Having had to defer a South Africa trip for the third time (albeit thankfully rearranged for the end of 2022 now) we were looking for somewhere closer to home for a week’s trip. Initially I was focussing on luxury spa resorts only, but this got me to realise that I’d never actually stayed in Bath Spa before and this would make a great location to write about my interest in spas with a focus on male spa treatments.

Despite managing some amazing trips during 2020 - Palm Springs & Las Vegas just before the first UK lockdown, Croatia between the first and second lockdown, then the incredible Seychelles in between the second and third lockdown; there has been a lot of rebooking and rescheduling of other trips like to Italy and South Africa.

I’ve been to the Seychelles a few times now but seeing it is now on the UK quarantine free travel corridor list and also being opened up to foreign tourists it seemed like a great idea for the first long-haul break post Covid.

Coming out of the Covid-lockdown I started searching for countries we could visit without a necessary quarantine on the return to the UK, as well as country with no special quarantine requirements on arrival there. It was also important for me to be able to fly there with one of my preferred airlines - British Airways, Qatar Airways or Emirates (airlines I would trust for on-board Covid safety measures/cleaning).

This was just the most incredible trip and the first time to South Africa for ‘Mrs’ ThePrivateTraveller. I love luxury trains so had always wanted to travel on either the Blue Train or Rovos Rail in South Africa (we were advised that Rovos Rail was better).

This was the first visit to North Africa and I will definitely be going back to Marrakesh, as well as wanting to try out different locations too. We had a week for this trip and were looking for somewhere not too far away (easily accessible via direct BA flights).

This itinerary was for the first time I ever visited Japan, but have been back since, absolutely loving everything about this culture. We only just under a fortnight for this trip, so we had a mix of cities with Tokyo and Kyoto (modern and traditional) then some relaxing beach/resort time on the island of Mijakohima in the south.

Madagascar is an island located in the western Indian Ocean. Madagascar lies about 425 km (266 miles) off the east coast of Southern Africa. Specifically, Madagascar is located east of Mozambique, across the Mozambique Channel. Splitting off from the rest of the world millions of years ago, it evolved its own array of species that you’ll find nowhere else on Earth.

We were looking for somewhere to go for a 10-day break in December, so homed in on Sri Lanka, especially when realising that we could get great connecting flights from the UK with Qatar Airways.

We have visited Palm Springs a couple of times before but never during Modernism Week. Modernism Week’s signature February festival will take place February 13-23 2020.

I’ve always wanted to travel completely round the world and it seemed a perfect time to do it to celebrate a 50th birthday.

Detailed travel itinerary for a trip to Argentina and Brazil. Started in Buenos Aires then flew to Mendoza, up to Iguazu Falls (Brazilian side) then onto Rio de Janeiro for the Champions Parade at the end of the Carnival. Amazing trip, fantastic hotels - please check them all out in the full itinerary and visit my website for my travel info.