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If you are planning a visit to Miami, then you are in for a treat, you’re sure to find something to do in this sunny city that everyone joining you on your holiday will love. This vibrant city has so much more going for it than many people would imagine; with plenty of hidden gems. However, if you are British, you will want to know these things this before your Florida visit. Whether you are planning to stay in Miami for just a short break, or a two week holiday, you will find plenty to see and do. Here are just some of the places that you won’t want to miss visiting during your stay in Miami.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach is one of the most famous of the city’s attractions and is probably the image that first springs to mind for many people when they think of Miami. Miami Beach is the ideal way to experience the city’s laid back vibe and is a great place to sit back and enjoy the sunshine. With its glistening water and white sand, it’s easy to see why this is a must-visit destination for many people visiting Miami.

If you fancy adding a little extra excitement to your trip, why not take the opportunity to experience the open water and see Miami Beach from a different perspective? Booking a boat for rent in Miami is a great way to appreciate its stunning coastline fully.

Venetian Pool

Sticking with the water theme is the next must-visit attraction in Miami – the Venetian Pool. As its name suggests, this stunning pool features Italian-inspired architecture and is adorned with waterfalls too. The Venetian Pool is like no other swimming pool you have ever seen.

Located in Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool is dotted with palm trees, giving it an exotic look, and is filled with freshwater – bliss!

Ocean Drive

No trip to Miami would be complete without a wander along Ocean Drive. You are sure to recognise buildings from many a blockbuster film as you wander along this iconic street. Miami is famous for being home to probably the most significant number of examples of Art Deco architecture, and you will find plenty of it on Ocean Drive. If you visit at night, you will see the buildings illuminated in stunning style thanks to the neon signs that adorn the many hotels and restaurants.

Little Havana

Soak up some Cuban culture and pay a visit to the Little Havana neighbourhood during your stay in Miami. Little Havana provides a feast for all the senses to enjoy. As you explore the area around Calle Ocho, your ears will be filled with the sounds of Latino music, and your nostrils filled with the scent of delicious foods served up at the many restaurants, cafés and bars in the area. Why not, take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a cup of Cuban coffee and a spot of people watching in this vibrant part of the city?

Those are just a few activities. What are some ideas you have about things to do in Miami, Sunny friends?

If you’re planning a trip to London, you’re in for a treat. There are plenty of reasons why 30 million tourists visit this capital city every single year. It’s steeped in history, has some of the world’s best museums and art galleries and has countless other things to do while you’re there. Of course, you’re going to have to be organised to have the best time possible while you’re there and to fit in everything that you want to do. Here are a few suggestions that will help you along the way.

Book Accommodation Outside of Central London

London is a very large city. Most tourist attractions do tend to lie in central London, but for the same reason, accommodation in central London has an extremely large price tag attached. If you’d rather spend your money on other things while you’re in the city – perhaps a nice meal, theatre tickets or attraction tickets – it’s generally a good idea to book accommodation that is outside of central London. This will help you to save money. Transport into central London from the outskirts or Greater London is cheap and fast, so there really isn’t much reason not to save in this way.

Familiarising Yourself with the Tube System

The tube is London’s unique underground transportation system. The tube runs throughout London, stopping near major landmarks and attractions. Of course, it’s a good idea to get to grips with the different tube lines before heading into the tube station. These stations can be busy and it’s best to know where you’re going in advance. It’s also worth downloading apps like  Citymapper. These will tell you which tube to catch, where you need to get off and where to go once getting off to reach your destination. This helps you along the way. Remember, there are staff in the tube station who are happy to help if you feel lost or worried. Generally speaking, it’s best to drop your luggage off at your hotel as soon as possible rather than pulling it around with you. If you’re only visiting for the day, consider Radical Storage London.

