TRAVEL – Page 2

July 8, 2015 by: Sunny London

7 Secrets of One Aldwych Hotel

Do you know the One Aldwych hotel in Covent Garden is not only five-star but also full of fun secrets?

Oh yes, Sunny friends. There are many fun facts that Mr. Sunny and I uncovered hidden inside this luxury London hotel during our recent staycation.

Having enjoyed the hotel’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired afternoon tea and the summer BLOOM Gin flight in the One Aldwych hotel Lobby Bar, I already knew the hotel’s service would be superior. But I didn’t know these…

One Aldywch Hotel Secret #1- Lobby Bar

Prior to our dinner at Indigo, Mr. Sunny and I enjoyed a round of drinks in the Lobby Bar. I secretly wanted the Lavender Cloud, which I had enjoyed as part of the BLOOM gin flight. However, I pulled a little trick that I use to test mixologists in lounges I really like to see just how much they can do.

I walked up to the bar and said, ‘I like Chambord. What can you make with it that I haven’t had before?’

Behold the most exquisite French martini I have ever sipped in my life!

The mixologist explained he used a combination of ingredients including, almond milk! Wow! Big gold star from Sunny!

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #2- Indigo Restaurant

This part of our staycation itinerary had me the most curious. I wasn’t sure how the dinner at Indigo Restaurant would go simply because I didn’t know much about it. It was so fantastic, it will warrant a separate review on the blog. Truly.

For now, I can share that I had the most perfectly cooked piece of lamb that I have ever had for dinner that night. Another gold star for One Aldwych hotel. I will most definitely hit Indigo for a pre-theatre dinner in the future.

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #3- Treadmill

We stayed in Room 410 and literally waited until five minutes before the official check-out time to leave the Deluxe Suite.

What’s the secret about this room?

How insanely cool is it to have a treadmill (AKA ‘running machine’ for my British readers) in your room?

You should’ve heard me shrieking with joy when I saw this! This Deluxe Suite also has a dining table where you can enjoy food like the English breakfast we both had.

It has a bathroom equipped with both a shower and luxurious tub (which caused me to nearly miss my facial with Oskia Signature Glow Facial at the One Aldywch hotel Spa the morning of our checkout because I extended my bubble bath time). Below you can see a reflection of the shower in the mirror.

This separate bedroom accompanied by the perfect bedding is fit for royalty.

An executive desk and sitting area that quickly became the set for a YouTube video.

And this…

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #4- Picture Perfect

Since the One Aldwych hotel is perfectly located near everything I love in London, the view from the room melted me.

In fact, the unique architecture of this building gives remarkable views from any angle. Just inches from The Strand, the Covent Garden location means it is just a few minutes walk from Trafalgar Square and overlooks Waterloo Bridge.

When Mr. Sunny told me the Waterloo Bridge is one of the best places to gaze and photograph London at night, we did exactly this after dinner at Indigo.

Upon walking back to the hotel, we loved seeing the colourful lights and spotting our room right where you see the blue lights in the picture below.

Even the elevators are picture perfect. Below find an elevator selfie or should we say, ‘elfie’…

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #5- Cinema

And when it comes to pictures, this is the one secret that I can share with you even though I haven’t experienced it first hand.

The hotel has a luxurious 30 seat screening room.

We missed the showing of ‘Pretty Woman’ that day because we were just too overwhelmed with everything else during the staycation. If you read my blog post on What to Wear an Opera: A Pretty Woman Story, you will know my love for that film. The post is about the English National Opera, which again is just around the corner from the hotel.

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #6- Hidden Lounge

Did you know there is an oasis reserved just for hotel guests? I snuck in to the lounge just before they opened Sunday morning so I could expose it to you.

I can’t tell you exactly where it is, because as a former hotel guest I have been sworn to secrecy. 😉 But… I will tell you it is hidden behind one of the ‘walls’ you see as you enter the hotel.

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #7- What’s in the Water

For the final secret of this hotel, I can just say that there’s something very magical and sexy in the water of the pool. If you take two minutes to go for a swim with me, you’ll learn what it is right here..

One Aldwych Hotel: Final Thoughts

We could’ve easily stayed at the hotel several more days just enjoying everything it had to offer. Whether you are a business traveller, Londoner in need of a staycation, or American visiting for the NFL games in London this Autumn, One Aldwych hotel offers an exquisite experience.

