I’m turning 30 in April. Never have I ever been so petrified of a number and all of you who know me, know that I am dreading this more than I can explain (and I try to explain it a LOT). 40? Chilled. 50? I got that. That 30 though….

So what better way to deal with this transition into my dirty 30s than to enjoy it in a totally different environment? I have a few places in mind, but I need some help. Have a little look at my options and reasoning behind each and tell me which destination I would be utterly stupid to not see in my lifetime!

1     India (again):

Ok, Ok. I know that I have been to India before. But there is just so much to see in this amazing country. Two years ago I opted for the north, this time I would like to travel south. I would like to travel from Mumbai to Kerala and attend a week at Soul and Surf. Think yoga, surf, good food and like-minded travellers. India is affordable, but I feel like I still have so much to see, so maybe I should start with other places first? 

Image: Soul and Surf Facebook Page

2.       Greece:

A Greece adventure could easily turn into another girl’s trip, something that I absolutely loved doing when I went to Croatia last year and would do again in heartbeat.  I have heard mixed reviews about Greece – some found it dirty and too touristy, where others exclaimed the food was out of this world and the scenery was majestic. I think a short stop in Athens is a must, with a hop over to an island (hopefully affordable) in the cards. 

3.       Australia:

So the flights are totally astronomical to Australia, but staying with family friend’s means saving some pennies. I have heard that Australia is a great place to explore, with a ton of beaches to see and mountains to hike. Plus it means meeting up with people I have not seen in years – and that makes my heart happy. 

Image: Travel Trip Journey

4.       Bali:

Visiting Bali has been on my mind for at least two years, and I have done loads of research on where I would like to go. Uluwatu, Ubud and Denpasar to name a few. Flights are a bit of a joke at the moment, but once you are there, cost of living will not burn a hole in your pocket. There is also a Soul and Surf retreat here – perfect!

5.       Croatia (again): 

Ok FINE, I know I need to explore pretty much everywhere else first. But three months later and I still cannot believe how amazing Croatia was. Before meeting up with my friends, they explored a lot more of the islands than I did like Hvar, Split etc. I didn’t get to join them on that leg of the trip and all I would love to do is go island hopping there as soon as possible! 

Image: Chelsea Maclachlan

2015 will be the year I travel to... [insert name here]

There’s nothing better than a weekend away. Leaving work just a little bit earlier than you’re supposed to, stopping at that Engen just out of town for a toasted cheese and ham and other padkos essentials, then hitting the open road (well after you’ve made your way through 5pm traffic) to your desired destination.

I enjoy a new weekend getaway experience just as much as the next person, but there are three holiday towns I keep returning to over the years. I love these places for different reasons, but all of them share three common elements: they have affordable accommodation, they are not too overcrowded during holiday season and they are very close to a body of water.

Here are my top three picks for weekends away close to Cape Town.

1.       Elands Bay: (200km from Cape Town)

Once a year, my family and their friends head to Elands Bay for a weekend of braais, beers and surfing. Even though I don’ surf, the uncluttered beaches are a dream, and you can easily spend all day relaxing by the sea. There isn’t much of a town here, a few shops and one or two restaurants, but an array of self catering houses to rent as well and endless campsites to enjoy makes accommodation easy to find. It’s also known for its sailing, bird watching and fishing. It’s unspoilt, simple and super relaxing.

Accommodation: Every year we stay at Vensterklip. There is a selection of large houses, cottages, campsites and caravan parking areas on this property. They have a large lapa which is perfect for weddings and other celebrations. The local bar on the property is great too!

- Vensterklip website: http://www.vensterklip.co.za/

Tip: Head just out of town to the famous Elands Bay Caves, where you can see Khoisan rock paintings. 

2.       Arniston (200km from Cape Town)

A varsity friend with a holiday house there meant that Arniston was visited quite frequently by us in our early 20s, and the memories I have of this quaint fishing village will stay with me forever. Our days were spent eating soft serves on the beach and watching friends surf. Our evenings were then spent sitting around the fire and moving from one house party to the next. Despite being popular, Arniston never feels overcrowded, as everyone’s laid back attitude instantly relaxes you. Go to Arniston if you’re into fresh fish braais, surfing and sand boarding, bike riding and serious napping.

Accommodation: The Arniston Hotel is great for a few nights stay, but is not the cheapest option. Nearly every house in the area is available for rent and no matter what, you are never more than a 2 minute drive from the sea.
- Arniston Hotel Website: http://www.arnistonhotel.com/

- Various self catering options: http://www.arniston-etnas.co.za/

Tip: Make sure you watch the sunset from the top of the dunes. Grab some snacks and wine and be prepared for a little bit of legwork to get to the top, but once you’re there, the view is worth it.

3.       Langebaan (115km from Cape Town)

I have been to Langebaan at least 8 times in the past few years. Family holidays, romantic getaways, Langebaan is my favourite local destination – and it’s only an hour and a half away from Cape Town city centre. Highlights include rustic seaside restaurants and a lagoon that goes on forever with water so warm that you can actually swim in it! The town does get a bit busy during summer, but once you’re on one of their remarkable beaches, hours can go by in minutes. Isolated but still close enough to various essentials – Langebaan will either be where I get married, where I retire, or both.

Accommodation: This is my best kept accommodation secret, but sharing is caring. If you are looking for a self catering unit for two, the Speelhuis is it. These apartments look out onto your own semi private beach and the view is indescribable. Lounge in the hammock with a good book, listen to the waves and watch the local dogs enjoy their evening swim.

