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Mexico Travel Guide- my recommendations for adventure lovers

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Finally back to blogging! Yay! Sorry I was absent for a over a week now! This month has started with crazy amount of work- so many campaigns, photoshoots, and trips- I have been all over the place! But I am currently sitting in Fuerteventura in the cutest little bar by the sea and I decided to take a little break with my current work and finally write the Mexico guide for you.

As you already know from my previous blogpost during our Mexico trip we’ve spent most of the time in Tulum, however as the beach full of seaweed was a struggle, we did go around and explored the most magical beaches and places that I would love to share with you.

Puerto Aventuras

This place was recommended to us by locals who promised it’s worth driving to as there’s no seaweed on the beach. Puerto Aventuras was more of residential complex- restaurants, bars, tennis courts, golf courses two big marinas and beautiful sandy beaches. At the gate ( this place has the entrance like a regular resort) the security stopped us and ask if we’re staying there but we say we’d like to come for a lunch to the beach restaurant and they let us in without any problem. They have mentioned something about the minimum spent but we assured it’s not a problem at all. We did spend the entire afternoon on the private beach- so beautiful and clean compare to Tulum. There was a little bit of seaweed but on the shore rather than everywhere in the water so it was no problem at all to us. The beach was stunning. Also there’s a big choice of bars and restaurant. We’ve had a really nice Italian lunch there ( I really missed pasta after eating tacos and burritos for days haha!) I think if you’re looking for a beach not far from Tulum, Puerto Aventuras is a great option as it’s only around 40 mins drive. It wasn’t super crowded either ( we visited in mid May). Here’s some photos from this incredible place :

Bacalar

Another place recommended to us by locals- Bacalar- a small town in southeastern Mexico. It’s on a Lake Bacalar, also called Laguna De Los Sietes Colores – lagoon of seven colours. When we got there we understood why. The shades of blues were absolutely incredible. No wonder why this place is called the Maldives of Mexico! What’s also very special about this lagoon is high conceration of rare rock formations that are among the earliest life forms on earth. However sadly, I have been reading that Bacalar’s recent tourism’s growth is a real threat to both- lagoon and the stromatolites. Tourists are advised to only use organic sunscreens when swimming, avoid single-use plastics and use kayaks rather than motorboats .What you need to know aswell before travelling here is that there’s no beach. Most of the people are tanning on the long wooden docks. I found it super fun! Well, I have spent more time on the swings in the water anyway, haha!

Cenote de Los Ojos

Ok so you can’t leave Mexico without visiting cenotes! Our time was quite limited as we’ve spent 2 days super sick from the food poisoning but we made it our priority to visit at least one cenote before flying back home. Cenote de Los Ojos was a perfect choice as it wasn’t far from where we were staying in Tulum. The ticket price was about £18 per person ( they offer different options at the desk but as our time was limited we went for snokerling and swimming option in two cenotes without the guide). It was honestly one of the most magical experiences of my life, even though the water was soooo cold. It took me like 15 mins to make a decision if I can survive this cold or not- I really hate the cold water but seeing this beautiful cave, hearing the sounds of the bats and being there completely on our own was just an insane experience I will never ever forget! You should definitely visit when in Tulum. I know there’s plenty of choice in cenotes but I could truly recommend Dos Ojos. PS. Excuse these weird poses but this is how I seriously look when I swim hahaha! I did not shoot a typical blogger content here with flowy dresses. I wanted to really enjoy this place and admire the nature around me rather than run around with a camera!

Las Coloradas

And my favourite part of the whole guide- Las Coloradas. This place was the main reason I wanted to visit Mexico- of course I am talking about the pink lake and possibility of seeing the flamingos! I’ve read so many blog posts about this place before and honestly they didn’t really make me feel like it’s worth going. But my heart was telling me I have to see it with my own eyes. You know the famous quote „ Don’t listen to what they say, go see?” Well, here I go! Las Coloradas town was about 4 hours drive from Tulum one way. Was it worth it? O M G yes! First thing I saw was a sign with flamingos- this is where I knew I am going the right direction.

