My Life In Travel: Monikh Dale

My favourite holiday destination is Mallorca. It means a lot to me and my fiancé. We’ve been going with his family for the past few years and we’ll hopefully get married there later this year. I totally fell in love with Illetas on the south west of the island – it’s rustic but there are some great places that have opened in the last couple of years. Hotel Bendinat is great for a romantic dinner (make sure you request a table outside) and Puro Beach is my go-to for afternoon drinks in the sun.

My fiancé and I love to travel to Europe because it’s so close and (usually) accessible. Earlier this year, we managed to go to Positano in Italy which was insane – totally picturesque. It should have been our honeymoon, as our original wedding was postponed, but it still felt like a real treat.

If we’re going on a city break, Palma is always our number one choice. We love Can Bordoy, a stunning boutique hotel in old-town Palma. Madrid is another favourite as it’s just one of those cities you can walk around and stumble across great places without having to stick to an itinerary. From Retiro park’s stunning glasshouse to the national museum and, of course, the tapas and the sunshine, it’s an ideal city break.

If I had just two nights abroad, I’d go to Stockholm. I’ve just come back from there and it's one of my favourite cities to visit. 

One of my favourite hotels in the world has to be Le Sirenuse in Positano. It’s the most breath-taking place I’ve ever stayed, and everything is so beautiful. Another unforgettable hotel is La Granja in Ibiza. The farm-to-plate style dining is fab, and the hotel is super peaceful and zen.

My favourite hotel in the UK has to be Soho Farmhouse. It might sound clichéd, but it’s got the edge and coolness of London with the beautiful Cotswolds countryside – perfect for a few cosy days of comfort food and lots of wine. When you live in London, you really have to get out of the city now and again. Another favourite further afield is The Westbury in Dublin – from the incredible bedrooms to the hotel bar, it really is the epitome of luxury.

For a beach holiday, I love the Maldives. I went there a few years ago for the ultimate girls’ trip. We stayed at the stunning Angsana Ihuru Island Resort, before moving to the Angsana Velavaru Island Resort. We had amazing double-storey sea villas with lounge areas, an upstairs balcony, and a private pool with stairs that lead down to the sea. It was absolute bliss.

The most magical place I’ve ever been to is Can Bordoy in Palma. My fiancé and I went there in February for a few nights for my birthday – waking up in the hotel and taking a swim in their outdoor pool was heaven. It’s something I want every year now – the standards have been set high! 

One of the most memorable meals I’ve ever had on holiday was a lobster linguine in Positano. We went to a small restaurant called Max and it was delicious. When in Palma we love Ombu. It has loads of delicious tapas dishes that are so good we once went for lunch and dinner in the same day.

One of the best trips I’ve ever had was Barbados two years ago. I went as part of a group and we stayed in a beautiful Airbnb called Radwood on the west coast of the island. There was lots of rum and sun, but it was especially amazing because of the two lovely women who looked after us, June and Shakira. After a morning of exploring we would come back to June’s incredible jerk chicken and macaroni pie – better than any fancy restaurant we went to.

One of my most memorable trips as a child was a safari holiday in Kenya. My mum used to work for British Airways, so I was very lucky on the holiday front as a child. She’s taken us to some of the most incredible places in the world, though Kenya was definitely a standout. 

A really cool place I’ve been to is Los Angeles. I went for the launch of Alexa Chung’s collaboration with Superga a few years ago and loved the Rose Cafè which does the most amazing pasta and wine. Also, The Butcher’s Daughter on Venice Beach does a really good spicy margarita and the interiors are Pinterest-worthy.

My travel bucket list includes some pretty dreamy destinations. There are so many places I’d love to visit. I’ve heard incredible things about Sri Lanka, which looks beautiful, and I really want to show my fiancé India. It’s such a big culture shock on all the senses, but I’d love for him to experience it and learn a little more about my heritage. 

Top of my list for 2021 is Mallorca. We can’t wait to go back.

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