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Showing posts with label Balkans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balkans. Show all posts

Sunday, 15 October 2023

Travel Tips: The Best Hotels I've Ever Stayed in

Seeing as I won't be going on any "big trips" for at least a couple of months, my plan for the blog is to alternate between writing posts about my travels and day trips around Bristol and beyond, and writing posts about other travel-related topics, in order to keep things varied.

My latest post was about a local trip, so this one is going to be something a bit different. I had a look through the list of post ideas I've built up over the years (quite a few!) in order to decide what took my fancy to write about today, and in the end, I decided to write about the topic of hotels, as it's something I haven't really done before!

Generally, these days, I'm happy to stay somewhere clean, comfortable and reasonably priced. I used to try to look for more unique, characterful places to stay, with somewhat mixed results - I remember regretting staying at the old-fashioned pub/hotel in York that was freezing cold with a smelly bathroom, and the supposedly fancy boutique hotel in Bournemouth where my room was tiny and the shower didn't work. Both times I wished I'd opted for the reliability of an Ibis or Premier Inn! Having said that though, when you do stay in a hotel that's really special, it definitely makes your trip that extra bit special too.

I like to think that nowadays I'm quite good at choosing hotels that are both good value and super nice places to relax after a day of exploring. I've stayed in quite a few really great ones over the years, particularly during the last couple of years, and so I've decided to put my favourites together into a list.

Here they are!


Admiral Grand Hotel, Slano, Croatia


















Image by Rachel Claire from Pexels.com

This hotel in the Dalmatia region of southern Croatia is one of (I think) only three 5* hotels that I've stayed in during my life so far. I went there with my family in 2012 and we had a wonderful week in the hotel, which is located in the village of Slano, and also took day trips to Dubrovnik, and Neum and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The hotel is pretty huge, and has lots of facilities, including an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, various bars and restaurants, a nightclub, and a beautiful private beach surrounded by mountains. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera phone at the time, and I've got no photos to show of the hotel, so enjoy this nice image of Dubrovnik instead!


Cedar Manor Hotel, Windermere, England, UK





























My parents actually won a competition to stay at this 5* hotel in the Lake District, and seeing as Covid kept me still living at home in 2020, I got to come along with them! My room was huge, with a four-poster bed, dressing table, and a bath the size of a hot tub, so staying there was quite a special experience. It was also great to be surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Lake District, and overall, it was a really relaxing few days. I actually enter travel competitions on a weekly basis and hope to win something like this myself some day, but it hasn't happened yet - maybe I'll be lucky soon!

Read more here!


Novotel, Arica, Chile























My partner Claudio and I both loved staying in this hotel located right on the beach in the city of Arica in the far north of Chile. The room was so comfortable and luxurious, as well as being reasonably priced, and the view from the window of the beach and Morro de Arica was absolutely stunning. I hope we'll get to go back there again at some point in the future!

Read more here!


Ayenda Estancia San Pedro, Cusco, Peru





















My solo trip to Peru in October 2022 was a week where I really tried to immerse myself in the Peruvian culture and history as much as possible. I spent my first four days in the historic city of Cusco, which I used as a base to take day trips around the Sacred Valley of the Incas. During this time, I stayed in Ayenda Estancia de San Pedro, which is actually a hotel created inside an old colonial building. It's a beautiful place and really added a sense of authenticity to the trip.

I also want to give an honourable mention to Machu Picchu Adventure House, the hotel I stayed in in Aguas Calientes after my time in Cusco. This place was super comfortable and had very nice Inca-style décor.




















Read more here!


Park Inn by Radisson, Puerto Varas, Chile
























There are actually two Radisson hotels in the charming town of Puerto Varas in the south of Chile: a more expensive one right on the shore of Lago Llanquihue, and the more affordable Park Inn further into the town. We chose to stay at the Park Inn during our trip and found it so cosy and comfy. The hotel was built in a traditional German style, typical of the area, and has beautiful views across the rest of the town and the lake.

