Holiday
Holiday Blogs
This is the home of all the travel blogs I’ve written on holiday destinations I’ve visited!
From wine tours in Lanzarote to my thoughts on some of the best restaurants I’ve visited across the world, find out my thoughts on some of my favourite holiday experiences!
Happy exploring!
REVIEW: Point Hotel Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey
Time to check out the Point Hotel Taksim in Istanbul, Turkey.
With only a few days in Istanbul, the dilemma is whether to stay in the old town close to landmarks such as The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, or stay in the modern town, in the heart of the shopping, dining and nightlife district. I opted for the latter, and enjoyed 4 nights at the Point Hotel Taksim
It prides itself on being an affordable 4 star hotel, within walking distance of Taksim Square – one of the best areas to stay in Istanbul. The name? Well it’s a triangular building, with the entrance being at a point. It boasts a 9th floor restaurant (where breakfast is served) with panoramic views of the city. There is a spa, gym and swimming pool in the basement, and a Japanese sushi restaurant and bar on the ground floor. It provided the perfect base for a city break.
While there, I stayed in three different rooms, on different floors (I’ll get into why in a moment!) They were all clean, modern, with nice touches such as the gift of an evil eye bead (evil eye is a symbol of protection in Turkey), a pillow menu, a book with 101 Ways To Sleep Happily, a CD of lullabies to encourage better rest, and an arrival gift of a fruit bowl and a bottle of Turkish red wine.
The Relationship Between Music and Travel
I believe music and travel and interconnected…
Music. It’s such an important part of our lives. We have an emotional connection to it. It has the power to make us happy or sad. It motivates us to exercise or work harder. It relaxes and calms us. It’s hard to think of anything else in the world that has this power.
For me, I can’t remember a time without music. My dad is a composer and my sisters all play instruments. I grew up with classical music coming from one room in the house, folk music from another and Top of the Pops on TV in another. There was no avoiding it! After university I worked in the radio industry, then the music business.
Over the years I’ve developed my own taste, and now have an eclectic mix of songs on my iPod. As I’ve travelled the world, I’ve collected songs and my playlists have become longer, and more varied.
REVIEW: Devour Barcelona Food Tours, Spain
This food tour of Barcelona promises the best tapas, Catalan cuisine and a trip to a very special market.
The history and culture of a place is best told through its cuisine.
Food is at the heart of every community and is heavily influenced by surroundings and situations. So, when I was invited to take a food tour of a Barcelona neighbourhood that I didn’t know… I couldn’t resist!
Devour Barcelona Food Tours, the sister company to the already successful Madrid Food Tour was set up in September. It took the organisers months to research the Gràcia area and find the best eateries to showcase what the neighbourhood is all about.
I met tour guide Renee on Passeig de Gràcia on a cold but sunny February morning. She was a young American girl with a huge passion for history, architecture, Catalan culture, and most of all –food! Over the next four hours she guided me through the streets to a variety of cafes and restaurants.
REVIEW: Hotel Primero Primera, Barcelona, Spain
Time to check out Hotel Primero Primera in Barcelona, Spain.
As small boutique hotels go, Primero Primera is pretty special. When visiting Barcelona, most people want to be bang in the centre of the action, but sometimes it’s nice not to be caught up in the hustle and bustle! This hotel is located in one of the upmarket suburbs of Barcelona, close to the fashionable Sarrià district. It sits on a suburban street, lined with apartment blocks. It’s not an area littered with shops and restaurants, but in some ways that is part of this hotel’s charm. Since re-opening in 2012, it has shot up the Trip Advisor reviews, currently 3rd of all the hotels in Barcelona.
It prides itself on being a family run hotel – the Perez Sala family have owned the building since 1955 and still live on one floor. The rest of the building has been converted into 30 luxurious hotel rooms and suites. Reception is smart and inviting with a grand staircase ascending from it.