2025 my year of travel

January 2025

2025 began with me finishing off my crazy horse riding tour of the Hill Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan. I was actually in bed suffering from food poisoning for a few days, and totally missed the New Year’s celebration dinner. Ensconced in my huge, ornate old Indian palace bedroom, which had no heating or WiFi, I remained horizontal. I wasn’t too upset, as the food on this trip, to be honest, hadn’t been a highlight. Back in the UK on January 3rd, I was still in one piece.

My first press trip proper of January 2025 is to the Village Hotel and Spa in Malta. My companions for this mini Spa break were a small group of lively, friendly women. We stayed in a super cute hotel and actually had some amazing food here. Malta is a very popular winter sun destination for us Brits, and I can see why. Lunchtime drinking was absolutely on the menu.

February/March Madeira

February/March brought a two-week trip with my brother Robin to the popular Portuguese island of Madeira. We stayed in a modest apartment in the capital of Funchal, which is where most of the action is. It was actually carnival time, and I absolutely loved the random colourful community energy and sparkly costumes.  The weather wasn’t great, and we did have some wet, stormy days, but it was much better than being back in the UK winter.

We wrapped up the trip on a high with a mini 3-night press trip to the amazing 5-star Savoy Palace Hotel. This is Funchal’s top-rated hotel, and it has stunning views out over the bay and the surrounding mountain, alive with lights at night. The Laurea spa is very swanky, and then there is the spectacular rooftop Galaxia Skyfood restaurant. This venue is a bit like being on the deck of the Starship Enterprise and offers an excellent and most theatrical tasting menu. A definite hit. Portuguese people are also exceptionally friendly and warm – always a bonus.

April Central Bohemia

April whisked me off to a luxury Wedding château trip to central Bohemia via the lovely city of Prague. This was a real treat, and our small group stayed in some amazing 5-star  properties with which I was suitably impressed. I was the only native English speaker on the trip and found myself translating heavily accented English from various countries into ‘easy English’ understandable for all nationalities, which was a novel role. They could all speak my language better than I could speak theirs! Some of these chateaux were just stunning, and a much cheaper option for an exotic wedding destination than hiring something similar in the UK.

May 2025 the Great West Way

May was a homegrown UK road trip planned by me, to further explore the English ‘Great West Way’. This follows an ancient trading route running from the Thames across the country to Bristol. Myself and my good friend Mandy, drove from Salisbury (awesome cathedral) to Avebury with its many standing stones to Stonehenge itself, stayed on a country farm at Cocklebury and ended our trip in beautiful Bath. Stonehenge was definitely one of my 2025 highlights not just because we enjoyed special access inside the stone circle at sunset. This is a magical place, a time portal without doubt and a must-see attraction of our special small island.

The other standout experience for me was a colliodal gold exfoliation and massage delivered by a brilliant Hungarian masseur at the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel. I dripped off the massage table as relaxed and refreshed as I’ve felt in a decade! The weather was just perfect. It was warm and sunny with hedgerows along the winding country roads  bursting with white May blossom. White chalk horses and purple fields of phacelia added to this idyllic spring memory.

June 2025 Norway and Tuscany

June 2025 and the year is almost half way through. I visit the city of Bergen in Norway for the first time courtesy of Loganair – the UK’s largest regional airline. My friend Julie and I rent a cute air BnB just out of the city centre near the University. We loved the Natural History museum and the funky modern art galleries. We took a boat trip up the Mostraumen Fjord to the tune of Greig’s Hall of the Mountain King. Breezy, clean, no nonsense Bergen with its high trust society is worth a visit.

It’s the end of June now and I’m in Tuscany at the Sense Experience resort in the bay of Follonica – a beautiful part of Italy. I am soaking up my first real sunshine and enjoying the hospitalty. Highlights include a delightful al fresco meal and wine tasting at Morisfarms vineyard  – very Merchant Ivory. I loved our mad electric bike trip right along the coast. Most people on the trip were younger and fitter than me, but my competitive streak was stirred and a sudden burst of energy (both human and electric) spurred me on up an unfeasibly steep rocky hill. I loved it!

