Malaga Travel Guide

Just recently (in March) I took a weekend trip to the sunny Costa Del Sol to escape the cold British weather and soak up the start of Malaga's summer. Prior to my getaway I heard that Malaga was a boozy party central destination for students or tourists that just wanted to experience Spain's relatively cheap nightlife. So based on this stereotype I was extremely sceptical about my time there however I just simply pushed this to the back of mind because the flights were SO cheap costing £47 return from Birmingham, flying out on the Saturday and back on the Monday. 

When searching for an airbnb I truly was not aware of how cheap this trip was going to be when I stumbled across plenty of extremely affordable places to stay. We ended up staying in the most modern and most importantly cleanest Airbnb ever, costing £35 per person for the duration of our stay. If you ever visit Malaga and need a place to stay check out the Airbnb we stayed at here.

Gathering my thoughts on Malaga I would 100% recommend Malaga to anyone especially if your a student as its one of the cheapest holidays I have ever been on. Spending money wise I only spent 39 euros in total and I believe you could spend even less if you are extremely good at budgeting. Malaga was so architecturally beautiful, full of so much culture and history that you wouldn't think twice that this was a party central destination. I would only advise spending a weekend in Malaga as that is an optimal amount of time to leisurely see everything, anymore time than that then you'll be running out of things to do.

The cheapest and quickest way to get from Malaga airport to the city centre would be catching the train which costs 1.80 euros each way which departs every 20 minutes from the airport and the journey taking no more than 12 minutes. 

1. Head to the Beach

Although the beach doesn't have the cleanest sand to sunbathe on it does make the perfect place to take an evening stroll and watch the sunset. Another great thing about Malaga is that everything is within walking distance to main tourist attractions so you'll be saving even more money as there are zero transport costs.

2. Get dinner at La Plaza

If you are a vegetarian/vegan then pay a visit to this restaurant where they offer a few veggie options (enough to make you deliberate your choice). The restaurant itself is located on the main strip so you won't need to walk far at all.

3. Take in views from the AC Marriott Hotel 

If you want a reason to get dressed up whilst in Malaga then the AC Marriott Hotel is the place to go. Again with its central location you won't be walking too far in heels before you arrive at your destination. Normally if getting cocktails you would have to buy an entry ticket costing 10 euros which includes a drink but we got lucky and was allowed to go up without having to buy a ticket. The downside of this rooftop bar is that they don't serve any mocktails but equally this venue serves as a great evening activity allowing you soak up views of Malaga at night.

4. Get breakfast at NicPic

If your on the look out for some healthy options to balance out all that holiday ice cream then look no more. NicPic is the perfect place to grab some vegan breakfast options before you get on with your day. This small restaurant which had a minimalistic vibe  really resonated within its dishes as only the simplest of ingredients were used to create such tasty breakfast choices.

5. Visit the Cathedral 

The secret to not spending shed loads of money in Malaga is that all tourist attractions are free entry on a Sunday. How amazing is that?! However as always, there's a catch to everything and with this it would be timings. Unfortunately I got my timings all mixed up and ended up arriving at the Cathedral too late to claim my free entry but lucky for you guys I can share my mistake. The timings for free entry are within 9am-2pm so for those who are wanting to visit try plan your trip being that you end up in Malaga on a Sunday. Despite not being able to enter we decided that marvelling at the cathedral's architecture was enough to satisfy us.

6. Wander through the Alcazaba

Yes before your wondering...the alcazaba is another free tourist attraction and was one of my favourite activities in all of Malaga. If your interested and fascinated by moorish architecture then the alcazaba will definitely make your Malaga checklist. It is an uphill walk around the compound however this feels like nothing due to the constant stopping and awing at every corner. I just loved how this place constantly amazed me with its insane views and exceeded every expectation I had. 

7. Get lunch at Terra Mia 

I know suggesting authentic Italian pizza for lunch is the most bizarre recommendation whilst being in Spain. Surely, I should be feasting on Spanish dishes like paella. That aside you have to agree that no one can go wrong with a pizza. So bearing that in mind if your craving a goooood pizza made by Italians themselves then pop along to terra mia for your pizza fix.

8. Catch sunset at Gibralfaro 

I think we can establish that there is a reoccurring theme within this post and that would be views. Malaga has proven that there are ample opportunities to soak up the views it has to offer. Although the hike up to Gibralfaro is quite steep I would 100% say it's well worth it especially to watch sunset. 

9. Get vegan ice cream from Yummy Helados 

I've saved the best for last and that's ice cream. I don't think any travel or holiday guide would be complete without an ice cream recommendation and no holiday would be complete without getting a daily dose of ice cream. I can appreciate that for vegans it can be extremely hard to find a worthy ice cream spot whilst on holiday but rest assured I can totally vouch for yummy helados. Not only do they offer a variety of vegan flavours but equally provide the same for dairy ice cream. We loved this little spot so much that we came back twice in the same night all in the space of an hour. If that's not saying something then I don't know what is. 

