Daisybutter

Planning A Dream European Road Trip

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This is a sponsored post in partnership with Clickstay.

It’s safe to say that I have barely paid ‘travel’ any thought so far in 2018. Of course we went away in early January to celebrate Harvey’s 27th birthday in Amsterdam, but I’d been planning that since September, so it doesn’t really count… Right? Instead, I’ve been focusing heavily on prioritising grown-up saving and not saving-for-my-annual-handbag. Phrases like ‘house deposit’ and ‘down payments’ regularly leave my mouth and regularly feature on my savings and online banking apps.

Having said that, I’m finally beginning to pencil in some time to take annual leave – remember those goals I set? – and when Clickstay got in touch with me to discuss working together on a post all about my travel bucket list, I decided to sit down and really think about what our next trip could be.

Harvey and I embarked on a month-long trip in 2016 just five months after we began dating, which sounds positively crazy to some but it felt right for us. Seven flights, countless hours waiting for taxis, buses and trains, and meeting ALL of my family in Malaysia tested us, but at least we established nice and early that we could travel together.

A European Road Trip

With our first holiday together being a trek through Bali, Malaysia and Hong Kong, where I got to show him places of note from my childhood and my old home, and the next being a Eurostar to Amsterdam last month, we’re really into the idea of a French road trip for a future trip. Harvey spent much of his childhood and formative years living in France (and yes, he does speak fluent French! Swoon!), it makes sense that we’d take a week or two off and drive around some of the lesser-known towns of France. Plus, I visited Elodie in her hometown near Sanary-sur-Mer on the French Riviera last year, and that only further cemented our desire to have a little jaunt across France and see where he grew up, summered and adventured.

First up, I mean, can you just imagine a break in a beautiful French chateau?! I’m already considering emailing the link across to my engaged friends in an attempt to convince a set of them to plan a destination wedding here. I’m all about spending my evenings browsing villas, apartments and chateaus at the moment. This villa might just be my dream home!

And I’m absolutely eyeing up this villa in the South of France to stay in as an end destination following a fortnight or so of Airbnb living and on-the-road ambles. A little balcony, pool, beautiful rooms, stone floors AND adorable shutters? (I know they’re commonplace in France but let this British girl have her moment!) Sign. Me. Up. The Clickstay website makes it simple to select between price ranges, amenities and guest number too, something I’ve found to be really useful when dreaming of…

A Girls’ Weekend

Additionally, my best friend Ebs is getting married in 11 months and counting, so her bridesmaids and I are hurriedly planning for a hen ‘do. In typical 2018 millennial manner, I’m dreaming of whisking us girls away for a weekend in Europe and indulging in plenty of food, relaxing and possibly a little exploring. How incredible would it be to stay at a villa in Oia?! Or alternatively, I’ve been considering a weekend at one of the destinations from her own European road trip, on which she got engaged.

What are some of your closer-to-home travel ideas for 2018?

This post was created in partnership with Clickstay.

@winyeemichelle