The lifestyle of travel writing is a hot topic right now, as more and more millennial’s are seriously considering becoming a travel blogger. As we get ready to plan our summer travel adventures, many of us canât help but wonder:Â Would it benefit me to start a travel blog?
Guess whose back, back again… Question: The Himalaya’s , crashing waves,The Imperial Palaces and the City of Gold.. what do they all have in common?Â
My Bucket List *Insert A Well Cool Emoji Here*
PSA: I am, by far in no means a well-travelled person.Â
Thatâs a fact. What I am though, is hell bent on self-discovery and the sheer freedom of doing something incredibly exhilarating. Best places to travel alone for female travellers around the world is a compilation of destinations with liberating experiences straight from my bucket list. Solo women travellers are no longer an oddity and their brave ventures are a celebration of a freedom of women across the world. âBest destinations for solo female travellersâ is a list of some of the safe havens for travellers where single women, travelling alone, are guaranteed the time of their life.
Hence, I give wings to this wide-eyed desire of solo women travellers with a list of 9 of the best places for single women to travel alone. And still, have a littttttty experience.
Iâve included hyperlinks, feel free to explore more on the links.
It’s a short life and a wide world. Fathom it solo, ladies!
This was a no-brainer for me. First on the list of best places to travel alone is Kyoto. This city of gorgeously styled temples, art galleries and master pieces of Japanese gardens is, against my better preference, best explored walking. For a solo female traveller, not just Kyoto but Japan, is a country that is considered the safest, thus walking through the beautiful corridors around the city with blooming cherry blossoms at night is not a problem at all.
The âKagai areasâ which literally means âflower townsâ of Kyoto are places where you can enjoy Teahouse plays with Geiko and Maiko, or apprentice Geisha (the traditional Japanese entertainers we associate with Japan) play traditional Japanese instruments.
Next up isâŚ
It’s safe. It’s cheap. Destination for solo female travellers can’t get any better. Itâs an experience of otherworldly wonders with the most stunning beaches, Buddhist pagodas, rivers and an addictive heritage of the country must be thoroughly explored.
This made it to my bucket list because along with the quintessential hectic south Asian experience at Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh City, there are hundreds of towns inhabited by energetic locals who love to LAUGH.
As a solo female traveller, Vietnam gives you a chance of a lifetime to dive into a culture influenced by Mahayana Buddhism. A visit to the Bat Nha Buddhist temple and other monasteries can give you an enlightening taste of Pure Land and Zen practices.
You’ve got a bucket list for a solo venture? And you donât have Bhutan? Yep- add it in. Donât think too long, just add it. Bhutan is one of the best places to travel alone. To make the most of this tour, I suggest you make your trip during the festivals, which are literally celebrated every month. Itâs a chance to join all the locals in the celebrations who come from different parts of the country to the huge Dzongs (Monasetry/Fortress) and perform as masked dancers.
This Land of Thunder Dragon has the most beautiful trekking routes around the country. Druk Path Trek, Jomolhari Laya Gasa Trek and other treks to the high altitudes of Bhutanese Himalayas is the best gift of nature awaiting every adventurous soul.
Bhutanâs stunning mountain scenery is a hikerâs paradise, but Snowdon probably is a small heap of rocks. Compared to the colossal 24,840 ft above sea level compared to the mere 3,560 ft that we were huffing and puffing on. Read about my Snowdon experience here- if Snowdon was gruelling, climbing the Himalayan mountains should be triple the punishment. I cant wait!
New Zealand. Based around 2 large harbours, is a major city in the north of New Zealandâs North Island. In the centre, the iconic Sky Tower has views of Viaduct Harbour, which is full of super-yachts and lined with bars and cafes. Auckland Domain, the cityâs oldest park, is based around an extinct volcano and home to the formal Wintergardens. While you soak in the beauty of the rolling greens of Auckland and the sunny beaches, stay assured that the Kiwis give no worries to a dreamy solo traveller. The awe-inspiring volcanic cones, Hauraki Gulf Islands & the amazing food tours, it’s simply a paradise for solo explorers.
Horse riding (screams inside)(and if you know me, you know Iâm obsessed!) is one joy of life and beaches are another. Auckland gives you a chance to take a horse to a beach. Could it be any better? HELL NO.Â
So Yes, the big big City of Gold. Look beyond the mass hysteria about travelling alone in the middle east and realise that Dubai awaits every wide-eyed wanderer with open arms. Really does. The Palm Islands, Burj Khalifa, the golden Jumeirah Beach and hundreds of other futuristic modern marvels can leave you awestruck at every step.
Shop till you drop, ladiiiiiiiiies! Because we know that if there’s a solo female traveller out there in Dubai, she’s roaming with a serious purpose. Dubai realises and in fact celebrates your seriousness about shopping.
Finland made it to my list! Solo travel gives you a golden chance to meet new people and get a taste of unique cultures around the world. Rest assured; Finland is a country warmest at heart towards the visiting travellers with their local food leaving you deliciously directionless in the best walking trails. And if you are at a countryside during Midsummer celebration, chances are that you have a time of your life.
Another beautiful Himalayan town and Indiaâs hidden secret, Dharamshala has recently come on the real map for a lot of travellers around the world promising a uniquely distinctive experience. Various non-profit organisations give ample opportunities to volunteers from all over the world to teach and work with the Tibetan community here. Growing voluntarism makes Dharamshala a great destination for solo female travellers.
Dharamshala is surrounded by the breath-taking Dhauladhar Range promising a scenic bliss throughout your stay and at the same time offering some of the best hiking and trekking routes around this small town.
Costa Rica? Yeah, Costa Rica because if amidst the political turmoil in the Latin American region the country manages to officially be the ‘happiest country in the world’ and one of the best places for females to travel alone.
