As 2015 comes to an end and we look back on a year of fabulous adventures, and onto 2016 which will hopefully be filled with many more, I know you’re already thinking “oh no, not another New Year round up post!”. So okay, I may be doing a total cliche here but I figured that this year has been a pretty awesome one so I simply couldn’t resist. Plus, Mr Ayla is adamantly refusing to go on as many trips next year (oops my finger must have accidently slipped and hit enter to book those flights!!) so all I can do is look back on some of my favourite memories from this year.
Despite having a full time job I’ve managed to squeeze in plenty of adventures, from long haul relaxing holidays to short city breaks closer to home; trips with both family and friends; sightseeing holidays, hiking trips, beach breaks and everything in between. While we may not have anything planned for next year (yet) these are some of my favourite travel memories from 2015, and some of these places have very quickly worked their way to the top of my favourite ever destinations.
1. Sipping cocktails and driving vintage cars (not at the same time of course) in Havana, Cuba, one of the most vibrant and cultured cities I have ever visited
Read more: A Vintage Car Tour of Havana and A Foodie’s Guide to Food and Drink in Havana
2. Staring in wonder at the gorgeous colourful views of the Cinque Terre, Italy, my favourite European destination so far!
Read more: A Little Piece of Heaven in the Cinque Terre and A Hiking Adventure in the Cinque Terre
3. Eating all the mouth-watering food that Italy has to offer. Like, seriously, ALL of the food.
Read more: Eating Our Way Around the Cinque Terre and Eating Our Way Around Florence
4. Singing along to Irish bands in lively Dublin pubs
Read more: 48 Hours in Dublin
5. Spending the evening drinking wine and being merry with Henry VIII at the Medieval Banquet – one of the most entertaining nights we’ve ever had out in London.
Read more: An Evening of Festivites at the Medieval Banquet
6. Reminiscing with family in Gibraltar, one of my favourite places in the whole world, for my mum’s birthday. As you can see, she thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations!
Read more: Reminiscing in Gibraltar
7. Watching the stunning sunset during a romantic dinner on a quiet secluded beach in Cornwall
Read more: Exploring North Cornwall’s Beautiful Coastline
8. Visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour for the second (okay it was totally the third) time and getting grandad to fly us all to Hogwarts
Read more: 10 of the Best Harry Potter Locations Around the World
9. Wandering through the colourful vibrant souks of Marrakech, bartering with the locals over Moroccan trinkets and finding a chameleon climbing up my dress (yes, of course I wanted to take him home)!
Read More: Mythical Marrakech
10. Enjoying woodland walks, country pubs and rustic cottages on a short winter getaway in the New Forest
Read more: Weekend Adventures in the New Forest and Rustic Charm in the New Forest at Cottage Lodge
11. Eating a ridiculous amount of cheese, drinking lots of mulled wine and exploring the French Christmas markets with Mr Ayla, Kasha, Chris and Le Havre Tourisme
Keep an eye on the blog for more about Le Havre soon!
What were your favourite moments of 2015? Let me know in the comments below or at:
Mama Ayla's Adventures 
Cheers to many more magical moments in 2016!
Right back at ya 🙂
An amazing year! Cuba is definitely a place I’d love to visit!
Cuba is an incredible place. Easily one of favourite ever destinations!
i had no idea you flew in a flying car!
Yep, every day to get to school 😉
What a great year! Cinque Terre looked so lovely, I am already an Italy obsessive so this is one I’ve got to try and fit into 2016 somewhere. Here’s to lots more travels to come!
You should definitely plan a visit to Cinque Terre Lucy, it’s so beautiful and I already want to go back!
You certainly gave me serious wanderlust with your blog posts on Cuba and Gibraltar! Have a lovely NYE
Yay! That was my intention 😉 Hope you had a lovely New Year Suze!
Bookmarking your vintage car tour of Havana to read later! It looks like you’ve had a brilliant year – here’s to more in 2016 🙂
If you go to Cuba (and I highly recommend you do) you have to do a vintage car tour. Such a great way to see the city in your favourite old style car 🙂
Love this list, what a great year for you! Especially love the Havana and Cuba mentions – I’ve already read your posts in preparation for my own visit in April. Happy New Year!