When we got to Las Coloradas Town I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was a real flamigo town!

Of course I fall in love with this place straight away! Then we’ve headed to see the pink lake first. Was it pink? HELL YES. And it had a magical purple reflection from the blue sky! I had a tears in my eyes already. But I didn’t know what I am going to see half an hour later. After we’ve seen the town and the pink lake we continued driving along the coast. It was so wild, empty and beautiful. We’ve literally passed one car on our way- that’s it. We’ve had a pink lake on one side of the road and the baby blue ocean and white sandy beach on another. It was just incredible. And then suddenly – I have spotted a flamingo. I cried. Got off the car and cried. I start running towards him without even realising I was running on the mud rather than a sand so I went into the mud and lost my shoes haha. But I didn’t care. I was speechless. Seeing a flamingo in its natural environment was my biggest dream. I was so emotional and said „thank you” to my boyfriend milion times who drove me all the way there despite still feeling ill. I wish to say that was it, but it wasn’t. I got back to the car and few minutes later my boyfriend pointed something out of the car’s window. I couldn’t deal. I was screaming, shouting and crying. It was a flamingo float. I have seen hundreds of flamingos. I just couldnt deal! Those of you who follow me on Instagram probably remember the Instagram story of me screaming and crying haha. Ok that was the most beautiful day of my life. I felt like I walked into a National Geograpic movie set! Seeing flamingos and enjoying the little flamingo town was my favourite experiences in Mexico. Some people written on their blogs there’s nothing to do in Las Coloradas, but in my opinion it depends what you’re looking for. As a busy Londonder what I truly need and look for is the contact with nature, pureness, wildness, authentic experiences and this place had it all. Two little local restaurants, tiny grocery store with the sweetest Mexican grandma, the most beautiful local beach- it was only us and local fisherman! I mean what else do you need? To me it was all I could ask for and the most beautiful day of my trip! As I lost my shoes there I truly believe I will be back one day!

I hope that this little guide will inspire you to visit these places! Mexico is not just Tulum and Playa Del Carmen. There’s so much beauty in this country and I honestly hope I will have an opportunity to explore more in the future!

Let me know if you have any questions about these places!

Love,

The Blonde Flamingo

Una Vida Tulum- a tropical oasis

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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.

Reception area

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

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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

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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.

Shop these beauty products :

How Marbella stole my heart

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Marbella has been a dream of mine for a good few years. At the end of last year I even created a Pinterest board for the future, where I’ve pinned all the beautiful white- washed streets, charming cafes and chic boutiques. I had a plan to visit this city but had no idea the opportunity will come so quick! When Klaudia from Carmelatte asked me to join her on the trip to Marbella I literally couldn’t believe it! Felt like it was meant to be! I booked my tickets straight away and counted the days down like crazy, haha!

Where is Marbella?

Marbella is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca, on the Costa del Sol, in the province of Malaga.

How to get to Marbella?

The closest airport is Malaga airport. Gibraltar International airport is also another option. At Malaga airport, we’ve rented a car from Goldcar. Marbella was around 40 mins drive. What a drive that was though! The mountains views on our way were absolutely gorgeous.

First glance at Marbella

I fallen in love with Marbella at first sight. It felt like a mix of places I absolutely adore- my beloved Mykonos with all its charming white streets, my dream LA (all the roads where full of palms on each side. Also all the incredible mountains views, wow!) tropical Bali with all its lush gardens and banana plants everywhere, vibrant Morocco with all colourful buildings and tiles. Ah, what else I could ask for from one place? Marbella has this incredible cosmopolitan atmosphere. I’ve also had a chance to stroll around few neighbourhoods and it felt like walking around Beverly Hills. Absolutely stunning! I am not going to lie I felt like I could live there!