Costa Rica is also counted as the greenest country giving you a chance to be at the lush rainforests brimming with biodiversity.
My friends are certainly thinking Iâm crazy for this one- nobody goes to this rugged, rainforested central American country alone. Its been ruled a safe haven, offering plenty of solo activities that will leave you in awe.
The foaming pacific waters rest at the best seasideâs in Costa Rica where travellers find all kinds of water sports opportunities at quiet sleepy beach hamlets.
Have you travelled solo and loved your experience? Share your itineraries, photographs and videos with me and tell us about the offbeat spots you visited during your travels!
19 NOV 2018- 1PM
If like me, youâve done the whole âfly for 6 hours, go to the mall, shop all day, sleep all night, go to the beachâ thing and want some heart racing thrill and throat throbbing excitement in your life, listen Iâm telling you⌠This. Is. IT. The crazy that is me, did a long-haul flight⌠landed and checked in by 11am, changed, and was at the XLINE booth in Dubai Marina Mall by 12.45pm.
As we step in, the signs are huge, so we wander around slowly, taking it in.
Men sit around in tailored suits, laughing richly over their latest lavish spends. Couples walk hand in hand, and small groups of Chinese tourists stand in the pathway, ignoring everyone having to walk around them.  There are white people, black people, Arabs, Asians, Hispanics and Europeans. Women in stilettos and high neck tops strutting along, looking too made up and plastic for so early in the day. Spa after spa, health centres and luxury hammams line the route. Ghost by Ella Henderson plays over the speaker. Is it normal to feel nostalgic already? Certainly feels like an upgraded version of Westfield, without all the Beckys and hoodrats that roam around day and night. Smells like warm melted chocolate, & it feels good⌠This aint London for sure.
The booth is tucked under the escalator, and extremely easy to miss- so pay attention. We strolled up to the counter, still a little dazed, exhausted and jet-lagged. Iâm not sure it had hit us yet that this was even Dubai. A lady approached us, weighed us in, took photos of our ID and paired us with a harness, helmet and trolley each. Quick safety briefing and were off to the point of no returnâŚ
A bus service chauffeured us to Amwaj Towers, a residential building 41 stories high and raises up a whole 170m off the ground and 558 feet away from civilization. For those in London, a good comparison is that it is a little under the BT Tower in Camden and 10m taller than the building with the Sky Garden. Imagine jumping off that?! Bloody hell, even that gives me chills.
I think it was much easier because I just didnât know. I didnât know how high up or which building until last minute. Then, the demons in your heads canât play games with you. Murphyâs law canât act up and whisper in your ear. You just donât know. Legally Blind.
We took a lift to the 40th floor and walked up 2 flights of stairs to get to the roof. One guy, Australian fella, had come alone, and you could see his heart pounding with evident sweat. A fat grin plastered through his ginger beard. He was perhaps no more than 26, travelling through Dubai for a day or two. Heâd be going to Thailand next he told us, and weâd mentioned weâd be going too. Heâd said heâd be near Phuket, staying at Phang Nga Bay. The conversation was short. The view on the rooftop of the 40th floor is breath-taking. The crystal, sapphire-blue sky is cloud-less for early afternoon. It was mesmerising, how simple it looked, yet it seemed to hold every one of our thoughts, dreams, our secrets. The space was a vast thing, stretching out for infinity over our heads. It was terrifying and yet so affectionate, daunting yet friendly. If you stared at it for a long time, watching everything come and go, you would think, maybe, it was all talking to you. It was communicating in a language you couldnât begin to understand. I got lost in thought before they called for the first two volunteers.
Of course, I volunteered. The worlds longest urban zipline- twice the distance and lasts twice the time at twice the speed as the last one. And I volunteered to go first.
My ginger beard friend volunteered to come with, and slowly, we made our way to get strapped into the superman harness. The guy high fives you, attaches you onto the cable that your trusting with your life, and makes you lie down horizontal onto a launch bed. Once youâre in, the bed is lowered and your hanging, mid-air, 40 floors up, A WHOLE 558 FEET AWAY FROM THE GROUND, ready to fly.
I nearly shat myself. I nearly cried and yelled right there to get me off. Whenever I get myself into moments like this, silence is my friend. Someone once said, âFeel the fear, and do it anyway.â Often, we think, âIâll do it when I am not so afraid.â But in reality, it works the other way around. The âdoing itâ comes before the fear goes away. The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go and do it. So, we diiiiiiiiiiiiiiid it baby! We done flew through the sky, over land and water, at up to 80km/h and from 170m down to ground level. I FLEW, did the Michael Jackson moonwalk mid-air, imitated wonder woman, became a local super hero. I FLEW. And it was amazing. The marina water glistens, and yachts bob up and down below you. Everything is so saturated this time of day, full HD colour.
You supposed to be streamlined. like a bullet. They told us if you start turning to one side, pull your weight to the other. I nodded. Easy. Iâm not sure what juice they drank to not tell us how strong those winds would be. Wind veered me right, my weight got pushed to the left. I almost flipped, slipped and tripped mid-air. You still move forward, and the helmet provides some sort of aerodynamic vacuum for you. But lard haffi mercy, I couldâve been a leaf in the wind the way I was twisting up in here. Lasted a few seconds though. So, prepare for it. You will be twisted.
If you go, maybe donât pick the right rope out the two. As you draw closer to ground level, you come awfully close to the brick corner of the mall building. Its quite the scare at the speed your going at- an uncomfortable but safe distance. The whole thing is recorded, and photography is taken for you by the XLine team. The goPro strapped to your helmet gets the best shots of the experience, and so, feeling more alive than ever, we made our way to our lockers to update the world.
