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Why you should choose San Martino di Castrozza for your ski holiday

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As you already know- I absolutely love Trentino. Each year I explore a different place to stay. This year, to kick off 2022, I headed to San Martino di Castrozza, part of the ski carousel Dolomiti Superski. This little town is located at 1450 metres above sea level, in the heart of the Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino Nature Park. It stole my heart, so let me tell you all about it!

How to get there

There are a few ways to get to San Martino di Castrozza depending on which airport you are travelling from. There are quite a few options, either by car, by coach or by train. You can find all the detailed information here.

About the town

The town has only 500 inhabitants but it’s super beautiful and charming. I was lucky to experience it being all covered in snow. It felt like being in a fairytale. There are some lovely boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, après ski chic bars and clubs. You definitely won’t be bored.

San Martino is a part of the ski carousel Dolomiti Superski – the biggest ski destination in Italy with 12 ski areas, 450 ski lifts, 1,200 km of slopes – all on a single ski pass.

Skiing in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, is an unique experience that fills your soul with beauty. A true paradise if you ask me! So many gorgeous routes and breathtaking landscapes! I absolutely loved snowboarding and admiring the views. The weather was absolutely incredible too! I loved the crispy air, but also the gorgeous sunshine and perfectly blue skies.

Staying in this location is also extremely convenient. Visitors do not have to worry about travelling long distances. Ski lifts are easily reachable on foot. There are also ski buses available. 

My snowboard outfit is from an amazing brand OOSC Clothing. All their ski suits and outerwear are sustainably made using recycled plastic bottles. They create the most colourful and unique styles! You should definitely check them out! Click here to shop.

Safety

You can enjoy the mountain safely thanks to the new technological tools that aim at minimising or even eliminating queueing. They also have an app – the Dolomiti Superski app – that brings together all the information you will need to organise your holiday. 

Moreover, from now on, people with a foreign vaccination certificate (with the completed vaccination cycle) or with a foreign recovery certificate can use all the lifts in the Dolomiti-Superski area, as well as other services such as accommodation and restaurants.

Additionally, on cable cars, gondolas and chairlifts, the FFP2 mask is mandatory and the capacity is reduced to 80%.

Winter sports enthusiasts also must have third-party liability insurance. It can be purchased online or at the skips point of sale. I got mine at 3 euros per day. 

For details on the rules for accessing the cable lifts, see the section on how to vacation safely on the website.

Things to do

This place is a total paradise for sports lovers. There’s so much to do, from classic downhill skiing, snowboarding, freerideing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, to paragliding, ski mountaineering and even go-karting on ice. Let’s also not forget to mention the gorgeous boutique hotels with absolutely stunning wellness areas. I believe everyone can find something to do here!

Experiences that cannot be missed

One of my favourite experiences from this trip was Trentino Ski Sunrise. We got up super early and took a gondola in the total darkness. As we arrived, we were welcomed with a lovely, warm cup of tea and waited for the magic to happen. It was absolutely incredible to watch the sunrise so up in the mountains. One of the most spectacular views my eyes have ever seen. We then enjoyed a gorgeous breakfast spread with some delicious local specialities.

I can’t recommend this experience enough! More information about this experience here. If you’d like to see the video from this magical morning, you can find it on my Instagram.

Another must-do experience is lunch at Rifugio Colvedere. This place was love at first sight because of the gorgeous mountain-style, cosy interior. It was a perfect place to warm up, admire the spectacular views and enjoy some typical specialties of the Primiero Valley and the Dolomites. 

If you’re looking for a cosy après ski spot in San Martino, you should totally check out Bar Pasticceria Rosetta. We were craving some sweets after the long day of skiing, so we stopped there for some hot chocolate and cakes. It’s a really trendy spot in town where you can sit and warm up by the fire and watch the winter wonderland outside.

