Category: Travel

  • MY ULTIMATE SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL GUIDE: WHERE TO GO, SHOP, SLEEP & EAT

    MY ULTIMATE SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL GUIDE: WHERE TO GO, SHOP, SLEEP & EAT


    THE ULTIMATE SAN FRANCISCO CITY GUIDE

    Eat, Stay, See, Shop


    Prepare yourselves for a serious bumper edition guys! West coast America has been on the bucket list for years, the infamous west coast drive is still the dream, but a long weekend in San Fran was the perfect teaser & opportunity to get a little feel for the California vibe!

    West coast America isn’t necessarily somewhere you’d think for a long weekend away (when you live 11 hours away in the UK), but with a big birthday to celebrate and a bargain flight hunted down it was too much to resist. On the flight, my top tip (which I’m sure I should keep secret really) is to book to fly to Oakland CA, and not San Fran, and if you’re looking for a bargain opt for Norwegian Air. We paid £350 each return, rather than the next best price which was £500 – £600 each. Honestly a total steal.

    We spent 4 nights and almost 5 days in the city, we explored what felt like every nook and cranny the city had to offer (the tourist spots as well as the locals favourites) & did so much research to discover the cities best restaurants, local hang outs & experiences that I came back desperate to share it all with you.

    I’ve decided to break out my guide by area, because one thing we learnt quickly on our trip is that San Fran is huge, too big to walk often & very very spread out with little in between (unlike NYC, where I’d suggest walking everywhere because there’s always something on route). Uber’s became our go to mode of transport to take us from district to district, and we planned our days around exploring & experiencing different areas & everything in those places – I felt that would be the most helpful way to share my tips, rather than pulling out our fave restaurants, shopping & sight seeing because the reality is one shop could be 40 minutes away from the next! I’ve also shared my top San Fran travel tips here too, definitely one to read before you go. So what you’ll see below are our favourite areas of San Fran, the best places to eat, shop, see & visit in each of those areas & of course a few of my snaps to whet your appetite.

    One thing for sure is that San Fran is definitely one I recommend visiting! Even if it is just for a long weekend away.


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    HAIGHT ASHBURY & PAINTED LADIES

    Day 1: AM – Morning Stroll & Late Brunch

    We started our trip exploring Haight Ashbury & ticking off the painted ladies. This part of town was one we were recommended by almost every one who’d visited the city, it’s an infamous part of town with a lot of history. Despite the hippy vibe, plethora of vintage stores & the infamous row of painted houses, when we visited the area felt quiet & a little lacking in energy so we spent a few hours strolling around Haight Street and Alamo Square before heading to Cole Valley nearby for lunch in highly recommended brunch spot Zazie.

    Zazie was a restaurant recommended through friends who live in San Fran and was definitely worth a visit, if only to discover the warm, local feel of Cole Valley!

    If you’re looking for dinner in and around the Haight area, Nopa on Divisadero St (just off Alamo Square) is well worth a visit. We didn’t make it on this trip, but it was on the bucket list.



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    GOLDEN GATE PARK & DE YOUNG

    Day 1: AM – Mid Morning Museum Musings

    The perfect end to a walk around Haight Ashubry is a stroll through Golden Gate Park, before long you’ll stumble across some rather innovative structural buildings within the grounds. De Young Museum & The Academy of sciences are certainly worth a visit, even if it’s just to head to the top floor viewing platform in De Young museum to get magnificent views over the city. As we rode to the top floor the city was filling over with fog making it quite a special view from the top.



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    GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE & LANDS END TRAIL

    Day 1: PM – Afternoon Sight Seeing & Day 3: AM/PM – A Day Spent Hiking

    No trip to San Fran is complete without a visit to Golden Gate Bridge, as with most spots in the city it’s a cab journey or bike ride from most places. We visited the bridge twice, firstly to the east side of the bridge walking down Marine Drive to Torpedo Wharf which not only has great views of the bridge but also great views of the city behind you. The viewing spot is the main tourist point, but still worth going for a few pictures.

    Our second trip was far more exciting and something i’ve shared more on in this post, but this time we hiked from Lands End up to Golden Gate bridge along the beautiful coast line and beaches that line the west coast of San Fran. If anything the view was even more spectacular taking the scenic route. I’ve shared a whole post on this trail here if you want more inspo.

    As you can see from the pictures the bridge is often covered in fog which if anything is a spectacle in itself & a sight still worth embracing!



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    SAUSALITO

    Day 1: PM – Evening Sunset Strolls

    Sausalito comes with exceptionally high recommendations from me. The other side of Golden Gate Bridge & out of San Fran, Sausalito is a gorgeous little beach village which is packed with charm & pretty buildings.

    The ride from Lombard St across Golden Gate Bridge is a cyclists dream, but to ensure we could pack everything in we got a cab across for around $30. We spent the afternoon browsing the pretty streets & bar hopping along the beach front locations before taking dinner in Poggio once the sun had gone down. Whilst you may feel you’ve walked the Sausalito strip once the shops start to fizzle out, keep walking because not much further down you’ll discover Bar Bocce, a beach bar where you’ll want to watch the sunset!

    Poggio, a rather upmarket italian we visited for dinner (and one that came with great reviews) served the most delicious & fresh italian cuisine (and was packed with locals which always is a good sign). I opted for the rigatoni ragu and it was definitely one of the best I’ve had. The restaurant isn’t cheap, but it’s worth the bill at the end. Scoma is another restaurant that we’d heard great things about as an alternative.



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    TRAMS & ALCATRAZ

    Day 2: AM – Morning Culture Check

    The hype around Alcatraz is absolutely warranted. The biggest recommendations we had were to visit, to book early and be sure to listen to the audio tour (something i’d normally reject immediately). And It’s these three tips I pass on to you!

