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February 7, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Unusual Attractions To Visit In London

London is famous for its many historic and modern attractions the world over. Apart from the major attractions and landmarks there are numerous other more hidden and unusual attractions as well that are well worth a visit. A holiday in London never has a dull moment because of the countless places to see and events to be part of.

To squeeze the most of a trip to London you need to choose the right location to stay. As distances in London could be extreme and also there is the issue of traffic congestion. To avoid this it is best to stay in the centre of the city or its whereabouts. And there are plenty of London hotels deals, for travellers on a tight budget.

To stay at an affordable price, while enjoying all the perks and comforts of a trendy boutique hotel the Park Grand Paddington Court Hotel London is the perfect choice. Its location smack-bang in the centre of London makes it popular with visitors and tourists to the area.    

Some of the lesser known and more unique attractions worth a visit in London are:

Sir John Soane’s Museum:

London is famous for its world class museums with museums and art galleries to be found in abundance in the city. Another hidden gem is Sir John Soane’s Museum. It has a unique atmosphere that makes it worth a visit. Plus it is housed in the former home of John Soane that is left exactly as the way it was at the time of his death in 1837. There also is his library housed in the mansion.  It has an intimate kind of feel to it which makes it all the more endearing to visitors. Apart from artworks, artefacts, sculptures and furniture there are a lot of other interesting items to be found in the collection.

The museum organises numerous temporary exhibitions at parts of the year. In the past it has included a fine collection of a range of the Bard of Avon’s (Shakespeare) artefacts and rare memorabilia, which included the first four folios of his extensive works. There is no admission fee and it opens from Tuesday to Saturday (10am – 5pm). To arrive there it is hardly a 5 minute Tube ride from Kings’ Cross to Holborn followed y a short stroll to the museum. If you are fond of walking you stroll the way over.

Leighton House:

For those who are keen about Pre-Raphaelite art a visit to Leighton House, located in Holland Park is highly recommended. There you will find a rare collection of oil masterpieces by Lord Frederic Leighton on display. It is located in what was his former home and also features other Pre-Raphaelite artists’ works. It also regularly hosts a number of temporary exhibitions at different parts of the year. E.g. In the past it has featured a Pre-Raphaelite on Paper exhibition of Victorian Drawings, which are part of the famous Lanigan collection.  The studio is itself a rarity, as it was purpose-built for the public to view and it has hosted famous personalities from history, including Queen Victoria. It is veritable treasure trove of art and visitors can explore it on all days (10am – 5:30pm) with the exception of Tuesdays.

Grant Museum of Zoology:

While it may not exactly be in the league of the iconic Natural History Museum, the fact is that the Grant Museum also has fine albeit smaller collection of more than 68,000 specimens. And it is the only university zoological museum in the city.  The Grant Museum was established in 1828, and is home to a vast collection of skeletons, specimens and mounted animals. These include some very unique attractions e.g. The extinct Tasmanian Tiger and the Dodo. It is family-friendly place and opens from 1pm – 5pm, from Monday to Saturday. It is located at University College London in the Rockefeller Building. Just a quarter of an hour walk from St. Pancras Station at King’s Cross.

The Natural History Museum

The Old Operating Theatre Museum:

When we speak of unusual museums this is out of the most unusual of its kind and has some really strange attractions! It originally served as a part of St. Thomas Hospital and is where you will find the oldest operating theatre of its kind secreted in St Thomas Church’s Herb Garret. It is oddly located in the roof of the church which adds to its unique character. This was the place where some of the most gruesome forms of surgery were practised on unwitting patients. And remember this was before the discovery and use of anaesthesia! It opens all the days of the week from 10:30am – 5pm. There is an entry fee to get admission. You can catch the Tube from King’s Cross to London Bridge and then take a stroll to get to the museum in Southwark.

Kensington Roof Gardens:

They are out of the truly most unique gardens to be found in London. After all where could you expect to walk through a doorway in the high street and see fountains and pink flamingos! Its unique location and ambience have made a popular spot for numerous events and it houses a trendy restaurant and club. Visitors can manage a visit during the afternoon hours, when there are no events scheduled to take place. Its famous gardens are concealed right at the top of what used to be a department store, which soars an impressive 100 feet above Kensington Street.  Catch the lift to get to the 1.5 acre gardens that feature a formal Spanish space, a classic English area and even a Tudor Garden. And to add to its uniqueness it has more than 100 trees with a stream, ducks, a pond and pink flamingos. An unusual but none-the-less fascinating place to visit in London!

