VISITING BELFAST: EPIC BELFAST BUCKET LIST & TRAVEL GUIDE

December 20, 2024 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 (yes, it’s veggie but trust me you won’t care)

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!) – here’s some eSIM options for UK.

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 October 2024]

March 31, 2024 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

The Magicians Table

The Magicians Table brings together some of the UK’s best magicians who will perform an array of incredible magic right at your table, inches from your nose. The evening has been curated so that you’ll see a mixture of close up magic unlike anywhere else. Drinks are served throughout the evening, live music is the soundtrack of your night and you’ll be told an original tale of love, loss and mystery. Book it here.

Enigma Quest Escape Room Arcade

Escape Arcade is a thrilling, competitive, and replayable new experience in the heart of London. Across 30 diverse rooms, your team will be transported to locations both ordinary and extraordinary, facing tests of your dexterity, deduction, and collaboration. Whether fighting monsters in a child’s bedroom, solving riddles in a library, or launching a rocket ship from mission control, you’ll never know what’s behind the next door! Supporting dozens of players simultaneously, teams of 2-4 will compete against friends, family, and colleagues, tracking their scores through RFID-enabled leaderboards and our mobile app. Each challenge takes around 5 minutes, allowing you to enjoy a huge range of games within an hour, or to aim for the highest score possible on your favourites! Book it here.

LONDON’S IMMERSIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES

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.

France, PARIS

A GUIDE TO DISNEYLAND PARIS FROM LONDON

January 7, 2025 10 Comments

If you are reading this it’s because you are seriously considering crossing the pond just to enter the magical world of Disneyland in it’s European version. No one is ever too old for Disneyland. Not only that — I personally believe it is actually healthy for all of us to visit every now and then. I’ve been to Disneyland Paris from London three times already and as soon as I leave I already want to go back again. It’s actually very easy to do — so let’s dive in.

VISITING DISNEYLAND PARIS FROM LONDON: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / Disneyland Paris is easily accessible with excellent transport links. For a quick and direct option, book the Eurostar from London to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy. For those flying, use Skyscanner to compare flights to Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports. If you prefer driving, book your rental car through DiscoverCars for convenience and flexibility.

Tickets / Here’s the most popular ticket options:
Disneyland® Paris 1-Day Ticket
Disneyland® Paris 2/3/4-Day Ticket
Disneyland® Paris Tickets and Shuttle Transport
Disneyland® Paris 1-Day Flexible Date Ticket

Stay / These are the best hotels in Disneyland Paris for all budgets:

Disneyland Hotel $$$
Disney’s Newport Bay Club $$$
Disney’s Sequoia Lodge $$
Grand Magic Hotel $$
B&B Hotel Disneyland Paris $$
Le Vieux Puits $$
Dream Castle Hotel $$
Explorers Hotel $$

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in France, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for France.

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.

HOW LONG TO VISIT DISNEYLAND PARIS FROM LONDON

Disneyland Paris has two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. If you have been to Disney World, Disneyland Park is the equivalent to the Magic Kingdom Park and Walt Disney Studios Park to Hollywood Studios.

It is totally possible to visit both Disneyland Paris parks in a weekend if you are coming from London, it is also possible to visit both Disneyland Paris parks in just one day leaving Sunday free to visit Paris a bit and to go back home to London. I have done that in three occasions and left feeling satisfied. I was able to visit all the adult friendly rides this way and some kid friendly ones that seemed fun.

Argentina

BUENOS AIRES BUCKET LIST AND TRAVEL GUIDE

January 3, 2025 8 Comments

BUENOS AIRES BUCKET LIST AND TRAVEL GUIDE — Buenos Aires Bucket List

Buenos Aires is my city! I was born and lived 23 years in Buenos Aires before moving to London and still visit every year as my family lives here. Without much further ado, these are the best things to do and see in Buenos Aires. I also include detail on some of the things you must eat when in Buenos Aires as well as where to stay.

VISITING BUENOS AIRES: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / It’s super easy to get around BA walking, by bus and subway. You’ll need a SUBE card which you can buy and load in subway stations and kiosks. Uber and Cabify are also widely used and cheaper that taxis on the street. The airport is quite a way from the city so I recommend you use WelcomePickups (which is what I use).

Tours / There are countless tours on BA but these are the most popular ones:
Buenos Aires: Piazzolla Tango Show with Optional Dinner
Buenos Aires: Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour
Buenos Aires: La Boca Guided Walking Tour in English
Buenos Aires: City Highlights Guided Tour with Transfer
Buenos Aires: La Recoleta Cemetery Guided Tour in English

Stay / If you are looking for self-catering and cheap accommodation in a perfect location in Palermo then I wholeheartedly recommend you stay at my Mom’s Airbnb. If looking for hotels these are the best:

Alvear Palace Hotel $$$
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires $$$
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires $$$
CasaSur Palermo Hotel $$
Fierro Hotel Buenos Aires $$
Mine Hotel Boutique $$
Loi Suites Recoleta $$
Dazzler by Wyndham Buenos Aires $$

Eat / My top recommendations for each meal:
Brunch/Breakfast: Malvon
Coffee: Cuervo Cafe
Dinner: Don Julio (steak) / Sacro (veggie)

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Buenos Aires, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for Argentina.

