TRAVEL – Page 4

February 14, 2016 by: Sunny London

Eating Gator at the Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach

Have you ever eaten alligator? At the Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach, Florida you can have Gator Bites. Yep, you British readers are probably staring at your screen in awe right now. But, it’s true.

Oddly enough, even though I lived in Florida most of my life, I had never eaten gator until this past Christmas holiday. Why is that?

Well, to be honest, it just didn’t sound appealing to me.

I knew when planning Mr. Sunny’s first trip to Florida that I wanted to take him to all the iconic beach bars in Daytona and have him eat like a local. As I explained the restaurants and bars to him prior to our trip, he fantasized about what it would be like drinking beer on the beach at Christmas. He was born in London, and despite travelling all over the world while working for NBC News and even living in Los Angeles for a year, he had never made a trip to visit Florida.

While visiting the Ocean Deck’s website during out travel pre-planning, Mr. Sunny spotted Gator Bites on the menu. It’s all I heard about for the next few days. And then, on a December afternoon around Christmas, we hit the deck. The Ocean Deck.

Starting as a hot dog stand in 1957, the Ocean Deck is an iconic place to eat and enjoy live entertainment in Daytona Beach, Florida. This restaurant, also known as ‘The Legend on the Beach’, is a popular hangout for locals as well as tourists. It has music festivals, volleyball tournaments, 5k Fun Runs and many more events to keep you ‘dancing in the sand with a drink in your hand.’

We arrived just after 11:00am as I didn’t want to bring Mr. Sunny there when it was too crowded. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly beautiful sunny day.

Because Mr. Sunny had already fully reviewed the menu, it didn’t take him long to order what he wanted. Once it all hit the table, he realized that all of his food choices were fried. This destroyed any hope of him having a healthy lunch. In fact, gator meat is generally known as a healthy meat source because it’s high in protein and low in fat.

Can you see my salad sitting there in the back? It’s just behind Mr. Sunny’s Caribbean Coconut Shrimp and the Crispy Clam Strips. Individually, the Grilled Shrimp Salad is pretty colourful. Let’s take a closer look to see what I mean…

I did try one mouthful of the Gator Bites. The meat was a little tougher than what I anticipated. Truthfully, in all that batter you can’t really taste anything bizarre. My husband really liked them.

In less than an hour, the tables were full at the Ocean Deck. Because we were doing a beach bar pub crawl, we started to make our way out of the restaurant. Mr. Sunny loved the personality of the place and thinks the toilet and other signs are pretty clever.

He also had a real treat in the gift shop, as the person working was from England and moved to Daytona Beach twenty years ago. We all had fun picking out a bar shirt for him, as that’s one of the souvenirs he always likes to get. However, because people in London don’t generally wear clothes with bright colours, we didn’t get any of the traditional style shirts they sell. He bought a white one with the logo.

As we headed to our car in the parking lot, Mr. Sunny enjoyed hearing the tiki doll exclaim, ‘Ha!Ha!Ha! Haaaaaaa! Welcome to the Ocean Deck’ in the same way it’s been said for decades in commercials. Just in case you aren’t from Daytona Beach and don’t know what I mean, you can hear it for yourself as soon as you visit the beach restaurant and club’s website.

Our only regret with our visit to the Ocean Deck was that the weather that day wasn’t too picturesque Florida. But that just means we’ll need to make a trip back the next time we travel to Daytona Beach together.

Are gator bites on your food bucket list, Sunny friends? Have you tried them already, and are you a fan?

January 24, 2016 by: Sunny London

5 Things To Do If You Want a Travel Tattoo

Why is the term travel tattoo predicted to be one of the hottest trending topics on Pinterest this year?

Perhaps since we’re always seeking the next best thing, this permanent mark will soon out rank a ~~selfie~~ braggie in front of Big Ben and a London telephone booth for people on holiday?

To make sure you have all the information you need before you get totally stuck, I consulted one of my lifelong friends, Chris Norton. He’s the proud (yet extremely humble) owner of Hold Fast Tattoo in my hometown, Daytona Beach, Florida.

This town is known for creating NASCAR and rockin’ out motorcycles with events like Bike Week and Biketoberfest. Daytona rumbles year round. It also attracts crowds of people who know their stuff when it comes to ink.

Chris has been a tattoo artist for 13 years. For over five years he’s owned Hold Fast Tattoo on 5153 South Ridgewood Avenue in Port Orange, Florida. Below is what he says you must know when getting a travel tattoo.

5 Things You Must Know When Getting a Travel Tattoo

Photo courtesy of Hold Fast Tattoo

#1- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Plan Ahead?

Chris says it’s not necessary for you to have a clear image of what you want in advance. The days of just choosing tattoos ‘off the wall’ are kind of over too, but you should have a general idea of what you want in a travel tattoo. He has tons of ideas available to view and can pull them off a computer too.

The artists at Hold Fast frequently get customers who print out pictures of tattoos from Pinterest and make requests to replicate them. It’s also wildly popular to mirror a celebrity’s recent ink stamp too.

While he and his staff want every one to be happy with their results, he suggests bumping up your creativity with a travel tattoo.

When I asked him how a person does this, he said, ‘Why not get a travel tattoo that represents a great story from your trip?’

Ahhhhh. That’s genius!

By allowing your adventures to stay with you forever symbolically, you not only have a damn cool conversation piece everywhere you travel, but also know you haven’t infringed on another tattoo artist’s copyrighted image.

With regard to an individual tattoo artist’s work, you should spend some time viewing his/her portfolio, which he or she should be excited to show you.

Photo courtesy of Hold Fast Tattoo

#2- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Hit the Wall

Chris said the amount of certification he, his staff and the business need to go through is extensive.

Good.

For example, in Florida, aside from being insured, Hold Fast must show updated certificates for the city, county, and state health department. And yes, they need a normal business license too. An established procedure needs to be visible for the handling of biomedical waste disposal as well.

Prior to going to a destination, make sure you know what should be clearly showcased on the shop’s wall so you can verify it when you arrive.

#3- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Check the Attitude

It stands to reason that you will expect every inch of a shop to be clean and orderly. However, Chris says you can also tell a lot about a tattoo shop through ambiance. You should receive friendly treatment the minute you walk in and throughout your consultation.

Hold Fast Tattoo makes sure all staff fit this expectation and has built the whole venue around this concept. On site, Chris hosts special events and even has a skate ramp. Their next addition will be a basketball court. All these activities encourage a fun atmosphere.

Photo courtesy of Hold Fast Tattoo

The day I visited, Charlie greeted me outside and was very energetic and proud as he gave me a tour around Hold Fast Tattoo.

