VISITING BELFAST: EPIC BELFAST BUCKET LIST & TRAVEL GUIDE

May 15, 2025 2 Comments

VISITING BELFAST: BUCKET LIST AND TRAVEL GUIDE JAFFA MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN

What do YOU think of when you think of Belfast? For me all I could think is a troubled past, Titanic and the well known natural phenomenon Giants Causeway. Other than that I had no idea what I was going to discover on my visit and my expectations were low, which is a good thing, but what’s better is that they were exceeded. Like through the roof!

As you may know, Belfast is in Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom, my current home. What I loved about visiting Belfast was that I needed to hop on a plane so it gave me the feeling I was travelling abroad when I actually wasn’t. That might be you too!

Nowadays Belfast is my second home, as I own short term accommodation properties in the city. I’m constantly advising and engaging tourist so I do dare say I know a lot. So if you are visiting do me a favour and stay in one of them… wink, wink!

VISITING BELFAST: BELFAST BUCKET LIST & TRAVEL GUIDE — GRAND OPERA HOUSE

VISITING BELFAST: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / Belfast City is quite small and fully walkable, there’s buses of course, but frankly you don’t even need them. However, I do encourage you to get a rental car so you can independently visit the rest of Northern Ireland which is also very small so you can use Belfast as your base. Book your rental using DiscoverCars, the website I recommend for all international car hires. If you are not renting a car, should you require an airport transfer, I always use WelcomePickups.

Tours / There are countless tours on Belfast but these are the most popular ones, and the Giants Causeway one is obligatory if you should you not rent a car:
Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Day Tour
Belfast: Political Taxi Tour
The Titanic Experience with SS Nomadic Visit
Political Conflict 3-Hour Walking Tour
Belfast: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Stay / We own various properties in Belfast so you can find one that suits your needs here. Our properties have 5 star reviews across the board and are perfect for families and groups of 4/5 people, while still affordable and walking distance from the city centre. If you are looking for something smaller or we don’t have availability (which is more frequent than not) then check out these hotels:

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast $$$
The Merchant Hotel $$$
AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast $$
Bullitt Hotel $$
Malone Lodge Hotel $$
Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre $

Eat / My top recommendations for each meal:
Brunch/Breakfast: Neighbourhood
Coffee: Established Coffee
Dinner: Jumon

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Belfast, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!). I always use Sim Local, and you can get 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU. Get it here.

Luggage storage / You might need to store your luggage before checking in to your hotel, you can use this website which has spots all across the city!

Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN BELFAST

Hop-on; hop-off Belfast’s main sites

A great way to start your trip is to take a hop-on; hop-off bus across all Belfast city top attractions. It’s the perfect way to get started and get an overview of the city if you are short on time and an efficient way to get around the furthest away sites. I took this one with Belfast City Tours and loved it. It stops on 19 sites (many which I feature below) and pricing wise it’s great. Book it here, or below:

London, LONDON IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES

LONDON’S BEST IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES [updated May 2025]

April 18, 2025 2 Comments

Looking for immersive experiences in London? Well, good, because I’m the UK’s biggest independent immersive experience blogger. Whenever an immersive experience launches in London, I’m there no matter how weird it is. I have visited more than 100 so far!

Below London’s best immersive experiences that I have tried and tested, organised by type. This article gets updated regularly, check the last published date for the latest update time and you’ll find 30+ immersive experiences here at all times.

Something needs updating? Give me a shout in the comments, or on Instagram (@travelwithpau).

THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHT

Race Across the World: The Experience

Race Across the World: The Experience, is the official live experience of the award-winning hit TV show, brought to life in a high stakes adventure across London where strategy, teamwork, and quick thinking are key to success. The streets are your playground. Every route you take, decision you make, and virtual penny you spend will change the outcome. Will your team’s choices make or break your race? Book now – weekends are going fast!

LONDON’S IMMERSIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES

Traitors Live Experience

This is one of the most exciting immersive experience launches of 2025! The official live, playable experience based on the BAFTA and Emmy award-winning TV show, The Traitors is set to launch in London’s West End, Spring 2025. The Traitors: Live Experience will allow players to dive into the world of the hit TV series as they take a seat at ‘The Round Table’, participate in missions and work together to uncover the Traitors. Tickets are already on sale here.

Acid Bath Murder Experience

The Acid Bath Murderer Experience invites you to re-live the life of the notorious serial killer: John George Haigh. The journey will take you through a number of 360 degree immersive sets full of special effects. You won’t just be a bystander though. The Acid Bath Murderer Experience is fully interactive, featuring Escape Game style challenges and puzzles to deepen the narrative. Hounds who are behind it, are an award winning immersive-experience-meets-escape-game production company. Their previous experiences are amongst the Top 500 escape rooms in the world, and I can see why! Their venue in Crawley is super easy to get to them from London via a quick train, and I can guarantee you that you won’t regret it. Book it here.

Candlelight

Concerts illuminated by candlelight? I’m definitely in! Fever has recently launched Candlelight, affordable and intimate concerts performed by live musicians in some of the most iconic venues in London that transport you to a fairytale. I had the chance to attend a concert in the beautiful conservatory in Syon Park to listen to City String Ensemble play Movie Soundtrack Disney classics, and I might have shed a tear or two. Book it here.

Spain

SAN AGUSTIN, GRAN CANARIA TRAVEL GUIDE: TOP THINGS TO DO & WHERE TO STAY

May 16, 2025 No Comments

San Agustín is the calm, grown-up cousin in Gran Canaria’s south coast family. Just a few minutes east of Playa del Inglés, it trades wild nights and party strips for peaceful walks, soft sand, and a slower pace of life. It’s the kind of place where you hear the ocean at night, and where the most stressful decision of the day is choosing between the pool or the beach.

