Home Articles Posted by Izy Berry (Page 112)
,
Top Romantic London Shows
Valentine’s Day might be long gone, but there is always a good reason to spend quality time with that special someone. A good theatre show can transport you and your other half into a different world and time. There is something alluring about the combination of carefully designed costumes, captivating music, and charming storylines. If you want to make the most out of a special occasion, let Show & Stay guide you through some of their beloved musicals and plays, including some top romantic London shows.
Once
Once is a relatively new show, which nevertheless captivated audiences in Broadway, before arriving on London’s West End. Inspired by the critically successful film (it received a Grammy and an Oscar, among many other awards) the critics have also surrendered to the charm of this unassuming show. The musical tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech girl who go back and forth between feelings of love and friendship as they perform the most poetic and tender songs.
Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera is much more than a classic love story; set in 19th century Paris, a young singer Christine becomes the protégé of the Paris Opera House Phantom, a talented musician who had to give up his career because of a deformity in his face. The Phantom is secretly in love with Christine, although she is engaged to someone else. The events surrounding this love triangle will keep you hooked with Christine’s final decision being a great topic of conversation once the show is over. This show has been performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre and has enjoyed huge success in the West End for the past 26 years.
Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia is the heart-warming and vivacious musical that has had the world captivated. Not only for the die-hard ABBA fans, the show tells the uplifting story of a young woman’s search for her father prior to her wedding on an idyllic Greek island. This musical is packed with contagious ABBA songs and charming characters that give a new meaning to friendship and family ties.
The Bodyguard
Based on the famous 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard is the hit jukebox musical featuring the iconic songs from this best-selling soundtrack. This show is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an outstanding live performance of this classic love story between a singer and her bodyguard. Regardless of which show you choose, it’s the experience that counts. London, its elegant theatres and an overnight stay at a trendy hotel make for an unforgettable and romantic city getaway that you may want to repeat soon.
These are our suggestions of the top romantic London shows – what are your favourite London shows?
,
How to Find a Good Couchsurfing host
I’d like to say I’m an expert at Couchsurfing, but I haven’t really done it that much. I have been a host in the past here in Christchurch – my housemates and I hosted three people a few years ago. The reason we stopped? Our last Couchsurfing guest stayed a whopping 6 months and by the time he left we were a little heartbroken.
I’ve Couchsurfed in Mexico, San Diego and in a few places in Spain: San Sebastian, Rota and Bilbao. The truth is, I love Couchsurfing – it’s a great way to meet locals and to get a really unique experience. The problem is, though, I also love hostels… so I haven’t Couchsurfed as much along my adventure as I would if I wasn’t so fond of hostels.
I’ve had a lot of great experiences; I did a road trip with my Mexican Couchsurfing hosts to Ensenada and with my Rota Couchsurfing host to Gibraltar. I drank Sangria with my Couchsurfing hosts in San Diego and in Bilbao. But I had one bad experience with my host in San Sebastian and I think it could have been avoided.
This isn’t quite a Couchsurfing horror story, but if I wasn’t being so cheap I don’t think I would have found myself in this situation. You see, my host clearly stated on his profile that he wanted a girlfriend from every country. I kind of ignored it, because I thought it was some quirky Spanish thing and made it clear to my host that I had a boyfriend (well, a guy I was seeing back home) and that I wasn’t interested in anything than hanging out and getting to know him and San Sebastian.
We went out for Pintxos and drinks and everything was going well, until we went back to his mother’s house (where I was not entirely welcome? I had to be quiet and come in a different door as to not rouse her). I was removing my ridiculously hilarious rainbow pajamas from my backpack when he decided to slap my ass. I was caught off guard and turned around and told him it was not appropriate, I had a boyfriend and was not interested. He started quoting my profile saying that I love to live in the moment and that I should do so with this opportunity he was presenting me. I declined and he pushed. It took about twenty minutes of very clear “this is not going to happen, should I leave?” for him to stop the advances, and they never really stopped.
I felt kind of delated and a little offended, I simply wanted a great Couchsurfing experience and I hadn’t done anything to give this guy the wrong impression. He had raving reviews from other people who stayed, but if I’m completely honest I went against one of my first “rules” when choosing a Couchsurfer or Couchsurfing host:
Choose someone you think you’d actually want to be friends with.
You see, accommodation was really expensive in San Sebastian and although this host and I had no outstanding similarities, I had chosen to lower my standards and “give it a go”. I don’t know whether it’s superficial to say, but I think you can get a pretty good indication of how much you’ll get along with someone by reading their interests and hobbies on an online profile. However, do make sure you are doing this with a VPN to hide your IP. You wouldn’t want unsavoury people finding your physical location through your IP.
