Category: Travel

  • The Best Ways To Indulge On Vacation Without Spending A Fortune

    When you’re in need of a little bit of indulgence and find yourself with enough time off work to warrant a holiday, often the only thing from stopping you from jetting off shrouded by luxury is your budget. Being able to afford all of the fancy destinations and activities you see the latest and greatest famous faces doing on social media may be completely out of the question, but this doesn’t mean you can’t have a similar experience without the hefty price tag! You can visit vacations made easy online to improve you vacation experience. Also, there are many ways to spoil yourself in a whole new location whilst keeping your bank account intact, so keep on reading to discover some of the best ideas and start to organise your next amazing holiday and pamper.

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    Go On A Cruise

    For possibly one of the best ways to get an all around feeling of being spoilt rotten whilst on your holiday, you may want to consider hopping on a cruise ship. They commonly have spas and other high class relaxation centers onboard to provide you with the highest levels of comfort and calm. With a little bit of extra research, you can discover the best luxury cruise deals with whichever destinations and entertainment you prefer for the cheapest price possible. It’s a very smart idea to upgrade your trip to all inclusive, as it’s often just a small increase in the price that means you can have unlimited food and beverages throughout your trip. This will be able to save you so much money in the long run, and being able to have whatever you like when you like really adds to the feeling of indulgence too. If you’re feeling lucky and enjoy spontaneity, one of the best ways to get an amazing deal on a cruise is by checking the tickets a couple of days before the ship is due to depart. They will not want to set sail without filling all of the cabins or having the maximum number of passengers on board, so any vacant rooms and unsold tickets will be sold for just a fraction of their original price. You can register your interest and sign up to emails on most companies’ websites, and they will send you various special offers right to your account.

    Book Off Season

    If you’re stuck on one destination or idea, one of the easiest ways to make the whole trip less expensive is by simply waiting a few more weeks to book. Every country and city has a busy season, during which many tourists and visitors flock to the location and all hotels, apartments and flights are fully booked or drastically overpriced. If you’re able to avoid the very hectic periods, which generally tends to be the months of July and August, you might be able to save yourself a pretty penny. As there will be less interest and demand for those wanting to visit, the likelihood of deals and vouchers being available will increase as sales targets will still need to be met and businesses still have to make some money. Select the ‘whole month’ option when searching for flights, as comparison sites will often show you which dates are the cheapest to help you make the most economically sensible decision.

    Stay Somewhere Different

    The typical choice for accommodation when travelling is usually a hotel of some kind, often booked based on the brand name rather than its actual qualities and functions. However, a great way to save a bit of extra crash whilst still getting a perfectly unique and special experience is by staying at a ‘home away from home’ or some other kind of rented property or abode. With the drastic increase in people putting their own houses on the market for a much cheaper price than that of just a single room inside a chain hotel, it’s becoming so easy to discover an entire property with all of the essentials and more for less. Be sure to read other customers reviews before committing to book anywhere to stay, and visit several different sites to see what options are on the market for you to choose between.

    Hopefully these hints and tips can help you plan and execute the most serene and indulgent vacation for a price you can be proud of. Visiting the cities at the top of every bucket list doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, just be creative and innovative when it comes to organizing your trip and be smart when making any purchases.

  • Utrecht Instants

    Utrecht Instants

    We’re just back from Utrecht, where we’ve spent 3 amazing days working on a new City Guide thanks to Visit Holland and Utrecht Marketing. Before we publish our full City Guide on our website, here’s a little preview of some of the places we visited and shared on our Instagram profile during our stay.


    The rooms at Eye Hotel, a boutique hotel located in a former eye hospital.


    Some of the beautiful buildings by the Oudegracht, the “old canal”.


    Daen’s, a coffee shop, hotel and clothing store in the heart of the city.


    Miffy, a creation by the late Dutch illustrator Dick Bruna and a symbol of the city.


    The impressive Rietveld Schröder House, built in 1924.


    Koffie Leute Brauhaus, a coffee shop in the southern part of the city centre.

