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Showing posts with label Eastern Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eastern Europe. Show all posts

Sunday, 15 October 2023

Travel Tips: The Best Hotels I've Ever Stayed in

Seeing as I won't be going on any "big trips" for at least a couple of months, my plan for the blog is to alternate between writing posts about my travels and day trips around Bristol and beyond, and writing posts about other travel-related topics, in order to keep things varied.

My latest post was about a local trip, so this one is going to be something a bit different. I had a look through the list of post ideas I've built up over the years (quite a few!) in order to decide what took my fancy to write about today, and in the end, I decided to write about the topic of hotels, as it's something I haven't really done before!

Generally, these days, I'm happy to stay somewhere clean, comfortable and reasonably priced. I used to try to look for more unique, characterful places to stay, with somewhat mixed results - I remember regretting staying at the old-fashioned pub/hotel in York that was freezing cold with a smelly bathroom, and the supposedly fancy boutique hotel in Bournemouth where my room was tiny and the shower didn't work. Both times I wished I'd opted for the reliability of an Ibis or Premier Inn! Having said that though, when you do stay in a hotel that's really special, it definitely makes your trip that extra bit special too.

I like to think that nowadays I'm quite good at choosing hotels that are both good value and super nice places to relax after a day of exploring. I've stayed in quite a few really great ones over the years, particularly during the last couple of years, and so I've decided to put my favourites together into a list.

Here they are!


Admiral Grand Hotel, Slano, Croatia


















Image by Rachel Claire from Pexels.com

This hotel in the Dalmatia region of southern Croatia is one of (I think) only three 5* hotels that I've stayed in during my life so far. I went there with my family in 2012 and we had a wonderful week in the hotel, which is located in the village of Slano, and also took day trips to Dubrovnik, and Neum and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The hotel is pretty huge, and has lots of facilities, including an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, various bars and restaurants, a nightclub, and a beautiful private beach surrounded by mountains. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera phone at the time, and I've got no photos to show of the hotel, so enjoy this nice image of Dubrovnik instead!


Cedar Manor Hotel, Windermere, England, UK





























My parents actually won a competition to stay at this 5* hotel in the Lake District, and seeing as Covid kept me still living at home in 2020, I got to come along with them! My room was huge, with a four-poster bed, dressing table, and a bath the size of a hot tub, so staying there was quite a special experience. It was also great to be surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Lake District, and overall, it was a really relaxing few days. I actually enter travel competitions on a weekly basis and hope to win something like this myself some day, but it hasn't happened yet - maybe I'll be lucky soon!

Read more here!


Novotel, Arica, Chile























My partner Claudio and I both loved staying in this hotel located right on the beach in the city of Arica in the far north of Chile. The room was so comfortable and luxurious, as well as being reasonably priced, and the view from the window of the beach and Morro de Arica was absolutely stunning. I hope we'll get to go back there again at some point in the future!

Read more here!


Ayenda Estancia San Pedro, Cusco, Peru





















My solo trip to Peru in October 2022 was a week where I really tried to immerse myself in the Peruvian culture and history as much as possible. I spent my first four days in the historic city of Cusco, which I used as a base to take day trips around the Sacred Valley of the Incas. During this time, I stayed in Ayenda Estancia de San Pedro, which is actually a hotel created inside an old colonial building. It's a beautiful place and really added a sense of authenticity to the trip.

I also want to give an honourable mention to Machu Picchu Adventure House, the hotel I stayed in in Aguas Calientes after my time in Cusco. This place was super comfortable and had very nice Inca-style décor.




















Read more here!


Park Inn by Radisson, Puerto Varas, Chile
























There are actually two Radisson hotels in the charming town of Puerto Varas in the south of Chile: a more expensive one right on the shore of Lago Llanquihue, and the more affordable Park Inn further into the town. We chose to stay at the Park Inn during our trip and found it so cosy and comfy. The hotel was built in a traditional German style, typical of the area, and has beautiful views across the rest of the town and the lake.

Read more here!


