TRAVEL

July 12, 2019 by: Sunny London

Taking the Stress Out of Holiday Travel

There is nothing quite like setting off on holiday, yet travel can be a highly stressful experience and you will want everything to go smoothly and according to plan. Therefore, it is helpful to know a few tips which should help you to reduce stress and get your holiday off to a smooth start.

Research What You Need to Take

It is always helpful to research your destination for a few different reasons. One of which is that it will give you a good idea of what you need to take – you could even find an easy checklist to follow. You would be surprised how many different destinations require items that you wouldn’t need for others. For example, when we visited Malta, I really wish I had packed water shoes. But, obviously that’s not something I would suggest for someone visiting London. However, there are certain passes, tickets and apps you shouldn’t go without!

Or, better yet, there may be really popular activities that you may need to book ahead. For London, I have a huge list of experiences that you should book in advance for your trip. And, the video from the Sunny News below shares even more tips, if you have five minutes.

Find Out Airline Restrictions

Every airline is different when it comes to what you can and cannot take on the plane and how large your carry-on luggage can be. Make sure that you find out this information well in advance so that you will have a smooth experience and not have to pay any additional charges. Sunny in London email subscribers receive a free, downloadable Guide to London Airports as part of a subscribing bonus. More on that later! If you can’t wait to receive that, we’ve created a Travel Tips for London Airports article that goes through London’s six airport options and the airlines that use them.

Practice Pack Beforehand

You won’t want to be rushed when you are packing as this can cause stress. You may not be able to get everything in and you could create a mess. Instead, it is a good idea to do a practice pack a few days before so that you can work out the best way to arrange your possessions. I did a practice pack before I flew to London from New York back when Mr Sunny and I first started our long distance relationship. I also made charts for all of my outfits, shoes and accessories. How many of you have done that before? Too OCD?

Next, you should then pack your suitcase the night before or in the morning if you have time. Layering tissue paper in between your clothes keeps them from wrinkling too much. And, if you haven’t discovered packing cubes yet, you are really missing out!

ssss-boarding-pass-cant-check-in-because-government-regulations-require-that-you-check-in-at-airport

If you’d like a list of how I pack for short and long trips with success, let me know in the comments. It would include explaining why I have all that string in the mesh pocket of my suitcase. Or did you guess what this is for already?

Pre-book Travel to the Airport

With so much focus on the flight, it is easy to forget about getting to the airport. The train is often the best way but you should always pre-book your tickets to save time and reduce stress on the day – you can book online at places like Southern Railway.

For a guide to London airports and which is the best for you, I made this video to help your decision process, because there are many different travel situations.

Pre-Book Travel to the Airport

On the day of your flight, you will not want to be rushed and you will want to give yourself plenty of time to get through the airport. If possible, you should check-in online and arrive at the airport at least an hour before your scheduled departure time. However, Mr Sunny and I always make it at least three so he can relax in the airport’s pub while I hit duty free!

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

These tips should help you to take the stress out of travel and get your trip off to a smooth start. A vacation should always be a fun and relaxing experience but the travel side can cause a great deal of stress if you are not well-prepared. Keep the above in mind in the run-up to your trip for a fun, relaxing and stress-free vacation.

Holiday Travel- Final Thoughts

What packing and travel tips can you include, Sunny friends? Have you considered booking train travel in advance to save time and money? Has an airlines’ extra baggage fees ever determined which one you choose?

Want a Freebie for Your Trip to London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

Send me the Free Pocket Restaurant Guide

July 11, 2019 by: Sunny London

A Brit’s Guide to Vegas

In 2018, Las Vegas welcomed 42 million tourists to its glamorous strip. Of this impressive number of visitors, around one million came from the UK – more than any other country. This proves that Sin City is still a hit with Brits.

And why wouldn’t it be? This place has a distinct identity, owing to its unique history and charms. Vegas was where casinos first sprung up in the 1950s, ushering in an era with more glitz and glam than any before or since. There’s even a great online casino which have themed their branding on the Vegas heyday – with the chequered flooring and Wurlitzer soundtrack to boot. In fact, this exceptional casino is a good starting point for getting your head around what Vegas is all about.

If you haven’t partied in Las Vegas yet, what are you waiting for? Below is a guide to this one-of-a-kind city, from an American girl living in London who has been to Vegas a few times! Here’s a photo from last visit, which was pre-Instagram days!

A Brit’s Guide to Vegas: Getting There

A direct flight to Las Vegas from any London airport will take around 10 and a half hours and be quite expensive. Finnair and British Airways are the two major airlines offering direct flights to Sin City. A return trip in economy, planned a year in advance will cost around £800.

If that sounds like too much money to spend on flights, you’ll have to consider choosing a flight with one or more stops. Flights from Belfast International can be purchased for as little as £518. You can avail of cheap Ryanair flights to Belfast from London for as little as £9.99.