You also should not miss out on the late lunch and sunset watch at Rifugio Capanna Cervino. The place is super cosy, has a lovely local atmosphere and serves the traditional cuisine. We stayed until sunset and what we experienced was out of this world! To me it’s a must-do experience.

Lastly, what I find extremely important to mention is sustainability. San Martino di Castrozza- Passo Rolle is a truly eco-friendly ski area! The lifts are totally powered by clean energy and low-polluting snow groomers. It’s all thanks to the Green Way Primiero project, which promotes a sustainable lifestyle.

If you make a decision to swap your old petrol car for electric, San Martino will be your favourite destination. There are around 20 charging stations between valleys that are easily accessible. 

I hope my blog post will make you add San Martino di Castrozza to your bucket list! It is a truly special destination and a dream place for your next skiing holidays. For more information and bookings click here.

Post in collaboration with Visit San Martino

Chill and Play at Niyama Private Islands Maldives

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As you already know- I absolutely love Maldives. It’s one of my favourite destinations in the world. It was the first place I dreamt of visiting post-pandemic and I am so happy to say- I did! In this blog post I would love to talk to you about the incredible Niyama Private Islands Maldives resort I got to experience after hearing SO much about it! Let’s start from the beginning…

The Blonde Flamingo in Niyama Private Islands Maldives

HOW TO GET THERE

Niyama Private Islands Maldives is located in the south-western atoll of Dhaalu. There are three ways to reach the resort – by shared seaplane transfer, by domestic transfer ,or by VIP private chartered flight. I chose the seaplane transfer with Manta Air. As you know it was not my first time on the seaplane but I just absolutely love this magical experience and I can’t get enough! Yes, I did have a happy tear in my eye again! I truly missed it!

  • Unforgettable flight with Manta Air
  • Are these blues even real?

ACOMMODATION

Niyama offers a great choice of accommodation. Their villas are incredible! You can choose to either stay in luxurious Water Pool Villas or in lush beach pool villas. You can check all villa types here.

I had a chance to stay in their gorgeous Water Pool Villa. We were escorted to our villa by our butler and were surprised with a personalized welcome message, the most beautiful bed set up made of tropical flowers and a bottle of perfectly chilled champagne. What a perfect way to start the vacations!

Our villa was a dream! We had our own private deck with sun loungers, private infinity pool ,and direct access to the most magical crystal clear lagoon. Our bathroom had both – a gorgeous bath tub overviewing the endless blues of the Indian Ocean and a partially open-air shower which I absolutely loved. The mini bar was great and very well-stocked. We even had our own popcorn machine. I mean, who needs a cinema when you have views like this right outside your window?

I also had a chance to check out and enjoy a floating breakfast at their stunning and super spacious Family Water Pool Villa. It was truly a spectacular experience! How massive is the pool? Of course I had to bring some of my pool floats for a little post breakfast pool party!

GETTING AROUND

Now my favourite part! Niyama Private Islands Maldives consists of 2 islands connected by a small bridge. The islands are called Chill and Play. The best way to get around is by bike. What’s special about Niyama – their bikes are personalised! I found it very unique as I haven’t experienced that in any resort before. Here we’re having some fun in the sun together with my travel companion Ieva.

RESTAURANTS

There is a great choice of restaurants in Niyama. Epicure serves International cuisine by a chic pool, the Nest offering Asian cuisines including Thai, Cantonese, Teppanyaki, Japanese, Indonesian, and more. Niyama is the only resort in the Maldives to have an Afro Latin restaurant – Tribal serving exotic African, Central and South American dishes.

Let’s not forget about mentioning Subsix – The world’s first underwater restaurant located 6m below sea level- you can also find it at Niyama! It’s mind-blowing!

For surf and chill lovers, there’s also a Surf Shack – offering some great snacks like ceviche, tacos, burgers and my absolutely favourite truffle fries. PS. Surf Shack is also the best spot to watch the sunsets!