#4- Getting a Travel Tattoo: The Money Stamp

It’s quite difficult to call a shop and get a quote over the phone as to the exact cost of your tattoo idea. The dimensions of your design and style determine quite a bit.

You may want something more traditional or perhaps prefer realism. Either way, Chris says you should absolutely expect to pay a bare minimum of $50 in the US. Bigger areas like New York City will understandably charge more.

The amount of time involved and intricacy of the ink are two factors in determining price. So, be prepared to pay a range of prices, but ask before you do.

Photo courtesy of Hold Fast Tattoo

#5- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Take Pre-Cautions

When we talked about getting a travel tattoo specifically, the idea of considerations in relation to vacation activities came up.

For example, you absolutely want to make sure you haven’t been soaking in the sun days before your tattoo. The process hurts enough to begin with. Sitting through them with a sunburn is beyond masochistic. You’ll also bleed a lot more during the process because your blood is so close to the skin surface.

Ouch.

You probably want to plan a travel tattoo closer to the end of your trip.

If you’re an avid water sports fan, you don’t want to engage in these types of activities for a few weeks after you get your ink. You should stay away from a pool and out of the sun for a minimum of one week. Chris suggests two weeks, just to be super safe.

That means no scuba diving, cliff jumping, or water skiing, Sunny friends.

Photo courtesy of Hold Fast Tattoo

Cold climates don’t have a looming effect on a new tattoo, but hot ones sure do.

Take consideration in to your return flight length as well. The first few days after you get a tattoo you naturally push out plasma, blood and ink. Flying in economy for nine hours and dealing with the pain of a fresh tattoo could be brutal. Maybe this is the time you finally splurge for that first class upgrade?

Chris does suggest if at any point your new tattoo feels stuck to your clothing, you should not immediately rip or pull it off. Instead, you should soak the area and then gently pull the clothing away.

Further, you can preserve the color and prevent fading much better if you always cover your tattoo with sunblock.

Getting a Travel Tattoo: Final Thoughts

Currently, it seems that pocket watch tattoos are popular worldwide. People are keen to get important dates and times etched in to their body to commemorate experiences.

Photo courtesy of Hold Fast Tattoo

It seems only natural that a travel tattoo will follow in our Pinterest news feed too.

If you’re considering a tattoo in the Daytona Beach area, it’s well worth your time to consult with Chris or one of his talented staff. To see more of their work at Hold Fast, you can follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Tell them Sunny sent ya! 😉

What would your travel tattoo be from your bucket list destination? Do you have a fun tattoo experience of your own to share?

If you, or anyone you know, is currently considering a travel tattoo, please share this blog on your social networks so they know what they must do too!

January 22, 2016 by: Sunny London

13 Things British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know

Are you British and planning on visiting Florida?

As an American expat living in London, I’m always amazed at what the English don’t know about my home state. Through many conversations with Londoners, I’ve learned that there are quite a few misconceptions about Florida that British tourists should understand before their American holiday to the Sunshine State.

When I finally had the chance to take my British husband to Florida for the first time in his life, my suspiscions regarding what he expected proved true.

1. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Understand the Weather

The biggest surprise for British tourists is the Florida weather. First, it’s Hurricane Season from June 1st to November 30th. While it’s unlikely there would be a hurricane in June or November, the odds are high in the remaining months.

Hurricanes suck.

Florida is beyond miserable in the Hurricane Season months. Outside temperatures hit around 90º Fahrenheit during the day and don’t drop too much when the sun’s down. The humidity is morbid. All Floridians will agree to that.

From late July to mid-September you can nearly set your watch to an afternoon Florida thunderstorm. The skies turn purple around 2:00pm and all hell breaks loose. British tourists might find the explosive thunder and lightning in our sky pretty scary. It gets loud.

We have tornadoes too. I’ve lived through two and actually spent several days on disaster relief assisting local residents with salvaging their homes.

2. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Understand the Sun’s Intensity

Even on a cloudy, overcast day in the summer months you can still get a lobster level burn, especially if you’re British. Sorry.

Please wear sunscreen from the second the sunrises until you fall asleep at night in your hotel room.

Cover your entire body with it, even if you plan on wearing tube socks with your sandals. 😉

3. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know We’re Early Risers

Most people in Florida are up early and out by 8:00am.

Again, we can attribute this to the heat. It’s just easier to get all of our errands accomplished before the sweltering heat. A boiling car is a real nightmare on a busy day. I can’t count how many times I jumped in my car on a sunny Florida day and had the back of my legs seared on the seat beause my Daisy Dukes weren’t long enough to create a barrier between my skin and the seat.

Also, because our hospitality industry relies on outdoor life and sports, many people need to arrive to jobs early in order to prepare pool decks, boats, and jet skis for tourists.

4. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know How Flat Things Are

The first observation my husband made while looking out the airplane as we made our landing approach to Daytona Beach is, ‘That’s really flat!’

Yes, not much of Florida measures above sea level. This is why we don’t have underground transportation or basements in our homes.

5. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know Where Things Are

Basically, everything that happens in Florida takes place on the mid to lower perimeter. With the exception of a few spots in the Panhandle, Jacksonville, and Orlando, the rest of the state is swamp land. Yes, UF (University of Florida) fans I know exactly what I said there. Can you tell I am a Florida State University alum? 😉

While there certainly is more to Florida than Disney World, it’s basically all along the coastline. In fact, one of the highways that runs across the Southern part of the state is called ‘Alligator Alley.’ It was named this because when it was built in the 1960’s people felt it would be useless for cars and likely be an alley for alligators.

6. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know About Guns

I try to avoid conversations about this, but the simple fact is a lot of people have guns in Florida. Our laws are different for guns in each state. Just to give you an example, read this article about what each state Googled the most in 2015.

Florida’s top search words… ‘Concealed Weapons Permit’

Other states looked for:

New York: ‘Charlie Sheen HIV’
Georgia: ‘Whip Dance’
California: ‘Volkswagon Scandal’
Nevada: ‘Lamar Odom’
Oklahoma: ‘Caitlyn Jenner’

While we weren’t the only state to search this type of topic, it does say a lot about our gun culture. Other things searched for included red dot sight reviews as there is a large market for gun accessories.

7. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Expect to See Gated Communities and Waterfalls

Florida is full of gated communities. Many have security guards on duty at gate houses. When entering, guests of residents need to be on a clearance list and/or wait until the resident is contacted via phone for approval to enter.

My husband thinks the fountains and standing water areas all over the gated community where we stayed are particularly intriguing.

