Wanderlusting: My Dream Travel Destinations 2017

When the sunshine seems so far away from us it's the perfect time to start planning those trips and mind-mapping your ultimate destinations. I love everything about traveling (from the pre-trip prep and airport shopping experience, to sitting on the plane with a guidebook organising what you're going to do in the coming days,) and I've definitely got the bug right now; my list of places to visit just keeps on getting longer, not helped by the number of travel blogs I keep discovering and salivating over. There's so much more to the world than the Costa Del Sol and New York City, and I want a part of it. I'm fortunate enough to have the time, finances and flexibility to travel much more in my thirties than I ever have before, so I'm making a concerted effort to see the world and discover as many amazing places as I can get through - starting with these five that I'm just itching to fly off to. 


I've always wanted to visit the beautiful African lands (maybe I've watched The Lion King too many times) and discover my inner jungle princess, but since discovering Giraffe Manor that passion has trebled. This incredible 1930's style manor house hotel is set within a vast Nairobi landscape and oozes vintage appeal; not only are the surroundings utterly stunning, but you can actually feed the giraffes while you eat your breakfast as they pop their heads through the window for a morning snack. How amazing is that? It costs a small fortune, but I'm determined to get here at some point in the not too distant future.

My fascination with this historic town dates back to studying it at school and seeing the incredible figures in their frozen positions; I've watched documentary after documentary on the days leading up to the event that's forever etched in history and can't quite get my head around what it must have been like. My mum visited Pompeii a couple of years ago and was hypnotised by its story, so after seeing her pictures I've been itching to go myself. Italy is such a beautiful country, but there's something special about this location that I simply must tick off my list. 

I was lucky enough to stay in St Tropez for a night a couple of years ago on a press trip (the yaughts are insane!) but 24 hours just wasn't enough to take it all in. Although the main attraction is the harbor, there are so many little back streets and cafes to discover that make this more than an overnight destination. I'd love to charter a boat for a few days and sail around the coast (wishful thinking,) but in the meantime a hotel in the area and a seat on the edge of the port with a nice glass of rose wine will suffice. 
The home of all things Hygge, Copenhagen has a relaxed and cosy appeal like no other city. Full of design and style inspiration, it's Instagram heaven for anyone that can appreciate the clean lines and muted colour palette - while the watery backdrop allows you to breathe in and appreciate the surroundings. Steeped in history as much as art and modern culture, this is a city I know will be super expensive but absolutely worth it. I can't wait to find an Airbnb to ensure I get the local experience too!

When we had our Florida holiday about 18 months ago we were planning to drive down to Miami and spend a day on the beach - but time got away from us and we realised we needed some down time after the intensity of the parks. (Miami is about a four hour drive from central Florida, so that's a long way to go for a day trip.) Since then I've wondered about organising a visit back to take in the pastel architecture and incredible beaches, and right now it seems like a better idea than ever. I've heard such great things about this part of the world, and its association with Dexter just makes it even more of a destination. (Just me?!)

Where would you love to visit in 2017? Are you dreaming of any of my ultimate destinations too?

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