B&B Vergilia, Syracuse, Sicily, Italy




















I earned some hotel vouchers from doing weekly surveys when I was living at home between 2020 and early 2022, but wasn't able to use them while I was living in Chile, and had to quickly decide what to do with them before they expired in May this year. I chose to use them on a stay in B&B Vergilia during my trip to Sicily in June and was very happy with my choice! This is one of these sorts of hotels that are quite common in Italy (I stayed somewhere similar in Florence), which are built inside grand, old houses, meaning that all of the rooms are incredibly spacious. B&B Vergilia is also a family-run hotel, and the owners are super friendly and welcoming, so I'll definitely be staying there again if I return to Syracuse in the future!

Read more here!


39 St. George, Victoria/Rabat, Gozo, Malta






























This hotel is located in Victoria (also known as Rabat), the capital of Gozo, Malta's sister island, and is a really characterful place. I loved the Medieval vibe of the building, as well as its amazing views over the stunning St. George's Square. It was also super comfortable, which made a nice change from the hostel that I was living in in Malta at the time!

Read more here!


I had a fantastic time staying in all of these hotels, and they were great bases to come back to after days of exploring incredible places. I hope to continue with my run of choosing great hotels, and then perhaps I'll have another one of these posts to write in a couple of years' time!


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!

Wednesday, 26 January 2022

Country Guide: Slovenia

Name: Slovenia (in Slovene: Slovenija)

Continent: Europe

Capital (and Largest) City: Ljubljana

Language: Slovene

Currency: Euro

Drives on the: Right

Time Zone: Central European Time

Adaptor Types: Type C and Type F

Description: Slovenia is a small country in the Balkans, bordering the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. It is best known for its lakes and mountain landscapes, and in recent years it has become more and more popular as a tourist destination.

Why You Should Visit: Slovenia really makes you feel as if you've stepped into a fairytale. Lake Bled in particular is a incredibly beautiful place, featuring a medieval castle overlooking the lake from a precipice, and a little island with a old church that can only be reached by rowing or swimming. I went there with my family back in 2014, and would definitely like to return in the future.

Fun Fact: Even though Slovenia is a small country, it has more than 10,000 caves!


My Blogposts About Slovenia

Charlotte's Travel Adventures

- Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Castles and Palaces (Bled Castle)

- Travel Tips: My Top Ten Nature Destinations (Lake Jasna)

- My Gap Year 2014-2015 (Bled, Kranjska Gora, Lake Jasna and Ljubljana)

- Travel Tips: My Top Ten Fairytale Destinations (Lake Bled)

Clockwise starting from top left: Lake Bled, Lake Jasna, Meadow near Bled, Panoramic view of  Ljubljana, Kranjska Gora

Check out the rest of my Country Guides here!

Saturday, 8 January 2022

Travel Tips: My Top Five Mountain Destinations

In this Travel Tips series, I've already written about my favourite cities, nature destinations and beaches, among other topics. And today I'm going to be writing about another of my favourite types of travel destinations: mountains. I really enjoy trekking in the mountains and enjoying dramatic panoramic views - perhaps that comes from having previously lived in both the Alps and the Andes. In any case, spending time in mountainous places definitely makes a nice change from my current, relatively-flat base in the south of England.

Here are five of my favourite mountain ranges I've been to so far!


The Andes



















The Andes are a vast mountain range that cover the entire length of the western side of South America, passing through Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. I spent several months surrounded by these amazing peaks when I lived in Chile in 2018, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again when I move back there in the coming weeks! The most memorable Andean destinations that I've visited so far in Chile include Cerro Manquehue, Cajón del Maipo, the Maule region (pictured above), and the Altiplano. I also saw some incredible views in the Mendoza province of Argentina.

Read more here and here!



The Alps















The Alps are the most famous mountain range in Europe, and can be found in eight countries: France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Monaco. Many tourists visit the region every year to hike, ski and relax next to its many picturesque lakes, such as the Wolfgangsee (pictured above). I lived in the Alps from 2017-2018, when I worked at two schools in the south of Austria, and I really enjoyed seeing different Alpine towns, cities and villages around the local area and beyond.

