Sunny in London

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November 26, 2019 by: Sunny London

What You Need for Smart and Safe Travel in 2020

What’s on your 2020 travel horizon, Sunny friends? Hopefully, you’ve been thinking about your adventures for the upcoming year and are doing the necessary research to make your holiday plans meaningful.

If you’re like me, when you choose a destination you think about: your budget, accommodation, things to do, places to eat and transportation. But, do you also take the time to buy some things in advance that will make the travel experience easier? Or even safer?

In 2019 Mr Sunny and I enjoyed a fly drive holiday through Spain and France, train travel around the United Kingdom and flights to Hungary, Italy and Florida. Through these experiences there are several items I recommend that you have to make journeys smoother and safer.

smart-and-safe-travel-in-2020

Smart Travel in 2020- Packing Tips

I gave in to the hype about packing cubes two years ago, and it was one of the best travel decisions I made. On our fly drive trip around Spain and France we stayed at a different hotel every other night. Packing our clothes in separate packing cubes made it so much easier to drop our stuff off in the room and jump outside to enjoy the sights and food when we arrived to a new location. Our clothes stayed organised and barely got wrinkled after being in the packing cubes for several days. However, I did put tissue paper in between everything as I folded it.

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If you are a travel blogger, you have tons of electronic devices, batteries, external drives, SD cards and cords to transport. I love my electronics accessories organiser bag. In fact, I don’t just use it when travelling. Year round I keep all my things in it and just take them out if I don’t need them for a specific trip.

Another item that works every day but especially for travelling is a credit card protector or blocking sleeves. These card protectors are recommended by UK police. They prevent skimming attacks and are very highly rated. For less than “a fiver” you could save yourself a ton of aggravation.

A headache I have as an American expat living in London is monitoring how much I put in my suitcase when I return to the US for visits. I leave London with a bag that’s nearly empty, but the return luggage isn’t so light and pretty. You can find huge deals shopping in America at places like Macy’s, Kohl’s, Target, and Sephora. These deals mean a fully packed suitcase on the return trip for me.

To avoid spending additional money at the U.S. airport, using a portable luggage scale saves last minute panic at the ticket counter when checking in a bag. And, personal luggage tags that are bright and multi-coloured make grabbing the bag on the baggage claim carousel faster too.

Safe Travel in 2020- Health and Security

For international travel, having a pair of compression socks to help your blood circulation is always a good idea. For several years I have worn them and certainly notice a difference. Although, admittedly they are kind of tricky if you are leaving a tropical location. They generally don’t pair well with cargo pants or shorts!

Chances are you are going to bring a laptop with you on a trip, especially if you are a travel blogger and plan to do some writing, photo editing, or video production. You might be using a hotel’s wifi connection for these activities or maybe even plan on doing FaceTime with relatives or partners.

Have you thought about your own personal security while doing this? Again, just a small investment in a Webcam Cover would be worth it.

Smart and Safe Travel in 2020- Final Thoughts

One item I haven’t listed is a pop socket for a mobile phone. Because I don’t think it’s possible to have a pop socket and use a fast wireless charger for a phone, I haven’t bought one yet. If you have one and love it, please let me know. Is there a specific kind of pop socket you recommend? Any tips for a purchase of one?

October 1, 2019 by: Sunny London

Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe During Peak Travel Times

When it comes to finding cheap holiday destinations in Europe, Mr Sunny and I have to do quite a bit of research. Due to the nature of my fulltime job, we are forced to take our holidays during peak travel times. Rarely do we score one of those £50 roundtrip deals that are part of flash sales or last minute travel specials you see frequently.

To plan for holiday destinations in Europe or to the US, we regularly use flight and hotel comparison websites like JustFly to see what’s available at the best price during the restricted dates we can travel.

Talking to family, friends and colleagues who travel throughout Europe about where the current hot places are for less has helped us make some great decisions and narrow our searches. In fact, we think we have nearly been to or have holidays booked to all the top cheap holiday destinations in Europe.

Our Travel Profile

We like city breaks and beach destinations and have a relaxed approach to our itinerary. It’s important to us to see popular attractions and have time to enjoy the regional cuisine. Not having children means we like when there is an adult pool at a hotel. Spas always attract our attention. We’re happy to spend money on quality, but appreciate a deal like everyone else who hasn’t won the Euromillions yet.

Obviously, we prefer to stay in 5 star accommodations, just like most people would. Generally, we can find hotels that aren’t ridiculously expensive but still have a “luxury” label. Budget accommodations don’t appeal to our travel taste.

If this matches how you and your partner like to travel and you’re restricted to peak travel times, then focus your research on the cheap holiday destinations in Europe below for your next trip.

Valletta, Malta

Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe: Malta

Two years ago we enjoyed a 5-night holiday to Malta. We would recommend this trip to people who enjoy sun, water sports and excellent food. While it’s likely much cheaper during off peak times, Malta was less money during the popular summer months of July and August in comparison to other European destinations.

Saving money on meals allowed us to book more activities. We loved our day trip to Gozo and Blue Lagoon on a boat from our hotel in Valletta, as well as the full day we spent touring Game of Thrones locations used for the first season with a cast member.

cheap-holiday-destinations-in-europe-spain

Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe: Bilbao, San Sebastián and Rioja

If you are foodie travellers and love wine, this roadtrip trio of Spanish cities is a must do. We spent six nights touring the Basque Country and fell in love with the beautiful scenery and cuisine. This was a summer trip for us that we made cheaper than our normal trips by staying in some 4 star hotels instead of 5 stars.

