Where is my favourite place in the world?
I would say for many reasons New York has a huge part of my heart. It really has a pulse all its own. The energy flows steadily throughout the seasons but really comes alive as it creeps out from under winter’s shadow. The city air in spring gives you that feeling you had in your teens - like anything is possible. The crisp chilly mornings, cloudless blue skies and smell of fresh coffee are everywhere you go. There’s a morning buzz as New York emerges from its snow-covered winter into the spring blue, the atmosphere shifts and the city and its people are revived like the fresh start of a new year. From the thrift shops on 77th to the luxury of 5th Avenue right down to the boutiques and sample sales of the East and West Village, this place is a shopper’s dream. The luxury hotel bars and swanky roof bar scene sits alongside a vast, expanding independent foodie scene. Famously dubbed ‘the city that never sleeps’ this city has no need to demand our attention but like a supermodel its effortless chic gets it anyway.
In the summer, Spain and her elegant cities are always my first choice. They offer so much variety and charm in equal combination. From the Moorish arches of Alhambra to the beaches of Barcelona you will feel the warmth of the people. Their love for all things fun - lunchtime dining with friends becomes a frenzy of squeezing tables together, sitting on laps when seats have run out and wine and laughter are absolutely the order of the day. The nightlife is not for the faint hearted. An average night out in a Spanish city starts with dinner around 10pm (earliest), drinks flowing and dancing - with your average club staying open till at least 5am!
Madrid often gets forgotten as the ‘working’ capital city but don’t let its serious façade fool you, Madrid is one of the prettiest cities in Spain. With its grand architecture nestled alongside tiny tapas joints, meandering next to busy offices it’s very much a city that runs without tourism, for me this is a huge part of its allure. People watch from the boating lake, ride bikes alongside hipster skateboarders and watch the world go by, ice cream in hand/face in El Retiro Park. As with a lot of Spain the city is very reasonably priced to eat and drink, with most bars including free local tapas with afternoon drinks. Another huge plus is it’s also very walkable, which is appropriate as it has some fabulous shoe shopping!
Visiting over a weekend, look out for the famous El Rastro Flea Market every Sunday and public holiday. Home to over 1000 vendors selling everything from vintage purses, flamenco records and movie posters to local handicrafts this market is not one to miss. Running through the picture perfect old town region from Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores the buildings alone are worth the wander through.
For autumn sunshine I would always head to my happy place, sunny California. Now don’t get me wrong LA, the City of Angels has a hard side. As the song goes ‘working as a waitress in a cocktail bar’ is all too true here and it took me four trips to LA before I ‘got it’. A little like the guy you friend zoned years ago, always seeming to reappear telling you how pretty your hair looks at just the moment you need to hear it. LA never seemed to disappear for me and finally on my fourth trip I found it impossible not to fall in love, I discovered Santa Monica and Los Angeles beachside!
LA is a big space linked by huge snakelike freeways. It’s most definitely not a city where you can walk from A to B but it is super easy and cheap to take Ubers. In fact, I made a great friend and heard many funny stories from locals in the back of Uber pools!
Only 15 mins from LAX airport Santa Monica is the classy, smoothie drinking/yoga clad, designer boutique big sister of neighbouring Venice Beach. Santa Monica has the pretty pier, the Route66 sign marking the end of the infamous route66 of by gone America and the luxury shopping and dining scene. Venice is edgier, tattooed, muscle bound but with a real sense of community at its core. Weekly Farmers Markets, dog walkers and local buskers blend effortlessly. Venice has an up and coming art scene with many new galleries popping up all the time & street art visible on almost every street corner.
I personally love both for their huge contrast and at just 10 mins up the beach from each other you get the best of both whichever end of the beach you choose. The best bit, what feels like a million miles from the bright lights of Hollywood and its world-famous sign is actually only around 30 mins in clear traffic, so this is the perfect base.
For the perfect winter paradise, I would always head to the stunning, island escape of the Maldives. From the moment you step onto the seaplane you feel like a celebrity, flying over pure blue ocean you look down at these tiny, paradise islands and realise what a world away city life is. Landing at the tiny hotel jetty you are immediately greeted by friendly faces and a welcome drink and cold towel (depending which resort you pick) before checking in and booking that long awaited massage. The biggest decision at this point is whether to have the massage overwater or underwater – yes that’s possible!
As a vegetarian I have on occasion struggled on my travels on the dining front and was a little worried I might have limited choice here. This couldn’t have been further from the truth, as my slightly snugger jeans told me on the return flight home! Margarita in hand, toes in the silky white sand and only ocean and dolphins for as far as the eye can see… this is my kind of heaven.
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