Girl Travels World – Top Five Long Haul Destinations You Must Visit in 2018

If, like me, you like to pack for a month when you travel then THIS is for you my soul mates! Following on from Girl Travels World Top Five Places to Visit in 2018 where I rounded up must see short-haul destinations here is my long haul list to make your 2018 unforgettable. These treasured places made the cut because they offer travellers more than the average. A winning combination of freshness, culture and cuisine makes these places precious. There’s an elegance about them, which in my opinion, makes them worth packing your bags for.

Thank you all for joining my adventures in 2017. Here’s to happy long hauling in 2018!

1. Qatar

Qatar started my love affair with the Middle East. It was the first place where I experienced a desert and the commanding beauty of the arid landscape captivated me. The Qatari desert boasts Khor al Adaid which is an inland sea in the desert. This rare natural wonder adds an undisputed uniqueness to desert travel.

An illustrious fine art scene in the capital Doha, multi cultural cuisine ranging from Qatar International Food Festival to Alan Ducasse’s first restaurant in the Middle East (Idam) at Muesum of Islamic Art makes for a fascinating place.

When the evenings draw in take a trip down to the market Souq Waqif and cross Doha on a Dhow (a traditional sailing boat) as you admire the skyline from a fresh perspective. Qatar is a rare jewel waiting to be discovered in 2018.

2. Abu Dhabi

Source: Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre has arrived in Abu Dhabi! Could any travel news headline top this in 2017? I don’t think so. This year, approximately 300 artworks on long-term loans from 13 key French institutions will be displayed here as well as the museum’s permanent collection. In addition, Sheikh Zayed Mosque was voted second place in the Travellers’ Choice Awards (2016) only beaten to the top spot by 16th century Inca citadel Machu Picchu in Peru.

If that is not enough, Abu Dhabi is home to six oases which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Al Ain, Al Mutaredh, Al Muwaiji, Al Jimi, Al Qattara and Hilli. Al Ain is the city that they belong to and is one of the world’s oldest permanently inhabited settlements in the world.

Such a gilded combination is difficult to beat and makes for the most enriching travel experience. Place Abu Dhabi on your 2018 bucket list ASAP!

3. Bahrain 

Yes, this is the third Middle Eastern destination on a list of five. For me, the region’s freshness is its allure and each country offers a vastly different experience.

Bahrain is a group of entrancing islands in the Arabian Gulf. The country’s unique relationship with the sea and its tradition of pearl diving and trading is celebrated at the Sea Festival at the end of October and it promises to be as informative as it is entertaining. The festival is aimed at preserving and honouring the crafts which are integral to Bahrain’s culture.

Furthermore, Sheikh Salman Bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort is a cultural landmark which is important in Bahrain’s history. It chronicles the life and times of the country’s ruling family offering a fascinating insight for travellers and tourists.

One of the most popular places with tourists is Al Dar Islands which are a beach lover’s dream offering a secluded resort of diving, chalets, beach huts and entertainment. With such rich and varied experiences Bahrain caters to the most ardent travellers which is the reason it made it to my list.

4. Iran

Source: Architectural Digest

Iran has been trending amongst bloggers for a couple of years and it is easy to see why. The country’s architecture in particular, has played a pivotal role in promoting it in the era of Instagram and social media.

Iranian architects began the trend of designing buildings that would be easily recognised by the global media and they succeeded. Leila Araghian’s Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge in Tehran (pictured) won the prestigious 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture award. Of course, the country has a lengthy history of fascinating architecture. An example is Arg-e Bam, a city in southern Iran which is home to the world’s largest brick structure and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Iran offers discerning travellers a fascinating journey to a world that has been cloaked in mystery for many years. During this time when Iran’s doors are open I for one cannot wait to walk through them in 2018.

5. Fort Worth, Texas

Source: Fortworth.com

The curve ball on my list is Fort Worth, Texas. It came up on my radar after a meeting at The World Travel Market held in London. The culture of cowboys has fascinated me for many years but I’d never done anything about it. So 2018 will be my year to change that.

Fort Worth offers a range of experiences from fine dining to cowboy cuisine and rodeos. The Fort Worth Herd is a cowboy cattle drive through the historic Fort Worth Stockyards on E. Exchange Avenue. It can be viewed along the route in any restaurant with outdoor seating.

Near Southside is an area of historic architecture, restaurants, music venues and galleries. Self-proclaimed Restaurant Row on Magnolia Avenue offers farm-to-table cuisine, working breweries and speciality wine shops. With a chance to sample award-winning Texan barbecues, burgers, vegan food, craft ice cream and locally roasted coffee Fort Worth offers an all-encompassing travel experience.

To wind down those long days there is also Fort Worth’s local hero Leon Bridges who is said to frequent local haunts Lola’s Saloon, The Grotto, and Magnolia Motor Lounge. Now where do I sign up?!