If you’d like to save yourself a huge amount of money you could even embark on this convoluted journey:

London Heathrow => Belfast International £9.99 Ryanair
Belfast International => New York Stewart £64.99 Norwegian Airlines
New York Stewart => Las Vegas £265 Interjet

Although be warned, an eight-hour flight on a budget airline is not something to take lightly. My guide to The Best London Airport to Choose features information about London’s six airports if you want more information about flying internationally from London. Or, you can watch this Sunny News YouTube video.

There are several different options available to the discerning traveller when it comes to accommodation in Las Vegas. Unsurprisingly, most of the city’s hotels cater for tourists with above average budgets, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t cheaper options available.

Shoestring Budget Style– If you don’t care too much about where you stay and are only heading to Las Vegas for the experience, then take a look at Sin City Hostel. Situated just two kilometres away from the main strip, this hostel would work for the solo traveller. Dorms are available for as little as £23 a night with breakfast included. Sin City Hostel also offers guests exclusive access to some of the best tours and guides in the city.

Mid Budget Style– Las Vegas is all about excess, but you wouldn’t expect to get a slice of that excess for just £60 a night. In the quirkily named Circus Circus Hotel, you can experience what Vegas is all about for a great price. When my family visited Las Vegas, my little sister fell in love with Circus Circus. It’s always been a top pick for families. The hotel is home to an indoor theme park, an outdoor waterpark, a casino and two hot tubs. As you can imagine it’s somewhere kids can relax and enjoy themselves all within a five minute drive of the main strip.

Luxury and Celebrity Style– For the price of £280 per night, you can stay in a suite at the world-famous Bellagio Hotel and Casino. This price gets you 1,020 square feet of luxury space. Their suite comes with a living room bedecked with soft furnishings and a 42 inch plasma screen TV. There are two rooms in the suite – his and hers, both kitted out with en-suite bathrooms with whirlpools and a king size cashmere bed. And, you will have front row views to those famous fountains that have been featured in countless films!

A Brit’s Guide to Vegas: What about Gambling?

No tourism guide to Las Vegas is complete without a look at what makes the city famous: gambling. In fact, it’s intentionally impossible to get anywhere in a Vegas hotel without walking through a casino. And here’s the one casino in Vegas that you absolutely have to visit.

The Venetian is a great casino, thanks to the enormous selection of gaming tables, slot machines and tournaments. However, many tourists feel the main appeal of the casino is the recreation of Venice’s waterways, it really is just like being in the Italian city. Well, as a Florida girl who has stayed at The Venetian, I would say it feels more like a Walt Disney World version of an Italian city!

Compared to Europe, the US is fairly short on history and identity. In the Venetian, the casino moguls of Vegas have sought to bridge this gap is through imitation – which, after all, is the greatest form of flattery, right paisonos?

A Brit’s Guide to Vegas: Eating There

Tao- Not only is the Venetian hotel iconic for all those reasons, but it’s also the location for an award-winning nightclub, beachclub and restaurant. You know that’s the same place that Kim Kardashian celebrated her 30^th birthday, right? Actually, she has had several birthday bashes at this legendary nightclub. The restaurant is the infamous location where Scott Disick tried to shove money down a waiter’s mouth. My experience at the restaurant and club when I was in Vegas was phenomenal! The meal was exquisite and the VIP lounge at Tao was incredible. Aside from possible celebrity sightings, Tao is definitely worth your time while in Vegas.

This opulent three Michelin star restaurant is just off from the MGM Grand Casino floor, and you may have had to win big in order to afford the food here. The French cuisine comes as 12 decadent courses that will leave your taste buds tingling. If you’ve already committed to staying in a luxury suite at one of the hotels above, you may as well stretch the budget a little farther for this sumptuous restaurant. Having eaten at the Bellagio before, I can say that there is no room for second class. Everything, including my experience at The Bank Nightclub, is first class and fab!

Wahlburgers– If you haven’t had a chance to visit the recently opened Wahlburgers in Covent Garden, then you can grab a ‘gourmet’ fast food burger at their Las Vegas location. Seriously, if you’re in Sin City and want to have a great American burger, Mac ‘n cheese or onion rings, this celebrity owned spot is the place to be seen. However, be prepared for those glitzy and glam prices when you’re acting like a high roller here.

A Brit’s Guide to Vegas: Summary

There are a million and one ways to enjoy this magical city, which is filled with crazy stories from across the decades. Ultimately, this place is what you make of it. However you get there, remember to live it to the max, because whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Actually, the truth is whatever happens in Vegas immediately goes on social media, so how about this…

Take a gamble on Las Vegas because- no one wants to suffer from FOMO!

June 22, 2019 by: Sunny London

Do Photos of Cornwall Cause Overtourism?

How many times have you stood in front of something so majestic, took a picture to share the view with people and felt crushed when the camera capture didn’t do it justice? That’s how I feel about my photos of Cornwall.

On a five day holiday Mr Sunny and I went to Boscastle, Tintagel, St Ives, Port Isaac and Padstow. The array of sights in just this small area, even on days when it rained, makes it a great destination for tourists. In fact, it’s starting to be too great.