    You absolutely must visit, not only is it super fascinating, its a beautiful trip with incredible views back over the city. Second of all you really do need to listen to the audio tour, with ex guards and prisoners narrating it really gives you an eary feel for what they all went through. And finally book in advance, it sells out like hot cakes & so booking in advance is key. We booked through Alcatraz Cruises which i’d really recommend.

    And what better time to get a little tram experience than catching the Powell St tram from Union Square up to pier 39, a 10 minute walk from Pier 3 where you’ll catch the ferry from! The queues for the trams are bonkers and a waste of time, rather than jump on at the main pick up point, get on at the second stop a mere 50 meters up the hill and skip all the queues entirely – they leave enough space to enable them to pick up passengers at all stops on the route.

    We did the trams and Alcatraz in a morning, picking up some takeaway breakfast burritos from Cafe La Taza to fuel our little adventure.



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    DALORES PARK & VELENCIA ST

    Day 3: PM – Afternoons Living Like A Local

    The Mission District is definitely the ‘cool’ part of San Fran and the area is packed with boutique stores, cafes, bars and ice cream stores with 45 minute queues outside the door (we queued, i’m not sure it was really worth the wait). Valencia Street is worth a stroll and certainly the area of town you’ll want to visit if you’re into house plants, scandi decor, Reformation (or the rest of CA’s awesome clothing brands) and proper coffee. Its the East London of San Fran and an easy place to lose an afternoon window shopping.

    But the best bit about the Mission district was Dalores Park, a smallish square perched on a hill packed full with locals partying, chilling, having a picnic or simply sat taking a moment to watch the sunset over the city. On arrival you won’t think much, but once you’ve walked to the far right corner the views over the city that appear will explain everything. The most wonderful views over the city and an incredible atmosphere to boot, it’s the perfect way to end an afternoon in the sunshine.


     


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    FINANCIAL DISTRICT & THE FERRY BUILDING

    Day 4 AM: A Midday Stroll & Food Market Feast

    We actually visited this part of town, firstly after our trip to Alcatraz for a little browse & a late lunch of Oysters in Hog Island Oyster, San Fran’s infamous oyster bar situated in the Ferry Building. But we loved the building & it’s food market so much we also returned on our final day and tied it into a stroll around the Financial District which we hadn’t realised was right over the road, and one part of town where you really could walk from a to b.

    The financial district is an easy and busy walk from Union Square to the east side of San Fran where you’ll find The Ferry Building and Pier 39, it’s lined with shops & offices and certainly is the hub of the working city. On our final day before we flew home we booked a table at the city’s ‘best’ Dim Sum, at Yank Sing. Even on a Monday the restaurant was jam packed with people queuing out the door for the Authentic cuisine they serve up everyday until 4pm. If you’re into Dim Sum it’s definitely worth visiting.


     


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    UNION SQUARE &  MAIDEN LANE

    Day 4 AM: A Morning Walk & Window Browsing

    And last but not least, Union Square. It felt to me that union square was the heart of the city and the area of town where not only all the shops and department stores were based but also where most the hotels were based too. Our hotel was a short walk from the centre of Union Square on post street so we spent our final morning walking around the shops before heading over to the financial district for Lunch. You’ll find all your US favourite stores here & more, but perhaps the most beautiful part of Union Square is Maiden Lane. I like to think of it as a secret street not only because it’s a hidden lane amongst San Frans giant grid system, but also because its lined with all my favourite luxury stores, decorated with trees joined by fairy light & generally just the most picturesque street we found in the city.


     


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    FOOD & SLEEP

    Where We Stayed & Ate

    We stayed at Hotel Zeppelin during our 4 night stay, a boutque Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel based on post street offering the perfect base but also a very cool vibe for our stay. The hotel wasn’t cheap, at around £900 for 4 nights, but I got the feeling that most hotels came at a price in the city. I’d definitely recommend where we stayed if you’re looking for a luxe boutique stay in a central location. We also looked at Hotel Zetta & The Battery which were a notch up price wise.

    Food was a huge part of our trip and we made a point of researching and booking a great restaurant every night we were there. The places we visited were State Bird Provisions at 1529 Fillmore St (next door and part of The Progress, another highly recommended restaurant) we actually had dinner on their official re-opening and our first night in town and loved the small plates and casual dining style. We visited Cala at 149 Fell Street an upmarket and industrial styled Mexican restuarant which we absolutely loved. Poggio in Sausalito served up delicious Italian and Ichi Sushi which seemingly is one of San Fran’s most infamous and popular sushi restaurants and a super small, intimate but delicious find.

    Other restaurants we looked at but didn’t make it to on this trip were 1760 in Nob Hill, The Saratoga, Del Popolo which looked like fab pizza, as well as SPQR which came highly recommended. Dirty Habits roof top bar was sadly closed on the day we went there too, one on the list for next time.




    SEE MORE TRAVEL & SAN FRAN

    .More San Fran . New York . Thailand . Philippines . Hong Kong .


    Overall we absolutely loved our stay in San Francisco, 4 nights felt like a perfect amount of time to see the city, but I’d have loved to plan an extra two days to fit in Napa Valley & the 17 mile drive, and i’m already getting more and more close to ticking off the PCH and properly seeing California over the course of a few weeks! I’ve shared more of my tips about the city here, covering travel, weather & general tips we wish we knew ahead of our visit, in case you’re planning to visit soon. If not, get San Fran on your bucket list immediately.

    Did you find this travel guide helpful? I’d love to know your San Fran ‘must see & do’ tips so leave me a comment & let me know.

