Instagram post 17983449061890786 Instagram post 17983449061890786
🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Googl 🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Google searches. I just happened to stumble across it on my walk and it was my favourite spot of all. 🧡😍

🥾So this is your sign to just start walking and exploring 

📍Reeds Bay @thunder.bay.beach.bar 

Where was you’re favourite place that you just found by chance?
9  things to NEED to do on your Barbados holiday🌴🇧🇧:

🐟 Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday Night
⚡️ Go for a drink and swim @thunder.bay.beach.bar 
🌅Watch the Sunrise
🐢Swim with Turtles
⛵️Boat cruise with @silvermoonbarbados 
🌮Sunset Dinner @seashed_barbados 
🐎Watch the racehorses at Pebbles Beach 
🌊 Walk along the Hastings Boardwalk 
🌅Watch the sunset 

Anything I’m missing from the list?
Where is your “OMG” travel destination? Where is your “OMG” travel destination?
POV: you’ve taken 100,000 pics and videos on you POV: you’ve taken 100,000 pics and videos on your 1 week holiday 😅📸

Anyone else do the same! 

(📹Reel Credit @saradavies_)
🌅🌅🌅 🌅🌅🌅
Anyone else dreaming of a Euro summer? 💭💭💭
SWIMMING PIGS 🐖🐷🐽 🌴The Bahamas, more SWIMMING PIGS 🐖🐷🐽

🌴The Bahamas, more specifically the Exumas are famous for their resident swimming pigs. 

🏴‍☠️No one really knows why they have been out here but there are a couple of stories floating around.

🥓One of them being that they were left here by sailors who had planned to come back and cook them (poor piggy’s) but never made of back. 

🐟We even got to see stingsrays too (never did I think I would need a stingray and pig side by side with each other 😅)

⛵️There are a few boat companies that will take you to see these pigs and I went with @exumawatersports. I booked the half day tour which was $175 (you can book on a full day and also swim with reef sharks and see Pablo Escobars crashed plane). ✈️

Would you want to see the swimming pigs 

For more piggy cuteness follow @theswimmingpigs 🐽🐷🐖
What’s you definition of happiness ✈️⛵️🌍
✈️🧳How to pack using handluggage only! 

💰If you hate paying the RIDICULOUS prices for checked baggage like me, then here’s how to pack with hand luggage only. 

And yes I’m talking about week long (or more) holidays 😀 

👗Pack a mix and match wardrobe- you get brand new outfits whilst using the same clothes 

👠Pack 1 statement shoe plus a pair of casual ones 

✈️Wear your bulkiest items on the plane- eg jumpers and jackets (think joey from friends). Try to wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane too.

🧼Decant toiletries  into 100ml bottles and buy the rest of what you need at the airport. In fact, do an online order and get it delivered to the airport boots and you can pick it up after security

📦Use packing cubes to compress down your clothes and create more space in your hand luggage 

🫧And remember, you can wash your clothes abroad!! 

Have I missed anything?
I can’t wait to get back to Central America and I can’t wait to get back to Central America and be surrounded my volcanoes and lakes 😄🌋

Where do you feel the most free? 🦋

📍@Atitlansunsetlodge, Guatemala 🇬🇹
I mean the UK is fun but how much better is everyw I mean the UK is fun but how much better is everywhere else 😅😅😅

Where would you move to if you had the chance? 🌎🏡
𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐓. 

💰Here are my top tips on how to travel often but keep the costs down. 

💙Be more flexible with you destinations and go to places that have the cheapest flights. ⬇️

My top tip for finding these is head to @skyscanner add in the dates you want to go and type in “EVERYWHERE” in to the destination box. @skyscanner will bring up the cheapest flights in ascending order. 

💙Use deal finding apps like @jacksflightclub @travelzoo_uk @secretescapes @holidaypirates @voyageprive_uk to find deals on flights, hotels and holidays. 

💙Avoid paying for checked luggage where possible. Try the clothes rolling technique, you’ll be surprised at how much you can fit in your hand luggage by doing this. 

💙Don’t splash out on fancy hotels if you don’t plan on being in the hotel much. This for example could be on a city break, chances are you will spend most of the day exploring and use your hotel litterally to sleep and shower. 

💙 If you are solo travelling, stay in a hostel. Meet people that you can do activities with , which can also help share/spread and cut costs.

💙 Get on to Google and find out the best free things to do at your destination.

💙Try to cook some meals where you can. I know part of travel is trying out new foods but if you are doing it often cooking one or two meals is a great way of cutting costs. Alternatively book accommodation that offers free breakfast as part of their package. 

💙 Walk as much as you can to cut down on transport costs.

💙Alternatively if walking isn’t an option and you’re in a city, buy their local travel transport card (eg Oyster card for London). I’ve found that a lot of European cities have super cheap train/tram/bus costs and are even cheaper with one of these cards. 