Read more here and here!



The Dinaric Alps

















Image by Luciann Photography from pexels.com

One of my favourite family holidays was when we stayed in Slano in Croatia in 2012, and visited Dubrovnik (pictured above), and also Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. All three of these destinations are located in the Dinaric Alps, or Dinarides, a mountain range that spreads across southeastern Europe. It's a very beautiful part of the world, and I have great memories of swimming at the beach next to the hotel, which was located in a bay surrounded by mountains.


The Tatra Mountains



















I had a very memorable time teaching English at a hotel in Poland in the summer of 2019, when I participated in the Angloville volunteer programme. The hotel wasn't exactly the four-star luxury that had been promised to us volunteers, but the surrounding scenery of the Tatra Mountains (part of the Carpathian mountain range of Eastern Europe) was stunning to look at. It's an area I'd be interested in exploring more of in the future.

Read more here!



The Cumbrian Mountains



















The mountains found in the Lake District are the highest in England, and while they're small compared to the other mountains in this list, they're a great place to enjoy amazing natural landscapes, especially at times like this when it's difficult to travel abroad. I visited the area with my parents in 2020, and was surprised to find that it was a little reminiscent of the south of Chile, with lots of mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls to discover.

Read more here!


I'm glad to say that I'll be back in the mountains again soon, as I've got my visa interview for my job in Chile next week, and after that, I'll just have to wait for it to be approved before I can finally go! The interview also means that I'll be spending a day in London, which will be my first little bit of travelling of the year. I plan to explore a new place or two in the city, and I'll be writing about it here next weekend!


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!

Saturday, 1 January 2022

Country Guide: Slovakia

Name: Slovakia (in Slovak: Slovensko)

Continent: Europe

Capital (and Largest) City: Bratislava

Language: Slovak

Currency: Euro

Drives on the: Right

Time Zone: Central European Time

Adaptor Types: Type C and Type E

Description: Slovakia is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It was formerly part of Czechoslovakia, before splitting from the Czech Republic (now known as Czechia) in 1993. It's not the best-known tourist destination in Europe, but there are plenty of reasons to visit...

Why You Should Visit: The main reasons people visit Slovakia are its mountains, which are great for hiking and skiing, and its castles, which can be found all over the country. Personally, I've only been to Bratislava so far, but I really enjoyed my day exploring the city, and especially loved the castle, which looks straight out of a fairytale.

Fun Fact: Slovakia holds the title of the country with the highest number of castles per capita!


My Blogposts About Slovakia

My Year Abroad Blog 2017-2018

- Vienna and Bratislava


Charlotte's Travel Adventures

- Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Castles and Palaces (Bratislava Castle)

- Travel Tips: My Top Ten Fairytale Destinations (Bratislava)

Clockwise starting from top left: Capuchin Church, Bratislava Castle, View of St Martin's Cathedral and the city of Bratislava, Slovak National Theatre, Most SNP or UFO Bridge (all located in Bratislava) 

Check out the rest of my Country Guides here!

Sunday, 5 December 2021

Travel Tips: My Top Ten Historical Destinations

This week's blogpost is going to focus on my favourite historical destinations. Now, of course, nearly every town or city in the world has some kind of link to the near or distant past, and could therefore be counted as a historical destination, meaning there are various places I could have included in this list. But the ones I've chosen to write about today are the ones that really seem to bring history to life, and which have given me an insight into different periods of the past...


Avebury, England, UK












This prehistoric stone circle, along with the other nearby stone circle, Stonehenge, are probably the closest thing we have in the UK to a site like Machu Picchu or the Egyptian pyramids. And both happen to be located in my home county of Wiltshire, which is pretty cool! Stonehenge is definitely the more famous and popular of the two, but I personally prefer Avebury, as it's much much bigger, and access is less restricted. No one knows exactly why the circle was built, but it's amazing to look at it and think about how long it's been there for. 