Kensington Roof Gardens

 

 

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February 7, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Tips for Argentine expats moving to London

For those who are moving to London as expats from Argentina or elsewhere to stay and work in London, it is an exciting challenge. The city and culture in London is a total contrast of what living in Buenos Aires or any other major city in South America is. The good news is that there are a fair number of expats from Argentina and other Spanish speaking countries, which makes it easy to assimilate in the city.

The first challenge is to find accommodation to live in the city. If you are visiting London for the first time and do not have any friends or a place to stay you could stay temporarily at any hotel in central London. You could also keep an eye out for the best London hotel deals available at that time.

There is plenty of London hotel offers to choose from and you can check directly with the hotels in the area you choose to stay or online with hotel booking sites.

London

A good spot to stay in Central London without having to spend a hefty sum on accommodation expenses is The Montcalm London City the Brewery Hotel. It will be convenient to travel to work and also for entertainment and shopping in the city. Once you have a good base to stay you could begin house hunting.

Finding a good place to stay in London can be a bit of a challenge. Of course if you are flexible and open-minded and can devote time and some effort, it is not more difficult than finding accommodation in any other city.  You could choose to share a flat which would be more reasonable in terms of expenses or if your budget permits rent a flat yourself.

Sharing / own space

The good news is that many expats to the city share flats. It is a good way of getting to meet new friends which if you are on your own, is good if you have someone you know and can go around with in the city. IAnd it is a lot more cost-effective that hiring a flat on your own, unless you are earning reasonably well and can convince choosy landlords that you are the right person for their property. Another benefit of of sharing a house is that is mostly includes sharing expenses such as utility bills, which is great if you are new to the city and don’t want the hassle dealing with the bureaucracy all at once.

Rents and location

The rents in the city will be subject to the location you plan to stay in. While it is great to stay in a flat in the centre of London, the fact is that they are bound to be very pricey. The further in the suburbs you stay the lower will the rent be. The downside is to have to travel long distances to and from work. You need to choose a place that is within suitable distance from your work place and well connected through public transport.

While rents are comparatively higher in London, more than that of other European cities, food and alcohol costs much less. It is possible to eat out a few times in the week without incurring too much in terms of cost. This is of course subject to where you choose to eat as eating at any high end restaurants can rack up terrific expenses.

You need to remember that before you rent a place you need to give them a deposit, which could be as much as rent for two months. Apart from that you need to pay the utilities bills and council tax (students are exempt from paying council tax). You need to look around for the best deals and you can search online at rent comparison websites for the same.

Also the many companies and even landlords you have to deal with will try to extract as much money as possible, so be wary of any extra costs. E.g. If they say that you have to foot the bill for cleaning charges when you move out, confirm if that is necessary. And do not get insurance for your mobile unless you really need to. While these seem trivial they do add up a fair bit in terms of expenses.

Transport

The good news is that London has probably the best transport network in Europe. While the Tube can be crowded and not too pleasant during peak hours traffic, at other times it is a convenient and cheap way to get around the city. While the buses are also great to travel, at times because of traffic congestion they seem to take forever to get you to your destination. The benefit of travel by bus is that it offers great views of the city and they are also cheaper than the Tube.

London Bus

And one of the most economical ways to travel in London is by getting an Oyster Card or Contactless travel card. If you need to travel on a daily basis it is a necessity so that you pay the same amount for travel every month. All you need to do is to top-up your Oyster Card with the sum you will be enough to last you for a few days, week or more and you are good to go. You could also use the Oyster Card on the bus and other some other networks of public travel in London. To know more about the routes and costs of travel visit the TFL (Transport for London) website.  There are plenty of apps that you can download to use on your smart-phone, including the London Underground Map, which will help you to navigate the Tube network and around different areas of London. Another option is to go old school and buy a paper A-Z City Guide from a bookstore.

