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 · March 4, 2020

A Guide to San Francisco – How to spend 3 days in the city

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San Francisco has been on my bucket list ever since watching the series “Charmed” as a little girl, and safe to say this place does not disappoint. 

I stayed at the USA Hostels San Francisco in the Nob Hill area of the city, so naturally, my itinerary is based around this (and the fact that my days began at 7am and finished around 9/10PM).

I’ve done my best to make this San Francisco itinerary a quick and simple list of “To-Do’s” in San Francisco as there is just so much to recommend.

So Here Goes…. 

Day 1 in San Francisco

Lombard Street

-A street that is famous for its steep and sharp winding curves.
-A really quirky street, but what’s more impressive is the view of San Francisco city that you get from the top.

Pier 39

=Pier 39 is most famous for its Sealions, and yes they are cute and, but I personally think the best part about pier 39 is the Lotus Biscoff Cafe.
=I highly recommend the Biscoff Latte.

Alcatraz Tour (Departing from Pier 33) 

-It’s the most popular things to do in San Francisco so MAKE SURE YOU BOOK BEFORE. 
-I booked mine here at it cost me around $50 after booking fee and taxes. 
-Allow yourself around 2/2.5 hrs to visit the island.
– When you get to the island you will be offered an audio pack and headset in your preferred language and will embark on a self – guided audio tour.

Clam Chowder on Fishermans Wharf

-This one is pretty self-explanatory, head back down towards Fishermans wharf and try some of San Francisco’s famous Clam Chowder. 
-There are plenty of restaurants who have this on offer …. So the world is your oyster (or clam LOL).

Ghirardelli Square & Aquatic Park 

-Head down there to get ice cream from the famous Ghirardelli Ice Cream store and sit down by the water. 

Golden Gate Overlook 

-To get here from Ghirardelli square jump in a Lyft as the walk is a little bit too long when you have time constraints.
-From this point, you can catch your first close up view Golden Gate Bridge and then head across to the other side.  
-Most people decide to bike across the bridge but as I’m a picture-taking keen bean I decided to walk. 

Golden Gate Overlook, San Fransisco

Golden Gate Bridge View Vista Point

-Once you get to the other side of the bridge you will be led on to this viewpoint. 
-Not only do you get great views of the bridge but also great views of San Francisco city from across the water. 
-It’s also a really great sunset spot. 

View Vista Point, San Fransisco

Sausalito 

-From the View Vista Point, it takes about 50 minutes to walk down to the Harbour town of Sausalito. 
-It’s a lovely, chilled out town and its another great place just to relax by the water and escape the madness of San Francisco City.
-I decided to head here for a few cocktails: https://barrelhousetavern.com/.

Sausalito, San Fransisco

Battery Spencer 

-Yet another Golden Gate viewpoint but probably one of the better ones in San Francisco (opposite side of the road from the View Vista Point).
-Get a Lyft here from Sausalito – Google Maps can send the driver in the wrong direction so make sure he knows what you’re looking for. 
-Another great sunset spot in San Francisco.

Battery Spencer, San Fransisco

Marshalls Beach 

-By far my favourite Golden Gate Bridge viewpoint in San Francisco, not only do you get the bridge, but you also get the beach.
-To get here you will need to either walk back over the bridge towards the city or head back over to the View Vista Point and catch a Lyft. 
-Get here just after sunset (Twilight) to get the best views (& pictures) 
-It can be quite difficult to find your way back in the dark so just something to bear in mind (Thankfully I found a lovely couple who let me walk with them and jump in their Uber.)  

Marshalls Beach, San Fransisco

Day 2 In San Francisco

Transamerica Building & Financial District

-Take a walk into the financial district to have a look at the city’s skyscrapers.
-The main one I went to look at was the Transamerica Building due to its unusual shape.

Transamerica Building, San Francisco

Ferry Building Market Place

-Here you can visit there Farmers Market and stop for breakfast.
-I grabbed a coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee and THE BEST grilled cheese sandwich from Cowgirl Creamery’s.

Blue Bottle Coffee, San Fransisco

Powell-Hyde Tram Route

-From the Ferry Building walk down to the Cable car Turnaround and take a trip on the Powell-Hyde tram route (1-way will cost $8).
-You can get great views of San Francisco city throughout the journey – Especially of Alcatraz as your riding down the hill towards Fisherman’s Wharf.

Powell-Hyde Tram, San Fransisco

Painted Ladies

-Get off the tram just before it heads down the hill to Fisherman’s Wharf and take the 30-minute walk to Painted Ladies.
-Painted Ladies in Alamo Square is a set of colourful Victorian houses that are backdropped by the San Francisco city centre. 
-Although these houses are the most popular, most of the homes in this area of San Francisco have a lot of character, so make sure you do some off-piste exploring around here. 

Painted Ladies, San Fransisco
Painted Ladies, San Fransisco

Haight- Ashbury

-What I would describe as the “hippy” area of San Francisco (in the space of 10 minutes I was offered free hugs and a poetry reading).
-There are lots of Famous houses in the area, but if you’re a 90’s kid like me the “That’s So Raven” house will grab your attention the most (461 Ashbury Street).
-Spend some time here having a look at the vintage stores and grab a drink at Zam Zam.

Zam Zam Bar, San Fransisco

Twin Peaks


-The walk to Twin Peaks from Haight Ashbury is around 35 minutes, and as “peak” would suggest It’s all uphill so be warned. 
-I arrived here around 50 minutes before sunset. The sun sets behind the peak which means you get a stunning view of the moon rise over the San Francisco cityscape (picture below explains it all).

Twin Peaks, San Fransisco

Day 3 in San Francisco

As I felt that I have seen everything I wanted to see in the San Francisco, on day 3 I decided to tour a 1-day tour of Yosemite National park with Extranomical Tours, It was a really great tour, the guide was knowledgeable and did his best to keep us entertained on the 3-hour drive.

If you wanted to take things a bit slower, you could split days 1&2 across 3 days and get the chance to visit more restaurants and bars (as I know this is something I missed out on).

However, if you are like me and want to cram in everything that’s humanly possible whilst you are on holiday then the Yosemite tour is for you!

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park

Summary

San Francisco is now on my list of favourite cities. Not only are there so many iconic landmarks to see but you can simply get great views, with lots of character, just by walking around this very hilly city (you also get a great calf workout).

Basically, 10/10 would recommend xx

If you enjoyed my tips on San Francisco and are interested in checking out other cities in California. Click here for my guide to Los Angeles.

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

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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