Summer Style Inspiration

Inspired by my previous summer holiday guide I am coming at you ladies with a comprehensive guide compiled with my favourite outfits for this summer. So without further ado...

Whenever I'm in a hot country I base ALL my outfits around being loose and comfortable and is literally a mantra that I adopt whilst doing my packing. Here I paired some simple black and white stripey culottes from Zara with a super affordable £2 tee from Primark which is ridiculously comfy. What I loved about this outfit was it was one of those 'throw together' looks which can be jazzed up with the right accessories.

Similar culottes can be found here.

This by far has to be my favourite summer dress due to its easy throw on nature. The long line off the shoulder dress was grabbed in the asos sales. Not only was the fit of the outfit so flattering with my body shape but the colour complemented my tanned skin SO SO well. I literally cannot wait to pull it out this summer. I paired the dress with a simple white envelope clutch that had a gold handle at the top which emphasised the white polka dots from my dress.

Prior to wearing this outfit for the longest time ever, I really found white trousers extremely difficult to style and felt like I never had the 'perfect' top to go with it. White trousers is such a staple item to have in your wardrobe and it went perfectly with this textured red off the shoulder top. Both items were found in the H&M sales (yes you can get some really good summer pieces in the sale if you look hard enough). This outfit can be worn casually in the day with a pair of sandals or could be jazzed up for the evening as I have here with a pair of pearl and grey velvet low block heel. Personally heels KILL my feet so if your like me, a low block heel would be the no brainer option for the evening. 

Similar top can be found here.

Similar trousers can be found here.

Lately I've been loving Primark and their random sales and it so happened that I stumbled across these £4 pair of green culottes. Generally I am obsessed with incorporating colour into my holiday outfits and this was the perfect find. Paired with a loose white top also from Primark allowed all the attention to be diverted to the colours within my outfit. Bum bags been 'in' for the past 6 months and it was time for me to jump on the bandwagon. My mustard coloured bum bag was sourced from mango at £13 (can you guys tell I only shop in the sales). Last but not least I added another element of colour with my sandals from H&M. These easy blue bow shaped slip ons really tied my whole outfit together.

Similar culottes found here.

Similar bum bag found here. 

I just find Bardot tops so flattering and really easy to pair with literally anything. This frilly black and white stripey bardot top was complimented with a deep burnt orange pleated trousers from Primark and makes for the best day time outfit for your all important sight seeing. Lately, I really have a thing for unique bags as I find that accessories can either make or break your outfit. I was really drawn to the printed handles of this bag and thought it flawlessly completed my outfit.

Similar trousers found here.

Evening outfits is something I struggle with all the time especially when I can't seem to find appropriate or modest dresses. Therefore co-ords are your next best thing. This co-ord from Shein was super flattering with its V neckline top and high waisted trousers. I love that these items can also be worn separately really maximising your outfit choices. Because the bold print of the co-ord I paired the outfit with some simple nude heels and was good to go.

Similar co-ord found here.

Similar heels found here.

And that's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed my summer style guide as much as I enjoyed putting it together:)

Santorini Travel Guide

As summer is fast approaching I am coming at you today with a Santorini travel guide in hopes to inspire you to book your summer holidays or getaways. It was this time last year that I had booked my bucket list holiday to the all beautiful Santorini. Never in a million dreams had I thought that I would be travelling to a 'honeymoon' destination with my friends and soaking up what the small island had to offer. 

The booking process..

Santorini is the place to relax, unwind and experience the most beautiful sunsets. It was because of this we had decided to book a hotel and flight package through the website love holidays purely because we wanted to enjoy the hotel facilities during our stay.

Yes the rumours are true. Santorini is a very pricey holiday destination especially considering that it's located within Europe but it was worth every penny. Our endless search for the perfect hotel had come to an end when we stumbled across Andromeda Villas located in Imerovigli. It was situated between Oia and Fira where there was less tourists staying making it less busy. Our package deal consisted of flights from Gatwick, hotel stay, continental breakfast and an airport transfer there and back for 5 days and 4 nights which came to a grand total of £713 per person. 

 My first tip for Santorini would be NOT to book an airport transfer

If your on a budget and want to save those pounds there is a bus stop near the airport where regular buses travel to different parts of the island for about 3 euros maximum and everything is in walking distance from these bus stops. Although my airport transfer was only £15 for both ways (which if you think about it, it is a bargain) and in all fairness it does drop you directly outside your hotel but if you want to save those extra pounds catching the bus would be your cheapest option.

Flying to Santorini

Our flights were from Gatwick and because we were only going for 5 days we took a small carry on with us which we had to check in.

My top tip for checking in carry ons with Easy Jet is that if your with the mobile network three you can check your carry on with the hands free option for free otherwise you have to pay £5 each way.

