My 2020 Bucketlist.. Around the World in 14 days!

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!! 2020… the roaring twenties!!! Wowwweee how exciting!!!!

There’s something about the start of a new year that always sends my mind into absolute overdrive with my little brain wanting to burst with all of the excitement of brand new plans and fresh starts.

Now you lot now me well by now, and know just how much I absolutely ADORE a bucket list, especially when it comes to planning my future travels. In fact if you’re new around here, this is my dreamy list from 2019. 

And nothing screams ‘new bucket list’ more than the first week of January does it?

I also got challenged by the wonderful travel team at Clickstay to present my DREAM villa, that gives off ALL of the Love Island Vibes, that you can find underneath my bucket list. 

So without further ado… ladies and gentleman I present to you… my travel dreams for 2020 and my dream Love Island Villa.

*Update Feb 1st*- Oh em gee guys, this bucket list post has made it to the top five blogs, as part of the Click Stay Blogger Travel Competition. If you liked reading this blog, I would appreciate it SO much if you could give me a cheeky like here. Love you forevs!

I actually wanted to mix things up a bit this year, and rather than simply listing my dream places I thought we could play a little game. 

It’s called ‘Around The World in 14 days’, and I need you all to use your imagination.

SO.. how to play?….You need to shut your eyes and pretend you have just won an unlimited amount of money to spend on a two week holiday. (Eeek, I know, dreams!!!) 

But there’s a catch…..

You have to choose 14 DIFFERENT hotels to stay in, BUT you will only get to spend ONE night at each hotel. So every morning you would wake up in a brand new exciting destination. And in this fantasy game travelling time isn’t a worry. 

(By the way this is the sort of thing I play when I’m alone and my imaginations starts day dreaming and wanderlusting, which mightttttt just happen on a near daily basis… I’m pathetic really aren’t I, but please just go along with it for me..)

Spoiler Note: It was BEYOND HARD to cut this down to 14 hotels, I could have gone on for over a month. I also now have severe depression that I am not a billionaire. So please send help. I am not okay.

You up for it? I will start, and then its your turn, and I’m so desperate to hear your hotel choices in the comments. Right, are you ready? Lets gooooo!!!!….

DAY ONE

Country: BORA BORA 

Hotel: Four Seasons Bora Bora.

Ive always been absolutely desperate to to stay at a Four Seasons Hotel, so what better way to kick off this holiday of dreams than at BORA BORA. The place where no words are needed.

I would spend my first day sizzling in the sun, sipping strawberry daiquiris, snorkelling with the turtles in the shimmering sapphire sea and watching the sun set from my water cabin. Care to join me?

Photo Credit: Four Seasons Bora Bora website.

DAY TWO

Country: ST LUCIA

Hotel: Jade Mountain

Have I woken up in heaven? Well not quite… but I am in Jade Mountain, the most DIVINE, tranquil and stunning hotel in the Caribbean. With their hotel rooms swept high off the ground and overlooking the whole of St Lucia you would genuinely never want to leave your own private infinity pool (I know, I can’t breathe either).

Photo Credit: Jade Mountain Hotel website.

And whilst I could stay in my room all day.. there’s things to do and people to see. I want to kick off the day exploring the luscious botanical rainforest of St Lucia, then fill up my tummy at Jade Mountain’s private chocolate laboratory, where I would visit the 2000 strong cocoa trees before making my own chocolate bar. Then I would devour said chocolate bar whilst relaxing on one of many of their private beaches to end the perfect day. Ummm can I extend my trip please?

DAY THREE

Country: USA, LOS ANGELAS

Hotel: The Beverly Hills Hotel

The city of stars! And where else to stay but at the iconic, the one, the only, pink palace of dreams… The Beverly Hills Hotel. A hotel that oozes glamour and style, that is enriched with so much history and culture all whilst still managing to have the most boujee, instagrammable and stunning setting of them all. I can just picture myself tucking into pancakes and strawberries at brunch whilst sneakily celeb spotting from my stripey pink sun lounger. And if there’s time I will try and fit in a stroll down Rodeo Drive and Venice Beach!

Photo Credit: Beverley Hills Hotel website.

DAY FOUR

Country: USA, FLORIDA

Hotel: The Grand Floridian Hotel

When you wish upon a star… you will wake up in Disneyland’s Grand Floridian Hotel. The hotel that smells of cinnamon and gingerbread no matter the season. The hotel that is so special you will feel so emotional the second you walk into the fabulous lobby. Now I have had the pleasure of having breakfast here (in the form of Mickey Mouse shared waffles) but that was not enough for me and now I want a full slice of the action. I will start the day wearing my Minnie ears and pretending I’m ten at a special character breakfast, before going next door to spend the day at the Magic Kingdom. At night I would watch the firework display by their riverbank, before collapsing in their cosy lobby listening to their live orchestra play instrumental Disney songs and crying that this can’t be my life every. single. day. 

Photo Credit: Disney World website.

DAY FIVE

Country:  USA, UTAH

Hotel: Montage Deer Valley.