Sunset cocktails at Surf Shack

      SURFING

      As I already mentioned the Surf Shack, I should also talk to you about Surfing. Niyama Private Islands is the first 5-star luxury resort in the Maldives that has its own onsite wave called Vodi. Yes, you heard that right! You can surf in the Maldives! For more information click here.

      DRIFT SPA

      Let’s talk about the Spa. Niyama owns a 24-hour Drift Spa. It’s a real paradise! There are six over water treatment rooms with lagoon view and two treatment sanctuaries with private gardens, outdoor bath, rain shower and daybed. There’s also a gorgeous relaxation area – lime tree garden with sauna, steam baths, plunge pools, Jacuzzis, and Vitality juice bar.

      Drift Spa offers a wide variety of treatments and rituals from around the world. We got to experience a signature one hour treatment. With your treatment you can pick a booster. Ieva chose the Anne Semonin Facial Mask booster to hydrate the skin and protect it from sun damage and I went for a Drift Aroma Hot Stone Massage. It was so relaxing! I highly recommend trying it!

      Image Source – Niyama.com

      KIDS CLUB

      Niyama Private Islands Maldives is perfect for families and owns Indian Ocean’s biggest kid’s club called Explorers, giving parents time to unwind and relax while their little ones can have the time of their life. The club is located in the heart of the tropical jungle letting the young VIPs connect with nature. There are some great activities for littles ones such as dolphin scouting, snorkeling safaris, coconut tree planting and many more.

      THINGS TO DO

      I believe at Niyama Private Islands Resort there’s something to do for everyone. There’s no way to get bored! There’s so much to do. Surf, swim in the ocean, snorkel in their beautiful house reef, exercise at their gym, relax at their SPA, enjoy all the incredible restaurants, or enjoy a destination dining. Have a rum cocktail, and enjoy reggae music in Surf Shack; party under the water in Subsix; watch the movie on the beach under the stars with your loved one. What would you pick?

      Thank you for having me Niyama Private Islands Maldives. I absolutely love my stay and I hope to visit you again in the future.

      For bookings head to https://www.niyama.com/en

      Post in collaboration with Niyama Private Islands Maldives

      5 best things to do in Germany for nature and relaxation seekers

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      As the New Year finally approached , I now feel closer than ever to travelling the world and I am slowly planning my future trips. It brings me so much joy and hope these days! My next desired destination is Germany, a country so close to where I come from ,that I’ve never had a chance to explore.

      Frankly, after not planning trips for so long, I struggled where to start! Thankfully I found out about German information skill capsule on Alexa from the German National Tourist Board! It’s a great source of travel inspiration and information. 

      When asking Alexa about Germany Travel tips, you’re being asked two questions : if you prefer nature or culture and action or relaxation. Based on your answers Alexa suggests the perfect travel programme for you. Normally when travelling, I like the mix of both – couple of days of pure relaxation in the nature followed by some exciting and fun outdoor activities. However after a stressful year, I go for relaxation this time. This travel guide is perfect for relaxation and nature fans. I hope it will make you put Germany on your 2021 bucket list!

      For those who seek the total relaxation and the beauty of the nature, Alexa will offer many incredible walks and hiking trails such as a walk along the magical Wilhelmshöhe hillside park in Kassel. It’s located only two hours drive from Frankfurt. You can also get there by train using the Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway. It’s the largest hillside park in Europe, famous for its cascading waters. During the walk you can admire the incredible water features : fountains, waterfalls and get to them top of the hill to see the Hercules- the most famous landmark. It looks absolutely stunning! Would absolutely love to visit!