This is a destination for people who want to do less, better. Mornings are for long breakfasts and sun loungers. Afternoons mean coastal walks, maybe a massage, and the occasional lazy sangria. And evenings? Dinner with a view, with the sound of waves in the background.

San Agustín is relaxed, quiet, and low-key — especially compared to nearby Playa del Inglés or Maspalomas. It’s popular with Scandinavian and German visitors (some of whom live here part-time), and it’s definitely not a party town. It’s about sea views, casual walks, good food, and the occasional spa day.

You won’t find big shopping streets or all-night bars. Instead, you get coastal promenades, mellow beaches, and restaurants that don’t rush you. It’s a great fit for couples, solo travellers, families and anyone who wants to avoid the chaos without being completely isolated.

VISITING SAN AGUSTIN, GRAN CANARIA: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / San Agustín is very walkable — you can get to the beach, shopping centre, and restaurants on foot. There are local buses that connect you to nearby areas like Maspalomas or Las Palmas, but if you want to properly explore Gran Canaria, renting a car is the best move. The island is small and easy to drive, so you can comfortably do day trips from here. Book your rental using DiscoverCars, the comparison site I use for all international car hires. If you’re not hiring a car but need an airport transfer, I recommend WelcomePickups — more reliable than local taxis and you can pre-book in English.

Tours / If you’re not driving or just want an easy day out, book a tour — these are the most popular and worthwhile experiences in Gran Canaria:
Catamaran Morning Cruise with Water Sports
Explore Las Palmas, Volcano & Botanical Garden Tour
Gran Canaria Highlights & Hidden Gems
Rum, Wines & Bananas Tour
Dolphin Watching Cruise

Stay / Accommodation in San Agustín is mostly mid-range, quiet, and close to the beach. These are your best options:

Gloria Palace San Agustín Thalasso & Hotel $$
The biggest and most well-known hotel in the area, with sea views, multiple pools, and a well-rated spa. The rooftop restaurant, Gorbea, is a popular dinner spot even for non-guests. This is where I stayed and loved it!

Hotel San Agustín Beach Club $$
Corallium Beach by Lopesan Hotels $$ (Adults Only)
Don Gregory by Dunas $$ (Adults Only)
Apartamentos Buganvilla $

Eat / My top recommendations for each meal:

Dinner:
Loopys Pizzeria
Addio Mare
Ice Cream: Helamore

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Spain, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!). I always use Sim Local, and you can get 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU. Get it here.

Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Portugal

LISBON BUCKET LIST & TRAVEL GUIDE

May 14, 2025 15 Comments

Lisbon was the first stop from my Portugal nine day trip, and this would be the first time of many visits to this wonderful city. As soon as I got out from the metro in Chiado, I fell in love with it! The colors, the light bathing the atmosphere, the tiles. I think it’s impossible not to love Lisbon. Anyways, in this post you’ll find everything about Lisbon: what to do and eat, where to stay and how to get around.

WHY VISIT LISBON?

Lisbon is one of those cities that instantly makes you feel good. With its hilly cobbled streets, pastel buildings, ceramic tiles, and iconic yellow trams climbing impossibly steep hills, it’s every bit as beautiful as you imagine — and surprisingly affordable compared to other European capitals.

The city mixes old and new effortlessly: ancient cathedrals stand beside trendy rooftop bars; traditional Fado music drifts out of tucked-away taverns, just around the corner from minimal art galleries and modern food markets. Lisbon is sunny, friendly, and so easy to love.

VISITING LISBON: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / I strongly recommend booking an airport transfer ahead of time — I used WelcomePickups and it made arriving in Lisbon so much easier. Once in the city, public transport is easy and affordable. You’ll need a Viva Viagem card to ride the metro, trams, buses, and funiculars — you can grab one at any metro station. Load it with zapping credit or daily passes, depending on how much you’ll be moving around. Trams and tuk-tuks are fun, but walking is often the best way to see the old city.

Tours / Lisbon is packed with great tours, here are a few of the most popular and worthwhile:

Stay / Lisbon has everything from boutique stays in old palaces to modern hotels with river views. Here are a few of the most loved ones:

Luggage storage / If you’re early for check-in or have time to kill after checkout, no stress — there are luggage storage points all over Lisbon. Just use this website to find one nearby.

Connect / You’ll definitely want mobile data in Lisbon for maps and restaurant bookings. I always recommend using an eSIM — no physical SIM card needed. I use Sim Local, and you can get 5% off with the code TRAVELWITHPAU. Grab one here.

Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN LISBON

Start with a walking tour

As soon as you get to Lisbon, take a walking tour to get a grasp of what the city has to offer, the main sights and some insider tips from the tour guides that live there. It will help organise how you’ll spend the rest of your time in the city, and you can ask all the questions you want.

Greece

THE BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE SUNSET IN MYKONOS

May 12, 2025 3 Comments

THE BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE SUNSET IN MYKONOS: CAVO TAGOO MYKONOS

One of my favourite things to do in Mykonos was to watch the sunsets every evening. It was like a ritual: leave the beach around two hours before the golden hour, get dressed, watch the sunset, dine and party. Being able to take photos with the golden hour glow was my guilty pleasure!

There are some key places in the island where watching the sunset becomes an experience. These places make a perfect cap off to a day in Mykonos!

THE BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE SUNSET IN MYKONOS: 180 SUNSET BAR

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