Spoiler alert: I’ve never ever been skiing before sob. But a girls got to start somewhere right? 

And where better than to start than at this snowy winter paradise. Okay who am I kidding, I don’t want to go just to ski. I want to spend hours falling asleep by the roaring fires, to sit in a boiling hot tub outside whilst snowflakes fall on my face, to go on walks wearing wellies and oversized coats crunching into the pure white thick snow, and to spend the night toasting marshmallows at the outside bonfire. A girl can dream.

*Note to self- please don’t break any bones- we are off to Finland tomorrow….*

Photo Credit: Montage Hotel website.

DAY SIX

Country: FINLAND

Hotel: Kakslauttanen Igloos

From one winter wonderland to another… I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get much better than this hotel. Now which room do I choose? The glass or snow igloo with views of the twinkling electric Northern lights, or the snowy cosy log cabin, which is basically a Christmas dream come true? Oh god I’m already crying this is too much. And that’s before I have gone husky sledding, met real life reindeers and gone on a snow mobile. Please can I have Bernards watch so I can freeze time?

Photo Credit: Kakslauttanen website.

DAY SEVEN

Country: ITALY, LAKE COMO

Hotel: Hotel Gran Tremezzo

All of this crunchy snow and minus degrees has left me feeling rather hungry and rather cold, so I think its time we got some sunshine… and some spag bol! Now this hotel has basically been on my bucket list since the second its doors opened. Okay that’s a lie, I wasn’t born when it opened, but lets just go with it. Have you ever seen a more divine, luxurious and opulent hotel that has such a magical historical feel? I can’t even begin to tell you how desperate I am to jump into their floating pool which lies in the beautiful lake, and explore the beautiful floral grounds whilst munching on divine chocolate gelato. 

Photo Credit: Grand Tremezzo Hotel website.

DAY EIGHT

Country: GREECE, MYKONOS

Hotel: Cavoo Tagoo

Oh Cavoo Tagoo, you have stolen my heart. The most modern, fresh, crisp and pure beautiful hotel I have ever laid my eyes on. I am spending the day in a cave room suite, where my own private infinity pool would take me out to views of a glistening, shimmering sea. I would spend the evening exploring the cobbled streets of Greece and pretending I am in Mamma Mia knowing it doesn’t get much better than this.

Photo Credit: Cavoo Tagoo Hotel website.

DAY NINE

Country: SOUTH AFRICA, CAPE TOWN

Hotel: One & Only Cape Town

After two days of pure relaxation and stuffing my face its time for a new adventure, so where better than Cape Town. It goes without saying that I would stay at my favourite ever brand of hotel, The One & Only, which looks utterly incredible.

The day would be spent hiking table mountain, visiting the penguins on boulder beach and perhaps trying to spot a whale. At night I would explore the V&A waterfront from my private boat provided by the hotel. What a time to be alive!

Photo Credit: One & Only Hotel website.

DAY TEN

Country: SOUTH AFRICA

Hotel: ULUSABA GAME RESERVE.

Its always been my absolute dream to go on safari, so there was never a question of what destination to choose. Richard Branson has kindly let me stay in his luxurious private game reserve for the night, and given me a tree house which can only be accessed by a rope bridge. (I’m not crying you are).

But despite me wanting to spend all of my time there, it’s time to go on safari… and there is 33,000 acres of land to explore.. I better get a move on! After a day of meeting the big five, Richard has kindly lent me his telescope so I can spend the night star gazing under the twinkling African skyline. Thanks babes!

Photo Credit: Virgin Edition website.

DAY ELEVEN

Country: KENYA

Hotel: Giraffe Manor

I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to the magic of Africa, so I want to quickly pop to another hotel that has been on my bucket list for so long, that I can’t remember a week that hasn’t gone by where I don’t find myself thinking about it. Giraffe Manor!!! “Oh yes” I hear you cry, “me too, me too!!” This family run hotel has the most adorable concept which sees giraffe roaming around the property freely without a care in the world, and you can forget a Disney character breakfast at Animal Kingdom… this hotel breakfast sees you dining next to a the real deal, just as long as you feed them too. Pure magic!!!

Photo Credit: Giraffe Manor website.

DAY TWELVE

Country: MALDIVES

Hotel: Soneva Javi

This next hotel of dreams screams Tom Hanks in castaway….but with a slightttt twist. Yes, it’s a remote sandy island in the middle of the crystal clear turquoise sea, however this island has water cabins bigger than my flat, my sisters house and my parents house put together, a gigantic slide that twirls you into the shimmering sea, a private cinema under the twinkling stars, and restaurants on the golden sandy beach where you can dine under the glowing moon.

Photo Credit: Soneva Javi website.

Poor Tom, he really did get swept up on to the wrong island didn’t he?!

Photo Credit: Soneva Javi website.

DAY THIRTEEN

Country: SINGAPORE

Hotel: Marina Bay Sands

After a full 24 hours of being the laziest beach bum there is, ive now popped to the iconic Marina Bay Sands to explore Singapores incredible and magical sites such as the Gardens by The Bay, their world famous zoo and of course, sipping on cocktails overlooking the entire city on the most incredible infinity pool up high in the sky.