      Strolls in Wilhelmshöhe hillside park in Kassel
      Copyright notice ©GNTB /Florian Trynkowski

      Next recommendation I was given by Alexa is a visit to Tropical Islands Resort. Yes, you heard that right! There is a tropical paradise located only 50 kilometres away from Berlin! 100 000 square meters of rainforests, blue lagoons and lovely warm temperatures. Sounds like a dream? You can get there easily either by car or by train. You need to get off at Brand Tropical Islands train station. From there you will be collected by a free shuttle bus and taken directly to Tropical Islands. When arriving you’ll be blown away by how huge and amazing this place is! You can either head there for a day of relaxation in their incredible heated pools and spa or even book an overnight in the Tropical Islands dome, from tents in the rainforest camp to premium lodges. You can also choose to have your overnight-stay experience outside the dome in a gorgeous holiday apartment. Let’s add the
      most awesome news ( at least for me, haha!) Apparently you can even find
      flamingos inside! Say what? Count me in!

      Fun in the tropical paradise- The Tropical Islands Resort
      ©Tropical Islands Artist Bernhard Ludewig

      Another tailor-made tip was a Riverboat cruise on the Rhine– Germany’s Most Romantic River. Turns out the best way to see the castles in South-West Germany is by boat! Rüdesheim is one of the best departure ports for day-trip excursion riverboat cruises to see the Rhine Valley, castles and Loreley Rock. Imagine relaxing on the water with a glass of wine and admiring the most gorgeous views over astonishing castles, charming small towns and peaceful vineyards. A dream right now!

      A romantic riverboat cruise on the Rhine
      Copyright notice ©Rheintouristik Tal der Loreley, St.Goar/ Mahlow Media, Winningen

      Next activity suggested for nature and relaxation lovers is a visit to The
      Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park      , which is a part of the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’ve seen so many magical photos of this place and it’s been on my bucket list ever since! It will make you fall in love at first sight with its sand dunes, sandbanks, beaches and incredibly rich flora and fauna. Just visualise yourself stepping on the sand, feeling the breeze in your hair and connecting with nature. You can either walk around or admire the views on the bike ride. You can also visit the small inhabited Halligen islands in the middle of the mudflats by boat. With a bit of luck (and a great guide) you can spot starfish, snails, mussels and lugworms. How wonderful is that? I would absolutely love to stay there overnight and spent a day relaxing on a beach! 

      Visiting The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park
      Copyright notice ©GNTB/ Francesco Carovillano


      Alexa also told me about the famous Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz located in Saxony-Anhalt, between the city of Dessau and the town of Wörlitz in Central Germany. What makes this place so special? It is one of the first and largest English landscape garden in Germany and continental Europe, constructed between 1769 and 1773. It became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. It’s perfect for cycle tours, walks, horse-riding as well as boat trips. The main attractions to visit are : Georgium Palace, the Luisium Palace, Wörlitz park and many more. The space is huge- about 140km2.  You can spend days exploring yourself or book a special tour. Just looking at the photos of this place makes me feel so relaxed and inspired. I would love to visit it in spring when the garden is at its full bloom! That must be magical!

      Tours around the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz
      Copyright notice ©Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz

      I hope you enjoyed my Germany Travel Guide with a help of the new “Germany Travel Tips” Alexa Skill from the German National Tourist Board. I had a lot of fun planning my future trip and chatting about the ideas with Alexa! I am amazed how much Germany has to offer and I hope to make this bucket list trip happen as soon as possible! Have you been to Germany before?

      Post in collaboration with German National Tourist Office 

      48 hours in Alberobello guide

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      Ah so excited to write this guide for you! I’ve dreamt of visiting Alberobello since I can remember! I am so happy I finally made it! This little town in Apulia’s region was love at first sight. I hope this little guide will inspire you to visit this fairytale destination.

      Where is Alberobello?

      Alberobello is a small village in the Itria Valley in Puglia, Southern Italy. This small town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unusual districts of trulli, the characteristic white-washed, conical-roofed houses of the area.

      How to get there?

      The best airports for Alberobello are Bari and Brindisi, both served by budget airlines from the United Kingdom. From Bari airport you can simply catch a shuttle bus to Bari railway station then take a little train run by FSE (Ferrovie Sud Est) to Alberobello. The journey take about 2 hours. Alternatively you can also rent a car and drive there.

