Luxury Itinerary: 5 Days in Singapore

Sunday 30 September 2018

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To celebrate our second wedding anniversary, in May this year, we headed to Singapore for five nights of pure luxury. Our previous visit had been almost ten years earlier, at the end of a three month backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia. We have fond memories of our first trip when we went luging in Sentosa, sampled local cuisine at hawker centres and splurged on cute clothes (because if you're a regular reader, you know I love to shop). This time round, however, we had a completely different experience. If you're seeking inspiration on what to see and do during a luxury holiday in Singapore, then look no further.

This would've been a trip worth saving for but luckily for us, one tweet resulted in the holiday of a lifetime. I entered a #PricelessSingapore giveaway with Visit Singapore and Mastercard... and won! After getting over the shock, we were put in touch with an amazing team who organised the following itinerary. 

Day 1: 

Arrival

We flew from London Heathrow to Singapore Changi Airport with Singapore Airlines. The flight was easy breezy and the flight staff were very courteous. We arrived in the afternoon and were greeted by our wonderful host, Arron, who took us to Naumi Hotel where we were staying. Located in central Singapore, this fashionable boutique hotel is 5-star, beautifully decorated and has an infinity pool. As well as being perfectly located, it has the friendliest staff and is one of the most Instagrammable hotels I've stayed in. Side note: The view from the infinity pool is second to none.

Naumi Hotel Singapore Rooftop Pool
Naumi Hotel in Singapore

Address: Naumi Hotel, 41 Seah St, Singapore 188396

Cocktails at Loof

That evening, we were taken to Loof - Singapore's first roof top bar. We loved Loof because it had a fun, non-pretentious vibe and was undeniably cool. They serve traditional Asian snacks and really quirky cocktails. In the UK, many of the speakeasy type cocktail bars don't always offer the best quality drinks, but Loof is completely different. The staff here care about their food and drink and it was clear a lot of passion goes into running this bar. Writing this makes me want to go back. I 100% recommend this place and it was a great start to our Singaporean adventure!


Loof Singapore Review
Loof Singapore Rooftop Bar
Loof Rooftop Bar in Singapore

Address: 331 North Bridge Road, #03-07 Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop, Singapore 188720

Day 2:

Cooking lesson at Pollen

Our second day began with a private cooking lesson with the Head Chef at the restaurant Pollen, in Gardens by the Bay. When we visited in 2009 there was no Gardens by the Bay, but we'd heard many positive things from friends, so we were excited to visit the attraction and explore. After a quick search online we knew Pollen was considered a fantastic restaurant but we were a little apprehensive about our cooking lesson because we're amateurs in the kitchen! We needn't had worried. 

Chef Steve Allen is not only an unbelievable talent, who has worked alongside Gordon Ramsay and was Head Chef at Claridge's in London, he is the nicest human. I love nothing more than meeting new people who are down to earth and willing to share a bit of themselves with others, just because they are passionate about what they do. I should probably say that this really was a priceless experience. Chef Steve doesn't often host guests in this way but made an exception for our awesome host (another impressive human). He was so patient and chatted with us openly as he taught us to make a delicious vegetarian pasta dish with sides. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here - if you're curious, please stop by when visiting the Flower Dome as you will not be disappointed. I'm still craving the warm rhubarb tea I drank! Chef Steve is obviously respected and admired by his colleagues which was so nice to witness. This was my joint-favourite moment of the entire trip and we'll definitely be back one day.

Side note: I was beyond impressed by the vegetarian selection the restaurant had to offer, they even host vegan nights! I love how innovative the menu is and this is must-visit for any trip.


Pollen Restaurant Singapore Review
Pollen Singapore Cooking Class
Pollen Singapore Steamed Rhubarb
Private Cooking Lesson at Pollen, Singapore

Address: Pollen8 Marina Gardens Dr, #01-09, Singapore 018953

Exploring Gardens by the Bay

You've probably seen pictures online (bloggers love this attraction), or spotted its Skywalk in David Attenborough's Planet Earth II, but Gardens by the Bay is impressive. I'm not as eloquent as David, so I recommend watching this 1 minute clip now... RIGHT? Yes, this is why you need to put this on your itinerary. A few hours was not enough, which is why we snuck back on Day 5 for more. We loved the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest - it was really heartwarming to see trees and plants from Zimbabwe, where Sam was born and raised.