You can check out all their excellent reviews on TripAdvisor.

In fact, I loved it so much, I didn’t even care about going on camera with no make up just after my luxurious facial in the spa.

Sunny friends, did you know these secrets about One Aldwych Hotel? What have hotels offered you that made you not want to leave?

Our experience was complimentary. This did not influence our opinions. Mr. Sunny and I are currently trying to think of ways we can permanently make this address our residence. 😉

September 9, 2015 by: Sunny London

WTM London 2015- Conference Guide for Bloggers

Did you know there will be more than 50,000 travel professionals attending WTM London 2015? With crowds that big, you need a strategy. And you can start planning now!

I know this because last year I went to WTM London for four days and was so grateful to have tips about the travel conference from my friend Jess who blogs at Love and London.

Just days before the conference, I contacted Jess who had been to WTM London 2013. She wrote a post on her experience in an effort to alleviate last minute blogger breakdowns like I was having. In the spirit of sharing, I took extensive notes with the intention of paying it forward to you too.

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice: BEFORE

You’re going to minimise the opportunities you could earn at WTM substantially if you don’t do some important things in advance.

1. Research and Contact
Spend time looking through the list of attendees. Don’t just send messages or emails to everyone. That will annoy them and will be difficult for you to monitor.

Investigate companies to see if their clients match your brand and blogging goals. If yes, draft a 2-3 sentence message to request a meeting with them during the conference. Explain briefly what your blog could do for them. Offer to send your media kit. I

What? You don’t have a media kit? Well… You should rethink that strategy. This conference isn’t for the novice blogger. Billions of dollars in deals happen in these four days. You’d better be prepared to dazzle people.

I targeted London based venues and fun, sunny destinations for press trips outside of London.

2. Disregard People’s Schedules
I spent way too much time trying to organise meetings with people around sessions I wanted to attend AND their ‘schedules’ as indicated on the WTM website. Maybe the website will be better this year?

If not, here’s a possible strategy…

Everyone I requested meetings with emailed me separately with a different time. It was a nightmare. I just kept my own schedule on a personal calendar and disregarded the app/website for WTM for business appointments.

3. Your Schedule
When you do hear from people, don’t schedule more than two appointments in an hour. The Excel Centre is HUGE. Don’t underestimate the size.

4. Plan Your Meetings:
Once you make a contact who is willing to meet with you, prepare a pitch specifically for that agency. This at least puts you in the realm of being taken seriously.

My experience last year was that bloggers were mostly bottom-feeders. Misunderstood species that were more like ‘pseudo journalists’ who kind of, but mostly don’t, get paid.

There are many reasons for this perception, many of which you can learn by attending sessions.

If you are lucky enough to catch the interest of a company, be ready to set off your blogger fireworks. Give them a specific pitch tailored for how you can produce results for them.

5. Media Kit Ready
Upload your impressive media kit on to an iPad so you can showcase it during meetings. Also, be able to email it to people while you’re there. Dropbox? (Jess had a fantastic example of this last year, so credit for this idea is all hers!)

6. Have Your Badge
You absolutely need to print your badge ahead of time. Also, cut or fold it so it’s ready to throw in a lanyard. That lanyard is your life. Your badge will say ‘Press’.

7. Bring Business Cards
I brought around 50 the first day. They were gone by the afternoon. It’s a good thing I had placed an order for new business cards the previous weekend via my favourite custom business card site Moo.

Business cards are really good for events like these. However, it might be worth getting some other products to give out too.

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice: DURING

1. London Transportation
You’re pretty much limited to one vein of the DLR to get there. Double your anticipated journey time. The first day the trains are PACKED! TIGHT.

Make sure your Oyster Card is loaded for the round trip or purchase it before you get there. I noticed the ticket purchase queues for people waiting to get home each day were massive. Here is a picture of the last day when things were much more quiet…

I will absolutely say that the Transport for London personnel are in abundance as you near the Excel Centre. There was always a platform full of personnel dispersing directions for confused travellers. Many people travel internationally for this conference. They’re all a bunch of lost sheep on trains. TfL employees were fantastic all four days.

2. Dress Smart
Contrary to the image you have of knee socks with flip flops, this crowd of travellers is damn smart. Like I wrote above, big money is agreed upon here. Almost everyone is in suits. Girls, you can get away with a nice dress. Wear black.

