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.

 

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.

 

 

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!

 

 

Best Destinations to Travel Alone

Travelling solo means you have free reign over where you visit and what you do on YOUR holiday, so you should definitely take this opportunity to visit the places you have always wanted to but have never had the chance to. Great destinations to travel solo too are Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, USA and Bhutan.

Why Australia? For starters it is the furthest place away from the UK, so if you’re looking to travel solo because you want to get away from everything then Australia is most certainly a GREAT place to do so! Lots of younger travellers choose to visit here to experience life “down under” before getting tied down by a job. Australia has a very outdoorsy culture and a relaxing vibe so you’ll never be short of company out there and you’ll feel very comfortable.

New Zealand… Just like Australia, New Zealand is known for being outdoorsy plus being full of gorgeous scenery. There is a huge choice of hostels, campsites, hotels and wooden lodges for you to choose from when it comes to deciding where you’re going to be staying. You can even see whale and dolphins if you visit the North Island, and the South Island has beautiful waterfalls. Not forgetting Queenstown which is the adventure capital.

Thailand is known to be one of the friendliest in the world; so travelling solo here you will be treated amazingly. Not only that, Thailand is incredibly easy to visit with great transport links, amazing accommodation and there is guarantee that you’ll meet many other like minded solos.

USA is definitely a great starting point if you have never travelled alone before. America has so many amazing attractions for you to visit, plus they LOVE the British accent so it won’t be hard meeting people and talking to the locals! If you’re looking for sunshine Florida and California are ideal, but if you fancy visiting the party scene you should check out Miami.

Finally, Bhutan is one of the most cultural countries in the world and you can actually only enter the kingdom if you are on a pre-booked tour. You are escorted around and put up in a 4* rated accommodation and treated to beautiful cuisine. Bhutan is a very peaceful place, but if you’re looking to meet others Thimpu is great and even has a good nightlife. 

Wining and Dining in California

Going away on holiday it is always essential that you know you’re going somewhere that has some great restaurants and cuisines available for you to try and eat whilst you’re away. California is definitely a good choice. If you’re constantly cooking at home it is always great to be able to go away and not have to think about what you’re going to be cooking and stressing out about it all, as you’ll be getting it cooked for you.

So here are the best restaurants in California:

1. Michael Mina

With a chain of 18 restaurants elsewhere Mina is one of the most successful chefs and restaurateurs in the country.

2. Jitlada 

This restaurant specialises in Thai dishes and many of the specialities and dishes cannot be found anywhere else in America.

3. Boulevard

If you’re looking for some modern and sophisticated American cuisine this is the place to go, especially if you have never been to America before and want to try all the cuisine there is available.

4. Son of a Gun

Fish lover? This is the restaurant for you, and the menu, to keep up excitement is forever changing, so if you’re on holiday for a while you may be in for a real treat if the menu gets changed during the time you are out there so you get the chance to try some different foods.

5. The Bazaar

Serving spanish cuisine it has said to leave you with a “memorable, one-of-a-kind experience”.

6. La Taqueria

Can’t really go to America and not have tacos at least once! Well, La Taqueria are said to serve the “best tacos”. It is one of the more expensive places to buy tacos, but you pay for quality and thats what you’re said to get!

These are just a few of the amazing restaurants America has to offer in the beautiful California! To find out more visit here: http://www.thedailymeal.com/24-best-restaurants-california-slideshow

 

Things to do in Orlando

If you’re looking for a holiday perfect for children and a great family holiday you should definitely consider Orlando. There are so many attractions and places to visit in Orlando so it is definitely the ideal destination, as well as having a wide range of accommodation types, including amazing hotels and some beautiful villas.

As everyone knows the most known type of attraction in Orlando are theme parks. There are several in Orlando, Universal Orlando being a set of some including Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, with other attractions within this clan of theme parks. But there are other things to do in Orlando other than theme parks.

Kayak Eco-Tour, this is great fun, paddling your way through the waters and you may even spot real alligators or eagles on this fun day out.

Orlando Magic, come and see a game of basketball in this 20,000 seat Amway Centre downtown during the season which is between October to June.

(not one so much for the children) But in the evenings why not head on down to some great wine bars.

Orlando are  known for having a great spa. Enjoying a romantic weekend away take time to get pampered at one of Orlando’s world-class spas.

Or why not take a little shopping trip, Orlando is home to two major shopping malls as well as two outlet centres which are great for finding a good old bargain.

Enjoy a bit of golf? Why not spend some time testing your skills on some of the impressive greens Orlando has to offer.

Or check out some of the great foods in some of Orlando’s finest restaurants.

For more information and ideas of places to visit then check out: 10 Things To Do In Orlando Besides Theme Parks.

Travelling alone

Always dreamed to go travelling, but no one else shares this same dream? Well fear not, travelling solo could be great! Here are some great tips to help you when travelling alone: 

1. Plan in advance; although the excitement of not knowing where you’re going or what you’re doing does sound great, but it may not always end well. Who knows where you could end up.. So doing a little advance planning won’t hurt, you don’t need a detailed plan but for the first night at least, make sure you know where you’re staying and perhaps book your hostel/hotel before you leave.

2. Pack light; carrying massive bags that way a ton around whilst travelling will be tiring and could quite possibly ruin the whole experience for you, so just bring the essentials but enough to last you for however long you plan to be travelling for.  

3. Try to arrive during the day; being in an unfamiliar city and not knowing where you are going can be some what hard, so make sure you try and arrive during the daylight so you can see exactly where you’re going, and don’t risk getting lost.

4. Mix with others; see other travellers? Why not try and start a conversation with them, in the hostel lounges is a great place to meet short-term friends, and could also help you pick up some excellent travel advice.

5. Watch the world around you; whilst sitting in a cafe sipping on a warm hot chocolate watch what others do, how they act and react to certain things, this could help you learn how things are done in that country. 

6. Open up; learn to talk to strangers (even though we’re told not to when we’re younger), smile and start a conversation, making a few friends, short-term, can’t hurt.

7. Go out and enjoy yourself; do as much as you can, visit pubs, clubs, concerts and theatres. You’re travelling alone so you can do what you want so why not make the most of it!

8. Don’t be put off by dining alone; a lot of people actually do this, enjoy it! Perhaps go to restaurants with communal tables or counters, this could make it easier to make conversation with people and then you may not end up dining alone!

9. Sign up for courses; depending on how long you’re planning to stay in one place why not join several courses, language? Why not actually learn the language of the place you’re staying, this could help you make conversation with the locals! 

10. Go on organised tours; going on tours will enable you to meet other people and will give you a chance to relax, let someone else take care of all the details for you.

11. Always have the essentials; when travelling alone it is best to be a lot safer, meaning you’ll need to make sure you remember where you’re staying, so write it down on a piece of paper and make sure you pack it in your bag for the day, have a copy of emergency contacts just incase and any important documents you may need.

12. Save on phone charges; think about buying an unlocked phone and then buy a SIM card for the phone in each country as you travel, as this will save you heaps! 

13; Skype; when you find free wi-fi why not use Skype, its free and will allow you to keep in contact with family and friends whilst you’re away, and will also ensure them that you’re safe. 

14; Be safe; steer clear of dark alleys, being seen and in a public place is always safer than a private place.