Travel – Page 2 – Roaming free – tales of wanderlustbykelley

French Foodie Experiences Which Will Satisfy More Than Just Your Tastebuds

For many of us, food takes centre stage when we travel. Food is, after all, one of the fastest we can get to the heart of a place. Local cuisine can tell us everything, from the history of our destination to its underlying values. Variations between local delicacies can also show you a great deal about the politics in each area. In short; anyone who goes anywhere should spend a fair amount of time making the most of the food.

Of course, some countries offer better eating opportunities than others. France, for example, is a food lover’s haven. With winning bistros like Le Baratin on offer, that should come as no surprise. Far from just serving up those iconic snail dishes, French eateries offer a whole load of culinary delights. So much so that many people visit here for the food alone.

If French cuisine gets you excited, you’ll be pleased to hear that the foodie fun needn’t stop with eating. There are also some spectacular food and drink experiences which could take your culinary trip to a new level. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Very French vineyards

Picture Credit

It wouldn’t be a trip to France without a few vineyards, would it? There’s something quintessentially French about sprawling vineyards and wine tasting. And, lucky for you, there are plenty of experiences which could see you getting stuck right in. Options like the iconic Bordeaux Wine Tours offer the chance to get right to the heart of the best vineyards. Even better, you can take this is as far as you like. Most options offer a one-day tour of the grounds, complete with tasting sessions. Others, like the Silver Travel Bordeaux experience, could see you spending a whole three days on wine. It all depends on what tickles those taste buds.

All the olives

While we’re on the subject of French traditions, olives are also worth your attention. In the South of France especially, these are in abundance, and any grow in vineyards similar to wine. Again, there are plenty of tours for the largest olive orchards going. Any one of these could see you viewing a side of France you never knew. Or, you could get right into the heart of the trade by staying somewhere like A Compte Hotel. Here, you can stay in the aptly named ‘olive loft,’ where you have the chance to look out onto an olive grove every morning. Can it get any more idyllic than that?

Picture Credit

A full-blown food tour

If these specialist subjects don’t appeal, you could always go for a full-blown food tour. Options like the Gourmet Marais tour offer three-hour experiences which could see you tasting the best cuisine from Le Marais. Or, you may prefer the Montmartre food and wine tour. Lasting for up to 210 minutes, this trip will see you landing at up to ten gastronomy stops. All with a knowledgeable guide. What better way could there be to get stuck into the best of French eating?

Why Food Should be Centre Stage During Your Travels

Image Credit: Unsplash

Traveling is the best way to learn about different cultures and experience all kinds of new things. But, whether you are toughing out a hike up an ice-capped mountain or relaxing on a tropical beach, the food and drink you choose makes all the difference to your trip.

Cultures grow up around the foods they eat and how they dine together. If you really want to get to know a new culture, you should always try the various foods at your disposal. For all that globalization has spread cuisines around the world, a pizza in Chicago is very different to a pizza in Naples.

Learning About Food

Every time you travel you should open yourself up to the opportunity to learn and exploring food is a great chance to discover new ways of cooking and preserving food. For wine lovers, this will come as no surprise since visiting vineyards is a holiday in itself. And when you could visit OakGlenn and go on a wine trail, it’s a difficult chance to pass up!

But wine isn’t the only learning opportunity. Italy is well known for its food and there are plenty of schools along the Amalfi coast that welcome tourists keen to learn about Italian cooking. Paris is another hot location for cookery lessons but don’t rule out the other cities and locations you visit. You would be surprised how many friendly restaurant and cafe owners are happy to share their secrets!

Discover New Flavors

If you’re into food and drink, there are few things as great as tasting something for the first time. Every area you visit will have a local delicacy or a particular way of cooking something and you never know when you are going to try the best possible version of something. While there are some pretty weird foods you may not fancy around the world, it is definitely worth your while to give some new things a go. Your new favorite food could be right around the corner!

Part of the joy of discovering new flavors is that you can take these ideas home and experiment with your own cooking. Sharing food is a fundamental part of being human and experimenting with new flavors at dinner parties is always fun.