The Press Centre for WTM London has a cloakroom. The wait is about 10-20 minutes during peak times. I made sure to get my coat prior to attending my last sessions so I could just leave as soon as the session ended.

3. Bring Food
I brought some in my ginormous handbag and additional tote each day. Lines at food places in the Excel Centre were always long. Even for coffee. Bring snacks and a water bottle at the very least. I had the misfortune of paying £3.50 for two bottles of water one day. Ugh.

If you do go to one of the outside restaurants, you’ll wait forever. I predicted this the day I had a huge meeting with an international PR company with whom I was dying to collaborate. They ran late to the lunch meeting, and I had an appointment much later. I was able to meet the agency team and pitched the ideas I had for them. Score!

However, our food didn’t arrive until an hour later, and I had to skip the meal to make it for my next meeting.

4. Attend Press Conferences
When you have extra time, attend press conferences for topics that connect to your blog goals and brand. You learn a lot directly from the source. And sometimes they have treats for you!

5. Use the App
If you still have extra time between meetings at WTM London, the sessions you don’t want to miss and random introductions you make, use the app.

It’s not great because I felt every time I opened it I had to wait a while for a ‘new update.’ However, I used it to keep a record of other sessions that were of interest. That saved time from running around and trying to find all the conference schedules boards that were sporadically placed.

6. Electronics
My iPad got fairly fluent wifi at the Excel Centre. I wasn’t so lucky with my iPhone 5. I left my phone on ‘Airplane Setting’ a lot. It saved battery. However, there is a charging centre there. But who wants to waste time with that? Bring a Compact Portable Charger and cord for your devices. Yes, both.

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice: AFTER

Follow up with all those great contacts you made. Send them LinkedIn invitations immediately so they don’t forget you. Then draft an email covering your meeting and the next proposed step.

I actually had a system for this when I collected business cards because I always came away with a lot of them. So, I needed to establish a method that would make it easier for me to manage them. So, when it came to organizing my cards, any contacts and information that I absolutely wanted to see right away went in one part of my handbag. Those that weren’t top priority went in my separate tote bag. Or vice versa. I’m not giving up which one went where in case you see me at an event some time using this strategy.

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice- Final thoughts

I tried to cover almost everything. A girl has to keep some tricks up her sleeve though ;-). What strategies do you use at conferences? Did you find this guide useful? If so, please share it on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or other networks where you think bloggers attending WTM London will see it! And of course, if you’ll be there this year Tweet Me!

July 27, 2015 by: Sunny London

World Duty Free Heathrow- What You Don’t Know

Flying in the future? You would really do yourself a favour by planning some extra time shopping at duty free, especially World Duty Free Heathrow.

In fact, on my most recent trip to Florida from London, I built nearly two additional hours in to my airport schedule, and it wasn’t enough time to take advantage of all that’s available with regard to shopping and saving money.

In fact, I was shocked at what a little research uncovered that most people don’t know about World Duty Free Heathrow.

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After a fairly standard check-in and security process, I headed straight to the huge Terminal 4 World Duty Free Heathrow store.

Normally, I pop in a duty free shop and avoid eye contact with anyone working because I don’t have time. I haphazardly spray on a perfume I think I would enjoy for 8 hours on a trans-Atlantic flight and rush to my gate.

These are the reasons why I’ll never do that again…

World Duty Free Heathrow Beauty Services:

When I contacted World Duty Free Heathrow for my travel readers, their fast response included a link to their Beauty Services menu.

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Although I did feel very special, the link isn’t unique for a blogger. You should view it ASAP!

They indicated I could choose any of the beauty services. And, Sunny friends, so can you!

A Date with Dior:

First, I planned a Personalised Fragrance Consulation with Dior. I chose this brand because I’m fiercely loyal to scents and loved my Dior perfume choices in the past.

After completing a four question survey led by the consultant using an iPad, two of the three scents recommended for me were ones I have worn. My favourite being Poison.
I learned that now you can literally pick your poison because they have Hypnotic Poison eau Secrete, Hypnotic Eau de Parfum and Pure Poison Eau de Parfum.

Finding My Face:

Next, I hit Estée Lauder for the Expert Foundation Matching. Again, this is because in my entire life the best foundation I’ve ever used was Estée Lauder.

