As I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs, I am no stranger to travelling abroad, and have gained a lot of experience along the way. I cant say I have a bucket list of places to see, instead my trips have been selected by something, or someone, who has piqued my interest For obvious reasons I do research before we visit a new country, and I rely on a few great internet travel sites to help me along the way.
1. TRIP ADVISOR
I am sure there aren’t many people today who travel and aren’t familiar with this site. Whether its seeing which areas are popular, the best accommodation on your budget, or places of interest and best dining areas, this site is a must!
2. BOOKING.COM
I use booking.com once I have established the area I am keen on staying in. The great option with booking on this site is that if you change your mind, most of the acommodation offered have free cancellation options. This makes it easy if you should find something more suitable. If you are however confident in your choice and choose the non-refundable option, you can save up to 50% on a lot of listings so do keep an eye out for the specials.
3. AIRBNB
A new favorite of mine. Prices are extremely competitive and you can get to stay, for instance, in the heart of Paris for a fraction of the price of a good hotel. The personal contact option available with your host is also appealing as finer details can be arranged almost at the last minute – you are given personal contact details once your booking is confirmed and paid.
4. RESEARCH AREA AND ACCOMMODATION
I know a lot of people who aren’t too fussed about the area they choose to stay, as most European countries have great transport systems and within half an hour you can be exactly where you want to be. I dont operate like this. I will tell you why:
a) We take short breaks – with a maxium of 10 days of travel, seeing at least two countries in this time.
b) Time is money, so if for instance I am in Istanbul for two nights, I do not want to waste time on public transport. I will choose between the most popular areas – within the tourist areas – being mindful of the negative reasons why people may avoid a particular area.
c) I choose accommodation with at least an 8.5 rating on booking.com. Dont just take that at face value though. Cross reference with Trip Advisor or your preferred travel website. Read at least 10 peoples reviews within the last six month period to gain a better perspective.
d) One thing to be very aware of is that cities can have huge differences in their nightly rates. So dont assume that if you pay 70 dollars a per night in Instanbul for highly rated accommodation, that Paris will be similar – you can pay double the rate per night!
I hope you enjoyed reading my blog – and please feel free to ask any questions. I look forward to hearing from you!
xx B
We stayed in the heart of Manhattan – this is the bar of our hotel where we had our evening drinks and watched Time Square below – unbelievale experience!
THE MOY LIFE 