💙Rent a car. Renting a car can be sometimes miles cheaper than going on a package tour or excursion. Sometimes this isn’t the case but do your research first to see what’s your best option
Places to travel to in your 30’s when you’re n Places to travel to in your 30’s when you’re not as broke as your 20’s (AKA more expensive places) ✈️🍃3️⃣0️⃣

Do you have any recommendations? 🌅🐬
TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️ 🟠 Obvious c TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️

🟠 Obvious choice but make use of the weekends. Fly out on Friday night and home Sunday evening. Really good to squeeze in a mini city break. 

🟠 For longer holidays use the same method as above. Fly out on a Friday night and home the following Sunday. You can get almost 9 days away and only have to take 5 days off work.

🟠 Make use of your bank holidays. Tag on an extra day off around a bank holiday. For example around the Easter break. 

🟠If you are flying on weekdays fly out late evening and fly home early morning so you don’t have to take those flying days off work.

🟠 Work from your holiday. Commit to working one or two mornings whilst you are away. This can help in saving up a few half days when you get to the end of the year. However this is probably not worth it on shorter trips

🟠 If you are able to travel with work. Make a holiday out of that by tagging on a few days holiday after the work trip is over.

Do you have any other tips?
Instagram post 18167693284267175 Instagram post 18167693284267175
Travel ✈️🍃🌍❤️ Travel ✈️🍃🌍❤️
Instagram post 17999465992602774 Instagram post 17999465992602774
In need of sunshine and hot temperatures 🌡️☀️

Where’s your paradise? ⛵️🌴🐚
TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️ 🟠 Obvious c TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️

🟠 Obvious choice but make use of the weekends. Fly out on Friday night and home Sunday evening. Really good to squeeze in a mini city break. 

🟠 For longer holidays use the same method as above. Fly out on a Friday night and home the following Sunday. You can get almost 9 days away and only have to take 5 days off work.

🟠 Make use of your bank holidays. Tag on an extra day off around a bank holiday. For example around the Easter break. 

🟠If you are flying on weekdays fly out late evening and fly home early morning so you don’t have to take those flying days off work.

🟠 Work from your holiday. Commit to working one or two mornings whilst you are away. This can help in saving up a few half days when you get to the end of the year. However this is probably not worth it on shorter trips

🟠 If you are able to travel with work. Make a holiday out of that by tagging on a few days holiday after the work trip is over.

Do you have any other tips?
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Christina in the Clouds

Adventure around a 9-5

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City Breaks, North America · February 21, 2020

How to Spend 1 Day in LA: A Guide to Los Angeles, California

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Now I wouldn’t recommend spending one day in LA, there is so much to see and do and it’s a lot nicer to take your time, rather than rush through things, however, my main reason for flying to LA was for a work conference, so I did only have the one day to rally round and tick off my sightseeing list.

My LA sightseeing list was quite ambitious and my Lyft driver from the airport told me that I wouldn’t be able to complete it. I politely agreed that he was probably right, but in my head, I was thinking “just you watch me do it, HUN”. As you’ve probably guessed, I managed to complete it all.

So here are my recommendations for one day in LA:

1) Hollywood Walk of Fame
2) Malibu Beach
3) Santa Monica & Venice Beach
4) Rodeo Drive & Beverly Hills
5) West Hollywood
6) Griffith Observatory
7) Downtown LA

1) Hollywood Walk of Fame

Walk of Fame

My accommodation was on the Hollywood walk of fame, so I managed to see this upon my arrival into LA. The Walk of Fame itself is an interesting place in the dark, so you need to keep your wits about you. If it’s possible and works with your itinerary I would recommend going during the day.

I must admit, it’s not the most amazing thing you will see on your trip to LA, but it’s such a famous part of the city I think it’s worth taking a visit.

2) Malibu Beach for Sunrise

Malibu Beach
Malibu Beach
Malibu Beach

Malibu is about a 40-minute drive from Hollywood, so it does require an early wake-up call, but it’s so worth it.

I jumped in a Lyft which cost me roughly $30 and arrived just before 6:30am (February sunrise time).

To get the best view of the sunrise I would recommend walking towards the end of the pier. After the sun has fully risen you can then visit the beach, walk under the pier and watch some of the early morning surfers.

I stayed here until 9am taking pictures and enjoying a coffee from the Malibu Pier Farm Cafe (which doesn’t open until 8am).

3) Santa Monica & Venice Beach

Santa Monica
Santa Monica
Venice Beach

The journey from Malibu to Santa Monica was around 20 minutes and cost me $16 in a Lyft.

I visited Elephante for brunch and it’s an LA foodie spot I would highly recommend. Not only are the food and the cocktails amazing but you get a lovely view of the sea from their dining area too!