8. British People Visiting Florida Aren’t Ready for the Reptiles

Florida is crawling with creatures. The most common reptile is a lizard. They are stealthy little suckers. Further, if you try to grab one by the tail, it pulls off as a defense mechanism and the lizard scurries away. They’re also very clever at camoflauge. Can you find the lizard below?

Next on the slithering list is snakes. They are no fun. Luckily, they aren’t common enough for me to capture a picture of one for you while I’m on holiday in Florida writing this. Gators are slightly more rare, but seeing them isn’t a huge novelty for Florida residents.

But, we do enjoy eating them. These are Gator Bites from the Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach.

Finally, Florida is flooded with bugs. Residents will regularly complain about Love Bugs covering the front of their cars in September. They seem to splash all over vehicles during this month every year. A common joke for Florida is that we have two seasons: Summer and Love Bug. Here’s a screen shot (literally) of tons of bugs in the morning. They’re everywhere!

9. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Understand Our Sports Loyalties

Since most people originally came to Florida from other US States, they brought their professional sports loyalties with them. That means people who live in Miami may actually be die hard Buffalo Bills fans because they’re from that area in New York. Just because you live near Jacksonville doesn’t mean you cheer for the Jaguars. You could be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, like me.

However, there’s a fierce loyalty to college teams. (British people can think of these as University teams).

The Autumn season is an intense time for college football fans because the Florida teams have been historically some of the top teams in the United States. Don’t joke about rivalries. People take their teams (Florida State Seminoles RULE!) seriously.

10. British People Visiting Florida Think Everyone’s Old

At one time, Florida was predominately a place where people retired. That phenomenon is about 20-30 years old. It’s common now to actually meet people who were born in Florida.

Further, the Naples area is now one of the hottest, affluent communities for young professionals.

11. British People Visiting Florida Shouldn’t Expect Michelin Stars

Leave your Michelin star expectations in the UK. Our state is founded on Seafood, Mexican and Cuban cuisine. It’s not glamorous, but it’s damn good.

My husband kept talking about getting lobster before we left for our holiday. We don’t really eat that a lot in Florida. However, you will find crab and shrimp everywhere. That’s our fine dining. It usually looks like this…

12. British People Visiting Florida Should Know It’s Casual

Floridians don’t like to rush. The attitude toward most things is very casual. Floridians have dress flip flops and like to wear shorts to dinner. Don’t try to be fancy, unless you’re in South Beach. However, even there you can be chic in sandals. But a little advice- Miami is a really fast area where you need to be extra mindful of common sense and safety.

Don’t expect your coffee to be served at lightning speed at any location in Florida. And, good luck getting anything but iced if you fancy tea.

13. British People Visiting Florida Should Know Where to Go

Don’t ask for the ‘loo’ or toilet. That won’t translate well in Florida. Instead, ask for the Restroom. If you’re timid, just look for a sign that says where to pee.

Final Thoughts:

Those are the serious and slightly silly misperceptions I can list for you. I’d love to hear your thoughts either as a Londoner, British tourist in Florida, or native Floridian. What else can you add? What questions do you have about a holiday in Florida? If you’re getting ready to visit London as an American, you might want to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you can see learn advice for shopping and things to do.

Update: Don’t miss this YouTube video published in August 2018 with even more tips!

January 15, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to Ride the London Underground not like an Arse

Are you planning to use the London Underground as transportation for your upcoming trip? Or maybe you live in London and use the Underground often but don’t have a clue about what to do?

Let me help you.

No, I’m not a life long Londoner, but my husband is. He is not fond of the ‘Tube’, as some refer to it in town. In fact, he says he’d prefer to ride with ‘the great unwashed’ as little as possible.

His wife (me), and millions of others, however, understand it’s one of the most practical and cheapest ways to get from place to place in the world’s most expensive city.

Even though I’ve only lived in London a few years of my life, I’ve noticed some basic steps you should follow as an etiquette guide on the London Underground. In fact, when you’re an expat living in another country, you’re keen to notice the habits of locals because you want to blend in as quickly as possible.

After observing what works and what doesn’t, I have the suggestions below for a respectful, easier journey for you and those around you.

The London Underground- The World’s Your Oyster

Want to know a guaranteed ticket to making friends on the London Underground?

Have your day pass or Oyster card out before you approach the turnstiles.

Yep. You can be 100% sure that you won’t get anywhere without paying your dues. So, make sure that card or piece of paper is in your hands about 20 feet before you spin through.

Oh, and make sure it’s ‘topped up.’ There’s nothing more annoying than standing behind some wanker who can’t find his card and thinks it’s funny.

Get. Out. Of. The. Way.

The London Underground- You’re Not a Superhero

Every time someone takes a flying leap in a single bound to jump on to a train as the doors are closing, the hearts of everyone on the train drop.

Secretly, we do cheer when you make it.

However, when the doors slam on you (or your backpack) and everyone has to wait or assist in prying the doors open for you, we’re all thinking, ‘Jack Arse.’

When you hear the beeping noise of doors closing, don’t take it as your clue to rip off your glasses and prove you can probably leap small buildings in a single bound there, Clark Kent.

The London Underground- Move Over

One of the biggest expressions of poor manners on the Tube involves the most basic request from the Transport for London guidelines: Stand on the Right, Walk on the Left.

Let me explain. It’s not as simple as just being on the right. Nearly every traveller gets that part right. What you need to be mindful of is the space you take on the right.

Just because you are on the stationary side doesn’t mean you can take up 90% of the stair horizontally. It isn’t fair to the walkers or often ‘runners’ moving on the left to have to dodge around a protruding bag or suitcase.

Often when I am charging up the escalator, I take my full half of the left side, so if I ~~smash into~~ brush against a person, it’s not an accident. That person needs to move over.

The London Underground- Remove Your Backpack

Peak travel times are weekdays until 9:30am and between 4-7pm. If that’s when you are taking your journey, be advised it’s rude and hideous to leave your bag strapped to your back.

When people are facing a long day at work or have had a long day, they don’t feel like having your backpack shoved in their face. Further, it takes up desperately needed space.

You should remove the back and put it near or on the top of your feet.

Seriously.

The London Underground- You’re Not Priority

I never sit in the Priority Seat. Those are the seats nearest to door and are marked with a sign above them.

They’re reserved for elderly, the less able and women who are pregnant. Don’t sit in a priority seat ever.

If you’re going to play games, write notes, read, or text people while you’re riding, you may miss seeing someone get on the train who truly needs the priority seat.