Mr Sunny and I rented a car in Bilbao and spent two nights in each city. You could easily hike up your budget by dining on the many Michelin starred options in San Sebastián. However, we made our experience more attainable by enjoying pinxtos for lunch and early evening hours.

Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe: Prague

Having a reputation for one of the cheapest holiday destinations in Europe, Prague was high on our list. In terms of good food and beer for less money than you spend in London, Prague fulfilled our expectations. However, unlike Malta and Basque Country, Prague isn’t known for fancy food.  You will save money in Prague but you will eat goulash, braised beef and dumplings. Don’t plan on getting any food porn for your Insta in this city! Unless of course you try the Trdelnik.

Because most of our days were under our normal daily budget, we did splurge on a Michelin starred dinner at our hotel one evening. It was the most we ever spent on one dinner, and we agree it was the best food experience we have ever had together. That includes all of the complimentary blog feasts we have had too.

Our trip to Prague took place in May. The 90° Fahrenheit temperatures really crushed my ability to fall in love with this city like most people do. So, since it’s not a beach destination, I would suggest it for the Autumn.

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Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe: Vienna

This city has a reputation for some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. We visited in February and were able to still enjoy many winter themed activities that took place over the holidays.  The temperatures at times were bone chilling, but obviously outdoor ice skating wouldn’t be possible any other way.  

Vienna tends to get quite crowded in the summer. So if you want to hit the city and not face the summer or Christmas market crowds, February could be a great option for you too.

cheap-holiday-destinations-in-europe-vienna

Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe: Budapest

Since going to European Christmas markets is something I would love to do, we booked a holiday to Budapest this year in November. Like Prague, Budapest is reportedly one of Europe’s cheapest cities to visit. Booking our flights and hotel in May allowed us to grab a good deal.

Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe: Lisbon

While Lisbon doesn’t generally sit on the top of the cheap European destinations leader board, we think it has potential. We have winter travel plans to Lisbon and are shocked at how cheaply we scored roundtrip flights on British Airways.

It looks like the regional food in Lisbon will be good and reasonable. Further, with its more southern location we are hoping the weather will be quite mild for winter.

Cheap Holiday Destinations in Europe: Final Thoughts

Sadly, one of my favourite places to visit was also the most expensive. In October 2018 Mr Sunny and I spent four amazing nights in Nice, France. While it easily was one of the best holidays I have ever had, a trip to the French Riviera sure isn’t cheap. Flights from London can be really reasonable. And, deals including hotels on the Promenade des Anglais aren’t too outrageous either. But, if you want to really enjoy the cuisine of the Côte d’Azur, you need to be ready to for some serious sticker shock at the dinner table!

What cities for cheap travel destinations in Europe do you recommend, Sunny friends? If you are forced to travel during peak times, what strategies do you use to save money?

This is a collaborative post.

August 20, 2019 by: Sunny London

Sercotel Villa De Laguardia Review – La Rioja Spain

As we were driving up to Sercotel Villa De Laguardia my heart began steadily began to climb higher than the mountains I could see. Everything on our fly-drive holiday to Spain and France had exceeded expectations, so I wasn’t ready for a disappointment.

On our drive from San Sebastián to Laguardia that morning we had anticipated going through lovely towns and villages that offered countless photo opps and food stops. That wasn’t the case. In fact, it wasn’t until we got much further in to the La Rioja region that we started to see bodegas. Those are the wine shops or cellars in Spain.

sercotel-villa-de-laguardia-review-la-rioja-spain

As the satellite navigation decreased to less than a mile to our destination, I bit my tongue. Mr Sunny didn’t deserve to tormented with my nervous fantasies after he had spent several hours navigating our way behind the wheel in a foreign country.

When we pulled in to the hotel’s parking lot, I held my breath and decided to give it a chance. There seemed to be nothing near by. My negative spirit started wondering how we would enjoy our two days trapped in a ghost town. Actually, it wasn’t even a town. It appeared to be just a hotel and a gas station about a 5 minute walk away.

sercotel-villa-de-laguardia-review-la-rioja-spain

Walking in to the lobby, my heart sprang from my chest when I saw a wine store and sign for the Wine Oil Spa. There is a great panning shot of this experience in the video I made for advice for planning a fly drive holiday through Basque Country.

Sercotel Villa De Laguardia Review – Check In

We waited a few minutes for the guests who arrived before us to finish with their questions. Then we began the check-in process to Sercotel Villa De Laguardia. After about 20 minutes, my heart raced with enthusiasm- not anxiety.

While checking in, we learned that we each had 90 minutes accessing the hotel’s spa both days we were staying as guests of Sercotel Villa De Laguardia. Further, Mr Sunny learned that the ‘lift up a cliff’ he thought he spotted on the way to the hotel would lead to something intriguing. Indeed, it was how you gained access to village of Laguardia if you were not driving.

sercotel-villa-de-laguardia-review-la-rioja-spain

We rushed to our room so I could comb through the spa menu and book my appointments. Mr Sunny quickly grabbed his packing cube from our suitcases so he could get his bathing costume immediately ready for later.

Our room had a nice view of the restaurant’s patio and the decor reflected a more Spanish vibe than our previous two hotel stays. Some people might find it a bit tired and in need of a renovation, but it suited our purposes just fine.