Read more here!


B&B Vergilia, Syracuse, Sicily, Italy




















I earned some hotel vouchers from doing weekly surveys when I was living at home between 2020 and early 2022, but wasn't able to use them while I was living in Chile, and had to quickly decide what to do with them before they expired in May this year. I chose to use them on a stay in B&B Vergilia during my trip to Sicily in June and was very happy with my choice! This is one of these sorts of hotels that are quite common in Italy (I stayed somewhere similar in Florence), which are built inside grand, old houses, meaning that all of the rooms are incredibly spacious. B&B Vergilia is also a family-run hotel, and the owners are super friendly and welcoming, so I'll definitely be staying there again if I return to Syracuse in the future!

Read more here!


39 St. George, Victoria/Rabat, Gozo, Malta






























This hotel is located in Victoria (also known as Rabat), the capital of Gozo, Malta's sister island, and is a really characterful place. I loved the Medieval vibe of the building, as well as its amazing views over the stunning St. George's Square. It was also super comfortable, which made a nice change from the hostel that I was living in in Malta at the time!

Read more here!


I had a fantastic time staying in all of these hotels, and they were great bases to come back to after days of exploring incredible places. I hope to continue with my run of choosing great hotels, and then perhaps I'll have another one of these posts to write in a couple of years' time!


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!

Wednesday, 26 January 2022

Country Guide: Slovenia

Name: Slovenia (in Slovene: Slovenija)

Continent: Europe

Capital (and Largest) City: Ljubljana

Language: Slovene

Currency: Euro

Drives on the: Right

Time Zone: Central European Time

Adaptor Types: Type C and Type F

Description: Slovenia is a small country in the Balkans, bordering the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. It is best known for its lakes and mountain landscapes, and in recent years it has become more and more popular as a tourist destination.

Why You Should Visit: Slovenia really makes you feel as if you've stepped into a fairytale. Lake Bled in particular is a incredibly beautiful place, featuring a medieval castle overlooking the lake from a precipice, and a little island with a old church that can only be reached by rowing or swimming. I went there with my family back in 2014, and would definitely like to return in the future.

Fun Fact: Even though Slovenia is a small country, it has more than 10,000 caves!


My Blogposts About Slovenia

Charlotte's Travel Adventures

- Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Castles and Palaces (Bled Castle)

- Travel Tips: My Top Ten Nature Destinations (Lake Jasna)

- My Gap Year 2014-2015 (Bled, Kranjska Gora, Lake Jasna and Ljubljana)

- Travel Tips: My Top Ten Fairytale Destinations (Lake Bled)

Clockwise starting from top left: Lake Bled, Lake Jasna, Meadow near Bled, Panoramic view of  Ljubljana, Kranjska Gora

Check out the rest of my Country Guides here!

Sunday, 5 December 2021

Travel Tips: My Top Ten Historical Destinations

This week's blogpost is going to focus on my favourite historical destinations. Now, of course, nearly every town or city in the world has some kind of link to the near or distant past, and could therefore be counted as a historical destination, meaning there are various places I could have included in this list. But the ones I've chosen to write about today are the ones that really seem to bring history to life, and which have given me an insight into different periods of the past...


Avebury, England, UK












This prehistoric stone circle, along with the other nearby stone circle, Stonehenge, are probably the closest thing we have in the UK to a site like Machu Picchu or the Egyptian pyramids. And both happen to be located in my home county of Wiltshire, which is pretty cool! Stonehenge is definitely the more famous and popular of the two, but I personally prefer Avebury, as it's much much bigger, and access is less restricted. No one knows exactly why the circle was built, but it's amazing to look at it and think about how long it's been there for. 

Read more here!



Bath, England, UK

























Bath is another historical place that I'm lucky to live quite close to. This beautiful city was very important during the Roman era, and you can still find many Roman columns around the city centre, most famously at the Roman Baths (pictured above). The Roman Baths was a spa and temple complex that attracted visitors from far and wide, and now it's a museum that brings in tourists from all over the world.

