Lincoln Christmas Market

Hey Guys!

Apologies for being out the loop for a little while, I’ve been in hospital with a severe vitamin deficiency. Luckily I’m on the road to recovery now and aiming to get back into blogging properly again!

Yesterday I went to the Christmas market in my hometown of Lincoln, it’s a yearly tradition and one that I always enjoy a lot. This year we went just as the market opened which is definitely my favourite time to go, we could see most of the stalls and try samples of the cheese, gin and vodka they had on offer. I bought a small bottle of toffee vodka, if you’ve not tried it I’d definitely recommend it!

The market is set in the historic part of Lincoln called the Bailgate and you enter through the castle, there’s also a medieval market nearby which is always interesting to look round! 

I really love the atmosphere of a Christmas market and it definitely represents the start of Christmas for me! I’m looking forward to putting on some Christmas films and wrapping up with a blanket and hot chocolate!

How are you spending Christmas this year?

J x

Instagram: jessmcguire97 

Twitter: simplyjess97 

Snack Box Swap!

Hey Guys!

So as I’m off work sick today this has given me a good opportunity right relax, sleep and when I feel up to it, write a blog post! 

I’m in a lot of travel groups across social media and had the idea to try a snack box swap with a girl I met in one of these groups who was from Denmark. It worked so well and when I shared the idea in the travel groups I was in, it took off! It led me to creating a group specifically designed for this purpose which you can find below.  

https://m.facebook.com/groups/2169608506657291

I am so pleased with how to group has grown but the idea wouldn’t be complete without sharing this on my blog! 

I sent snacks from England and received a box full of yummy Danish snacks which ranged from cinnamon rolls to chocolate caramel turtles! I haven’t been able to try them all yet but I’m looking forward to when I do! 

A couple of tips if you’re looking at doing a similar idea: 

- Join the group, there’s a whole community of people wanting to swap!

- Set a budget so it’s equal and fair 

- Try to send the same day or week as the person you swap with 

- Check customs regulations, there may be certain foods that you cannot include, if this is the case it may even be worth swapping other items instead. 

- Check for allergies! 

I hope this helps, it really was a unique and really fun experience and I look forward to doing more swaps in the future! 

J x

Cruising around the Med!

Hey Guys,

So I’ve slightly neglected this blog recently which is something I’m hoping to get back on top off very soon, as you can see from my Instagram I have a lot to write about!

I recently went on a cruise to Malta, Croatia and Italy on the P&O cruises Oceana ship. It was my second crusie but I had such a great time. I feel as though there is a large stereotype that cruising is for older people and although the majority of passengers were older than myself, I feel it is a great way to see a lot of beautiful countries in one trip!

We started our trip flying from Manchester and booked one of the airport lounges before our flight. I’d definitely recommend this if you can as it makes the whole airport experience a lot more relaxing and to me it felt like I could start my holiday early as I tucked into pasta, cheese and ice cream!



Our first stop was Malta as this is the country that we flew into it. Unfortunately we had to board the ship straight away due to having a late flight so didn’t really get to explore but fortunately due to a late flight home we had the whole day to explore Malta on the way back.

We took a lift to the the Old Town which provides amazing views across the city and even got to here the cannon go off at midday. It’s a great place for shopping too and you can find some bargain souvenirs down the side street! I was so impressed by the stunning architecture Malta has and feel that it’s such an underrated destination, I can’t wait to travel here again soon and have more time to explore further afield!

Our next destination was Croatia! We visited Dubrovnik and took a cable car up the mountain before heading to the nearby town of Cavtat. The cable car is definitely a must do for getting perfect views across Dubrovnik and Cavtat is ideal to escape the business of Dubrovnik. We opted to eat here too due to meals being slightly cheaper as it’s out of the main tourist spot. It also offers stunning scenery and I enjoyed eating lunch watching the passing boats!

Our last stop on the trip was Venice which is somewhere which stole my heart! I was worried I’d be slightly disappointed after all the hype I’d heard but it really is an incredible place to visit. I woke up at 5am just to watch the sunrise as we arrived in Venice which is a must do when arriving by ship. I’d recommend visiting Venice early morning to avoid large crowds, the pavements and side streets get very warm during the summer which isn’t helped by the crowds so be sure to be prepared for this! Venice has no cars and can only be accessed on foot or by boat. It’s a surreal sight to see all the water taxis whizzing past! The final thing I would recommend is to eat outside of the main tourist areas, it’s easy to find some cheaper options down the many side streets in Venice. 

I was adamant before visiting that I wouldn’t do a Gondola as I saw them as a cliche tourist trap. However on visiting I was won over by them, it was a beautiful thing to experience and something I won’t ever forget. If visiting as a couple I’d definitely recommend it for a romantic experience but it’s perfect for any type of traveller!

I am so lucky to experience so many incredible places and I can’t wait to share my next adventure with you and look forward to reading all about yours too! 

J x

Switching off in Leeds

Hey Guys!

Happy Easter! It’s the 1st April already and I can’t believe how quickly this year is going. I’ve always really liked the quote “we don’t travel the escape life, we travel for life not to escape us”. It’s so true and something that doesn’t really set in until you experience how quickly life can change and how caught up in normal routine you can become. 

I’ve been blogging for a while now and I am always so thankful for the amazing opportunities that blogging has brought me. I’ve been lucky enough to work with hotels from Nottingham to Amsterdam and my passion for this has never once faltered. 

I have just got back from a lovely overnight trip in Leeds with my boyfriend and it was the first time in a while that I went without having the take loads of photos and without having to think about strategically planning a review and a series of social media posts, I could relax and that’s something that had been lacking on my previous trips somewhat. We went shopping, went to a comedy night, found a super cute cafe for breakfast and visited the royal armouries museum, it was great just strolling round the streets.

For this reason I tried to spend as little time as possible on my phone, I took a few photos but nowhere near as many as I would if I was writing a review and it was really refreshing. 

I learnt how important it is to sometimes just switch off and not have the pressure of what other people think but just to keep doing you! 

Make sure that you all get a bit of time for yourself this easter and spend time with those closest to you. 

J x

Should you travel when you’re young?

Hey Guys!

This is a question that I’ve always battled with myself. When I talk about wanting to travel everyone will always say “do it while you’re young”. They mean this, I presume in the sense that I will have my health and little responsibilities when I am young but I wonder if that’s strictly true. 

Yes my health is stable at the moment but it has its problems which I don’t need to go into. I have a well paid job which not many people get to do and yes I am terrified about finding a job when I return from travelling. I know it’s unlikely to find something like where I am now so I wonder if it’s worth it. 

The thing is, now isn’t the right time but it never will be. I don’t believe that there ever is a ‘right time’ to travel but in fact you have to make your own right time. There will always be risks, setbacks and things holding you back, not everyone is going to support you. 

This is your life and time goes so fast. Some places in the world are disappearing and could be non-existent in a few years. There will always be pros and cons but only you can decide when you’re ready. 

J x