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Yllara Maia | Storybook Travel

@yllaramaia

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🏛️ Former architect traveling the world
🏰 City breaks, hotels & iconic landmarks
📍 Boston, MA
⬇️ Vlogs + EF Ultimate Break discount!

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Answering your most asked questions about traveling with EF Ultimate Break…

Featuring some never-before-seen pictures from my past trips!

If you’ve been looking to book an @efultimatebreak trip but still have some unanswered questions, feel free to DM me!

Also, make sure to use my first-timer discount link in bio for $100 off your booking.

Happy traveling!

#efultimatebreak #thisisultimate #ultimateambassador #grouptravel #eftravel by @yllaramaia

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a year ago

Maybe the fairytales left out a few details…

Hampton Court Palace looks like the kind of place where the story is supposed to end with “and they lived happily ever after.”

Except one of its most famous residents was Henry VIII, and we all know how well happily ever after worked out for his wives. 😭

That’s what I love about visiting places like this. You’re not just looking at a beautiful palace. You’re walking through the rooms, courtyards and halls where stories we still talk about almost 500 years later actually happened.

If you love places that feel straight out of a storybook but have even better stories hiding behind them, add Hampton Court Palace to your London list.

Save this for your next London trip 🇬🇧

#hamptoncourtpalace #londontravel storybooktravel #londonpalaces #englandtravel taken in Hampton Court Palace by @yllaramaia

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6 days ago

It’s really not that hard to make women happy 💁🏻‍♀️

Who wouldn’t love a fairytale Scottish castle? 😅

#womenarentcomplicated #scotlandcastles #storybooktravel #fairytaletravel taken in Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Scotland by @yllaramaia

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17 days ago

Edinburgh feels like someone built a city specifically for people who never got over fantasy books. 🏰

It’s the dark stone buildings, towering spires, tiny closes that disappear between buildings and streets that look suspiciously like they could lead you to Diagon Alley.

But then you learn the history# and it gets even better.

Scotland has centuries of witchcraft history, legends and ghost stories, and there are literally old streets and rooms hidden underneath parts of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Basically, the more you learn about Edinburgh, the more you understand why it feels like you’ve stepped into a story.

And apparently, even the traffic cones have lore. 😂

Save this for your Edinburgh trip if your travel decisions are heavily influenced by ✨vibes✨.

#edinburghscotland #fantasytravel #edinburghcity #storybooktravel taken in Edinburgh, Scotland by @yllaramaia

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14 days ago

Turns out the Scottish Highlands are absolutely terrible for anyone trying to get over their Outlander obsession 😂

The mountains are bigger, the Highland cows are somehow fluffier, and every loch looks like you could accidentally fall through time at any moment.

So if Outlander put Scotland on your bucket list… unfortunately, I’m here to tell you it deserves to stay there.

📍 Scottish Highlands, Scotland

#scottishhighlands #outlandertravel #scotlandtravels #outlanderscotland #scotishhighlands taken in Scottish Highlands by @yllaramaia

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18 days ago

Everything I wish I knew before going to the Jane Austen Festival!

Specifically, how far in advance people typically plan for this…

The event takes place in Bath, England for 10 days and there are a ton of Regency-themed events happening throughout the city.

But here’s the catch, a lot of them are ticketed and they go on sale MONTHS in advance. So if you’re dreaming about going next year here’s what I’d do:

1. Sign up for the event newsletter to get notified when event tickets go on sale.

2. Book your hotel early on if you want to have your pick of accommodations.

3. Plan to stay at least 3-5 days (starting with the first day of the festival, which is when the Promenade happens).

4. Plan your outfits and full itinerary a few weeks before going.

And don’t forget to make time to stop at the Festival Fayre because they sell a TON of cool Regency clothes, props, and trinkets.

Don’t be afraid to dress up and let your be silly because life without whimsy is just boring 🥱

#janeaustenfestivalbath #janeaustenfestival #janeaustenworld #bathfestival taken in Bath, United Kingdom by @yllaramaia

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a month ago

Once a year, Bath basically pretends the last 200 years never happened, and YES, it’s just as fun as it sounds.

The Jane Austen festival happens every September for 10 days and the entire city of Bath looks like this!

Here’s what to know before you go:

🎟️ Book early. There’s no single festival ticket. Events are booked separately, and popular ones like the Regency Balls and Promenade can sell out months ahead.

👗 You don’t have to dress up. You can watch most of the festival in normal clothes, but some events require Regency costume.

🪡 Plan your outfit early. Most people arrange costumes months ahead, but there ARE rental options in Bath if you suddenly get influenced like I did 😂

🚶‍♀️ The Promenade already happened this year on the first day of the festival. Thousands of people in Regency clothing take over the streets of Bath and it genuinely feels like you walked into another century.

📍 Events happen all over Bath. There are balls, dances, talks, afternoon teas, workshops, performances and more throughout the festival.

My advice? Check the programme as soon as it comes out, book your must-do events first, then plan everything else around them.