Another reason to visit Bath is for its more recent, Georgian history. It was a very popular city amongst the wealthy during that time period, and was famously written about by Jane Austen. You can find many examples of Georgian architecture around Bath today, including the iconic Royal Crescent.

Read more here and here!



York, England, UK

























York is another British city with a long history and many beautiful old buildings. Like Bath, it's known for its Roman history, and you can still see some of the architecture from that period today, including the column pictured above. York was also a Viking city in the past, and was known as Jórvík during this time. In fact, one of the city's most exciting attractions is Jorvik Viking Centre, a museum which literally takes you on a ride through a recreation of this era.

Read more here!



Oxford, England, UK



















The final English city in my list is Oxford, which has some of the most beautiful architecture in the country. It has many historical buildings, some of which were built hundreds of years ago. Radcliffe Camera (pictured above) is actually one of the newer ones, being completed in 1749. Some of the the even older ones include St Michael at the North Gate tower, which was built between 1000-1050, and Oxford Castle, which was originally built in the Norman era.

Read more here and here!



Chepstow Castle, Wales, UK



















The last UK destination in this list is Chepstow Castle in Wales, located right next to the border with England. Construction on the castle first began nearly 1000 years ago, in 1067, and it's still looking in pretty good shape for its age! Actually there are many amazing old castles in Wales - it's the country with the highest number of castles per square mile - but Chepstow's one is actually the oldest, so it's definitely worth a visit.

Read more here!



Nîmes, France















Now I'm moving on to international destinations for the last half of this list, starting with Nîmes in the south of France. This isn't one of the best-known cities in the Hexagon (I don't think I'd heard of it before I went!) but I believe it should be, because it's really an incredible place to explore, featuring various Roman artefacts that have been unbelievably well-preserved. Two of the most impressive are the Arena of Nîmes (pictured above), which is very reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome, and Maison Carrée, a beautiful temple.

Read more here!



Berlin, Germany



















For me, Berlin is an interesting city because of its more recent history. It wasn't that long ago that it was divided into two parts: the democratic West Berlin (comprised of British, French and US sectors), and the communist East Berlin (originally a Soviet sector, and later part of the GDR). There are still many reminders of this period that tourists can visit, including the East Side Gallery (painted sections of the Berlin Wall), Checkpoint Charlie (pictured above), and Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), a former border crossing which is now a museum.


Florence, Italy















The capital of Tuscany is one of the most popular destinations for those interested in history of art, as it was the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, which took place during the 15th and 16th centuries. Many great artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, lived and worked in the city, and you can see examples of their artwork there today. Two of the most famous galleries are Galleria dell'Accademia, where you can find Michelangelo's famous sculpture, David, and the Uffizi Gallery (pictured above), where you can see The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.

Read more here!



Dubrovnik, Croatia

















Image by veeterzy from pexels.com

This medieval walled city on the Adriatic Sea, which was at one point an independent country, seems to have barely changed in hundreds of years. It's also incredibly beautiful, especially when viewed from above. I went there on a family holiday nearly ten years ago, so my memories of the place are slightly vague, and I didn't have a camera phone at the time, so I have no photos from my trip there. But I do remember really enjoying exploring the city, and I'd definitely go back there in the future.


Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay



















This picturesque town in Uruguay was at times a Spanish colony, and at other times a Portuguese colony, before becoming part of Brazil, and then finally Uruguay. It has a blend of Spanish, Portuguese and post-colonial architectural styles, and has been recognised by UNESCO for this reason. Going there and seeing its old buildings and cobblestone streets really does give you the feeling of stepping back into the past. 

Read more here!



I think it's really fascinating to learn about different periods of history and about how life was in the past, but it's even more interesting when you can actually explore history in a more literal way, by visiting historical destinations such as these.