  • London Cyclist with Expedia

    London Cyclist with Expedia

    We recently collaborated with Expedia on a cycling route around East and North London for their London Cyclist guide. We often travel to London for work and the route we suggested, from Borough Market to Camden Town, is one of our favourites when we are visiting and have some free time.

    You can find more about this route and all our recommended shopping and eating stops on the following link:

    www.city-cycling.expedia.co.uk/london/heading-north-past-markets-and-waterways

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    Gulliver’s Wharf in Wapping

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    Regent’s Canal

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    Donlon Books in Broadway Market

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    Present & Correct in Islington

     

     

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  • The Bothy Yard

    The Bothy Yard

    Designed in Edinburgh, The Bothy Yard is a home away from home for the modern explorer, combining the comfort and character of a boutique hotel with the buzz and social experience of a hostel. We chatted with The Bothy Yard’s founder Max Strzelecki to find out more about this innovative concept.

    www.thebothyyard.com
    Photos by The Bothy Yard

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    Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background?

    My name is Max Strzelecki (str-let-ski). Edinburgh has been my home for five of the past seven years. My life here tends to revolve around people, waves, wind and building things… probably in that order. It’s easy to get the balance right here; you can enjoy the social buzz of city life and you’re also a stone’s throw away from the hills and the ocean. I’ve always enjoyed rich, simple experiences, whether it’s camping on the Isle of Tiree, hostelling in a surf town or cycling through Edinburgh’s side streets, there’s a lot to be said for the less-is-more approach.

    How did the idea of The Bothy Yard come about? Could you tell us a little bit about the concept behind it?

    It was the coming together of my love of experiencing the outdoors from the cosy comfort of a tent, and that of meeting new people and sharing stories from the road. I recently returned from 15 months in Australia, during which I spent a lot of time travelling and staying in hostels, mixing work (if you can call building Tough Mudder events “work”) and pleasure (being in the ocean).

    I love the social element of the hostel experience; there aren’t many places where you are so strongly encouraged to approach a group of strangers and introduce yourself. That’s a beautiful thing, but I find communal dorm rooms very tedious. I know a lot of people who miss out on the social experience hostels offer because they don’t want to stay in a shared room. Knowing this and appreciating the unique cosy and protected feeling of camping in the wild, I had the idea of The Bothy Yard. The Bothy Yard is a hostel that offers each guest their own Bothy Box – a private sleeping and changing space with storage and all the other features a modern explorer needs, all behind a lockable door.

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    Who is The Bothy Yard for?

    The Bothy Yard is for today’s explorers who want their days to be action packed, to meet new people, experience new places and really get in amongst it. At the end of the day when you’re tired and weary, you can close your Bothy Box door and have the peaceful, heavy, undisturbed slumber you deserve. We’re for people who want all of the social benefits of staying in a hostel, but with a bit of extra comfort and privacy.

    You are launching a crowdfunding campaign in February, could you tell us more about it and the plans for the upcoming months?

    This is a very exciting time for us! The crowdfunding campaign will be the first opportunity for people to book their stay at The Bothy Yard. We will be opening the doors of the first (mini) Bothy Yard in July of this year. The next few months will be filled with a lot of box construction, coffee, Frank Ocean and Tallest Man on Earth (our “getting stuff done” music). Edinburgh will be our home, but for now the exact location is a secret. Stay tuned for the announcement in the coming weeks. If you’re planning on visiting Edinburgh in the next year, be sure to follow our journey and book your stay!

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  • Exploring Shoreditch with CitizenM

    Exploring Shoreditch with CitizenM

    Located in the heart of East London’s most famous district, the new CitizenM Shoreditch has everything you need to explore all that this vibrant area has to offer. We stayed at this recently opened hotel and selected some of our favourite places in Shoreditch for this mini guide.

    CitizenM Shoreditch

    Designed by Amsterdam-based architecture and interior design firm concrete, CitizenM Shoreditch is the latest CitizenM hotel in London. The brand’s affordable luxury ethos is present in the 216 rooms and communal areas of the hotel, combined with a relaxed atmosphere and the lively streets of Shoreditch as a background.

