Some of you may know Lauren as the daughter of Angie & Andy, but she also works behind the scenes at Harmony Voyages & the Costa Festivals managing our visual and creative presence.  She’s responsible for all of our artwork whether that be web design, brochures, booklets, or 10ft festival banners.

 As an avid traveller since a young age, she has a lot of favourite places in the world – but here are her top 5! 

Amsterdam

I’ll begin with my current home city! I’ve lived in Amsterdam for 3 and a half years now, it’s a place that always draws me back (after first living there between 2014-2016 for an internship after University). What I love most about this place is the small town feeling in a big city, you can get everywhere by bicycle or on foot. Although the winters are grey, summers here make it all worth it! Dinners by the canal, drinks on the terraces, boat trips and strolls through the city. Need tips? Ask me for my extensive Google lists with all my favourite spots!

India

I hold India, particularly Rajasthan, dear to my heart as I started my first business there in 2017. In between the dusty streets of Jaipur I was staying at a lively hostel sketching my first jewellery collection. India is huge source of inspiration, the sights, sounds and smells can sometimes be overwhelming, but for me, it’s the sensory overload that adds to the life and endless possibilities of this amazing place. Goa is not to be missed either if you want an escape from the hustle and bustle of the cities of Rajasthan – I spent many weeks travelling the coast, hopping beach shack to beach shack keeping hydrated with lime sodas & lassis.

Bali

The home of smiles and sunshine. I spent 4 incredible months in 2019 in Bali. I was based in the south in Canggu, scooting around on my moped to various beaches and bars and nipping up to the north for my business trips. I was working on my first dress collection for my fashion brand and was connecting with local weavers who were responsible for hand looming beautiful indigenous Ikat fabric. There was a group of ladies I bought most of my fabric from in a beautiful village called Sideman, a gem of a place I would always recommend visiting if you’re looking for somewhere beyond the typical tourist trail.

Maderia

I spent a month remote working on this island in November 2023, based in a tiny village called Ponta do Sol. When I wasn’t in the co-working space, I was walking the dogs from the local dog shelter or exploring on my scooter. The landscapes of this island are like nothing I have ever seen before, with some amazing hikes and majestic scenery. A couple of my favourite spots were the Fanal Forest (which I think should be called Fairy Forest because it felt like something out of a fairytale) and the natural open water pools at Porto Moniz.

Ibiza

I’ve been going to Ibiza almost every year since I was a child as we always had an annual event at the Seaview Country Club, so in some ways I feel like I’ve grown up there.  It has definitely been a destination of choice for multiple holidays with friends and family in recent years. The island has something special about it that I can’t quite put my finger on, it’s that unexplainable Ibiza magic.  Returning to the island each year always makes me very happy, so it may not surprise you to learn that Costa Ibiza is my favourite festival holiday that we organise – maybe I’ll see you there sometime!