BIRMINGHAM, UK: ONE DAY ITINERARY & THINGS TO DO

December 24, 2024 10 Comments

WHY VISIT BIRMINGHAM, UK

I’ve visited Birmingham from London more than seven times already and lived there for a couple of weeks while I was renovating my Airbnb. When I asked in my Instagram stories I realised no one really visits Birmingham, but it’s quite an interesting city! Some of the things that make it special are that it’s actually the second largest city in the UK and also the youngest city with over 40% of the population being under 25 (fun! right?).

Also, Birmingham is home to more canal waterways than Venice and is home to the Bullring Shopping Centre which is one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe. If you ask me personally, I really like the industrial vibe of Birmingham, the mix of old and new architecture and the artsy vibe the neighbourhood of Digbeth breathes. On top of that, Birmingham boasts of fine arts, fine dining and greenery. It is the home for some of the most ground breaking music in the world (metal was born here!), Cadbury’s chocolate factory and the Peaky Blinders!

BIRMINGHAM, UK: ONE DAY ITINERARY & THINGS TO DO – Victoria Square

VISITING BIRMINGHAM: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / Birmingham is a very walkable city, there’s great transport links to it and a great bus system in the city. Many still choose to drive there using a rental car as some attractions are a bit spready out. Book your rental using DiscoverCars, the website I recommend for all car hires. If you are not renting a car, should you require an airport transfer from Birmingham airport, I always use WelcomePickups.

Tours / Here’s Birmingham’s most popular tours:
Birmingham: Slogging Gangs Guided Walking Tour
Stonehenge & Bath Day Tour
Birmingham Guided City Center Walking Tour
Cotswolds Full-Day Tour
Victorian Canals and Modern-Day Birmingham Tour
Digbeth, Public art and Peaky Film Guided Walking Tour

Stay / We own a lovely Airbnb in possibly the best location you can be in, should you prefer a hotel, these are the best in the city:

The Grand Hotel Birmingham $$$
Malmaison Birmingham $$$
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Birmingham $$
Staybridge Suites Birmingham $$
Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Broad Street $$
EasyHotel Birmingham $

Eat / My top recommendations for each meal:
Brunch/Breakfast: Medicine Bakery
Dinner & Beer: Indian Brewery

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Birmingham, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for UK.

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.

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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