My 23rd Birthday & Dartmouth | Travel Diary 2015.

(birthday cake made for me by Alex-lemon drizzle)

I feel like ever since 2012 I've set myself up with a very expensive tradition of having to go away for my birthday. Every year when it approaches my birthday month I automatically think right, where to this year and although I haven't necessarily gone away every birthday I've managed to most years. The first time being back in 2012 for my 20th, Alex and I went to Dorset and we stayed in a star gazing pod (glamping) for a long weekend. It was so magical we did nothing all day but watch films and cosy up with the log burner on. The second time being my 21st with a trip to Paris, my 22nd we stayed in Bath and enjoyed a meal at Turtle Bay and a birthday breakfast at Bills the following morning and my 23rd birthday we went to Dartmouth. 

Having already been to Dartmouth in 2014 I knew for sure I wanted to go back again. Alex and I have wonderful memories there and we always manage to enjoy ourselves -we never want to leave. So, we decided to go again for my birthday. We departed the day after my birthday so I enjoyed the day with mine and his family and then got to keep the excitement going because we were going away!

Dubai | Travel Diary 2015.

Dubai had always been top of my list. Beautiful scenery, sunsets, desert journeys, the ever famous Atlantis water park, camel rides the list goes on. So when it came to booking our annual holiday we decided to venture outside of Europe as we hadn't done so before. After many searches of exciting places we came across Dubai on Virgin Atlantic. After plenty of toing and froing it was done and we were going to Dubai for a week!

We departed in June which is in the middle of summer in Dubai. I can honestly say I've never been so hot in my life. Imagine wading through sticky scalding hot water - yes, that is what it was like to walk around in Dubai during the summer time. However, where ever you go you are in an air conditioned building or car so it wasn't that bad. Although sitting in the sun was unbearable I often found myself reading for about 10 minutes before having to have a dip in the pool/sea.

Our 7 hour flight was really enjoyable we love flying with Virgin, the experience they give you is worth flying with them especially the food, film choice and general ambiance. Our hotel was the incredible luxurious 5 star Sofitel next to the Atlantis. It was Polynesian themed and stunning inside and out. When we arrived we were greeted with fresh tropical juice and a cold flannel. They carried our bags to our stunning room which had the most beautiful sunset in the evenings. The bed was absolutely massive and so incredibly comfortable, the bathroom so beautiful and in the evenings if you weren't in your room someone would come to untuck your bed for you and have chocolate and slippers waiting for your arrival.

Dublin | Travel Diary 2015.

I wanted to treat Alex to something a lot more than a material gift for his 21st birthday because I wanted him to have memories he would remember forever instead. So, I made the purchase of two plane tickets, booked the hotel- we were going to Dublin! It had always been on the top of our list especially Alex's as he loves beer and Dublin is the home of Guinness. I decided to book the trip for the day after his birthday-that way he got to enjoy his day with his family and myself and still have something to look forward to. On top of the holiday to Dublin I also gave him a homemade voucher for a pint of Guinness while we were out there and a bottle of Hendricks.