The consultant quickly picked out an exact match for my skin with the Double Wear Lights #2 SPF 10 (which is smart for a Florida girl heading to the sun). The coverage was amazing.

Creme de la Creme:

For stop #3 I hit Creme de la Mer. Since it’s a brand I know but haven’t had the luxury of affording, I wanted to sample their Hand and Arm Indulgence.

Like the other consultants I met, the fantastic lady who worked with me informed me of the brand’s origins and what makes them unique. I had a very relaxing treatment too.

Soaking up Shiseido:

Finally, I ventured to Shiseido for a 15 minute Pre-flight Skin Booster using each of these gorgeous products pictured below.

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My skin felt glorious and fully prepared to combat the dryness of a long airplane flight.

World Duty Free Heathrow Travel Exclusives:

Not only can you have short beauty treatments at World Duty Free Heathrow, but you also can purchase Travel Exclusives and limited release products.

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For example, did you know that Gucci Bamboo was first available at duty free and hit the high streets weeks later?

That’s also true of this new product by Clarins.

Shiseido has an entire display devoted to items that are packaged together in ways you cannot purchase elsewhere.

While companies like Estée Lauder generally stock their Best Sellers, you might not know that they also debut new products too.

Oh yeah, and Estée Lauder is particularly known for extra samples and gifts at their duty free counters 😉

World Duty Free Heathrow Size Counts:

You can assume you’ll save at least 20% on a duty free purchase because you are exempt from VAT tax in the UK.

Aside from the dramatic price difference, you’ll likely find products in much bigger sizes than what you find in shops.

For example, just as I was leaving I spotted these ginormous bottles of Molton Brown Black Peppercorn. It’s Mr. Sunny’s favourite and I just bought him a new bottle for £18 last week.

World Duty Free Heathrow Cocktails:

Since most people associate duty free with cheap cigarettes, discounted perfume and gallons of liquor for less, I had to share a discovery about booze with you too.

Did you know you can sample cocktails at World Duty Free Heathrow? I had the chance to try their current Hendrick’s Gin promotion for the month. It is refreshingly fantastic!

Just like the Beauty Service brands, they also offer liquor packaged in bigger sizes and frequently with gifts you can’t purchase outside the airport, like this book that accompanies Hendrick’s.

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World Duty Free Heathrow Final Thoughts:

For your next international flight, make sure you build in plenty of time to visit duty free. For all the reasons above, it’s absolutely worth it!

Fast, Not Furious:

One of the consultants I met indicated that they’re trained to converse with customers in a three minute time frame. This even further convinced me that working with a beauty advisor at Heathrow’s World Duty Free is even more economic!

While my research was conducted entirely at the Terminal 4 Heathrow Duty Free locations, I am told the other World Duty Free experience is equal to or better than what I saw. Although, I can’t really imagine better 😉

Finally, as a final money saving tip, you may wish to look in to the Heathrow Rewards. You can use it to accrue loyalty points and receive even more savings which you can use at World Duty Free Heathrow or other store.

*A special thank you to everyone I worked with at World Duty Free before my flight to the U.S. Your service, attention and knowledge were remarkable!

What are your experiences duty free shopping? Did you know all of these services and opportunities were available? If you’re traveling to London for the first time, be sure to read my Guide for Visitors and subscribe to the emails with all the Sunny London news too.

June 6, 2018 by: Sunny London

Aria Hotel Prague- 5 Star Luxury Hotel Review

How many times have you read through hotel reviews and found a discrepancy between the hotel’s rating and what travellers give it? Mr Sunny and I were keen to check out verified guests’ reviews when we booked our first visit to Prague. For this reason, we picked the Aria Hotel Prague, because it seemed to live up to its 5-star rating with travellers on Expedia. And it certainly is the best for those who love music, since that is the theme of the entire hotel.

On our checklist for a hotel was some things we generally seek that you probably do as well. Important items to us when we research are: location, cleanliness, room offer and food available. In every category, the Aria Hotel Prague lives up to the reviews that we read.

Aria Hotel Prague: Location

During our four night trip to Prague, we never took any transportation except a private car hire to and from the airport. Yes, Sunny friends, we walked every where and loved it.