 

Girl Travels World – Top Five Places to Visit in 2018

 

It’s that inevitable time of the year when we are collectively encouraged to reminisce on the last 12 months of our lives. Personally, I’ve always preferred to look ahead. I must however, take a moment to be grateful for an incredible year of growth for Girl Travels World. Visitor numbers to the blog increased 345% (year to date) and number of views increased by almost 300% for the same period. I was fortunate to travel to fascinating destinations and bring forth captivating stories and images which hopefully played a small part in inspiring you all to travel more. Girl Travels World social media channels (namely Instagram and Facebook) also reflected the immense growth of the blog and now have a collective following of almost 25,000. For all of this I am grateful.

Furthermore, I’ve had the opportunity to form inspiring partnerships with worldwide destinations, luxury brands and work alongside exceptional PR companies, travel writers, bloggers and journalists. 2017 also brought me the good fortune of becoming a contributing writer for award-winning TikiChris.com and Seen in the City magazines. (Thank you to my editors Chris Osburn and Natasha Colyer for taking a chance on an inexperienced writer with a gigantic dream). All of this drove me to work as hard as I could to create the best content for my audience and brands I work with. As a result my rewards were plentiful and I am grateful.

2018 promises to be even bigger and better for Girl Travels World. With several key collaborations, travel documentaries and food related ventures all in the pipeline it is exciting to look ahead. To show my gratitude for the support I’ve received in the past year I’ve rounded up my top five (short-haul) destinations which I think you will all love. I’ve been to all of these places. They made the list because they are currently vastly underrated and I believe they will trend in 2018.

Happy travelling wanderlusters! Thank you for everything.

1. Lake District, UK

Image – Conde Naste Traveller

2017 was the year that England’s largest national park was at long last declared a World Heritage Site. Located in the county of Cumbria it is home to Scafell Pike – the highest peak in England (YES, I’ve climbed it) and you guessed it…lakes. It’s the epitome of the picturesque green and pleasant land. Long hikes  through the park are highly recommended as is summiting Scafell Pike. You will need the help of a local guide to appreciate its wilderness and enjoy the astounding beauty of its caves, caverns and waterfalls.

Image – Evening Standard

There are luxury cottages, local inns, log cabins, hostels and  bunk houses to stay in which are dotted around the surrounding area of the park. It’s a five-hour drive to The Lakes from London which means you can make it a road trip to remember.

2. Madrid, Spain

This year I realised that Spain as a country needs a revisit. It’s a destination that Brits in particular take for granted. The number one city which needs an urgent revisit is Madrid. It is the home of Spain’s bloodiest battle during the civil war and is bursting at the seams with history. Landmarks and monuments for victorious heroes as well as fallen ones are dotted throughout the city and makes for remarkable walking tours.

It must also be said that Madrid’s food resurgence is nothing short of incredible. It’s no easy feat to cling to your roots while moving forward in the name of change and modernity. But this city appears to have done it. From traditional tapas restaurants which have seen little change since the 19th century to Michelin starred gourmet restaurants the city now boasts it all. In under just 3 hours’ flight time from London you could be sipping a traditional chicken broth at the world’s oldest restaurant while picking on black label ham. Stay in five-star hotels or cool private rentals but remember to look at Madrid with new eyes.

3. Tallinn, Estonia

This Baltic capital which is home to a Unesco World Heritage Site (The Old City) is beginning to make a name for its cuisine. Tallinn is seeing a generation of young chefs reviving its restaurants by adding new twists to traditional food. With a focus on local, seasonal produce delivered directly from farms there is a quiet food revolution in Tallinn. The city hosts Restaurants Week, twice a year, to promote the variety of food available. It’s a great time to visit if you want to sample the best of what’s on offer.

The plot twist here is that this harbour town held the sailing event of  the Summer Olympic Games hosted in Moscow in 1980. V. I. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sport was purpose-built with facilities in preparation for the Olympics. The brutal grey structure, now eerie, abandoned and covered in graffiti stands as a cold reminder of a not so distant past. The building was renamed Linnahall and is currently under the city council’s authority awaiting renovation and construction. Go see this part of human history before it’s changed forever.

4. Tel Aviv, Israel

Travel broadens our horizons and bring our focus back to the things which unite humanity rather than divide us. This is the lesson I learnt in Tel Aviv. I was grounded here for two days due to bad weather in London which gave me the perfect opportunity to do what I do best – explore. Tel Aviv’s promenade runs along the Mediterranean seashore and is a place for walking, jogging and generally showing off your physical prowess/perfection. All through the day joggers, yogis and sporty types practice their craft in full view of passers-by. At night, parts of the beach are floodlit for beach volleyball games.

In the heart of the city approximately 15 minutes’ walk from the promenade is Carmel Market which caters to all your street food needs and funny slogan tees. Running parallel is Nahalat Binyamin Craft Market where you can browse for ceramics, jewellery and fascinating pieces of art along a long leafy street. Under six hours’ flying time from London and all of this awaits you.

5. Nimes, France

Nimes is possibly the most underrated of all the cities on this list. It sits along the Cote d’Azure and enjoys hot summers and mild winters. It was an important city in the Roman Empire and the evidence is everywhere. A magnificent amphitheatre, Arena of Nimes, which dates back to AD 70 dominates the centre of  town. Maison-Carrée, a 2000 year old temple, is one of the best preserved Roman buildings in the world and sits alongside modern museums, coffee shops and galleries.

