Away

Very early on Saturday morning I got back from 10 days at home in Spain. I took a couple of friends along and apart from the last three days where I was bed ridden with a horrific stomach bug, we had a great time. We also went to Tangier, Morroco, for the day which was exciting. Take a look at Nicola's post here for a detailed account of our schedule and all the exciting beauty products she splurged on!

But I'm not back in London for long. Far too early on Wednesday morning (we're leaving at 3.30am) myself and boyfriend are off to Italy for a month long tour of the diverse and colourful country.

We start our journey in a small coastal resort called Sorrento where we plan to spend most of our time on the beach and generally relaxing.

Then we move up to Naples where we'd like to visit Pompeii from and eat our own body weight in pizza.

On to Rome where we'll spend a lot of time soaking in the culture and visiting the typical tourist spots: The Colosseum, Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica.

After Rome we are staying in Florence for a few days. I have a romantic idea of wandering the streets aimlessly, finding interesting cafes and architecture.

Then a few days in Levanto, a small village on the Italian Riviera. This is another beach spot but close to an area they call Le Cinque Terre (or five villages) where you can walk between each village, enjoying the coastal views as you go.

On to Milan where I plan to SHOP. We've also booked to view Da Vinci's Last Supper which is a must see but other than that there are some great museums and exhibitions on our list.

After Milan we have booked a few days in a tiny, quiet village on Lake Garda. After three weeks of sightseeing and culture we'll be ready for a few days of R&R on the beach.

Finally we're visiting Venice. Apart from the obvious gondola ride and visit to St. Mark's square, our last days in Venice will be spent discovering the canals and sipping cappuccino's till we fly back to London.

Keep an eye on my Instagram and Twitter (both @ginamanderson) for daily updates and photos from our travels!

PS. Click here to "Like" Nicola's entry to edit Elle!

But for now, I will leave you with a few photos from Spain. (All photos taken by myself, Harriet (@Harri_Rose) and Nicola (@NickiShepShep). Some via Instagram)

 The view at El Ocean Beach Hotel

Harriet and myself

The pool area at El Oceano 

Shortly after this photo was taken the camel proceeded to run off with me on it's back. I kid you not... 

...That's why I look a little shaken up in this photo 

View of Spain from Morroco 

Mint tea 

View of Morroco from Spain 

Puerto Banus 

Max Beach 

Play Wright 

Getaway Luggage

It's coming up to the time when we are all starting to think about what we'll take on holiday with us. With limited weight allowance, for me at least, it's always a dilema how to make my baggage as concise as possible (to make room for all the extras you bring back on the return journey).

I thought I'd start with bags. From airport to night out, you want to take as little bags as possible but still have maximum impact. And of course they all have to match with every outfit eventuality.

Enter the AIRPORT HOLDALL (quite literally).


This Chloe is big enough to carry all your magazines, documents, refreshments and last minute purchases and is structured enough for them all to be easily found (I hate that panic at passport control when you KNOW your passport is in there but you just. can't. find. it.). However, although the perfect investment piece, at £1040, it's not a realistic price for all of us so I found this Warehouse bag for just £40.

Once you've arrived at your destination, one of the first things on most people's minds is sight seeing. You want to take a bag that is hands-free, can be securely closed and also fits all your essentials (map, lip blam, small bottle of water).

This classic Marc Jacobs CROSS-BODY is exactly what you need. And it's simple enough to go with every outfit. If you can't afford the £650 price tag, ASOS do a great alternative for just £20.

Depending on where you're jetting off to, you may have the occasion for a beach bag. This is a no-brainer which needs to be light, durable and ultimately practical. I love Anya Hindmarch's Boat BEACH BAG (£85) but this ASOS one is really similar and a snip at £25.



I could go on listing and listing holiday occasions when you need different types of bags but I'm really just trying to focus on the truely essential.

So finally we come to the EVENING CLUTCH BAG. Petite and glamorous, it needs to store your phone, cash, ID and not a lot else. Another tick box is that it must co-ordinate with your LBD or maxi so block, muted colour is the key. This Nancy Gonzales clutch is a sumptuous deep indigo colour and practical with the envelope closure, however, it's a little steep at £1495. This ASOS feather clutch (which I've had my eye on for about a year) is just £25 and equally as gorgeous.