VISITING BELFAST: EPIC BELFAST BUCKET LIST & TRAVEL GUIDE

December 20, 2024 2 Comments

VISITING BELFAST: BUCKET LIST AND TRAVEL GUIDE JAFFA MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN

What do YOU think of when you think of Belfast? For me all I could think is a troubled past, Titanic and the well known natural phenomenon Giants Causeway. Other than that I had no idea what I was going to discover on my visit and my expectations were low, which is a good thing, but what’s better is that they were exceeded. Like through the roof!

As you may know, Belfast is in Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom, my current home. What I loved about visiting Belfast was that I needed to hop on a plane so it gave me the feeling I was travelling abroad when I actually wasn’t. That might be you too!

Nowadays Belfast is my second home, as I own short term accommodation properties in the city. I’m constantly advising and engaging tourist so I do dare say I know a lot. So if you are visiting do me a favour and stay in one of them… wink, wink!

VISITING BELFAST: BELFAST BUCKET LIST & TRAVEL GUIDE — GRAND OPERA HOUSE

VISITING BELFAST: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / Belfast City is quite small and fully walkable, there’s buses of course, but frankly you don’t even need them. However, I do encourage you to get a rental car so you can independently visit the rest of Northern Ireland which is also very small so you can use Belfast as your base. Book your rental using DiscoverCars, the website I recommend for all international car hires. If you are not renting a car, should you require an airport transfer, I always use WelcomePickups.

Tours / There are countless tours on Belfast but these are the most popular ones, and the Giants Causeway one is obligatory if you should you not rent a car:
Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Day Tour
Belfast: Political Taxi Tour
The Titanic Experience with SS Nomadic Visit
Political Conflict 3-Hour Walking Tour
Belfast: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Stay / We own various properties in Belfast so you can find one that suits your needs here. Our properties have 5 star reviews across the board and are perfect for families and groups of 4/5 people, while still affordable and walking distance from the city centre. If you are looking for something smaller or we don’t have availability (which is more frequent than not) then check out these hotels:

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast $$$
The Merchant Hotel $$$
AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast $$
Bullitt Hotel $$
Malone Lodge Hotel $$
Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre $

Eat / My top recommendations for each meal:
Brunch/Breakfast: Neighbourhood
Coffee: Established Coffee
Dinner: Jumon (yes, it’s veggie but trust me you won’t care)

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Belfast, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!). I always use Sim Local, and you can get 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU. Get it here.

Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN BELFAST

Hop-on; hop-off Belfast’s main sites

A great way to start your trip is to take a hop-on; hop-off bus across all Belfast city top attractions. It’s the perfect way to get started and get an overview of the city if you are short on time and an efficient way to get around the furthest away sites. I took this one with Belfast City Tours and loved it. It stops on 19 sites (many which I feature below) and pricing wise it’s great. Book it here, or below:

Romania

BEST OF ROMANIA: ONE WEEK ITINERARY

December 12, 2024 3 Comments

BEST OF ROMANIA: ONE WEEK ITINERARY - HOLT Old Town — Sighisoara Clock Tower

BEST OF ROMANIA: OVERVIEW

Many of us associate Romania with vampires, creepy stories and the infamous gypsies that roam Europe. And many of us actually have no idea what Romania ACTUALLY has to offer!

I kept getting asked by so many people, why are you going to Romania for a week? Now, imagine a country full of castles and citadels, legends and traditions, mixed with beautiful landscapes of colorful forests, lakes and mountains, medieval towns, fairytale houses and kind welcoming people… Welcome to Romania! Romania is more than definitely worth visiting for a week.

BEST OF ROMANIA: MY ROMANIA ONE WEEK ITINERARY

Days 1-2: Bucharest

Bucharest has it’s own airport which is serviced by many budget European airlines and flights are usually cheap. You can also arrive by train or bus from neighbouring countries. Chances are you will get to Bucharest in partway through the day which is perfect, because I think Romania’s capital is worth a day and a half at least.