Read more here!



Bath, England, UK

























Bath is another historical place that I'm lucky to live quite close to. This beautiful city was very important during the Roman era, and you can still find many Roman columns around the city centre, most famously at the Roman Baths (pictured above). The Roman Baths was a spa and temple complex that attracted visitors from far and wide, and now it's a museum that brings in tourists from all over the world.

Another reason to visit Bath is for its more recent, Georgian history. It was a very popular city amongst the wealthy during that time period, and was famously written about by Jane Austen. You can find many examples of Georgian architecture around Bath today, including the iconic Royal Crescent.

Read more here and here!



York, England, UK

























York is another British city with a long history and many beautiful old buildings. Like Bath, it's known for its Roman history, and you can still see some of the architecture from that period today, including the column pictured above. York was also a Viking city in the past, and was known as Jórvík during this time. In fact, one of the city's most exciting attractions is Jorvik Viking Centre, a museum which literally takes you on a ride through a recreation of this era.

Read more here!



Oxford, England, UK



















The final English city in my list is Oxford, which has some of the most beautiful architecture in the country. It has many historical buildings, some of which were built hundreds of years ago. Radcliffe Camera (pictured above) is actually one of the newer ones, being completed in 1749. Some of the the even older ones include St Michael at the North Gate tower, which was built between 1000-1050, and Oxford Castle, which was originally built in the Norman era.

Read more here and here!



Chepstow Castle, Wales, UK



















The last UK destination in this list is Chepstow Castle in Wales, located right next to the border with England. Construction on the castle first began nearly 1000 years ago, in 1067, and it's still looking in pretty good shape for its age! Actually there are many amazing old castles in Wales - it's the country with the highest number of castles per square mile - but Chepstow's one is actually the oldest, so it's definitely worth a visit.

Read more here!



Nîmes, France















Now I'm moving on to international destinations for the last half of this list, starting with Nîmes in the south of France. This isn't one of the best-known cities in the Hexagon (I don't think I'd heard of it before I went!) but I believe it should be, because it's really an incredible place to explore, featuring various Roman artefacts that have been unbelievably well-preserved. Two of the most impressive are the Arena of Nîmes (pictured above), which is very reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome, and Maison Carrée, a beautiful temple.

Read more here!



Berlin, Germany



















For me, Berlin is an interesting city because of its more recent history. It wasn't that long ago that it was divided into two parts: the democratic West Berlin (comprised of British, French and US sectors), and the communist East Berlin (originally a Soviet sector, and later part of the GDR). There are still many reminders of this period that tourists can visit, including the East Side Gallery (painted sections of the Berlin Wall), Checkpoint Charlie (pictured above), and Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), a former border crossing which is now a museum.


Florence, Italy















The capital of Tuscany is one of the most popular destinations for those interested in history of art, as it was the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, which took place during the 15th and 16th centuries. Many great artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, lived and worked in the city, and you can see examples of their artwork there today. Two of the most famous galleries are Galleria dell'Accademia, where you can find Michelangelo's famous sculpture, David, and the Uffizi Gallery (pictured above), where you can see The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.

Read more here!



Dubrovnik, Croatia

















Image by veeterzy from pexels.com

This medieval walled city on the Adriatic Sea, which was at one point an independent country, seems to have barely changed in hundreds of years. It's also incredibly beautiful, especially when viewed from above. I went there on a family holiday nearly ten years ago, so my memories of the place are slightly vague, and I didn't have a camera phone at the time, so I have no photos from my trip there. But I do remember really enjoying exploring the city, and I'd definitely go back there in the future.


Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay



















This picturesque town in Uruguay was at times a Spanish colony, and at other times a Portuguese colony, before becoming part of Brazil, and then finally Uruguay. It has a blend of Spanish, Portuguese and post-colonial architectural styles, and has been recognised by UNESCO for this reason. Going there and seeing its old buildings and cobblestone streets really does give you the feeling of stepping back into the past. 

Read more here!



