Travelling 12 Countries In 12 Months: The Highlights

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31 Dec

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The highs, lows and best bits of travelling 12 countries in 12 months! Words & pictures by Hayley...

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12 months of travelling...the highlights!

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P A R I S > I C E L A N D > T H E M A L D I V E S > M I A M I > M A R B E L L A > S I N G A P O R E

S W E D E N > G R A N C A N A R I A > B A R C E L O N A > B A R B A D O S > N E W Y O R K

S I N G A P O R E > C O S T A R I C A > V E R B I E R > T H A I L A N D

Oh girls, what an absolutely INCREDIBLE year it's been. Earlier this year I set a project to travel 12 countries in 12 months, and I'm not sure that I actually ever thought I'd achieve it let alone exceed it (I actually ended up on travelling to 15 countries not 12, crazy!). I knew all along that it had been an incredible year and I was always on such a high during every trip, exploring new cultures and making new friends, but, it's only now that I'm sitting here with a cup of hot chocolate, in my PJs mulling over what a year it's actually been! I actually took 15 trips, 40 flights and 10 new destinations visited, some that I never imaged in my wildest dreams to visit, 2016 really was a great year... but somehow, just somehow I have a feeling that 2017 might just top it - you know when you just get a feeling?! Yeah that!...The highlights: From flying in a sea plane in The Maldives, to watching baby sea turtles hatch at 4am in Costa Rica, bathing in the Blue Lagoon, partying at carnival in Barbados and spotting Lewis Hamilton, to watching the F1 live in Singapore, starting December in Thailand and exploring Wynwood Walls in Miami to meeting like minded souls and making friends for life!This year really has been one that I'll never forget, I genuinely still can't even believe some of the places I've visited and the experiences that I've had, it blows my tiny mind! Back in 2015 when I went through a pretty crap breakup, I always vowed that 2016 would be my year and it really was. From press trips, to holidays with Ben and my besties, with new friends and old - it was such a blast, from start to end!The lows: It's hard to call it a 'low' I guess during a year of travelling so epic, however, it was hard at times, I put so much pressure on myself to say yes to as many opportunities as I could as I didn't want to miss anything. Whilst my year was jam packed and amazing, it also made me ill at times, pushing myself too hard, taking on too much work and travelling through time zones like there was no tomorrow. So the biggest thing that I'll take from this year and going into 2017; be more selective! I really do need to just accept the works and jobs that I really want to do, and not take on too much as I end up compromising on the quality of the trip as I'm tired and stressed or compromising my quality of life with family and friends in between travelling!

2017 goals: Travel often, learn not compromise my happiness for anything & to immerse myself in new experiences! Here's to an EPIC year! <3

A C L O S E R L O O K A T T H I S Y E A R S T R A V E L S . . .

La Redoute 5