- Speelhuis website: http://www.speelhuis.co.za/

Tip: about 40 minutes into the West Coast Nature reserve is the best “beach” in South Africa. Technically it’s a lagoon, but Kraal Baai has soft sand, crystal clear warm water and non-threatening lapping waves. Perfect for swimming and stand up paddling, Kraal Baai needs at least one entire day of your time. And if you book about a year in advance, you can nab one of the house boats docked in the bay. 

*Credit to shttp://www.sleeping-out.co.za/ and www.placesonline.comfor the Arniston images.

When you arrive home from your overseas trip, the first question anyone asks you for the next month is “How was it?” You normally have a formulated response mapped out in your head, something like “It was just amazing” or “I loved it, but it was too short” or, if you’re lost for adjectives that day it was just “wow”.

Some will ask “which destination did you find the best” – which is obviously a tricky question, when in fact I have not yet seen many of the places that I have still to fall hopelessly in love with worldwide. But what I can say, is that right now, Croatia has my heart.

The main reason why Croatia blew other countries such as Germany and Spain out of the water?

It’s simple – I had no expectations.

I knew Barcelona would be a cultural delight, and it was. I knew that Berlin would be off-the-wall crazy – it most certainly was. But Croatia -what I knew is that it would be filled with small cute towns and some beach adventures. What I didn’t know is that Croatia is visually stunning, vastly different from one corner to the other and surprisingly affordable.

Here are 3 quick-fire facts about Croatia that are sure to get you a little more interested:

1. 1.      It is not crowded: We arrived in Croatia in mid-September. This is the shoulder season and because of this, we did get one or two days of rain, but apart from that it was smooth sailing. There were the usual busloads of tourists over 50, but nothing that resulted in never-ending queues and cramped viewpoints.

1. 2.     It is pretty affordable: On a South African budget, when the word affordable comes up, we get extremely excited.  Croatia is not yet on the Euro, but on their own currency, the Kuna which is about 2 to 1 to the SA rond. That makes for better accommodation, a few fancy meals here and there and still some change left over for one or two trinkets.

1. 3.       It has everything, from beaches to National Parks: Towards the south of Croatia lies to picturesque islands and sea side towns. As you move up towards the north, you get areas such as Plitvice, which hold the most magical lakes and waterfalls, surrounded by lush green forests. A little bit of everything – and only a few hours car drive away from each other!

I just cannot understand why the masses head to places like Thailand when there is a truly beautiful destination in Europe that fits into our budget.

With beaches and wine routes, historical tours and nature walks, delicious seafood and indescribable gelato - Croatia really is the new everything.

Going in solo on a holiday mission does not mean you will spend more money, be painfully lonely or end up in a compromising situation. Quite the opposite, really. You are on your own time, you can walk instead of use transport to save cash and decide if you want to see the entire city in a day, or read for hours on a bench somewhere. 

Here are 4 reasons why I wouldn’t have seen Barcelona any other way, than on my own: 

1.       You can walk your own path. Barcelona, like most other European cities, is pedestrian friendly. And if you don’t want to spend your precious and admittedly weak euros on a cab, then kicking it old school by grabbing a map, a pen and some comfy shoes is the way to go. Most sites such as the Sagrada Familia, The Gothic Quarter, La Ramblas and some of Gaudi’s work is within walking proximity of each other, but be prepared to clock in some kilometres. There is no better feeling than falling deeply into a slumber after a long day of adventuring.  

2.       You can linger longer: Want to spend 20 minutes in an 18^th century cathedral trying to take a picture of the stained glass window in the absolute right light? Go ahead. Want to wander the Gaudi Village for hours? Do it. There are so many reasons to take your time in Barcelona, and by the looks of it, the locals feel the same way. Marvel at the architecture. Enjoy a glass of wine on the side of the road while people watching. Browse the fashion stores in Barcelonata without feeling the need to buy anything. Your time is precious, yes. But it’s your own.

3.       You don’t have to share: Table for two? No! Table for one! Tapas are meant to be shared, but that does not mean you can’t enjoy them solo. Enjoy your food with a glass of sangria (a wine, rum, brandy and fruit cooler) Cava (Catalan sparkling wine) and savour every bite. Paella is easy to come by in Barcelona, but if you grab a bite to eat on the busy main walkway La Ramblas, you are sure to be ripped off. Rather wander away from the crowds and go with an authentic looking restaurant. You should pay no more than R100 for good, fresh seafood paella.

4.       You choose the single bed. Yes, it’s slightly cramped, but sleeping in a single bed and therefore renting a smaller room means that you will not pay an obscene amount for accommodation. I recommend renting out a room in a house or apartment on Airbnb. It’s safe, affordable and great for getting local advice. I opted to stay right in the centre of the Gothic area in Barcelona – extremely central but very loud. If you cannot stand hearing laughter and music well into the night (why wouldn’t you!) you can opt for a quieter neighbourhood, but it might be a fit further out. Regardless, renting a single room in a house with local residents is a great way to make friends and gain valuable advice.

Anyone out there swear by solo travelling? Or do you prefer to travel with friends/family/a partner?

 

Hello world.

Four years since I have written (or actually published) a blog post. Yay me. Yay writing. Yay writers block.

This is my new personal word base. About life, travel, and maybe something about all the food I eat.

It ain't pretty, but it's home.

Welcome.

Come inside, sit down and have a cup of Rooibos while you wait - the blog post should be here any minute now..............