DESTINATIONS

3 days in Valencia, Spain: exploring the home of paella

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Here’s my itinerary for spending 3 days in Valencia, Spain. This beautiful Mediterranean city is best known for being the home of paella, but there’s much more to it than that. I think it’s a really underrated city break. You’ll fall in love with the scent of the orange trees that line the sunny streets, the mixture of historical and futuristic architecture, and the endless flow of unusual beverages (which I’ll explain later). Valencia has its own unique vibe, different from other Spanish cities, and is perfect for a long weekend.

I got to know the city quite well on a recent visit, so hopefully this little itinerary for 3 days in Valencia will help you to make the most of your time there. And although I’ve covered 3 days, you could cram it into 2 by cutting out the day at the end. Or you could even spread it out for a longer stay and enjoy exploring at a more leisurely pace. 

So settle down with a glass of agua de València and enjoy planning a beautiful 3 days in Valencia…

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DESTINATIONS

25 cheap European city breaks for an affordable getaway

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I wanted to put together a post about cheap European city breaks because it’s January as I’m typing this and I don’t know about you, but I’m broke as a joke. Affordable, cheap trips are sounding very appealing RN.

This post is going to be a tad different from my usual waffle. As well as sharing some cheap European city breaks that I’ve enjoyed doing myself, I thought I’d get some inspiration from others. So I asked around a group of fellow travel bloggers and they obliged me with loads of affordable holiday ideas that I’ve never done myself. I added another few of my own and voila – here you have this huge list of 32 cheap European city breaks to give you some food for thought for your next trip on a budget.

Get comfy with a cup of tea. It might take you a while to read this one…

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DESTINATIONS

20 things to do in North Berwick, Scotland: the perfect seaside town

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I’ve put together this guide to 20 great things to do in North Berwick, Scotland, in order to share my personal recommendations for exploring this pretty seaside town in East Lothian. It’s somewhere I absolutely adore and I’m always banging on about how much there is to see there. North Berwick has breathtaking beaches and general coastal scenery, as well as loads of good places to eat, drink and shop. It’s also home to the famous Scottish Seabird Centre, where you can discover more about the local puffins and the world’s largest colony of northern gannets.

As North Berwick is only a short 30-minute train ride from the capital, plenty of tourists visit as a day trip from Edinburgh. But I love North Berwick so much that I’d recommend staying longer than just a day trip. You can easily find more than enough to do for a short break. And the longer you have, the more hidden gems you’ll find.

Here are my favourite things to do in North Berwick for a short break, featuring everything from walking to witches…

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DESTINATIONS, FEATURES

Blogger vs vlogger vs influencer: what’s the difference?

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If you’re confused about the difference between a blogger vs vlogger vs influencer, here’s my guide on them and how they differ. I hope to explain it all, just like Clarissa would have wanted. I’ve defined each term and given context about how they differ. And I’ll try not to be too biased towards my own job (a blogger) vs the comparatively rubbish roles of vloggers and influencers…

The reason I’m writing this post is because I’ve got annoyed by something on the internet. Quelle surprise, I know. Inaccuracy has always annoyed me but recently, I’m sick of seeing the press and traditional media using the terms blogger, vlogger and influencer interchangeably and incorrectly. Only last week, I read a news article using the term ‘blogger’ about a woman who is a reality TV star and influencer but who definitely doesn’t have a blog. Nothing wrong with being an influencer, of course, but it’s a whole different job. So the result of my annoyance is this guide, which will hopefully a) clear things up for anyone confused and b) make me feel better for getting it off my chest.

Put the kettle on and let’s get into it…

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DESTINATIONS

Pack The Suitcases’ 2025 travel roundup

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Back once again like the renegade master, it’s time for my travel roundup for the year. This covers where I’ve been, how blogging is going (am I a millionaire yet?) and of course all my travel-related highs and lows of 2025; I know my regular readers always enjoy the lows… Travel mishaps and disasters are apparently way more entertaining than successful trips.

I’ve been doing these yearly roundups since I launched Pack The Suitcases in 2016 (omg it’s turning 10 in 2026!). They serve as a kind of personal reminder of the years and are more for me than anything else, seeing as they’re of very little interest to most people. So, if you’re reading this, thanks for sticking with me. Perhaps some of my highs this year will give you some travel ideas for 2026.

Anyway, pour yourself a brew or a glass of New Year’s champagne, and enjoy a read about my travels in 2025…

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DESTINATIONS, FEATURES

21 of the best winter sun destinations to escape the cold

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The best winter sun destinations | PACK THE SUITCASES

I wanted to put together a post about some of the best winter sun destinations to give my readers some ideas for where to escape the miserable cold weather. When people say ‘winter sun’, it can conjure up images of somewhere tacky and rubbish, with little to see or do other than staying inside a hotel complex and lying around on the beach. That’s not my idea of a holiday at all. I want a bit of warmth on my bones in the depths of winter as much as the next person. But I don’t want to compromise on interesting things to do, culture, and great local food. So this list covers places that suit my wishes, and hopefully yours too.

This post is a bit different from my usual inane ramblings, by the way. As well as sharing my very very favourite of all the winter sun destinations that I’ve visited myself, I thought I’d get some inspiration for places I’ve not been to yet. So I asked around a handful of fellow travel bloggers and they kindly obliged me with plenty of ideas. So voila – here we have this huge list of the best winter sun destinations. I hope it helps you decide where to go to thaw out for a bit.

So put the kettle on, crank the heating up to get into the spirit of things, and have a read. It might take you a while to pick just one place out of all these sunny delights…

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