You might feel the cold stare of everyone on the train hoping to ‘evil eye’ you out of your seat when someone else needs it. (Most British people are far too polite to actually ask you to move). Save yourself the embarrassment of being asked, or having someone smash your foot with their walking stick, by just avoiding these seats.

The London Underground: Keep Calm and Move On

Further, be mindful of space around you in the carriage. If it’s crowded and you’re at the end of the carriage, check to make sure there isn’t empty space where you can stand in the middle.

I agree that it requires a bit more balance than leaning against the wall, but for the love of mankind, think of the people smashed together at the end of the carriage! Do you think they enjoy smelling each other’s beer breath and armpits?

The London Underground: Pick Your Seat, Not Your Nose

There probably isn’t too much I need to write here as an explanation. That heading was not a joke or cute, catchy title.

We don’t care if you put on makeup as you ride, as long as you don’t get it on us and stay within your space perimeters in a seat. In fact, if you can put on lipstick, eye liner and mascara on a moving train, you have mystified all of us.

However, keep your fingers out of your nose, girls and boys. And, please, please, please, take a bath or shower before you travel!

Stay safe and polite as you ride, Sunny friends. And always bring and use this whenever you are anywhere near an Underground, Overground or National Rail Station.

Final Thoughts:

I hope you found this advice valuable. If it’s too much to remember, just say ‘Sorry’ for every mistake you or other people make during your trip. Your fault, their fault, just keep saying ‘Sorry.’ It’s what they do in London.

Sorry.

There’s more London Underground advice on the blog, as well as a Guide to Transportation in London and resource for Americans Visiting London.

What are your tips, London friends?

Visitors, are there are additional questions I can answer for you?

Did you know as part of an online order with London Pass you can also receive an OysterCard too before you arrive or with your passes? There’s plenty of blog reviews too for attractions offered as part of this discount pass service also.

For more tips for the Tube, take two minutes to watch this too…

https://youtu.be/VVPJUN4jeuU

January 12, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to Fly Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London to the US

Why was my first Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London to the US flight an unpleasant experience? Oh… let me count the ways!

After years of only flying Delta Airlines roundtrip London to the US, I was forced to fly Virgin Atlantic (their partner airline) over the Christmas holidays due to ginormous price differences. I wish I could say this was a positive experience. While there were a few positive things. Sadly, I can’t say I would ever be pleased about flying Economy with this airline again.

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London: Seat Selection

This is by far the biggest issue I have with the flight. While I booked the Christmas holiday tickets for my husband and I in September, we weren’t able to select our actual seats at the time of booking.

As someone who has had vein closure surgery on both legs, trans-Atlantic flights are tough. Further, my husband, a proud London beer drinker, is a big dude. We need space and access to the aisle. And, like you, we’re not interested in jumping over people to gain it.

After several hour long phone calls with Virgin Atlantic airline, we were told that unless we paid £25 per seat, we couldn’t pick our actual seats until 24 hours before our flight. This is in addition to the original £1732 ($2528) price tag. Seriously?

What’s the big damn secret for seats, Virgin Atlantic?

For weeks I had sleepless nights worrying if we would be stuck in the middle of their Economy seat selection. The rows are comprised of two seats, four seats, and two seats. It’s a couple’s nightmare if you get the middle sets in the section of four.

After seeing me in tears so many times after booking our flight, a week before the flight my husband said he’d pay for our seat selection as part of my Christmas present.

So, instead of a cool olloCase for an iPhone 6 or iStabilizer Shutter Remote that I put on my Cool Blogger Gadgets Must Have List, I got reassurance that I would not sit next to a stranger for 10 hours on a plane. We received two seats together in the left side of the plane in row 60-something.

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London: Boarding Process

WTF?

I felt like I travelled back two decades to either you’re First Class or you’re not! That’s basically how it felt.

As usual, people started queening pre-maturely. Then, Virgin Atlantic staff announced everyone should get in line to board, in two sections, Upper Class or not.

Two giant lines and one big mess.

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London: Overhead Cabin Space and Seat

I struggled to put my barely acceptable carry-on in the overhead compartment. Thank goodness my husband just brought a backpack. We shoved our stuff overhead and took our seats.

The most painful part of the Economy flight experience is the seat. For nearly 10 hours, I barely had enough room to extend my legs. Further, my husband and I had trouble not jabbing each other in the ribs with our elbows because the seat width is so small.

However, with regard to positives, I will say the in-flight entertainment far surpasses that of Delta’s Economy or Premium seats.

The music selection is excellent. For half the flight I did some serious seat dancing to Electronic and Dance tracks. I figured if I was going to supercede my seat barrier that I should do it with some stellar disco dance moves. I also had a few ‘bottles’ of wine to ease the journey too.

I noticed from the side that it’s difficult for other passengers to see what’s showing on your seat screen. This was handy when I was watching the scenes from Entourage: The Movie that were for adult eyes only. 😉 So, I didn’t feel too uncomfortable about my movie choice because I knew everyone behind me couldn’t clearly see my screen. It’s so much better than watching this for 10 hours…

Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow London: Other Economy Positives

Wow. Virgin Atlantic crushes Delta when it comes to airplane food. We liked our meals, except for the fact that they ran out of pasta by the time they got to us.

And, we each had inseat chargers. You know how valuable that is on a ten hour flight if you play games (like my husband) or blog on a plane like me. In comparison, you’re lucky to have this on a Delta flight in Premium Class, as chargers aren’t standard.

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow: Upgrade to Premium

My husband’s return flight was on Delta because he had to be back in London earlier than me, and the flight times and prices were best for his needs.

I dreaded my return trip on Virgin Atlantic. However, on my Daytona Beach, Florida to Atlanta flight on Delta, I was automatically upgraded to First Class. Cooooool.

Because I am a Silver Medallion member on Delta and was travelling by myself, apparently I got upgraded to a Premium seat on Virgin Atlantic too. However, I didn’t know this until I logged in to the 24-hour online check-in. Being in a Premium seat on the Virgin Atlantic flight from Atlanta to Heathrow meant I got to board quickly. It was much more organised in Atlanta.

My seat (21D) was much bigger than the in-bound Economy flight, offered tons more leg room, and was soft and comfortable. (Well, as much as can be expected on an airplane). The middle rows in this part of the plane only have three seats, not four.

There was a bottled water waiting for me when I arrived. And I was offered three glasses of Prosecco before the plane even took off. My damn #DryJanuary New Year’s Resolution was the only reason I wasn’t dancing on the chair before we headed for takeoff.

Another benefit included receiving super fast attention and assistance from flight attendants. The views are of course, the same.