Visit the Major Attractions

There are countless attractions in London. So, make the most of them. Many are free. Some free attractions that are definitely worth checking out include:

• The Natural History Museum
• The TATE and the TATE Modern
• The National Portrait Gallery
• The British Museum

If you are interested in royalty and the royals, visit Buckingham Palace, the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London and more. If you’re interested in politics, you can see the Houses of Parliament. If you’re looking for somewhere to sit in the greenery, consider Greenwich Park. There are also plenty of alternative markets in Camden Town and places like Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

As you can see, London offers a whole lot to do. But hopefully, some of the above information and advice will help you to whittle down your options and have the most positive and organised stay possible!

This is a collaborative post on Sunny in London.

London is experiencing one of the strangest phases of its existence. For years, this has been the tourist capital of the UK. People from all over the world travel to this great city to enjoy all the different sights and scenes. Nowadays, the hottest tourist spots are quiet places as everyone stays indoors. 

If you live in London, then you’re probably finding it very difficult to sit around doing nothing. So, here are a few things you can do in London while still sticking to the quarantine rules!

Grab a Coffee on Your Daily Walk

While a lot of coffee shops and cafes are closed, some remain open for takeaway purposes. This means you can plan your daily walk passed one of these places, and grab some barista coffee on-the-go. Most of these places are small businesses that are desperately trying to make a bit of money amidst this crisis. So, it’s a great way to support local companies while enjoying your morning stroll around London. 

Exercise in a Park

Thankfully, we’re still allowed to exercise during this lockdown. In fact, as of writing this, the rules have been relaxed even more, and you can exercise as often as you want. You can even visit parks now, so it’s a great opportunity to get some fresh air and enjoy the best parks London has to offer. There are too many to miss, and I’m sure there’s at least one within walking distance of you. The great thing about this lockdown is that it’s given nature a chance to thrive. So, all of the parks look lovely and green, making them even more enjoyable. 

Order Food from Local Restaurants

Restaurants aren’t open, and they won’t be for a few weeks at least. However, plenty of local businesses in London are offering delivery services. You can either order their food on apps like Deliveroo, or you can order directly from the restaurant. Either way, it’s an opportunity to eat out while staying in. Don’t leave your home, obey the rules, and enjoy your favourite meals from some of the best places in London. In fact, you can check out this list of the top London restaurants now doing home delivery to see where you can order from. If you spot your favourite eatery, then get ready for a big night in!

Enjoy Your Bottomless Brunch

There are no shortage of places in London to enjoy a bottomless brunch. Of course, you can’t go to these places right now. But, you can try and replicate the experience in your own home. Get your hands on some best price Prosecco, make some lovely brunch nibbles, get dressed up, and you’re good to go. If you’re friendly with your neighbours, then you can try and arrange a brunch together on either side of your fence/balcony. You keep your distance while enjoying a typical London experience at home. 

Walk Along the Thames at Sunrise

In truth, you can walk along the Thames whenever you like – provided you’re keeping a safe distance between you and anyone else. That’s actually why I said to do it at sunrise. It’s outrageously early, but there are fewer people about. On sunny days, lots of people will think about going for a walk to get some fresh air. So, you get to do it peacefully and safely at a non-peak time. Why the Thames? Well, much like the London parks, the Thames has undergone some improvements thanks to a lack of use. The water looks nicer than ever, and you generally find that walking the Thames takes you passed some iconic London monuments. 

Shop at One of the Open Markets

Instead of going to Tesco or Sainsbury’s for your weekly quarantine shop, go to one of the open markets instead. Some markets are still open, including the ever-popular Borough Market. Here, you can get fresh food and many store cupboard essentials to take home. Effectively, you’re shopping as you would in a supermarket, but supporting a local business instead. Most of the markets that are still open will have special rules in place. This includes social distancing policies or limiting how many people are allowed in at a given time. Be sure to protect yourself if you go out!

As you can see, there’s no need to be left feeling bored if you’re locked down in London. That sounds like the title of a TV show, doesn’t it? Locked Down In London! Anyway, I hope these ideas have given you something to think about if you’re looking for things to do while still quarantining yourself and abiding by social distancing rules. 