Save this for next September if living out your Jane Austen/Bridgerton fantasy is on your bucket list 🎀☕️

#janeaustenfestival #janeaustenfestivalbath #bathengland #visitbath #janeausten taken in Bath, United Kingdom by @yllaramaia

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a month ago

If you only have time to visit one Cotswold Village…which one would it be?

The Cotswolds are about a 2 hour drive outside of London, so if you have limited time, choosing where to go matters.

Here are a few things I wish I knew before I went:

🚙 The villages are spread out, so getting between them without a car takes planning.
☀️ Start early, especially if you want photos without crowds (especially in Bibury).
⏰ Some stops are quicker than others. Bibury was a quick stop, while Bourton-on-the-Water had way more to do.
✨ Yes, they really do look like fairytale villages in person.

If you don’t want to worry about transportation while visiting it’s worth it to book a tour…check out the one I did through the link in my bio 🫶🏻

#costwoldsdaytrip #costwoldsvillages #cotswoldtravel #thecotswolds taken in The Cotswolds , England by @yllaramaia

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a month ago

My London borough of the week was Chelsea!

A lot of you recommend this spot last time - so I spent a whole day there and couldn’t stop walking.

My favorite thing about this neighborhood was the architecture and the cute residential streets.

Where should I go next?

#creatorsearchinsights #chelsealondon #londonneighbourhoods #exploringlondon by @yllaramaia

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a month ago

I went to Hampton Court Palace because I was already obsessed with the story of King Henry VIII and his six wives…

But getting to see it first hand was incredibly unreal.

This was easily one of my favorite day trips from London. You’re walking through the same rooms and courtyards where they walked, and actually lived out some of the stories we still hear today.

And between the Tudor architecture, the beautiful gardens, royal apartments and all the scandal hiding behind these walls, there is SO much to do and see here.

If you love history, architecture, or just really good royal drama, make sure to add this to your list.

🎟️ You can book your Hampton Court Palace tickets through the link in my bio!

#hamptoncourt #hamptoncourtpalace #hamptoncourtgardens taken in Hampton Court Palace by @yllaramaia

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a month ago

I got to live my rom-com DREAM and visit the Cotswolds!!!

These tiny (and gorgeous) villages in the eastern part of England have made so many appearances in movies we know and love.

And I finally got to do it on a day trip from London with @getyourguide. We got picked up at Paddington station and drove by coach through the English countryside.

I fell in love with the cottages in Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Bibury. And it was awesome that we had guided transport, which took us from one place to another.

We got to explore each area on our own, and then got back on the bus to London (not worrying about transportation was a plus).

So if you’re planning a trip to London and have an extra day, put the Cotswolds on your list!

And make sure to book this tour through the link in my bio 😉

@getyourguidecommunity

#thecotswolds #costwoldsvillages #visitthecotswolds #getyourguide #getyourguidecommunity taken in The Cotswolds , England by @yllaramaia

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2 months ago

After doing multiple EF trips, this one is still one of my favorites.

If you’re wondering what the boat is actually like, whether it’s worth the money, if solo travelers fit in, or what a typical day looks like, I hope this answers your biggest questions.

Drop your questions below, and if you’re thinking about booking, my link is in my bio! ✨

#croatia #croatiacruise #efultimatebreak #grouptravel #solotravel

If you’re looking for waking up in a new Croatian island every morning, swimming in the Adriatic, making friends, and never worrying about logistics… it’s 100% worth it.

Regardless of a Plus or Essential itinerary, you’ll stop at places like:

📍 Split
📍 Hvar
📍 Korčula
📍 Mljet
📍 Dubrovnik

Every island has a completely different vibe.

What’s included?

✅ 7 nights on a private boat
✅ Breakfast every morning
✅ Most lunches onboard
✅ Tour Director
✅ Transportation between islands
❌ Flights, dinners, drinks & optional activities

What’s the boat actually like?

Think floating boutique hotel, not cruise ship.

You’ll have:
• Small cabins with A/C
• Private bathroom
• Sun deck
• Swimming stops almost every day

Don’t expect Royal Caribbean… but honestly, that’s what makes it so fun.

Will I be the only solo traveler?

Not even close. One of the biggest reasons I’d recommend EF.

A lot of people came solo, and I really lucked out with my roommate! You will room with one other person unless you upgrade to a single room.

My group had a lot of repeat travelers, and a lot of people who cane with friends, which is also common!

This trip was a perfect blend of sightseeing, adventure, and relaxing time.

I actually got to sleep in…which is rare on these trips 😅

You can relax on the boat when it docks…or wander cobblestone streets with a gelato completely on your own.

It’s a really nice balance.

What’s a typical day like?

☀️ Breakfast onboard (if you wake up early, we mostly slept in and waited until lunch)
🌊 Swim stop in crystal-clear water
🍲 Lunch on the boat
🏛️ Explore the town
🍝 Dinner on your own
🍹 Optional nightlife
🚤 Sail to the next island (usually really early in the AM)

Honestly… every day looked a little different. But this pretty much taken in Croatia - Adriatic Sea by @yllaramaia

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2 months ago