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow: Economy vs Premium

I will never fly in the Economy section of Virgin Atlantic on a trans-Atlantic flight again, unless it’s the last possible option on Earth. I’d suggest to you that it’s worth the additional money to upgrade to a Premium seat, if this is the airline you pick.

While Delta’s Economy seats are nothing to cheer about, I find they’re better than Virgin Atlantic. But, when it comes to matching the Premium seats, Virgin Atlantic easily beats Delta.

This makes me even more curious as to what the Upper Level experience is like on Virgin Atlantic. My mother had the opportunity to fly it from New York to London en route to Ireland once. I was more jealous of her flight than of her trip at the time!

Hey, Richard Branson and company, are you looking for a blog review of your Upper Class service? *Shameless pitch*

I strongly suggest that you book a premium seat when you fly Virgin Atlantic, if you can’t travel Upper Class.

Have you ever flown Virgin Atlantic roundtrip London to the U.S.? If so, what are your thoughts? Any Delta frequent fliers out there like me who have flown Virgin Atlantic due to the airlines’ partnership?

Oh, and if you fly through Heathrow often, it’s worth reading World Duty Free Heathrow: What You Don’t Know. It has a link for a discount card that’s a great way to save money while at the airport!

January 10, 2016 by: Sunny London

Duty Free Price for Chanel, Chocolate, Michael Kors and More!

Do you find a duty free price tempting when you’re travelling internationally? Have your eye on Chanel perfume or a handbag and waiting to see if it’s cheaper at the airport? Need a last minute gift for your holiday host and think chocolate from duty free could be an easy answer?

On a roundtrip flight from the London Heathrow Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States, I spent some time comparing specific products based on blog readers’ inquiries over the years.

Initially in 2014 when the currency exchange rate was $1.75=£1, I compared items like Jack Daniels whiskey, champagne, Marlborough cigarettes, and various perfumes to see if duty free is worth it.

On a trip in January 2016, the exchange rate was approximately $1.49=£1. This time I compared different items.

Duty Free Price for Gucci Handbags:

This comparison is very interesting. The Dionysus GG Supreme Shoulder Bag featured below is sold for £1020 ($1488) at London’s Heathrow Terminal 3. That’s the one with the red suede in front. On the Gucci website it’s listed for 1500 Euro (£1119, $1633) The Dionysus Blooms Print Shoulder Bag bag behind it is £1230 ($1794). Online it’s listed as 1800 Euro (£1343, $1960). So, if you’re flying through Heathrow Terminal 3 and fall in love with a Gucci handbag, it’s certainly worth it in comparison to shopping online in the UK.

I could not find a Gucci store in the Atlanta airport international terminal. However, I did find the same Gucci handbags at The Mall at Millenia in Orlando, Florida. The small bag below is £1429 ($2100) and the big bag is £1542 ($2250). It looks like the clear winner here is London’s Heathrow Airport.

Duty Free Price for Chanel Handbags:

When shopping at Chanel at Heathrow Terminal 3, I noticed the prices of these handbags from their Cruise Colletion. The fuschia Chanel handbag is £1415 ($2064. The bigger blue patent leather Chanel bag is £1850 ($2699), and the smaller blue bag is £2104 ($3069). The shoes are £650 ($948). Neither the handbags nor shoes were featured on the Chanel website. Leather handbags like this and at that price should certainly be maintained. Using a leather conditioner and cleaner when cleaning your leather purse or handbag will prevent staining and improve the flexibility of the material.

The Duty Free Price for Chanel No 5 Eau de Parfum:

London’s Heathrow- 50ml is £54.50 ($79), a 100ml bottle is £76.80 ($112)
Selfridges in London– 50 ml is £68 ($99), a 100ml bottle is £96 ($140)
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson- EDP 50ml is £65 ($95), a 100ml is £85 ($125)
Sephora in the US– 1.7 ounces £68 ($100), 3.4 ounces £90 ($132)

If you love Chanel perfume and are flying through Heathrow airport, it looks like this is where you get the best deal. However, for US readers who have international travel plans elsewhere, and love Chanel perfume, don’t wait until your trip to get the perfume.

Instead, visit Sephora online and consider getting the Chanel travel spray. This means you put it in your checked luggage and not have to be bothered with it the day you fly.

Duty Free Price for Ted Baker Handbags:

Not every Terminal at Heathrow has a Ted Baker. Luckily, Terminal 3 does, but it’s super tiny. However, they did have a few handbags on display. The black tote below is the Shelcon bag and is on the Ted Baker website for £29 ($42) at the time of this blog post. As the tag shows below, it’s £24 ($35) at Heathrow Airport.

It’s really difficult to compare these handbags to American prices because Ted Baker is a British brand. They do sell it at some US department stores, but the selection is extremely limited.

You can take your chances at Heathrow because the prices are better. But, there’s a slim chance the exact handbag you seek may be there the day you travel. For Ted Baker, I absolutely suggest buying a handbag on their website if there’s one you are dying to have. Save the duty free shopping for one that catches your attention the day of your international flight.

The Duty Free Price for Michael Kors:

Now we are going to examine my favourite brand, Michael Kors. People in London always compliment anything I have that’s Michael Kors. For this reason (and because I’ve always LOVED it), I stock up on MK everything whenever I return to my home country, America. These are the items I picked up over the summer, which you can read more about in the Expat Shopping List.

What can I tell you about shopping duty free for Michael Kors? According to a store representative in the Atlanta airport international terminal, they not only sell the bags tax free, but they beat any local competitors by at least 10%.

This makes shopping for a duty free Michael Kors handbag in US airports totally worth it.

However, if you don’t have any international trips planned or just can’t wait for the handbag that’s caught your attention, American readers should visit the Michael Kors selection at Macy’s.com. This is where I buy nearly all of my MK gear. The deals and selection beat anything I’ve seen anywhere. With sales and coupons at Macy’s I got the Fulton Harness Rainboots for £60 ($90) and the Red Asymmetrical-Zip Belted Coat for £87 ($125). You’ve probably seen both a million times on my Snapchat! (SunnyinLondon2).

They do have Michael Kors watches at both London’s Heathrow and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, if you’re curious.

The Duty Free Price for Chocolate:

Chocolate isn’t something I would purchase when travelling from London to my home town Daytona Beach, Florida because I would be afraid it would melt on the second leg of the journey. However, many people found my previous Heathrow Duty Free blog post because they google ‘duty free chocolate.’

So, I snapped a few comparison shots for you at both airports. In the US, the duty free shops are stocked with chocolate that isn’t too appealing to the British, in my experience. At London’s Heathrow, there is definitely a better selection of quality chocolate. The Godiva boxes are unique to London, so they make nice gifts to people who could be hosting you during your visit.

