About

Hello, I’m Alice

Weekend adventurer, outdoor enthusiast. Lover of cobbled streets and mountain peaks. Seeker of the best coffees, pastries, beers and interesting events that Europe has to offer. Runner, hiker, occasional cyclist.

An eCommerce specialist by day, travel blogger by night. I might spend my 9-5 living and working in southern England, but my spare time is spent exploring the UK and Europe.

Whilst there may be bigger adventures out there, there’s nothing I enjoy more than discovering every corner of this magical little continent. Uncovering hidden delights, and reveling in the best-known. 

City breaks are one of my favourite ways to get to know a destination. They’re budget-friendly and perfect when time is precious. You’ll find my trips peppered with visits to food markets, uncovering the best coffee shops and cold beers, and trying to live like a local in the best possible way.

I also have a not-so-secret love of the Alps. There’s something extra special about this mountain range. Glittering snowfalls, flower-packed pastures, oodles of cheese and the warmest atmosphere – once the mountains have taken your breath away, you’ll never want to leave.

When I’m not sipping on a café or a glass of something chilled, you’ll find me hiking, running, skiing or (occasionally) biking – whether that’s close to home or in a wilder part of continental Europe.

And those adventures are sometimes accompanied by brilliant friends, other times by the extremely patient (and equally adventurous) Mr Saddle Bag. With the recent arrival of baby Saddle Bag, our trips are taking a slightly steadier pace for a while – but we have every ambition to fill her passport.

About the blog

Originally launched as Girl with a Saddle Bag in 2016, the site was rebranded and relaunched in 2024 as Travels with a Saddle Bag. 

Here you’ll find my wide range of travel guides dedicated to exploring Europe on and off the beaten path.

I go beyond the major landmarks and share in-depth advice on finding the most authentic culture and architecture in every destination, as well as enticing spots to eat, drink and stay. 

Outdoor enthusiasts will find detailed guides to hiking, skiing and (occasionally) cycling in some of Europe’s best known mountain playgrounds – as well as in hidden gems you may not know. 

There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting to really know somewhere, so whilst you’ll find posts covering over a dozen European countries here you’ll also find me sharing how to really get under the skin of places you already know – or think you know.

I try to keep travel affordable too. There’s nothing I love more than finding budget-friendly ways to enjoy more remarkable destinations – other than delighting in the (often overlooked) joys of exploring city streets, landmarks, terraces and trails that cost nothing (or just a few Euros) but create priceless memories. 

Lastly, there’s no AI here. Every post and image on this site has been created by me based on real-life experiences. So you can be confident in my content, you’ll find the date of my most recent trip to a destination on every post, as well as when it has been updated to ensure everything included is bang up to date. 

Whether you’re traveling solo, with mates, as a family or with a loved one, I hope you’ll find something here to inspire your adventures.