primary school and remember being completely obsessed with the subject. Pharaohs, Pyramids, Hieroglyphics, all of it. I was intrigued that artefacts and mummies are constantly being discovered and the Pyramids are still standing after 4,500 years.
One of the most instagrammable spots on the planet - Krka National Park. If it’s not on your bucket list yet, add it now! In recent years, Croatia has been firmly placed on the map after revealing its natural beauty to the world. Endless waterfalls, mountains, lakes, rivers and beaches. Krka is now one of Europe’s most sought after destinations and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Japan has way more to offer than just bustling cities, culture and incredible food. The country is made up of over 6,000 islands and is surrounded by some of the clearest water in the world. Whilst travelling and working on a cruise ship in 2017, one of our main routes was sailing to three islands in the East China Sea between Taiwan and Japan's mainland. Okinawa, Miyakojima and Ishigaki are all in the Okinawa Prefecture.
A packing guide that will save your life - quite literally.
After six months of planning, researching, training and spending all my mula on equipment and hiking gear, I felt ready to take on the roof of Africa. I remember my mum dragging me around all the typical sports and outdoor shops. ‘Soph, you’ll need a warm jacket, walking boots, gloves, backpack…’ - the list felt endless. To be fair, I was taking on my first, solo hiking challenge and I had to be ready.
In this blog post, I’m going to give you MY experience on the mountain and an in-depth description of each day, trekking the Machame Route. I also have other blog posts on Kilimanjaro - Packing Guide for Kilimanjaro and 10 things I didn’t know before climbing Kilimanjaro. I climbed Kili at the beginning of September 2016 and still to this day, it’s THE best thing I've ever done. I booked the trek through STA Travel and G Adventures - I honestly can't recommend them enough!
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is one of those trips which you can’t explain to anybody. Your own individual experience and journey will not be the same as anyone else’s. The feelings, emotions and the physical and mental torture that you have to put yourself through to get to the summit, will change the perspective of your entire life.
The best way to see the Grand Canyon is to hire a car, pack your walking boots and get ready for some of the best sunrises and sunsets you will ever see. That’s exactly what I did in the summer of 2015. Two days of incredible scenery, moments of calm and memories that I will cherish forever.
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…