Flower Dome Singapore
Flower Dome
Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, #01-09, Singapore 018953

Dinner at Odette

After a quick shower and an outfit change, we were taken to Odette, at the grand National Gallery Singapore, for our lavish anniversary meal. We were welcomed by General Manager Steven Mason and shown to the Chef's Table so we had a view of the action. What a treat! This two Michelin star restaurant offers French fine-dining but the restaurant itself has a modern, Instagrammable decor. Chef Julien Royer introduced himself and talked us through what we would be eating that evening. We were then taken on a culinary journey through multiple courses, all of which (for me) were vegetarian. We were due to savour an 8-course tasting menu but we kept being surprised by extra treats, so including snacks and desserts it was closer to 13. Each course was accompanied by the perfect wine and we left with the most delicious pot of jam as a parting gift. We were truly blown away by this restaurant, its carefully curated dishes and ambience.

The food and service were both exceptional. Odette was named after Julien's grandmother,  who showed him the most remarkable dishes can come from the simplest ingredients. Our stand out dishes? For me, the Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg and Memory of Chocolate. For Sam, the Hokkaido Uni and Le Pigeon Fabien Deneour. 

This is certainly worth the price tag.


Odette
Odette Restaurant Singapore
Odette Blog Review
Odette Singapore Restaurant

Address: 1 St Andrew’s Road #01-04 Singapore 178957

Day 3:

Ultimate Drive Experience at Marina Bay Sands

Another new addition to Singapore, since our previous last visit, is Marina Bay Sands. It is HUGE! On our third day Arron took us to MBS for an Ultimate Drive Experience. We went on the Street to Freeway Tour, which follows the F1 circuit. Who knew the F1 race actually takes place on the streets of Singapore and not on a separate track!? 

I was driven in a red Ferrari, whereas Sam got to drive a blue Lamborghini Huracán. The experience lasted around 30 minutes which was the perfect amount of time for me, although Sam would probably argue otherwise. I really enjoyed being chauffeured around and talking to my driver about the country and his job (which he loves by the way). I was a little windswept afterwards but I would certainly do it again! It's such a fun activity and felt like such a treat. Afterwards we stopped by Toast Box to try some traditional Singapore food and then had dinner across town. 


Singapore Ultimate Drive Experience
Ultimate Drive Experience MBS Singapore
Ultimate Drive Experience Singapore

Watching a performance at MBS Theatre

That evening, we had tickets to the MBS Theatre to watch Legally Blonde! We were given premium seats and had a fantastic view of the stage. I was super grateful for our seats, which were only a few rows from the front. If possible, I do recommend opting for closer seats for the most rewarding experience - it felt like we were fully immersed in the show!

It was such an entertaining production, I've always loved the film and although Sam was somewhat sceptical at first - he really enjoyed it too! There was a fair bit of non-PC humour, which I'm not sure you'd get away with in the UK, but it made the performance that bit funnier. The theatre itself was extremely grand and the staff were welcoming. Singaporeans are extremely friendly which makes all the difference. 


Mastercard Theatre Singapore
Legally Blonde Mastercard Theatre Singapore
Mastercard Theatre Singapore

MBS Casino

After the show had finished, we headed to the MBS Casino. We'd never been to a casino before so we were curious and a little nervous. After queuing up and experiencing security similar to passport control, we entered the casino. It's so large! The drinks were flowing, the lights were dazzling and the we could hear the constant ringing of slot machines in the background as we wandered around. We decided we'd just start with $50 in our pockets and try our luck. We stuck to the slot machines but we soon spent our loot and the novelty wore off a bit. If you wanted to spend more money, you could easily stay here for hours, but it turns out we aren't the best gamblers. Which is probably a good thing.


