luxury travel Archives - Page 2 of 3

Adult cruising on Scarlet Lady, The brand new cruise ship from Virgin Voyages

theblondeflamingo / March 8, 2020 / 2 Comments

Ahoy! Last weekend I had a chance to spend a night on a brand-new ship from Virgin Voyages – Scarlet Lady. I was over the moon as recently I have dreamt of a cruise holiday, so I thought this experience would help me to understand what cruising is like these days! A few years back I used to think cruises were boring, designed mainly for older people, and generally a peaceful type of holiday. Well this is 100% not the case here! Scarlet Lady is an adult-only, luxury party ship. The aim of Scarlet Lady is to attract the younger audience- the modern traveller who enjoys stylish restaurants, fun entertainment, great music and parties. I personally fell in love with this red beauty from the moment I walked in. Let me tell you all about it and show you around!

Accommodation

There are 1330 cabins and 78 Rock Star suites aboard the Scarlet Lady. My room was a Sea Terrace. The room was quite small but comfortable and it had all I needed – a sofa bed, in-room entertainment with 43″ + 4K flat-screen HDTV, a mini bar, a glam area, a wardrobe and a little bathroom. At first, I didn’t understand where the bed was. I walked around, confused as to why there was only a sofa bed, haha. Turned out the “sofa bed” is actually a Seabed, the first-ever transformational cabin bed, specially engineered and handcrafted by Walter Knoll in Germany. The concept of the Seabed came from the convivial nature of cruising and gives sailors more space for social gatherings in the cabin. Virgin Voyages sailors can enjoy their cabin in two distinct ways as a place to revel or a place to relax. I think it’s a great idea! When we came back from the party our Seabed was already converted for us into a very comfortable bed. I slept so well! Another great feature is the mood-matching lights, that automatically adjust to enhance the time of day based on where the ship is in the world, reflecting the blue seas and the gold to purple sunsets of the Caribbean waters. How dreamy! I certainly liked them the most in flamingo pink!

It’s also worth mentioning that each Sea Terrace cabin has a private balcony that features custom-designed hammocks, hand-woven by artisans from Yellow Leaf – a social enterprise that fosters women’s empowerment and community transformation in rural Thailand. Imagine sipping your morning cuppa, sitting in a hammock in the Caribbean sun, ah!

During my one-night stay on the ship, I also had a look at the Mega Rock Star Massive Suite and it was epic. It was huge, even had its own music room! How cool! My personal favourite thing was the marble-clad bathroom with a Peek-a-Boo shower area that overlooks the bedroom and out to the ocean. So magical! There are only two Massive Suites aboard the Scarlet Lady, each with a private huge terrace and a hot tub. Can you imagine how amazing it could be to enjoy this place with your friends in a sunny Miami or the Caribbean? I mean wow!

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Forget the boring buffets, this is not what Scarlet Lady is about. There are 20+ world-class intimate eateries and luxury bars on board. Of course, during my one night stay I couldn’t check them all out, but I did try a couple and would love to show you my favourites!

First we’ve headed to the Sip for a little sip of champagne…I absolutely loved this Champagne Lounge. The decor was so beautiful! It was a perfect way to begin the night.

After a couple of glasses of champagne, we have decided to check out other bars and restaurants. I personally fell in love with the Dock House as it gave me my favourite bohemian and Mediterranean feel. This place is perfect to relax and have some dips and mezze.

Another place that got my attention was The Wake, a glamorous restaurant serving steaks and seafood, and Pink Agave, that transports sailors to the vibrant streets of Mexico City. Loved its vibe!

We had dinner at Test Kitchen, a laboratory-like eatery, that is part cooking school and part restaurant. I found it a very interesting experience and I loved the food. Every dish was truly special.

I also got to try Razzle Dazzle which is a vegetarian-forward restaurant. We had such a delicious brunch there. It was hard to decide what to eat as the menu looked great and there was a huge choice!

Other on-board eateries include Gunbae – a lively Korean BBQ, and Extra Virgin, the ship’s trattoria serving regionally inspired, deeply rooted Italian culinary traditions. More casual alternatives include the The Pizza Place and Lick Me Till Ice Cream (which serves complimentary scoops) – and many more!

ENTERTAINMENT

I don’t know where to start here as it was such a fun night! First, we got to watch a show in The Red Room – the first transformational multi-form theatre at sea. We watched the ‘Duel Reality’, which is a modern take on Romeo and Juliet. The show and effects were incredible! I had lots of fun! There was also another show at night in the same room, which then turned into a huge party! Here’s some snaps from this fun night!

