Instagram Star Tara Milk Tea’s Favourite European Haunts

This post is brought to you by Qantas Cash

Tara Whiteman, better known as her social media alter-ego Tara Milk Tea, has spent the past four years travelling the globe and documenting it with a stylist’s eye on her Instagram account (number of followers at last count: 790,000). It’s rendered her a topnotch traveller: she’s got packing down to a fine art, she knows the perfect angle from which to photograph an ice-cream cone, and her wallet isn’t weighing her down: the only card she needs is Qantas Cash. “It earns me 1.5 points for every dollar I spend,” Tara says. And she earned a lot of points on her most recent jaunt to Europe. Tara shopped in Spain, luxuriated in Greece, wandered the cobbled streets of Dubrovnik and kicked back beachside in Montenegro. These are her favourite discoveries.

Barefoot luxury in Mykonos, Greece

“Cavo Tagoo is a boutique hotel on a hillside overlooking the water near Hora, Mykonos,” Tara says. “I stayed here for four nights and had a big lunch at the hotel’s excellent restaurant with a large group of friends. Think: a table full of fresh seafood such as marinated octopus and ceviche. The breakfast is one of the best buffets I’ve ever experienced. Guests can also enjoy meals by the pool that overlooks the ocean, or from rooms that boast incredible ocean views.”

Feeling the beach vibe in Budva, Montenegro 

“Dukely Beach Lounge is a beautiful spot in Budwa with incredible views. It’s the perfect place to unwind in the late afternoon and it serves some unexpectedly excellent Japanese food. We had a large sushi platter, fried octopus and a saffron risotto.”

Enjoying five-star views and dining in Florence, Italy 

“I had been dying to see the Tuscan hills, and the ornate arched terrace of La Loggia restaurant at Belmond Villa San Michele has the most stunning views of them. This is a spot for a special occasion – a romantic lunch for two or a birthday celebration. On Thursday, chef Attilio di Fabrizio serves up a special, ever-changing seasonal Tuscan dinner, and there’s an on-site cooking school where he can teach you the secrets of his dishes.”

Soaking in natural hot springs in Tuscany, Italy

“Terme Di Saturnia is one of the coolest natural formations I’ve ever visited. It’s a beautiful group of natural hot springs. They’re free to use but they’re quite isolated, so driving would be your best bet unless you’re staying in a nearby hotel. I recommend going very early to beat the crowds. But even when it’s at its busiest, there’s still room for everyone to find a spot to soak.” 

Finding a hole in the wall in Madrid, Spain

“Taberna El Sur was the first place I visited on the whole trip – it’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, 50 metres away from the Airbnb I was staying in. If you like potatoes, you will love this restaurant. I had my first real Spanish paella here and it was really delicious. I’m not an expert on Spanish food but the flavour combinations were perfect.”

Hanging out at El Nacional, Barcelona, Spain

“Spanish friends took me out to this place in Barcelona – it had the best vibe. It's basically a huge hall filled with different restaurants, and it gets loud. We had to line up 20 minutes to get in, so it pays to get there early, but the food and experience was worth it. The waiters all walk around with trays of food and you take whatever looks good!”

Driving the Greek islands

“I hired cars in both Santorini and Crete,” says Tara. “Having a car means you can stay a little further out of town. I stayed in south Santorini and having a car made it easy to see the other areas such as Oia in my own time. Likewise, in Crete, I stayed on the east coast and hired a car using my Qantas Cash Card to make the five-hour drive to the other side of the Island to see places like Elafonisi and Seitan Limania.”Shopping in Dubrovnik, Croatia

“Dubrovnik was the perfect place for buying unique gifts. Old Town has lots of cute stores down cobblestone streets – I could have browsed forever. I bought lots of local handmade jewellery and accessories like scarves for loved ones. We also bought lots of goodies like chocolates and sweets to take home.”