These three letters/words go wonderfully well together, and if you dream about climbing Africa’s highest mountain one day – Mount Kilimanjaro, I can pretty much guarantee you are in for a life-changing experience.

We climbed Kilimanjaro at the end of September last year, and I still find myself daydreaming about the moment we reached Stella Point after a long, hard, cold and breathtaking (quite literally!) 7-hour hike from Barafu Base Camp to the first peak of Kilimanjaro.

Stella Point may not be the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, but if you reach the glistening green sign you will receive your certificate – and I can honestly say, it was the most welcoming sign I have ever seen in my life!

We had planned to take hundreds of photos, make a video, and jot down a few notes, but we simply stood still and watched the sun rise up over Africa through tear-filled eyes… before realising that it was not over yet, and we had another 45 minutes to go if we were to reach Uhuru Peak!

From Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, the path is relatively flat but the air is filled with jubilation rather than oxygen and the going is slow!  We finally made it to the very top of Mount Kilimanjaro’s 5895-metres at around 7am, and after taking our cherished photographs (proof!), we started to make our way back down with a slight spring in our steps.

The wonderful thing about Mount Kilimanjaro is that almost anyone can climb it, the 7-Day Machame Route that we completed was not particularly steep, and if you have a good level of fitness and buckets of determination – you will make it to the top!

Whether you climb Kilimanjaro with a group, take a private tour, climb for charity, or simply do it for yourself – this mountaineering expedition may just change your life… It most certainly changed mine!

While I am not a particularly ‘deep’ or ‘philosophical’ person, I do believe that every trip abroad is a journey, rather than simply a holiday, and that one can learn much about a country, its people and their way of life by venturing out of the ‘tourist’ zones and exploring new areas.

We have found many wonderful hotels, restaurants and attractions thanks to a wrong turn (or perhaps bad map reading on my part!), and a perfect example of this happened just last weekend, when we decided to end our business trip to Slovenia with a last-minute detour to Venice, Italy!

A quick online search for a hotel lead us to an amazing property just outside the hustle and bustle of the city, and despite having a late breakfast in Lake Bled, Slovenia, we arrived in Venice in time for lunch, a cool glass of Vino Bianco and the most spectacular views of this amazing city.

At the end of the day, life really is a journey (not getting deep – I promise!), and with no trial runs and second chances to rely upon, I truly believe every trip across the world should be an adventure… I think I will let Mark Twain finish this one for me…

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  

A land of cosmopolitan cities, idyllic beachside resorts, vast Winelands, and luxurious islands, Italy is every bit as cool and chic as one would imagine it to be, and if you enjoy Italian food (I’m talking freshly made pastas, pizzas, seafood and ice-cream here), you will think you have died and gone to gastronomic heaven!

Italians are, in general, beautiful passionate people, who seem to make the most of every minute of every day, but when you wake up in paradise, eat chocolate croissants for breakfast, sip minute coffees all afternoon, and look forward to pizza, pasta and wine every night – well, the smile comes automatically!

From the fashion hubs of Milan, Venice and Rome to the paradise islands of Sardinia and Sicily, Italy caters for every traveller, and if you fancy heading to Europe this year on an epicurean adventure, I can highly recommend you make Italia you number one holiday destination…

Here’s some Italian Inspiration to tickle your taste buds…

Reviews are all well and good (my favourite to date was titled “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare meets a clean, safe and happy place”), and I rarely book a hotel for myself or a guest without checking to see what others have to say about it first, but the fact is, we do not know if these reviews are written by genuine guests of the hotel, a hotel employee, or the owner of the hotel next door… So can we really rely on them?

Well, I believe a combination of the Hotel Star Rating and TripAdvisor reviews is a good place to start, and while there are some bargains to be had, I firmly believe that when it comes to hotels – you get what you pay for.

Five Star Hotels

I’m not going to lie, I love staying in five-star hotels, but the only reason I love staying in such properties is that you get all those little luxuries you generally don’t get at home, such as 15 pillows on the bed in pure white Egyptian cotton, bath salts, a big fluffy bathrobe, and chocolates on the pillow (lovely, but impractical if you have kids/dogs at home!).

Five star hotels should offer exceptional service, have a great location, and make you feel truly spoilt, after all isn’t that what a dream holiday is all about?

Four Star Hotels

More often than not, we stay in four-star hotels for both business and pleasure.  Most four stars offer all the amenities one is used to at home such as comfortable furnishing, a TV, hairdryer and iron, internet access, and when you combine that with a 24-hour reception – well what more could one need?