When I first posted photos of Cornwall with Mr Sunny on Instagram, my Florida friends were in disbelief. On many levels I was too. Living in London for six years has taught me to keep my distance from the making physical contact with the River Thames. It’s murky and filthy. But, to be fair, ocean water in Daytona Beach, (my hometown) isn’t very transparent either! The water in Cornwall is such a beautiful shade of blue.

Let’s see what you think.

And in terms of rugged coastlines and beaches, Cornwall scores high on the wow factor too.

It’s no wonder that Cornwall is experiencing overtourism. It is certainly the most beautiful place I have been in England. However, I haven’t made it to the Lake District yet, and I hear that is insanely gorgeous. What do you think Sunny friends, have any of you been to both? If so, how do they compare?

So, this brings us to the idea of overtourism. Like Dubrovnik and many areas, Cornwall is suffering the backlash of an abundance of social media photos publicizing its beauty combined with popular television shows filming on location. These two factors bring tourists to the area in droves.

While that might drive the area’s economy up initially, it also has negative effects. One of the big concerns is people actually causing erosion of the locations. Some cities have imposed additional taxes for tourists to compensate for the destruction caused.

What do you think is the answer for this? With London’s tourist population expected to grow 30% by 2025, what will happen to London? Will promoting less popular neighborhoods in London help balance the traffic? Will the tourism boards follow the lead of the Netherlands and stop promoting London internationally?

Mr Sunny and I tend to pick less popular places to travel because we really like to avoid crowds.Will overtourism affect your travel plans? Could it stop you from choosing a holiday destination?

June 16, 2019 by: Sunny London

What is the Best London Airport to Choose?

Choosing which London airport for your trip can be complicated if you aren’t familiar with their differences and locations. After living in London for 6 years, I have had the chance to explore and learn about what makes one better than the other. If there was an easy answer for everyone, you probably wouldn’t be reading this! However, with the information below you will be able to make a decision on what is the best London airport for you.

The array of choices you have for airports near London can be confusing. To judge by name, you would find 6 options identified as a London airport. From largest to smallest they are: Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport (LGW), London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LLA), London City Airport (LCY) and London Southend Airport (SEN).

However, bigger isn’t always better. For international travel, bigger airports usually mean more time for checking in, going through security, boarding your flight, going through Border Control and waiting in baggage claim.

When deciding what is the best London airport to choose, you need to consider distance because only one airport is really located close to Central London. This area of London is the most popular place for travellers to choose a hotel during a visit. In order of closest distance to greatest, the options are:

London City Airport, 14 km (9 miles)
Heathrow, 26 km (16 miles)
Gatwick, 45 km (28 miles)
Luton, 55km (34 miles)
Stansted, 63 km (39 miles)
Southend, 64 km (40 miles)

What is the Best London Airport to Choose- Most Popular

Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport are the popular options for first time travellers to London. To be honest, they are the two my husband (who has lived his entire life in London) and I choose most. We prefer to pay more for convenience and nearly always book flights on British Airways due to their loyalty programme. I recently cashed in Avios for Business Class tickets to Cyprus, which will be a 4 1/2 hour direct flight for us from Heathrow!

If we book really early flights, we stay at a hotel near the airport, which we book through Expedia. For transportation, we use Heathrow Express, Uber, London Underground or Gatwick Express. Arriving early gives me plenty of time to hit World Duty Free.

If cheap ticket prices are your top concern, you will likely find the best deals through the other London airports. When I say cheap, I mean like £30 each way or less to European destinations! However, these discount airlines tend to charge to choose a seat, bring a carry on, check in a bag, and basically breath on the plane- in our opinion. The seats also offer very, very little legroom.

If you want to play safe and go with the most popular London airports, watch the 4 minute YouTube video below. I compare transportation options to Central London from Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, assuming flight prices are equal.

You can download my free guide with all the prices and train options I mention in the YouTube video, by subscribing to the weekly email. Immediately you get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London‘ which is the ultimate free travel accessory for a London trip. It features top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning (like the airport guide), plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

Let’s take a look at other options to consider for what is the best London airport to choose. These options would appeal to people travelling between London and other UK or European destinations.

London Stansted Airport

The newest London airport, London Stansted gives access to 200 destinations across Europe, Middle East and Africa. It has one main passenger terminal.

With regard to transportation, Stansted Airport Railway station is in the terminal building. Stansted Express goes to and from Liverpool Street in central London every 15 minutes when trains are running. If you book tickets online in advance and you can pay from £9.45 one way between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. This offer is only online and allows you a fully flexible ticket. You can travel on any train on the outbound date you book and can return anytime within a month. This option is available up to 6 months in advance. Keep in mind there is limited availability, so you would want to book early.