There are a few other things you need to do to make sure you find a good Couchsurfing host:
Look at their references, like, stalk them.
I don’t mean this in a creepy way, but if they’ve got references from other people gushing they’re the “best Couchsurfing host ever” then chances are you’re going to be well looked after. My Couchsurfing host from Rota was awesome, had incredible references and he even invited us to stay, although we were originally looking to go to Cadiz, which is a short ferry ride away. In the end we were glad we chose Rota and to stay with him because he was an incredible host that really made that trip for us.
Start looking in advance.
The further you look in advance, the more likely you are to find someone that you’ll really want to stay with and that might end up being a real friend. Read their hobbies, beliefs and where they’ve been in the world, see if you’ve got anything special in common or to bond over.
Those are my tips for finding a great Couchsurfing host. Do you have any suggestions? Have you Couchsurfed anywhere?
,
An Exhilarating Pamplona Experience
You will definitely know a place is worth travelling when the great Ernest Hemingway puts his indelible stamp of approval on its map, and that is what he did by the time he set foot in the Spanish city of Pamplona. Ninety years ago, Ernest Hemingway was astonished and enthralled at the sudden burst of vivid colours and lively music the city presented. Even more amazing than the sights and sounds of Pamplona is the festival of the region’s patron saint, San Fermin.
The San Fermin festival strikes a chord with daredevil adventure seekers all over the world. Every July, Pamplona’s streets are conquered by a herd of fighting bulls trampling their way through the city, from their corrals, all the way to the plaza de toros. Adding to the thrill of the event is the competition of daring young – and somewhat middle aged – men running ahead, and in the same direction of the bulls while trying to avoid getting impaled or crushed by the rampaging beasts. Though many have been injured and a handful perished, the San Fermin Festival still is one of the most anticipated nationally televised events in Spain.
Pamplona may be more known for the San Fermin festival, but the city still has a lot to offer to would-be travellers. Its picturesque views of the villages, terrains, and historical remains have always been the apple not just of “Instagram Photographers” eyes, but of its previous tourists and citizens as well. Minus the “bull,” this Spanish city has charmed its way into the hearts of people as proven by Mr. Hemingway’s ninety-year-old claim.
,
Where to Enjoy a Budget Beach Holiday in Turkey
Sitting between Europe and Asia, Turkey is a country that offers a unique holiday experience. Steeped in history dating back to the famous Ottoman Empire and home to the ancient city of Troy, Turkey has an enviable position with coastlines on both the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea. With cheap holidays to Turkey widely available, there really hasn’t been a better time to visit. Here’s a guide to the top Turkish destinations for a fantastic beach break.
Antalya
Located on the southern coast of Turkey and looking out onto the Mediterranean Sea, Antalya is both the largest and fastest growing tourist town in the country. Sheltered from the north by the Taurus Mountains, the climate is hot and dry which is the perfect weather to enjoy the pristine white sand beaches and crystal waters. The town itself is steeped in history and the cobbled, winding streets of the walled old town of Kaleci really do provide a step back in time. Any savings made booking the holiday to Turkey will certainly go a long way enjoying the rides here. For something a little cheaper, spend time relaxing on the beach here which is has endless miles of sand, an upmarket food court and bars and even a blue flag to prove its excellence.
Marmaris
Sitting where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean Sea, Marmaris couldn’t be in a more idyllic location if it tried within the Turkish Riviera. Set against the backdrop of the Marmaris Mountains, this town provides a great place to take a Turkish holiday. Marmaris has a perfect mix of bustling nightlife in town and amazing culture and scenery in the surrounding areas. To get a feel for Turkish history, visit the Ottoman castle of Suleyman the Magnificent and the amphitheatre ruins in town. To enjoy the beach life in all its glory, visit Cleopatra Island which is deemed to have some of the best sand in the world. Marmaris is also a great place to dive and sail, providing a chance to enjoy the landscape whilst relaxing.
Bodrum
Nestled within the Aegean, Bodrum sits on the peninsular to the south west of Turkey and provides the chance to let the hair down with its fantastic nightlife. The best beaches along the peninsula are Gumbet and Bardacki, both of which are peaceful idylls complete with olive groves that reach down to the sea which are crystal clear and shallow so suitable for families. To add some culture to this holiday, visit St Peters’ Underwater Museum and the 15th Century castle in Bodrum Harbour. Alternatively visit Kadikalesi, a small resort with village charm which gives an indication of authentic Turkish life.
