FEATURES Archives | PACK THE SUITCASES

21 of the best winter sun destinations to escape the cold

23rd October 2021 29 Comments

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…

DESTINATIONS, FEATURES

Pack The Suitcases’ (pathetic) 2020 travel roundup

1st January 2021 7 Comments

Travel roundup 2020 | PACK THE SUITCASES

Happy new year! Despite what 2020 has thrown at us all, I’m sticking with my yearly tradition of doing a travel roundup of everywhere I went in the last year. Yes, I appreciate the irony in trying to write anything about travel in 2020, a year when we hardly left our homes. But I’m going to give it a go anyway.

In these yearly roundups, I try to sum up the ‘best of’ and ‘worst of’ for all my previous year’s travel. They serve as a kind of personal reminder and are more for me than anything else. But I’ve got myself into doing them as a tradition now. Maybe they’re mildly useful for anyone wanting to know where I recommend. Or don’t recommend. As you’ve probably deduced, there’s very little in this 2020-based one. But I’ve shared some of my thoughts on the little travel I managed this year and also some musings on the state of travel blogging and how it’s been affected by the pandemic.

So, pour the dregs of your New Year’s Eve bubbly and have a read about my pathetic ‘travels’ in 2020: the least travelly year of my adult life. Let me know in the comments how you’ve survived 2020 and what travel plans you’re hoping to do in 2021.

DESTINATIONS, FEATURES

Pack The Suitcases’ 2019 travel roundup

19th January 2020 8 Comments

Happy belated new year! Here’s my equally belated 2019 travel roundup. Yes, it’s the post no one has been waiting for.

Every January since I started blogging here on Pack The Suitcases, I’ve dished out the ‘best of’ and ‘worst of’ for all the previous year’s travel, to serve as a kind of personal reminder and a bit of amusement (usually failing at the latter) for my readers.

Only about three people read these roundups, they earn me £0, and they die a death after a day, never to be seen again. No one is ever going to Google ‘I wonder what countries that blogger went to in 2019 and her banal thoughts on them’. But I’ve got myself into doing these posts as a tradition now. I can’t stop. Soz.

So here’s the 2019 one. To be fair, it might give you some ideas about where to go (and where to avoid?) for 2020…

DESTINATIONS, FEATURES

18 ideas for gifts for travel lovers

1st December 2019 2 Comments

I’ve put together this list of gifts for travel lovers. As someone who loves travel, I’d be made up with any of these things. In fact, I already have quite a few of them, so I can vouch that they actually are nice things to have.

Before you settle in to peruse my travel-themed present ideas, I just want to assure you that this list does not contain scratch maps, novelty passport cases or any other useless stuff that’s been done to death… Enjoy!

DESTINATIONS, FEATURES

What to pack for a winter city break

3rd February 2019 6 Comments

Here’s a few tips for what to pack for a winter city break. Winter is a tricky one to pack for because big thick clothing takes up SO much room in your suitcase. You can’t afford to make any mistakes with your packing list or you’ll end up going over the old baggage allowance. Winter outfit choices are also a pain because you don’t want your holiday ruined by feeling cold all the time when you’re out and about in the day. I find I end up wrapping up much more than I do when I’m at home because usually I’m just going from the house to the train to the office, not wandering round loads outside so not feeling the cold as much. On holiday, especially a city break, you’re outside pretty much all day.

Anyway, like I’ve said in my other seasonal packing guides, if this helps even one other woman staring at her ‘floordrobe’ and wanting to burn it all the night before going away, I’ll feel I’ve done some kind of heroic good deed.

Anyway, settle down with a hot chocolate or other winter-themed drink of choice, because here are my winter packing tips…

DESTINATIONS, FEATURES

Pack The Suitcases’ 2018 travel roundup

1st January 2019 15 Comments

Happy new year!

This is becoming a bit of a tradition. Every new year since I started Pack The Suitcases, I’ve dished out the ‘best of’ and ‘worst of’ for all that year’s travel.

Precisely no one reads it because who cares? I know you all just want lists of places to eat for whatever city break you’re going to do. But when did no one listening/reading my stuff ever stop me…?! So I’m doing it again for 2018.

To be fair, this might give you some ideas about where to go (and where to avoid?) for 2019…