The box below is £15 ($21) for 180g. Of course, the range of chocolate products you’ll find online at Godiva in the UK is certainly more extensive. It’s one of my favourite places to eat chocolate in London.

The savings on Lindor seems good too.

The Duty Free Price for Fortnum and Mason Tea and Biscuits:

Last Christmas, this is the gift I picked from duty free at London’s Heathrow for my mother.

Fortnum and Mason tea is one of the oldest and most reputable teas in England. It’s not available at the Atlanta airport. Americans who want this tea need to purchase it online, or visit the luxury department store on 181 Piccadilly Street in Central London. I found that the tea and biscuits are exactly the same price online at Fortnum and Mason as they are in London’s Heathrow airport.

Duty Free Price for Macbook and Headphones:

I don’t buy electronic products in the UK because they are so expensive compared to US prices. However, I did make my way through an electronics shop in Terminal 3 to show you what’s available.

If you’re living in the US or travelling there, I find the best deals are at BestBuy. Take a look here at how cheap you can get the Macbook Pro.

Further, if you’re shopping for headphones, this is what I found at Heathrow…

The salesperson at the store said the ones above are the most popular for people to buy at the airport while waiting for an international flight. It looks like the Sony h.ear on headphones run about £20 ($29) cheaper at the airport, rather than on Amazon UK. That seems to be the same with the Ministry of Sound Audio On Headphones and Bose headphones.

However, a GoPro HERO Camera is exactly the same price.

The Duty Free Price for Converters:

Finally, just for last minute fun, I shot a picture of these converters.

With the uncertainty of what can happen with travel plans, especially at airports, I wouldn’t wait to get an electric plug converter until I was at a London airport. But, it’s likely if you forget them for your international trip that you might be able to grab one pre-flight.

Duty Free Price: Final Thoughts

Those are the more popular items that I have found people purhase while duty free shopping. I’d love to hear what’s on your list. Do you look forward to it at the airport? Are your purchases planned or implusive?

If you frequently fly through London’s Heathrow Airport, be sure to read World Duty Free Heathrow- What You Don’t Know before your next trip. It shows offers that are only found in duty free shops. And- there’s a link to a shopping loyalty card for the airport! Also, on the Sunny News YouTube channel, I have a Shopping Guide for London as well as Safety Tips, Visiting Pubs advice, and fun things to do in London.

January 3, 2016 by: Sunny London

The 5 Worst American Beers

Do you have any idea how many American beers exist now? This question really intrigued my British husband, Mr. Sunny, on our recent trip to Florida. While we were there visiting from London, he was on a mission to try as many American beers as possible.

I’ve never fancied the taste of beer. So, during our ten days visiting my home state, I sat back and watched him sample beer after beer and took notes on all his observations.

Through his devout ‘research’, he discovered several American beers that feels are lovely. Unfortunately in this experiment, he identified a handful that made the drink challenge a bit hard to swallow.

Let’s begin with the positive and then move to the ‘only if it’s the last beer available on Earth’ option…

If you’re an avid Sunny in London blog reader, you’ll know Mr. Sunny regularly orders Stella Artois. We really should get some kind of brand ambassador role for this because it’s mentioned in nearly every food, restaurant and drink review we do.

Next, he’ll select San Miguel, if Stella isn’t on the beer menu.

If I’m not around and he’s at a leaving drink or night out with his mates, he’ll get serious and order a Delirium Tremens. He’s a huge fan of Belgian beers. We wrote about where to drink these beers in Brussels.

When he was twenty, Mr. Sunny spent a year living in Los Angeles. He recalls very few beer options at bars during that time. Now, he is simply amazed at how far American beers have come and always takes pictures of the taps to send his mates in London.

On this trip, he rated Yuengling beer as the best. Following that, honourable mentions go to Rolling Rock and Budweiser.

And these are the ones he will fondly refer to as ‘the Worst American Beers’ on the planet.

Worst American Beers: Up River Lager

Brewed by the Mudshark Brewing Company in Arizona, this lager didn’t impress Mr. Sunny. Specifically, he said it left a more than fishy taste in his mouth. Even though we were on holiday in Florida, this still didn’t sit well with this self-proclaimed professional beer drinker.

Worst American Beers: Lagunitas Beer

This IPA is billed as ‘highly drinkable.’ It has a bit of caramel malt barley that ‘provides the richness that mellows out the twang of the hops.’

Mr. Sunny says, ‘the twang makes your tongue curl.’ No good.

Worst American Beers: Humbolt Brown Hemp Ale

We admit that Mr. Sunny tried this beer just to be a bit cheeky. It’s brewed with toasted hemp seeds that add an herb-accented flavour. Although it’s won numerous awards in California, Mr. Sunny says ‘Just Say No’ to this one. Further, he said it didn’t even give him the munchies. Duuuuuuude.

It’s in the center in the picture above.

Worst American Beers: Floridian Hefeweizen

The tagline ‘Suntan for your Soul‘ definitely caught my husband’s attention. He says the best sunscreen for a British bloke is to be seated at an indoor bar.

However, this beer from the Funky Buddha Brewery didn’t go down like the liquid sunshine we had hoped for.

Worst American Beers: Milwaukee’s Best Light

Finally, Mr. Sunny agrees with the entire US drinking population in saying that ‘The Beast’ is by far the champion of the worst American beers.

So, that’s an Englishman’s view of what’s on tap in America.

We want to give a special shout out to the House of Beer in Port Orange, Florida for letting Mr. Sunny sample so many beers for this story. They have a great Winterfest selection of booze for the holidays, if you’re in the area.

Mr. Sunny would like for everyone to know that this is the blog post he enjoyed the most, and he’s available to conduct this type of research anytime, any place. And, he really loves the personalized beer mug that With Luv Design sent him for Christmas. He says it’s a stocking stuffer he hopes to keep full year round!

Do you agree with Mr. Sunny’s worst American beers? Which ones would you add to the list?

December 12, 2015 by: Sunny London

What to Pack for Florida (if You’re British)

‘Do you know what to pack for Florida?’ I asked my British husband as we prepared for his first trip to my home state.

‘Pants and socks’ is his response.

Yikes!

Packing for a trip to Florida is never tough for me. No matter how long I live in London as an American expat, I always know what to pack when I make a trip to my home state, no matter what time of year it is.

However, when my British husband and I were days away from our first trip to Florida together, I realised I was at a huge advantage compared to him. While he travelled the world as an international cameraman for NBC News, he neither had an assignment in nor made a personal trip to the Sunshine State.

His response to my question about what to pack for Florida was both humorous and concerning.