Marina Bay Sands at Night
Marina Bay Sands at Night

Address: 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956

Day 4:

Universal Studios Singapore VIP Experience

On Day 4, it was time for another first! Neither Sam or I had been to a Universal Studios before. We were thrilled Arron had booked us onto a VIP Experience tour. We were in a group of 4 and escorted through the park by our own personal guide. This meant we skipped ALL lines - like real VIPs! We had access to at least 8 attractions during the tour but went on more than that. We did get caught in a few showers and the rides were stopped for safety reasons (thanks to a potential electrical storm) but this didn't curb our fun! 

I will never visit another Theme Park as a non-VIP aka a regular person. Fact. This experience was a game changer. Some rides had a 1-2 hour queue time, but we were just shown to the front! We went on the Transformers ride multiple times, both Battlestar Galactica Rides, Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure (really enjoyed the surprise at the end) and watched the Waterworld show. I also liked the 'Lights! Camera! Action!' show Hosted by Steven Spielberg. We ate at one of the onsite restaurants and once again, I was happy with the range of vegetarian food on offer. Oh and apparently this year's Stranger Things Halloween takeover with Netflix is going to be AMAZING. If you're going in October, it's is a must-see.


Universal Studios Singapore VIP Tour
Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore VIP Experience Tour

Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269

Gardens by the Bay

After having the most fun two people could ever have at a theme park, we returned to base for another quick wardrobe change before going back to Gardens by the Bay. We knew we simply had to return to walk along the Skywalk at sunset and witness its free night show. Sam was a good Instagram husband and took my photo while it was still light, but you can't blame me for wanting this shot, right? The night show was simply magical. We climbed to higher ground to get what we felt was a best view of the trees and waited for the music to start.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but we were in awe of the whole experience. The lights were in perfect sync with the music. It was one of my favourite highlights of our trip and pretty romantic too. Oh Singapore, I love you.


Gardens by the Bay Skywalk
Singapore Gardens By the Bay
Gardens by the Bay Skywalk Sunset
Gardens by the Bay Night Show
Skywalk at Gardens by the Bay

Day 5:

Shopping

Time for shopping! Of course I made room for a bit of retail therapy on Day 5. How could I visit Singapore and not shop? MBS has all the high end brands you could ask for, from Gucci to Mulberry, but we made our way to Takashimaya Shopping Centre as we had some vouchers to spend! Takashimaya is also home to designer brands such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton but also has the more affordable and contemporary brands like Zara, Jack Wills and Scotch & Soda (my faves).

Sam treated himself to a selection of shirts and I bought a button down dress. We wandered around the area on foot and I popped into a few different boutiques which looked appealing.  The shopping in Singapore is superb.


Takashimaya Shopping Centre Singapore
Takashimaya Shopping Centre Review Singapore
Takashimaya Shopping Centre Singapore

Address: 391A Orchard Rd, Singapore 238873

The Captain's Club

Our final night in Singapore was another one of our highlights! Our gracious host Arron invited us to spend the evening on a luxury yacht with free flowing champagne, cocktails and delicious canapés. It was an offer we couldn't refuse. Exclusively for Mastercard holders and hosted by The Good Works Company, The Captain's Club was a delightful evening filled with socialising, great food, mouth-watering drinks and fireworks! Every event has a different restaurant serving up cuisine but we lucked out as we got Pollen again - hurrah! 

Each cruise has a maximum of 20 guests, so it doesn't feel too crowded but you have people to talk to if you want to (I made friends). If you aren't that sociable then don't worry, you aren't forced to mingle and there are no awkward group introductions or anything like that. It was just a chilled night on the open waters. 

I've never really done anything like this more, it was so informal and fun - I think this is probably down to Arron and The Good Works Company/The Inside Access. We left feeling like we'd made friends and unforgettable memories.


Mastercard Singapore Captains Cruise
Pollen Chefs Captains Club Singapore
The Captains Club Singapore
The Captain's Club, Singapore [Image credit: The Captain's Club]

Address: Marina at Keppel Bay, 2 Keppel Bay Vista, Singapore 098382

I hope you found this itinerary interesting and useful! I can not recommend Singapore enough. I genuinely get the warm and fuzzies whenever I think of this trip, part of me wonders if we can ever top it. There's so much to see and do here, these are just a few suggestions if you're looking for a more indulgent holiday. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or tweet me.

