Wednesday 29 April 2020

My favourite travel memories: childhood edition

I've been so lucky to be able to travel extensively since I was little - my family all love to travel so we've been here, there and everywhere throughout my life. This is an incredible privilege and believe me, one that I don't take for granted. While we're stuck at home, I've been looking back at my childhood travels and wanted to write down some of my favourite memories of travelling as a youngster...

My first cruise


I was lucky enough to go on my first cruise when I was 8, with my aunty and uncle. It was an Ancient Wonders cruise with Thomson (now Marella) and it was amazing. From the Great Pyramids of Giza to the kids club, the captain's cocktail night to the Parthenon in Athens I loved every minute of it. The entertainment and the food, the early mornings and the chilled out days at sea - there's just something about a cruise.


Even though one day I went flying off a sunbed and genuinely saw my life flash before my eyes as I went hurtling towards the edge the ship, convinced I was heading to my death, it's still up there in my top 5 holidays of all time.

Visiting Lapland


My grandad was the biggest joker ever. And luckily for him, I was incredibly slow as a child. So when he took me to stay at the Hilton by Manchester Airport as a treat, I obviously thought nothing of it - because that was so exciting to me anyway, and spending time with him was my favourite thing to do. The next morning he suggested we have breakfast at the airport which I said was impossible as we weren't travelling, and he said you're allowed to go through to eat like you would at a shopping centre. So off we went, queuing right through airport security and onto the other side to have breakfast.


After we ate, my grandad said we should go to the gates and see some planes. Now I was quite a rule-abiding child, terrified of getting in trouble, so I told him absolutely not. But he convinced me and we headed to a gate, and he told me to ask one of the flight attendants where the plane was going. I did (nervously) and she said Lapland, and I passed on the information to my grandad who at this point was probably so fed up with this idiot child that he regretted everything. "WE are going to Lapland!!!" he said, and so we did. For the day - I met the real Santa, drank hot blackcurrant in an igloo, made a horrendous wooden elf decoration that we still bring out at Christmas each year. It was one of the best days ever.

Family holidays in Turkey


We went to Turkey a couple of times when I was little, and one that stands out is when I was about 7. We were staying in Ovacik, and some family friends were staying in a hotel nearby so we met up with them; I also made some lovely friends at the hotel including Hannah (who I'm still in touch with) and some crazy American twins who lived in New York and told us they had maids and chefs at home. It was just one of those lovely laid-back holidays, full of good people and cheesy hotel entertainment and endless lil surfing competitions. Dreamy.


I feel so lucky to have been able to make amazing memories around the world as I've grown up, and these definitely stand out. There are others - Florida, my first trip abroad to Malta and loads more, but these are some of my favourites for sure. 

11 comments:

  1. Looks like you had lots of great adventures! I did a similar post last week looking back at my childhood travels I always think it's so fun!

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  2. Aww these are some lovely memories for you to cherish!

    Gemma Louise

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  3. These are lovely memories! Always wanted to go to Lapland x

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  4. You have some lovely memories here :)

    Amy x
    The July Rose

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  5. Is it wierd that your throwback photos are making me tearful? I love going down memory lane!
    Rosie
    loverosiee.co.uk

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  6. The cruise sounds amazing! I can't wait to be able to go again soon xx

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  7. Aw this is such a lovely idea, looking back on memories. Definitely makes you feel better in this crappy time I guess xx

    Megan Elizabeth

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  8. This is such a lovely idea for a blog, I miss travelling

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  9. What brilliant memories! I am in awe of that story about your grandad taking you to Lapland, it feels like the kind of thing that happens in a Christmas movie! What an amazing experience to have!

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  10. I love reading posts like this - it seems like you have some incredible childhood memories. Lapland sounds incredible x

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  11. All I can remember is Butlins! haha

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