The journey usually takes roughly 45-53 minutes. The busiest routes from Stansted Airport are: Dublin, Edinburgh, Belfast International, Rome-Ciampino and Malaga. The most popular airlines are:

Austrian Airlines
British Airways
easyjet
Emirates
Jet2.com
Pegasus Airlines
Ryanair
Scandinavian Airlines
Thomas Cook Airlines
TUI Airways

London Luton Airport

Luton is 28 miles north of Central London. It is the 5th busiest airport in the UK and has 1 terminal and a single runway. Luton Airport is the base and head office location for easyjet. Most of its routes are through Europe. Generally, you would fly on the airlines below at really great ticket prices:

easyjet
Ryanair
TUI Airways
Vueling

The fastest train between St Pancras station in Central London and Luton Airport Parkway railway station takes 22 minutes, but they average 40 minutes. There is a 10-minute shuttle bus between the railway station and the airport terminal. You can check National Rail for details, but a Super Off-Peak ticket Single is £13.10.

London City Airport

This airport opened officially in 1987 and is quite small compared to other London airports. It has a single, two story passenger terminal building. They claim you can get ‘From front door to gate in 30 minutes’.

The British Airways business (Club World) London City Service claims to be the smartest way to reach New York City. The exclusively business-class service is the closest a commercial flight gets to a private jet. You are also able to clear immigration en-route so you can skip the queues at JFK.

If you read through the comments on the YouTube video, you’ll learn that that landing at London City Airport is a nail-biter. The airport is busiest during winter months. And, the most popular destinations are: Zurich, Geneva and Milan for winter sports fans. Airlines flying in and out of London City Airport are:

Aer Lingus
Alitalia
British Airways
Flybe
KLM
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
Luxair
Swiss International Air Lines
TAP Air Portugal

The most popular transportation option (and the cheapest) would be Docklands Light Railway. You can use an Oyster card on it, and easily connect to the London Underground and London Overground. There are currently no plans for a station to London City Airport when the Elizabeth Line opens, but it will come very close.

London Southend Airport

As the furthest airport, you would choose this one if you plan a holiday on the east coast of England and are renting a car. However, as of 10th June 2019, Greater Anglia began running an extra service to London’s Liverpool Station. The airport has up to five services an hour during peak times and can get you to the City in under an hour.

You can purchase tickets at the station from the ticket office and ticket vending machines. Off-peak single fares start at £16.70 to Liverpool street. They give discounts for railcards, travelcards and groups.

What is the Best London Airport to Choose? Final Thoughts

I wish it was one simple answer for everyone. If you are travelling solo to London on business and plan to be mostly in the City or Canary Wharf area, then London City Airport is the best for you. A family on holiday might consider Heathrow Airport and then an Uber in to Central London to a hotel. A budget traveller with some extra time would also consider Heathrow Airport, but then use an Oyster card and jump on the London Underground. A couple seeking an easy route with train travel to the heart of London and then a cab to a hotel would likely pick Gatwick Airport.

For those who have visited London or live in London, what is the best airport to choose for your circumstances? Do you prefer one consistently over another? Does an airline loyalty programme make a big difference? Is it time, budget and/or convenience?

May 5, 2019 by: Sunny London

SSSS Boarding Pass- Can’t Check You in Because Government Regulations

When ‘We can’t check you in because government regulations require that you check in at the airport’ displayed on my computer screen as I tried to check in to my LHR-ATL flight in August, I thought I had hit the wrong key. So, I tried again.

And again. And again. And again.

After nearly six attempts to check in to the flight (Delta 31 to Atlanta) I have been on tons of times, I gave up. Next, I did what any logical person at a computer would do… I googled it.

After reading a few forums and random websites, it appeared I had been part of some random security ‘check’ done on Americans.

Not placing tons of faith in people who have the ability to post whatever on the internet (myself included 😉) I decided to go straight to the source.

Finding a phone number for Delta’s Customer Service in the UK took longer than I expected.

SSSS Boarding Pass: Delta Airlines’ Response

The Delta representative, whose English I barely understood, indicated that I should anticipate nothing additional at the airport. I clarified this with my OCD level of interrogation several times and then let it go. I slept normally that night and did not let pre-travel anxiety get the best of me.

Well, not really. I still planned to be at Heathrow Airport 30 minutes prior to when I normally arrive for this flight. And just for reference, I have flown Delta round trip from LHR to America minimally 3 times a year for the past 7 years.

Aside from waiting to check-in for 45 minutes in the long queue, my check-in went normally. And, I did inquire again if anything additional would happen.

As a side note, before Delta merged its desks with Virgin Atlantic a few years ago, I never had to wait longer than 10 minutes to check my luggage in the terminal at Heathrow Airport.

All went as normal through the security line. However, I only had 15 minutes until my gate number was displayed. When it did, I darted off quickly to Gate 20.

SSSS Boarding Pass: What Really Happens

Upon entering, my boarding pass was seized and I was escorted to a small table on the side of the boarding area waiting room. The ‘agent’ said he needed to test every electronic item I had.

AYFKM?!?!? I probably said that out loud. Twice. Really loud. In fact, that is why it has taken so long to publish this blog post. I was irate and didn’t respond in the most favourable way when I realised this was definitely happening to ME.