Pradier Fountain (pictured above) greets visitors arriving by train and has been the centre-piece of the  urban garden Esplanade since 1845. What is baffling about this little town is that with such perfectly preserved Roman buildings it’s yet to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An application is due to be presented in the summer of 2018 and in my humble opinion I see no reason why it would be unsuccessful. Also, did I mention…Musée du Vieux Nîmes (free entrance) has a room devoted to Nime’s most famous export – it’s where denim was born. Go see this marvel of a town before the crowds get there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Says, Shop Better!

No matter where you travel to in the world, it is almost certain that there will be a place to shop. However, what if you like to do more than just buy stuff? When we travel we are naturally led by pleasure. This extends to all the decisions we make on our journeys – what we eat, drink or buy. We are also more inclined to ignore social norms and be guided by our authentic selves. It’s fair to say that our true identity kicks in and we permit our own desires to guide our decisions simply because no one is watching!

Read my full post at TikiChris.com

 

Five Mile Menu – A Great British Journey

The first ever mention in history of London’s darling Borough Market is to be found in the Scandinavian collection of sagas Heimskringla (1014). Snorri Sturluson speaks of a “…great market town called Southwark…” A few unforgettable millennia forward and Borough Market still holds a treasured place in every Londoner’s heart. We simply adore it. We do so because it brings together all that is quintessentially London; our beloved Thames, classic medieval architecture and the finest British artisanal food.

So how fitting that Shangri-La at The Shard, which commands London’s skyline, has formed a path between its refined taste and some of the greatest connoisseurs of food and drink in the capital. The hotel launched the sumptuous Five Mile Menu at Lang Cafe on 27th November. Curated to celebrate the ultimate union of Shangri-La’s chefs with local suppliers the launch is an undeniable triumph. Naturally, as an ardent lover of fine food I needed little encouragement to attend the launch.

What Exactly is the Five Mile Menu?

The Five Mile Menu is a precious, sentimental journey from a Dorset kitchen table to the mysterious Cornish ocean via London’s urban bee keepers. All the produce on the menu has been sourced within a five-mile radius of Shangri-La at The Shard and will be available at its local cafe and wine bar Lang.

What’s on the Menu?

Fudge

One taste of  WHIRLD‘s sublime hand-made fudge will evoke memories of long, care free summer days spent by the seaside. I couldn’t pick a favourite between clotted cream and sea salt caramel flavours. I had both.

Honey

The surprise of the evening was courtesy of multi-award winning rooftop apiary Bermondsey Street Bees. Not only do their bees make honey from the smallest green spaces around Lambeth and Suffolk but their Custom House raw honey is produced by a bee keeper in my very own neighbourhood. What a revelation that was for me having grown up in what many considered to be a wasteland. My gift of a jar of Custom House honey had the distinct flavour of warm citrus and caramel and now sits with pride on my breakfast table.

Tea

Camelia’s Tea House offered the best of their artisan tea each lovingly hand blended to their unique tea recipes. I shall forever be in awe of what can be achieved with this humble leaf. The Earl Grey Orange blend was simply divine.

Cured Meats

British cured meats served by Canon and Cannon ranged from classic pork to rabbit and duck. Salami with seaweed from St. Ives and cider from the north coast, venison salami with green peppercorns from the Scottish highlands were both rich and full-flavoured; this was truly British food’s moment.

Cheese and Wine

Cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy was an exquisite addition to the food and drink created for grazing and sharing. It was a fine example of the craftsmanship of British cheese. The offering ranged from soft goat’s cheese from Herefordshire to cow’s milk cheese from Caerphilly; a British journey on a plate. They were a well matched pairing with award-winning Bolney Estate Bacchus white and Chapel Down rosé from Kent.

Gin

Jensen’s Gin distilled the traditional way in London was also served. Its fresh, crisp taste was a gentle reminder why London was once the gin capital of the world. I have never been a gin drinker. However, even I could appreciate the spicy, woody cleanness in my glass. The more I stirred it the fresher it tasted; sprigs of thyme filling the glass creating the appearance of a small forest in my hands. Jensen’s has brought the drink back to its spiritual home.

Oysters and More Wine

The finest natural Cornish oysters from Billingsgate Fish Market served with ponzu sauce were the best I had ever tasted; plump and beautiful in their ethereal shells. I couldn’t help but sniff for the fresh waters of Cornish rivers on them. Paired with the most exquisite Bretagne rosé from Coates and Seely it was a combination to die for.

The evening  was a pleasing reminder that good food needn’t be exotic. Luxury can be redefined by time, tradition, patience and skill. How fortunate for us that the Five Mile Menu does just that. How right that Shangri-La has chosen to fit in with its neighbours. Be sure to experience this glorious gathering at Lang Cafe at The Shard.

 

 

Lang Cafe is located at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG and opens Monday to Friday 7am – 9pm; Saturday 9am – 9pm; Sunday and Public Holidays 9am – 7pm.