I definitely plan to visit more historical places in the future; when I'm living in Chile again (which should be very soon!) I would like to visit the Chinchorro mummies in Arica (Edit: Saw them in June 2022!), and possibly Rapa Nui (Easter Island). I'm also planning on visiting Machu Picchu in Peru (Edit: Made it there in October 2022!), and maybe Ciudad Perdida in Colombia. The other historic sites I'd most like to go to around the world include Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Rome in Italy (Edit: Made it there in March 2024!), Athens in Greece, Petra in Jordan, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Hopefully, I'll have one or two to write about within the next few months!


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!

Sunday, 2 May 2021

Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Beaches

This week I had a very nice trip out with my parents to Dyrham Park, and enjoyed seeing the spring flowers there and saying hello to two lovely cats! But as I've blogged about Dyrham twice before, I decided it was time to write another Travel Tips article, this time about my favourite beaches.

I've always had a real love for the ocean, swimming, and warm, sunny weather, so it goes without saying that beaches are one of my favourite types of destination to visit. There is something very special about looking out to sea or being in the sea and remembering that the ocean stretches out across the whole planet; it is something that makes us feel connected to the rest of the world, wherever we are. So I try to visit beaches as often as I can.

Here are the ten most memorable ones I've been to so far!

Algarrobo, Chile



















This seaside resort in the Valparaíso region of central Chile is a really popular holiday destination amongst santiaguinos, as it has several beautiful beaches including El Canelillo, which is surrounded by a pine forest. I first went to Algarrobo in April 2018 during my Year Abroad, but my most memorable trip there was in January 2019 with my boyfriend Claudio. We went on a boat trip round a little island just off the coast, where we saw lots of Humboldt penguins!

Read more here and here!


Brighton, England, UK



















Given that Brighton's beach is both located in the UK and is made up mostly of pebbles rather than sand, it's not the best for relaxing and sunbathing. But what makes it special is that there are various interesting attractions located along its shoreline, including the iconic Palace Pier (pictured above), the British Airways i360 Viewing Tower and the Upside Down House. Claudio and I visited the vibrant city for the first time in December last year, and had a great time.

Read more here and here!


La Serena, Chile



















In 2019 we went on a road trip to the Coquimbo region in the north of Chile, where we stayed in the city of La Serena. It's one of the largest cities in the country and has many interesting architectural features such as the Monumental Lighthouse, which is located on its long stretch of beach. Because of its northern location, the beach is quite a bit sunnier and warmer than the beaches near Santiago, which is a definite plus point!

Read more here!


Cannes, France



















The glamorous city of Cannes in the south of France is known for its prestigious film festival. (There's a red carpet out all year round where you can take photos!) But it also has a beautiful sandy beach with warm Mediterranean water to swim in and lots of great restaurants. And when you're swimming in the sea, you have great views of the city's elaborate buildings, such as the Carlton Hotel.

Read more here!


Reñaca, Chile




















This town just to the north of Viña del Mar has one of the most attractive and popular beaches in Chile. It's well known as a great destination for surfing, but it's also perfect for swimming in the sea or simply relaxing on the sand under the palm trees. 

Read more here!


Cap d'Agde, France















Cap d'Agde is another seaside resort in the south of France, but it's a lot smaller and quieter than Cannes. It's known for the natural beauty of Plage de la Grande Conque (the volcanic black sand beach pictured above) and it also has other beaches with golden sand. Be aware that part of the town is a nudist village, but the beach above and others nearby are normal beaches!

Read more here!


Bournemouth, England, UK



















Bournemouth is just a couple of hours away from my home in Wiltshire, but when I went there with my parents in 2019, it felt like we were in a foreign country. The weather was hot, the sea was bright blue and warm enough to swim in, and the beach had golden sand and palm trees. Maybe we were just lucky to be there at the right moment - I'm sure it's not like that most of the year - but it definitely felt like a great alternative to taking a flight to another country.

Read more here and here!


Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay



















Most of the beaches on this list are by the sea, but of course beaches can also be by a lake or a river. One place with several beautiful river beaches is Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, located on Río de la Plata, opposite Buenos Aires. It's a very idyllic place with amazing architecture, palm trees and great weather. In fact, its mix of architectural styles have earned it a place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Read more here!