‘I am a travel blogger. I have 3 cameras, 3 external hard drives, a laptop, iPad, multiple phones and more,’ I said with a total edge.

He not only cared less, but also the clipboard lady next to him wouldn’t even make room for me to open my carefully packed carry on.

And one by one I had to remove everything from my carry on luggage, and anyone who wanted to could watch. Undergarments, make up, charge cords, and one electronic device after another, the pile mounted.

I was running out of room and no one cared. My stuff started falling to the floor, but they insisted I keep going.

And with little notice, after what seemed like an eternity, they said I could stop and called the next person over to the desk.

WTF? I don’t even get time to repack. I am actually not sure if that thought was expressed aloud because I was upset. Really upset.

SSSS Boarding Pass: Advice for You

This is a completely unsponsored blog post. I am genuinely writing it because I have a high population of American readers and YouTube viewers who travel to and from London either to visit London or live here as American expats like me. And they (probably YOU) are a target for this additional random security screening.

– Arriving early for me did not make a difference. The best you can do is make sure you go to the gate immediately when it shows on the screens at Heathrow Airport.

– Pack your electronics in compartments on the top. The next time I flew I took everything in a camera backpack as my handbag. Mr Sunny was responsible for the carry on suitcase. I wasn’t flagged again, but this was a flight was London Gatwick to Nice, France on British Airways so it isn’t a fair comparison because it didn’t go through American airspace.

Nothing was unusual on my return flight from Atlanta to Heathrow in terms of being subjected to an additional security check.

However I also have started travelling with packing cubes and they have made a huge difference on how fast I can pack and unpack when Mr Sunny and I arrive to a destination.

– Be absent minded. I think I offered way too much. It seemed they were just casually going through my stuff because they had too. I think if I hadn’t mentioned all the devices I had, they probably would have barely checked anything.

SSSS Boarding Pass: Final Thoughts

I tweeted both Heathrow Airport and Delta Airlines and neither indicated it was triggered or handled on their end. After further research, I learned why they really had nothing to do with it.

In the YouTube video below I share what I have learned since the experience about how the US TSA chooses people. I also give advice about what not to put in your carry on luggage that might be a surprise to you.

Have you ever had a security dilemma at the airport? What happened and can you offer any advice to others to help them if they are in a similar situation?

May 4, 2019 by: Sunny London

Best Places to Visit in South of France- 20 Photos to Inspire Your Trip Planning

Are you thinking of planning a trip to South of France? The French Riviera, AKA Cote d’Azur, was one of the first modern resort areas in the world. It has always been number one on my travel bucket list.

After a four night trip there with Mr Sunny, I can honestly say it is my top sunny destination to recommend to people who want a relaxed atmosphere, delicious food and sunny views. We spent time in Nice, Monaco and Cannes, and I consider those three locations the best places to visit in South of France.

Rather than give you a list of things to do in this Mediterranean playground, I will show you the sights through 20 photos I took on our foodie holiday in the French Riviera.

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Street Scenes

We stayed in Nice, the largest city in the south of France. Our hotel was in a perfect location because it provided easy access to everything we wanted to do and had an amazing view from our room. We booked the whole trip through British Airways. For other guests’ feedback, you can read reviews on TripAdvisor. Or, you can read my review.

The Promenade de Anglais is just one of the many streets that offers endless photo opportunities. That is the famous street you see in the image above. Whether you are going for a jog, strolling casually, or venturing around on a bike, I think it’s easy to agree that the views are exquisite.

However, even the small streets away from the sea in Nice offer inspiration. The flowers and beautiful colour palettes of the buildings popping against the azure sky are such a contrast from London’s city sights.

It seemed like to matter where we wondered and looked, there was a hidden gem that led us to another adventure full of candy for our eyes. For example, take a look at the waterfall in the top centre of the photo below. We spotted this from a street market and took the short hike to visit this area called the Parc Forestier du Mont-Boron.

While walking around we saw plush trees and waterfalls, and the views of Nice were majestic.

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Views

I would suggest planning to spend a half a day in this area, especially if you enjoy photography. The shots you can capture to make your followers even more Insta-envious are endless. And, if you enjoy boating there are some drool worthy sights for you here too.

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Boats

The Monaco Boat show is billed as the World’s Greatest Superyacht Event. It takes place in the end of September. Even though we visited in South of France in the middle of October, there was no shortage of boat and yacht images available. These shots are from Nice and our day trips to Monaco and Cannes.

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Coastal Views

We took a train to Monaco and Cannes for our daytrips. For more on how to do that, I give Travel Tips and Advice for the South of France in the YouTube video below. It includes a quick hotel room tour as well.

Along the way for both of these train trips we were privy to more coastal views. And, through just wandering around Monaco and Cannes we were able to grab even more shots of the azure Mediterranean Sea.

Places to Visit in South of France- Beaches

The beach in Nice and Cannes had sun bathers and wasn’t too crowded, but I would imagine if you visited in the late Spring or Summer, you would find it much more crowded.