What are the big questions you have when travelling? For those that travel often, before booking a trip you probably think about the new destination’s environment to decide if it might be a good match for you. Those are questions are like: What will the country look like when I get there? How will the weather be? Will it be easy for me to get from place to place? What attractions might I see while there? Will people speak English fluently? What clothes should I pack to blend in with locals?

These questions that can circulate in your mind again and again until you have them answered through the experience.

While pondering all of these questions at home, you are probably conducting quite a bit of research on what the accommodation will be like. And, if you are going to visit a family member abroad, there may be a different set of questions that surface. For example, you could be wondering if you will get along well consistently during the stay? Will you be subjected to eating strange foods or starving? Will their house be too hot or too cold? Will you have enough space to sleep and store your stuff? Will their house be clean? Will the activities they choose match your own travel interests?

These are all natural, valid concerns. Therefore, it is only fair to consider that if you visit family or friends abroad, it is possible that they will one day come to visit you. It would be a good idea for you to alleviate their anxiety in advance with some simple steps to get ready for the visit.

There are many similarities between the US and the UK. However, when I have friends or family visit, travelling to London is quite a large consideration from their point of view. I try to answer many of their questions about differences through YouTube videos. To be honest, most of the content I produce stems from questions my friends and readers have sent through this blog, social media or the Sunny News. The top three questions I receive are: how do I get around London? What attractions should I see? How is the food?

Publishing guides to London has made it easy because I can just refer people to them and they can click on what they need at their leisure.

As an international host, it’s important for me to help answer as many of those questions in advance so guests have as little surprises as possible on their trip. But, there are also steps that I take to make sure my house is welcoming as well. Doing these things means I can relax more when they visit because I know I have done everything possible in advance to make sure their trip goes well and my guests have great memories of London, Mr Sunny and me.

Where to Sleep and Get Ready

All people need to eat and sleep, so that is where I start when preparing for any guest- international or not.

One of our best investments when we purchased furniture for our new home two years ago is a day bed that can be pulled out in to a double bed. We love this bed because when we don’t have a guest, it is small enough to allow us space in our extra room.

Next, a week or so prior to your guest’s visit, make sure all the bedding is washed. When my mother visited in April, I even bought my mother her brand new pillow.

The extra room has space enough for her to store her suitcase and a rod for hanging clothes. Additionally, the wardrobe doors have mirrors so guests can get dressed and check everything looks satisfactory before leaving ‘their’ room. Not having a mirror in the guest bedroom was a common complaint I received from my parents when they visited me in my townhouse when I lived in New York. As you can imagine, space to sleep and “live” is important to making sure people enjoy their trip.

With regard to laundry, my mother gave me the best idea a few years ago when I visited her. She has a pop-up laundry basket that guests can use to toss clothes neatly out of the way at the end of the day.

One of my best friend’s from Miami left a little bag of goodies on my bed once when I visited her for a few days. This was a fantastic idea and is something I do now when people visit. As a travel blogger, I am in hotels often. I always make sure to grab an extra shampoo, conditioner, lotion, shower cap, etc. Then, when a guest comes, I put them on their bed. If you can afford an extra special touch, a small gift of something local could be appreciated when a guest arrives too.

If you don’t have a separate guest bedroom and your guest is cool with couching it, there are a few more things you need to consider before the guest arrives. Extra sheets, blankets and pillows are obvious. But, if the room where they are sleeping has a big clock that chimes every hour or ticks loudly every second, you might want to turn it off or remove it from the room. A sleeping mask could help if the room has a lot of morning sunlight. You can easily grab an extra one on your next long haul flight.

Condition of Your Home

The condition of your home is important to consider. Remember that guests don’t expect to be dazzled by your living space. Chances are guests are grateful for not having the additional expense of a hotel. But they do expect it to be clean. Hopefully, this is part of your every day living and you aren’t partaking in a big cleaning overhaul as their visit approaches.

With regard to your exterior, keep in mind that it is the first impression guests will have of your actual lifestyle.