The experience felt super safe, built and operated by highly qualified and globally certified teams. They carry out daily testing and regular maintenance of the line, making sure safety is always first. Id like to hope so anyway! The company have strict requirements for the experience; You need to be between 12 and 65 years of age, taller than 130cm, weigh 50 to 100kg and in good medical health. Loose clothing canât be worn, and footwear is preferably sportwear or boots. Closed. They take off every single day from 9am till 5pm and are situated inside the Dubai Mall. Â You can click here to book it or visit the booth at the Marina Mall or visit any of the Platinumlist partner merchants across the UAE. Â The entire experience lasts for approximately 90 minutes, from registering at the XLine booth until you complete the zipline ride.
So, if your looking to go⌠get ready to hang tight and Iâll see you someday to applaud you. It isnât for the weak hearted, thatâs for sure.
Definitely going to do this again… perhaps this time in Ras Al-Khaimah for the entire worldâs longest zip line. A whole 2.83 km long, the Jebel Jais flight is 1,680 meters above sea level and has a glass bottom suspended floor. Um… YES PLEASE.
21 NOV 2018.
BY far my favourite, and the one I was most excited for leading up to it. On the morning of my 24th Birthday, at 5.25AM, an Indian man dressed in dungarees, donning an overgrown moustache, picked us up. We drove 36-minute to the take-off site, where the largest Hot Air Balloons in the world are being inflated, glowing in the predawn darkness. Although still dark, the world of Dubai is still lit and roads still busy, we can see filtered bits of light looming in as birds awaken and stir. Itâs just before sunrise, and we take off to meet the sun as it rises over the Arabian desert and the sky fills with light. Early morning provides the best flying conditions. The tent is filled up with hot air using a burner, which somehow manages to get bucket loads of sand all over us- so wear a hat. The shower of sand only lasts whilst youâre on the ground- donât look up during lift off or your teeth take a grit bath and your eyelashes are coated in a blanket of fine granular rocks.
You’d think after passing the headache that is security and check-in at an airport, you’d have nothing to worry about besides getting to your gate on time and having your fully charged phone ready at hand.
That’s a lie.
Notorious for its dated and archaic classical Greek architecture, Greece is also prominent for yielding Olive Oil, Honey and Mastiha Chios- something I didnât even know and learned as I typed out this very blog post. Like me, there are things people still donât know about this little European country, and questions donât come quicker than when you plan to take a little trip there yourself. Below are some useful answers to some much asked questions, which helped me before I headed out to visit the country myself. Feel free to add any other tips from your trip in the comments below!
Sea Routes
The Greek islands are a grouped in clusters, surrounded by both land and sea. To the east of the mainland is the Aegean Sea, to the south is the Mediterranean Sea and to the west is the Ionian Sea. For this reason, plenty of ports are available and a great many shipping companies provide their services to get in and around the country with a modern and luxurious fleet. All the islands are linked to the mainland with regular service, so island-hopping is a definite option during your vacation!
Check out timetable for ferries for Greece or the Greek islands here.
Greece is still a very active member-state of the European Union and consented to the Schengen Agreement  back in 1992. The agreement abolishes many of the EUâs internal borders, facilitating passport-free movement throughout the bloc. This means that citizens from EU countries can move around Greece with just their passport, or a police issued I.D card that is easily obtained with the help of respective embassies, consulates or even travel agencies. Visas are not required by citizens of countries within the Schengen Agreement and the following is a list, correct as of January 2015:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France and Monaco, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Citizens from these EU countries that are not apart of the Schengen agreement may also visit Greece without a visa:
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and United Kingdom.
So if youâre like me and hold a British passport, you do not need a visa to enter Greece. As a British passport holder, you can stay as a visitor for 3 months. For longer stays, you will need to apply for a residence permit.
Getting to/from the Athens International Airport and the city center, located about 20 km (12 miles) east can be achieved via:
Metro Line 3 connects the Athens airport with the city centre. Trains run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The trip from/to the Airport to Syntagma station (Athens centre) lasts 40 minutes.
Express bus routes connect Athens (city centre & greater area) and Piraeus (port) directly with the Athens International Airport. Service is provided on a non-stop basis seven days a week including holidays (24/7 operation). Bus tickets are sold at the info/ticket-kiosk (located outside the Arrivals between Exits 4 and 5), or onboard (ask operator) at no extra cost.
There are four main routes, check them out here.
The Suburban railway (Proastiakos) connects the Athens airport with the Athens Central Railway Station (Larissis Station) and Acharnai Railway Centre, and through them to the National Railway network. The Suburban railway departs every 15-25 minutes from the Athens Airport railway station to Plakentias station, where you can change trains and continue to the city centre (Metro Line 3 to Egaleo), using the same ticket.
Taxis are available at the designated Taxi waiting area located at Exit 3 of the Arrivals Level. A taxi from the airport to the city centre (inner ring) costs a flat rate of âŹ35 from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, and âŹ50 from midnight to 5:00 a.m.
Note:Â The charge is determined by the time of arrival at the destination and includes all applicable surcharges and extras.
For you to have access to necessary healthcare citizens from member-states of the EU must have the European Health Card (EHIC) or any form of legal community document issued by their competent social security agency. Itâs free to acquire one in the UK and isnât a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to state provided medical treatment that may become urgent during your stay. Any treatment provided is on the same terms as Greek nationals. Visit your health care professional at least 3 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need vaccinations or any other preventative measures. In case of any emergencies, have these following numbers close by:
Police: 100
Ambulance Service: 166
Tourist Police: 1571
SOS Doctors: 1016
Duty Hospitals and Clinics: 1434
Pharmacies: 1434
Open Line for alcohol drug Addiction: 210 3617089
Poisoning First Aid: 210 7793777
Local Laws and Customs
Greece has made it illegal to smoke in all indoor places, violating this could mean a penalty fine of up to âŹ500.