We also got to experience The Manor – a mind-blowing nightclub with the most spectacular entrance. It was seriously calling for a little photo shoot! I decided to go with Virgin’s signature colour and put my favourite red dress on! Do I look like a Scarlet Lady? Haha

WELLNESS & FITNESS

Now let’s talk about probably my favourite part of the ship! What I loved about Scarlet Lady was the incredible, luxurious Redemption Spa featuring a hydrotherapy pool, mud room, salt room, cold plunge pools, quartz beds, and rejuvenating spa treatments.

Don’t think it’s only a place to relax though! By night, sailors can complete their well-being journey by attending one of the voyage’s evening spa parties where a killer DJ will transform the spa’s thermal suite into a mermaid hideaway extravaganza.

Wellness is a major focus for Virgin Voyages and along with the spa there’s also the B-complex gym, The Perch – an outdoor yoga space, The Runway-outdoor running track, a training centre, and much more.

Let’s also not forget to mention the outdoor well-being pool. Of course, we didn’t get to enjoy it due to the weather, but here’s how it looks. There’s also a Gym and Tonic bar right next to the pool that serves fresh cold-pressed juices and handcrafted cocktails.

GROOMING SPACES

There are also grooming spaces on the ship! There is the Mani Pedi Spa– a nail salon with the most beautiful views, The Dry Dock– a blow dry and hair styling beauty bar complete with hair nourishing and scalp treatments designed by Softroom, Stubble and Groom– a barber, and the first ever tattoo studio on board a cruise ship called Squid Ink. And look how stylish these places are! No need to worry about manicure or pedicure when travelling on the Scarlet Lady!

SUSTAINABILITY

Virgin Voyages has partnered with Climeon, a Sweden-based technology company, with a goal to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by converting engine waste heat into clean electricity. The company has also banned single-use plastics on board. I think it’s a great initiative!

To sum up, I had an absolutely amazing time on a Scarlet Lady ship. I have only one question now. When am I going on a cruise holiday?

If you fancy checking their packages yourself or book your stay, you can do it here. You can also get a cheeky up to $400 bar bonus! I hope to see you there!

Post in collaboration with Virgin Voyages

Kandima Maldives- the new lifestyle resort

theblondeflamingo / October 30, 2019 / Leave a comment

Those of you who follow me on Instagram, know that last month visited one of my favourite destinations in the world – Maldives again. It was my third visit to this country as I absolutely love its vibe, people, culture and I love exploring the new islands. This year I have discovered the island which is completely different to the ones I have been to before- welcome to Kandima Maldives located on Dhaalu Atoll. To me, Kandima is more than just another resort island- it’s a lifestyle. It’s a huge (3.5 km long) and really chilled island with plenty of on-site activities to choose from. You definitely won’t be bored at Kandima! What’s more, it’s a perfect resort for everyone, whether you seek a romantic escape, a family holiday, a wellness and spa retreat, wedding destination, bachelorette, friends getaways or honeymooners.

HOW TO GET THERE

There are two options for you to reach Kandima from Male International Airport- either a domestic Air Transfer to a nearby airport and then a 20 min speed boat trip or a Sea Plane (more expensive option) transfer directly to Kandima. The views on the way are absolutely incredible!

Well, the moment you land is absolutely insane too. It’s my absolutely favourite thing about the Maldivies- oh, these endless blues….

ACCOMMODATION

Kandima caters for guests all ages on different budgets. It has a range of accommodation types options from affordable studios to luxury aqua villas. Personally I had a chance to stay at two completely different accommodation types. For the first two nights I have stayed at beautiful Sunset Beach Pool Jacuzzi Villa. I absolutely loved the modern, colourful decor, stylish pool and semi-outdoor bathroom with bathtub, rainfall shower and a day bed. Let’s talk about sunsets… one of the most incredible I have ever seen! And what’s better way to watch them than from a private pool with a little glass of wine in hand? Another thing I loved about staying at this villa is walking out barefoot straight after waking up and having the most beautiful white, sandy beach right in front of me. What a dream! Have a little peek! PS. You can also pre-order a floaty breakfast- I highly recommend it! What an experience!

After the most magical two nights at the beach villa I’ve moved to the Aqua Villa. Ah this must be my most favourite part when in Maldives! There’s no better experience than that in my opinion- a pure luxury. Aqua villa at Kandima features a private sun-deck with sun loungers and the most incredible huge bathroom with a bathtub overlooking the ocean- absolutely insane! My favourite thing to do after waking up was swapping my pyjama for a swimsuit and going for a morning dip in the lagoon. Best start of the day ever! The things you can see under the water are OUT OF THIS WORLD! (and you have it all to yourself, hihi!) Here’s some photos!