      Where to stay?

      During my stay in Alberobello I was very lucky to stay in the most glorious place – La Linea dell’Orizzonte which means ” Beyond the Horizon”. It’s a B&B resort located few minutes drive from the main square in Alberobello. I fall in love from the moment I got to this property. It was surrounded by fields and trees. What a wonderful smell and sounds of the nature! I truly loved it. We also got there right before the golden hour so it was just so magical and peaceful! I also got to meet the wonderful owners, who made us feel home. I just loved how warm and loving were people in this region! We were greeted with the most dreamy aperitif by their gorgeous pool. It was a perfect way to start our Alberobello adventure!

      Best thing about this B&B? You will get to stay in Trullo! I was so excited as it was honestly my dream experience! When we got the keys to our trullo I couldn’t believe my eyes. I absolutely loved the traditional decor! It was so cosy!

      La Linea dell’Orizzonte also has its private wellness center, called “La rosa dei venti” that includes a Finnish sauna and a Turkish bath, a tropical and nebulized emotional shower, a hydromassage pool and a relax area with herbal tea.

      I only stayed here for a night but I can truly recommend it. Each unit is fitted with patio, a fully-equipped kitchen and a private bathroom. I think it’s a perfect place for both couples and families with children. There is a great children playground and a lovely pool. If you’re not planning to rent a car, the property offers a bike rental. We’ve done it and it was super fun to explore the area on the bikes ( and a great morning work out too!). PS Their Italian breakfasts are lovely! We actually decided to do a little picnic style breakfast under the olive trees and it was just perfect!

      What to do in Alberobello?

      Alberobello is a small town. In my opinion one day is more than enough to explore it. What I loved the most was getting lost between the lovely alleys and admire the gorgeous trulli. It felt like being in a fairytale. It was so magical exploring Alberobello without crazy crowds. I highly recommend strolling in the morning as it less crowded and less hot. The heat in the afternoon is insane! What you can also do here is shop! There are many pretty local boutiques where you can find everything from clothing, accessories to local wine and pasta. I highly recommend getting some orrechiete- a typical pasta from this region. Here’s some Alberobello snaps! Look how pretty are these streets!

      Alberobello is also very special to visit at night, that’s way I think staying here over the night is a great idea as you can sleep in a trullo and explore the town with the colourful city lights. These views are truly unforgettable! Such a magical experience!

      Where to eat?

      Alberobello is full of little restaurants and cafes, however I was looking something more particular. I was looking for a place with a terrace so I could enjoy the views. I was so happy when I found Ristorante il Pinnacolo, located inside traditional trullo with a prettiest little terrace. As it was a very hot day, we decided to have seafood- Octopus Salad, White Fish Carpaccio. We’ve also shared the famous Orecchiete with cime di rapa- traditional pasta with broccoli rabe and it was so tasty! The views from here are wonderful! I highly recommend this place! PS. It’s super affordable too.

      Where to drink?

      You may want to write the name of place down- Senso Unico. I discovered this place by total accident as I had to wait for my bus back to Naples on my own in the rain. I saw this place and it seemed so cosy that I didn’t hesitate and got a table for one. I sat down and ordered a glass of local red wine. When it arrived to the table I was shocked! The glass was HUGE and the price of it was 1.50 euros! I was already so happy with the place but it got even better! Around 10pm I was the only person sitting there and I noticed they are slowly starting to close down. I had a little chat with a waiter and I asked him where could I go as I have 1.5 hours more until my bus arrived. He informed the owner and he kindly kept the place opened and stayed with me! I was shocked! We had such a lovely chat! He told me he needs to make sure I am getting on the bus safely. Honestly never experienced such a kindness before! Gotta love people in Southern Italy! I will never ever forget that! If you ever visit this place, please give the owner a massive hug from me! I will come back for sure!

      I hope you enjoyed this little guide and I hope you’re ready to explore this magical little town soon!

