Shopping in Orlando

If you’re off for a girly holiday in Orlando or just going on a getaway to Orlando with the family there is definitely going to be some shopping involved at some point, even if this does makes the kids moan and groan. But if this is your first time to Orlando and you don’t expect to be going back you should definitely make the most of it!

There are a huge amount of Malls in which are full of great boutiques and shops. Here’s a list and a link to the website of some of the best malls to shop at!

Winter Park Village 

Mall at Millenia

Celebration Town Center

Macy’s Florida Mall

Orlando Crossings Mall

Downtown Disney Marketplace (something for the children)

These are just a few of the many shopping malls Orlando has to offer and as you can see there is likely to be one in every area, depending where you are staying!

Celeb Spotting

If you’re going on holiday to the Caribbean or fancy staying somewhere where you’re likely to bump into a celeb then I have good news for you. Here are the 3 best Caribbean Islands for celebrity spotting…

1. St Barthelemy

Superstars to have been spotted here include Jay-Z and Beyonce, Matt Damon, Uma Thurman, Usher, Ashton Kutcher and Jason Statham. Although, many of these celebs will stay on their yachts when holidaying in St Barthelemy but who is to say you won’t see them wandering round the beach at some point? Bruce Willis and Jay-Z enjoy eating at the terrace of the Carl Gustaf Hotel which is on a hill overlooking the harbour.

 

2. Bahamas

Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have been caught having a cheeky getaway to the Bahamas on several occasions. Cindy Crawford even married there right on the beach! Fancy bumping into a celeb you should visit Sip Sip where Robert de Niro and Diane von Furstenburg have lunched.

 

3. Anguilla

This island offers posh boutique hotels and the “postcard perfect” beaches we all dream of visiting. Sandra Bullock, Orlando Bloom, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Aniston and Janet Jackson have been papped holidaying here. Celebrities looking for a bit of privacy stay in the Viceroy which is a stylish resort with a saltwater infinity pool, Orlando Bloom and model Miranda Kerr even honeymooned here!

 

But obviously most celebrities have the money to spend on extremely luxurious so if you’re still looking for somewhere you can holiday like a celebrity but not have to pay the high price you should check out Top Villas.

 

Actors/Actresses Born in France

When I think of Emma Watson I wouldn’t assume that she was born in France, but she was born in Paris with France to English parents.The actresses parents divorced when she was five and then moved to Oxfordshire, England with her mother and younger brother. So this got me intrigued to find out what other actors/actresses were born in France..

 

Eva Green, Casino Royale actress, was also born in Paris and has a non-identical twin sister. At the age of 17 Eva left French school and went on to study in Ramsgate, England, Kent.

 

 

 

Elodie Yung, actress from G.I. Joe: Retaliation was born in France in 1986 and grew up in Seine-saint-Denis in Le Bourget. Once she graduated from University of La Sorbonne with a law degree she came over to England to study acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London.

 

 

Frank Darabont, writer and actor in The Shawshank Redemption was born in a refugee camp in 1959 in Montbeliard, France. Frank was then taken to America as an infant and settled with his family in Los Angeles.

 

 

Nora Arnezeder, actress in Safe House, was born in Paris but left Paris at the age of two for Aix-en-Provence and then moved to Bali, Indonesia when she was 14 for a year and then headed back to Paris.

To find out what other actors/actresses were born in France visit the IMDb site.

 

Last Minute Holiday

So a lot of people’s holiday allowance has just been restarted and now you have a whole lot of holiday to use up AGAIN. Although, maybe blowing it all at once isn’t the best idea. But if you used up all last years holiday too quick and so haven’t had any time off for a while then why not take a last minute break away? Now is the best time to look for amazing last minute deals.

A great way to take a relaxing break is by hiring out your very own villa, whether it be in the middle of nowhere or somewhere in the middle of a busy town, no matter where it is you will be able to get away from everything with your very own villa, which will enable you to have your very own space. Samui Island Villas currently have some great last minute deals on some beautiful villas on the island of Thailand in Koh Samui.  

Luxury Beach Villas

If you’re looking to go on a luxury holiday away from the world of work and the stresses on home life then what better than a luxury beach villa. I was searching through the internet thinking of things I could write about, including tips and ideas, on hiring out the perfect luxury beach villa when I came across a villa rental company: Luxury Villa Rentals, you can probably see why I came across it seen as I was searching for luxury beach villas, and it lead me to a page full of amazing luxury beach villas!

They have first-class choice of luxury beach villas worldwide in amazing destinations including the USA, Asia, Caribbean and Europe. No matter what type of villa you’re looking for it seems as though Luxury Villa Rentals has one suited for everyone! Having your very own beach villa to relax in for a week, two weeks and even more would be ideal for some down time away from work. 

So I suggest you definitely go check out Luxury Villa Rentals as you will be amazed at some of the luxury villas they have available, and by the beach! Who wouldn’t want to wake up to the sound of the calming sea, and be able to go out for a morning swim.