MOVING AROUND

As it’s a huge resort island, Kandima offers bikes rental at $5 per day. It’s such a fun and healthy way to move around. You can rent them anytime- no need to pre-book anything. We kept the bikes outside our villa. If you’re not a fan of cycling, buggy service is available too. Personally I preferred the bikes- didn’t need a gym these days, haha- bikes were less painful work-out!

DINING

Kandima offers lots dining options on the island. There’s 10 restaurants and bars in total. Four a la carte (full dining restaurants), two buffets and two beautiful beach clubs. You can check them all out here. I personally loved the beach club the most- guys it was ALL PINK! There’s nowhere else you could possibly find me, haha!

THINGS TO DO

As mentioned earlier- there’s NO WAY you’ll be bored at Kandima. There’s so much to do. There are cooking classes, art classes ( they have their own art gallery supporting the local artists), yoga classes, kickboxing classes and plenty of night activities. There’s even Forbidden Bar (adults only) accessible through a Kool psychedelic tunnel famous for the best parties! If you need to get some work done, there’s also Aroma Cafe overseeing the salty lake which is such a relaxing place to work or just have a cup of good coffee (yes, there’s a a salty lake on the island!) There’s also a beautiful esKape spa located in the middle of a tropical jungle. I highly recommend trying their famous coconut scrub! For sports lovers there’s a BURN gym, tennis court, basketball court, volleyball court and a football court. Apart from all that you can also be jogging 3km on the most beautiful beaches with no palm trees blocking the way- this is very unique to Kandima!

For water sports lovers there’s also Aquaholics – water sport centre that offers all sports activities including, snorkelling around the most incredible reefs (Dhaalu atoll is one of the most pristine regions in the country), diving with sharks, parasailing and as well as boat trips and team sports. My favourite experience was something that has been on my bucket list forever- floating over fish and baby sharks in the glass-bottom kayak (wearing a flower crown of course, haha!)

Aroma Cafe

KIDS

If you’re travelling as a family, I promise you, there’s no better place to take your little ones than Kandima and its famous Kandiland– the largest kids club in the Maldives equipped with a pirate ship and large in-ground trampoline. When I saw it I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes! Kandiland offers a daily programme full of fun and informative activities and a baby sitting services so the parents can enjoy a little private time on the island too.

WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS

As you already know, Maldives is famous wedding and honeymoon destination. Kandima Maldives offers a tailor-made wedding planning services for your dream wedding. You can choose your dream wedding spot ( there’s few places on the island and on a local picnic island) according to their needs, budget as well as the number of guests. If you have any questions, please e-mail mykindofplace@kandima.com.

For honeymooners, Kandima has the most incredible Honeymoon Aqua Pool Villa, located at the tip of the Aqua Villa jetty, which is the best spot for romantic sunset sessions! I have experienced it myself and sunsets you witness from this villa are insane. Just look at it and imagine being here with your loved one!

Thank you the most incredible stay Kandima! I am sure I will return one day! If you’d like to find out more or book a stay there, click here.

Post in collaboration with Kandima Maldives

Una Vida Tulum- a tropical oasis

theblondeflamingo / May 31, 2019 / 2 Comments

Recently I had a pleasure to stay somewhere absolutely beautiful. Ok, let me be honest- I have been planning to stay at Una Vida Tulum already last year, however due to another project, I didn’t make it to Tulum. I have been patiently waiting and yet the most incredible thing happened this month- I got to celebrate my birthday in this dreamy hotel! I still can’t believe it!

Why Una Vida Tulum? Well, you already know me- I fall in love with people and places at first sight and this is exactly what happened this time as well. ! I have found this place on Social Media last year and thought “wow”. I am a huge fan of bohemian decor and this small, boutique hotel had it all. I could feel its vibe already by just looking at the photos. It was absolutely stunning and away from Tulum’s crowds and noise. For some people this could be a little problem as the hotel is located a little bit away from the main Tulum area that you see all over Instagram. Well, personally I didn’t mind that at all. I loved that the hotel was located in the middle of jungle, away from the city’s life. It was a real, secret boho oasis. A paradise for unique design and art lovers.

Let me show you around. Let’s start with a beautiful reception area- they looked after absolutely every little detail. The decor got me absolutely crazy! Everything was so me! Loved the boho, hippie and coastal vibes. This area already gave me all the feels. I felt so inspired and close to the nature. I also really liked the space to rent the bikes- bikes are free of charge which is great as it makes it super easy to get to the main attractions that Tulum has to offer. If you are planning to rent a car there’s also a parking space just in front of the hotel. Centre of Tulum is only few minutes drive.