Photo Credit: Marina Bay Sands website.

DAY FOURTEEN

Country: AUSTRALIA

Hotel: Lizard Island

Nooooo, please say it’s not true, this can’t be my last day!!

So where to go to end the trip of a life time on a high? I know… lets go to lizard Island in the great barrier reef! (That took all of two seconds).

But it honestly doesn’t get much better than this luxurious five star resort where I can divide my day between snorkelling the great barrier reef, having a picnic on a private golden beach and swimming in the crustal clear blue lagoon.

Photo Credit: Lizard Island website.

Travel Goals 2020: Dream Love Island Stay

“Ive got a teeeeeexxxxxtttt!!!”

As I open my eyes, and reach across to grab my phone over the hot and warm bubbles of my gigantic stone bath I can see it is from the hubby.

‘Quick, the sun is setting you don’t want to miss this’, the text exclaims! I throw on a large fluffy towel and run out to the gigantic balcony where I stop dead in my tracks.

The view is nothing like I have ever experienced before. The dazzling and bright orange sun is slowly disappearing underneath the mountains and fresh, crisp white rooftops of the scattered buildings amongst us.

We are in Santorini, and I have a strong feeling that life won’t get better than this.

Okay, okay, a girl can dream can’t she? Lets rewind a bit so I can fill you lot in. I think I’m getting a bit over excited- as per usual. 

Recently the wonderful travel brand Clickstay got in touch to ask me which stunning villa I would choose out of their THOUSANDS of amazing homes on offer, that most resonates with Love Island.

When I think of Love Island the words that spring to mind are sun, sea, water, relaxation, romance and happiness. So with that in mind I logged on to Clickstay and got researching.

It took me all of….. twenty seconds…. (I kid you not, I’m a girl on a mission) to find the villa of MY DREAMS!!!! In fact I had to read the description three times to check I hadn’t made a mistake. Was this villa seriously on offer? It is THAT beautiful I don’t understand why anyone would EVER leave it!!!

So where did I choose I hear you cry??

Well there was only going to be one place… the stunning, majestic Greek Island of Santorini. For the last couple of years you have seen it has been one of my top choice on my bucket lists. It screams romance and magic and I love how the town has so many mysterious and tiny cobbled streets that you can stumble across at any moment. Each one telling a story of its own.

The villa itself is in a prime location in Santorini, with views of the sparkling and dazzling sea that stretches out for miles on end on one side, with a gorgeous vineyard over at the other. The outside pool is a shining and gleaming turquoise shade, that I genuinely would never get out of, and is surrounded by a large cobbled court yard and stunning comfy garden furniture and hammocks where you could spend the days relaxing and drinking fresh orange juice, and the nights sipping cocktails whilst watching the sun turn into stars. There is even a large table so you can dine al fresco under the moon light. No I’m not crying, you are. 

The view from the pool area is genuinely jaw dropping, and the villa is right in the heart of the action, with the pure white stone buildings you see in the magazines surrounding you every where you turn.

(Villa in Santorini) Photo Credit: Clickstay website.

Although the outside of the villa is the real show stopper the inside is a steep competition. The bedroom and bathroom is situated in what seems like a magical and mystical cave, with the decor being pure white and natural stone. It is absolutely beautiful and gives off an extremely tranquil atmosphere.

The villa is so romantic, I think it would be the PERFECT place to host a date night for the islanders. I mean I don’t think you are going to get a more special hideaway than this. I know everyone says not to put all of your eggs in one basket, but I’m over ruling that. I want to put every single egg in this basket, I mean villa, and NEVER, EVER,  leave.

(Villas in Santorini)

(Please note this section of my blog has been written as part of a competition I have entered via Clickstay. It is is no way sponsored or endorsed, and all of the words, views and opinions are my own)

(Villa in Santorini) Photo Credit: Clickstay website.

Sigh.

And just like that it is all over. Well that was a whole load of fun, if not a bit depressing wasn’t it!!!!

But come on guys its fun to use our imaginations.. and just IMAGINE if one day we can look back at our bucket lists and scream with excitement that we actually ticked some of it off.

The Skys the limit… its just a shame my bank balance isn’t! HELP!

Now it is your turn, what is your dream hotel?? Where is on your bucket list for this year? And has any of my bucket list inspired you?

I’m desperate to know and adore hearing all of your travel plans!

Thanks again for reading and playing along, you are all amazing!!

Sammy xxxx

*Update Feb 1st*- Oh em gee guys, this bucket list post has made it to the top five blogs, as part of the Click Stay Blogger Travel Competition. If you liked reading this blog, I would appreciate it SO much if you could give me a cheeky like here. Love you forevs!

If you enjoyed this post you can read my other hotel reviews here:

Soho Farmhouse

A magical stay at The One & Only Royal Mirage!

The Atlantis Hotel, Dubai.

A weekend at The W Hotel Barcelona.

The Ned- a London staycation!