Donât become involved or even try to bring Class C drugs of any kind into the country. Possession of even the smallest amount will lead to arrest and could mean lengthy prison sentences- visitor or not.
Any indecent behaviour is not tolerated by the Greek, including mooning. The courts will most likely impose a heavy fine or prison sentences on people who behave indecently.
Lastly, keep any receipts of purchases you make! Arrests have been known to be made for purchasing/acquiring/handling pirate CDs and DVDs and have led to imprisonment in some cases. Keep any and all receipts! Dont say I didnt warn you.
Greece has a Mediterranean climate with ample amounts of sunshine, meek temperatures and a limited amount of rainfall. In the summer, the warmer and dryer days and cooled with seasonal winds called the Meltemi, whilst the more rocky regions have commonly lower temperatures. In the winter, mild temperatures in the lowland areas attract low amounts of snow and ice, whilst the more mountainous area is completely covered in snow.
Iâve wanted to see Greece since I first studied its vast history and Greek mythology with Ms Wilkinson back in secondary school of 08. Something attracted me to the still shots of the once strong, erect structures of the Parthenon- dedicated, in Greek mythology, to the goddess Athena- and the ancient temple of Erechtheum that once stood tall, proud and buzzing with life.
Although I have absolutely no interest in the details of history, it fascinates me that time can literally float right past you. That a whole generation of people existed and fought and ruled their land, only for time to claim them, and we stand here looking at what remains. Time and life fascinate me. Â Itâs the most precious commodity we have, and humbles you to see how far common humanity has come.
I left my place at 3am, and began the long journey to LHR. Roads were quiet, the airport was just as eerie and calm. I like it like that- fast, productive and efficient. I booked a 2-stop flight to Thira (Santorini) because letâs face it, whose bucket list is Santorini NOT on?! Booking a layover in Frankfurt, Vienna and Athens saved me quite a pretty penny- layover flights are not the best thing in the world, but when you can visit four cities for the price of one and you actually want to see them, then youâve just manoeuvred the biggest and oldest secret to cheaper deals in the book.
I only had 6 people on my flight, Iâm not sure why that surprised me given the length of the journey we were about to undertake. 6am came, gate A8 was called. I handed my KLM boarding pass to the young Caucasian man who looked way too hyper for 6am, and we boarded.
If thereâs anything I love more than chicken (and Somaliâs love their chicken), itâs the window seat. The seat that has a clear parallel view of a window with no disruptions, bent angles or horrible positioning. My pre-selected seat on this flight was 19A- perfect view of the wing, yet within 5 rows of the nearest exit. I pulled out âHow to Win Friends and Influence Peopleâ By Dale Carnegie and my first 2 hours and 10 minutes were filled with casual glances at fluffy candyfloss clouds and some orange juice. There is no feeling in the world better, in my opinion, than being ontop of the world. The sun was at full beam by this point, and a shard of light pierced silently through the cabin. Felt good to just sit back and appreciate the beauty that is life.
Flight AF1738 arrived at Flughafen Wein (VIE) at 8:15am.
Vienna.
Youâre beautiful. You rained on me but I still love you.
The layover was only one hour, so leaving the airport wasnât an option. The plummeting rain further solidified that choice for me. The shuttle service took the 6 of us to Terminal 3 for our departing flight at gate F13 to Athens. My connecting 9.15am 0S801 flight with Austrian Airlines arrived, we boarded. Theyâd sat us closer together this time, guess it saved the crew having to parade up and down the aisles a hundred times for the next 2 hours. 1 hour in, the pilot came out of the cabin whilst airborne and asked each of us how the flight was. It added a nice touch to the dullness of the flight.
2 hours and 20 minutes of Greys Anatomy and Hawaii Five-0 later, we arrived at the Athens International airport. 11:35am and I was in Greece. 6 hours and 25 minutes to go till my flight to Thira. I better get exploring.
The people of Barcelona take food very seriously. I mean, more than anyone. They have breakfast, and think about where to eat for lunch. Midday shopping trips are not complete without a quick CafĂŠ au laitat or Tortilla EspaĂąola to round off the excursion. Food is not a joke in this city, and with the rich succulent variety of Spanish Catalonian cuisine available, this is a look at the cityâs top 6 halal joints to indulge in Spanish traditions or to simply eat well for the practicing Muslim.
This casual Indian restaurant in the heart of Barcelona serves an assortment of Indian food as well as a variety of breakfast and sandwiches throughout the day. Meals range from âŹ9.50 to âŹ12.50 per plate, with intense delectable platters of Chicken Korma, Tikka and Sheesh Kebabs served on a special menu. The restaurant provides a shaded terrace out front for taking in this very diverse city and you can enjoy a quick bite under a canopy, glimpsing at locals and travellers alike. The Indian kitchen according to the website, opens at 12:00 (midday) until 16:00 (4pm) and then from 20:00 (8pm) until 11:00am. Sandwich bars are open all day from 12:00 midday until 1:00am- nonstop.
If you’re looking to visit- the details for the restaurant are as follows. T +34 676 432 564. E tandoori.nights.bcn@gmail.com or plug the following address into google- Carrer Carretes, 44 Barcelona, EspaĂąa 08001.
Rated âBest Lebanese Food in Town!â by one TripAdvisor reviewer, this joint serves an extensive mixture of Mediterranean, Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine. Itâs in an optimal location- very local to Sants station so if youâre close by, definitely pop in. The quality of the food here is amazing and the rich chicken shawarmaâs and appetizing falafel’s are given in extremely generous portions. This restaurant is open most days from 12:30 midday till around 00:30 every night.