I also want to say a MASSIVE thank you to Visit Singapore, Mastercard and Arron, our lovely host. He is the founder of The Inside Access event management company, all round superhero and nice guy (wearing blue in the photo above). We felt like we had the smoothest trip and knowing we had someone we could call, if we needed help or had any questions, made the whole trip even more incredible.

If you want to hear more about our adventures in Singapore, keep checking back as I'll be sharing a few more posts over the coming weeks. - T
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Glamping in Dorset: Plankbridge Shepherd's Hut at Colber Farm

Saturday 4 August 2018

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I don't know about you guys, but we've really been making the most of this beautiful English weather. A couple of Fridays ago, Sam and I snuck off work a little early and made our way down to Dorset for the weekend. We love to go on mini adventures so when Farmstead Glamping at Colber Farm invited us for a complimentary stay in one of their Plankbridge Shepherd's Huts, we jumped at the chance.

The journey from Bristol was quick and painless. I was expecting (and fearing) heavy traffic but we took the 'A roads' and arrived in Sturminston Newton in under two hours. Colber Farm is located in the sweet little town of Sturminston Newton and is just a one mile walk from the centre. Not somewhere we'd heard of before, but it has a wonderful old mill, gorgeous surroundings and a handful of adorable eateries. It's also perfectly located for visiting the Jurassic Coast - which is where we planned to venture on the Saturday and Sunday.

Farmstead Glamping Dorset
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Next Womens Pink Tailored Suit

Thursday 28 June 2018

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I don't know about you guys, but I've been loving this season's obsession with tailoring and suits for women. I spotted this particular two piece a couple of years ago on Josie's blog and when I noticed she was selling it on Depop, I hunted one down in my size. Thank goodness for eBay.

Next have a fantastic range of suits this season and I actually have my eyes on a fitted lilac one which I'm hoping will go in the sale later in the summer. Since Beyoncé and Jay-Z dropped their new music video, my desire for a lilac suit has increased ten fold. All hail Queen B and her Peter Pilotto suit.

How to style a pink suit
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Next White Bardot Button Dress

Monday 4 June 2018

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Okay, so right now Bob Marley is playing and the sun shining. Whenever the UK is blessed with a mini heatwave, EVERYTHING just feels better... Am I right!? Sunshine = an excuse to wear cute clothes. Yes, I do like Autumn / Winter and the layering it brings, but I really enjoy wearing floaty dresses and sandals in Spring / Summer.

Here in the UK we've had the warmest May since records began and as a result, I've been hitting the shops. It goes without saying I'm still being responsible and getting lots of wear out of last year's summer wardrobe, but there are just tons of cute pieces on sale this season. Introducing, Exhibit A:

Next White Bardot Dress
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Five Things to Do in Copenhagen, Denmark

Wednesday 2 May 2018

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For most, it's not always possible to travel to far-flung destinations without lots of saving and planning. So after we got married, we had an affordable post-wedding trip to Spain, followed by a slightly more expensive (& exciting) mini moon to Copenhagen, in Denmark.

Flying to Scandinavia from Bristol is becoming easier than ever, as new direct flights are continuing to pop up to cities in Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. I'd heard such good things about Copenhagen, so we planned a five day trip to this buzzing city. 

Partly due to work commitments and partly due to the fact we're rather spontaneous travellers, we didn't research much before we went... although we did receive a few tips from friends who had been previously (cheers)! Most people only visit for a weekend, but as we were there for longer, we could take our time to really explore. There's so much to see and do in this incredible city, but I've selected just a handful of my favourite places to visit / things to see. 