  • WHY YOU SHOULD HIKE THE LANDS END TRAIL TO GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ON YOUR TRIP TO SAN FRAN

    WHY YOU SHOULD HIKE THE LANDS END TRAIL TO GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ON YOUR TRIP TO SAN FRAN


    LANDS END TRAIL

    Lands End To Golden Gate Bridge


    On our final full day in San Fran we planned to hire a car and hit the road, a trip down 17 mile drive or a visit to Napa was on the list. Sadly a mixture of migraine my end, and a lack of pre planning with hire car, we left it too late to get ourselves a ride for the day and were left with a full day in San Fran with absolutely no plan at all!

    Fortunately my migraine cleared & I asked a guy in our hotel what he would do with his day if he had the day off work! A great question if I do say so myself.

    His recommendation was to head to Lands end, grab some lunch at The Cliff, & maybe take a walk along the beach & cliffs and hike up to Golden gate Bridge! The sun was shining so we decided this would make the perfect spontaneous and unplanned adventure for our final day …

    And it turned out to be the highlight of our trip!


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    EXPLORE MORE TRAVEL POSTS

    More San Fran . New York . Thailand . Philippines . Hong Kong .


    The ‘hike’ took us around 4 hours in the end (we basically spent the afternoon leisurely walking the trail & arrived as the sun started to set), but that included a lot of stopping, photographs, moments out to admire the view and a lovely lunch at the Cliff before we set off trailing the beach and up into the hills!

    We started at The Cliff at Lands End, a short walk up the beach from Golden Gate Park (I recommend starting here around midday & setting off after a bite to eat) & hiked all the way around to Golden Gate Bridge. The walk is not only stunning, but you get to experience the coastal and  beach side of San Fran too (a side of the city you can easily forget exists when you’re in the midst of Union Square), with the walk taking you through China beach and Baker beach and the absolutely stunning Sea Cliff area of San Fran city.

    The day turned out to be one of our absolute favourites & a huge highlight of our trip, which is ironic given we had no plans to visit before we arrived – no one had even mentioned this beautiful coast line to us.

    It absolutely is a must do if you happen to visit the city & have time to spend an afternoon out!

  • SIX THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT SAN FRANCISCO

    SIX THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT SAN FRANCISCO


    SAN FRANCISCO

    Six Things To Know Before You Visit San Fran


    Before a few weeks ago, I’d never visited California. Something I find quite amazing given how much I travel, my obsession with The OC for almost 15 years and the fact that the California vibe I adore & something people have said I channel (my client even calls me Orange County girl). Route 101 and the big west coast drive is the longest standing item on my bucket list, but a trip that was reserved for that special ‘honey moon’ moment when a long break is slightly more justifiable from work. Whatever the reason, I’d just never visited the state I felt I’d love the most.

    San Francisco was our first taste of California and a good start I should stay. Whilst it didn’t give me the ‘I must return immediately’ feeling that New York has filled me with for the last 12 years, I loved it’s beach and city vibes and the ever so laid back way of life!

    Before any trip I take I do my research, travel guides, friends and friends of friends who live there, blogs, instagram, you name it i’ve researched it. But as always there are a few things about a new city, country or state that you learn when you arrive … you know, the tipping culture, the traffic, the weather and all the little nuances that you discover one day to the next.

    So whilst my ultimate San Fran guide will be with you shortly and feature all the places we adored, and places you might want to visit, eat, shop & see, today I thought i’d take a step back and tell you six things that I wish I knew before we arrived & five things about the city that are worth knowing before you visit.


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    SIX THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT SAN FRANCISCO

    KARL THE FOG (IS A LITTLE CHILLY)

    Before we travelled we were told the evenings would be freezing, and that a winter coat was advisable. We got told this by almost everyone who had visited. In fact the weather we experienced in September was actually really mild and some days lovely and sunny, but here’s the thing, when Karl the Fog rolls in the weather and temperature can change in an instant.

    One day we were sat in Dalores Park with city views and within thirty minutes our view of the city was completely covered in fog, and naturally that warm summer sun disappeared. So whilst I wouldn’t go as far as to say we were freezing, I didn’t regret packing a jacket that day!

    But perhaps the most interesting thing is the micro climates, if you cross the bridge to Sausalito you’ll be back in California sun in no time!

    NAVIGATING THE CITY IS AN INSIDERS GAME

    Now the NYC grid system, despite it’s traffic, for me makes sense. The San Fran system as a result of the hills & size of the roads is somewhat of a mine field … which means at certain points of the day traffic can be mind blowing. On our journey in from Oakland to San Fran we spent hours trying to get through the city to our hotel & decided in the end to get out and walk!

    That being said uber is absolutely the best mode of transport to get you from a to b. because perhaps the biggest realisation we had, is that boy the city is big!

    THE CITY IS WIDE SPREAD

    On city breaks I’m usually the biggest advocate of walking EVERYWHERE. Public transport and taxi’s are for dinners & moments of desperation, but mostly I find the best way of seeing the city is walking it.

    San Fran challenged this though, because the city is simply SO wide spread. We would travel in an uber for 30 minutes to take us from one part of town to the next (and that’s in no traffic) & if we were to walk in most instances there’s not much on route to entertain you!

    That’s the biggest thing I noticed. In NYC if you walk from the Meat Packing district of Greenwich Village up to Central Park, yes the walk is long, but theres SO much to see on route, from the Flat Iron Building, Grand Central market, the National Library, Fifth Avenue, Rockafella and not to mention the shops along the way. We didn’t find this in San Fran so much, instead the districts and areas felt quite self contained and in between the areas we were visiting were simply miles of residential roads.

    Speaking to locals, they all recommended and suggested uber is the ‘go to’ mode of city transport, and there’s no way we’d have seen as much as we did if we tried to walk everywhere.

    That being said, once we were in an area, we walked and walked and walked to explore every nook and cranny!

    NO ONE WAKES BEFORE MIDDAY

    Our first morning was spent walking Haight Street top to bottom in order to get to Haight Ashbury (took an hour, was our first realisation that walking to a destination isn’t the best idea). The long and relatively unexciting walk through us, but when we finally got to Haight Ashbury village around about 11am, it was practically empty.