The address for your peruse is Psg Antoni, 9, 08014 Barcelona, Spain and the T +34 933 30 01 46
In true ancient Persian cultural entertainment, this restaurant offers the services of professional belly dancers to go with your meal every Friday and Saturday at 22:30hr. Influenced by their vast ancestral culinary tradition stretching from China to the East and all the Mediterranean villages in the west, Persian food is bathed with delicate fragrances and exquisite flavours that you simply must try at this property. With platters of Mast-Ă-khiar (cucumber and mint, mixed with yoghurt), Kufteh (Meatballs with chickpeas, barberries and aromic herbs) and Mirza GhasemĂ (char-grilled eggplant, tomatoes and garlic blended with egg) starters to kick-start the flavour fest, youâre bound to keep asking for more. Meals cost around âŹ12.50 and vegetarians are also well catered for. Desserts are also an option, strating at âŹ3.90 with Persian, fresh mint and lime ice cream, traditional Persian baglava delights, lemon and basil mousse and the standard tiramisu dessert.
Close by to the Sant Antoni metro station, the address for this property is Carrer de Floridablanca, 85, 08015 and the T is +34 934 255 996. You can also email them at rinconpersa85@gmail.com
The restaurant tends to get full pretty quick, make sure you call ahead and grab a reservation before you head in to avoid disappointment! They open from Tuesday to Sunday at 12:30 until 23.30 and do not close at midday. Not open Mondays! Reservation required!
This Indonesian and Malay cuisine establishment, located in Laforja street, will uncover typical Indonesian specialties elaborated with traditional recipes and made with the best raw ingredients on the market. Extensive and exotic meals include Pedegil (Fried potato empanada, chopped cilandro, onions and fried shallots), Sate Ayam (grilled chicken skewers mariandos with peanut sauce) or Assam Pedas Udang (Spicy and sour prawns cooked in coconut milk and tamarind), amoungst a variety of other traditional dishes. The Rijstafel, the Crispy Duck and Honey Chicken are rounded off with homemade deserts that will invite you to stay and then leave with the desire to return. This restaurant presents private rooms and long round tables that facilitate good talks among large families or friend groups. Average spend here is from âŹ20 to âŹ30 and wi-fi is also available.
The Bali lunches are presented from 13:00 till 16:00 every day and then dinner is served when doors reopen from 20:00 till 23:30. Doors to this restaurant open from 8am, so feel free to drop in from then! The hotel address is Laforja, 8 SarriĂĄ – Sant Gervasi 08006 Barcelona and T +34 934 61 40 52. Reservation required!
An extension of the ever popular Original PFC in the heart of London, Wild Beef Gourmet Burgers thrives on creating âfast food masterpiecesâ with their dedication, highly skilled chefs and combined experience. Gaining much popularity over in Britain, the brand moved out to Barcelona and brought along with them their halal-certified, mouth-watering beef burgers, made from the freshest beef to secret recipes with their delectable veggie, manchego and gourmet burgers, poultry, barbacoa, XXL burgers and a âcrazyâ assortment of delectable chicken Empanada with crispy fries.
If you craving for some 50s-inspired American/British style ambiance in this Spanish municipality, look no further. Rated 5* for their food hygiene, youâre bound to have an unforgettable, unbeatable and mind-blowing experience at this establishment. Average spend here is around âŹ10 per person, with opening hours Monday-Sunday 12:00 midday till 01:00am. The address to get here is Carrer de la DiputaciĂł, 214, 08011, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and to book via T +34 932 69 42 02
With the upbeat vibes and traditional Moroccan interior, you are no longer in Barcelona and are transported into the buzzing cultural setting of Morocco the minute you walk in. True to its roots, colourful textiles, from upholstery to wall hangings, adorn every inch of this property and offers typical Moroccan cuisine from tender chicken chops, minced meat, couscous- a national delicacy- and the Harira. Ofcourse do not miss out on their magnificent Briwat or the Masman served in delicate tagines and there is no lack of rich succulent homemade desserts or tea service. If you’re in the mood, grab some shisha here too and enjoy the ambient mood and good company.
Average spend here is around âŹ20 based on a two-course meal excluding drinks. Food is served from 13:00 till 15:30 every day and dinner is served 21:00 until 23:00 every day. The address to get here is Carrer de SalvĂ , 5, 08004 Barcelona, Espanja and T +34 931 64 59 37
Helpful? Check out my previous post of my experiences in Barcelona or perhaps you’ve got your own experiences? I want to know! Drop me a comment below.
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Have anyone tried any other restaurants in Barcelona?
If the title Sun City wasnât taken by its friendly neighbour across the pond, Barcelona would definitely have that title. Instead, dubbed âThe City of Countsâ owing to its history as the seat of the Count of Barcelona between 9th and 15th century Catalan, it is now a hotbed for tourists, trade fair, fashion and avid socialites. Located on the northeast coast of the mountainous Iberian Peninsula region, facing the Mediterranean Sea, the 101.4km² city inhibits around 1.6million people and is the 2nd most populous municipality of the Kingdom that is Spain.
Attracting trekkers from all walks of life all times of the year, it was a refreshing site to see empty beaches and less crowded markets during my stay there earlier in the year. I wanted to live like a local for a week, experience the Catalonian lifestyle as well as be surrounded by the native people and the best place to stay I determined, was near the beach. Set a block from the Nova Icaria seafront, SB Icaria Hotel encapsulated the entire definition of the perfect Barcelonan stay with a 12 minute walk to the Ciutadella-Vila OlĂmpica metro station and a 25 minute stroll to the architecturally imposing grand Sagrada FamĂlia church.