The amenities Sercotel Villa De Laguardia offered far out weighed a slightly old appearance and furniture. We had two twin beds pushed together, rather than a king size bed. But the beds and bedding were comfortable and the room was immaculate.

sercotel-villa-de-laguardia-review-la-rioja-spain

Sercotel Villa De Laguardia Review – What to Do

After I gleefully booked a chocolate massage, express facial and wine exfoliating experience, we made our way to the hotel’s restaurant. Since we hadn’t stopped to eat all morning, it seemed best to try what the hotel had to offer for food. We felt many of the village’s restaurants could close for their afternoon siesta by the time we arrived and chose one for our late lunch.

Another pleasant surprise!

While the restaurant’s menu was a bit more than we anticipated but in reality closer to London’s prices than anything we had found on our previous days in Basque Country, we found the food shockingly good!

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Our servers did their best to speak English and brought us many fantastic dishes. Of course, the wine was exquisite. We followed their recommendations and basically let them choose whatever they felt suited our food. We highly recommend taking advantage of the hotel’s dining service. Our breakfasts both mornings were also superb.

What surprised me the most about our stay at Sercotel Villa De Laguarida was the fact that we didn’t move our car the entire time. I had visions of us touring wineries each day and returning mid-afternoon to the town out of obligation and adherence to drink driving laws.

The concierge arranged for us to be included on a winery’s English speaking tour less than 24 hours after we arrived. That experience was fantastic and later I learned that this tour is the #1 thing to do in Laguardia according to TripAdvisor.

sercotel-villa-de-laguardia-review-la-rioja-spain

Sercotel Villa De Laguardia Review – The Spa

My spa appointments provided a tremendous amount of relaxation each evening, especially since I scheduled them after Mr Sunny and I spent our 90 minutes in the pool and spa.

The total of the three experiences equalled less than what I would spend for a 90 minute facial/massage experience in London.

We appreciated that we were given a comprehensive, quick tour of all the spa offered as well. The thermal circuit has a bathtub with different shower contrasts, a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bathroom and an ice fountain. In the curved swimming pool, you will find water jets, geysers and cold water basins. In the video above, you can see me on my favourite item, the hydromassage benches.

The entire venue is covered with a singular semicircular dome which allows for exterior views and has a chromotherapy night system.

Sercotel Villa De Laguardia Review – Final Thoughts

We can’t recommend this hotel enough to anyone considering a holiday in Basque Country. Although we booked through British Airways, we would suggest booking directly with the Sercotel Villa De Laguardia hotel. I outline the reasons why in this detailed fly drive holiday article. It shares more information on our driving route, parking tips, cultural advice, day trip suggestions and other suggestions for a road trip in Basque Country.

sercotel-villa-de-laguardia-review-la-rioja-spain

Every recommendation they gave us for food, restaurants and things to do exceeded our expectations. They view we had of the region and wineries during our last evening at a restaurant they indicated was frequented by locals is featured in the videos and is breathtaking! You can see it when I introduce Mr Sunny.

I would love to know your experience in Basque Country, considering we know we will return to this area. If you’re American or British, you might want to watch our advice about why you should get an International Driving Permit for foreign holidays too.

Please leave any questions you have about our hotel experience or time in La Rioja and Basque Country too.

You can see all of our Sunny travel destinations on the Sunny News too. It features a new video every Sunday and has a very lively community of regular viewers from America and Europe who are eager to offer their advice!

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August 18, 2019 by: Sunny London

Top Food Travel Destinations for 2020

Where should you go for food travel in 2020? If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that in the past few months I have been to the top two food travel destinations in the world.

At the end of July you also saw on my social media that I spent two days at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival in London. Through my research and writing as a London food blogger, trips I have taken and exhibitions I have attended, I can make some fairly strong predictions for future food travel.

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The two panel discussions to which I was most looking forward at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were the Culinary Trends and Food Hotspots.

To learn about the healthy food trends coming up in 2020, you can watch the Sunny News YouTube video below. I also included on the blog the ‘non-healthy’ information for Top Food Trends 2020.

But, let’s rewind a bit more.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- World Travel Market

For several years I have attended the Blogger Speed Networking event at World Travel Market. Below is my stand from 2015. At the most recent exhibition, I categorised myself as a food travel blogger.

wtm-sunnyinlondon

In the video I share two regions that were keen to talk to all food bloggers about promoting their destination. One I don’t mention is Serbia.

Mr Sunny, a former sound engineer and war cameraman for NBC News, was quite shocked when I returned home that do to say they were inquiring about organising press trips to promote food.

Cuisine in Serbia mixes Byzantine-Greek, Mediterranean, Turkish-Oriental and the cuisine of the Austro-Hungairan Empire. It also has Slavic influences. Perhaps since unlike the USA, Serbia bans production and import of GMO’s it will be able to make a big leap for being a world recognised cuisine?

In the past at WTM I have attended press conferences on increasing travel to Croatia. Now, several years later we are reading about the problems of overtourism in Croatia.

So, do you think this recent campaign Serbia to attract influencers to promote their cuisine will create the same buzz and attraction?

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- National Geographic Food Festival

Again, in the video I indicate some hot topics at the panel discussion. But, what I don’t include is one panel member’s indication that Ireland will achieve higher status for its cuisine.

If you research articles published by National Geographic, you will see Ireland as a top listing. They cite its craft beer and cider development, as well as fresh seafood. It also offers highly regional options.

