Ashley Pulcini - Wijnants
As a child my parents always took us on adventurous holidays, from hiking in Austria and Norway, to a self-guided canoeing trip through the rural, remote and wilderness areas of Sweden. During my childhood years I got to see a fair bit of Europe.
My mum is a Kiwi, so I grew up with stories about her homeland New Zealand. Ever since I was young, I have always been intrigued about the Land of the Long White Cloud. So when I was given the opportunity to do my graduation assignment in Christchurch, New Zealand, I grabbed that chance with both hands and made it my first overseas travel experience in 2010. I lived and worked in New Zealand for 6 months and got to see quite a bit of that beautiful country.
During these 6 months I caught the ‘travel bug’. I felt the urge to travel the world and explore new places, but not alone this time, but with my boyfriend Remy. We got to see some beautiful places in the years that followed, and made more and more travels each year.
It was the Summer of 2012 when we were planning our five week New Zealand and Australia trip for early 2013, when we got the crazy idea to get married in New Zealand during that trip. That crazy idea turned into plans, and while travelling through New Zealand, in between sightseeing the North Island, we got married at one of the most beautiful beaches of the Coromandel.
From seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø to celebrating New Year’s Eve in Dubai and Berlin, from snorkeling both the Great Barrier Reef and the Ningaloo Reef to doing the Cage of Death in Darwin, from the Big Buddha in Hong Kong to the Table Mountain in Cape Town, and from the most beautiful nature and spotting orca’s in Western Canada to the city that never sleeps New York, we have been very lucky these past few years, but still have a never ending bucketlist to go through.
I joined team Traveltomtom in July 2018. The international focus of Traveltomtom is what got me excited. By joining Traveltomtom my articles with our experiences and tips would reach a large and international audience.
I get really enthusiastic about travelling and with over 8 years of travel experience I think I can help other travelers by answering questions they may have and create their dream trip.
Curious to what destinations and travels we have lined up for the year ahead? Keep following our travels through this website or via my own Instagram Travelashie.
Feel free to contact me at ashley@traveltomtom.net if you have any questions!
Find below Ashley's latest articles for Traveltomtom
Glass Cabins & Silver Birches | Redefining Arctic Luxury at Silver Birch Resort
Planning a stay in a glass cabin in Rovaniemi and looking for a unique Arctic experience? In this Silver Birch Resort review I take you inside one of the newest and most exciting luxury stays in Finnish Lapland, where design, nature and comfort come together in a truly special way.
During our first trip to Rovaniemi in the summer of 2022, we joined a kayaking excursion with Wild About Lapland, guided by owner Theo. It turned out to be one of those experiences you do not forget. Thanks to social media, we stayed in touch ever since and followed their journey from afar.
A Fairytale of Relaxation at Thermen & Hotel Berendonck
We must admit that until recently, we had never heard of Thermen Berendonck. In fact, when we saw impressions of the hotel on various social media channels a few months ago, we actually thought it was a hotel somewhere abroad. Somewhere in the Middle East.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Thermen Berendonck turned out to be located in Wijchen, in the Netherlands. Sometimes what you're looking for isn't far away, it's close by. That only made me more curious about this place and so we decided to pay a visit not long after! It’s safe to say that our visit to Thermen Berendonck was completely influenced by social media.
Eindhoven in Style: Our Experience at NH Collection Eindhoven Centre
As you may remember, team Traveltomtom visited Eindhoven in 2024. We even wrote an extensive blog post about it. So surely check out our existing Eindhoven City Guide. We really enjoyed our first visit to Eindhoven in 2024. That's why we recently spent another weekend in the ‘City of Light’.
We also went looking for a good hotel to stay in that weekend, and we certainly found one! We recently stayed at the NH Collection Eindhoven Centre. We can already tell you that it's highly recommended. So if you're planning to visit Eindhoven soon, be sure to keep reading.
Hans Im Glück Basel: Where Gourmet Burgers Meet Urban Jungle
As you may remember, Traveltomtom recently discovered a new burger restaurant in Amsterdam, Hans im Glück. Very tasty food, nice restaurants and a great atmosphere. So we didn't have to think long when we saw that there was a Hans Im Glück in Basel, where we were staying for a long weekend. A visit to Hans Im Glück simply had to happen!
Best Agers Autumn Adventures at Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi
With over 30 blogs about Finland and Lapland online, it's safe to say we at Traveltomtom have become true Lapland enthusiasts and fans! And of course, sharing our love for Lapland with others is the most beautiful thing there is.
While there are certainly plenty of adventurous activities to do in Lapland, it is definitely not a destination only suitable for adventurous young people. In fact, Lapland is an ideal destination for everyone and all ages!
Three Days in Lithuania | Your Ultimate Guide to an Unforgettable Trip
We recently had the opportunity to visit a new country for us, Lithuania. We were only there for three days, but had a packed program and visited three different cities and places. Lithuania has really surprised us. We had few expectations beforehand but were completely overwhelmed. During and after our trip we only became more enthusiastic. In fact, it has made us even more curious to see more of Lithuania and the other Baltic States.
But where do you start if you want to visit a relatively unknown country like Lithuania for the first time? After our visit to Lithuania we decided to put together this 'three day travel guide for Lithuania'.
Global Burger Goals: Hans im Glück Arrives in the Netherlands
Don't worry if you've never heard of Hans im Glück, it was new to us too. It's above all a pity if you have never heard of it, because it really is an awesome hamburger restaurant chain. Don't panic, you're reading this blog now so we'll take you through the story of Hans im Glück and show you why this is highly recommended!
Our Perfect Amsterdam Getaway: NH Amsterdam Leidseplein
We love our capital Amsterdam and love to visit it. We love discovering new places and activities. New hotels, new city districts or new must do experiences! Have you already seen our latest discoveries in Amsterdam? Restaurant Moon, Heineken Experience, award winning burgers at Ter Marsch & Co and the A'DAM LOOKOUT and Swing over the Edge.
During our most recent trip to Amsterdam we discovered new places again. For example, we ended up at the NH Amsterdam Leidseplein. Although we know the Leidseplein and surroundings well, we did not know this hotel at all. So it was great to stay here for a weekend.
NEW! Lapland Winter Park Rovaniemi | Epic Ice Karting with Saunas & Reindeers
Looking for an authentic Lapland winter adventure and a great day out in nature? Lapland Winter Park in Rovaniemi opened its doors for the first time in December 2024 and offers unforgettable experiences for all winter enthusiasts. Lapland Winter Park offers a wide range of activities that will immerse you in the magic of the Arctic.
Kotatieva Winter Park: Ice Skating in a Forest & More Epic Things to Do in Rovaniemi
Thinking about finally making that dream trip to Lapland this winter? Stop thinking and start doing! We are happy to help you and we have a really great travel tip for Rovaniemi!
Think of an amusement park but in Lapland. Where you can have unlimited fun in the snow all day long. That's Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park. They have something very special that you won't find anywhere else, so keep reading!