I stayed with 2 girl friends, bubbly and a bag of laughter throughout the trip. We stayed in a 3-bedroom suite on the 3rd floor of the building which was just as well since I actually couldnât get a room in the hotel a week before. Iâd been so sold out on the idea of staying at the beachfront luxury W Hotel that by the time Iâd saved up enough the hotel had booked out everywhere. Infact, Id left it so late that no hotels in the entire Ciutat Vella District had vacancies. Flights booked, bags packed and nowhere to stay was quite the conundrum to face. Safe to say I’ve never made the mistake of saving up for a hotel ever again. Â The girls flew out a day before me, so arriving and checking in wasnât much of a problem. My Ryanair (Yeah, we cheap like that) flight FR9044 from LDN STN arrived at BCN El-Prat on Thurs 03 March at exactly 16:00. A quick taxi ride had me so lost staring at the beautiful city; Iâd arrived at my destination long before my mind had. I paid and exited, still lost in the towering buildings and the soaring sun rays that pierced through them.
A shower was first call. We all had our AluminĂŠ skin care range decked out like a showroom floor in the bathroom. My go-to is the Soy & Baobab Shampoo and Conditioner- everywhere I go, itâs a must. Ofcourse anything over 100ml doesnât get through security so in the spirit of making things happen, I got 4 x 25ml bottles straight from Amazon and took my trusted toiletries on their first little adventure. Unpacked, passport silently sealed away, clothes neatly on pegs in the walk-in wardrobe and heels attentively stood in a line, Barcelona was about to get a taste of an excited british Somalian.
The hotel offered breakfast buffet every morning which was delishhhhh, a quaint outdoor swimming pool with an enticing hot tub â the ultimate instagram backdrop we later learned– and a gym and sauna that in hindsight, I wish I used more of. Whilst we spent our morning nonchalantly by the pool every day, our evenings were a cultural excavation of restaurants and diners and beaches. Close by, we had our midnight âŹ1 fries spot at Parc de Marâs very own McDonalds.  Walk down the beach from there towards the wharf with luxe-grade yachts and fleets of Bugattiâs and Bentleys of very wealthy high rollers, youâll see a two-storey food and dining destination below ground level. A lively area with a great buzzing atmosphere, we had tons of food concepts and seating options available. Most nights we found ourselves in Jerusalem, a Mediterranean Restaurant and bar with added Shisha/Hookah lounge. They stayed open until about 3am every night, and weâd just eat and enjoy each otherâs company with locals all around us, and fellow foreigners making conversation. Felt surreal to be honest, to be in such a calm state in a completely unknown environment with strangers and unfamiliar territory. Yet so tranquil, and so peaceful.
The sounds of the ocean and waves lapping at the beach will forever remain in my conscious mind. Looking out, you could see nothing. The moon played hide and seek during my whole stay, and so not much natural light was available to illuminate the sea. Youâd look out, and it would be pitch black. And yet, so thunderously loud, as if it was right beside your ear, the rhythmic pulse of the sea and its steady, throbbing heartbeat ruptured your thoughts and demanded your attention. It was unmatched by anything else in nature. I donât even think I can put in a nutshell how my skin would erupt in goosebumps at every wave or how humbled it made me to hear it. Amazing, and quite simply hypnotic. An empty beach at 4am, with nothing but pitch black in front of you. I sat down on the sand once or twice, the waves couldâve towered over me and I wouldnât have known. The experience was surreal.
I made some lifelong friends during that stay- people from other cities in the UK that to this day, still hit me up on social media to ask about the next rendezvous. I appreciate them all.
The girls had rented out the room for 4 nights. I was staying for 5. They checked out and I was left in another predicament. Never will I forget this leg of the trip. On my journey, Iâd seen only one other Somali pair on my flight into BCN. Iâd smiled, we had shared conversation and by the end of the flight… we were in my head, friends. They were staying in the same hotel so naturally, Iâd see them more and more during my stay. For the life of me, I donât know why I didnât go downstairs that night and just book the room we had to check out, for myself. Instead, I went to the first floor and knocked on their door and left my things in there. I donât know whose handbook I got this from, or what the plan was… just acted. To this day, I could never forget that I knocked on someoneâs door who Iâd met on a flight and just stayed in their room for the night.
2 things to be thankful for. 1 is that they were a mother and daughter pair; otherwise it wouldâve been totally awks. Not that it wouldâve mattered. I mean… would it have? Hmm. 2nd is that their flight was at 3am and the room would be unoccupied for the remainder of the night. The room was still checked in, I mean… could God be looking out for me any further?! Lovely pair, great and truly self-effacing people. The mother took a nap at around 11pm and like the crazy insane person I am, I lead my new friend away at 11:30pm and we took a stroll to the beach.
Listen, the ocean at night is hypnotic. Youâll crave for more. Iâm a âreflectorâ, I like sitting back and just meditating and reflecting on what I have and finding inner peace. Quiet places appeal to me. It was perfect. We strolled around, made some Jamaican friends who we probably â by their drunken state- should not have spoken to. We grabbed food, took some pictures and leisurely laughed way into the night. 1am came. They left. I had the room to myself.