    What we soon learnt is that our early morning rises & eagerness to get out the city were fine, but the city itself didn’t really awake until midday!

    That didn’t stop us enjoying a breakfast and morning stroll in peace each day though, it’s nice to see both sides of a city.

    YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET OUT OF IT

    I mentioned my dream west coast adventure earlier, but San Fran really is a great base to get out and explore a little more of California.

    Napa Valley and the 17 mile drive were the two ‘trips’ we hoped to do, they’re both around an hour thirty drive & meant to be really worth the visit. Unfortunately due to not booking a car early enough we ended up having to save these for a return visit because all the cars in the city had sold out by 11am. We debated an uber which on a good day can be between $50 – $100 each way to Napa Valley, but unfortunately a sur charge meant this option was getting a costly for half a day out.

    My top tip though is to plan a trip out of the city into your itinerary, the best way to do napa would have been to book a nights stay there, and equally our 17 mile drive would have been best extended with time to explore Big Sur National park & Saint Jose. And of course if we really had time, making the 7 hour drive to Yosemite would have been incredible.

    The point is, there are so many beautiful applies and landmarks only a short journey from the city of San Fran, so it’s really feasible to get out and explore more of California on your trip there (even if it’s a long weekend like ours was).

    FLY TO OAKLAND

    I feel I should keep this one a secret. Don’t tell anyone else …

    If you fly London to Oakland, you’ll pay half price on your flight. Oakland is a $30 taxi straight into the centre of San Fran. It’s a tiny out of town airport. Norwegian Air flies there, and my gosh the tickets are a steal! It puts this 11 hours flight that would usually cost £600+ into a £350 weekend away price bracket!

    This is our little secret!


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    EXPLORE MORE TRAVEL POSTS

    New York . Thailand . Philippines . Hong Kong .


    I really can’t wait to share more of our trip to San Fran with you. You can see my first travel edit here if you’ve not already seen it & I have so many more lined up for you, including my main guide which I have to say really is a bumper edition and one of my best ever travel guides (even If I do say so myself).

    Have you visited San Fran?

  • GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE & BOHEMIAN FROCKS

    GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE & BOHEMIAN FROCKS


    THE BOHO ONE

    Embracing Boho Vibes In San Fran City


    Before heading to San Fran I decided to rather frivolously top up my wardrobe with a few new frocks, firstly for the holiday itself (any excuse right?) but also to help transition my wardrobe into Autumn which it’s fair to say is pretty much here already. You may remember this post where I shared my new buys, but today I thought i’d debut a little boho maxi dress from Mango which I wore for our trip to Sausalito via the wonderful Golden Gate Bridge.


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    SHOP MY LOOK

    . MANGO DRESS . CHLOE HUDSON . TOPSHOP SANDALS . KAREN WALKER HARVEST SUNGLASSES .

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    I’ve got a full San Fran travel guide coming soon so I won’t spoil too much about what we got up to, but it’s fair to say a few shots at Golden Gate bridge were an absolute must despite Karl the fog making his presence known. But here’s the magic of San Fran, a mere few miles over the bridge onto the mainland we drove to Sausalito … almost the second we arrived on the other side of the bridge the sun was bright, warm & the complete contrast to the other side!

    I wanted a transitional number so San Fran’s micro climates certainly put that to the test.

     

  • A SPONTANEOUS WEEKNEND RETREAT: WHERE TO STAY, EAT & VISIT IN THE COTSWOLDS

    A SPONTANEOUS WEEKNEND RETREAT: WHERE TO STAY, EAT & VISIT IN THE COTSWOLDS


    A 48 HOUR COTSWOLDS RETREAT

    Where To Sleep, What To Do, & Places To Eat


    Less than 48 hours ago I woke up with a mission to book a hotel and get out of town. Jase and our friends had been plotting a little city escape, but with such a last minute decision availability was low and time was tight. I searched high and low for boutique hotels, glamping sites, even beach front apartments, from everywhere from Devon and Margate to the Cotswolds – One of favourite spots for a weekend escape!

    Thankfully our mission was a success, and I thought i’d share our little adventure with you today, and some of the incredible spots we found on our way!


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    RESIDE

    No.38 The Park

    Fortunately for us we managed to get two rooms at the beautiful No. 38 Park Hotel (a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel – always guaranteed to be a gooden’), not quite situated in the period ideallic Cotswold village we were hoping for, but a stunning abode to make our own non the less. We had ‘Excellent’ Rooms which included a fabulous roll top bath tub at the end of our bed and decor worthy of the best Georgian townhouses (of course I took a lot of notes for our own decor – more to come on that soon). It’s certainly a hotel I’d return to without a second thought, and a great base for some Cotswolds exploring.



    VISIT

    Bourton-on the-Water, Stow-On-Wold, Tetbury

    When it comes to the Cotswolds there are a million and one things to do, places to visit and areas to explore. Tetbury (and nearby Malmesbury) is a village I adore and visit very often – you may remember this post from last year all about Tetbury and the local area. But during this trip we explored slightly more of the East area before heading to Oxfordshire on the Sunday! Two very pretty little villages we stopped for an explore in were Bourton-on the-Water & Stow-On-Wold, as well as a little stroll around Montpellier in Cheltenham which was near to our hotel.

    Bourton-on-Water really took me by surprise, it was almost by chance we decided to stop for a walk, but we couldn’t believe the sheer volume of tourists visiting this tiny Cotswold village. Perhaps it was the Venice like rivers running through it, or the plethora of country pubs, ice cream stores or tea rooms. Either way it was stunning and worth a little stroll to take you back in time a little!  Stow-on-Wold was just around the corner and a great place to stay or pop for a good british gastro pub meal on an evening.