If you are a food traveller, you know the top consideration in people’s profile when they travel is authenticity.

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One cuisine that I shrugged off when a panel member mentioned it is Mexican. Specifically, the discussion was about Baja California.

I just don’t see it happening. Growing up in Florida, I ate Mexican food regularly. There is a very high Hispanic population in the state. In many places it’s the only language spoken. So, you’re able to get amazing Mexican food right in Florida. Having been to Baja California, I don’t feel it offers anything that much different than authentically owned and operated Mexican restaurants in Florida.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- USA

In the video I mention the standard cities for American cuisine popularity. They will still thrive in 2020. However, there are two cities that I indicate are really under rated. Having lived in both, I can say it is easy to eat well in them, and they have regional dishes that are famous and often replicated poorly world wide.

One place I don’t mention is Miami. Between Cuban food, Mexican, seafood, and steakhouses frequented by celebrities, this city has a lot to offer a British traveller. You might say it’s a great way to get damn good plates from many international locations.

If you want to consider what to eat in Florida that is regional, you can watch this one too.

Or, if you visit my hometown, take my advice as a local.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Mr Sunny

A rising star that Mr Sunny endorses is Beirut. He regularly says it would be the one city in which he would most want to return. We eat Lebanese food as often as we can in London. Its influences are Ottoman, Armenian, Palestinian, Syrian, French and Israeli.

He also said that he agreed with me when I indicated that Israel’s wine selection at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were impressive.

We will both be cheering for Israel making a name for its cuisine in the future.

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Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Final Thoughts

So, who is going to take the leap with me and vote for London for 2021?

After living here six years, I can honestly say that British cuisine is quite impressive. London’s food has come a long way since when I first lived here in the late 90’s. Steep competition (pun intended!) among themed afternoon teas makes them quite extraordinary compared to two decades ago.

Further, it seems Michelin starred restaurants and things to do in London for food are popping up everywhere.

What do you think, Sunny friends? Have you travelled to any of the above places and agree? What rising stars and old favourites do you have?

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Want a London food freebie?

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

Food Travel Related Blog Articles and YouTube

  • What to Know about Eating Out in London– Restaurant Differences US vs UK (YouTube)
  • Food Travel Things to Do Culinary Activities & Events in London (YouTube)
  • Cooking Tips for Making a Full English Breakfast
  • Best London Pubs for Food Riverside (YouTube)
  • What You Must Know About Eating Traditional British Food
  • Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies
  • Tips for Food to Eat When Visiting London (YouTube)
  • The Best Hidden London Pubs (YouTube)

August 13, 2019 by: Sunny London

Why You Should Have an International Driving Permit- US and UK

Why would you need an international driving permit if you’re planning to drive abroad?

You should read this article if you are:

  • American and living in London with a valid US Driver’s License
  • American and planning to drive in the UK or EU on a holiday
  • American expat living in the UK and have a valid UK driver’s license
  • British, have a valid UK driver’s license and planning to drive in the EU
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International Driving Permit

When planning our recent fly drive holiday from London to Spain and France, Mr Sunny informed me that I should get an international driving permit. Since living as an American the past six years in London, I have yet to get a UK driver’s license. I could have driven in the UK my first year on my valid Florida driver’s license. Within that time I would have been able to take a reduced driver’s test. Assuming I passed, I could have had a UK driver’s license.

However, simply making the cultural adjustment and career change the first year I lived in London was more than enough to manage. So, I did not pursue getting a UK driver’s license.

Anticipating cars coming from the opposite direction is still something I am sifting through daily!

Since learning that in Spain and France they drive on the right side of the road (had to take a little dig there in the spirit of the English humour I’ve acquired), I wanted to take advantage of being behind the wheel on our holiday.

Mr Sunny and I both obtained an international driving permit for our fly-drive holiday. But, each of us had a different process.

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International Driving Permit for UK Drivers

You are able to use a Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving license in all EU or European Economic Area countries and Switzerland. However, if there is no Brexit deal at the end of October 2019, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in some EU and EEA countries.

Note that if you’re caught breaking the law while driving in the foreign country, authorities can get the vehicle’s registered details from DVLA. This can be done through speed camera.

You should check each country’s requirements on the UK government website on the page for Driving Abroad.

The UK Process- Mr Sunny took 2 passport photographs to a post office in London, along with his valid UK Driver’s License. He paid £5 for each one. He needed two because he learned that France and Spain are grouped in two different categories for an international driving permit.

His international driving permits for these two country groups are valid for one year from the date he received them.

International Driving Permit for US Drivers

The steps for an American living in the US are simple.

  • Visit the AAA website and download the application for an international driving permit.
  • Bring the completed application, your valid driver’s license, two signed passport photographs, and $20 for the permit to the nearest AAA branch office.

Since I am living in London, obviously this simple visit wasn’t possible for me. Instead I mailed all the information to my mother, who was gracious enough to make the trip to an AAA branch office for me. I also sent her two passport photos that were each signed on the back, as well as a copy of my valid Florida Driver’s License.

They completed the application for the International Driving Permit while she waited. My mother then mailed the booklet back to me.

If you have someone’s assistance, your timeframe for getting an International Driving Permit can be factored by considering the transit time for mail and your helper’s schedule for making the trip to an AAA office.

However, it is possible just to mail all the information directly to one of their offices. You can include additional U.S. funds for expedited return mail service, if time is important.