I remember just as I shut the room door, my Whatsapp dinging. Iâd reconnected with someone Iâd met years before, and they happened to be in Barcelona same time as me. My flight out of Barcelona El-Prat was at 18:05 so Iâd have a few more hours to indulge in some sunshine before heading to London. He came to my hotel that morning, and after some breakfast and checking-out, we left. The sun was beautiful. The air felt cleaner for some reason. It was such a beautiful day. In those last few hours, in that last stroll out of the hotel, I realised just how beautiful and peaceful the morning was. I missed every sunrise because Iâd been out so late and needed to sleep. This was the first time I was out this early, and boy was it just gorgeous. A street peddler Iâd grown familiar with near the restaurants approached us. He was selling fresh roses. He signalled to me and said to my new friend âWhy not a rose for the lady?â My friend smiled. I got red and white roses to call mine that day, and still have them somewhere in my trip treasures, stored in a box deep in my room. My first ever set of roses. Sometimes, I find them and sometimes I smile- recalling memories long gone of laughter and sunshine.
If ever any of my readers find themselves in Barcelona, make sure you take a bus from Plaça dâEspanya towards Palau Saint Jordi. From the PSJ website, the buses you want are 55, 13 and 150. The winding hills give you the most breathtaking panoramic views of Barcelona city, the ports with boats and yachts, and glistening crystal clear water as far as the eye can see. Cross the road and you get a âGreat Wall of Chinaâ vibe with a huge wall and a city of chimneys and fresh clothes hanging out to dry beneath you. Take the bus back down to Plaça d’Espanya and explore the square, Valetian Towers, the shopping mall of Arenas de Barcelona and a whole host of cultural entertainment it offers. Make sure you take the first MontjuĂŻc Cable Car station taking you 750m above ground and connecting you to the MontjuĂŻc mountain and castle, if you’re a stickler for a good view.
I absolutely loved Barcelona. Next time, Iâm vlogging it.
Do you have stories from your time in Barcelona? Perhaps a tale from another city? I want to hear about it. Drop a comment below… I love hearing back from my readers!
Probably one of the most fun-filled adventures I embarked on in 2015, the City of Rotterdam didnât fail to make an impression during the few days I was a guest in the city.
Albeit short, it was my mission to explore with a group of friends and though we didnât do much, my stay at the Bilderberg was one of contentment, relaxation and elevated comfort. Booked by a friend whoâd previously busted a few jokes and made friends with the floor manager on a previous stay, we got a generously large discount on our stay, saving us perhaps what turned into countless feasts and unnecessary taxi fare expenses. Bonus! đ
In total, not counting the lifelong friends I made during the stay and came back to London with, I travelled with a total of 5 friends- none of which I regrettably am still in contact with. I stayed in a small single room on the ground floor of the hotel, with a blooming garden at my disposal. This hotel was a great stay, and in this post, I help anyone who is looking to stay or wants a heads up about what to expect at The Bilderberg Parkhotel in Rotterdam.
Free tip at the very bottom for anyone who enjoys incredible views and looking to make the most of their stay @ The Bilderberg. Keep reading! 
Environment
This modern 4*, classic grandeur and contemporary hotspot in the centre of lively Rotterdam, gives you just the right level of access into the city centre and still the secluded sentiment of peace and quiet; a perfect mix of a trendy metropolitan hotel in the heart of a lively city. It offers exceptional personal service levels which you expect to find at a luxury hotel. The Bilderberg is near a river and walking distance of art museums including Boijmans van Beuningen (great work here), Witte de Withstraat and the Museumpark, as well as the World Trade Centre and the infamous Erasmus Bridge. (Must see all of these!!)
The hotel is located on the Westersingel main road, with local food, shopping and leisure stores a stoneâs throw away in every single direction. It is situated within a 5-minute walk from the Centraal Underground station and just 700 meters away from the great colossal structure that is the Rotterdam Centraal railway station. Basically, everything is close by. Your underground station is next door, your food is across the street, city centre is aross the road, and tram transport is at your doorstep. Quite a convenient spot if you ask me.
It takes around 10 minutes to get to Rotterdam The Hague Zestienhoven airport by car- so now you know which airport to land at and will save you some extra £££ on journey time.
All in all, the lively buzz adds a pleasurable milieu to the hotel.
The hotel itself is of moderate size with 189 guestrooms across garden rooms, a villa wing and the grand Hoboken Tower donning 14 extravagant floors.
The Room
If Iâm not mistaken I stayed in room 217, the last room at the end of a long and gloomy corridor. I booked a single room, with hopes Iâd be in the regal Hoboken Tower witnessing breathtaking skyline views of the city. Donât make the mistake I did in empty assumption. Singe rooms are located in the garden or villa wing of the hotel. I stayed in the garden rooms, and in my conceded opinion, the room to me felt like the leftover space of multiple spaced-out rooms on the same floor.  Albeit small, it  felt cosy and snug and reminded me a little of home. The view wasnât much, I stared into other people’s windows directly opposite me and sometimes… sometimes they even stared back.
The room was polished to perfection though, no traces of dust anywhere at all. There was free wifi in my room, a flat-screen TV and tea and coffee makers at my disposal. I also had an Iron complete with board, hairdryer and a large desk to work on, which was convenient and very useful. The room has a minibar, soundproofed walls and a down comforter to aid sleep.
From asking questions I learned the following. The hotel has 4 room types-
Next time, Iâll probably pick the deluxe rooms. I think itâs more fitting for me, but the single room was still a great room if you donât plan to stay in the hotel much of your time. 24 hour room service is available with a wake-up service that I probably abused and luggage storage service at reception if you need to check out but do not need to leave until later.
Payment
This establishment accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, UCB card, Diners Club International and ATM cards. Â A down payment is required and this may be frozen on your card before arriving at the hotel. If not, a deposit is required for checkin by credit card or cash with the addition of a Government-issued photo ID for any incidental charges. I assume this is also to avoid giving your room to someone who isnât you, and in most cases your Passport should do just fine.