    But of course simply being in the Cotswolds is beautiful enough, and getting on a road bike for a day out is highly recommended if you have a little more time on your hands!


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    RELAX

    Soho Farmhouse, Cowley Manor, Calcot Manor

    You may already know that i’m a member of Shoreditch House group and one of the biggest perks of my membership is the opportunity it brings to escape the city for some serious country air and get a little bit of luxury chill time.  Soho Farmhouse is of course my favourite UK residence, and if I am ever in the Cotswolds it’s always on my list for a day out, or even better a few nights away (you may remember this trip I took there last year &  this one from my birthday stay earlier this year). Babington is another favourite, alongside Cowley Manor (another Cotswold Spa and Manor house I love a good escape to) and Calcot Manor (which is conveniently just down the road from Tetbury), but regardless of where you are, the Cotswolds has some serious retreats ready and waiting for you and it’s definitely a must on any trip to the countryside!


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    SHOP

    Montpellier, Jolly Nice, The Store

    Shopping in the Cotswolds means one thing, boutique! Independent clothing stores, antique home wears shops, and a mass of local farm shops! It’s little village heaven! You can find a list of all my favourite boutique stores in Tetbury here, but during our weekend escape we found ourselves strolling the renowned paves of Montpellier which is packed with boutique stores (and fabulous bars) and making sure we took a little time out to visit Jolly Nice – one of my favourite farm shops in the area. Whether it’s their infamous JNB burger, their local produce or even their newly opened home wear boutique (if you’re in the market for indoor plants, this place is a must) it’s well worth a visit.

    If you are lucky enough to visit the Farmhouse, then the house’s own independent shop, The Store, is well worth a nosy & shop around … not to mention the home store. All the best of Soho House’s decor available for you to take home with you. Yes please.

    There are so many more wonderful boutique hotels to explore and stumble upon in The Cotswolds, but these are the few we nosied in this weekend!


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    EAT & DRINK

    131, John Gordons, Crazy Eights

    The Cotswolds has too many good restaurants to mention in this post, so instead I’ll focus on those we visited during our trip this weekend. But needless to say the classic country pubs and Michelin star hot spots are plentiful in this part of the country, it’s a foodie escape as much as a relaxing one. The problem is picking which one you want to visit.

    Given we made our base just outside the Cheltenham area on this trip, we opted for more local restaurants we could easily wander to and have a drink rather than get in the car to find something a little more secluded. Fortunately a pre dinner cocktail in John Gordons and an al fresco dinner in 131’s Crazy Eights delivered perfectly on our Saturday night needs.

    We also looked at Wild Rabbit & The Wheatsheaf Inn which looked absolutely fabulous, but unfortunately we’d left it too late to get a dinner spot. Let that be a lesson in itself!


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    SEE MORE OF MY STAYCATION TRAVEL EDITS HERE

    Brighton, Suffolk, Oxfordshire, Cotswolds, Bristol, The New Forest, Dorset


    Overall the weekend was the perfect last minute escape and just the thing we wanted. Of course it would have been nicer to have a couple of nights away so we could explore and unwind a little more, but for a spontaneous trip, it was ideal.
  • THREE SAVVY TRAVEL PLANNING TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

    THREE SAVVY TRAVEL PLANNING TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

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    IT’S TIME TO PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

    Three Tips For Savvy Travel Planning


    It’s getting to that time of the year when i’m starting to get a little fidgety and in need of a little escape. More often than not I plan my trips throughout the year to ensure I always have something to look forward to and to keep my feeling fresh and motivated throughout the year. But after a rather exciting Winter with trips to Thailand, Hong Kong the Phillipines and of course the annual Val D’isere trip, I’ve not left myself a lot of holiday to play with for the rest of the year! Oh and not to mention I just bought a new pad meaning money is a little on the tight side right now.

    So whilst I’m not jetting off this summer anywhere, that’s not stopping me planning a grand end of year finally (Sri Lanka anyone?) and a potential city break for Jases big Three Zero (San Fran here we come), and lets be honest, sometimes half the fun is in the planning itself.

    When it comes to planning trips and your next adventure, I feel there are three tips which always serve me relatively well which I wanted to share with you today.


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    THREE TIPS TO PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

    KEEP YOUR DATES FLEXIBLE & BOOK THE SMART WAY

    One thing I’ve learnt about travel is the more flexible you can be, the better deal you’re going to get. For example when it comes to my annual ski trip we always do a last minute deal a week or two before we leave, we keep our dates as fluid as possible, and always find ourselves a 5* bargain because it’s such late notice. Equally, when it comes to my big long haul trips, I tend Book Flights super far in advance because the demand is so low, the flights are so cheap. it then gives you plenty of time to research accommodation and places to visit within your trip, but you bag yourself a bargain flight & then have something to look forward to. Both my Thailand and Hong Kong / Philippine flights were booked nearly a year in advance and I paid between £350 – £420 with BA and Virgin each … a huge bargain! Accommodation is the opposite, book as late as you can because that’s when you’ll get the best deals.

    Big adventures don’t have to cost the world. My Thailand trip cost me around £2k (two weeks, 5 locations, luxe hotels & internal travel), but equally I paid the same for a two week package deal in a 5* hotel in Cyprus. I know which one i’d rather do again …

    PLAN MULTIPLE DESTINATIONS IN ONE TRIP

    This leads me to my second tip. Long gone are the days when I’ll book a holiday to travel to a hotel, and see little more than that. These days I want my trips to feel more like an adventure than simply a sun lounger, now don’t get me wrong, sunbathing is still high on the agenda, but if i’m travelling far afield i want to see as much as possible too.