And just to see if you’re paying attention, I want you to look at the two planes above. Which one do you think is the real plane in the photo? Sunny friends, I added one of the planes in Adobe Photoshop.

Something that really bothers me is when people do so much editing to their pictures that they create false expectations about the location. We hear of many places experiencing ‘overtourism’ now. I think one of the contributors could to this is social media influencers and bloggers misrepresenting how ‘ideal’ the location can be.

DISCLAIMER: Aside from the extra plane above for humour, I have only enhanced the colours in all of my photos from my foodie holiday in South of France. So, truly, what you see is what you get in the French Riviera. It is THAT stunning.

There are so many places in the South of France that offer endless beach and blue sea views. FOR. REAL.

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Final Thoughts

I hope to return to the South of France because our short trip did not allow us to get to Saint-Tropez or many other seaside resorts. If you have explored these areas or are from the French Riviera, please leave suggestions in the comments. We are relaxed foodie travellers. Ideas about hotels, restaurants and casual things to do in the during a visit in the South of France would be great!

Since my blog is called Sunny in London, I rarely publish photos of locations at night. However, just to show you that South of France is equally as stunning in the evening, I have this image for you.

And it wouldn’t be a true blog post if we didn’t hear a word from Mr Sunny, my London born husband with a very English sense of humor. Here is a photo he wanted me to include on his behalf. He calls it ‘Pardon My French’

December 6, 2018 by: Sunny London

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel- Where to Stay Near Windsor Castle at Christmas

If you really want to treat yourself when visiting Windsor, you need to know a great location for where to stay near Windsor Castle. Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa is beneath the castle and is inches from tons of restaurants, shops and of course- pubs!

Mr Sunny and I love Windsor because it is such a short trip from London and has such a lovely atmosphere. Recently, we made a trip to Windsor just to enjoy all the Christmas decorations. While I think London is breathtaking during the holidays, there are so many things to do in Windsor at Christmas too. That is why having a hotel in a great location matters a lot.

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa- Check-in

We arrived at the Windsor and Eton Central Railway Station at around 5.30pm. The hotel is about a 7 minute walk away, I think. You see I am not exactly sure because as soon as you leave the station you are dazzled with numerous shops like Molton Brown, Neal’s Yard Remedies and L’Occitane. If the allure of shopping does not misguide you, you still might face another obstacle with Windsor Castle.

Its awe will strike you just as you leave the station heading toward the High Street. I think I stood in front of it for 10 minutes filming the light projection display when we arrived. But, you will have to watch my “Things to Do in Windsor at Christmas’ video to see what I mean.

You literally just wrap around the High Street and Windsor Castle to find the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa.

Staff greeted us quickly and swiftly took us to our room, which was in a building across the road from the main building. They were clear that they wanted our stay to be relaxing and were eager to help with anything.

Our room was exactly what we needed for the quick stay- clean, quiet and comfortable. We quickly freshened up and headed to the high street to explore Christmas in Windsor at night.

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa- Next Time

Unfortunately, with a tight timeline for a press trip, we weren’t able to enjoy more of what the hotel had to offer. Sadly, we just got to sleep and have breakfast. In fact, the images of the spa look gorgeous on the website. Mr Sunny was quite disappointed when he learned the hotel has a whirlpool, because we did not pack his bathing costume for our trip. However, with so many Christmas activities happening in the town, I can’t imagine this would have been the highlight!

The afternoon tea at Sir Christopher Wren is offered in either the Drawing Room or Brasserie. Both seem ideal for a relaxing and indulging in this British tradition.

They had a great offer for January stays while we were there, so Mr Sunny and I are going to continue to follow the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa on Instagram so we don’t miss the chance to skip off to Windsor the next weekend we are free. It is such an easy escape from London in terms of day trips that offer English culture and history.

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa- Christmas Season

While the hotel is absolutely dreamy for a wedding and is where celebrities stay when in Windsor for a royal wedding, it is also a popular hotel for local residents to book their Christmas parties.

In terms of festivities, there is not a corner of the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa that isn’t sparkling with Christmas joy. I lost count of all the Christmas trees I saw. Holiday decorations are tastefully everywhere.

This further added to the warmth and lovely atmosphere of the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa. If you seek a winter getaway that is easy from London or have some extra time to enjoy the English country atmosphere, book a stay here early. It is quite a popular place to go.

Our stay was part of a press trip to the area, but if you want to see all the other great reviews and stars from people who agree, you can visit TripAdvisor to how highly Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa is ranked.

Have you been to Windsor? Aside from Windsor Castle, what other activities do you suggest? Do you have any questions for me about a trip? Stay tuned for the Sunny News YouTube video about ‘Things to Do in Windsor at Christmas’ video. You can subscribe to the Sunny News emails to make sure you don’t miss any promotions or updates too.