Where I stayed

During my little break in Marbella I had a chance to stay at Marbella Club Hotel. From the moment I walked in, I fallen in love. This place is so elegant, luxurious and charming surrounded by lush gardens and with stunning views over the sea. Marbella Club Hotel offers different accommodation types : rooms, suites, grand suites, villas and grand villas. There were two villas that absolutely stolen my heart.

Let me show you around Casabel– my love at first sight. I loved the beautiful pool, rattan outdoor furnitures, bohemian feel and its most perfect patio, decorated with hand-painted ceramic murals. Also the villa has a beautiful, private garden lined up with lemon, orange, avocado and olive trees. Ohhh, could I please move in?

Welcome to the home of my dreams! Or the most perfect holiday home!
The cosiest living room with a lovely fireplace
Ahh I could totally get used to it!
Kimono from Miss June and sandals from Renee

Another villa I absolutely fallen in love with was Bel Air with a huge private Balinese style pool and absolutely insane boho decor. This villa looked like taken from my Pinterest board! Take a peek!

The most dreamy decor!

Restaurants

There’s plenty of restaurant choices at Marbella Club Hotel. I personally enjoyed dining at Beach Club the most- as it doesn’t get better than delicious meal in the sunshine with the Seaview, right? I also loved The Grill. Such a romantic scenery for the evening and plenty of sea food options so I was in heaven. There’s also a beautiful cafe located right by the beach that was my favourite spot. Perfect place to relax and have a cup of tea with a view.

What to do in Marbella?

Marbella has so much to offer- from beautiful beaches, mountains, golf courses, lush gardens, charming restaurants, cafes, chic boutiques. Here’s my top recommendations.

Visit Marbella Old Town

I could be strolling these beautiful, white-washed streets for hours. It’s so nice to actually get lost and admire the beauty of them. What I loved the most were the cute, colourful flower pots on every single corner- it’s a very characteristic thing in this region. There’s lots of stylish restaurants and beautiful shops- real paradise for flamingos life myself! I treated myself to another bohemian style bag, yay!

Shop at Puerto Banus

For shopping lovers- you can’t skip the visit to Puerto Banus- luxury marina and shopping complex. This is where you can shop at the luxury fashion boutiques : Gucci, Dolce Gabbana, Prada or sip a cocktail at the fancy bar or beach club watching the super rich on their luxury yachts and the Ferraris passing by. Insane!

Watch sunset at Belvue Rooftop Bar

If you’re looking for a chilled spot for a cocktail or a glass of a lovely Spanish wine or Sangria and watch sunset over the city Belvue is a perfect choice. They also had the live music playing the night we went and it was so lovely! May I add that for two glasses of local red wine we’ve paid only 9 euro? Wow! And you get this view!

Have a lunch at Organic Market & Food

We discovered this place while searching for a healthy lunch spot. Organic Market & Food was a perfect choice! We actually went there twice as we loved it- once for late lunch and once for cakes. It’s such a beautiful place and the staff working there was super friendly! Not even mentioning my favourite boho decor and such a great food choices- healthy salads, veggies, juices, smoothies etc. They also do a takeaway, so if you’re heading to the beach and would like to take some healthy food with you, look no further. Just a little tip here- if you’re looking to come for lunch and would love to sit outside, it’s better to book a table as they get quite busy and there’s only few tables outdoors.

Chill at the Beach Clubs

In Marbella you can find so many stylish beach clubs with great food and music for either a chilled afternoon on the sun-bed or a crazy night out. If you love beach clubs write these names down : Nikki Beach Club, Ocean Club, Amare Beach, La Sala by the Sea, Funky Buddha Beach, Puro Beach and Max Beach.

Tours around

There’s also lots of places around Marbella that are worth visiting. As we’ve only been there for 4 days we haven’t managed to do that, but that means I have to come back soon!) From Marbella you can go for a day trip to either Gibraltar, Malaga, Mijas Pueblo, Serrania De Ronda or even Tangier in Morocco!

I hope I inspired you to visit Marbella! This place stolen my heart and I hope I will have a chance to come back soon!

What to pack?

Post in collaboration with Marbella Club Hotel