Visit New Places

When you travel, you probably go to the same places everyone else visits but when you go for the food, your whole world opens up. Though you might expect some incredible food from capital cities and metropolises like London, Paris, Beijing and New York, often the smaller cities are where the beating heart of food can be found.

Instagram has had a big effect on the places we choose to go and while being able to take an awesome picture is fine, you would be surprised by the things you can find when you follow your taste buds instead.

Though food may not be the only reason you choose to travel, it can take you to some amazing places. And what better memory of your travels can there be but a recipe you can try at home?

These Are The Reasons Why You Just Gotta Visit Jakarta!

Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia. It’s also a bustling metropolis filled with fascinating sights, delicious flavors, and wonderful people as well. In fact, there is so much to see and do there that I might struggle to fit it all in one post. I’ll give it a darn good try though, so all you need to do is keep reading to find out the top reason why you just gotta visit Jakarta.

Great value luxury

One of the most significant reasons that Jakarta is such a popular tourist destination is the fantastic price of a luxury lifestyle there. In fact, high-end hotel chains like the Mandarin Oriental, that would be priced well out of normal person range are surprisingly reasonable there. Of course, you can expect the same impeccable interiors, fabulous facilities, and top rate service no matter what the price.

It’s not just the higher-end hotel that come at a reasonable price either, but the kontrakan rumah or rented homes as well. This being great news for people that are looking to visit in the capital for longer than just a few nights, and that still want to have all their home comforts during their stay.

Additionally, there are plenty of places where you can engage in some luxury activities including relaxing massages in one of the many spas that pepper the city. There are even some massive malls that have a range of high-end stores where you can give your credit card a bit of bashing too. Although, you’ll be pleased to note that prices are usually favorable compared to the US and UK for most things!

Fascinating sites

Another reason to take a trip to one of the most popular capital cities in all of Asia is all the amazing sites to see. Most visitors make an effort to see the National Monument which is an impressive tower standing 123 m high that symbolizes the fight for Indonesian independence.

Then there’s the world famous Taman Mini Indonesia Indah which is a beautiful 250-acre park that comes complete with wonderfully executed scale models of some of the Indonesian buildings. It is also dotted with museums and religious buildings as well and is a place that can provide a glimpse for visitors into the daily life of the country.

Of course, no visit to Jakarta would be complete without taking a trip to the fabulous Ragunan Zoo. A place where you can get up close and personal with tigers, elephant and even orangutans. They also have plenty of facilities there for visitors to including bike and boat hire, and you can even take a ride on a camel or elephant if the fancy takes you! Something that makes it an unmissable stop on any Jakarta tour.

Finally, when it comes to sites to see and place to experience, the hot and humid climate in Jakarta provide the perfect excuse to head to a water park like Waterbom PIK to cool off.

Of course, once you arrive, you can expect not just to be spending time in the pool but riding the slides and flumes as well. Many of which are located in their own zones with names like the Hairpin, and Twisted. In worth knowing that if you take the kid along they get free rubber ring and life jacket when on the rides as well. Which makes it even better value for money.

Delicious food

Finally, one of the true jewels of any trip to Jakarta is the amazing cuisine that is on offer there. In fact, you can expect a wide variety of dishes from western items, to traditional Indonesian fair. There is even a molecular gastronomy restaurant that service Indonesian inspired food but in a fun way. Be warned though with only 28 sitting a day getting in could be the biggest challenge that you have during your trip to the Indonesian capital.

Image link

Of course, if you are looking for something little more informal, then a place like Al Nafoura Lebanese Restaurant is a great choice. There you can sample their kofta, and hummus and their Pitta is said to be pretty good too.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a quick bite to refuel you so you can carry on exploring the city why not give a restaurant like Sate Padang Ajo Ramon a try? They specialize in Indonesian street food and there and their satay pandan is said to be the best in town! With the best thing being that the service is super quick so you can get back to your Jakarta adventure as soon as possible.