Navagio Beach, Greece
















Image by Pixabay from pexels.com

When I was little, my family and I went on a couple of summer holidays to the Greek island of Zakynthos. One time we went on a boat trip to see Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach or Smugglers Cove. The plan was that we would swim from the boat to the beach, but unfortunately the weather had other ideas. In the end, we ended up just seeing the beach from the boat while clutching onto sick bags! But I have to say it was one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen, and I can understand why travel experts have voted it as the world's best beach.


Slano, Croatia

















Image by Rachel Claire from pexels.com

One of my favourite family holidays was when we went to Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2012. We stayed in Slano, a village in the south of Croatia located in a bay. The hotel had a private beach which was surrounded by mountains, and I remember the views being amazing. Back then I didn't have a phone with a camera, so sadly I have no pictures of it! The photo above is of the incredible walled city of Dubrovnik, another place we visited during the holiday.


It's been really nice to compile this list of my favourite beaches, as beaches and swimming in the sea are things I've been missing recently! I can't wait until I can finally move back to Chile and visit some of the beaches there with Claudio. On my list are Zapallar (Edit: Made it there in July 2022!), Bahía Inglesa, Iquique (Edit: Made it there in April 2022!) and Arica (Edit: Made it there in June 2022!), and it would also be amazing to visit the beaches in Cartagena, Colombia and Rio, Brazil (Edit: Made it there in December 2022!) while I'm in South America. Other cities around the world with beaches I'd love to visit include Barcelona, Miami, Havana and Sydney. Hopefully soon I'll have the chance to explore another great beach, whether that's in the UK or further afield!


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!

Also check out my 2023 follow-up to this post here!

Sunday, 14 March 2021

My Gap Year 2014-2015 (Plus Gap Year Tips)

Taking a Gap Year was a decision I took fairly late. From the age of 15, I'd wanted to study languages at university, so I knew I'd have a Year Abroad and all the travel and freedom that comes with it to look forward to. Therefore a Gap Year didn't really seem necessary.

However, my final year at sixth form college was a difficult one for many reasons, and choosing a university just wasn't a decision I was in the right frame of mind to take. And I certainly didn't feel ready to actually move out and start university. So taking a year out was the natural thing to do while I figured out what to do next and focused on things outside of studying for a while.

I hadn't really planned any of the year properly before it started, so it's no surprise that it didn't turn out how I'd imagined it would! It definitely didn't resemble the stereotypical image that most people have of a Gap Year - I didn't go backpacking in Southeast Asia, nor did I go and work in a bar in Australia. Despite this, it was still a great year, during which I achieved a few important goals in life and travelled to various places, including three countries I'd never visited previously.

So in this post, I'm going to break down the different things I did during the year, and I'll also share some tips on how to make the most of a Gap Year.


Work and Volunteering

My original plan was to spend the majority of the year working as an au pair in either France or Spain in order to practice my language skills and to experience life in another country. So after I'd finished my final exams, I applied for an au pair programme based in Spain that had been recommended to me. It was a voluntary exchange programme, and something I didn't believe you could be rejected for, and yet I ended up being rejected, which was pretty disappointing and humiliating. This put me off the au pair idea, which in hindsight was a good thing. (I actually ended up au pairing in France during my Year Abroad and had an awful experience, so it's not something I'd recommend doing.)

Afterwards I made a new plan, which was to find a job close to home for most of the year, save up money, and then travel somewhere new and exciting. Several of my peers were able to easily carry out similar plans, quickly finding work in supermarkets and shops, and then jetting off to places like Thailand and Australia. However, when I was a teenager, many things just didn't come as easily to me as they did to other people, and finding work was one of those things. Although I spent hours painstakingly working on job applications, I never heard back from most of the companies, and on the rare occasions that I did get an interview, I wasn't successful.

