“It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey”.
Maybe you’re planning a break with your partner and want to know the best places to stay right now or perhaps you want to discover a secret spot for a girls weekend away. If you’re looking for a family holiday with a difference or fancy travelling solo to a far flung destination, Travel Youtopia will inspire you to get out there, think creatively about travel and share some incredible experiences.
Whether you want to travel by car, train, bike, bus or plane, I want to share my journey with you. Want to know the best restaurants, bars and shops along the way? I can help with that too.
Venice is beautiful but why not stay just outside the city in Treviso for a more authentic Italian experience. Yes, London is a brilliant city, but have you been to been to Manchester recently? Go and catch the surf on Portugal’s wild Atlantic coast or stay closer to home and surf the wild beaches of Devon or Cornwall while supporting the local tourist ecomony.
Travel Youtopia is about inspiring readers to travel differently and search for a road less travelled. And that can be hard in this day and age when social media influencers are through the roof and it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s paid for. I will always share my experiences truthfully and authentically; you won’t see me doing a photo shoot in a floaty dress on a church roof in Santorini (because, respect!) or a vintage fiat in Positano.
I have been a lifestyle journalist and editor for over 20 years. I am also a venue finder and travel concierge for an events agency. I love travelling and sharing my experiences with other people. Friends are always asking me for recommendations and often book the places I tell them about.
I am a huge fan of road trips and slow travel. I have seen most of the UK and large parts of Europe by car and know all the secret places and off-the-beaten track destinations. My kids have seen some incredible places in Europe, most of them by car. Travel for me is about experiencing new cultures and exploring parts of a country or city that aren’t on the tourist trail.
I’ve experienced many types of travel: budget backpacking around South East Asia, writing travel guides for websites and magazines, living, working and travelling around Australia, living in Amsterdam, reviewing luxury hotels throughout the world, embarking on epic European road trips with the kids and camping in the Rajasthani desert.
I LOVE to travel and hope to instil that sense of adventure in my readers. Eco, budget, UK, Europe, solo, slow, luxury, off the beaten track, it’s all out there.