I give him credit for the reasoning, ‘It’s just not stuff I want to have to deal with buying there.’ However, there are other essentials that he might not want to buy, or even have access to, once we arrive in Florida. While there are certain things that are easier to find in Florida than in the UK, such as many CBD or hemp oil based products, when you’re going to Florida it is always better to come fully prepared. However, if you are looking for a cbd florida guide, there are many places that you can look at to familiarise yourself with the CBD products in the Sunshine State.

To figure out what to pack for Florida if you’re British and going there for holiday, start with all your typical warm weather basics. Then, make sure you add all the items below to your pre-trip shopping list.

What to Pack for Florida: Bug Repellant

Florida is crawling with bugs (and reptiles, but there’s not a damn thing you can do about that in terms of what to pack). Whether they are mosquitoes, love bugs or ‘no see ’ems’, the little suckers are everywhere.

Bring bug repellant in your suitcase. Don’t wait until it’s too late and ruin your holiday with welts the size of Florida oranges on your body.

I was thrilled when I found Avon Skin So Soft

on Amazon UK

as I searched bug repellant to write this blog post.

Why?

This is the brand everyone in Florida uses. It’s the most recommended product from Florida natives. Trust me!

And, just in case you don’t believe me, I took this picture of the screen of my mother’s porch when I was in Florida last August. Notice all the critters?

What to Pack for Florida: Suntan Lotion

This is where the Sunny in London blog will get painful. I’m going to be really honest here. Don’t get on a plane to Florida without suntan lotion if you’re British! Florida sun is powerful and intense.

If you’re an Englishman, like my husband, you don’t tan. Instead you get super red, super fast if you even look outside on a sunny day. On our beaches, we Floridians can spot you (and you’re white legs) from miles away.

When I worked at Universal Studios Orlando prior to moving to London, I regularly met burned British tourists. Those that spent their first day of holiday at Walt Disney World, then went to our theme park, hit the hot list. If they skipped suntan lotion in this two-day combo and ‘enjoyed’ our Jaws ride seated on the outside row of the boat, they were seared.

Ok, not like literally in the lawsuit sense. But, because there is an amount of heat generated from the ‘explosions’ on the ride, they experience great discomfort during those moments and don’t enjoy their visit as much. I would chat with them in Guest Services/VIP Studio Tours often and they always regretted not applying suntan lotion multiple times during their theme park visits.

What product does this Florida girl recommend? Anything from Hawaiian Tropic.

Why? The brand originated in my home town, Daytona Beach. So, it’s about loyalty. The company obviously knows about Florida sun and how to cope with it.

The one above is really cheap and features Protective Sun Lotion 50 Plus

. Don’t mess around. Start with an SPF 50. You’ll thank me later. Profusely.

What to Pack for Florida: Drugs

You don’t want to take time to weed out what to buy when you’re in trouble. Make sure you throw some Paracetamol in your carry on suitcase. We don’t have the brand in the US. Our equivalent, I guess, is Tylenol or Aleve. As an American expat living in London, I never buy Paracetamol because it doesn’t work for me. You might experience the same phenomenon with American products when you visit, so pack what you know.

Further, if you’re being tossed around a lot on our theme park rides, you might need some motion sickness tablets. Or you can pick up some of these before you leave…

Again, these Travel Sickness Bands

were super cheap when I searched them, and listed as a #1 Best Seller. 😉

What to Pack for Florida: Beach and Pool Gear

There is no doubt you’ll want to hit at least one of our countless beaches when you are in Florida. Make sure you have these items ready for your beach trip:

Hats

Bring at least one, especially if you’re a bloke who’s losing his hair. In America, we rock baseball caps, so if you want to look like a Yank, this is what you should wear. You can do this one of two ways. If you want to look British and get attention that way, bring one of these…

Any baseball cap with an English futbol team will catch attention across the pond.

However, if you want to look ‘American’ and really blend in with the Florida crackers, then you must wear a Florida State University (FSU) baseball cap that recognises them as the 2013 BCS National Football Champions.

Ick!

I found a wide range of Florida State University baseball caps online, if you’d rather have one that’s Garnet and Gold (the team’s colours). Oh yeah, it’s also where I received my Bachelor of Science degree, so I’m naturally biased here too.

Sunglasses

Florida winter days are much longer than England’s. If you visit during this season, you’ll have far more time to wear them compared to being in London where it gets dark at 4:00pm. Although, it generally gets dark in the summer around 8pm.

Swimwear for Kids

Inflatable Armbands (In Florida we call them ‘swimmies’ or ‘floogles’). Bring these for your babies who are too little (or don’t know how) to swim on their own.

They’re also a great way to prevent anything tragic happening while you aren’t looking at the pool. Both my younger sister and I had them as kids.

A Beach Cooler for Beer

Specifically for packing purposes, you should bring an Inflatable Beach Cooler. You wil need one to keep your beer cool in the Florida heat. These are the ones I think Floridians would love seeing on our Florida beaches and pool decks:

However, I think the ultimate kick arse cooler is this Party Sombrero

. Florida has a huge population of Mexican people, so this would be brilliant on the beach with your Dos Equis or Corona beer!

Multiple Suits

Bring at least two bathing suits (or ‘bathing costumes’ as you call them). There’s nothing worse than putting one of these things on wet, so bring two with you. One can dry on a day while you wear the other.

What to Pack for Florida: Apparel

Florida humidity is excruciating in the months of May-September, even at 6:00am. Be sure to pack lightweight clothes to wear. Don’t even put jeans in your suitcase during those months.

Regarding shoes, flip flops are part of our lifestyle. We literally value them like art.

Bring a pair to match every one of your outfits. Just make sure to put suntan lotion on the tops of your feet too! It’s a painful place to be burned and often is forgotten in application. Bring some smart clothes in case you decide to visit somewhere like the Francisca Restaurant but make sure you have plenty of shorts and cool clothes!

What NOT to Pack for Florida: A Speedo

I couldn’t end this blog post with integrity if I didn’t include the ONE thing you absolutely CANNOT pack for Florida, boys.

I beg you. Please, please, please don’t show up to my home state beaches and pools in one of these! The banana hammock just isn’t something Floridians want to see. EVER!

What to Pack for Florida: Final Thoughts

There you have it! It’s a good thing Mr. Sunny (my husband) has me to guide him through what to pack for Florida, so he doesn’t end up with just ‘pants and socks’ in his suitcase. Oh, and for you American readers, by ‘pants’, he means underwear.

If you are British and know people who are or want to have a holiday in Florida, please share this blog post on Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon or any social network you value. It would be great if you pinned the picture below too so your British mates have a better chance at a sunny, happy holiday in Florida.