The Tenets Of An Impromptu Trip

Pexels

Heading on a spontaneous trip can be a beautiful idea in theory, especially if you hope to surprise someone you love such as a partner or relative. However, in reality… it can be just as spectacular as you’ve imagined it. This is one of those surprises that can hold up perfectly provided you’ve planned for it well, and have managed to keep it a secret. The idea of heading on an impromptu trip can be a wonderful one, but knowing where to get started can sometimes be a bit of a worrying idea. This is where Destination Guides come in. What service should you go with? How can you plan this without alerting the person you love? How can you ensure that both of your schedules are open for a trip like this? Who knows if upon presenting them with the vacation you have arranged, they don’t respond with plans they were crafting themselves, halfway across the world, on the exact same dates? Well, there are worse problems to have.

However, like with anything, a good trip takes a little time and foresight to develop well. With our advice, you will be able to do that and more:

Traveling Practicalities

Of course, travel can sometimes be somewhat limited when desiring to go at the last minute. Many of the vacations you might have chosen when planning ahead of time will likely be taken. For example, it’s unlikely for that cost-effective luxury cruise to have any spaces available before it sets sail, no matter how many countries you may have wanted to visit on that journey. But does that mean you can’t travel at all?

Not in the least. Last minute cheap flights, last minute package deals and last minute ticket sales can all open you up to impromptu yet no less exciting experiences that you may not have considered beforehand, despite them being obviously beneficial and something you would most likely adore from the offset. Even if you have time to plan, sometimes placing this limiter on yourself can help you open yourself up to a spontaneous and wonderful environment you may not have experienced.

Scheduling Resolutions

Getting the time off work, finding a babysitter, or convincing your spouse’s’ boss to let them have the time off can sometimes be difficult. This is why impromptu trips can sometimes be a little more expensive. Paying your family members to look after your children, or bringing them while asking their school for an emergency break, or perhaps suggesting the same to your partner’s boss can help you get away with a fun trip over the weekend. A day missed on Friday and Monday might open you up a four day weekend, or tailored with an extended holiday even longer. Sometimes a little request might get you far, so it’s always best to ask as you’re interested in booking the tickets.

The Purpose

Impromptu trips can happen for a number of reasons. But be sure to have a purpose, because that will justify the expense and immediate schedule conflict you might have to solve. For example, do you just have to see the Venice Carnival this year? How about seeing the grand final of a sporting event your family cares about? A food tour can even be equally as justifiable, because sometimes your stomach just won’t listen to reason. With this, you will make good use of your impromptu vacation.

We wish you nothing but the best if deciding to head abroad with these tips in mind.

Three Places 2019 Needs To Hand To You

We all love a bucket list, don’t we? The one thing that nearly everyone has on that list is the destinations across the world that make their souls sing. Finding destinations that you can go to that make you feel like you’ve accomplished something in your life is not always easy, because your choice of destination has to appeal not just to you, but to all those with whom you travel.

2019 is going to be a big year for travel, with more destinations and more innovative travel solutions than ever before, and it’s also going to be a big year if you’ve resolved to do new things and see new places. You should go and capture the world in the best way that you can, and travel is the way to do that. Getting on a plane and seeing new places from a relaxing Caribbean vacation to an adventure in the Galapagos is how you want to make memories in your life. There are hundreds of destinations to watch out for, and we’ve got three places that you want handed to you in 2019, so that you can see the world in a new light.

Plane view

Image Source

The Peloponnese, Greece

The tourism in Greece is always going to be high when you have an islands as beautiful as the ones that make Greece what it is. However, you can head to the go-slow corner of the Mediterranean by discovering the Peloponnese. Heading to the mainland and discovering the wide-open spaces that Greece has to offer in the off-season is the way to go for 2019 with Patras and Pyrgos finally being linked by train again, which means that you can explore the region in the most relaxed way possible.

Egypt

The Grand Egyptian Museum may have been delayed again, but for the first time in eight years, there is a waiting list for city hotels and boat trips along the Nile. There has been a few years of civil unrest in Egypt, and now it’s back on the map and people want to see it all. Nile cruise liner Sanctuary Retreats has now launched weekly sailings of its boutique wooden boats. These are all kit out with leather deck chairs and art deco features to die for.