,
How to Stay in Touch Overseas
Staying in touch overseas is easier than ever before: the Internet has made it possible to stay in touch no matter where you are in the world. There are heaps of different ways to stay in touch, but some of them are fairly expensive and somewhat out of date. Here are my personal favourite ways to stay in touch when I’m on the other side of the world to my friends and family:
Using my Smartphone:
When I went traveling the first time, I didn’t bother to take a phone. When my camera was stolen overseas, I replaced it with an iPhone. Although it was an expensive purchase, it was so valuable for keeping in touch. I could iMessage and Viber with friends who had a smartphone, for free.
Email:
Although emails are a bit less personal than calling someone, they’re a great way of keeping in touch when you’re on opposite sides of the world. Because of time differences, communicating by phone can be kind of a hassle, especially trying to find times that work for both people.
Using VoIP:
If you want to make cheap international calls from your phones to other phones, phone cards are no longer the best option. The Internet has changed the way many things work in the world, including international calling. You can even use VoIP to make cheap texts to any number around the world. This makes it super easy to stay in touch overseas.
Buying a local sim:
If you make the mistake of accidentally using your phone overseas with your home sim card in it, you might end up racking up a substantial phone bill that will be a nasty welcome home present. Buying a local sim can be a great way to save money and can be really useful if you’re planning to stay in a foreign country for a few weeks or longer. It means that you can easily contact hotels, tuktuks and taxis, restaurants, and local friends.
Snail Mail:
Okay, by the time your mail arrives home, you’ll probably be in a new country already. Traditional mail isn’t the best option for keeping people up-to-date but they’re a really nice way to keep in touch with home and let your friends and family know that you’re really thinking of them. You can send photos of your trip, postcards, and small presents – anything you like. Although there’s a lot of convenience in communicating online, nothing can beat a personal letter in the mail.
Those are my favourite ways to stay in touch overseas. What’s yours? Do you have any tips for me?
,
St Anton: leisure by the lakes
If you want to go on a holiday that’s peaceful, where better than a lakeside resort? The waters gently lapping provide a calm background to any vacation, especially if you decide to visit the small Alpine resort of St Anton in Austria. One of the best places to go on a Lakes and Mountains holiday is St Anton, but why is it the case?
Being so close to some of Austria’s most impressive peaks, St Anton is seen as a mecca for keen walkers. Meanwhile, when the snow melts, the village and the surrounding area look stunning during the summer months. It lies within the Verwall Valley, and is close to the lake known as Verwall See, which should be seen to be believed.
A treat for your feet?
Although there are a number of routes to choose from that start and go through St Anton, one that stands out is the Verwall Valley walk. Krissy Sinclair, Austria Resort Manager for Inghams explains why it’s so interesting:
“Why not start your week with the Rosanna River walk or the Verwall Valley walk, both moderately flat. Along the route take in some wildlife, deers have been regularly spotted, and there is a variety of wild flowers and herbs, from wild orchids to wild miniature strawberries”, she said.
Like the lakes
Verwall See is arguably the best natural attraction within a short distance of St Anton. It leads up to the Rosanna river, provides plenty of opportunities to take great photos and, in the summer, it’s a great place to go canoeing or indulge in a spot of fishing.
If you find that you’ve explored St Anton itself with a few days left to spare, there’s plenty of other neighbouring towns and cities to visit such as Innsbruck, which is reachable from St Anton by train in less than an hour!
,
Underrated Arrowtown
When I was planning my trip to Queenstown, a few of my friends said I should flag Queenstown and head straight to Arrowtown. As a New Zealander, I consider myself quite knowledgable on all the must-see places in New Zealand, but I’d never heard of Arrowtown. I decided to trust their advice and split my holiday between Queenstown and staying in the best apartments in Arrowtown.
And it was a great decision.
Arrowtown in Autumn is absolutely lovely; the trees shine brightly in hues of gold through to fiery red. The town itself is ridiculously cute, with a famous candy store and a number of cute cafes to spend a lazy day in. It feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of busy Queenstown, allowing my partner and I to really enjoy a few days of quiet.
There’s lots of great things about Arrowtown that make it a good alternative to Queenstown – first of all, it’s only around a 15 minute drive from Queenstown meaning that you can stay in Arrowtown, which is considerably cheaper than Queenstown, and then pop over whenever you want.