Prague is known for cheap beer and beautiful scenery. Because of its ‘party’ atmosphere it has become popular for European stag-do’s. Since we are more relaxed foodie travellers, we didn’t want to be in the heart of those types festivities. We like to chill and slowly enjoy the sights while on holiday. The Mala Strana area is perfect for this. It’s also within minutes of the Prague Castle, the top attraction for tourists who visit Prague. Luckily, one of Mr Sunny’s mates gave us this tip about neighborhoods before we booked our holiday.

It also has a beautiful garden connected to it that is great for serenity and space.

Aria Hotel Prague: Cleanliness and Room Offer

The hotel was immaculate. We stayed in the Rhapsody in Blue suite. On Expedia it is classified as a ‘Junior Suite, 1 King Bed’.

In my upcoming video of Things to Do and Where to Stay in Prague, I will show a room tour. We found the room very spacious and the bed was very comfortable. Most important was the gorgeous air conditioning! While we visited, temperatures were in the high 80’s. Not many places in Prague have air conditioning, so we were really grateful to get back to a cold room each day.

The additional amenities in the room also made a big difference to us. More on those in the video too!

Aria Hotel Prague: Food

We love a slow start with a good hotel breakfast on a holiday. Again, the hotel met our expectations. Breakfast lasts until 11am, so there isn’t any pressure to wake up with the roosters! It was part of our room charge, and aside from being able to order from the menu, we also enjoyed complimentary Prosecco. Who can argue with French Toast and a bubbly start to a holiday morning?

Further, the hotel has an exquisite rooftop restaurant (weather permitting). Like the hotel it is located within, Coda Restaurant was designed by Italian architects Rocco Magnoli and Lorenzo Carmellini, who are especially famous for their lifelong collaboration with legendary fashion designer Gianni Versace.

Details about our five course tasting menu we experienced as a real treat to ourselves are in the YouTube video. However, below are a few foodie shots for those of you who want a few teasers.

Finally, we found the complimentary late afternoon sandwiches and pastries very enjoyable when we returned to the hotel from our daily Prague adventures.

Aria Hotel Prague: Final Thoughts

Aside from all of this, the 1pm checkout time is a huge plus. Since our flight didn’t leave until 8.20pm, we had the entire day to explore. Again, the later check out time fit well with our relaxed travel plans.

We booked our flights through British Airways and our room through Expedia. Four nights was enough to explore the highlights of Prague. Surely, if you live there or have been to Prague, you have thoughts about your visit that you can add in the comments below.

It would be great if you can share them with others who are researching and planning a trip to Prague, especially those who want a five-star experience.

Don’t forget to watch the videos for a room tour and additional information (like Mr Sunny’s Beer Drinking Advice for Prague). And as always, thank you for reading.

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.

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 no matter where we wandered 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 center 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 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’

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.

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

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?

November 1, 2013 by: Sunny London

The Dueling Challenge: Harry Potter, London vs Orlando?

With such close proximity to the Harry Potter Studio Tour at Warner Bros, I never understood why Londoners were so eager to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the Universal Orlando Resort…until I went.

As a devout Harry Potter fan, I can’t declare one a clear winner, but I can give you a solid comparison of the experiences. (For an in-depth London look, see my previous post)

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: LOCATION AND PRICE

– The Warner Bros facility stands alone, far outside Central London. An Adult Ticket General is £29, (~$46) for a tour that could take around 3 hours.

– The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of six areas of the Islands of Adventure (IOA) theme park in Orlando. The other five are: Jurassic Park, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, The Lost Continent and Seuss Landing.

An Adult ticket price is $92 (~£58), and it includes all day admission to everything. (Note: Universal Studios is a separate theme park)

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: IF YOU ARE DRIVING A CAR

– London, parking is free. Yes. it’s free.

– IOA, parking is a flat rate of $16 (~£10)

(The process is exceptionally organised at both)

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: EXPERIENCE

– In London, the experience is entirely visual and educational. You can stand in the Great Hall and see costumes, props and set interiors. The information exhibited about the film making process is rich, plentiful and intriguing.

– If you are seeking to feel like Harry Potter, Orlando probably is your best bet.

It’s understandable why Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the most popular ride and racks up the longest wait-time each day.

The ride is located within the Hogwarts castle. It’s so intense, you are required to put all loose belongings, including your Harry Potter spectacles, in a locker prior to boarding. (Notice the WARNING sign in the picture below?)

