That sinking feeling when you realize that midyear has arrived, and you have yet to book your winter getaway! Fear not lovelies, because I have you covered. If you are looking for a soul-restoring escape that nurtures your body, mind, and soul, consider a Wellness Retreat Weekend at Brookdale Estate. The five-star luxury Brookdale Estate Manor House is set in a lush valley in the Paarl Winelands. Surrounded by sprawling vineyards and majestic mountains, the European-inspired Villa redefines serenity and is a haven of privacy. The Wellness Retreat allows you to be immersed in peace, finding in ..read more

Ready to swap your screen saver for the ultimate authentic nature escape? Situated East of Cape Agulhas near the southern tip of Africa in the Overberg region, De Hoop Nature Reserve is a scenic three-hour drive from Cape Town. With De Hoop Collection’s winter special of 40% off on certain accommodation, there has never been a better time to discover this unique natural treasure. Join me on an enticing visual journey highlighting De Hoop Nature Reserve’s many delights. NATURE THERAPY De Hoop is the nature escape you didn’t know you needed, until now. Her magic gently weaves its way into your h ..read more

We all have our favourites – favourite places, people, food, hobbies… you get where I am going with this. The Turbine Boutique Hotel and Spa is one of my absolute favourite places to stay. This luxury 5-star hotel is located on Thesen Islands in the Garden Route town of Knysna. I had the pleasure of returning to this wonderful property and once again, I enjoyed my stay immensely. Have a read to see why this popular hotel should be your next Knysna retreat. Feast your eyes on a visual collection of enticing images that will ignite your travel inspiration! ?. THE LOCATION Knysna is arguably one ..read more

Lonely Planet guidebooks and travel guides have inspired intrepid travellers and adventurers for almost 50 years. Providing the very best in up-to-date travel tips, handy guides and expert advice for every kind of traveller, trusted Lonely Planet travel guides will assist you with every step of your journey.  As a young girl, I spent many a happy hour in my local bookstore paging through Lonely Planet guidebooks and travel guides, dreaming of exploring far-flung exotic destinations one day. I have more than a few Lonely Planet editions in my collection now. They are my go-to guides and co ..read more

If the recent holiday season has left you feeling more blah than blissful, perhaps it’s time to start planning your next getaway, pronto! Walkersons Hotel & Spa is the perfect country escape you didn’t know you needed. Trust me when I say that this secluded Mpumalanga gem is exactly the place to be for total relaxation and rejuvenation. Located about 15km from the quaint town of Dullstroom, the exclusive 5-star Walkersons Hotel & Spa is the quintessential country getaway. Synonymous with luxury accommodation, warm hospitality, fine dining, superb wines and a variety of laid-back and ad ..read more

Ready to take your tastebuds on a tantalising culinary journey? The newish kid on the block is Awara Restaurant and it’s such a goodie! Fans of former Bukhara will delight in Awara’s Asian grills and modern Indian cuisine, where the saying “variety is the spice of life” springs to mind. The space is chic, modern and stylish with dark wood tables and chairs imported from India and glass-fronted views of the kitchen, where talented Chefs create mouth-watering dishes for your dining pleasure. Image supplied.Image supplied.Image supplied. I am not that familiar with Indian cuisine and was keen to ..read more

Craving an escape from the city? Somewhere with wide, open spaces, solitude and spectacular scenery? Haskell Vineyards is where you want to be, a special place on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain range in Stellenbosch in an area known as the Golden Triangle. Welcome to Haskell Vineyards Haskell Vineyards has all the right ingredients for a slow Cape winelands getaway – charming accommodation, privacy, jaw-dropping views, warm hospitality, delicious food and award-winning wines. Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, you’ll enter a blissful utopia where you can unplug, unwind and enjoy ..read more

Versatility and quality characterise Stellenbosch Hills’ flagship range The award-winning Sense of Place wines takes the headache out of shopping this festive season in a new campaign that offers wine lovers the go-to solution for every occasion. Whether it’s a top-quality gift that’s required, a refreshing all-rounder or a bold food-wine, this flagship range from premier vineyards of Stellenbosch has it all. Sense of Place by Stellenbosch Hills comprises three wines: an exceptional red, white and bubbly. To promote their excellence, the winery recruited celebrated foodie Ilse van der Merwe ak ..read more

There are beach resorts, and then there is Constance Belle Mare Plage. Located on the tranquil East coast of Mauritius, with a 2km private, white sand beach, turquoise ocean, lush palm-filled gardens and shimmering pools, this luxury 5-star resort is what tropical island dreams are made of. As the winner of Mauritius’ Leading Family Resort 2022 in this year’s World Travel Awards (they won the award in 2021), Constance Belle Mare Plage is the ideal choice for an unforgettable family holiday. It’s equally suited for couples with romantic spaces and experiences to create special memories with the ..read more

The birds are singing, the sun is shining and the annual winter hibernation is finally over! If you have young kids, go outside and teach them about our natural environment while having fun creating an eco-friendly and sustainable garden.  There’s nothing that kids enjoy more than getting their little hands dirty, so let them help you with planting flowers and growing herbs and veggies. Since their attention span can be limited, try and keep each project quite short.  Here are five ideas for creating an eco-friendly and sustainable garden with your kids. 1. MAKE AN OUTDOOR COMPOST BI ..read more