The Sunny News YouTube channel shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London and day trips from London. This includes tips for how to tip when in London, food to eat in London, and advice for exchanging money. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

November 20, 2018 by: Sunny London

Things to Do in Cornwall When it Rains

One of the top things to do in Cornwall is to just take pictures of all the gorgeous scenery. Did you know this some parts of this exquisite area of England is actually experiencing over tourism due to its majestic appeal on Instagram? No joke.

I’ve had #instaenvy so many times that my hopes for what I would see when I was visiting Cornwall were really high. But the days leading up to our trip all had rain in the forecast!

Things to Do in Cornwall When It Rains:

Luckily, Mr Sunny spent tons of time in Cornwall as a child. It was one of his English family’s favourite places to holiday. He had tons of ideas of things to do in Cornwall when it rains, so we still had a fantastic time.

We stayed in Boscastle at an elegant luxury bed and breakfast, The Old Parsonage. You can read a full review of our stay and see what I mean. I would say it was easy walking distance to our first suggestion because it does look that way on Google Maps. However, you walk down a very, very steep hill to get to Boscastle’s village area.

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic is an attraction that obviously has a very niche appeal. I am scared of my own shadow but once I realised that this area of Cornwall has deep history in magical tales, I knew I wanted to visit this museum if we had time.

On a dreary day, we hit this museum. It took about an hour of our day. We cut the visit short because some other patron was reading the text of every display loudly to her son. She then quizzed him on every little detail. It was really disruptive and creepy. What do you think? However, obviously this has nothing to do with the museum itself.

Next my husband drove us to the Jamaica Inn. He explained that it has a rich history of being the most famous smuggler’s inn. It was made famous by the Daphne du Maurier novel. We did not eat there but bought tickets to the Smugglers Museum. You will feel the pub is is a bit of a tourist trap and not like your typical old English pubs. There is a gift shop and it seemed like cafeteria style dining. It’s worth a quick look if you need an indoor activity in Cornwall.

Close to this is Bodmin Jail. It’s an old civil and naval prison. It has a reputation for a great restaurant and bar. Would you believe you can actually get married there? I guess if you really wanted to refer to the ol’ ball and chain, this would be appropriate! If you visit their website you can see they have ghost walks, mystery dinner evenings and other special events.

Finally, there is Eden Project which is the largest indoor rain forest in the world. The visitor destination in Cornwall is in a large crater. If you will find contemporary gardens, stunning plants and exhibitions. They also host summer concerts. Adult tickets are £27.50 if you do not buy them in advance.

What to Do in Cornwall When it Rains- Final Thoughts

If the weather is just dreary, the views from Port William Inn are still stunning. Mr Sunny shared with me that he spent many summers playing in the water and on these rocks as a child while his grandfather took in the views (and maybe a little wine) at this historic inn.

When the rain stopped on our visit, we explored Tintagel Castle. This is a must see for anyone interested in the legend of King Arthur. Please note that this English Heritage site is closed until Spring 2019 for the construction of a new footbridge.

If you have been to this majestic area of England, what other suggestions do you have for things to do in Cornwall when it rains, Sunny friends?

November 10, 2018 by: Sunny London

Harry Potter Hotel in London- Georgian House Bed and Breakfast

Have you heard about the Harry Potter hotel in London? It’s somewhere I have wanted to stay for a while. Recently, I had the chance to experience a number of activities at the Georgian House. It is a five star bed and breakfast in London located within a short walk from Victoria Station.

It is quite a big place really, as it technically features three properties right near each other. When we stayed, we had a warm greeting in Reception. The hotel employee was very friendly and swiftly took us to our room. In the video below I give you an insider’s look of how you find the secret area that has the Wizard Chambers at this London bed and breakfast. Not all rooms are themed this way.

Harry Potter Hotel in London: Wizard Chambers

The Wizard Chambers was exactly how I would imagine a wizard’s chambers to be. It even has an owl to deliver your messages!

Ok so that owl is really for decoration but The Georgian House Wizard Chambers comes with a temporary mobile phone for you to use during your visit. Since Mr Sunny and I live in London and both recently upgraded to an iPhone X, taking the hotel’s phone when we left wasn’t necessary. However, I can imagine this is really useful for foreign guests. I can’t think it would be offered by many other bed and breakfast accommodations in London either. But, please let me know in the comments below.

Not long after checking in, we went off to enjoy their Cheese Afternoon Tea. You can read a full food review of that themed tea on the blog also. Once we finished the tea, we ran off to a local pub for a bit and then returned for the Wizards’ Cocktail class. While I think this experience is best for anyone visiting with small children who love wizards, Harry Potter and science, we had fun during the short activity. In the YouTube video you can see some of what’s involved and watch the bubbling, cool cocktail that you make in the class.

Finally, we had Pimlico Pictures all to ourselves for our final evening thing to do. That’s actually a pretty funny thing to say because it is considered to be the world’s smallest cinema, and two was a tight fit. It is a small seat for two in what perhaps was a closet in previous years. There is a big tv and a cabinet with snacks. You can choose from a list of 30 movies they offer or sign in to your own Netflix account for a very private screening. We actually propped the door open a bit to have some circulation in the room while we watched the final Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows- Part 2. It just happened to be one of those October nights in London when summer decided to make another guest appearance in the Autumn weather forecast and the room does not have any air conditioning.