After the check-in we were escorted to our one bedroom boutique villa. We’ve passed a beautiful pool area that felt so just so peaceful. I honestly can’t find a better word for this place than “tropical oasis”.

Accomodation

Let’s talk about villa! First think I spotted was a huge, comfortable bed and beautiful dream catchers on the wall- you know how much I love them! The decor was really rustic and simple but this is exactly what I love. We’ve had a large private bathroom, terrace overlooking the jungle and a beautiful living room with a kitchenette. Personally I think this one bedroom villa would be a perfect option for families travelling with kids.

We absolutely loved our stay here! We also had the chance to have a look at their Villa Jacinta- 3 Bedroom House that can fit up to 8 people. This villa was absolutely magical too! The decor was pretty much the same but the space was huge and also had its own private pool and outdoor bathroom- what a dream!

Dining

During our stay at Una Vida Tulum we had a pleasure to try some delicious Mexican dishes prepared by a private chef. I was impressed not only with flavours but also with a presentation of the dishes. You could see the chef put his heart into it! I highly recommend trying Huevos a la Mexicana- Mexican eggs, Huevos Verdes- Green eggs and their delicious fruit bowls. That was our favourite brunch! PS. If you’re wondering inside of that fun pumpkin-shape dish- this is how they serve warm, homemade tortilla- so good!

Una Vida by night

One more thing I’d like to mention is how magical was this hotel by night. I remember coming back from the dinner to the most magical view. I tried to capture it but it wasn’t easy, haha. Honestly, this place gave me all the feels. I felt at peace while staying there. It was a perfect place to do yoga, meditate and eat delicious and healthy food. It somehow reminded me of the yoga retreat I done back in January in Koh Samui, Thailand. Look how gorgeous was this place with a candle light!

To sum up, I would 100% recommend choosing Una Vida Tulum as your Tulum’s home. I am calling it home as this is how it felt to me from the moment I stepped in. The room rates in low season start from as low as 60$ per night which makes it not only affordable but also a boutique and chic accomodation option. What I would recommend is packing a mosquito spray- yes there are some insects in the evening, but it’s natural as the hotel is located in the middle of the jungle. I personally loved being so close to the nature and to myself. Thank you so much for a wonderful and memorable stay. I have a feeling, we’ll see you again soon!

Post in collaboration with Una Vida Tulum Hotel

Few things you should be aware of before travelling to Tulum

theblondeflamingo / May 12, 2019 / 1 Comment

Hello from Tulum!

As I have been here for a week already I have decided to put together a couple of tips and things you should be aware of when planning your trip to Tulum.

Seaweed

Sadly many people who reviewed Tulum on Social Media didn’t mention this problem. I think it’s super important to mention it especially if you’re planning a beach holidays. We visited in May and in Tulum we were not able to swim in the ocean. The seaweed was everywhere and water looked seriously dirty. While luxury hotels are trying to clean their private beaches and it they were looking a bit better, we still haven’t managed to have a swim. Of course there’s many other things to do and see in the area. You can drive to other beaches ( car is essential) or swim in local cenotes but personally I wouldn’t recommend Tulum as a beach destination. We’ve been told by locals it’s not like this all year long- they advised the best time to visit Tulum and avoid the seaweed is between October and April however I heard from other travellers who visited during this time and the seaweed was there aswell, however less than it is now.

London prices

This is not what you probably expect from Mexico but Tulum is extremely touristy and prices are pretty much the same like in London when it’s about food and drinks. The prices of cocktails in the beach clubs vary between £10-£17, for lunch/ dinner for two between £70-£200. Scooter rental per day is about £20 plus 5000 pesos deposit. Car rental with full inscurance starts from £40 per day ( the most basic car) plus £500 deposit. The only thing we were quite lucky with, is that in May Tulum was pretty dead. Beach clubs were pretty empty so there was not such a thing like queues or no space. Few times ( in the weekend) we were told there’s a minimum spent. Normally it was around $60 US dollars per person in places like Nomade or to the bar at Azulik ( to get to the bar there was a minimum spent of around £25 per person)

Drugs

Another thing that really surprised me. I mean, I was aware that there’s lots of parties in Tulum but drugs were sold literally everywhere even in the day time. When walking around in the evening you are literally bombarded!