Arrowtown is also super close to some of the best ski fields in New Zealand, including Cadrona, making it a great base for a skiing or boarding trip.
There are also a number of stunning walking tracks you can go on, as well as some equally impressive cycling tracks. While we were walking around the outskirts of Arrowtown, I couldn’t help but feel as if the scenery was straight out of a painting.
We only set aside two days for Arrowtown but I wish I’d budgeted more. I could have easily spent a week exploring the beautiful scenery nearby and the next time I visit I’ll definitely bring my bike so I can explore some of the tracks in the surrounding area. Arrowtown is also lacking in the pretentious feeling that Queenstown has. As an old mining town, Arrowtown has this warm and charming feel to it. Because it is a lot quieter than Queenstown, I personally found it a lot more relaxing.
Arrowtown definitely ranks as one of the cutest places I’ve ever visited and I think it’s a place with universal appeal: it’s perfect for couples wanting a romantic get away, families with kids who want somewhere quiet and comfortable to explore and friends who are looking for a fun weekend away. If you’re planning to visit the south island of New Zealand, you must include at least a few days in Arrowtown to your itinerary.
Where’s the cutest place you’ve ever visited?
,
How to Avoid an Accident on Holiday
If you’ve booked a holiday this summer, the last thing on your mind will be accident and injury. No one expects the worst to happen, but even the most diligent holiday-goers can experience problems whilst they’re meant to be enjoying themselves.
According to a survey by First4Lawyers, 42% of people admitted to experiencing injury whilst on holiday, both abroad and in the UK. The places and circumstances in which you may be injured can be wide and varied so if you’re hoping to avoid injury on your next holiday, beware of the following places – these tips will help you learn how to avoid an accident on holiday.
Campsites
Many of those interviewed had experienced injury whilst camping which is really no surprise. Insect bites and minor burns are just the beginning of things, whilst many more serious injuries are also possible.
Avoid building fires and cooking if you’ve had a bit to drink, and make sure you have plenty of camp side lighting equipment to avoid falls.
Planes
Nearly two billion people use commercial airlines every year, so it should be no surprise that lots of injury can occur here. Turbulence, tripping, food poisoning and anxiety attacks are just a few examples of what can happen whilst traveling in the air.
Supermarkets
You may be surprised how common supermarket injuries are whilst on holiday, but given the relaxed attitude of many holidaymakers, it’s not all that strange. Trips and falls are the main contributors to injury here, with flip flops and wet shoes holding some responsibility.
Hotels
Stairways, balconies, parking lots and bathtubs are the main perpetrators of hotel injury, with most of these places providing insufficient safety guards against trips and falls. In rarer circumstances, food poisoning and other guests can also provide a form of injury should you get unlucky.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing is one of the activities where you are most likely to be injured; with nearly 20% of those surveyed admitting an injury during this time. It’s a pretty broad activity so the range of different injuries can be incredibly varied, with anything from a fall to food poisoning to dehydration.
Ensure that you are paying attention at all times when sightseeing – roads can be dangerous and crowds can get a little hairy.
These are my tips for how to avoid an accident on holiday. Do you have any tips?
,
What Defines the Florida Keys?
This 126-mile stretch of limestone islands, floating on the crystal clear waters of the Gulf is sometimes called America’s best-kept secret. Florida Keys was once only accessible by boat, these islands are linked to the mainland and each other by the Overseas Highway. Several of the islands have been develop into holiday resorts whilst others have been protected for their natural beauty.
Nearby, Yet a World Away
Hiring a car within Florida, makes the Florida Keys easily accessible as they lie just an hour’s drive south of Miami. One of the charms of the Keys is the close proximity of such a relaxing and beautiful place. All the keys share the blue green waters and laid back atmosphere of a tropical paradise that call visitors back time and again. There are protected waters and marine reserves where eco tourism is making its mark with diving and snorkeling to see the superb variation of marine species.
Keys Dining
With such well-stocked waters surrounding them, fishing has always been part of life in the keys and much of the cuisine is seafood based. Conch was once so common in the keys that this large mollusc with the distinctive shell gave its name to the locals – residents are still called Conch today. Another favourite are the stone crab claws served October to May in 3 sizes, medium, large and jumbo. The sweet tender flesh is very popular. Easier to eat than its Maine relatives, Spiny Lobster has an enormous tail full of tender white meat, although no claws and is available all year except June and July. Key West pink shrimp are available over the winter months and the fish of the day could also be Yellow tail Snapper, Mahi Mahi, Grouper, or Yellow fin tuna. For desert of course, first choice is always key lime pie.