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 BUENOS AIRES

Have “asado” in a “parilla”

Our asado (barbecue) is just such a big part of our culture. Asado brings Argentina’s friends and families together, and it is done so much differently from anywhere in the world. It’s not just food, it’s a ritual, a tradition. Moreover, Argentineans eat practically the entirety of the cow in asados, not only the meat, but what we call “achuras”. Chinchulines (intestines), chorizo (thick sausage), molleja (sweet bread), morcilla (blood sausage) are only some of them, and they are delicious! We also have lots of sides that are cooked in the ‘parilla’ (the actual barbecue) as well. If you are visiting Buenos Aires for one day only, make a point of having asado. It’s definitely one of the main attractions in Buenos Aires. Now, asado in a restaurant will NOT be the real deal. Thankfully, you can now book the real deal here.

You should also go to a restaurant to have asado if you are staying for a while. This guided experience is excellent. If you prefer to just visit a restaurant on your own, the best places for asado are La Cabrera followed by Don Julio both in the neighborhood of Palermo and then La Brigada in San Telmo.

Italy

TUSCANY ROADTRIP ITINERARY FROM FLORENCE OR ROME

December 26, 2024 No Comments

The day came when I finally visited Tuscany! I had long longed for this dreamy destination after seeing so many movies that feature it: Under The Tuscan Sun, Life is Beautiful, Stealing Beauty, etc and just word out there about how wonderful it is.

ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR TRIP TO TUSCANY

Transport / As this is a road trip, you’ll need a car! I use DiscoverCars for all international car hires.

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Italy and particularly to guide you on Google Maps while driving, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for Poland.

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.

TUSCANY ROADTRIP ITINERARY: HOW TO GET TO AND AROUND TUSCANY

The best way to get around Tuscany is with a car as there are so many small towns to visit not easily reachable with other forms of transportation, so for my visit to Tuscany I planned a roadtrip itinerary which came out just perfect. I recommend you book a car using DiscoverCars, get full insurance, and avoid Goldcar and any other brands that are ridiculously cheap and not international. I’ve heard horror stories from them. On my trip to Tuscany I got Alamo and it was perfect, you’ll be fine with any other well known brands such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, etc.

Poland

KRAKOW BUCKET LIST

December 24, 2024 19 Comments

*Krakow Bucket List: Old Town – via Joel Bitantes Palma*

If you only have time to visit one city in Poland, make it Krakow. This city is rich in culture and history, it has beautiful architecture, it’s super cheap and it’s fun. Krakow also has interesting and key places to visit nearby, one of them being the hard to digest but not to be skipped, Auschwitz. Below I outline the best things to do in Krakow, as well as accommodation and transportation tips.

VISITING KRAKOW: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / Krakow is a very walkable city, with most of the key attractions located within the compact Old Town area, making it ideal for exploring on foot. The city also has an efficient public transport system, including trams and buses, which makes getting around easy and affordable. While many visitors don’t need a car for exploring central Krakow, if you plan to visit the surrounding countryside or nearby attractions on your own like Zakopane or going to other cities in Poland, renting a car can be useful and quite cheap. I recommend DiscoverCars for great rental options. If you’re arriving at Krakow Airport, I always use WelcomePickups for convenient, reliable airport transfers directly to your accommodation.

Tours / Here’s Krakow’s most popular tours:
Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Hotel Pickup
Zakopane Tour with Thermal Pools and Hotel Pickup
Kraków: Evening or Night River Cruise
From Krakow: Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour
Krakow: Schindler’s Factory Tour with Entrance Ticket

Stay / These are the best rated hotels in Krakow for their price range:
Hotel Unicus Palace $$$
Hotel Copernicus $$$
Vienna House by Wyndham Andel’s Kraków $$$
PURO Kraków Stare Miasto $$
Metropolitan Boutique Hotel $$
Ibis Kraków Stare Miasto $

Eat / My top recommendations for each meal:
Brunch/Breakfast: Cafe Camelot
Lunch: Pod Wawelem
Dinner: Starka Restaurant
Dessert: E.Wedel Chocolate Lounge

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Poland, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for Poland.

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.

KRAKOW BUCKET LIST: THINGS TO DO

Explore Krakow’s Old Town

Make this the first thing you do. As soon as I got to Krakow I did a walking tour of the Old Town. The tour guide was super knowledgeable and took us to many beautiful sites including the Main Market Square & St Mary’s church, Cloth Hall and Townhall Tower, the remains of medieval city walls with Barbican and St Florian Gate, St Francis Church, Bishop’s Palace, the Papal Window, Wawel Hill, Wawel Castle and Wawel Dragon.

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