At the very least, clean your windows inside and out. An extra step might be to use a Wido pressure washer to clean the built up dirt from your driveway. Honestly, it’s something you can do anytime to have the benefits yourself, not just for anticipating guests.

Close friends and family probably have a good idea how you live already, but it’s nice to show them that you have taken some extra steps to greet them. This is especially true if they’ve paid a lot for a flight and have travelled many hours.

Individual Needs

Consider if your guest has allergies or fear of certain animals. If so, keeping pets in one part of the house and carefully vacuuming and nullifying the space is important.

Dietary requirements may require a conversation. For example, I have gluten sensitivity. It helps me if a host doesn’t plan meals that are entirely based on gluten because then I am completely out of luck. Aside from just asking people in advance what foods they tend to eat or should avoid, you might want to send them an email with links to the menus for a few restaurants that you think could be possibilities during their visit. Having take out menus for them to peruse if you are having food delivered is helpful too. Providing options from different types of cuisines in different price ranges gives guests a nice avenue to express their opinions and food interests.

Finally, if your guest has any medical needs, you must take those in to consideration. If walking long distances or up and down too many flights of stairs is an issue, warn them in advance if your building doesn’t have a lift. And don’t schedule too many activities in a day that could be exhausting to your guest.

Final Thoughts

I would love to hear about any additional ideas you have to get ready for a visit from a family member or friend. Please leave your ideas in the comments, Sunny friends. Have you had any bad experiences that you can share so we can learn more about what not to do when you are hosting people in your home?

This is a collaborative post on Sunny in London.

Unfortunately this September and October London has had quite a bit of rain. The amount of sunny days in London have certainly been less than we would prefer. This can make it difficult to enjoy the city’s fantastic outdoor attractions. However, it also gives a great opportunity to think about all the great places to see in London and experiences to have indoors too. Whether you’re into culture or you prefer to do something chilled with your weekends, London still has a huge array of things to do when it rains. 

So where should you go the next time it’s not-so-sunny in London? Take a look at the following suggestions for things to do in London on a cloudy or rainy day.

Head for Brunch

Brunch is a fun and really popular activity across the UK these days. It is also the perfect excuse to spend a few hours catching up with friends (whether bottomless or not!). When you’re in a city like London that’s quickly growing its foodie scene, you’re spoiled for choice with incredible brunch spots. Many of them also include some of the best views of London. Book a table and escape the rain to enjoy a leisurely morning in the city.

Of course if brunch is too early and boozy for you, there’s always the old faithful afternoon tea to use indulging for hours indoors.

Discover a Bit of History

London is a city full of history, and sometimes it’s easy to forget about it with so much modernity around. Many people who live in London have never visited its best tourist spots, including the London Eye and Westminster Abbey. It might be raining outside, but there’s no reason you can’t discover a bit of history when you have the day to explore. 

Want to learn more about the history of London? Take a look at some of London’s most historic sites to help you plan where to go.

Get Cultured through Art

A morning or afternoon spent wandering around an art gallery can be a fantastic way to enjoy an afternoon or culture. London is home to some of the world’s best art galleries, including both contemporary art and art through the ages. Art galleries can get very busy at the weekend so if you can book tickets in advance, you should, or make sure you get there bright and early to beat the queues as they say.

Go Shopping!

One of the things London is most famous for is its shopping. There are a whole load of incredible stores to check out, ranging from one of boutiques and markets to well-known department stores like Harrods and Liberty. It’s easy to spend a whole day shopping in London, taking in the atmosphere and seeing what all the fuss is about! In the winter months, you’ll be able to take in the beautiful displays along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street. Plus, you will be able to see all of the Christmas lights. 

Explore Food in London

London really is a fantastic city, with plenty of seasonal events and new openings that make it easy to find something exciting to do every weekend. If you subscribe to the Sunny News email, you will always have a fab list of upcoming ideas from which to choose. That way, come rain or shine, you’ll always have something to do in London.

And, of course, there are tons of foodie things to do in London too.

This is a collaborative post on Sunny in London.