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February 7, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Get Adventurous in London

London is a fantastic city to visit whether you want to have an adrenaline fuelled experience or you want to lie low for the duration of your visit and just relax.  And that really is the great thing about London; there is such a variety of ways to explore and enjoy the city that there is something for everyone and every taste and if you want to enjoy an outdoor and exciting adventure then here are just some of the ways that you can do that:-

Abseil Down the Tallest Sculpture in Britain

Standing at 262 feet, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the largest sculpture in the UK and it is now entirely possible to climb the 455 steps up to the top, admire the view across London before abseiling your way back down again.  Run by company Wire & Sky, you will be given a full safety briefing before being escorted to the upper viewing platform of the ArcelorMittal Orbit.  From this platform it is possible to see across London towards landmarks such as the Shard, Big Ben and Canary Wharf.  Once you have taken in the sights you will then begin your adrenaline-fuelled decent to the ground along the outside of the structure which gives you more opportunity to look across the city and see what other famous landmarks you can spot.

Horse riding

Horse Riding in Hyde Park

Hyde Park itself is full of ways to enjoy and engage with the outdoors but one of the more interesting ways is by booking a horse riding session with Hyde Park Stables, located on Rotten Row.  These stables are one of the most famous equestrian venues in the whole of the UK and have been open for around 300 years making them pretty historical too.  Your horse riding session could see you following paths along the Serpentine Lake or through Hyde Park itself and it is the perfect activity if you are looking to plan something for one of the most romantic London weekend breaks as couple riding lessons are also available.  The stables can cater for riders of all abilities so even if you have no experience of horse riding but it sounds like something you would like to do, you will be able to enjoy this unique opportunity to ride through Hyde Park.

Go Swimming Outdoors

For such a built up metropolitan city, London has a surprising number of outdoor swimming pools and lidos which visitors and members of the public can enjoy, and some are even open all year round for those who feel brave enough to face the cold weather afterwards.  There is a good mixture of ponds which are open for swimming and constructed swimming pools depending on the type of experience you would like.  In North London you have Hampstead Ponds and Kings Cross Pond and in West London a section of the Serpentine Lake has been sectioned off for use during the summer.  For more formal swimming pools there are plenty more options such as the Brockwell Lido and Tooting Bec Lido in South London or the ever popular London Fields Lido in East London which would be very accessible if you were booked into the M by Montcalm Shoreditch London Tech City Hotel.

Kayaks

Kayak Along the River Thames

Did you know that it was possible to enjoy kayaking along one of the most famous stretches of water in the world?  Kayaking London offer a number of different tours all of which take in the sights as you float your way along the River Thames.  There is the Love Float which sees you and your partner in a tandem kayak travelling along the Thames and seeing landmarks such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament before enjoying a glass of prosecco on your return.  Other tours include Big Ben and Back, Little Venice and Back and Big Ben by Night for those who truly want to add a unique aspect into their kayaking adventure.  Each tour takes around 2 and a half hours and all equipment and all equipment and training is provided.  The kayaks are entirely stable as well so you needn’t worry about accidentally tipping over into the water; although much has been done to clean the River Thames up in recent years!

Picnic with a View

For those who enjoy being outdoors but like to take things at a more sedate pace, you may enjoy a picnic at one of the best places in the city to take in the London skyline.  With such a stunning backdrop you couldn’t fail to have a great time.  There are two potential locations for this, both of which are free; Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill.  Both require you to endure a little climbing before you reach the top and get to enjoy the view spread out before you but in both cases it is absolutely worth it.  Primrose Hill is located in Regent’s Park and Parliament Hill is in Hampstead Heath with Primrose Hill being perhaps the tamer of the two climbs.  A word of caution if you plan to visit during the warmer months of the year; these are two very popular places so you need to turn up early if you want to be able to grab a good spot and while away the day.

Picnic

Go Ape in Battersea Park

Go Ape’s very first urban adventure is located in Battersea Park and is the ideal choice if you want heart in your mouth moments, aerial challenges and more adventure than you can shake a stick at.  Making use of the park’s taller trees, this course is also more exhilarating than some of the other Go Ape options with crossings which are twice the height of most other Go Ape adventures and twice as long making them extra challenging for participants.  It takes between two and three hours to complete the course but can be taken entirely at your own pace if needed.

 

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January 23, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Perth: The lowdown on the capital of sun

It’s got beaches galore, but at the same time Perth retains a degree of the cosmopolitan. Ultimately, it’s proving a popular place for travelers from all over the world – particularly if they’re a fan of the sun.