Harry Potter Hotel in London- Final Thoughts

We enjoyed our stay at Georgian House Hotel. The breakfast the next morning was packed with people! We had no idea there were that many people staying there the night that we visited. Adam Rowledge, the hotel’s General Manager, also won the Independent Hotelier of the Year award just before our visit.

Our experience at Georgian House was complimentary. You can read more reviews on TripAdvisor about this London bed and breakfast. However, if you want a magical room tour of a Wizard’s Chambers, it’s best to sit back and watch this…

The Sunny News YouTube channel shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes tips for how to tip when in London, food to eat in London, and advice for exchanging money. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning. And there is also an entire section devoted to Harry Potter Things to Do too.

November 3, 2018 by: Sunny London

Hyatt Regency Nice France Review- Where to Stay in Cote d’Azur

What do you look for when choosing a hotel? Mr Sunny and I quickly decided on the Hyatt Regency Nice France or the ‘Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Mediterranee’ for our four night stay in the south of France. It was one of the top hotels featured on all of the holiday booking websites we researched. We knew we wanted our room to have a view of the sea and a balcony. I did not really mean for that to rhyme, but everything just becomes poetic in France, doesn’t it?

Hyatt Regency Nice France Review- Location

As I mentioned, our primary reason for choosing the Hyatt Regency hotel in Nice is because it faces the beach. If you look at Google maps, you will see it is located on the famous Promenade des Anglais. And if you want a moving look at all we could see and do from our hotel, I have made a YouTube video about it too.

It is a short ride from the Nice Airport. We took Uber both to and from the hotel to the airport. Our flight to London departed at 7:15pm so we left the hotel at 4:30pm. By 5:15 we had checked our bag with British Airways and been through security. The ride was about €15.

Aside from those two Uber rides, the only time we used any transportation was trains for our day trips. The station was just an easy 10 minute walk away.

The Hyatt Regency, in our opinion, is perfectly located within walking distance of Old Town. We spent two days wandering the streets there and even had the chance to explore the views from Castle Hill, which are said to the best of Nice and the beach. That is where I took the photograph above. It’s actually at the top of this… and yes we walked all the way to the top!

I would strongly suggest you have a sea view room because the azure water is such a treat to see from the moment you wake up each day. We also slept with the balcony door open a few nights. The sound of the ocean waves rolling on to the beach throughout the night was especially soothing. It absolutely reminded me of when I lived on the beach in my hometown Daytona Beach, Florida.

Hyatt Regency Nice France- Service

Our room was very clean, freshly made and spacious, and we never once actually saw an attendant. They are pretty stealthy!

Each day we were greeted and seated immediately for breakfast. I never waited more than 2 minutes for my morning latte. As a person who spent 10+ years living in New York, a good coffee very early is a non-negotiable for me.

The pastries at breakfast are lovely. I was surprised to see several separate shelves of baked goods each day that were gluten free. However, after eating responsibly our first morning, I decided to give in the rest of the trip and indulged in the real deal. I am so grateful I did because one morning they had cheese cake and it was divine! Surely, you saw my plate that day on Instagram? If not, you might want to give me a follow so you have all the behind the scenes views of the Sunny adventures!

Most noteworthy in terms of service during our stay was the evening concierge, Antonio. We relied on his advice several times for restaurants nearby and travel tips for our day trips to Monaco and Cannes. Our favourite French food experience, Franchine, was his suggestion our first evening.

Mr Sunny enjoyed the pool one morning. He did try to go for a swim when we returned from our day trip from Cannes but the water was a bit too cold and there were quite a few kids already in the water. To be fair, we did stay at the end of October so the fact that he was able to enjoy it one day is quite remarkable. Temperatures highs were around 70°-75° Fahrenheit each day of our visit.

Hyatt Regency Nice France- Final Thoughts

Our four night trip to Nice was easily my favorite one this year. Vienna in February was ridiculously cold and grey. Prague in the end of May was sweltering. The French Rivieria is breathtaking. It’s a much quieter and more relaxed version of South Beach, Miami, albeit French not Cuban- influenced obviously.

However, from the conversations I had with the Nice locals, I don’t think the temperatures we experienced are typical of this time of year. Our Uber driver for the return to the airport trip indicated that it is typical for it to be as sunny as we saw it in mid-Autumn but definitely cooler.

We booked our trip as a package holiday through British Airways. You can also see the hotel’s excellent reviews on TripAdvisor too.

I can’t imagine the Côte d’Azur ever being unpleasant. What thoughts do you have Sunny friends? Was our weather really atypical? Do you have any south of France suggestions for other readers?

If you would like a closer ‘sea view’ of the amazing sights of Nice, with a few tips too, don’t forget I have a video for you. Ugh- again with the rhyming!!