You can watch the Sunny News YouTube video for additional information plus see the gorgeous scenery of Basque Country. I got an international driving permit so I could have bragging rights on being able to say I have driven in foreign countries. Additionally, I also wanted to experience the beautiful scenery of these places as more than just a passenger.

You may also find the comments from other viewers who have advice on their experiences useful too.

International Driving Permit- A Fly Drive Holiday

If you are considering this type of holiday, you may wish to learn more about our fly drive route as well as what hotels we recommend. You can see our experience in this trip video.

International Driving Permit- Why We Have Them

You might be wondering why we each made sure to have an International Driving Permit for our trip. With the uncertainty of Brexit, Mr Sunny thought it would be best to have one since they are valid for a year and we knew he was driving on this holiday and possibly those upcoming. Also, these permits are not an actual license and do not replace them in any capacity. The booklet you receive has a translation in 10 different languages of your driver’s license.

Having completed our fly drive holiday, we can say that it was not common to meet someone who spoke English well in Basque Country, outside of hotel check in staff and concierges. In the unfortunate situation of being pulled over by a police officer in another country, you will likely encounter the same language barrier. Save yourself aggravation by having your passport, driver’s license for your country and the international permit readily available.

International Driving Permit- Final Thoughts

Further, to avoid surprises and possible huge disappointments, you should check with the car company you are hiring in advance. Knowing if they require an international driving permit from drivers you are registering is important.

Also, I indicated an activation date just a few days prior to our trip on my International Driving Permit. You do not need to write the date for which you are mailing the application, so I suggest you do the same as me to get as much of the 1 year you are allocated as possible.

Please add your comments and questions about international driving below. Are you American and afraid of driving in another country? What do you think could be intimidating? What would encourage you to try it?

For More Information on US and UK Differences:

  • US vs UK Restaurant Differences
  • American vs British Breakfast Food
  • UK vs USA Travel Tips for Choosing a Hotel in London
  • UK vs USA- What the British Do Better
  • Differences Between American and British TV
  • Grocery Stores– UK vs USA Differences

August 7, 2019 by: Sunny London

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- Northern Spain and France

What could be the advantages of planning a fly drive holiday in Northern Spain and France? Isn’t it less stress and aggravation just to show up in one city and exhaust it?

When Mr Sunny suggested we book a British Airways fly drive holiday through Northern Spain and France, I thought he was joking. We love food and wine. Well, he loves beer and will share wine with me on occasion.

So, why would combining travel, drinking and driving ever be something we would consider?

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After spending a week on our British Airways fly drive holiday, I can now say it was one of the best I have ever taken. And these our my completely unsponsored, honest opinions.

We received nothing complimentary on this week long trip.

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- Our Route

Mr Sunny had the idea based on his parents last international trip together. They travelled nearly this same route over a decade ago. The thought of using paper maps for all of it like they did terrifies me! You can see all of our routes we followed via Google maps in the image gallery too.

  • Arrive in Bilbao, via Gatwick Airport and spend 1 night
  • Drive to San Sebastián and spend 2 nights (Stop at Gaztelugatxe en route; take a day trip to Biarritz, France)
  • Drive to La Rioja, spend 2 nights
  • Drive back to Bilbao, spend one night and return via Gatwick airport
  • british-airways-fly-drive-holiday-review-northern-spain-france
    Bilbao to Gaztelugatxe
  • british-airways-fly-drive-holiday-review-northern-spain-france
    San Sebastián to Biarritz
  • british-airways-fly-drive-holiday-review-northern-spain-france
    San Sebastian to Logroño
  • british-airways-fly-drive-holiday-review-northern-spain-france
    Logroño to Bilbao
  • british-airways-fly-drive-holiday-review-northern-spain-france
    San Sebastián to Logroño

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- Watch the Experience

Seeing is believing, right? In the YouTube video I made of our British Airways Fly Drive holiday you can learn additional information not included here. Plus, there might be a sneaky shot of me driving! You can see the below in the video.

  • Driving tips for a fly drive holiday in Northern Spain and France
  • Parking Suggestions
  • Cultural considerations
  • Food we loved
  • Wine tour
  • Scenery of driving, Bilbao hotel and park, LaGuardia elevator to the town

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- Hotels

Melia Bilbao- On TripAdvisor, this hotel is rated #5 of 117 hotels for places to stay in Bilbao. At the time of this blog, it has 4.5 stars. It is ranked as a 5 star hotel.

We only have positive feedback from this experience. The location was a half hour walk to Old Town, which to us felt like an equivalent of Soho in London. We were glad to stay in a more relaxed area. I shot the YouTube video in front of this hotel and in the beautiful park across it.

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NH Collection Aranzazu- This hotel is ranked #2 best best value of 255 places to stay in San Sebastián-Donostia on TripAdvisor. It’s also located a little bit distant from the very energetic night life in San Sebastián, but we appreciated this.

The staff’s tip about parking also saved us quite a bit of money.

Sercotel Villa De LaGuardia- As we approached Logroño, I was nervous about what the hotel would offer. The area seemed quite desolate, except for the plentiful vineyards.

With regard to hotels, this was our best surprise. Breakfast was fabulous and the spa was mind-blowing. The town was a short walk away and we had to take a lift to get to it. See this in action in the video.

Service, cleanliness and price for each of the above hotels surpassed our fly drive holiday expectations. Again, nothing was given on a complimentary basis.

