Stylish Travel Tips

Discover Sirolo, Le Marche

The Marche region lies on the Adriatic Sea in the southeast of Italy. It is much less known than Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast, but you will find everything here for a wonderful Italian holiday: beautiful cities, charming villages, rolling hills, rugged mountains and good wines. And of course the 180 km long coastline with beautiful beaches – some fully equipped with restaurants and beach clubs, but also secluded bays that you almost have for you alone.

Because Le Marche is so compact, you can combine all this beauty in one day. Walk through medieval streets in the morning and taste culture from the distant past, and relax on the beach in the afternoon. Or take a beautiful hike in the mountains and take a well deserved dip in the clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. Read More…

Puglia, discover the south of Italy

In recent years Puglia has emerged strongly as a tourist destination and if you ask me with all due respect. This unspoilt part of Italy has unique spots, delicious food, wine, culture, history and beautiful beaches. Thanks to the long, slender shape of this region, you’re never far from the sea! An easy drive in both directions – east or west – will take you to the Adriatic or Ionian sea, where you can enjoy long sandy beaches and the turquoise coloured sea.

You can find the Puglia region in the heel of the Italian boot, about 2.5 hours by plane from Amsterdam. As a visitor you will be amazed how beautiful this region is. From the magical countryside, to the spectacular cliffs that rise above the blue sea and of course the many white villages such as Ostuni and Alberobello with the characteristic trulli.

According to the Italians, the beaches of Puglia are among the most beautiful in the country. We have fallen in love with this region since our car journey through Italy. Want to know why? Read and have a look at the pictures here…

Tuscan villa in a fairytale landscape

Tuscany is a unique piece of Italy and offers all the ingredients for a wonderful holiday. Visit romantic medieval towns, taste delicious red wines, olive oil and or pecorino cheese produced in this region. Stay in a beautiful agriturismo, dine in authentic trattorias, or rent your own villa. This is Tuscany at its best.

In June of this year we travelled with our 11 month old baby girl by car through Croatia and Italy. Our journey through Italy started with the ferry crossing from Dubrovnik to Bari. Arriving in Puglia, in the south of Italy, our two week car journey started through one of the most beautiful countries of Europe with as final destination the beautiful Tuscany.

Dubrovnik, most beautiful walled city in the world

Nothing can prepare you for your first introduction to the city of Dubrovnik. Located about 200 km south of Split, this old town has an impressive position on the coast. It is also one of the best-preserved medieval walled cities in the world.

The massive stone ramparts and fortified towers meander around the small harbour, with orange roof tiles, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Whether you look at the city from the cable car, a kayak at sea, or from the road leading out of the city, the city continues to impress and you can fully imagine what it looked like seven centuries ago when the city walls were built.

Croatia road trip itinerary with a baby

Our first holiday with Sofie was to Ibiza when she was 9 months old. It was a very nice time, only flying was not such a success with her. That’s why we decided to go by car this time for a road trip of 4 weeks. In advance, we didn’t know how far we would get with a baby, but it ended up being a journey never to be forgotten 🙂

I always wanted to travel to Croatia and then preferably down the whole coastline to Dubrovnik towards the south. Croatia is located in the heart of Europe on the beautiful Adriatic coast bordering Italy, Slovenia and Hungary. On the coast of Croatia you will find more than 1,185 islands, most of them uninhabited. So enough to discover!

Brac: authentic island life, Croatia

The island of Brač (pronounced Bra-ch) is the third largest island of Croatia. Brač is best known for the most spectacular beach in Croatia, namely Zlatni Rat also called the “Golden Horn”. It has the shape of an escaping tongue and, depending on the wind, sometimes distorts to the right and sometimes to the left. What that looks like can be seen directly underneath in my blog

Brac is located off the coast of Split and is much more than just the famous beach where almost everyone goes. It is mainly an island to discover and where you feel like being a guest with the local islanders. Next to Zlatni Rat you will be enchanted by the impressive mountain Vidova Gora (778 m high), the many vineyards and olive trees, but also the crystal clear sea and picturesque villages where time has stood still.

PREGNANT AND ON A JOURNEY? MY BABYMOON VACATION OF 3 MONTHS

I have been on maternity leave for quite some time now, because I am now a proud mother of Sofie. I was only a few weeks pregnant when we embarked on our second 3-month far journey. We hadn’t planned this surprise at all and it only made our trip more special.

I remain silent to all the beautiful memories of our last trip (Maldives, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Bali) and it was a trip never to be forgotten, because it really surpassed everything. I had agreed with my midwife that I would do the ultrasounds abroad and with a pregnancy certificate in my pocket we started our adventure.

Frankfurt am Main, modern city between the vineyards

Officially I am not allowed to fly anymore because I am heavily pregnant, but I’m always up for a city trip by car a few hours away from home. It’s a kind of tradition that we visit every year one of Germany’s beautiful cities and its surroundings. This time the modern business city, Frankfurt am Main located in the state of Hesse.

Frankfurt, located at the same latitude as Luxembourg is the fifth largest city in Germany. With my “flight case” (read first aid for a pregnant woman) and Maxi Cosi in the back of the car (otherwise you cannot leave the hospital with your baby) we took the scenic route through Sauerland on our way to Frankfurt am Main.

Babybump shoot of my baby girl Sofie, Spain

Time will fly, things will change, but those memories will always stay…

Proud mommy to be, babybump shoot in Spain by Merche Valdés. Thankful for capturing this special moments and looking forward to travel the world soon with my baby girl ♥♥♥

Things to do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is an ultramodern, metropolitan hub and the capital city of Malaysia. A visit to Kuala Lumpur will reward you with a unique mix that isn’t found in many cities of Southeast Asia. It is my favorite city in Asia!

Malay, Indian and Chinese residents in Kuala Lumpur offer the very best of their cultures in this vibrant Asiatic city. Below my top things to see during your visit to Kuala Lumpur and where to stay.