Three Star Hotels

Three star hotels generally do what they say on the tin.  A decent standard of accommodation at a decent price, three star hotels are ideal for those who want to stretch their holiday budget, and providing you don’t expect five-star amenities, there is no reason you should be disappointed.  Referring back to TripAdvisor, you will find many three star properties out-rank their five-star neighbours!

One & Two Star Hotels

Often referred to as Standard and Tourist class hotels, one and two star properties provide a basic room at a basic price.  Ideal for those who simply want a bed and somewhere to rest their head, these hotels are available in most cities around the world – and if you are looking for something ‘cheap and cheerful’ – this could be for you.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules, some five-star hotels are not up to standard, and you could find a cosy two star that meets all your expectations, but by combining the hotel star rating with TripAdvisor reviews – you should be able to read between the lines and get your perfect hotel at your perfect price!

I took my Gap Year back in 1994, when I decided I had had it with teeth (I was a dental hygienist!) and that it was time for me to get out in the big wide world and do something completely different.

Assuring my parents this would be a 6-month adventure and that I would return to a ‘sensible’ job on my return to the UK,  I packed my suitcases (hence the plural, I hadn’t learnt the art of packing light at that stage!) and headed off to the Canary Islands in search of some fun and sun.

Well, fun in the sun I most definitely had, and those 6-months quickly turned into 16-years, a husband, a dog, eight international house moves, and more travel experiences that I ever dreamed possible!

Today, I would have to say we have the best of both worlds – travelling for work, but if you find yourself stuck in a rut or desperate to take a break from the ordinary, a Gap Year might just be the challenge you are looking for.

If you have a generous travel budget the world is your oyster with a round-the-world flight ticket costing as little as £1600.  Accommodations in some regions of Africa, Asia and South America can cost significantly less than what you would expect to pay at home, and providing you eat local cuisine in local restaurants your food budget can be as little as $5 per day. However, if you decide to go travelling in Australia, Brazil and Europe – your budget will need to be very generous indeed!

If money is tight, you might want to consider volunteering or taking a working Gap Year.  There are numerous opportunities available in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America, and in many instances, you can earn enough to pay for your trip or at least your food and lodgings.

Think you are too old to take a Gap Year? Think again!  We met a 78-year-old Japanese man in Rio de Janeiro who had nothing more than an English phrase book and a few items of clothing in his rucksack.  His dream was to travel the world, and he made that dream a reality with his very own Gap Year!

Beautiful beaches, friendly locals, stunning hotels, private island getaways, delicious seafood, refreshing cocktails, and all the water sports and activities one could possibly wish for… the Fiji Islands really do have it all, and whether you decide on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, the Yasawas, the Mamanucas or any island in between –you are guaranteed the holiday of a lifetime!

A popular destination with honeymooners and round-the-world travellers, Fiji is every bit as beautiful as the postcards would have you believe, and while I could go on all day about how wonderful Fiji is, I thought I would just share a few of my favourite photos from our trip to the islands, so you can make up your own mind…

Bula Fiji, Vinaka Vakelevu!

However, fast-forward those 10 years – and my opinion on escorted tours has most definitely changed.

Until recently, escorted holidays usually involved a busload of tourists lining up behind a tour guide with a large “follow me” sign. The itinerary was planned with military precision, meal times were a group affair, and if the tour operator didn’t manage to fill the 44-seater coach in time for the trip, your holiday would be cancelled – full stop.  Thank goodness, things have changed!

The escorted tours of today are usually limited to small groups, the schedules are planned in such a way that those travelling have plenty of time to discover each destination at their leisure, and while meals are served in the same restaurant, guests have the option to sit together, dine alone, or share a table with partner/friend.

We were first introduced to escorted touring in South Africa, when we took a small group escorted tour along the Garden Route of the Western Cape.  Collected from our Cape Town hotel in a luxury 7-seater mini-bus with sleek leather interior, our first impressions were good, and when we were informed that just three other guests would be joining us – we knew this was going to be a wonderful trip.

Our next stop was to collect a couple from Australia and a lovely lady from China, before heading out of Cape Town and along the famous Route 62 towards our base for the night in Oudtshoorn – the “Feather Capital of the World”.

We bonded immediately with both our guide Ananda and the other guests, and by the time we reached our lunch stop in Barrydale, the ice had been firmly broken and it was just like travelling with a group of long-lost friends.