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    The surrounding street art is extended into the hotel with a commissioned piece by AVAF located next to the hotel’s entrance. Art is also prominent inside the hotel, especially in the lobby area where several pieces are exhibited and limited editions at affordable prices can even be purchased. The hotel’s lobby is also home to the self check-in area, where you can easily select your room and its views, and the canteen where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet in the morning or cocktails and craft beers in the evening.

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    Design is an essential aspect of CitizenM and you can find many pieces of furniture by Vitra, from chairs to lamps,  throughout the hotel. The lobby’s shelves are filled with art, fashion and design books curated by MENDO, an Amsterdam-based bookshop considered one of the best in the world for design titles.

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    The hotel’s rooms are equipped with everything you might need for a short stay in London. One of the most interesting features is the big window, extending across the room’s width and providing amazing views of the area. The 2 x 2 metre bed is also impressive and we can guarantee you’ll have a good night’s sleep. Other details that make CitizenM different to other hotels you might stayed in include the moodpad from which you can control the entire room – from the colour of the lights and temperature to the TV and blinds – and the high pressure rain shower with AM and PM shampoo/gel designed by the talented noses responsible for creations by Comme des Garçons and Helmut Lang.

    CitizenM Shoreditch – 6 Holywell Ln, EC2A 3ET

    www.citizenm.com

     

    Eat & Drink

    Shoreditch is filled with restaurants, food markets, cafés and bars so you won’t really need to leave this area of the city to find exactly what you want.

    To start your day with a hearty breakfast or brunch (breakfast is served all day), head to The Breakfast Club, an independent chain of cafés founded in 2005 with locations all across London. It can be quite busy but we can assure you won’t mind waiting for the Huevos Rancheros, the All American and other delicious choices from their menu.

    The Breakfast Club – 2-4 Rufust St, N1 6PE

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    If you like food trucks and food markets, you’ll find plenty in Shoreditch. You can grab lunch at Ely’s Yard Food Market at The Old Truman Brewery, with vendors changing regularly and often included in articles about the best food trucks in London. For dinner try Pump, a former petrol station now home to a great selection of food trucks offering dishes from all around the world.

    Ely’s Yard – 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
    Pump – 168 Shoreditch High St, E1 6HU

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    Finish your day with drinks at The Commercial Tavern, a pub with quirky interiors where you can enjoy a great selection of draft beers and also tasty pizzas at affordable prices.

    The Commercial Tavern – 142-144 Commercial St, E1 6NU

     

    Shop

    From vintage clothing and books to homewares and the latest designer pieces, the shopping offer in Shoreditch is impressive.

    The best way to start your shopping day in Shoreditch is to visit Boxpark, just across the road from CitizenM Shoretich. Opened in 2011, Boxpark is composed of refitted shipping containers offering affordable and flexible leases for lifestyle brands, cafés and galleries. A great place to discover new brands and buy something unique.

    Boxpark – 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6GY

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    A few minutes away from Boxpark you can find Labour and Wait, a general store selling a carefully curated collection of new and vintage items, celebrating functional design and ranging from stationery and clothing to kitchenware and outdoor products.

    Labour and Wait – 85 Redchurch St, E2 7DJ

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    London brand You Must Create (YMC) has their flagship store in the heart of Shoreditch. The ethos behind the brand is to take a traditional item and rework it to create something modern, giving a timeless quality to its clothes.

    YMC – 23 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR

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    If you’re interested in books and magazines don’t forget to pay a visit to Artwords, a bookstore specialising in contemporary visual arts and covering subjects including photography, fashion, architecture, graphic design, fine art and critical theory.

    Artwords – 69 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY

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    Enjoy

    Shoreditch is filled with street art by emerging and established artists (look for Banksy’s pieces on Rivington Street). Wander around the numerous lanes and streets to discover colourful and impressive pieces all across the area.

    For an unrivalled cinema experience head to Electric Cinema, with screenings for up to 50 people. Enjoy your movie from a comfortable armchair with cosy cashmere blankets. The cinema is part of Barber & Parlour, a three-floor space where you can get manicures, haircuts, beard trims and even food.

    Electric Cinema – 64-66 Redchurch Street, E2 7DP

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