The North Island of New Zealand is often overshadowed by the pristine alpine scenery of the South, but its stunning beaches, boiling mud pools and otherworldly neon lakes definitely don’t fall behind. Not to mention it offers far more opportunities to experience the Maori culture. To get the most out of your trip, follow my road trip style New Zealand North Island itinerary below! It includes the best places to see and things to do in New Zealand’s North Island with

Rogaška Slatina is Slovenia’s famous SPA town, especially known for its healing mineral water. While many visitors choose to stay in one of the major luxury wellness resorts in the area, the Pomona Tourist Farm is the perfect alternative for those looking for an authentic countryside stay in the midsts of nature. I headed over for Easter weekend, and enjoyed every second! Located only a couple of minutes from the centre of Rogaška Slatina, Pomona Tourist Farm has everything you need

I’m a sucker for unique experiences, so it was only a matter of time before I headed over to Kranjska Gora for a special meal at Jasna Chalet Resort’s instagrammable Alpine Bubbles. My sister and her boyfriend visiting from the Netherlands was just the right excuse I needed to drag my whole family along! Lake Jasna has one of the best mountain views in the country, and being able to have lunch “outside” even during the winter, taking it all in,

Having completely missed the colorful displays of the last two autumns (thanks, terrible weather and the lockdown),  I wasn’t going to let my autumnal photo escape get away once more. The second I saw a few sunny days on the horizon, I packed my bags and headed to one of the most picturesque places in Slovenia — Kranjska Gora. I chose to stay at the new Triangel Boutique Hotel in the nearby Gozd Martuljek.  When it comes to accommodations, I’m

Borneo is not the only place to see orangutans out in the wild. The Bukit Lawang jungle trekking orangutan tour in fairly untravelled Sumatra is an experience of a lifetime! Located right on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, Bukit Lawang couldn’t seem further away from the hustle and bustle of Medan, the capital of Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, only 90 km (or a four hour bumpy ride) away. This tiny village scattered on the banks of Bahorok River

New Zealand’s South Island is the ultimate playground for nature lovers. With so many natural wonders around, it’s hard to choose the best one, but Milford Sound might just be the one to take the crown. Despite its remote location, almost one million visitors come see this iconic fiord every year, and it’s easy to see why. Its majestic waterfalls running down the dramatic cliffs covered in lush green rainforest make for a breathtaking sight! Do you want to experience

What is your idea of paradise? To me it’s always been Polynesia. Tropical lush green vegetation surrounded by crystal clear turquoise lagoons, fresh seafood on the plate, relaxing sounds of ukulele, mesmerising dance moves, flowers everywhere… Not only did my Cook Islands vacation tick every box imaginable, but was also fairly inexpensive compared to the other South Pacific islands and not yet overtaken by tourism. Triple win! Do you want to experience this slice of heaven yourself? Check out my

My mom is obsessed with alpacas. Ever since one of our hosts in New Zealand introduced us to his fluffy duo, they’ve been on her mind 24/7. If you thought my profile on Instagram was her favourite, I regret to disappoint you - it’s Alfie the alpaca’s. So when her birthday rolled around, my sister and I just knew we have to come up with some sort of an alpaca-themed surprise. Luckily for my bank account, we didn’t have to

Namibia is an absolute dream to visit and perfect for first-time visitors to Africa! It’s extraordinarily beautiful in its scenery, wildlife and culture, but also completely safe to explore on your own. Having said that, it’s so vast, with so many captivating places to see, that planning a self-organised trip can be slightly overwhelming. To make it easy for you, I’ve put together an optimal Namibia 2 week itinerary with plenty of useful tips and once-in-a-lifetime experiences you definitely shouldn’t

Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa may be the most popular African safari locations for first-timers, but a Namibia self drive safari in Etosha National Park isn’t anything less magnificent! Namibia alone is a destination you HAVE to put on your radar. Breathtaking red sand dunes of the Namib Desert in Sossusvlei, dramatic landscapes of Spitzkoppe and Fish River Canyon, as well as the rich culture of the semi-nomadic Himba people are reasons enough to visit, but when you throw safari

They don’t call Queenstown the adventure capital of the world for no reason. The birthplace of bungee jumping and the home of the most famous swing in the world is THE place to be for all thrill-seekers. Whether you want to take a leap of faith, brave the river rapids or scream your heart out on the Nevis Swing, you’re in for a treat. But what if you’re one of those people (like me) who break out in cold sweat

Being Slovenian means that I was born with hiking shoes on and spent my childhood being DRAGGED up the local hills. As a teenager, binge-watching Gossip Girl was just way more appealing than getting the sweat on with my parents every weekend, you know? Back then a hiking-heavy holiday would make me pull my hair out, but my move to London has left me with a newfound appreciation of the rugged landscapes of my old stomping ground - and beyond.