Costa Rica

MONTEVERDE BUCKET LIST

December 10, 2024 4 Comments

Monteverde was my second stop in Costa Rica. I chose to visit it as Monteverde has a Cloud Forest, which is the only in Costa Rica but also one of the few Cloud Forests in the world, as they only represent 1% of the global woodland. I had never visited a Cloud Forest before! If you are wondering what a Cloud Forest is, well it’s just that, a forest which is constantly covered in clouds at the canopy level and is very, very moist.

When I began doing research about Monteverde I found that it is very small, but also that there are a lot of things to do! See below a full list of all the best things to do in Monteverde, where to stay in Monteverde, and how to get there and around.

VISITING MONTEVERDE: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / The easiest and fastest way to get to Monteverde is by car, but the roads getting there are not paved and are in a pretty rough state, so you’ll need a 4×4. After searching around various Costa Rican 4×4 companies, DiscoverCars provided the cheapest rates with full insurance included which you’ll want. For buses and private transfers, check this site.

Tours / Forget trying to explore on your own uf you want to spot animals, only guides have their eyes trained for it. Here’s some of the best tours in Monteverde:
Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour
Monteverde: Cloud Forest Guided Hike
Monteverde: Jungle Zipline & Tarzan Swing with Transfer
From Monteverde: Monteverde Suspension Bridge Guided Hike
Monteverde: Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Day Trip

Stay / Monteverde, famous for its lush cloud forests and incredible biodiversity, offers a variety of accommodations for travelers seeking nature, adventure, or relaxation. Here are some top-rated hotels in the area:
Monteverde Lodge & Gardens by Böëna $$$
Hotel Belmar $$$
Fondavela Hotel $$
Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde $$
Selina Monteverde $

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Costa Rica, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!). I always use Sim Local, and you can get 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU. Get it here.

Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Antigua & Barbuda

10+ THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

November 20, 2024 No Comments

Are you planning a getaway to the picturesque islands of Antigua and Barbuda? Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, this stunning destination offers a blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. However, before you pack your bags and set off on your adventure, there are a few things you should know to make the most of your trip. From practical tips to cultural insights, here are 10 essential things to keep in mind before visiting Antigua and Barbuda.

VISITING ANTIGUA: THE ESSENTIALS

Car / I strongly recommend renting a car for the duration of your stay, this is the best way to explore the island, as public transport is almost non-existent – I suggest checking availability and booking via DiscoverCars, the website I recommend for all interactional car hires.

Tours / There are countless tours across the island, taking in the hills, the sea, the food and the culture. These are the ones I’ve tried and tested and also the most popular ones:

The Xtreme Circumnavigation Tour (all day boat tour of the island)
Eli’s Original Eco Tour
Full Day Scenic Tour of Antigua
Turtle Beach Power Snorkeling Adventure (using a sea scooter)
TukTuk Adventures and Beach Hopping
Antigua’s Only Food Tour

Stay / There are an abundance of resorts on the island, and which you choose will depend on your budget, whether you’re visiting Antigua with children and facilities required. Some of the most popular, and highly rated include:

Sandals Antigua
Antigua Village Beach Resort
Dickenson Bay Oasis
Hodges Bay Resort & Spa
Keyonna Beach Resort
Hermitage Bay
Galley Bay Resort & Spa
Hawksbill Resort Antigua

PEOPLE ARE SUPER NICE

The first thing that surprised me my first days in Antigua was how warm, happy, welcoming and good vibes people are. They will greet you on the street, wish you a good day, with no ulterior interest. Additionally, sellers were quite chill. Even if offering their product, they would stop at the first sign of no coming from you. This alone means so much!

IT’S EXPENSIVE

Being a Caribbean island, most things are imported. Which means, most things are expensive! You’ll find that if you are visiting on a budget, even the supermarket prices are crazy (compared to London, for example). So if you are a budget traveller, stick to basic foods, and leave imported items for back home. And try to rent a car, to avoid paying for taxis a lot as these are also quite expensive.

10+ THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

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