With a small group of people, you ride through corridors of Hogwarts and “above” the castle grounds as if you were experiencing Harry’s adventures on a broomstick. The virtual experience requires a strong stomach. You get tossed around quite a bit. I loved it.

I was disappointed with the Flight of the Hippograff, which is appropriately billed as a family roller-coaster. BORRRRRING!

Also, there’s the Dragon Challenge roller coaster. For those who had been to IOA prior to the Harry Potter addition, this coaster was called the Dueling Dragons.

I wouldn’t suggest going on that ride on a full stomach.

In London, you can ride a broomstick in front of green screen technology and take home the DVD of your journey. I suppose for a more physical ride experience, you could always try your luck at platform 9 ¾ later in the day…

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: DIAGON ALLEY

– At Warner Bros, Diagon Alley is a small stretch in a sound stage and basically just features dressed facades.

– At IOA there’s an entire Hogsmeade area.

You can step inside Olivanders and buy a wand, purchase sweets at Honeydukes, and pick up novelty joke items at Zonkos.

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: FOOD

– At Warner Bros, there’s a small café in the entrance.

– In Orlando, you could go to the Hog’s Head Pub and Three Broomsticks. I ate there. It was edible, not impressive.

I’d suggest going to Seuss Landing for Moose Juice with green eggs and ham.

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: BEER

– I thought for sure Brits would have alcohol in their Butterbeer, but neither location has it. In fact, I learned that both London and IOA use the same recipe.

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: WEATHER

– If it’s raining in London, you could get wet at the half way point of the tour when you go outside to view props and sets.

– However, at IOA you will get SOAKED. (Not joking. Bring a change of clothes for this theme park. Most rides take place in water.)

And it’s a bit odd seeing snow on rooftops when everyone is walking around in t-shirts.

If I absolutely haaaaaad to declare a winner, one small detail might tip the scale. While I was washing my hands in the restroom (AKA “toilet”) at IOA, I was distracted by the most annoying female voice. As I was really bothered by it, I looked around to assess from whom the noise was coming but couldn’t pick one clear location. Suddenly, I realized. I was in the presence of Moaning Myrtle!

So there you have it! For a more detailed look at what’s available in Orlando, you might want to visit the virtual tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’ll give you a nice idea of the layout. Aside from the Harry Potter area, there’s easily a full day of fun at the IOA theme park.

Finally, if you’ll have wifi access, the free Universal Studio app is very useful for up to date ride wait times. Oh yeah, if you’re British, do yourself a favor and wear waterproof sunscreen. You’ll thank me later.

As a Florida native and someone who worked at Universal Studios years ago, I’d be happy to answer any of your questions about either experience. I’ve also made a video to help people who aren’t sure if they should put the attraction on their list of things to do in London if they’re visiting for the first time. These are some questions to ask that will help your decision making…

If you’ve been to one or both, please leave your suggestions for others below. All ABOARD!!!

Want a Food Freebie in 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.

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. If you have a history of rising anxiety when any changes are in effect then you may want to look into CBD gummies that contain a hemp extract to help calm you down before your trip, this will be better for you if you get bouts of panic and need to soothe your mind so you can think clearly.

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!

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.

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.

July 18, 2019 by: Sunny London

Why Villas Make the Perfect Holiday Home

If you’re planning to venture abroad this summer, join the club! Very often, it’s easier to relax when we are far away from home. Before you book your accommodation, though, have you considered a villa holiday? Many people feel this kind of lodging tends to top all others.

Let’s think about some of the reasons why.

A Home from Home

Do you seek holiday lodgings that still keep some sacred items and conveniences you have at home? If so, you’re probably not alone. After all, isn’t the whole point of a vacation to feel as comfortable and as relaxed as possible? If you choose to stay in a villa, you’ll be able to relax in your own space, at a pace that suits you.

My sister frequently travels with her husband and a small group of other couples and rents a villa to share among them. They have never had a bad experience. One of the secrets she says is to choose people in which you have many travel and budget similarities.

While in a hotel, you’re typically confined to one room, villas offer a more spacious, airy feel to guests. You feel more free to roam the house at your leisure, and you’ll be more likely to settle in than you would be at a hotel or inn.