 

 

Disney Land

Disney Land is one of the dream places for any child, well anyone really! Who doesn’t want to experience the magic of Disney Land Orlando!? Walt Disney World attracts an annual attendance of 47 million so this just shows you how many people want to experience the magic as well.

So we’ve discovered that EVERYONE wants to visit Disney Land, but then comes the trouble of finding somewhere to stay with onsite hotels and accommodation sometimes being ridiculously expensive some people just tend to decide to go for it and make it probably one of the most expensive holidays they’ll ever go on. But it doesn’t have to be…

Have you considered renting out a villa? Yes, this will mean you have to buy the tickets separately but this doesn’t mean it will be anymore any less expensive. There are villa rentals from as little as £300 for a WHOLE week close to Disneyland Parks so if is definitely something to consider. Here is a whole range of Villas which have been picked out by a villa rental company called Top Villas of villas that are within 6 miles of Disney World Florida and close to the other parks.

 

 

Have a property in France?

Have your very own property in France that you sometimes go over to stay in when taking a short vacation. Well what happens with it for the rest of the time you’re not using it? Have you ever thought about advertising your property for other people to enjoy whilst on a holiday in France…Making a little extra cash just from renting out your villa is definitely a great idea so if you’re taken by the idea why not visit: French Property Advertising Packages, for more information on how to advertise your property and everything you need to know.

French Food

France has some beautiful cuisine, I mean who doesn’t enjoy a good ol’ croissant for breakfast or some brie on french bread. A desert from France to die for though, is Creme Brulee. I myself have a huge weakness for this beautifully crunchy and custardy delight.

So if you’ve just got back from a trip to France and eaten your entire body weight in creme brulee (something I would do) then coming back home and struggling to find it anywhere can be disappointing! But why not try and recreate this beautiful desert yourself? 

All you need to buy in order to make a wonderful creme brulee is double cream, full-fat milk, a vanilla pod, egg and caster sugar. Hardly any ingredients at all, so surely you must be tempted to make it yourself! Surprise your family and show off your great baking and cooking skills. So if you really are tempted to make it now visit: Creme Brulee Recipe to get the whole recipe to create this wondrous desert!

 

 

Miami Nightlife

Going on your first holiday alone? Or perhaps you have organised or thinking about organising a trip away with your friends? Miami is great for nightlife and perfect for your first holiday away or just for a trip away with friends! 

In Miami there are lots of different accommodation types and one very popular type of accommodation is a villa rental. This is because, 1. They make your holiday feel that little bit more luxurious. 2. Self catering when going on a holiday where you’re going to be taking advantage of the nightlife hugely is great, pre drinks are your place and then off to the strip, how good does that sound? Much better than being cooped up in a hotel room!

But anyways enough of all that, it is all about the nightlife! Miami is known for its amazing nightlife, with some amazing rock bars, lounges and the best Latin music scene in America. Depending on what you’re looking to do on your night out in Miami there is something for everyone. If you’re looking to dance and listen to lots of good music then head down to Downtown or Wynwood and this will definitely be your scene.

It is known that a lot of celebrities visit Miami and enjoy the great night life so there are a lot of beautiful people about, but don’t let this stop you, all you have to do to have a good time is be confident and just make having a good time your aim. A few tips when it comes to Miami clubs: 

– Be polite

– Get guest-listed

– Remain confident

– Get there early.

Not only are there some great clubs but there are also some great bars and places you can go to listen to some live music. So if you’re looking for a holiday for partying definitely consider Miami. It has so much to offer, as well as beautiful beaches and villa rentals with their very own private pools!

 

 

Staying in a Villa for the first time?

Decided to book a villa as accommodation for this years summer holiday? If you have never stayed in a villa before or even been on holiday self catering before it is likely you may be stressing out about how the holiday is going to turn out. But, chill. Villas and self catering holidays are great and I can assure you once you get back from this one you will never want to go all inclusive again.

Some tips for staying in a villa would be not to pack so many clothes, you’re in a villa, it is likely there will be facilities for you to clean clothes, yes this may not be something you want to do on holiday however, I’m sure you’d much rather bring back lots of souvenirs right!?

Buy several disposable BBQ’s, they’re always great for bring the family together, easy to set up and can save you from doing a lot of work in the kitchen preparing a meal. Plus who doesn’t love a good BBQ?! Sitting outside your villa, beside the pool enjoying a lovely burger that has just been cooked on the BBQ whilst sipping cocktails.

Make sure you know what facilities will be available in your villa before you go so you know what to bring along. If you’re going with children and there is no television in the villa then think about what gadgets and toys you could bring along to make sure the kids are constantly occupied and not always bugging you.

Last tip, enjoy yourself! Self catering is great, it allows you to visit different restaurants in the evening to try out some of the local cuisine. You’re not waiting around for dinner time like you would be at all inclusive, you can do what you want and at any time you wish.