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- Day Trips and Things to Do

Gaztelugatxe- Game of Thrones is one of our favourite television shows. When we learned that there was a location used for many scenes less than a one hour drive from Bilbao, we planned to drive there on our way to San Sebastián.

Parking in Gaztelugatxe near the film location was difficult, and we were grateful to have arrived before noon. It quickly became very crowded.

The scenery was amazing, but in the cloudless blue sky, the heat was intense so we didn’t stay long. But, near the beach we enjoyed a relatively cheap lunch and one drink each before making our way to San Sebastián.

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Biarritz– I was perhaps most excited about visiting this city out of all our fly drive holiday plans. It did not disappoint. Well, except for the fact that we experienced two huge downpours of rain in the early hours of our visit.

Of all the places to return for more time, Biarritz is my top choice. The beach and surrounding area offer breathtaking views. I wish we had more time to do some shopping because there were quite a few souvenirs I had wanted to purchase.

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While the top attraction in Bilbao is the Guggenheim Museum, we did not go inside. The architecture is striking, but when you are accustom to free museums in London, paying nearly €40 for two people’s admission is quite high.

But, as food travel people, we felt the Bodegas Casa Primicia experience (rated as the #1 thing to do in Laguardia on TripAdvisor) was more than worth the €15 each that we paid. Again, we can thank our hotel in LaGuardia for coordinating this for us last minute.

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If you are focused on exploring a winery as a food traveller, you may wish to use Viator to coordinate your tours in advance. I recommend this website because I have had great success planning trips with them to Scotland and areas of England.

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- What We Would Change

Overall our experience on this British Airways Fly Drive holiday was flawless. BUT, and this is a very big BUT- I was extremely disappointed with the communication from British Airways.

Several weeks before our trip British Airways contacted us to indicate they gave us a 20% discount on the Melia Bilbao because the pool would not be available. Ironically, the pool was one of the reasons we chose the hotel. They said it also was the only hotel in the area with a pool.

You can’t control maintenance and we get that. The disappointing part was we had virtually no way to respond to them. They called while I was at work and left a message saying we could take the 20% discount on the hotel or change hotels. But, every time I called the number they gave me to convey my decision, I sat on hold for 45+ minutes. What a waste of my time!

For this reason, and the fact that we couldn’t book a king size bed in the Melia Bilbao hotel, I will hesitate to do more than book flights with British Airways in the future. We also were nearly positive we booked car insurance, but found out through Avis when we arrived that we had not. This added an additional €200 to our trip planning budget that we had not allocated. However, as luck would have it, there was no maintenance happening to the pool when we arrived. Good thing we both packed our bathing suits just in case!

Literally, the only other suggestions I have to make our trip better was to spend more time at each location, especially Gaztelugatxe. With more time, I would have also taken a cooking class or food tour in San Sebastián. And visited a few more wineries in Rioja.

british-airways-fly-drive-holiday-review-northern-spain-france

While we normally book breakfast at every hotel in which we stay, we only had the hotel breakfast in Laguardia. This proved to be smart because there were no immediate surrounding locations to grab a quick snack in the morning. And, you definitely don’t want to do a wine tour and tasting at 11am on an empty stomach!

Finally, know that Basque Country is so green and beautiful because the people are proud and not interested in becoming victims of overtourism. It also rains frequently and suddenly, so plan your wardrobe and experiences around this possibility!

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- Be Responsible

Because we researched the legal drinking limit in Spain and France, we knew that we couldn’t really have more than one drink each and drive. This wasn’t a problem for us because we planned all of our drives early in the day and made sure to return to our hotels by 3-4pm each day. It was a great way to save a bit of money too!

Please plan to do the same if you plan a fly drive holiday in the world’s top culinary destination. I’ve read other travel and food blogger’s posts about the same holiday, and it seems they do quite a bit of drinking in the wine region and then drive. NOT a good idea!

British Airways Fly Drive Holiday Review- Final Thoughts

I would love to know your day trip suggestions for any areas around where we visited. Also, are there specific experiences like food tours or visits to wineries that you can recommend? Have you ever booked a fly drive experience? How did it go?

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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.

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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!

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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:

  1. London Heathrow => Belfast International £9.99 Ryanair
  2. Belfast International => New York Stewart £64.99 Norwegian Airlines
  3. 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!

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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?

brits-guide-to-vegas

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 30th 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.

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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!

brits-guide-to-vegas

July 20, 2019 by: Sunny London

Different Styles of Cab from Around the World

Spend just a few moments in the centre of London, and you’ll become familiar with the sight of the iconic, Cab-Direct style black cab. They’re a part of the city’s global image, and it’s difficult to imagine the capital without them.

But London isn’t the only city in the world where people need to get from place to place in a hurry. And it isn’t the only city with a cab service that meets that demand. But in other parts of the world, taxicabs tend to take a radically different shape to the big black one to which Londoners are accustom.

New York Yellow

Of course, the New York cab is probably just as recognisable as the London one, thanks to the sheer volume of films and tv shows set in the city. The yellow style came to be at the turn of the twentieth century, so that would-be customers could spot them from afar.

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different-styles-of-cab-around-the-world-nyc-taxi

Auto Rickshaws

If you head to a large Indian city, you’ll find that the most practical and affordable way to travel is in the back of a tiny little automated rickshaw, commonly called a ‘tuk-tuk’. You won’t be able to cram quite as much luggage (or people) into one of these things, but for the most authentic Delhi experience, they are are hard to beat.