Considering how many times I’ve packed my suitcase in the last year alone, I may very well put ‘pro packer’ on my CV. Wake me up in the middle of the night, and I can throw together my stuff in a matter of minutes, with the light still off. Well, most often. When I was wondering what to pack for my trip to Namibia, the situation was slightly different. Not only had I never been to Africa before, but I’d

Even though I’ve been actively trying to spend less time online, staying connected whilst on the road is still essential for me. A career in social media means having to be available around-the-clock, holidays or not, and let’s face it - Google Maps is definitely the way to go when you’re trying to find your way around new cities. PORTABLE WI-FI DEVICE In Europe, getting online is thankfully pretty fuss-free for us Europeans, but whenever I’m off to explore another continent,

Despite being the home of noma, one of the best restaurants in the world, I never though of Copenhagen as a foodie destination per se. One goes to Tokio for phenomenal sushi, Italy for the yummiest carbs… but what does Copenhagen have to offer? High quality ingredients, heart-eyes-emoji presentation (instagrammers, you’re in for a treat), and incredible flavours, it turns out. What Disneyland is to kids, Copenhagen is to adults who love their food. Once you get on board with

  Before I give you the lowdown on the best spots to visit in the charming Portuguese capital, I thought I would first share five helpful Lisbon travel tips I wish I knew before my trip. First things first

My love for Asian food goes way back, but moving to London and having Chinatown with authentic Asian cuisine right on my doorstep has made my heart grow even fonder. Dumplings, sticky rice, buns

For some reason, Lisbon has never been on my 'top places to visit' list, but when it was time to choose my first solo travel destination, it got recommended to me right, left and centre, and so the decision has been made - Sandra is going to Lisbon! Why I hadn't thought about paying it a visit sooner is beyond me, because it's honestly one of the best (and most affordable) European weekend getaways, combining old Mediterranean charm and what

I don't often return to places I've already visited, no matter how much I love them and wish to go back. I want to see as much of our beautiful planet and experience as many cultures as possible, so revisiting the same spots over and over again is something I generally try to avoid. But every now and again, I stumble upon a place that sweeps me off my feet and a great love affair is unavoidable. Before I moved

  I have a confession to make. Even though I'm an avid traveller, staying in a hostel is something I'd never even considered. I'm far from being a princess, but the thought of spending my nights in an environment where hygiene is questionable and sleeping in a room with complete strangers never tickled my fancy. As you can tell by now, my perception of hostels wasn't the best, but all that changed a few weeks ago, when I spent the weekend

There's a lot more to Sri Lanka than sandy beaches and vast fields of tea. Did you know it's one of the most diverse places on the planet? The nature is absolutely stunning and when you throw the culture into the mix as well, it's no surprise everyone and their mother is currently planning a trip there. I was fortunate enough to explore the country for two whole weeks over the Christmas break and saw countless of incredible places. It's

  I know you were supposed to stay away from your phone and computer while you're on holiday, but for some of us, it just isn't possible. Trust me, I would love to get away from the online world for a second once in a while; however, social media is a 24/7 kind of thing, and when it's your job, you just have to stay connected, whether you like it or not. As you know, I love traveling. Every single part of

One thing's for sure. Stockholm definitely knows how to do museums right. Usually I leave them until the very end and only visit the best of the best, after I check off all other, more or less outdoorsy activities, but in the land of meatballs and overly attractive men, I was trying to squeeze them in right, left and centre. The list of highly recommended was getting longer by every human encounter, and everything made sense the moment I was

The Zala Villa Bali was my home for two weeks back in August 2014, when I was visiting Bali with my family and friends. It was the first luxury accomodation I stayed at, and what can I say, it set the bar very high. Located away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, in the middle of rice fields in Canggu, it's the perfect place to relax without being too secluded. Echo beach - my favourite - is

Kingsgate Bay A sandy beach is last thing that crosses my mind when I think of England. Sure, I've heard about the famous Cornwall beaches, but living a five-hour drive away from them, they're not exactly a day trip material. I thought Brighton and its pebbles is the only way to go for us Londoners, but boy was I wrong. It turns out Kent, an area in South East England, has quite a few gems in its pocket! Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs

I've been writing about food so much lately The Puzzle of Sandra's Life is unintentionally starting to resemble a food blog, haha. Today I don't have a recipe or a restaurant review per se for you guys, but I do have one amazing tip that you'll be glad I told you about when you visit Bali. It's called The Cafe. You can find it inside The Mulia, a luxury five-star resort in Nusa Dua. Essentially, it's a buffet restaurant, but a

London is one hella expensive city, for those of us living here as well as for tourists. But lucky for us, there's also a bunch of spots that are free to visit, including museums, galleries, parks and some amazing vantage points. While taking a ride with the London Eye or going up the Shard are both great experiences, you don't have to break the bank to see the city in all its glory. Here are my favourite places that offer

I already started witing this post back in May, but for some weird reason, this is the post that came out of it instead. What can I say

Every April, when most people decide to spend their spring break by the sea or fly away to explore a new city, my family drives up to the French Alps for a week of fun in the snow. I know what you're thinking