A villa can guarantee a home-from-home experience for travellers, especially those who don’t mind doing some cooking or grilling while they are away on holiday. My sister and her friends frequently go diving or do water sports during the day on a vacation and then return to a villa and relax with a BBQ for the evening while sipping on their island themed cocktails. By all of them chipping in together for booze and food, it makes the holiday experience a little cheaper and more fun for them.

Constant Privacy

When it is your holiday, you will likely want to unwind in your own space. Though hotels provide this benefit to some extent, villas can offer ultimate peace and seclusion.

If you seek somewhere to relax after a big day of adventures in your travel destination, or you just want to lounge around your lodgings, a villa could be the best type of accommodation for you. That way, you and your group can enjoy your holiday to the full without interference from anyone else. How many times have you been in a hotel and suffered the experience of hearing someone’s wedding party blast through the corridors at 2am like the festivities haven’t ended? Or woken up in the morning and faced a cold shower because it seems everyone in the hotel hit their bathroom at the same time?

While Mr Sunny and I love sunning ourselves by a ginormous pool at a luxury hotel, we also don’t enjoy getting splashed by every dad playing ‘here comes the canon ball’ with his kids while everyone else dodge’s the oblivious mom on her oversized inflatable unicorn on the other side.

With a villa that is close to your chosen amenities and places of interest, you will also be able to secure easy travel as well privacy during your trip.

Sounds like being a celebrity or dare I say… a royal?!

Personal Touches

Let’s face it, as pleasant as hotels can be, they typically offer little opportunity to personalise your room. In fact, many don’t allow any kinds of unique touches to be made – and if you’re going on a special holiday, this could really dampen your mood.

A villa, on the other hand, provides a nice, private space that – for the duration of your trip – is entirely yours. Wouldn’t it be nice at the end of a long day of excursions to lay on a couch and watch television or a film in a space that didn’t double as your bed? Or one of those stiff chairs that is probably holding half your luggage too?

In particular, this makes villas an ideal place to stay if you aim to throw parties or events while you’re away – as the house is temporarily yours, you can decorate it as much as you like. Even better, you’ll be able to tidy up afterwards in your own time, too.

A villa vacation seems to offer everything to the person who wants a customisable trip.

Many of us dream of peaceful holidays – and with a villa holiday, you probably have the chance to achieve just that.

How many of you have tried a villa holiday? What was your experience? What tips do you have for someone planning their first villa holiday?

One Aldywch Hotel Secret #1- Lobby Bar

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #2- Indigo Restaurant

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #3- Treadmill

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #4- Picture Perfect

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #5- Cinema

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #6- Hidden Lounge

One Aldwych Hotel Secret #7- What’s in the Water

One Aldwych Hotel: Final Thoughts

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice: BEFORE

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice: DURING

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice: AFTER

WTM London 2015 Blogger Conference Advice- Final thoughts

World Duty Free Heathrow Beauty Services:

A Date with Dior:

Finding My Face:

Creme de la Creme:

Soaking up Shiseido:

World Duty Free Heathrow Travel Exclusives:

World Duty Free Heathrow Size Counts:

World Duty Free Heathrow Cocktails:

World Duty Free Heathrow Final Thoughts:

Fast, Not Furious:

Aria Hotel Prague: Location

Aria Hotel Prague: Cleanliness and Room Offer

Aria Hotel Prague: Food

Aria Hotel Prague: Final Thoughts

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa- Check-in

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa- Next Time

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa- Christmas Season

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Street Scenes

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Views

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Boats

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Coastal Views

Places to Visit in South of France- Beaches

Best Places to Visit in South of France- Final Thoughts

SSSS Boarding Pass: Delta Airlines’ Response

SSSS Boarding Pass: What Really Happens

SSSS Boarding Pass: Advice for You

SSSS Boarding Pass: Final Thoughts

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: LOCATION AND PRICE

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: IF YOU ARE DRIVING A CAR

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: EXPERIENCE

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: DIAGON ALLEY

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: FOOD

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: BEER

Harry Potter, London vs Orlando: WEATHER

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Research What You Need to Take

Find Out Airline Restrictions

Practice Pack Beforehand

Pre-book Travel to the Airport

Pre-Book Travel to the Airport

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Holiday Travel- Final Thoughts

Want a Freebie for Your Trip to London?

A Home from Home

Constant Privacy

Personal Touches

THE ESSENTIAL 1st TIME GUIDE TO LONDON

HARRY POTTER

PUBS IN LONDON