Matera, Italy

This romantic ravine in Italy attracts those who want a more immersive experience in a new destination. Matera is built into the rocks and it’s a strange city that sits miles from anywhere else. People come from all over to see the sassi, the troglodyte cave dwellings where citizens lived in the dark until it was abandoned. Now? They’re hot property and people come from all over to view them. It’s one of the most romantic places in Italy to go and it’s somewhere that absolutely should be on your bucket list this year.

Taking the time to travel is good for the soul – don’t wait around to book, either, shop for the best deals online today.

Travel Solo Or With Friends: Which Is Best?

Image Credit

Traveling is one of the best things we can ever experience, and we’re so lucky to live in such an innovative time that allows us to travel freely around the world in such a relatively short time span than would have ever been possible 100 or even 50 years ago – and certainly for a lot less money than would have been possible, 20, 30, or 50 years ago.

However, one of the many great things about travel is how it caters to so many different types of people who all like to travel in their own way.

Whilst some people love the complete freedom of solo travel, others want to share the memories they make with those closest to them such as their friends.

There’s certainly no right or wrong option here, and as we said – travel allows us the chance to choose which style we’re best suited to, so if you’re struggling to decide whether you’d like to travel solo or with friends for your next trip, then we’ve got some useful things to consider from each side coming up in this post for you.

Solo Travel:

Freedom to make your own schedule: Solo travelers mainly love to travel this way because they enjoy the freedom to decide how and where they spend their time. If you’re traveling with a friend or group of friends, you may all have different ideas about how you’d like to spend your time during the trip and this can either mean you have to compromise on something you’d like to do, or it can mean you all go your separate ways for a few hours.

It can be more expensive: As much as there are now a lot more tour companies popping up who are focused on solo travelers, there’s still a lot of price discrimination, so if you’re traveling solo and staying in a hotel, for example, you can often expect to pay a surcharge for the fact that you’re on your own.

You’ll meet new people: Traveling solo doesn’t mean being lonely, and in fact solo travelers are some of the best people you’ll meet. It’s a lot easier to meet other solo travelers when you’re traveling solo than if you’re with a group of friends, and you may also not be so motivated to do so if you already have people to hang around with.

Travel With Friends:

It can be a bit cheaper as a group: When traveling with friends, you’ll be able to split things across the group. This is especially useful when it comes to things like accommodation. For example, if you wanted to book a rental house through a company like Drew Fasy, it’s better when you can go as a group and split the cost. You can also find a lot of tour companies offering discounts on group bookings for things like travel and day trips.

You won’t get lonely: Solo travel can definitely get lonely – especially if you’re quite a shy person, so if this is something that can become an issue for you, then traveling with friends could be a good option.

Travel Destinations With Public Transport To Die For

While the notion of public transport isn’t the sexiest, it is one of the most helpful, especially when you’re trying to find your way around a new destination. Quality public transport can often mean the difference between getting the most out of your holiday and failing to do so.

According to the World Economic Forum, a kind of inter-government agency that likes to keep score of how well various countries are doing, some places are a heck of a lot better than others when it comes to getting around on the public dime. No, the USA isn’t among them. Let’s take a look at the top travel destinations with public transportation options to die for.

Austria

Austria .JPG

Wikimedia Blog

Austria, that little landlocked country in the heart of Europe, isn’t the first place you’d think of for having great public transportation. But the country needs it, due to the fact that a lot of its land area is right in the heart of the Alps, one of the most inhospitable places on Earth.

Public transport in Austria isn’t the traditional network of buses and trains (although you can still find these in the country), it’s a series of cable cars and gondolas which open up the mountains that set the country apart. Each year millions of tourists flock to destinations like Mayrhofen, and they rely on being able to take the cable car to enjoy their stay.