So it's fair to say that my Gap Year didn't get off to the greatest start! But in September 2014, things took a turn for the better. I realised that I needed to start doing something with my time - I couldn't spend the whole year constantly applying for and getting rejected from entry-level jobs. In the summer between my first and second years of A-Levels, I'd volunteered for a few hours every week at my local Red Cross charity shop, and so I decided to go back and volunteer there again, which I did once or twice a week from September through to January. This made a huge difference to my mental health, as I was getting out of the house, interacting with other people, and doing something with a purpose. The Red Cross is an amazing organisation which provides emergency aid to people all over the world, and it was really rewarding to play a small part in that process.

At the start of October, I decided to take on some further voluntary work and started spending one day a week helping out at my local primary school, which I continued with for the rest of my Gap Year. Not only was working there fun and rewarding, it was also very valuable work experience. It gave me a taste of what teaching is like as a career, and clearly I liked it, as I'm now working as an ESL teacher!

Volunteering was a great experience, but naturally I also wanted to save up some money too! Fortunately, in the middle of October I finally had some luck in this regard. I had heard about a local recruitment agency that offered various bits of work to young people, which I applied for and got accepted for! Soon I was working different jobs (mostly waitressing and cleaning) around the local area and earning my own money for the first time. Although I wasn't earning as much as I would have done with a stable full-time job, one of the advantages was that I got to try working in various places, including a university, a hotel and a golf club. I could also turn jobs down if I wasn't available, meaning that I had the flexibility to fit work around other things like travelling and volunteering. 

I was very happy to finally get my working life started, and luckily it had started just in time for me to have something to write in the "paid work" section of my UCAS application...


Education, Hobbies and Other Projects

As I already had my A-Level results, the process of applying to universities was a lot easier than it would have been if I'd done it a year earlier. I received unconditional offers for all 5 of the universities I'd applied for, and decided on Nottingham as my final choice (more on that later!)

There were a couple of other important goals I finally achieved during my Gap Year. One of them was passing my Grade 8 piano exam - something that I'd worked towards for 10 years. The other one was passing my driving test (and the Pass Plus), which was actually an even bigger challenge. Driving was another thing that didn't come as easily to me as it did to other people, but it was something I needed to do, as I lived in a small village without any public transport. Most people I know passed their test after a few months of driving lessons, whereas I needed nearly two years, so I definitely felt frustrated and demoralised at times. But when I finally got my licence, it was such a relief! It gave me the freedom to take on a lot more work with the recruitment agency, as well as to go and meet friends or go to the sports centre when I wanted. And although I've barely driven since 2015, I'm still glad to have the ability to drive, which may come in useful in the future.

During the year, I kept up with my French and Spanish studies, albeit in a much more relaxed and enjoyable way than during my A-Levels. I also had the opportunity to focus on hobbies, such as cooking, exercise, reading and watching movies.

But by far one of the most important things about my Gap Year was the fact that I got to spend lots of time with my cat Pickle, who was just the best cat ever. She died a few months into my first year at university at the age of 19, so I'm really glad I was with her for the majority of her final year. ❤


Travelling

One of the most exciting things about doing a Gap Year is having the chance to do plenty of travelling, or even living abroad. For me, the main focuses of my year were working, volunteering and learning to drive, so I never spent any extended periods of time travelling, although I did go on many great day trips and holidays. In hindsight, I don't think I was ready at the age of 18/19 to do something like working abroad or going backpacking on my own, and living at home was absolutely the right decision for me at the time. Part of me regretted a little bit that I didn't travel outside of Europe during the year, but I did visit various places around England, as well as five other European countries, and had some great travel experiences.

As this is a travel blog, it seems like a good idea to write a little bit here about some of the best trips I had! (Unfortunately, my photos are not the greatest - that's partly due to the Nokia phone I was using, and partly due to my own lack of photography skills at the time. I'd like to think I've improved a lot since then!)