Key Options
There are 30 inhabited islands in the keys and the highway connects 43, but there are over 1700 islands in total.
Key West is the furthest south you can go and is party capital of the keys with bars and nightlife to delight even the toughest party animal, but there are still plenty of time and space to sit and watch the sun go down over your rum cocktail. Key West was also the home of Ernest Hemmingway for over a decade and he penned some of his most famous works here. His home is now a museum and a fabulous place to visit.
Key Largo is the first island you reach on your drive from the mainland and is a great base for diving as it has the John Pennekamp State Park, the first underwater national park in the US, which provides superb diving and snorkeling.
If fishing is your thing then head to Marathon in the middle keys where the traditional way of keys life is celebrated in daily life across four of the islands that make up the community.
Wherever you head you can be sure of a chilled time in clean, beautiful surroundings with a wealth of options if you do decide you have time for anything more strenuous than sunbathing.
,
Staying in Apartments
I’m launching a new series called The Ultimate Guide to Long Term Travel – I want to include things that I know now by habit, but had no idea about when I started out traveling. This guide will help you travel long term for cheaper, but also just help you save money in general on trips with tips and suggestions I’ve learned during the past 2.5 years.
Recently I went on a trip to Arrowtown and Queenstown with my partner. A good portion of my travels, thus far, have been based around staying in low cost accommodation options such as hostels, or splashing out on nice hotels. While in Arrowtown I stayed in the best place to stay in Arrowtown, in a family-run apartments, Arrowfields Apartments. There is a trend uprising of staying in fully furnished apartments when on holiday and I was ready to see what all the fuss is about. Turns out, there are numerous ways that staying in an apartment offers great value:
Staying in apartments will save you money
There are a number of ways that staying in an apartment will save you money, one of the most obvious reasons is that apartments are generally a lot more affordable than hotels. You can easily find apartments that are one, two, three bedrooms – or even larger – meaning that you can go away with the whole family or a bunch of friends, while keeping costs down. If you split the costs between each person, renting an apartment usual turns out to be somewhere in between the price of a hostel and a hotel, while offering as much comfort as a hotel.
You’ll have a fully furnished house usually with a well-equipped kitchen, meaning that you can easily cook breakfasts or dinners – which can be a godsend if you or someone you’re traveling with has food allergies or special dietary requirements. You can cut costs on food bills by eliminating the number of times you eat out – which will save you a significant amount of money. When traveling throughout South East Asia I ate out for every meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner and it soon lost the special feeling and instead became a chore.
Staying in Apartments is better for longer trips
Many long term traveling families opt to stay in apartments and rent them out for weeks or months at a time. By doing so, they get a discount which brings the nightly overall price down considerably. While staying in hotels can be a nice treat, there’s not as much space in the majority of them as you would normally have at home or in an apartment and that can be particularly challenging if you’re sharing the space with a friend, partner or your family. Apartments generally have 2-3 times as much space as a long stay hotel suite – this is a huge difference! Staying in an apartment means that you have extra space so that you can live comfortably while you travel. Whether you need accommodation for a week long skiing trip in Wanaka or are spending a month living in Berlin, renting an apartment can be a great option.
You get to feel like a local
Hotels tend to be located right in the heart of tourist centers, and while many rentable apartments are centrally located, a number of them are hidden in lovely little neighborhoods, allowing you to really inject yourself into the city you’re visiting. When staying in hotels, I’ve often just been really, really lazy and just eaten at the hotel’s restaurant or ordered room service. Staying in an apartment means that you are much more tempted to get out and explore little restaurants and cafes – which is half the charm of traveling.
You’ll get more privacy
When I’ve stayed in hotels there’s a lot of interaction with the hotel staff, from every day room cleaning to chitchat when you’re entering or leaving the hotel lobby. At times, this can be quite nice, but I find that it doesn’t allow me to relax as much. Staying in apartments is quite different: generally you pick up the keys, get a nice introduction and then you are free to come and go as you please. I think this makes a huge difference and can let you feel more ‘settled’ in, rather than as if you’re just a visitor.
How to find short term apartments to rent
Because apartments are becoming such popular choices for people wanting comfort, they are popping up on more and more booking sites. You can browse for apartments on discount booking sites like Wotif.com or even specialized apartment sites like airbnb.com.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Arrowfield Apartments in Arrowtown and hope to spend more time traveling in apartments instead of hotels or hostels.
Have you ever stayed in an apartment? What was your experience like?