    My biggest recommendation these days is to move around. Stay in multiple locations, book internal flights / trains or even rent a car and stay in multiple places. In Thailand within two weeks we saw Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Racha Island, Kho Yao Noi and a National park. We took internal flights, booked cars and took boats from island to island, i felt like I saw so much and it made my two weeks feel much longer. Equally when I travelled back to Asia this year I saw Hong Kong, El Nido and travelled the Linpacan islands within my trip.

    The best trips are those when you plan it and book it yourself, don’t book a package, plan an adventure that works for you. Travel around, experience multiple hotels and see more than just your beach resort. This couldn’t be more true for European trips too … get a car and travel the Almalfi Coast or French Riviera. Make the most of the place you’ve flown to and see as much as possible!

    RESEARCH LIKE A MILLENNIAL

    And finally, when it comes to planning your dream trip and making something custom suited to you! You need to do your research. Ditch the package holiday websites and holiday brochures (honestly, how do they still exist), instead tap up blog travel guides, instagram hashtags or travel instagrammers for inspiration, and find those off the grid locations that all the tourist companies don’t know about.

    One of the great things about travel bloggers and the millennial instagram generation is that not only do you discover tons of new places you’d never heard of before, but more often than not these travel journalists and bloggers are the first to be invited to explore new places, visit new hotels and experience the best of the locations they’re visiting, making them the perfect source of inspiration, research and travel ideas. I for one certainly try and make sure my travel editorials are helpful to you guys, and I in turn read so many other bloggers travel guides for my own inspiration (you can check out my favourite travel guides on my bloglovin & see which travel grammers I follow on instagram here).

    Of course some are saturated with your typical and popular spots, but others really can help you discover off the grid locations, incredible boutique hotels and places you might never otherwise have known about. I’m hoping to visit Sri Lanka in the winter (their summer) and it’s thanks to Instagram and some foreign blogs that I even considered it in the first place.


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    Where’s next on your travel bucket list? Do you have any savvy travel tips you always live by?

  • EL NIDO TRAVEL GUIDE: EAT, DRINK, EXPLORE

    EL NIDO TRAVEL GUIDE: EAT, DRINK, EXPLORE


    EL NIDO TRAVEL GUIDE

    Eat, Sleep, Explore


    If you haven’t been to the Philippines yet, you need to get it on your bucket list.

    The Philippines is one of those destinations that leaves you filled with wonderlust when you see pictures, hear tales of fellow travellers or begin to imagine those clear sand beaches.

    I was lucky enough to visit El Nido specifically earlier this year with 6 of my girlfriends for one of the best trips of my lifetime.

    I was lucky enough to have some friends visit before me, so packed with their tips and recommendations for places to go, spots to eat and and of course the best beaches to explore we packed our 10 days with some of the best El Nido has to offer.

    I’ve already shared one post on my trip to the Philippines, all about the three days we spent at sea, camping on beaches and exploring the uninhabited islands of Palawan, but today I wanted to share a travel guide for El Nido, a popular Philippines destination in Palawan and a ‘must visit’ destination for any trip.


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    WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

     

    I’ll caveat up front that the food in the Philippines isn’t quite as ground breaking as that in Thailand or the rest of Asia, it’s all about picking the right spots & knowing the travellers recommendations before you go, fortunately I have a few recommendations which will set you in good stead for your trip:

    MARIMEGMEG 

    During our stay on Las Cabanas beach, Marimegmeg was a regular spot for sunset watching and happy hour cocktails. With DJ’s playing, the sun setting and great cocktails it makes the perfect evening spot! But it’s not just great for sun downers, their menu is fab for lunch too (the banana smoothies were delicious).

    LA PLAGE

    La Plage was another beach front spot on Corong Corong that made the perfect lunch spot and a great place to get a little shade during the day. La plage was only a short walk from one of our hotels (Coco Resorts), and a destination all the tut tut drivers know.

    ALTROVE

    This pizza place couldn’t have come more recommended, but even if we hadn’t been told to visit this restaurant, the queues outside definitely would have made us stop to have a look. The pizza is absolutely delicious, so the perfect spot for a slightly more western dinner.

    THE ROOFTOP

    In El Nido town the choice for beach front and roof top bars (beach shack style bars to clarify) is vast! There’s nearly as many bars as boat tour companies and that’s saying something. One bar we strumbled upon was Rooftop, a little bar on top of one of the shops on the main strip. The margaritas were questionable, but the atmosphere was great and it made the perfect moroccan style hang out (just choose beer)!

    ART CAFE

    Art Cafe was definitely one of El Nido’s more infamous cafe / bars and one we got recommended a lot during our trip, whether it was for WIFI, cocktails, lunch or breakfast! The Art cafe in El Nido town is set up to deliver on every travellers foodie and drink needs.

    LAS CABANAS

    Las Cabanas was one of the places we stayed during our trip and the evening meals were some of our favourites. Freshly prepared and home cooked asian cuisine, delicious curries, great fruit platters and yummy noodles! Whilst it’s not in El Nido town, if you’re on Las Cabanas beach then this is a great spot for dinner.

    Other places we enjoyed for food / drinks were Sa Va Bar, Cafe Athena, Republic, but without doubt the best food you’ll eat will be the freshly prepped meals on your boating expedition …


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    ISLANDS TO VISIT

    Island Hopping & Boat Tours Are  A Must

     

    If you’re visiting Palawan then you absolutely must must must take boat tours to the surrounding islands. My friends and I embarked on a three day adventure, sailing the Linapacan Islands, sleeping under the stars, and visiting some of the most beautiful uninhabited islands. This was by far the highlight of my whole trip. And if the destinations and adventure wasn’t enough, we also had the best food of our whole trip during our three day adventure. Our crew cooked us fresh food daily and it really was the best food we had.

    When it comes to boat trips, you have a fair few options. Five day trips from El Nido to Coron, three day trips around the LInapacan Islands (from and returning to El Nido), and 4 daily tours to choose from (named A,B,C,D) which take you to some of Palawans most infamous beaches and tourist spots. You can do these tours privately or as part of a bigger tour – if you’re pennies can stretch then I highly recommend the private option!

