5 years. 5 years. I honestly cannot believe it – where has the time gone? And omg, the places I have been to ever since – and been able to share my experiences with those of you who give me your time. I am incredibly grateful by the opportunities and experiences that the blog has given me – but as I said many times, without you wonderful people, there is no Mrs. O.
So, to celebrate these 5 years in style.. the gifts are for you. I have worked with incredible companies over the last year and would love my readers to enjoy some of the same moments I had – or pretty similar ones!
I have rounded up a selection of incredible prizes – and I hope those who win them love them as much as I do. So without further ado… let’s get the Mrs. O Around the World’s 5th Blog giveaway started, shall we?
Enjoy Spain in Style with The Luxury Villa Collection
The Luxury Villa Collection is a boutique portfolio of luxury Spanish villa rentals with a tailored Concierge service to help you indulge in the finest of Spanish culture and gastronomy. Each property is hand picked so you’ll only find villas that they personally know and love, and with a personal ‘Human’ service from first enquiry through to being met at the villa and during your stay, you know you’ll be in safe hands while you enjoy Spain in Style! I have stayed with them in Marbella earlier this year and you can read about my luxury villa experience here.
Villa Cezanne is one of the newest additions to The Collection. Located in the exclusive El Madronal Estate above Marbella, this outstanding villa is a picture-perfect testament to the natural beauty of Andalusia. Here you can enjoy breath-taking panoramas from mountains to sea, stylish architecture, high-tech interiors and leisurely indoor-outdoor living. Set into countryside that would inspire Cezanne himself, this is a 4 bedroom modern hideaway that blends Andalusian charm with its owners’ South African warmth and unique personal touches.
Six months’ membership of Ten Concierge
Joining Ten Concierge ensures that your evenings, weekends and holidays are spent exactly as you would like.
The service offers exclusive access to the best restaurants, premium travel flights, luxurious hotels, and global entertainment as well as hundreds of member benefits such as complimentary upgrades and discounts with the world’s top brands.
Their expert lifestyle managers will keep you in the know about the latest and hottest places to visit and get you booked in before anyone else. From dinner with friends to next summer’s holiday or once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Ten Concierge will become your best kept secret. Membership starts from £130 per month and the winner will receive a six-month Classic membership.
But nonetheless, all readers can use the code MrsO for a month’s free trial of Ten’s Classic Concierge service. Sign up here.
One hand-crafted beyond the guidebook tours in Spain, designed exclusively for Mrs O Around The World by Toma
The Secrets of Andalucia´s Liquid Gold – Did you know that Spain produces 55% of the world´s olives? There are close to 200 Million trees in Andalucia alone. Delve with TOMA into the deep-rooted traditional values and tight working network of olive producers. Take a step into traditional Spain and learn about this incredibly valuable crop. We will take you on an unforgettable voyage of discovery where you will visit an Andalucian Cortijo/Hacienda where olive oil is produced, enjoy an olive tasting, visit 2 marvellous Andalucian villages and enjoy a succulent, traditional Spanish lunch.
A Foodie Tour of Malaga Old Town – Dubbed by many as the new Barcelona, the city of Málaga is enjoying a surge of increased visitors all mesmerised by the charm of this authentic Spanish city. It is quickly becoming a mecca for foodies and during this day trip TOMA will share with you the many culinary delights the city has to offer. You will visit the old taverns and bodegas, see a market in full swing and taste delectable tapas as our favourite haunts in the Old Town. This is a marvellous way to get to know the city; tastes and memories will linger long after your visit.
Ronda Wine and Jamón Ibérico Tour – Discover why everyone is talking about Ronda wines on this fabulous day trip into the hills in and around the world famous white town of Ronda. This town, perched high on an escarpment above the gorgeous valley floors and surrounded by mountains has been a TOMA favourite for as long as we can remember .We want to share with you an exclusive winery, steeped in history and charm that can only be compared to the Garden of Eden. A micro-climate and a secret water source are jey to its incredible success. After a very special tasting session sitting under an avocado tree in its sumptuous gardens, we will venture into town to visit a local Iberian Ham or Jamón Ibérico business and learn all the intricate details of this world famous ham. In the afternoon, we will stroll into the old town of Ronda to sit at a traditional table and be served an array of local delicacies.
Which of these 3 tours will you choose? Visit Toma’s website for more details and read about my experience of 2 of their tours. The tour is for 2 people.
A 3-night stay at Nizuc Resort & Spa, Mexico
Once a base for Mayan astronomers and then a presidential retreat for world leaders, NIZUC Resort & Spa is a 29-acre private beachfront escape on the secluded Punta Nizuc, within a paradise of protected mangroves and lush local foliage facing the white sands of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef – the second largest coral reef in the world – and yet within easy reach of Cancun international airport. A collaboration between artists and architects who have created a resort that fuses modern sensibility with Mayan ethos, NIZUC was opened in March 2013 and offers 274 suites and villas, as well as multiple pools, including family friendly and adults only options, six world-class restaurants including Mexican, Peruvian, Italian, Asian and a beachside Grill, and a 30,000 square foot ESPA spa complete with male and female hydrotherapy areas and 10 indoor/outdoor treatment rooms. Guests wanting to get more active can collect a paddleboard or kayak from one of NIZUC’s two beaches or explore the region’s natural wonders, archeological sites and amazing attractions, including the world’s first Underwater Art Museum.