Where to stay - Andromeda Villas

Our hotel was absolutely stunning (insert love eye emojis here). I had always been sceptical of booking package holidays as it was unknown territory to me but I was mind blown as soon as I arrived. I was mesmerised by the hotel's simplicity yet fresh decor. The check in process was such a breeze and to our surprise we was upgraded to a more spacious room for our first night. Our hotel was situated right on the edge giving us the perfect sea view. My most favourite part of the hotel had to be the infinity pool overlooking the sea which was the perfect spot to watch sunset.

What to do:

1.  Take a walk

In any new city or country that you're in, taking a walk is easily the best thing you could do. In Santorini you only have to take as little as 2 steps and there's breath taking views surrounding you. I was really fortunate that our hotel gave us the best view throughout our entire stay where I was surrounded by endless white washed buildings.

2. Take a bus to Oia

Getting around the island is pretty easy as there's regular bus stops dotted around the island. I would advise checking with the hotel concierge where your nearest bus stop is but most often its within walking distance.

A tip for the bus is to always have loose change on you for when catching the bus and you always have to buy your bus tickets as singles as there's no concept as returns in Santorini. Typically a bus journey will cost you no more than 3 euros. Finally, Santorini buses are more like coaches so you just can't miss them.

There is no doubt that Oia is definitely the most postcard location I have ever witnessed and definitely has more of the hustle and bustle than Imerovigli. Take your time when strolling around as there's so much to see and so many charming souvenir shops to visit.

3. Visit Atlantis Bookstore

If you're an avid bookworm then pop into Atlantis Bookstore and ponder around admiring the different book covers and even pick up a book about Greek history as a souvenir for your friends and family.

4. Take a dip in Amoudi Bay 

To get to Amoudi Bay you have to take roughly around 218 steps downwards however these aren't your average stairs so I would recommend wearing suitable footwear as the stairs are quite deep and uneven (although I did the walk in my flip flops). Yes, this is quite a workout so I advise doing the climb down and getting a taxi to the top. You can do this by asking any sea front restaurant to call you a taxi costing 5 euros per person to get back to the top. 

Amoudi Bay had the most crystal clear blue water and is the perfect place to take a midday break by sitting at the waters edge. I noticed that many people often took a swim down here with their snorkelling gear so if your an avid swimmer this is the most idyllic place to take a dip and cool down from the summer sun. 

5. Get Ice cream from Lolita's 

Besides taking a dip another way to cool down from 29 degree weather is with ice cream (what better way is there?) Lolita's is situated in Oia and have the most incredible flavours ever and have the nicest outdoor seating where you can enjoy your sweet treats. 

6. Witness the most epic sunsets

When I was doing my holiday research pretty much 99.9% of the blogs I had read said that the best place to witness a sunset was in Oia. However this is incredibly disputable. Why on earth would you want to elbow your way through large crowds to watch a sunset when you can watch it from you hotel balcony? Watching the sun set for another day would be by far my favourite way to end the day and was literally something me and my friends would eagerly wait for. Andromeda Villas made our sunset experience unbeatable with their infinity pool allowing us to take an evening dip whilst the sun said goodbye for another day. 

7. Get lunch at Pelican Kipos - Fira

Although we didn't spend much time exploring Fira (as with anything giving me an excuse to come back again) we ended up having lunch at this outdoor jungle paradise - Pelican Kipos whilst traveling back to our hotel. 99.9% of the restaurants in Santorini are outdoor but this one was by far my favourite as the plants not only provided shade but simultaneously added so much character. 

8. Visit the Red Beach

Santorini is iconic for their red beaches so if you love doing nothing but soaking up the sun on a beach then this a free activity for you. Sadly I'm not the biggest fan of congested beaches but it was definitely a pretty site to see.

Something to take into consideration is that the beach is a pebbled beach so if you don't mind sunbathing on pebbles then this is the beach for you.

9.  Grab an ice cream from confetti dessert boutique

This ice cream spot located in Imerovigli was only a few minutes walk from our hotel. So I recommend checking it out if your ever in that part of Santorini. 

10. Explore the village of Pyrgos 

Pyrgos was by far my favourite sight seeing day as there was little to no tourists (apart from us) which meant we had the whole place to ourself! This charming little village was easy to get to by catching the bus. The village is situated on almost like a hill where you have to work your way upwards to the highest point. I hugely recommend coming to Pyrgos for all your souvenir needs as they offered the best prices in comparison to the stores in Oia. Although there isn't a lot to do in Pyrgos it makes the perfect location to admire a different perspective that Santorini offers.

11. And RELAX...

Last but not least you can't come to Santorini and not get your tan on. So ladies and gents don't worry about not having a jam packed schedule because Santorini is that all important place to take a step back, unwind and appreciate what life has to offer you.

I hope my Santorini guide came in handy for your travels:)