Youâll also be asked for 4.5% city/local tax charge as well as a tourism fee of EUR 1.90 per person, per night on check-in or check-out, a deposit of EUR 50 a night and a resort fee of EUR 2.20 per night, per person. Donât be scared off! Every travel agent or online booking platform such as Booking.com, Expedia and even uk.hotels.com all add this in the sum total. Itâs just good to know a breakdown of what youâre paying for.
Optional extras include early check-in for a charge of 35 EUR, late check-out for a charge of 25 EUR, self parking onsite costs 19.50 EUR, rollaway beds charged at 35 EUR per night BUFFET BREAKFAST (YES!!!!) charged at roughly 24.50 EUR per person and pets are allowed for an extra charge of 25 EUR per night, per pet.
Halal?
Food at this hotel is not specifically halal. I found out from the Reservations department that breakfast is buffet setup, with no specific halal food. It cannot be requested at this hotel, nor can they order it if booked in advance. There are however the standard options of toast, fruit and coffee. Lunch and Dinner include Fish and cheese and other items which are permissible to eat but unfortunately, this hotel does not cater for the halal personâs requirement.
Restaurants and local fast food joints are close by. During my stay at the Bilderberg, I regularly ate at a small but extremely delicious Turkish restaurant just a short walk from the hotel. Eethuis Center do Grill, Shawarma and Pizza all halal certified (Psst… Thank me later).
Turkish owners ar
e multilingual, accommodating and helped us immensely with our stay and the food here is nothing short of exemplary cuisine. Google Map from the hotel or ask the receptionist to point you.
Hotel Policy
Hotel cancellations are not ideal in any case, but if the need arises, prepayment policies vary greatly according to your room type. I purchased a non-refundable room and so even if I cancelled, I would not get refunded. Please ensure your booking a non-refundable room that you are 100% available for, otherwise for a steeper price you can book a refundable one. Always check conditions of required room!
Check in time starts at 14:00/2:00pm in the afternoon and ends at Midnight. Check out time is at noon/midday/12pm. These can also be extended for an additional fee; checking into the hotel earlier will set you back EUR 35 and perhaps after a long night youâd like to comfortably sleep in, checking out later than noon will cost you EUR 25.
Only registered guests are allowed in rooms, or charges are incurred on your deposit. Pets are also allowed in the hotel, with hotel policy stating only 2 at a time. Charges incurred, see Payment section above.
Getting Around
If you travel by public transport in Rotterdam, you have to purchase a travelcard, OV chipkaart in Dutch. It’s a smartcard on which various types of tickets can be preloaded. The chipcard is valid for metro, trams, buses, lightrail and also on the train and waterbus. Tourists can buy disposable travelcards but you might be better off with the Rotterdam Welcome Card, which includes public transport as well as discounts for attractions and museums in Rotterdam.
| Travel Chipcard | âŹ7,50 |
| RET one hour | âŹ3,00 |
| RET two hours | âŹ3,50 |
| RET 2 x one hour | âŹ6,00 |
| RET 1 day | âŹ7,50 |
| RET 2 days | âŹ12,50 |
| RET 3 days | âŹ16,50 |
 1) RET 1 hour
The RET 1 hour travel chipcard allows you to use tram, metro, bus and lightrail in Rotterdam during 60 minutes. The clock starts after your first ‘touch-in’. You are allowed to change lines but your last ‘touch-in’ has to be done 60 minutes after your first ‘touch-in’. Your card will automatically expire after 75 minutes after your first ‘touch-in’.2) RET 2 hours
The RET 2 hour travel chipcard allows you to use tram, metro, bus and lightrail in Rotterdam during 120 minutes. The clock starts after your first ‘touch-in’. You are allowed to change lines but your last ‘touch-in’ has to be done 120 minutes after your first ‘touch-in’. Your card will automatically expire after 135 minutes after your first ‘touch-in’.3) 2 x RET 1 hour
This card works the same like the RET 1 hour chipcard, but it allows you to use it twice. This card is like a return ticket when you’re not able to return within one or two hours. Your chipcard will automatically expire after 75 minutes after your second ‘touch-in’.4) Day cards
The full day travel cards allow you to use tram, metro, bus and lightrail within Rotterdam during one, two or three days. It cannot be used on board the night buses.
Information above CityGuideRotterdam, click link for more information.
Besides being yards away from many local tourist attractions and muses, the best mode of
transport in Rotterdam in my opinion, is taking a tram. The Rotterdam tramway network is a key element in the overall public transportation arrangements in Rotterdam. These are simple, hassle free and easy to use once you understand them. A 2 minute walk away is the Rotterdam, Eendrachtsplein Light Rail Station, connecting you to the city centre all the way up to The Hague.
Taxi services are available just outside the hotel, and reception is more than happy to call the service for you at a scheduled time.
Further Details
You can easily contact the hotel on T 010-4363611Â and F 010-4364212. The email address for any bookings, queries and questions is Parkhotel.Reservation@bilderberg.nl. If your lucky, I had quick, prompt responses from Emilie Van Koppenhagen at the hotels Reservations department so email in for your answers.
Additionally, the hotel website is always at your disposal: Â |Â www.bilderberg.nl
For photo enthusiasts, adventurers or if your just like me and like to randomly explore, take the lift directly adjacent to the hotel. This will take you exclusively if I remember correctly to the 8th floor and above. Besides any famous or professional executives you could bump into on these elite floors, the top floor has direct access to the roof with authorised admission. I assume this is a smoking zone for anyone staying in the Tower; nonetheless the breathtaking and remarkable views of the entire Skyline around Rotterdam will forever be etched in your head.
Found this useful? Let me know in the comments section below!
Check out my previous hotel review of Azimut Hotel in Munich, Germany!
