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10 top things to do in Positano

“Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone”

As some of you already know, I’ve been coming back to Positano every single year. When I came here for the first time 6 years ago, I fallen in love at first sight. It’s such a magical destination. I love absolutely everything about it- the vibe, the stylish restaurants, luxurious boutiques, beautiful cafes, incredible sunsets, the most delicious food, the outstanding service. Positano is very special. It’s definitely not a budget destination but to me- worth every penny. It’s the life experience you’d never ever forget and I am sure- you’d want to come back over and over again. I have decided to put all my favourite places together for you to make your visit easier when coming to Positano for the first time.

1.Stay at Buca di Bacco Hotel

It’s my new discovery and I must recommend you this place as it’s so gorgeous. The decor is sooo beautiful. I fallen in love straight away when walked in to the reception. Buca di Bacco has the cutest balconies and the most magical terrace- to me, the most beautiful view over Positano. If you’re not planning to stay there and still would love to experience this place, they also have a restaurant open to public.

2. Shop at Theodora Positano

Shopping in Positano is just something else. I absolutely love all the gorgeous boutiques, I could be strolling for hours. My favourite spot where I stop every single year is Theodora Positano. If you’re looking for a quality, handmade and unique pieces this is the place for you. I am especially obsessed with all their stunning white dresses! I call them “ Positano dress” haha. You definitely need one! To me- best souvenir from Positano together with their famous handmade sandals.

3. Admire the views from Le Sirenuse terrace

As much as I would love to stay there ( hopefully one day) this hotel is crazy pricey. However it didn’t stop me from visiting. Le Sirenuse has a beautiful restaurant open to non hotel guests. It is also pricey but the service, the decor and the views are incredible. Alternatively you can walk in, admire the views from their terrace and take a quick snap however do ask them if that’s ok first. I have been there many times and it’s getting more and more strict due to people walking in with cameras without asking for permission. This year I kindly asked if I can take photo on their terrace and the manager said it’s ok as I have asked. So do keep that in mind when visiting.

4. Aperitivo at II San Pietro or Ville Tre Ville

My absolutely two favourite places in Positano for aperitivo. I honestly can’t decide which place I like more as they are both super special and I recommend you visiting both. These places are so luxurious and peaceful compare to busy restaurants and bars at Positano’s center ( note that this year I’ve visited during high season- July). I’ve never make a reservation but asked at the reception if it’s ok to come in for a drink. There was a minimum spent in Ville Tre Ville– it’s way more pricey than II San Pietro. In Ville Tre Ville for 4 Aperol Spritz we’ve paid €200. Also it’s harder to get there as many times they are fully booked for weddings. II San Pietro hotel seemed more relaxing and more affordable to me- the cocktails cost between €18-€25

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Terrace at San Pietro Hotel Positano

5. Soak up the sun at Spiagga Grande

The Instagram famous Spagga Grande- famous for it’s colourful sunbeds and umbrellas is the main beach in Positano accessible by walk from Positano’s center. The sun-bed cost €22.75 per person per day. Please note the prices may change due to the seasons.

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6. Dine at the beach at Chez Black Restaurant

I absolutely love this restaurant. It’s located downstairs on the beach. Firstly it got me because of the stunning location, decor and the plates- if you go, you’ll understand what I mean haha. But when we’ve ordered the food we’ve realised is not JUST that. The food is absolutely delicious! I highly recommend it if you’re a seafood lover as myself. I absolutely loved the octopus salad ( Insalata di Polpo) and seafood risotto ( Risotto con Frutti di Mare). I went there for lunch but I am sure it must be magical at night too!

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7. Try the famous lemon sorbet at Collina Bakery

It’s such a shame to admit, but I have been in Positano probably 8 times and never tried the famous lemon sorbet served in a real lemon until this year, haha. Well now I came to Positano prepared and I’ve headed straight to Collina Bakery where you can get it take away at €5. It’s soo refreshing and delicious on a hot summer day! I highly recommend you to try it!

8. Try the best panini at Vini & Panini

I have discovered Vini & Panini probably 3 years ago and I am always going back since then. They do the best panini- huge, fresh and delicious at just €6! (This is the cheapest for Positano I think) My favourite panino is with Provola- smoked mozzarella & mortadella. They only do takeaways- there’s no place to sit down but I normally get a panini, sit on the stairs and smile to people passing haha. Such an Italian thing to do!

9. Sunset cruise with Bluestar Positano

I have done it last year and to me it’s the most magical and romantic thing to do in Positano. I highly recommend it for couples! The sunset views in Positano are absolutely gorgeous. It’s such an unforgettable experience worth every penny. Head to their website for information and bookings.

10. Sunset cocktails at Franco’s bar

Franco’s bar is located right next to Le Sirenuse Hotel. It’s personally my favourite bar in Positano for a sunset watch. It’s so stylish, beautiful and also quite affordable. The views from this bar are absolutely insane! I never make reservations but trying to be there before they open the bar to find the best spot to sit.

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Is Positano on your bucket list?

Mexico Travel Guide- my recommendations for adventure lovers

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

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

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

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 :