Meet Cristina from My Little World of Travelling

Meet Cristina from My Little World of Travelling

I created the “Travellers’ Tales” section to give other travellers an opportunity to talk about their travels. Today I would like to introduce you to Cristina, a travel blogger from the Costa del Sol in Spain. She blogs at My Little World of Travelling.

I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales” , fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.

Read about Cristina’s travels here:

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Cristina Reina, and I’m an avid traveller from the Costa del Sol, Spain. While I love travelling to other countries, learning languages and discovering new cultures, I’m on a mission to help others discover my hometown and its surroundings. This is why I created My Little World of Travelling: to share the best activities, where to eat, and other tips based on my personal experience. Travellers can find a wide selection of resources about Malaga, Marbella and beyond.

Because of my dad’s work, I lived and travelled in different cities and villages in Spain, but it wasn’t until I was 15 that I became really interested in British culture and language, as well as in exploring other countries.

This curiosity led me to study Translation and Interpreting in my hometown, and then to move to the UK to pursue my Master’s Degree in Tourism and Hospitality.

Since then, things have changed a lot. I have travelled to beautiful destinations like Bali, Mexico, and Cyprus, made friends with people from different countries, and met my British fiancé. But also living abroad made me realise all the amazing things I was missing from my hometown and country.

2. What is your earliest travel memory?

My parents have never been very interested in travelling abroad, but we did travel quite a bit in Spain. One of my earliest memories was going on a day trip to Rute, a small town in Cordoba, with my family, including my grandparents. We went there to buy nougats and other Christmas sweets because it’s the best place to get them. At that time, it was a popular place, but not as much as it is now. There’s even a museum with a giant chocolate nativity scene.

3. Where was your last holiday?

My last holiday was to Mallorca. I had been before once, but I was very excited to come back since I missed so much last time. This time, I was determined to explore the missing attractions and the mountain-side villages.

4. What was the best thing you did there?

My favourite thing about this trip to Mallorca was actually a day trip to Valldemossa. My partner and I loved wandering the picturesque streets, taking in the mountain views from a little cafe and the monastery, which I highly recommend visiting. Not only is it beautiful, but there are piano recitals every 15 minutes included with the entry ticket.

5. What was your best holiday ever? Why?

Bali

Bali! My partner and I planned a trip to Bali, but it was postponed three times due to covid. Finally, when the travel restrictions were lifted, we managed to travel to Bali. We couldn’t believe we were finally there, and it didn’t disappoint in any way. It was actually my first time in Asia, so it did come with cultural shocks, but I think that was the beauty of the trip, too. We travelled to different places across Bali to see both the touristy and authentic sides, and it was eye-opening. I was amazed by how kind the locals were and by the stunning landscapes. I loved everything about the trip, from visiting the temples and rice fields to cooking at a local’s house.

6. What is your favourite travel destination?

Bali is my favourite travel destination, but another country I love is Italy. I especially love Lake Como and its picturesque villages.

7. What is the one thing one must do there?

I did a boat cruise on my last trip and really enjoyed taking in the views while stopping at the charming villages of Bellagio and Varenna. It’s a great introduction to Lake Como, but if you do have time and it’s within budget, I recommend staying in one of these places.

8. Who is your favourite travel companion/s?

My favourite travel companion is my partner, with whom I usually travel. We complement each other very well. We both love food, so eating well is a must on every holiday.  I’m the one who plans the trips, and he usually goes with the flow; however, we also know how to communicate what we need and want while on the trip. While I love having a plan and schedule, I’ve also learnt to be more flexible, which has led to more spontaneous, unexpected, and beautiful moments I’ll never forget.

I also love travelling with my best friend as we are pretty similar. We try to go on holiday together at least once a year.

9. Name one item you must have when travelling.

London

My camera, whether it’s my DSLR camera or the one on my iPhone. I love taking photos and videos during my travels. I don’t see it as “I must take photos for my website”; I actually enjoy capturing places and moments.

10. Your best travel advice?

My best travel advice is not to add too many activities to your itinerary. When I was doing this, it was all about ticking the boxes, rather than enjoying the place and moment. I prefer not to put pressure on myself, to focus on the areas I really want to visit rather than the places “I must visit,” and to be present. If you love a place, you can always go back and see the missing places, especially if the destination isn’t that far.

11. The one place you want to visit before you die?

I would love to visit Japan. It wasn’t on my list until recently, but I’m now very interested in the culture and place.

12. How can people connect with you?

Blog: My Little World of Travelling

Instagram: My Little World of Travelling

Facebook page: My Little World of Travelling

Thank you, Cristina , for sharing your travels with us!

I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales”, fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.

Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 53 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.