Chinese Sanlunche

This is another kind of Rickshaw, whose front end is actually that of a bicycle. This design has been around since the middle of last century, and has, almost everywhere, replaced the traditional human-powered rickshaw. You’ll find similarly-designed pedal-powered rickshaws in Mexico city and Paris – they’re environmentally friendly and lots of fun, too!

Munich White

The taximeter was actually invented in Berlin, but these days it’s Munich that retains the most recognisable style of cream-white taxicab. Most of the city’s taxis come from high-end German manufacturers like Mercedes and Audi.

Venetian Gondola

If your city is mostly water, like Venice, then it makes sense for the taxi service to come in boat form. Part of the gondola’s appeal is its leisurely pace – you’re not going to be going anywhere in a hurry.  Gondolas take around two months to make, from a combination of half-a-dozen different woods. As such, they’re several times the price of most taxis.

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Viennese Fiaker

In any city with a historical heritage to preserve, you’re likely to find horse-drawn carriages. In Vienna, these cabs, called Fiakers, have been around since the turn of the 18th century, and featured heavily in the operas of Johann and Richard Strauss. There’s no better way to see the cobbled streets of Vienna!

July 21, 2019 by: Sunny London

Florida Places to Visit for Sun and Fun

What are the best Florida places to visit for a long itinerary? The Sunshine State is huge! Most people just think of the theme park capital of the world, Orlando, for a Florida holiday but there are quite a few other options for travellers who also want to experience the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.

florida-places-to-visit-2019-orlando-daytona-st-pete

If you just visit Orlando, you’ll see pools and hopefully sunshine in Orlando. (Keep reading for why I said- ‘hopefully’) But, it is in the area we call Central Florida and looking at a map you will see it’s not on either coast. So, if you want to sit in natural sand (not a theme park’s man-made version) the first thing you need to know is this will require extra time, a car and interest in seeing other Floridian cities.

Florida Places to Visit- Why You Need a Car

Unlike Europe, public transportation and train travel is not popular in the US. The land is flat and most of what’s not near a coastline is swamp land in Florida. Unless you want to see gators, snakes and jaguars, you won’t need to spend much time too far inland. Mickey Mouse is the obvious exception to ‘wild life’. Know that Floridians gravitate to the water.

In fact, if you search ‘Alligator Alley’ you will find it is one of the few main highways that can take you from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Coast.

When I was a child, Alligator Alley was what you envision in films. No gas stations and somewhere you don’t want to be stranded. The more popular highway by far is I-4.

The memes about Florida roads are comical because there is truth to them. Traffic on I-4 barely moves because anyone commuting to Orlando for work uses it. Tourists have to use it too. It also connects three cities that I feel would make a perfect trip to Florida. Renting a car is the only economical way to travel among them.

Florida Places to Visit- Orlando

Most people’s magical impressions of Florida are because they generally just spend time in Orlando, isolated at a theme park and hotel. While I have visited the Disney theme parks countless times, I am partial to Universal’s attractions. This is mostly because I worked there for a few years.

Let’s face it, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a dream come true at Islands of Adventure. And they just opened a new roller coaster! For those that have been to London’s Warner Bros Studio Tour, be sure to read my Harry Potter London vs Orlando comparison.

Harry Potter Orlando

Universal is definitely the more adult oriented theme park, if there really is such a thing. The rides are designed for thrill seekers and are some of the best in the world. The ‘mouse park’ down the street tends to have rides that you really just sit in little cars and travel through different sets and sound stages to see dancing dolls and other mechanical puppets.

Ahhh, I don’t seem very impartial here, do I?

Either way, these Universal and Disney with their parks and night life venues like CityWalk could keep you busy 24 hours a day.

However, Orlando offers excellent shopping opportunities too. The Mall at Millenia is exquisite. It’s high end shops like Kate Spade New York, Neiman Marcus and Prada could be appealing to British tourists because I generally find items are cheaper in the US. This is especially true when the dollar is low against the pound. Orlando’s International Premium Outlets will give you a great chance to score cool deals too.

And if it is basketball season, catching an Orlando Magic basketball game would be a big win. But you must book those tickets early!

Florida Places to Visit- St Pete/Clearwater

The Gulf Coast of Florida doesn’t get the international fame it deserves. But the Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater area is pristine and trendy. You’ll find many American restaurant chains launch in this area. It also has gorgeous golf courses.

Sunken Gardens would be Florida’s equivalent to London’s Kew Gardens, with an obvious tropical vibe. And of course, with so much access to water and sea life, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium or organised boat tours could be appealing to you too.

St Petersburg also offers something for art lovers to do, and that is visiting Dali Museum.

Florida Places to Visit- Daytona Beach

Of course, this Florida girl has to make a plug for her hometown for anyone who has time for a multi centre Florida holiday when planning places to visit in Florida.

Daytona Beach is best known for its flat, hard packed sand on which stock cars started racing. This beach car racing lead to the development of Nascar and made Daytona an iconic holiday destination for any race aficionado.

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If you want a beach that is wide and spacious, go to my hometown. The most relaxing locations to be are Daytona Beach Shores and New Smyrna Beach. With a car, you could visit the lighthouse in Ponce Inlet. And, obviously race fans would want to see the track at the International Speedway and maybe even take a tour or ride in a race car.