I think it's really fascinating to learn about different periods of history and about how life was in the past, but it's even more interesting when you can actually explore history in a more literal way, by visiting historical destinations such as these.

I definitely plan to visit more historical places in the future; when I'm living in Chile again (which should be very soon!) I would like to visit the Chinchorro mummies in Arica (Edit: Saw them in June 2022!), and possibly Rapa Nui (Easter Island). I'm also planning on visiting Machu Picchu in Peru (Edit: Made it there in October 2022!), and maybe Ciudad Perdida in Colombia. The other historic sites I'd most like to go to around the world include Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Rome in Italy (Edit: Made it there in March 2024!), Athens in Greece, Petra in Jordan, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Hopefully, I'll have one or two to write about within the next few months!


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!

Saturday, 20 November 2021

Country Guide: Poland

Name: Poland (in Polish: Polska)

Continent: Europe

Capital (and Largest) City: Warsaw (in Polish: Warszawa)

Language: Polish

Currency: Polish Złoty

Drives on the: Right

Time Zone: Central European Time

Adaptor Types: Type C and Type E

Description: Poland is a relatively large country in Eastern Europe, which borders the Baltic Sea in the north and the Carpathian Mountains in the south, as well as several other European countries. It is known for its historic cities, including Kraków, Warsaw and Gdańsk, and it's also a popular hiking and skiing destination.

Why You Should Visit: I had a really fantastic and memorable time in Poland when I volunteered there in 2019, teaching English with the Angloville programme. There are many beautiful places to see throughout the country (I only saw a few, but I would definitely go back in the future). In addition, the people are very friendly, and everything is cheap, so you're sure to have a great time!

Fun Fact: The world's largest castle (the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork) is located in Poland!


My Blogposts About Poland

Charlotte's Travel Adventures

- Kraków

Ciężkowice

- Volunteering in Poland With Angloville (Modrzewiowe Wzgórze)

- Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Cities (Kraków)

- Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Castles and Palaces (Wawel Castle, Kraków)

- UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Kraków)

- Travel Tips: My Top Five Mountain Destinations (The Tatra Mountains)

Charlotte's Travel Adventures is 5 Years Old! (Kraków)





















Clockwise starting from top left: St Mary's Basilica, Kraków; Wawel Castle, Kraków; Modrzewiowe Wzgórze; Statue of Ignacy Jan Paderewski in Ciężkowice; Kraków Cloth Hall

Check out the rest of my Country Guides here!

Sunday, 6 June 2021

Travel Tips: My Top Ten Fairytale Destinations!

Growing up, I always loved watching the Disney versions of fairytales. (To be completely honest, I still love watching them now!) The great songs, magical characters and beautiful settings always kept me entranced. And although I detest the institution of monarchy, and especially hate how the Windsor family are worshipped here in Britain (they're incredibly dull and "un-magical" compared to the likes of Elsa and Ariel!), I still have a fondness for fairytales.

This fondness translates into a love for visiting destinations around the world that look like they've come straight from the pages of a fairytale, including castles, palaces and charming little villages. And this post is going to be about some of my favourite fairytale-esque destinations. I've narrowed it down to a list of ten, which was surprisingly challenging. Here they are!


The Cotswolds, England, UK




















This is not really one single place, but a whole area of England. The Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which covers six counties in the South West, South East and West Midlands regions, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole country. It's known for its castles and manor houses, scenic countryside, and most of all for its picturesque little villages. The three most famous and beautiful of these villages are Castle Combe (pictured above), Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water. These three villages have a real old world, fairytale atmosphere, and are great places to escape to.

Read more here and here!


Bruges, Belgium




















My first proper solo trip was to Bruges, or Brugge, in Belgium back in 2015 during my Gap Year. I really fell in love with the city during my few days there, and hope to go back again sometime in the future. Being there really felt like being in a fairytale land; it's filled with canals, little bridges, pretty buildings, and lots and lots of swans!

Read more here!