      Kisses,

      The Blonde Flamingo

      Melrose Relais – a magical place to stay on the Sorrento Peninsula

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      Hi everyone!

      As most of you probably seen on Instagram, after months in the UK, I have finally made it to my beloved country – Italy, where I am planning to stay for a while. Last week I had a chance to stay in an absolutely beautiful place that I decided to blog about straight away. I felt like I just had to let you know about this magical site. I know traveling is not possible right now, but we can always keep dreaming and planning our future escapes, right? I hope this post will inspire your future trips!

      LOCATION

      Melrose Relais is located a few steps from the sea, in the splendid scene of Massa Lubrense. It’s surrounded by the typical olive trees of the Sorrento peninsula and the Mediterranean Scrub, and it’s placed only 300 meters away from the famous beach Marina di Puolo. The view from this property is absolutely stunning. It’s overseeing Mount Vesuvius on one side and Island of Capri on the other.

      HOW TO GET THERE

      The nearest airport is Naples International, 57 km from MelRose Relais. There are few ways to get there : either by Circumvesuviana train from Naples station, by Curreri bus or by car – From the A3 Napoli – Salerno highway.

      The property also offers a paid airport shuttle service. You can read more here. We got there by car from Naples and the views on our way were incredible! The trip took us less than an hour.

      ACCOMMODATION

      Melrose Relais offers few different room types : Classic, Deluxe, Superior 2+2 – perfect for families ,and Junior Suite. All rooms are bright, modern with a little Mediterranean touch. I stayed at Junior Suite and it was a perfect choice for us as a couple as we had our own private terrace with the most magical views over Bay of Naples and island of Capri. We enjoyed them every morning while having breakfast. It was a perfect way to start our day. What a dream! I already miss it. I also absolutely loved the typical Sorrento majolica tiles everywhere on the terrace and also in the bathroom- so beautiful! Could I please move in?

      DINING

      Our day would start with breakfast on our private terrace. It was perfect! Then we were having lunch by the pool – super chilled but chic at the same time- they serve everything so beautifully and the food was absolutely delicious! As the owner said- everything from her grandma’s recipes.

      At night we would dine at their beautiful restaurant under olive trees, facing the sea and the most incredible sunsets. It was such a magical and romantic experience. I absolutely loved the laterns, candles, and flowers everywhere. It was honestly so special. Not even mentioning how incredible the food was. I felt like the chef was reading my mind. What I won’t ever forget is the tuna tartare I had there – one of the most delicious ones I ever tried! I will surely go back to Melrose for dinner!

      Recently Melrose opened the most gorgeous Bistrot – I absolutely loved the design, colors and decor. The Bistrot is available for both- hotel and non-hotel guests. I highly recommend booking it!

      THINGS TO DO

      There’s a lot to do around. You should definitely explore the beautiful Massa Lubrense and head to the magical Cala di Puolo Beach which is only 13 minutes walk. You should also explore Sorrento- I promise you’ll fall in love at first sight! My love started from the moment I ate this huge croissaint, haha!

      Apart from that, Melrose offers tours by boat (both private or in group) to Capri, Positano, Li Galli, Baia di Jeranto, Amalfi. We took a Capri tour and I absolutely loved it. It was such a beautiful day on the sea, with the loveliest crew, great music, stunning views ,and even homemade limoncello! During the tour we also stopped at Capri for a few hours so we could hang around the island. Ah, no place like Capri! I have seen it so many times and I can’t get enough! Just look at it!

      To sum up, I had the best stay at Melrose Relais and I can recommend this place with all my heart due to its stunning location and incredible family who put all their hearts to create this place and it’s magic.

      They kindly offer 10% off your stay when using the code blondeflamingo10 when booking. The code also gives you free parking. I really hope you’ll book it and fall in love with this magical property and the most wonderful hospitality. You can book your stay here.

      Post in collaboration with Melrose Relays