July – the Turquoise Coast – Kalkan

July and I’m in Kalkan in Turkey with my Ozzie bestie and the heat is ON! I love this place – the natives make you feel very welcome, there are lots of lovely rooftop restaurants to frequent, and the turquoise coast is just dreamy. We revisit the stunning baby Greek Island Kastellelorizo,and stay overnight so we can explore a bit more. Highlights include the Puzzle Museum which is  Panagiotis Houlis’ actual house. He knows everything about puzzles and even creates them himself. He is also an authority on this special little island. We also discover the very civilised world of the Palm Beach Club. Kalkan has more than a dozen beach clubs to choose from!

August 2025

August was quiet on the Press trip front. This is peak holiday time for most hotels and destinations so its less likely for them to be hosting journalists. I did have a return trip to the fab, fun Jupiter Artland outdoor sculpture park on the approach in to Edinburgh. The Royal Yacht Britannia which is also in Edinburgh was another pitstop. I pronouced the experience as  ‘a weird, floating old people’s home.’ So critical!

September 2025

A short break to Bristol opened my eyes to the world of the urban Lido. Bristol’s Clifton Lido is a quite delghtful place and now has town house accommodation too, plus an exceptional restaurant. I also went on a great Get your Guide walk to discover more about this notable port city and its history and former inhabitants (Blackbeard, Banksy)

Later in the month things ramped up again with my Cape Verde trip with the TUI Care Foundation. They are working here to save the loggerhead turtles and protect their nesting sites which are threatened by – you guessed it – people! Watching the baby turtles motor headlong down to the sea with such determination to survive is one of my top highlights of 2025.

October.  Hungary, the UAE and rural France

October was busy. Very busy. First a gallop around the arts and cultural sites of Budapest. I loved the Opera House, the National Dance Theatre and the House of Music Hungary. This is a landlocked country based on the Great river Danube and threaded with underground spas. The Széchenyi Spa impresses with its Neo Baroque architecture and sheer number of watery opportunities, but it does get crowded.

Ras Al Khaimah

Next, a big trip to Ras Al Khaimah,  an up and coming Emirate described as the ‘nature’ emirate. We enjoyed two top class hotels, the intercontinental and the Anantara. Some of the most delicious food I’ve had this year was served in RAK to my surprise. Notably the best lamb chops I’ve ever eaten and my first taste of delicate melt in the mouth Wagyu beef.

This was an all action trip.We flew on a baby plane with our own personal pilot over the RAK coastline at the  Jazira Aviation club. The Suwaidi Pearl Farm was a highlight of the itinerary. We marvelled at these priceless natural gems. We shot bows and arrows and air rifles at the Bear Grylls outdoor adventure camp. The top 2025 memory for me was when I completed the world’s longest zipline from the top of the Jebel Jais mountain.

Wrestling with my extreme fear of heights, I stood on my hands over the edge of the abyss and was catapulted across the chasm in superman mode for a good 2.9 km. I could hardly believe I actually did it and remain very proud of myself for this not inconsiderable achievement!

The Dordogne

October finished on a very different note with a trip to France and the beautiful Dordogne Valley region. Here we stayed in a series of fine establishments and ate delicious French food, including at a Michelin star restaurant or two. I enjoyed the museum of pre history.  Some of the oldest cave paintings and artefacts in the world are here. I also loved learning about the Bastides villages which dot this part of South West France, so popular with us Brits.

November 2025

November took me to the Cotswolds countryside for a Hotel review of the newly refurbished Hyll Hotel. More delicious food and a few perambulations around villages with the word ‘Chipping’ in their name, made for a a pleasant Autumn sojourn.

December – Newcastle!

December I was at home in Newcastle. I didn’t go anywhere – it was tough! Lots of time to catch up with my lovely friends and family has been welcome. I am very grateful for the year I’ve had and  have worked hard to extend the range publications I now write for as a bone fide freelance travel writer. My path has crossed with some incredible people as well,  whom I very much hope I will be travelling with again at sometime in the future. What will 2026  have in store for me? Watch this space!