There to ensure our escorted tour was every bit as good as we had hoped it would be, Ananda regularly asked if we would like to make photo stops and toilet breaks, and we never felt tied to a strict itinerary.

Some evenings we dined as a group, other evenings we dined at a table for two, and if we didn’t want to take part in a particular excursion or activity, we had the freedom to opt out, and do something on our own.

The beauty of a small group escorted tour is that you get to meet like-minded travellers, you have a well-planned itinerary, luxurious accommodations, insider tips in each destination, and best of all, you have a qualified tour guide and driver who takes care of everything while you sit back, relax, drink some wine, and enjoy your holiday!

Having visited just 50 countries so far, I know I have a long way to go to if I am to see all 196 countries in the world (I know this number varies a lot!), but as I am a warm-weather kinda gal, I will not be rushing to visit anywhere cold anytime soon!

Of all the destinations we have visited thus far, there are many that stand out, and so here is my list of Top 10 Traveller Destinations in the world (so far)…

1. Cape Town, South Africa
2. Mendoza, Argentina
3. South Island, New Zealand
4. Mamanuca Islands, Fiji  
5. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
6. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
7. Coral Coast, Western Australia
8. Salzburg, Austria
9. Texas, USA
10. Anguilla, Caribbean

And just remember… “The World is a Book and those who do not Travel read only a page.” St. Augustine was a very wise chap indeed!

An awe-inspiring example of nature’s great splendour and power, Chile sits comfortably between the Andean mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, and while it may be the slimmest country in the world, it stretches a whopping 4300km long, and has all the deserts, glaciers, volcanoes, lakes, beaches, wine regions, and national parks that you could possibly wish for.

With a vast collection of national parks such as Torres del Paine in Patagonia and Rapa Nui on Easter Island, Chile appeals to nature lovers and provides the perfect backdrop for those looking for an adventure holiday.  Trekking tours, bike rides, sailing trips and fishing holidays are all available in Chile, so it really does cater for everyone.

We approached Chile from Mendoza in Argentina, and headed down to Viña del Mar for a few days before heading north to the Atacama Desert.  Fine wines, fresh steaks and my all-time favourite food Palta (avocados) come as standard here, making it a fantastic holiday destination for foodies and wine aficionados.

Chilean food isn’t particularly spicy, but one salsa we couldn’t get enough of was Pebre, a mouth-watering condiment found in just about every restaurant in Chile.  Made from a delicious blend of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro (coriander), olive oil, lemon juice and chilli, this all-purpose salsa goes with just about everything – and if you ask for extra Chilli, it can be very spicy indeed.

Fortunately, in Chile, a cool cerveza is never far away, and if you can drag yourself away from the vineyards and the delectable wine offerings, you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of different beers on offer.

Due to the sheer length of the country, the climate in Chile varies greatly and generalisations are difficult!  Pack for all seasons, especially if you are going to be touring throughout the country, and if it starts to get chilly, ask for some extra chilli in your Pebre in Chile!

My first attempt at packing light was for our first 6-week trip to South America, when my other half assured me that I would need nothing more than a couple of t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, sunglasses and a hat…Hmmm

We decided that rucksacks would be the most convenient type of luggage for our trip throughout Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Brazil, and I therefore headed off in search of a ‘sizeable’ backpack that would accommodate the ‘necessities’.

Initially, I was very tempted to purchase a 120-litre rucksack, but the 80-litre backpack I finally decided on was more than big enough. Once it had been packed, re-packed and then packed again, I had managed to fit in two pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of shorts, 2 summer dresses, a skirt, 10 t-shirts, 2 blouses, 3 bikinis, undies, 4 pairs of shoes, toiletries and a hairdryer!

Of course, I had never really thought about trivial things such as weight… and so spent 6-weeks carrying a rather cumbersome 17kg pack on my back, while my wiser half had a mere 9kg to contend with!

These days I do believe I am getting better at packing light, and as we like to take advantage of the cheap flight tickets offered by budget airlines such as Ryanair, I can actually manage a whole weekend away with just 10kg of hand luggage…

Long-haul trips, on the other hand, do need better planning, and I feel it would be rude not to use my allotted 23kg on a flight to Cape Town or New Zealand!  Although, when heading to the US, one should always leave space for those ‘unbelievable bargains’ found in outlet centres!

Packing for a holiday is, for me, part of the adventure, and while I have probably paid more than my fair share for excess baggage in the past, our future travels are looking a whole lot lighter – thanks mainly to our ultra-light suitcases – now that’s a clever invention!