In case you're considering a visit in the near future, here are the my top five things to do in Copenhagen:

Copenhagen in October
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Seven Things to Do in Jasper National Park, Canada

Friday 6 April 2018

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Hey Canada, why you so pretty? Following on from my post recommending the best places to visit in Banff, it's time to talk Jasper! From what I can gather after speaking to travellers who have visited this region, you're either Team Banff or Team Jasper National Park. Both are beautiful (and must-see destinations in the Canadian Rockies) and both have their own USPs. I'd describe Jasper as a little more rough around the edges, it's not quite as commercial and is teeming with wildlife. I spent the entire time looking for animals, we were too late to see the bears (we visited mid-September) but we spotted Elk and some other critters!

The route from Banff to Jasper only takes about 4 1/2 hours via car, but that doesn't include stopping time and trust me, you're going to want to stop every 15 minutes. We hired a Jeep Compass, which was pretty affordable and a really great size.

Planning yourself a little trip to the Canadian Rockies? Here are my top seven things to do in Jasper:

1. Drive along the Icefields Parkway

So this is a bit of a sneaky one because you use this long road to drive between Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, but when you Google where to visit, this name always pops up. The road essentially links all the popular sights and attractions but the drive itself is glorious. 

We visited during changeable weather so experienced snow, rain and sunshine therefore got to see the different sides of Jasper. If you have the time, I do recommend driving up and down a few times because once is certainly not enough! 

Icefields Parkway Canada
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Nike Air Max 95 Ultra Jacquard in Obsidian Navy Review

Monday 26 March 2018

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Happy Nike Air Max day! Celebrated annually on the 26th March, this date commemorates the debut of Nike's most iconic shoe back in 1987. Both Sam and I are huge fans of the Nike Air Max - we love the aesthetic, ever evolving design and of course, how darn comfortable they feel. We've both been eyeing up the Nike Air Max 95s over the past few months and Sam finally managed to land himself a pair, thanks to Mainline Menswear.

To celebrate the big day, Sam was sent the Nike Air Max 95 Ultra Jacquard in Obsidian Navy to style. We've featured Mainline Menswear before, they have a massive range of designer clothes and footwear, including a decent selection of Nike sneakers. Of course Sam was keen to be involved and chose this hella cool new style:

Mainline Menswear Nike Air Max Review
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Seven Reasons to Visit Stockholm, Sweden

Wednesday 14 March 2018

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Why should you visit Stockholm in Sweden? Ah, there are SO many reasons to head to this incredible city. Read on to find out what I love about it and why you should probably plan yourself a little trip.

For my birthday, back in January, we visited Stockholm aka the Venice of the North. A new route opened up from Bristol Airport last summer and I bought the flight tickets on a whim because, well, why not? It took me approximately 10 minutes to convince one of my all time favourites to buy tickets too, so it was decided! We'd celebrate my birth in Sweden as a four, in one of the coolest cities in Europe.

I didn't know much about Sweden, my good pal Keri had bought a hipster book on it, so she shared this with me and I picked up a few tips. I also read a couple of cool blog posts and used TripAdvisor to work out the rest (days before we left), standard. We were visiting in January, so we knew to wrap up warm and take ALL the layers. So apart from the fact it's easy to get to (from Bristol/London) and not to mention Sweden is cheaper than Denmark, Iceland and Norway, here are seven reasons to visit:


Stockholm Ice Rink
Seven Reasons to Visit Stockholm

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Next Cream Pom Pom Sweater

Tuesday 20 February 2018

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How many pom pom jumpers is too many? Answers on a postcard! As mentioned in my previous post, I've been really impressed by Next's knitwear this season. This cute cream pom pom sweater reminds me of one my mum had in the 80s and I love how cosy it is. Oversized pom pom jumpers seem to be extremely popular as of late, with most of the big style Igers embracing them, and I'm completely on board with this trend. I like that this one from Next is so accessible, no need to order online and wait weeks for it to arrive from China. It's machine washable but it will be chilling in my handwash pile as I intend to keep this little gem in top condition. It also comes in red if you prefer a pop of colour. Nom.

On Sunday we took a stroll along the Bristol harbourside where we took these photos. It was a little drizzly so I'm really looking forward to Spring, this city is just beautiful in the sunshine and taking outfit photos in the dry is easier. Bloggers from warmer climes, I hope you realise how lucky you are! Ah well, at least the evenings are getting lighter. I can't believe the sun was still out when I got home earlier today. Hurrah!