Netherlands

Wikipedia

The Netherlands is, in many ways, the complete antithesis of Austria – incredibly flat, and not at all landlocked. According to the World Economic Forum, it ranks an impressive third in the world for its public transport. But do people use a lot of bus accident lawyers here? That’s the interesting thing about the Netherlands: its public transportation is based around its industrial canal system and great ports along the coast. You can get to practically all the major cities by boat, both by public barge, ferry, and private boat.

Singapore

DeviantArt

Over the last four decades, Singapore has experienced something of an economic “miracle.” The Asian city-state was once just as poor as surrounding Malaysia, but thanks to some smart investment projects, it’s managed to supercharge its wealth in an unprecedented way, becoming richer on a per-capita basis than most Western countries.

How did it do it? Scholars have asked the question, and many say that it has to do with the country’s efforts to provide incredible public transport. Like many Asian city-states, Singapore’s wealth is built around its port – which, of course, is one of the best in the world. The city is also crisscrossed by rail and bus networks to rival those of New York and London.

Hong Kong

1600px-gloucester_road,_hong_kong_1

Wikimedia Commons

The World Economic Forum says that Hong Kong has the best public transport infrastructure in the world, meaning that people who go there on vacation will have the easiest time getting around. Incidentally, Hong Kong is ranked 11th in the world for tourism, making the island dependency a double-whammy for people who love to travel. Will you visit this vertical city?

Why You Should Leave The Car At Home When Travelling To Atlanta

With the title ‘city in a forest’, it’s no wonder that many people are flocking to Atlanta to experience many of the wonderful things it has to offer. Having a car is a relatively easy and convenient way of travelling. Aside from walking and public transport, it’s much easier to jump into your car and get from a to b. That is, for day to day use. However, some people choose to take their cars on their travels with them, and today we’re going to give you reasons as to why you shouldn’t take your car with you when you’re planning to travel to Atlanta.

Photo by Alessio Lin on Unsplash

It Can Work Out To Be Very Expensive

When you’re travelling to Atlanta, the costs that you will incur can work out to be more expensive than other forms of travel. While you might be avoiding the cost of a plane ticket, you will be incurring charges such as parking, overseas transport for your car, and even tolls that you may encounter along the way. Did you know that per day, the parking at Atlanta airport is at least $36? This can work out to be just as costly, if not more, than taking other forms of travel to get to your destination. Rather than forking out for these charges, why not take an Atlanta airport shuttle to catch your plane, or even travel by train or boat instead? Not only will you be paying the same, if not less, but you also won’t have to worry about finding a parking space.

Taking Your Car Can Be Stressful

Cost aside, taking your car to Atlanta can work out to be very stressful too. Not only do you have to take into considerations charges for tolls and parking spaces, but you’ll also need to consider any changes that you’ll need to make beforehand. Luckily, Atlanta has an extremely convenient way of travelling that’s also cost-effective. Consider using MARTA as a way of getting around and seeing all of the sights rather than having to worry about where your car is going to go and how much you’ll have to pay for it.

Having Your Car Could Be Risky

It’s important to think about whether you can really trust your car to last the distance of your journey. While your car might be working perfectly now, there’s a chance that it could break down along the way and leave you stranded on options. Could you afford to have your car repaired while you’re on the road? And are you confident that you’ll be able to find a garage or mechanic that’s able to do so?

Taking all of these things into consideration, is it really a good idea to take your car with you? Obviously, the outcomes depend on where you’re travelling to and your reasons for doing so, but consider leaving your car at home and using other forms of transport to save the hassles that could come with it!

Expert Advice For An Exceptional International Excursion

Picture Source

Whether you’re new to exploring or you’re planning yet another crazy trip to foreign shores, there’s always more you could do to ensure that you have a fantastic experience. We’re talking about both the boring side of planning ahead and the exciting things you can do on your actual travels. Maybe you and your friends are eager to take another wild trip to a new place or a familiar destination that you need to revisit. However, before you book a spontaneous flight, here’s some expert advice for an exceptional international excursion. Try saying that after a few drinks.

Research the destination (or destinations) in question.

