The Highlights of 2015

2015 has been a pretty awesome year for Heels In My Backpack, and for me in general actually. So like most of us reflect on the past 12 months as the year draws to a close, I thought I would run down the top highlights of the year on the blog. Here goes.

10) The Big Easter Giveaway

At Easter this year, I put on my very first competition on Heels In My Backpack. I had never run a comp before so didn’t really know what to expect, but I was so happy with the outcome! Over  1,600 of you entered for a chance to win a travel bundle worth over £140! (I was expecting like 20 entrants…) It was really fun putting this together so made it into my top 10. Definitely more competitions to come in 2016…

I’ve Only Gone And Done An EASTER GIVEAWAY

 

9) Getting lost in Berlin

On a short business trip to Berlin in July, I made it my mission to see as much of the city as I could, whilst still working my 9-5 out there! It wasn’t easy but getting lost in Kreutzberg seemed to be the best thing for it as I saw the backstreets and local areas of Berlin, including some awesome street art and some very delicious currywurst while I was at it. I definitely need to go back and see more of Berlin but my first taste of Germany was definitely a good one!

How To Spend A Day In Berlin On A Budget

The Best Of Berlin Street Art

 

8) Discovering the Gelato of my life at Rocambolesc Gelateria

I’m still thinking about the amazing ‘Green Sorbet’ flavour of gelato I had at Rocambolesc Gelateria in Girona… It was bloody good. Despite eating all of the gelato I could get my hands on in Italy, it turns out the one I had in Spain tops them all! Who would have thought it?

The Best Gelato in Spain, And Quite Possibly The World

7) Eating my way around Florence

As per usual, I ate my way around another destination – Italy in October. Florence in particular was a culinary delight, with the most amazing mushroom risotto and hands down the best bruschetta I’ve ever had. I can’t get over it, I need to go back like now.

 

6) Going viral on Facebook

In July I got my first experience as a blogger of “going viral”. I’m not sure if you can call it going viral if it’s not in the millions but it was a pretty big deal for me. I received over 20,000 shares on Facebook and over 135,000 views across two posts – 30 Signs You’ve Been Backpacking in Southeast Asia and 27 Signs You’ve Done A Working Holiday in Australia. It was a good kick up the butt to keep on blogging!

 

5) Reaching 10K followers on Instagram

As an early Christmas present for me, my Instagram following hit a massive 10K followers!! That’s a pretty big deal for me, mainly because I get the ‘K’ now! It just looks more impressive doesn’t it? Thanks for following my lovelies!

 

4) STA Travel Hostel at Bestival

This was a pretty sick campaign I got to be a part of in September 2015. STA Travel, the backpacking giants, invited me to come and stay at their pop-up hostel at Bestival festival on the Isle Wight! What a treat. The hostel was awesome with morning yoga and live bands in the evenings, plus an actual bed to go back to instead of a tent – dream! Plus, Bestival itself was pretty cool with lots of things to get involved in (including my fave, Reggaerobics!) Such an amazing thing to be a part of, and such a massive perk of writing this blog!

Hostel Review: STA Travel Hostel at Bestival

Bestival: Bootcamp for the Mind and Spirit?!

Top 10 Moments from Bestival

3) My first Press Trip experience in Spain

Press trips come to those who wait. That’s what most travel bloggers will tell newbies. But quite frankly, waiting is for losers. I went out there and asked for press trips, and I got my very first one in September! A lovely cycling trip to beautiful Catalonia! It was an amazing experience seeing all sorts of off-the-beaten-track destinations I never would have visited on my own, and getting to meet other travel bloggers. Definitely one of my highlights of the year. (And er, to all of you travel PR companies, more press trips would be cool … Just saying.)

5 Awesome Places To Go in Catalonia that AREN’T Barcelona

A Girl’s Guide To Your First Cycling Trip

Tour Talk: Barcelona Ciclo Tour Rent-A-Bike

2) My very first Glastonbury experience

I FINALLY made it to Glastonbury festival this year! Glasto has to be on most people’s bucketlists as one of the best festivals in the world right? Well it didn’t disappoint. I ate my weight in raclette cheese, sung along to Lionel Richie, watched Florence in awe, drank a lot of cider, and sat around bonfires with my besties. Best. Festival. Ever. You gotta go, for sure.

The Ultimate Glastonbury Packing List

Glastonbury Festival Top 5 Food Trucks

1) Exploring the beautiful Cinque Terre in Italy

Cinque Terre was another one of my bucketlist items I ticked off  in 2015. It’s that place you always see on Pinterest and think ‘I must go there one day’ but never actually book a trip. Well I went ahead and booked it. And it was just as amazing as it looks in photos. The weather was gorgeous, I got to explore these beautiful Italian towns at my leisure and just had the most chilled out experience there, taking it all in. It is definitely my number 1 highlight of 2015.

Backpacking Cinque Terre Part 1: Where To Stay

Backpacking Cinque Terre Part 2: What To Do

How To Travel Italy By Train

My Italy Trip in Gelato

 

Ok, there you have it. The awesome things I got to do in 2015. It’s been a pretty good year right? And that was just the highlights! Honorable mention also goes to my London exploits and making it into articles written by the likes of Hostelworld!

Also, in my personal life I had a pretty good year, what with me getting my own house, shacking up with the boyfriend, and getting ahead in the day job. It’s been a pretty damn good year… And that’s without mentioning the number of fancy dress outfits I managed to fit into the year.

But what about 2016?

Don’t worry, I have big plans for 2016 with a trip to Amsterdam planned, a getaway to Bali in the diary and a big Australia blow-out at the end of the year! Throw in a few UK-based events and trips into the mix and it looks like there’s another year of adventure to come! Stay tuned…

What did you think of 2015 on Heels In My Backpack? Is there anything you would like to see here in 2016? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @HeelsInBackpack!