Meet Tess Daly!

Before we get into travel paradise, can you tell the readers a bit about yourself? 

Sure thing! My name is Tess Daly, I'm 29 and I use an electric wheelchair as I have spinal muscular atrophy Type II.

I've been quite successfully fashion and beauty blogging on Instagram for a little over a year now, and so spend the majority of my time putting make-up on, getting dressed up and taking pictures. Anticlimactically however, I then love to remove it all and get back into my PJ's and curl up with my Chihuahua, Bronson!

If I'm not sat nursing a cup of tea, online shopping whilst watching Forensic Files, I can probably be found at one of my friends in Manchester, Newcastle or London. I love to travel, meet new people, see new sites and taste new delights.

What 3 words would you use to describe travel and what it means to you?

Liberating, exciting, Adventure.

If you were a country what country would you be and why?

So I'm aware it's a continent, but I'm going to have to say America. It's arguably one of the most diverse places on earth, and if I was taking this question absolutely literally – that is what I would identify with. I enjoy having the ability to change my look every single day with make up, wigs, clothes, contact lenses; I don't have a set style and I love that. America is a melting pot of amazing people, places and cultures, and that inspires me so much. Americans are also known for their unshakeable positivity and over all lust for life which is something that I've really been trying to adopt recently!

Where did you eat your fave sandwich? 

I'm going to pretend this question doesn't exist as I absolutely despise sandwiches. They are just so pointless - anything that you can put between two slices of bread tastes far better WITHOUT the bread!

What's your funniest travel moment?

Myself and a friend were in the lift from our hotel room in Dubai and as she left to get out, the door shut trapping me inside on my own. Unfortunately, I can't reach to press the buttons, and as she hadn't realised I ended up tootling off to what felt like the millionth floor on my own. Luckily, she called me back down within a few minutes. I was mortified when the door opened to reveal her and several concierge staff absolutely wetting themselves waiting for me.

Where have you visited that you could see yourself living? 

New York, without a doubt. It truly is the epitome of the most exciting, amazing way of life for me. It has glitz and glamor as well as culture and soul. There is constantly something to do, yet there are also places to disappear if you so desire. On a less romantic, more practical note – it is also one of the easiest places I have ever been in terms of getting round. I can just 'be' there, and I honestly felt so at home.

Would you rather go into space or explore the depths of the ocean?

Space, no question about it. I've got a bit of a geeky fascination with space related documentaries, particularly anything by

Neil deGrasse Tyson or Brian Cox. Plus, I've got an irrational fear of drowning, so I doubt that would be great when searching the bottom of the ocean.

What one piece of advice would you give for accessible travellers?

Google is your best friend. There are so many amazing organisations out there now that are doing the hard work for us in terms of finding out about accessibility, so the world really is our oyster. I've been traveling since I was a teeny tot, and it does still make me a little anxious, but I know that with a bit of forward planning, nothing is impossible.

What life advice would you have given yourself five years ago?

I would have told myself to stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and start getting excited about what could go right. That applies to pretty much everything; life, travel, employing PAs, blogging - everything!

Where do you hope to visit in five years time?

I visited LA last year but was quite ill with my chest, so unfortunately I didn't see much more than my hotel room while I was there. I'd absolutely love to go back and do everything I had planned! My friends and I are also hoping to go to Vegas for our 30th... fingers crossed!!