Boring, right? Well, as mentioned in the introduction, planning ahead is still a crucial part of ensuring you have a fantastic trip. Being spontaneous is fun, but it can also lead to disappointment. After all, you can most likely only afford to travel for a certain amount of time (unless you’re rich or you don’t have to go back to your job). So, you want to make sure you see everything that a certain place has to offer. If you do the boring planning before you travel then you’ll be able to relax and have fun on your trip. And you won’t be worrying about whether you can actually see everything in time.

You should do some online research to find any places that you might not have thought to visit in a particular location. You might even find some hidden gems if you look in the right places. You should check out expertvagabond.com for an expert’s opinion on the best things to do in destinations all over the world. You can avoid wasting time traipsing around a new place by simply finding out what you need to see in the cities or towns you’re planning on exploring. Researching the destination or destinations you plan on visiting could really help you to make the most of your time there.

Travel in exciting ways.

Why travel in an ordinary way? If you want an exceptional international excursion then think outside the box. Maybe you’re going on a trip for a friend’s bachelor party, so you could arrange for a limo to pick you up from the airport. If it’s a romantic trip then you could arrange for a hot air balloon ride to really impress your significant other. As suggested on our website, you could even take a helicopter to reach your intended destination. It doesn’t even need to be a trip you take for a practical purpose. You can take helicopter rides through the Grand Canyon and around the city of London. Transport can do more than simply getting you from point A to point B; it can be a fun way to explore an area from a different perspective. Think outside the box if you want to travel in exciting ways. See? Planning ahead doesn’t always have to be boring.

Picture Source

Plan out a travel playlist.

Whether it’s music for the car during a road trip or music to keep you occupied during a long flight, don’t underestimate the power of a great playlist. As mentioned at wikihow.com, it can make the trip particularly special for you and a partner if you compile a playlist of songs that are meaningful to you and your SO. But it can also be particularly fun for you and a group of friends if you create a hype playlist. A road trip down Route 66 sounds fun, but imagine that same road trip with your favorite tunes blasting out of the speakers.

Preparing for a Road Trip Adventure

california-road-highway-mountains-63324

Image Source

Road trips are experiencing a spike in popularity. This isn’t all too surprising. It’s an extremely liberating way to travel the world and allows you to see all sorts of beautiful scenery and landscapes along the way. However, it’s extremely important that you prioritise your health, safety, and wellbeing at all times when you take to the open road. Here are just a few pieces of advice that can help to improve your journey!

Driving Responsibly

Whenever you take to the road, you need to be a responsible driver. But this takes a little more attention when you are driving in unfamiliar territory. When you are traversing long distances on roads that you haven’t travelled on before, you are going to have to be a lot more vigilant with keeping an eye on street signs, road markings, and lanes. When you conduct a road trip, you are also likely to spend longer periods of time than usual behind the wheel. Stay alert by taking breaks as and when needed. You could also consider partnering up with someone else who can drive during your trip, which will allow you to share driving responsibilities with someone else.

Knowing What to Do in an Incident

If you spend more time on the roads, you are more likely to witness or be involved in some sort of road incident. It’s important that you know what to do if you do find yourself in a road accident of any sort. The first step that you need to take is to stop your vehicle. Then check whether you are well and uninjured. If you aren’t injured, check everyone else involved. If you or anyone else is injured, call for medical assistance. You may want to seek legal help for car crash victims down the line. If nobody is injured, exchange insurance details and take photographs of any damage to the vehicles involved.

Avoiding Hitchhikers

It’s relatively easy to understand why some people choose to pick up hitchhikers. They tend to be relatively vulnerable looking individuals who simply want to get from A to B. Generally, they have no other means of getting around and many people consequently take pity on them and take it upon themselves to reduce the distance that they have to walk by picking them up and dropping them off along the route they’re already travelling. If you are travelling alone, a hitchhiker might also seem like welcome company and conversation. However, by picking up hitchhikers, you place yourself in an extremely vulnerable situation. You, too, will be in a confined space with an absolute stranger. You can never truly know that this individual is going to be a good person with no bad intentions. Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid picking up hitchhikers at all costs.

These are just a few different pieces of advice to bear in mind when preparing your next road trip adventure!