How exciting! I absolutely loved Cuba and I’m sure you will too. Let me know if you’d like any other advice or tips 🙂
You went to some great places, some of them are making me real jealous. 🙂
Thanks Jaklien! I hope you get to visit some of these awesome places too 🙂
Hey, clichés are awesome for a reason! Cheers to another 12 months of fun 😀
Now I just need to persuade Mr Ayla into all the trips I already have planned in my head 😉
Wow, you had an extremely colourful 2015! Especially Cuba! x
Cuba and Cinque Terre are two of the most colourful places I’ve ever been. So gorgeous!
Wow – that bar on the beach in Cornwall, please tell me where!
It’s Lusty Glaze and it is absolutely gorgeous. The most perfect spot for dinner and a sunset 🙂
Aww, what an amazing year! I have to admit, your blog posts on the Cinque Terre made me want to visit so badly that I’m pretty sure we almost changed our honeymoon plans at the last minute! Here’s to another year full of exciting travel memories to come!
Polly xx
Follow Your Sunshine
Haha! I think all of the Italian Riviera must just be stunning! We can have a second honeymoon and go back can’t we? 😉
Wow, what a fantastic year! I really want to visit Cinque Terre AND Cuba!
My two favourite places from this year Jessi. Go!
Wow, that must have been an amazing year! Cuba is definitely on top of my bucket list! Hope that in 2016 you’ll be able to visit as many awesome places as you did last year 🙂
Thanks Barb, it was a pretty great year. Same to you and I hope you get to visit Cuba. It’s amazing!
I really want to visit Cinque Terre this year!
It’s so gorgeous, I highly recommend a visit 🙂
Looks like you had a brilliant 2015! I hope 2016 is just as good for you!
Danielle / http://www.escapingessex.com
Thanks Danielle! Right back at ya 🙂
It looks like you had some wonderful travel memories from 2015! As I commented on someone else’s blog, Cinque Terre is definitely on my list. I’m jealous that you went to Marrakech, which is still on my list! Happy New Year!
I hope you get to visit them both next year. They are both incredible places that I would go back to in a heartbeat 🙂
Wow! Your 2015 looks amazing! I really want to visit Cuba and Marrakech and your pictures of them are beautiful!
Thanks Alice! Hope my photos can tempt you into going!
What a fantastic year Ayla! Love the photo of your grandad driving you all in the flying car. Have loved following your adventures and am sure there’ll be many more to come in 2016 😀
I hope so! Can’t wait to hear all about yours too 🙂
What an amazing year you’ve had! I’m a big Harry Potter fan as well, and have been dying to see the Studios for awhile – hopefully soon 🙂
You should definitely go Cassie. I’ve been three times and I could still go back again and again!
Ahh I want to go back to Cuba SO badly! My heart goes all funny every time I think about it.
C x | Lux Life
Me too! I absolutely adored Cuba and would go back in a heartbeat ❤
It looks like a great year! #travel link up
It was! 🙂
Oh, no! Not another roundup post! Haha 😉 Totally kidding, I loved it! Such colorful pictures and beautiful moments you’ve had. Happy you had a great year, and hope 2016 will be just as awesome if not more!
Haha I just had to do one Nita! 😉 Hope 2016 will be awesome for you too!
Looks like you’ve had a fabulously fun, tasty and magical year all at once 🙂 Here’s wishing you an evening more exciting one in 2016! xxx
Fun, tasty and magical it certainly was 🙂
Love Cinque Terre! Looks like you’ve had a fantastic year! Hope you’ve got great plans for 2016!
Isn’t it just such a gorgeous part of Italy! Thanks Ngaire – same to you 🙂
Even though everyone does it, I looooove reading people’s best moments of the year! It is a very nice way to summarise a year of travels, and boy yours was amazing!! Cuba and Marrakech are so high on my bucket list!!
I wish you many more amazing travels in 2016 (even though Alex doesn’t want to collaborate haha) delicious food and cocktails! 😀
Btw: I got the book you are reading now as a Christmas gift, I hope it’s good 😀
Those were two of my very places this year, if not two of my favourite places ever! I would go back to both without a moment’s hesitation ❤ Don't worry I'll persuade him into plenty of trips 😉
Ooh which book? The Liane Moriarty one or the Jenny Colgan that I read last? Both are really good!