    Nacpan Island, The Big Lagoons, Secret Lagoon and Caves are super popular. But if you opt for an expedition like we did you can expect to see beaches like non other which are slightly further afield. You can read all about the islands I visited here.


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    WHERE TO STAY

    Las Cabanas, Coco Resort, Under The Stars

     

    Much like the food, the accommodation in the Philippines is relatively basic in the majority, however as with any destination there are a couple of super luxe options if you have the money. As we were travelling Hong Kong and i’d just visited Thailand, our accommodation was very much on the mid-level range versus the slightly more luxe options which I usually like to opt for.

    A lot of the hotels offer cabanas on the beach which is the perfect setting and an ideal option for a trip to the Philippines.

    We stayed at Las Cabanas for a few nights when we first arrived, the hotel is in the ultimate location for watching sunsets and the food served by the family that run the hotel is delicious and actually some of the best we had.

    Following this we spent three days on an expedition and so our accommodation was far more rough and ready (we went with El Nido Paradise Tours but Discover El Nido is another we considered) … sleeping bags under the stars and beach huts on Queens Island! The basic sleeping arrangements just made the whole experience more exciting, authentic and adventurous.

    Our final five nights were spent in Coco Resort, the nicest accommodation we stayed in during our trip, again little cabanas but this time within the hotels own grounds rather than beach front. The accommodation was more on the luxe end but still great value!


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    El Nido has the ultimate back packer, relaxed, chilled vibe, that’ll make you immediately consider packing your bags and becoming a traveler yourself. Without doubt the best thing about our trip was our private expedition around the Linapacan islands, I can’t recommending getting to sea and exploring the local villages and thousands of islands enough. It’s the best part of the Philippines and the most magical and exciting adventure.

    I’d love to know if you’ve visited El Nido and have any other tips or if you’re planning a trip soon? I hope you found this little guide helpful! If you want more travel tips and guides then pop over here.

  • THE WEEKENDERS BRIGHTON GUIDE: HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN BRIGHTON (EAT, SLEEP, SEA)

    THE WEEKENDERS BRIGHTON GUIDE: HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN BRIGHTON (EAT, SLEEP, SEA)


    THE WEEKENDERS BRIGHTON GUIDE

    How to spend 48 hours in Brighton: Eat, Sleep, See


    You may be mistaken for thinking a few of these photos were taken in Santorini or infamous Mykonos, but that my friends is the beauty of the UK on a good day, it is comparable to our most favourite foreign countries and last weekend in Brighton it felt like a city break abroad. We had sunshine, good company, seaside views from our hotel. And the photos are the proof in the pudding of how beautifully blue the sea and sky was during our stay.

    You’ve probably seen a little bit of Brighton on mediamarmalade.com over the last few months, from outfits on the pier to my instagram posts and stories and it’s because with just a quick train from London its the perfect city escape and has so much character and atmosphere we even jokingly discussed the merit of moving there last week.

    So if you’re exploring the UK from abroad or even looking for a little UK city break or day out, Brighton has so much to offer!

    Not to mention some beautiful boutique hotels to stay in. During our trip we stayed at the lovely Hotel UNA, a hotel across the road from The Artists Residence (another beautiful boutique place to stay). Hotel UNA not only serves the best Aperol (and other cocktails) Brighton has to offer, but each room is like a mini apartment so you can really make yourself feel at home for your stay! The daily breakfast is delicious and the staff are super accommodating. I thoroughly recommend a stay and suggest picking your desired room because everyone is different. I stayed in Usk.


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    THE LANES

    Unlimited, The Brighton Magazine, Abode & The Flower Shop

    If you’ve heard about Brighton then you will have most definitely heard about their Lanes, Brightons infamous row of streets and markets full of hustle and bustle and some of the most fabulous decor, flower and vintage shops. Not to mention the foodie hot spots dotted in and around the Lanes. Four of my favourite stores worth a visit are:

    ABODE

    32 Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1 4AL

    Abode, a super quirky interiors store which I always make a point to visit on any trip, you’ll find chic cushions, plates, prints and lighting for your home. Their window displays are always so instagram worthy too!

    BRIGHTON MAGAZINE STORE

    23 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4EQ

    The Brighton Magazine store is the best place in town to go and pick up your favourite independent magazines and while away a few hours browsing their incredible collection of publishers.

    GUNNS FLORTIST

    19 Sydney St, Brighton BN1 4EN

    Liberty and Wild At Heart aren’t the only instagrammable flower shops in the UK, The Gunns Florist in Brighton is packed with the most beautiful bouquets of flowers, eclectic arrangements that’ll make you want to take them all home to give your home a new spruce of life.

    UNLIMITED

    10 Church Street, Brighton BN1 1US

    The new ‘it’ shop in town has to be, Unlimited. Unlimited is an independent boutique packed with beautiful prints, art work and design pieces. The beauty of Unlimited is their championing of individual designers and makers and the fact their store is as much of a shop as it is a gallery to showcase the incredible work and artists their supportng. If that’s not enough they also throw events and exhibitions too!


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    EAT & DRINK

    Silo, The Flour Pot Bakery, Curry Leaf & Hotel Una

    Brighton is fast becoming a serious foodie hot spot, with not only some of London’s most favourite restaurants (Breakfast Club, Polpo and Burger & Lobster are now residents in Brighton city) but their independent restaurants are something to be rivalled. We were fortunate enough to eat at some fab foodie spots during our stay & I couldn’t recommend them enough. There are so many other fab spots to visit, Ridley & Finns is one of my favourite spots for a sea front setting fish dinner and the curry leaf serves up seriously delicious thali style indian  cuisine, but two of my favourites were:

    SILO

    39 Upper Gardner St, North Laine, Brighton BN1 4AN

    Zero Waste, a serious menu for foodies and an industrial style restaurant made for photographers, Silo is probably one of the coolest spots I’ve eaten in in Brighton. Their menu is simple but undeniably delicious, let alone interesting. Their English breakfast is to be rivalled and their freshly cooked fish is too tasty not to try! Plus they stock K0mbucha!