See for yourself how cool the Daytona Beach can be and learn where I suggest you eat in this short video I made while visiting Daytona Beach last summer. I shot it not far from the Daytona Shore Resort and Spa, one of my favourite places to go for their Sunday breakfast when I lived there. It’s also had the best reputation for a hotel in the Daytona Beach Shores area for decades.

Taking I-95 south to Cape Canaveral offers the chance to see Kennedy Space Center, which is a favourite of all Floridians. And just an hour north you will find St Augustine, which lays claim to being the oldest city in the U.S. Their Christmas Nights of Lights doesn’t quite rival Regent Street during the holidays, but it does prove that Florida has the holiday spirit. Even if it means throwing lights on palm trees and surfing Santa images.

Florida Places to Visit- Learn More

  • What British Tourists Need to Know About Visiting Florida
  • Differences Between British and American Grocery Stores (YouTube)
  • Eating Gator at the Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach
  • What to Pack for Florida (if You’re British)
  • Racing’s North Turn– Back on Track!
  • Our Deck Down Under– Secret Daytona Hotspot

September 26, 2014 by: Sunny London

How Stella went on my Mini-moon at Hotel Metropole Brussels

Mr Sunny and I have not been able to get away for a few days together since we got married in November. So, we were super excited about the several nights we booked at the Hotel Metropole Brussels recently. We haven’t had the opportunity for a honeymoon, so this short trip is being billed as my ‘Sunny Mini-Moon.’

Through a great deal on Expedia, we purchased round-trip tickets on Eurostar and two nights at this 5-star luxury hotel. Mr Sunny added breakfast at the hotel each day to our stay because he knows how cranky I get without my morning meal.

We loved our experience on Eurostar, but I’ll say now that it sure beats all the inconveniences of flying. Hotel Metropole is a fairly short ride from ‘Bruxelles Midi’, Brussels train station. Minutes after our train arrived, we quickly caught a cab and paid around €15 for the ride.

The Hotel was absolutely as gorgeous in real life as it was in the website pictures.Hotel Metropole Brussels Review

Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewHotel Metropole Brussels ReviewHotel Metropole Brussels ReviewWe arrived before the room they reserved for us was ready. They gave us the choice of checking in to the type of room we had booked or waiting two more hours for a complimentary upgrade. Hmmmm. The Sunny ‘newlyweds’ opted to go from the Superior Room to a Privilege Room and guess where we passed the time…Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewHotel Metropole Brussels Review
Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewWhen in Rome…. right?

Ok, ok, I know this is a story about a Brussels mini-moon. Hence the reason you don’t see my standard vino in the shot above. Prosecco was more appropriate for the time we were chillin’. And, well, it was only 11am 😉

After relaxing from our rather easy Eurostar trip under the sea, we took to the streets of Brussels to see what we could find.

Mr. Sunny had been to Brussels two times prior, but this was my first time in Belgium. I made the mistake of thinking he would be the designated tour guide on the trip. Big mistake. Huge.

When Mr Sunny was a cameraman for NBC News for many years, he was frequently sent with little notice (sometimes as short as 45 minutes) to international locations. Many times assignments were for war coverage. So, he’s not one to plan in advance or look at a map.

And, if you’re a serious Sunny reader, you know Mr Sunny loves his beer. Stella Artois is one of his standard selections.

I’m grateful Hotel Brussels was just a few minutes walk from all the stuff we wanted to see. Because we made a lot of stops for Stella.

Stelllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

We both loved our room when we returned to check in a few hours later. It was heavenly. I took pictures to prove that it wasn’t Belgium beer goggles clouding the perspective.
Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewHotel Metropole Brussels ReviewHotel Metropole Brussels ReviewAnd, I have to admit that I always giggle when I see these contraptions in European hotels. Hotel Metropole Brussels Review

You can imagine the roaring laugh that came pouring out when I saw it, considering I had a few glasses of Prosecco boosting my already bubbly personality. I decided the bidet would be for a royal flush if the Beer Goddess Stella needed a throne.

We were easily able to get everywhere we wanted to go by walking because of Hotel Metropole’s fabulous location. That made life without a map or any real itinerary very easy. I had my fill of chocolate and waffles, and Mr Sunny also sipped on tons of Stella and other Belgium beers.

We had a blast on our trip. You have no idea how entertaining it is for two people to try to operate an iron elevator after a day of travelling and enjoying adult beverages.Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewHotel Metropole Brussels ReviewI’m not saying I know who those two people are, I’m just sayin’.

Making sure we went to the hotel’s breakfast each day was super smart of Mr Sunny.
Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewThere was an array of cold meats, cheeses, fruit, croissants, sausages, eggs, baked beans, smoked salmon, yogurt, cereals, and waffles (of course!)
Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewThe staff at Hotel Metropole Brussels was extremely helpful with everything we needed. We even received 2 complimentary bottles of beer, Coke and water with our room each day.

You’ll need to keep an eye on Sunny in London in the future to catch all the chocolate, waffles and beer consumed during our Brussels mini-moon. But, for now I’ll just say that our trip to Brussels was amazing, memorable and neither one of us was forced to sleep here…

Hotel Metropole Brussels ReviewStelllllllllllaaaaaaaaaa!

Hotel Metropole Brussels is located at Place de Brouckère 31, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.

Since this was posted, Hotel Metropole Brussels won the Travellers Choice 2015 Winner on TripAdvisor. You can read reviews and rates here.

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