Update: And don’t miss this YouTube video published in August 2018 with even more travel tips!

If there’s anything you can suggest to add to the list, please do so in the comments! I’m eager to answer any Florida questions you may have as well. Don’t forget the blog has tons of expat living and Things to Do in London posts, as well as a Guide for Visitors.

October 18, 2015 by: Sunny London

Cheap Must Have Gifts for People Who Travel

Need a great list of practical and cheap gifts for people who travel? Or maybe, you are a person who loves to travel, and you want to gather wish list ideas for the holidays, birthday or anniversary?

The range of gifts for people who travel is quite big. You can choose gifts that help a traveller be more organised, gifts that match particular passions, gifts that are very practical and gifts that are new and cool. Something like face socks is also a great idea as it allows them to take a reminder of any loved ones with them wherever they go. For this gift guide, we’re focussing on items under £25 to keep it simple! Gift giving can be a little hard, so finding the right one for anyone is a challenge, that’s why some people look at something similar to Fruit baskets by gift tree or other types of small gifts.

When you spend money on a holiday, you want to make sure everything within your control goes well. Buying a few items that are cheap and make holiday life easier is smart! Hopefully, then it’s just a matter of flights that are on time and sunshine! If you’re travelling for Father’s day, you could possibly purchase personalized photo wallets for Father’s day (also practical because no one will ever have the same wallet as he would, making it uniquely safe)

Just before we get to the list of goods, I want Sunny readers on both sides of the pond to know that I’ve linked items available in the UK and equivalent travel necessities in the US below. Make sure you look for US or UK as you move through the list…

Gifts for People Travel: Find it Fast

First, it’s always smart to have a basic set of Luggage Locks. I love the options below because they aren’t basic black. This means your luggage could be even easier to spot on a carousel.

Next, it’s always nice to have a fun Passport Holder. I like this Union Jack and Banksy Ballon Girl With Bus Passport Holder from Amazon UK also because they’re colourful and show a bit of London love. Having a passport holder that’s decorated is great because you can find it quickly in your bags.

American readers, you might like these passport holders that are fun too…

Gifts for People Who Travel: Electronic Mobility

Next, you want all your electronic equipment to stay organised as you’re moving around, so you’ll need a Universal Electronics Accessories Organizer.

Something you want to include in the case above is a Compact Portable Charger

. Nothing is worse than missing a chance to take a selfie or snapshot at your dream destination because your iPhone battery died. And, when you’re on move at a location, you can’t always get to a pub or coffee shop to charge your devices. Much less want to take the time away from your travels!

Finally, you won’t get anywhere if you can’t even charge your devices in a different country. Although many hotels will let you borrow an adapter, you probably want to have at least one of your own for the airport.

Double check the pictures above to make sure it’s from the country where you live and it’s the direction you need. I use my adapters all the time, and they work great on small appliances. (Don’t try them for something like a Juicer or Cuisinart though. You’ll see sparks. Trust me!)

Gifts for People Who Travel: Make it Personal

If you really want to boost your gift giving, you can always buy someone customised items for his/her travels. For example, these luggage tags are from WithLuvDesign, a US company that celebrates life’s adventures with luv.

If you use the promo code SUNNY10 you can receive 10% off all orders over $25. And, yes, they do ship to the UK!

Gifts for People Who Travel: Stanfords Love

Anyone familiar with travel knows that Stanfords put travel gifts on the map. 😉 That’s why I absolutely want to share this list from their website for UK readers who might not be able to make it to their Covent Garden store:

What items always go with you on your travels, Sunny friends? Any suggestions you can add to this practical gifts for people who travel list? if you’re a blogger who travels, make sure you check out my What’s in my Blog Kit page too!

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.

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.

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. 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!

#1- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Plan Ahead?

#2- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Hit the Wall

#3- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Check the Attitude

#4- Getting a Travel Tattoo: The Money Stamp

#5- Getting a Travel Tattoo: Take Pre-Cautions

Getting a Travel Tattoo: Final Thoughts

1. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Understand the Weather

2. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Understand the Sun’s Intensity

3. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know We’re Early Risers

4. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know How Flat Things Are

5. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know Where Things Are

6. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Know About Guns

7. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Expect to See Gated Communities and Waterfalls

9. British People Visiting Florida Don’t Understand Our Sports Loyalties

10. British People Visiting Florida Think Everyone’s Old

11. British People Visiting Florida Shouldn’t Expect Michelin Stars

12. British People Visiting Florida Should Know It’s Casual

13. British People Visiting Florida Should Know Where to Go

Final Thoughts:

The London Underground- The World’s Your Oyster

The London Underground- You’re Not a Superhero

The London Underground- Move Over

The London Underground- Remove Your Backpack

The London Underground- You’re Not Priority

The London Underground: Keep Calm and Move On

The London Underground: Pick Your Seat, Not Your Nose

Final Thoughts:

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London: Seat Selection

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London: Boarding Process

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow London: Overhead Cabin Space and Seat

Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow London: Other Economy Positives

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow: Upgrade to Premium

Virgin Atlantic Heathrow: Economy vs Premium

Duty Free Price for Gucci Handbags:

Duty Free Price for Chanel Handbags:

The Duty Free Price for Chanel No 5 Eau de Parfum:

Duty Free Price for Ted Baker Handbags:

The Duty Free Price for Michael Kors:

The Duty Free Price for Chocolate:

The Duty Free Price for Fortnum and Mason Tea and Biscuits:

Duty Free Price for Macbook and Headphones:

The Duty Free Price for Converters:

Duty Free Price: Final Thoughts

Worst American Beers: Up River Lager

Worst American Beers: Lagunitas Beer

Worst American Beers: Humbolt Brown Hemp Ale

Worst American Beers: Floridian Hefeweizen

Worst American Beers: Milwaukee’s Best Light

What to Pack for Florida: Bug Repellant

What to Pack for Florida: Suntan Lotion

What to Pack for Florida: Drugs

What to Pack for Florida: Beach and Pool Gear

Hats

Sunglasses

Swimwear for Kids

A Beach Cooler for Beer

Multiple Suits

What to Pack for Florida: Apparel

What NOT to Pack for Florida: A Speedo

What to Pack for Florida: Final Thoughts

Gifts for People Travel: Find it Fast

Gifts for People Who Travel: Electronic Mobility

Gifts for People Who Travel: Make it Personal

Gifts for People Who Travel: Stanfords Love

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

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST TIME GUIDE TO

HARRY POTTER

YOUTUBE