After brunch, I had a stroll around the pier and the beach, unfortunately, the amusement park wasn’t open just yet so I didn’t have a chance to look around.

From Santa Monica beach you can walk along the boardwalk to Venice beach, one of the most iconic beaches in LA. The walk will take you around an hour.

I didn’t spend long here, just enough time to see some street art and take a visit to the famous muscle beach. Muscle Beach was quite disappointing, there wasn’t a single body-builder insight, but it was a Sunday so it was probably their rest day.

4) Rodeo Drive & Beverly Hills

Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive

From Santa Monica, I jumped into a Lyft (you’re probably quickly working out that Lyft will be your best friend out here), to Rodeo Drive. The cost was $13 and took 35 minutes to get there. 

Rodeo Drive and the rest of Beverly Hills is exactly what you imagine/see in the LA films, with all the flash cars, people dressed up to the 9’s and the streets in pristine, perfect condition.

I walked from Rodeo Drive to the Beverly Hills sign, looked at some of the fancy BH houses and then went on my way to the next stop.

5) Fiesta Cantina – West Hollywood

Fiesta Cantina, West Hollywood

From the Beverly Hills sign, I decided to walk to the Sunset Strip as it was only an hour and stumbled across Fiesta Cantina by accident. It’s a lively and vibrant gay bar, but more to the point it does a 36oz Mega Margarita, and when I walked past I just had to stop and try one.

You can choose from about 20 different flavours and whether you want it frozen or not. As you can see from my picture, I went for frozen but the constant and never-ending brain freeze meant that I couldn’t finish the cocktail (for the first time in my life).

Anyway, I just loved this cocktail so much that I had to give it a special mention in my guide to Los Angeles.

6) Griffith Observatory for Sunset

Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory

After my huge cocktail in West Hollywood, I walked (stumbled) towards the Sunset Boulevard, and eventually caught another Lyft in order to make it to the Observatory for Sunset.

You can choose to get dropped off at the Observatory itself, or like me, to the bottom of the walking trail (at The Trails Cafe) so that you can experience to short hike up.

Unfortunately for me it started to get quite cloudy, so I didn’t get to experience the best sunset, but I still got to see a great view of the LA city skyline that everyone had told me about, as well as the famous Hollywood Sign.

7) Intercontinental Hotel – Downtown LA

Intercontinental Hotel, Downtown LA
Intercontinental Hotel, Downtown LA
Intercontinental Hotel, Downtown LA

The last place I would recommend visiting during your day in LA is the Intercontinental Hotel in Downtown LA.

The pictures you see above are actually from a sunrise that I managed to make during my conference as it was only 5 minutes from my actual hotel, but with the hotel Lobby on the 70th floor and a Sky Bar on the 73rd floor, this is definitely the perfect post-sunset spot, to see yet more gorgeous views of the Los Angeles city skyline and grab a cocktail or two.

Summary

To fit all of this in you will have to get up early and you will be VERRRRY tired at the end of the day but it is worth it.

As I’ve mentioned multiple times throughout this post Lyft rides will be the best way to quickly get around Los Angeles. Not only are they generally cheaper than Uber, but they also give you a fixed price rather than a banding, so you know exactly what you are spending.

If you are interested in visiting other cities in California, click here for my guide to San Fransisco.

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In: City Breaks, North America · Tagged: 1 day in la, best place to watch the sunrise in LA, Best place to watch the sunset in LA, best views in LA, Best Views in Los Angeles, how to spend 1 day in LA, los angeles, Where to get good cocktails in LA

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Hello Beautiful

I'm Christina a part-time traveller who is exploring the world around my 9-5. From canyons to coasts, I love all kinds of adventures. I've created this space to provide you with all the travel inspiration and my top tips for seeing more of the world in less time.

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Instagram post 17983449061890786 Instagram post 17983449061890786
🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Googl 🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Google searches. I just happened to stumble across it on my walk and it was my favourite spot of all. 🧡😍

🥾So this is your sign to just start walking and exploring 

📍Reeds Bay @thunder.bay.beach.bar 

Where was you’re favourite place that you just found by chance?
9  things to NEED to do on your Barbados holiday🌴🇧🇧:

🐟 Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday Night
⚡️ Go for a drink and swim @thunder.bay.beach.bar 
🌅Watch the Sunrise
🐢Swim with Turtles
⛵️Boat cruise with @silvermoonbarbados 
🌮Sunset Dinner @seashed_barbados 
🐎Watch the racehorses at Pebbles Beach 
🌊 Walk along the Hastings Boardwalk 
🌅Watch the sunset 

Anything I’m missing from the list?
Where is your “OMG” travel destination? Where is your “OMG” travel destination?
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