Extreme poverty

While most of the people showcase Tulum as luxurious, trendy destination full of chic restaurants, boutiques and 5* hotels to me it was only one street. Outside of it ( also in Tulum) the poverty is insane. It actually made me super sad. Once we were eating in the restaurant in Tulum downtown and i stood up to take a photo of something. In the meantime, a little boy (3-4 years old) came up to our table. He saw that I left a cherry on my empty plate and asked my boyfriend if he could eat it. When he told me I wanted to cry. We bought him a crepe with nutella and I swear I’ve never seen so grateful eyes and big smile in my life. The contrasts in Tulum are crazy and while I loved all the chic places on the ocean front, I was also trying to spent some money in downtown and support local businesses rather than only 5* chains.

Tips

In Mexico, similar to US they expect you to tip for everything. Sometimes optional service charge will be added to your bill. If not, they will kindly suggest you should tip even at places like petrol station, parkings etc It’s good to have some change on you at all times. In the beach clubs they will expect higher tips even though in most of the places the service charge is added to the bill already. Waiters in some places like Taboo were very pushy and rude about it.

Parking

Once again – we’ve visited Tulum in a low season but sometimes in the weekend it was not easy to find the parking space which would be free. Sometimes they let you park as a guest of the hotel/ beach club but most of the times these spaces are reserved for the guests who actually stay at the hotel. There was few parkings around but I have noticed the prices were not really fixed. Once there was a sign of Parking 15 pesos while when we got there it turned out to be 200 pesos. Also in some of these private parkings they were changing the prices depending on what car is coming in. We were asked for 300 pesos and the better looking car after us 500 pesos.

5 beauty products I always travel with

theblondeflamingo / April 26, 2019 / Leave a comment

Hello everyone!

Hope you’re weekend has started fabulous! Today I’d like to talk about the beauty products that always travel with me. As I do lots of short trips and often travel with only a cabin bag, the amount of beauty the products I can take with me is pretty limited.

These products are my absolute favourite right now :

1. Eve Lom Eye Cream

I have been kindly gifted this product few months ago and never stopped using it and taking it with me on my travels. You know these early mornings when your eyes feel so small and sort of swollen? That’s me every time I travel and wake up early to shoot! Or after a long-haul exhausting flight. Eve Lom eye cream is my little saviour! This eye cream and its triple-action formula helps to lock in moisture, diminish dark circles and reduce puffiness. It provides the long-lasting hydration and makes my face look more fresh. Also the cream contains Shea butter that I absolutely love. PS. It’s only 20ml so it takes only a little space in my travel toiletry pouch!

2. Bare Minerals Anti- imperfection serum + Smart Combination smoothing lightweight emulsion

You already know from my Instagram that I have been loving Bare Minerals products for long time. I constantly talk about them and keep recommending them to you. Well these two have been introduced to me last year and I have really enjoyed using both of the products. The serum works perfectly for me as I am still dealing with adult acne and this product contains salicylic acid that helps to treat acne prone skin, combat blemishes, calm skin, and smooth texture. My skin tends to reacts every time I am changing places and water so I always have this product on me when I travel. The other product is my favourite lightweight oil-free moisturiser that leaves my face soft and smooth. Can’t travel without the good moisturiser for sure!

3. Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramides Capsules

Ok, since I have discovered this product I am honestly obsessed. I have started to use this product as retinol can reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and acne. After using if for few months, I have noticed that actually my acne scars are looking better so I continued using the capsules. They’re really easy to use : you only need to to sooth one capsule over the face each night before your moisturiser. I love the capsule format as it makes this product super portable and convenient. I normally take the right amount of capsules with me when I travel rather than taking the whole box. It saves so much space!

4. Foreo Luna Mini 2

I must say when I firstly got this product I didn’t believe in it. I’ve seen it all over Instagram and to me it only looked like a pretty looking toy, haha. Well, until my best friend started to tell me how incredible it is and how much she loves her skin after she uses it. Today I’m so glad I’ve listened to her and gave this product a try. I honestly can’t live without it! This incredible brush keeps my skin clean wherever I go. It’s a small, fashionable device, that takes only a little bit of space in my suitcase. It removes all dirt, make up residue and dead skin cells. I felt the difference on my skin already after the first use. It makes the skin looks so clean and glowy. It’s a perfect beauty product for on-the-go lifestyle. It also comes in many colours! Of course I went for pink one, haha! You can get it here.

5. Batiste Dry Shampoo

I am sure you already seen this product on my Social Media, but honestly I can’t imagine travelling without this dry shampoo. It saves me on long-haul flights, road trips and also my daily life. Batiste Dry Shampoo revitalises hair, leaving it feeling clean, smelling fresh. I absolutely love their Fragrance range! They all smell and look so pretty ( yeah, they even have one with flamingos!) I adore the tropical one! You already know it’s my favourite smell on Earth.