July 2014: Slovenia and Austria
The first trip abroad of my Gap Year was a family holiday to Lake Bled in Slovenia, a country none of us had been to before. Although I was unlucky enough to be ill during the holiday and had to have an emergency minor operation there, it was still an enjoyable week. Bled is a really beautiful part of the world, with a fairytale castle and a little island in the middle of its lake, which we rowed to. 














One day we visited the picturesque town of Kranjska Gora and nearby Lake Jasna.






We also enjoyed exploring Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, a very attractive city featuring colourful architecture and a castle!








During the holiday, we went on a day trip to Austria, another country that I hadn't been to before. Here we visited Klagenfurt and Velden am Wörthersee in the Kärnten region. I didn't know it at the time, but I would end up living in the region three years later as part of my Year Abroad!








October 2014: Cannes, France
The second trip abroad of my Gap Year was to the city of Cannes in the south of France, where my Granddad used to live. Famous for its film festival, Cannes is a very flashy and expensive place, but it also has a beautiful beach. I spent a few days out there with my mum, and particularly enjoyed swimming in the sea.








October 2014: Sheffield and the Peak District, England, UK
Later that month I went up north with my parents to visit my sister, who was living in Sheffield. Then the four of us visited the Peak District National Park, including Chatsworth House, a stately home which has appeared in several films. Sadly, my picture of the house itself came out terribly, so here's one I took of the grounds.




November 2014: Birmingham, England, UK
Birmingham is the second largest city in England, so you'd think it would be something of a tourist destination. However, it's actually considered to be one of the ugliest cities in the country, so for most of the year no one visits! But at Christmas time, the city transforms into a winter wonderland, when the Frankfurt Christmas Market comes to town. It's the largest traditional Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria, and it really makes you feel like you've stepped into one of those countries. It was great fun to visit the market back in 2014 and to look around all the stalls selling things like gingerbread, beer and Glühwein. But I have to say my personal highlight was the singing moose (it's definitely a must-see)!





February 2015: Nottingham, England, UK
After I got into the University of Nottingham, I was invited to an offer holders' day to get to know the university better. I'd already visited the campus on an open day the previous year, but this time we stayed overnight and did some sightseeing in the city centre. Nottingham is not exactly known for being the most attractive city in the country, but it does have some interesting sights including Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (the oldest pub in England), the Robin Hood statue and Nottingham Castle.








March-April 2015: Valencia, Spain
One of the two biggest highlights of the year was my trip to Valencia in Spain. I spent a week studying Spanish at a language school and stayed in the home of a really nice lady (and a sausage dog!), so it was quite an authentic Valencian experience. I had every afternoon free to go sightseeing, which I enjoyed a lot, as the city is very beautiful.














One of the most interesting parts of Valencia is the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències/Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias). It's a cultural and architectural complex, consisting of various museums and exhibition spaces, that looks incredibly futuristic and makes you feel like you've stepped into the year 3000!











May 2015: Blenheim Palace, England, UK
One of the most elaborate palaces in England is Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Both its interior and its exterior are incredibly grand, and the grounds of the palace are also very picturesque. I had a great day out there with my parents, and I'd love to go back again in the future.








June 2015: London, England, UK
I think my favourite day trip of the year was when I went to London to visit the Olympic Park. Here I swam in the Aquatics Centre, which is one of the best swimming pools I've ever been to (and surprisingly cheap). It was amazing to swim in the same place where the Olympic Games had taken place three years earlier. The Olympic Park is also a great place to walk around, as it's so futuristic and interesting to look at.







August 2015: Bruges, Belgium
The other main highlight of my Gap Year was my trip to Bruges, also known as Brugge. I'd never visited Belgium before, and it had been one of my dream destinations for many years, so I decided to use the money I'd earned from my work with the recruitment agency to take my first proper solo travel trip. I travelled there by Eurostar and then spent the next few days exploring the cobbled streets, canals and museums of the city. It's definitely one of the best cities I've ever visited; the architecture is so beautiful and it has a real fairytale atmosphere. I really hope to return there in the future.





