Next Fashion Pom Pom
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Free People Seamed And Structured Blazer

Tuesday 6 February 2018

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Hello Free People jacket of dreams! It was my birthday last month so I used my birthday cash towards this beautiful Free People Seamed And Structured Blazer. I've wanted a red military jacket since 2008, after I spotting a wonderful Topshop version on Betty Autier.

Fast forward to 2018, I'm in Stockholm celebrating the anniversary of my birth and Jade slides into my DMs and sends me a link to this baby. She knows me so well. After sleeping on it and getting the nod of approval from my mum (she helps with 80% of my purchasing decisions), I ordered it! Hurrah! 

Military Free People Jacket

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Next Grey Funday Slogan Jumper

Thursday 1 February 2018

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Oh Next, you are killing it this season. I don't know how it happened, but Next have started 2018 in the best way. Over the past month, I have attracted no less than four jumpers from them (three were birthday gifts) and I couldn't wait to wear this Grey Funday Slogan Sweater.

The British high street store, recently asked uber babe Emma Willis to create a Spring Edit. I'm a big fan of Emma's style and she selected some cracking Next pieces in her edit, including two of the jumpers I now own. If you have time, she features in a sweet little video about her personal style which I recommend watching. I love how she admits her style isn't effortless and that sometimes she takes ages pulling together a look. We can all relate.

Next Funday Jumper
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7 Places to Visit in Banff, Canada

Saturday 27 January 2018

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As promised, here is the first post on my travels through the Canadian Rockies! We had way too much fun for me to squeeze everything into just one blog post, so this is number one in a short series. We visited Banff in Canada during the middle of September and unexpectedly, the region experienced an early winter! Huzzah! As we're from Bristol, we hadn't seen snow for over a year so this was an extra treat and believe me when I say we embraced the white fluffy stuff. It was basically Christmas come early.

If you've been searching for places to visit in Banff, read on to discover my favourite 7 places to explore.

1. Lake Louise

So if you've ever Googled Banff, you've probably read about/seen photos of Lake Louise. It's one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Canadian Rockies and tourists visit by the coach load, especially in summer. It's a good idea to get there early, especially as the onsite car park fills up quickly and strangers like to photo bomb. As it's a glacial lake which contains rock flour, it gives off an incredible turquoise colour - similar to Lake Tekapo in New Zealand. 

The colour can change during snow melts and heavy rain periods (we also found the angle you view the lake from makes a difference). When we arrived in the morning around 8am and took a selfie, it was cloudy and the lake wasn't a vibrant shade of blue. We stuck around and took another snap a few hours later, so you can see the difference in the images below:

Lake Louise Colour Banff
Lake Louise Banff National Park
Lake Louise September

Lake Louise
2. Lake Agnes

After arriving in Lake Louise and taking a few photos, we began a short hike to Lake Agnes, aiming for a pit stop in the adorable Tea House which was recommended by a friend (thanks Beth). As it had been snowing the day before, the hike was a little more challenging and I was jealous of the sensible older folk with walking poles. In the summer it would be an absolute breeze!

The tea house is situated at an elevation of 7,005ft and is the oldest tea house in Canada! In 1901 it was a refuge for hikers but has been serving tea since 1905. As it's so isolated, fresh supplies are hiked in by staff almost daily. Cute. We were really impressed by the service and treats, it is a little expensive but it's worth it. Just make sure you take cash. Because it's so tiny, you'll want to get there early! 

Lake Agnes Canada
Lake Agnes Banff Canada

Lake Agnes

I'm not sure these pictures do Lake Agnes justice as it's so beautiful in real life! On the way from Lake Louise we passed another little gem called Mirror Lake which is also lovely. It's worth mentioning now that if you visit Banff, you'll want to stop every ten minutes to take photos of something. It's just that kind of place.