Experience modern Mexican luxury redefined at the Yucatan Peninsula’s newest and most exclusive destination, NIZUC Resort & Spa. Winners (you can read my review of this fabulous hotel) will receive a three-night/four-day stay for two at NIZUC in an Ocean View Junior Suite on a room only basis. The prize is valid until 23 November 2017 and is subject to availability. It is not valid during blackout dates (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Easter) and is subject to availability. Prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and non-redeemable for cash.
A 2-night stay at the Belmond La Residencia, Mallorca
Belmond La Residencia is a beautiful luxury 5 star property located in the tiny mountain village of Deià, Mallorca, in the heart of the Tramuntana mountains, a Unesco world heritage site. Nestled between stunning mountains and the Mediterranean sea, this property not only boasts a privileged position but its unique ancient manor houses provide a sense of home rather than a hotel. With beautiful pools, hillside Spa, and tennis courts with sea views, the 73 room property is further enhanced by its fabulous restaurants and cuisine, and the warmth and personal care of its staff, making you feel immediately welcome and part of their family.
The property is a paradise for art lovers, with a permanent collection of over 800 works of modern art by local artists, a Sculpture Garden, an Art Gallery running continuous temporary exhibitions and a wonderful collection of 33 original Miró artworks hanging in the Café Miró. The place lives and breathes art and culture.
Belmond La Residencia is offering a two night stay in a junior suite. Prize includes full breakfast and of course, use of the gym, Jacuzzi and pools. Offer available between 31st March and 9th November 2017 (excluding 15 June-15 September), and subject to availability.
Luxury Nespresso Coffee Machine & Limited Edition Christmas Collection
Nothing can top a perfect cup of coffee, especially one made in the comfort of your own home. 30 years ago, the Nespresso system transformed coffee making at home and since then, a cup of coffee has become so much more than a simple daily routine. It is a ritual, which can be personalised according to preference. Whether you prefer a powerful Ristretto or a smooth latte, enjoy expertly sourced single origin coffee or a crafted blend, there is a Nespresso Grand Cru to suit all tastes. Nespresso sources its range of 24 Grands Crus from the top 1-2% of coffee beans grown around the world, providing unique tasting experiences.
Giving the gift of coffee is simple this festive season with the Nespresso Christmas range. This year’s Christmas collection features Limited Edition Festive Variations inspired by the rich traditions of Vienna, smart, contemporary and sleek machines and beautifully designed accessories – visit the Nespresso website for even more gift ideas. Nespresso has partnered with Milan-based illustrator Lorenzo Petrantoni who has added his unique design flair to the Christmas Variations coffee sleeves and festive accessories. Famous for his intricate graphic artworks inspired by the 19th century, Petrantoni has created a simple and stylish pattern featured on the Festive Pure Collection cups.
Just in time for the festive season, Nespresso is offering one lucky reader the chance to experience coffee connoisseurship by giving away a sleek Lattissima Touch machine, a selection of festive accessories as well as the Festive Variations coffee range. The three unique limited edition coffees have been crafted to reflect the splendour of Vienna using the flavours of the region’s most famous desserts and are perfect to enjoy on a cold winter evening.
30 Minute Flytographer Vacation Photo Shoot
Flytographer is an online marketplace that connects travelers with local photographers in 200 cities worldwide for fun, candid vacation shoots (about an hour). Often people return home from a special trip with no decent photos together.
With Flytographer, travelers not only return with a beautiful souvenir but they learn cool insider tips on what to eat/see/do as they stroll the streets chatting with their passionate local photographer. Customers book their preferred photographer online, and photos are delivered five days after the shoot, often before they’ve even unpacked. If you read this blog regularly, you will have seen some of the photos in places like Bali, Venice, Prague and Santa Monica, just to name a few! (I have now done over 20 shoots!).
For travelers who value experiences vs. things, it’s the perfect souvenir and it will remind you of your trip for decades to come. Flytographer has been featured across A-list media such as: Oprah, Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, The New York Times, InStyle, and many more. Flytographer has also partnered with global brands like Fairmont, Expedia, Context Travel and Virtuoso.
The prize? A 30 minute Flytographer gift card, redeemable in over 200 destinations world wide with no expiry date.
The Ultimate Hendrick’s Gin Experience
Delve into Hendrick’s Gin peculiar portmanteau from the purveyors of the unusual and you’ll discover a host of gifts guaranteed to file your life a certain degree of wonderment.
From an umbrella designed specifically to stop water moisture penetrating your overcoat, to a watch made entirely for holding in one’s pocket. It doesn’t stop there though, the wonderful cucumber and rose infused pedlars at Hendrick’s have bestowed upon us a box of tricks that include, a number bottles of Hendrick’s in varying degrees of size, a wonderful cocktail book, as well as some scales to ensure you always know how much of your beloved gin you have left.
You can learn more about gin, by reading the Hendrick’s Beginners Guide to Gin, right here on the blog.
To enter this competition, simply do the following:
a) subscribe to the blog by signing up on the right hand side of this page. You will receive an email confirmation and you are free to unsubscribe at any time as soon as this competition ends.
b) share this blog post via Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus. Make sure it has the hashtag #MrsO5 so I can see it!
c) let me know which prize you would prefer (if you could choose!), and answer the following question: ‘Where would you spend your perfect Winter getaway and with whom?’
This competition is now closed.
Winners will be selected by each prize sponsor, based on the answers and will be contacted by email.