There are few major locations in the world which combine urban and suburban, but Perth appears to do it to a tee. Ask any local like Lisa Dudzik what her views are the location and all will become clear – this is a destination which lives up to its sterling reputation in all of the travel brochures.

Perth1964

Of course, it’s all very well listing superlative after superlative for Perth, but what attractions are available to do? We’ll now take a look at some common favorites in the area, to make sure you take advantage of absolutely everything the capital of Western Australia has to offer.

Swan Valley – the home of West Australian wine

Let’s start with something which should be a favorite for any wine connoisseur out there. Swan Valley is the oldest wine region in Western Australia and with over forty vineyards to choose from, it goes without saying that you’re pretty much spoilt for choice. Additionally, these vineyards aren’t just pretty on the eye – many have cellars where you can sample the fruits of the local region.

If you’re looking to take advantage of wine and travel, a lot of people tend to cycle between the vineyards and take in the local nature and scenery as well.

Don’t forget about Perth’s history

With so many glorious beaches, and all of the other wow-factor attractions that Perth boasts, it can become easy to forget about some of the finer things such as the immense history that the area has to offer.

If you can get yourself over to Fremantle, things certainly take a step for the interesting. The Maritime Museum is always a favorite amongst tourists, as are the Shipwreck Galleries. Perhaps one of the most recommended attractions comes in the form of Fremantle Prison though; where it’s possible to engage in one of the most intriguing historical tours you’ll ever have the pleasure of experiencing.

The definition of tropical: Rottnest Island

Next on our list is a true favorite; and it all starts with the fact that Rottnest Island is car-free. It means that as soon as you arrive you start to ask yourself why more places in the world don’t take this approach to transport – it just makes life so much quainter.

Strictly speaking, this isn’t Perth. However, based just 19km away from it, it’s certainly easy to get to and just reminds you how relaxed life could be. There are more than sixty beaches in this area, with umpteen tropical fish donning the shores.

We have to give a mention to the quokka as well – a marsupial that you will only find in some parts of Western Australia. If Instagram is your thing this animal will be one of the favorite parts of your trip; it will smile and allow you to take a photo using your trusted selfie stick.

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January 21, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Vacation rentals: The lowdown on the hottest new thing in travel

To say that the vacation rentals industry has exploded over recent years would be an understatement. At one point it looked like it would be hotels and only hotels that would form the basis of travel, yet from nowhere vacation rentals have made a return and taken back some of the market share.

The reasons for this are aplenty; there are now platforms to quickly filter through these properties, while in some ways they have caught up and started to match the benefits that hotels have always been able to offer.

Whale_beach_house_2-popovbassarchitects

For a lot of people, they are still something of an unknown quantity though. While brands like Elan Vacations might be gaining sterling reputations in the market, for the Average Joe who hasn’t yet tried a vacation rental it’s still an area which poses questions. Bearing this in mind, let’s look at the industry in full and highlight what you can expect if you opt for this method of accommodation.

What sort of accommodation can you get?

There’s a lot of misconceptions around regarding the types of information available. Previously, it was just large houses suited to large groups, but now the market has expanded immensely. It means that pretty much anything goes and whether it’s a small apartment, a beach house or even a tree house in some cases, almost anything you can think of is available.

What are the benefits?

There’s a reason why vacation rentals have experienced such a surge in growth over the last few years; they offer a lot of benefits in comparison to the other options.

As we’ve just said, there’s lots of types of accommodation available, but whatever you get your hands on is likely to be more spacious than the hotel alternative. Most of the time, you’ll be gifted a whole host of extras as well, with the likes of a kitchen and washing machine just two to think of.

We should also erase another myth here; you don’t have to be out in the middle of nowhere. In other words, you might still be placed in a resort, in the middle of golf, spas and all of the other facilities that you might enjoy if you were part of a hotel. On the subject of the ‘hotel factor’ again, most properties will provide all the standard items like towels and soap, meaning that the service has become very similar.

How long can you stay for?

Once upon a time this may have been something of a grey area, or something that some guests considered a downside with the vacation rentals market. Now, things are changing.

While some resorts might have minimum stay requirements, on the whole there’s a great degree of flexibility (notice how we’ve used that word before?). Ultimately, you’ll be able to pick dates subject to availability and you aren’t restricted to say a 7-night or 4-night stay, which may have once been the norm with the initial vacation rental properties.

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