Mirror Lake near Lake Louise

Mirror Lake

3. Lake Moraine

The first time we experienced snow in Canada was at Lake Moraine! We were contemplating hiring a canoe but at $95 plus tax (about £60) for 30 minutes it seemed a little lavish. Turns out, we made the right decision because within about 15 minutes a mini snow storm hit (Canadians would probably consider this a very light dusting) and everyone in canoes had to be rescued! This was a moment of great excitement for us and after a quick dash into the gift shop and one hot chocolate later (they have souvenir shops everywhere in the Rockies) we made our way back to the bus queue. It's probably worth noting that the snacks/drinks are hella expensive. Ouch.

We parked in an overflow carpark and used a complimentary shuttle service to and from the lake. This was also pretty fun in itself because we got to ride up and down the mountain in a yellow school bus... It felt like we were in an American movie! 

Moraine Lake Banff National Park
Moraine Lake Banff

4. Banff Town/Banff Gondola

Well you obviously can't visit Banff National Park without swinging by Banff town. It is so darn sweet. Parking can be tricky but we managed to snag one of the longer stay parking spaces each time we visited. My good pal Chloe insisted we visit Evelyn's Coffee bar and if you go, you should too. OH MY. Guys, they do the best hot chocolate in the world and know I typed those words with such conviction. I love hot chocolate and this one was next level. The homemade cake is also delicious (full disclaimer: I went back more than once).

We had a good wander around, the town has lots of popular shops you'd recognise like Gap, The Body Shop, Lululemon and North Face - but it also has plenty of independent stores and souvenir shops.

As we had one of the Brewster combo packages, we had tickets for the Banff Gondola! It appears Brewster has since rebranded and now goes by the name of Pursuit. The ticket we had was called the Utimate Banff Explorer which I fully recommend! Buying a combination ticket saves you money and the tickets are really flexible. 

Unfortunately when we took the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, it was extremely snowy and we had to use our imagination a bit... I've included a little video below (SO SNOWY)! It was really magical in the snow but I'd love to go back in the summer.

When to visit Banff
Banff Gondola RideBanff Gondola


5. Bow Lake

Bow Lake wasn't an intentional stop but it's so lovely, it deserved a spot in my top seven places to visit in Banff! It's about 30 miles north of Lake Louise and I recommend passing by the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, even if it's just for the photo opportunities. We didn't spend long here but it's pretty impressive on a sunny day.


Bow Lake Banff National Park
Bow Lake Icefields Parkway Canada


6. Mistaya Canyon

When I was researching where to stop along the Icefields Parkway, I came across an article where the writer had mentioned she loved Mistaya Canyon so much that she named her daughter after it! This convinced me we needed to see it and I'm glad we did.

It's certainly worth a quick pit stop but again, get there early, it gets busy quickly. We actually spent a really long time here - it's very peaceful (in a weird way because it's quite noisy due to the rushing water) making it the perfect place to just sit and take it all in. Probably one of my favourite spots in Banff! I didn't take many photos here because I was just in awe. 

Mistaya Canyon Banff
Mistaya Canyon Banff


7. Peyto Lake

OH HELLO THERE. Peyto Lake is probably the most popular lake on Pinterest. It's the place you have to visit in the Canadian Rockies. We visited twice, a few days apart, the first time was during the snow - hence photo number one. It was very cool but we were there for the turquoise water.

So when the sun came out and we were on the way to Jasper (you'll want to drive up and down the Icefields Parkway a few times), we visited again during late morning. It was extremely busy and I had to get my elbows out but it was worth it for that third photo. This is my favourite place in Banff. For sure.

Peyto Lake in the Snow
Peyto Lake in Winter
Peyto Lake Banff National Park

Peyto Lake

7 Places to Visit in Banff

This was the perfect honeymoon destination for us and I'm so glad we didn't just go for the obvious choice *cough* Maldives *cough*. Canada has breathtaking scenery and the locals are really kind and friendly.

So there you have it! We'll definitely go back in summer - maybe for our ten year wedding anniversary. I have a few more content ideas so my next post will be up within a few weeks. If there's anything in particular you'd like to read - just let me know!

Have you been to Banff? - T

P.S All snaps were taken with my Samsung S8+. What a phone.
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