September 2015: Newark Park, England, UK
Newark Park is a nice National Trust property in Gloucestershire, which features a pretty Tudor house surrounded by the Cotswold countryside. I went there with my parents towards the end of my Gap Year, and remember meeting a very sociable peacock who lived on the estate!







September 2015: Nice and Cannes, France
I finished my Gap Year travels with another foreign trip, returning to the south of France with my mum. We visited my granddad in Cannes again, but this time we stayed in the nearby city of Nice. Unfortunately, I was ill while we were there and had to spend a whole day staying in the hotel room. However, I recovered by the end of the holiday, and we had a really nice day exploring the historic centre of Nice.















 

Gap Year Tips

The great thing about doing a Gap Year is that it can be whatever you want it to be! Unlike a university Year Abroad, you don't have to fulfill any specific requirements, so you can choose what you want to focus the year around. However, one thing I would definitely recommend is to have some idea at the start of what you want from it. It probably won't go entirely to plan, but that's part of the fun! 

Here are a few of my tips on how to make the most of your Gap Year:

  • Decide on your goals for the year. Most people associate Gap Years with travel, but they don't have to revolve around travel (though I do think it's nice to take the opportunity to see a bit of the world). They're also a great chance to achieve other milestones. For example, a lot of people leave school with no work experience whatsoever, so a Gap Year is a ideal time to start building up a CV. You can also use the time to work towards other qualifications, whether that's passing your driving test or getting a vocational qualification. I did my TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certification after graduating from university, but come to think of it, it would be the perfect thing to study during a Gap Year, as it opens up a world of job opportunities to you, even if you don't have a degree.
  • Be wary of scams! It goes without saying that when you're looking for work or volunteering opportunities, particularly abroad, you're likely to find plenty of scams online. In addition to this, there are other offers, which while not illegal, may not be exactly what they seem. I think au pairing is particularly bad for this; although many au pairs have a great experience, there are also a lot of horror stories out there. Unfortunately, it's inevitable that some host families will be exploitative and will demand that the au pair does a lot of work for very little (or no) pay. So it's important to make sure you research any job offer carefully before committing to it, and if you have a bad feeling, it's best not to pursue it any further.
  • Consider volunteering. It's not easy for everyone to find paid work, so volunteering is a good alternative. Often volunteering opportunities are more interesting than the job opportunities that 18 and 19 year-olds can realistically aim for, and they can be a great way of finding out if you'd like a career in a particular sector. And of course they'll give you experience that will help you to find paid work in the future. 
Finally here's a list of a few organisations that might be useful: 
  • Blue Stamp Travel. Previously operating as Halsbury Travel, this organisation offers work experience, language school courses and home-stays in France, Spain and Germany. I used them to book my Gap Year trip to Valencia as well as several other trips before and since.
  • The TEFL Academy. This is the best organisation if you want to get TEFL qualified. Their Level 5 TEFL certificate is reasonably priced, can be completed online, and is officially recognised by both the UK and US governments.
  • Angloville. This is another organisation I worked with after finishing university, but I think it would be a great thing to do during a Gap Year. It's a volunteer programme that's mainly based in Poland and other Eastern European countries, during which you help people to learn English through conversation practice. In return you get free accommodation in hotels of varying quality, a city tour at the start of the programme, and another tour halfway through the programme. Each programme lasts a week, but if you like, you can join two or more programmes together and get to know various regions and countries. It's a very full-on experience involving long hours of talking, but it's a lot of fun!

Overall, I really enjoyed my Gap Year, and when it ended, I felt like I'd done pretty much everything I'd wanted and needed to do in those 15 months. It wasn't the most adventurous year in terms of travel, but to be honest, I wasn't really ready for major travel adventures. 

Fortunately, three years later I definitely was ready! From 2017 to 2018 I undertook a Year Abroad as part of my languages degree, during which I lived in both Europe and South America, and travelled on a very regular basis. It really was an incredible experience in many ways, and I plan to write a series of posts here on this blog about the highs and lows of a Year Abroad and how to plan an amazing one!