    THE FLOUR POT BAKERY

    41 First Ave, Hove BN3 2FH

    The Flour Pot Bakery is clearly one of Brighton’s IT spots. With a couple of cafes across the city Flour Pot is a must visit whether its for their delicious cakes, hearty sandwiches, delicious coffees, or simply their interiors! The Hove cafe is the prettiest and the ultimate yummy mummy spot on a Sunday Morning.


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    CULTURE

    Art & Believe, BA 1360 & The Pavillion Gardens

    PAVILIION GARDENS

    Royal Pavilion Grounds, New Rd, Brighton BN1 1UG

    As I mentioned Brighton is packed with culture and incredibly vibrant communities. It also has a ton of tourist spots which really are worth a visit during a stay! The Pavillion Gardens are beautifully placed in the heart of Brighton and a really unexpected architectural spot to visit. The regency buildings are somewhat oriental in design but make the most beautiful gardens to walk around. absolutely free of charge too!

    ART & BELIEVE

    137 King’s Rd, Brighton BN1 2JF

    I was super super fortunate to see some of Brightons most talented artists work during my last trip, a secret exhibition way up high, the Art & Believe sky exhibition is a stunning rooftop which has been c carefully and vibrantly painted creating a sanctuary on the roof tops of brighton with just the most beautiful views over the city and seafront! The work of the team is just beautiful and I only hope they can do more roof tops in time too!

    THE I360

    Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN

    The BA I360 is a tourist attraction much like the London Eye, the ultimate vehicle to give you stunning views of the whole city right on the Brighton beach front. The experience itself is somewhat BA first class, with fizz on arrival and a flight which is so professionally managed you can’t help but feel you’re truly taking a flight somewhere abroad. The views at the top are stunning and if you don’t manage to view Art & Believe first hand, the i360 gives you the perfect glimpse of the sky exhibition from above.


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    BRIGHTON PIER & SEA FRONT

    Madeira Dr, Brighton BN2 1TW

    And of course Brighton’s most infamous attraction of all has to be it’s wonderful pier and beachfront, a trip to Brighton wouldn’t be complete without a walk along the seafront from the old pier along to the new one, fish n’ chips in hand and of course a little visit to the piers arcade for some serious nostalgia.

    I love the pier and theres no better time to visit than at golden hour when the suns setting over the city and sea front. The fair ground looks stunning with the sun setting around it, so i’d definitely recommend planning your visit just before dinner time for the most picture perfect setting.


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    Overall my weekend away in Brighton was the ultimate escape from the stresses and pace of London. We were so lucky with the sunshine we had, and the weather and spots we visited really made this rival a city break abroad. A big thanks to Visit Brighton for opening my eyes to so many new spots in the city too! So if you’re looking for a day trip, a short weekend break or simply want to see more of the city I couldn’t recommend visiting enough and hopefully these spots will give you some of Brighton’s best places to see, stay and eat at!

    Have you visited Brighton? Have you enjoyed my 48 hours in Brighton guide? If you want to read more of my travel guides head here.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • THE PIG IN BATH

    THE PIG IN BATH


    THE PIG NEAR BATH

    Country Air, Beautiful Decor & Delicous Cuisine


    After finally visiting the Pig in Brockenhurst a few weekends ago for an informal lunch and explore, we decided it was about time we put to test the Pigs infamous formal dining menu and started to tick off their other country houses. Introducing the Pig in Bath. Only a few miles down the road from where Jase grew up, it made the perfect spot to visit this weekend whilst we’re spending time in Bath and Bristol. Jase booked a table for my birthday a few weeks back, and this weekend we finally visited and got to enjoy more of the Pigs delicious, locally grown, fresh food and drink.

    The Pig in Bath is super similar in style to the Brockenhurst Pig, beautiful bath brick manor house, surrounded by stunning countryside and farm land.

    The Pig in Bath feels bigger in size, but equally as cosy and homely as the Pig in Brockenhurst. The dining room was beautifully set in the Pigs typical decor (think foliage, fresh herbs & a rustic homely feel) and the menu absolutely delicious …

    I had an incredible meal of home grown asparagus with truffle and poached local duck egg, followed by the most hearty and delicious dish of locally bred veal cannelloni with fresh spring greens, finished off with a glass of Hambledon sparkling wine (which is actually produced right near where I grew up in Winchester and absolutely delicious, a real competitor to Champers) and petite fours. The meal was super tasty & left us re-booking for the next visit … a slightly more formal event for Jase’s 30th in July.


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    WHAT I WORE

    . NEW SEASON ZARA WHITE BLAZER (SIMILAR) & STRIPED BLOUSE . ZARA OLD SEASON RIPPED JEANS (SIMILAR) & PUMPS . CHLOE HUDSON SMALL . RAYBAN ROUND .

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    SEE MORE MEDIAMARMALADE TRAVEL POSTS


    Every time I visit a Pig I fall more and more in love with their homely settings, the beautiful countryside that surrounds them, and the undeniably delicious food they serve. Being a member of Soho House group I often find myself going back to Soho Farmhouse or Babington when I’m out of London, but I’m so glad to have discovered the Pig group and so lucky that we have two of the country houses on the doorstep of where Jase and I grew up. It’s only time before we book a stay at the Pig on The Beach or The Pig at Combe (Devon).

    Have you visited any of the Pig Hotels & restaurants. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little intro to the country escapes.