Dieppe, France




















My favourite place that I visited in Normandy during the French part of my Year Abroad has to be Dieppe, mainly because of its fairytale-esque castle that sits on a hill overlooking the beach. Not only is it pretty to look at, it also has a great museum inside, featuring many impressionist paintings. The architecture of the rest of the town is very attractive too.

Read more here!


Vaduz, Liechtenstein




















Actually I think the whole country of Liechtenstein counts as a fairytale destination! But Vaduz is the only part I've actually visited (though I did see Gutenberg castle from the bus on the way in). For a capital city, it's very very small, which makes sense, given the size of the country it's located in. The whole city is a really great place to explore, with some interesting museums and nice architecture, but the highlight has to be the castle, overlooking Vaduz from a mountain above.

Read more here!


Salzburg, Austria
















Austria has to be one of the prettiest countries in the world, thanks to its lakes, mountains, castles and beautiful cities. Perhaps the most beautiful of these cities is Salzburg, a place which feels like it's barely changed for hundreds of years. It's filled with lots of stunning old buildings, and two of the most stunning are the Mirabell Palace and Hohensalzburg Fortress, both of which can be seen in the picture above. 

Read more here!


Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria




















One thing I really loved when I lived in Austria was taking the train to travel to various places within the country and beyond. I would always see amazing scenery wherever I went, including plenty of incredible castles. My favourite was Hochosterwitz Castle, located between Sankt Veit an der Glan and Klagenfurt, and one day I took the train to Launsdorf to take a closer look at it. I love how it's built around a mountain - it really is just like a fairytale come to life. 

I'll also take this opportunity to give an honourable mention to Landskron Castle, another castle in the Kärten region, that's almost as impressive.

Read more here!


Lake Bled, Slovenia




















Lake Bled in Slovenia is a tourist destination that's grown in popularity in recent years, and it's easy to see why. The place is so idyllic, with its medieval castle on a clifftop and its island in the middle of the lake, which you can only get to by rowing boat. It really looks like it's come straight from the pages of a storybook.

Read more here!


Bratislava, Slovakia
















An underrated capital city in Eastern Europe, Bratislava is a great place to visit, that can easily be explored in a day. Its sights include pretty squares, alleyways and churches, as well as the unique UFO Bridge. But the highlight has to be the imposing and beautiful Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the city and the Danube river below. It's definitely worth climbing up the hill to the castle to see it up close and to enjoy the amazing views across the city.

Read more here!


Stockholm, Sweden




















Stockholm is another European capital city with beautiful old buildings and a fairytale atmosphere. My favourite part of the city is the historic centre, Gamla stan, which dates back to the medieval period. Here you can find plenty of quaint cobbled streets and significant buildings, such as the Royal Palace, Riddarholm Church, and Stockholm Cathedral. But perhaps the most iconic part of Gamla stan is Stortorget (pictured above). This square with its famous tall, colourful buildings really is a picture perfect place.

Read more here!


Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile




















When people think of fairytale destinations, they usually think of places in Europe. And it's true that up until this point, this list has consisted entirely of destinations in my home continent. But I'm switching things up with this final destination on my list! Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve is an incredible area of natural beauty located in the Patagonian Rainforest in southern Chile, featuring waterfalls, rivers, lakes and volcanoes. It's also a hub for ecotourism, and features two amazing and very fairytale-esque hotels: the Nothofagus hotel (which looks like a giant treehouse) and Montaña Mágica (magic mountain) lodge (pictured above). Definitely one of the most magical places I've ever been to!

Read more here!


It's been a nice bit of escapism to compile this list and to reminisce about some of my favourite trips. (How great were those days when we could go wherever we wanted with no restrictions?) 

Although my lack of freedom to move on with my life is still getting me down, I'm feeling slightly more positive than I was this time last week, because I now have a couple of things to look forward to. I've got a short trip planned for tomorrow morning, which I may blog about next week, and I've also booked some time off in July, which I'll use to go on a short break away, or at least on a day trip or two. 

And hopefully, some bigger travel adventures are on the not-too-distant horizon...


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!