Group holidays can be really fun. Or mind-numbingly hard to plan and execute, especially if the travelers are worlds apart in terms of interests, with only but a few things in common.

After more than one holiday with 5 to 12 people involved, I am sketching a user’s guide for all friends out there planning a trip together. You might want to read this out loud when you get together with your friends and start planning a vacation together.

Questions to Ask BEFORE You Decide Where to Go

First things first: where to go? Ask some pesky questions before you decide on a destination. Trust me, it can save a lot of time and arguments. Here we go:

Who visited what continents/countries/cities? Is someone willing to compromise and visit a city they’ve already seen? If yes, in what formula – will they want to join the group for the whole trip or just a couple of days?

Is there a good time for everyone to go on holiday? Laugh all you want, but some of us turn into monsters if subjected to really hot temperatures (yes, I’m talking about me, remember my article on Malta ?). Or…some might be able to get away from the office only during certain months and only for a limited number of days.

Also, some of your friends might prefer budget-friendly holidays while others might want to splurge on lengthy holidays and enjoy the perks of a luxurious destination.

Talk about these, be honest with each other and try to understand everyone’s expectations. Especially if this is your first trip together.

Use Collective Maps While on Group Holidays

One member of the group wants to go to an art museum. Another one wants to see the city by bike. A third might want to wander through the neighborhoods and catch a glimpse of a temporary exhibit hosted by the museum the with the first member of the group. Another might want to go shopping and try out all the culinary delights the city has to offer.

You get the idea. Different people have different interests and moods. And if the group is a large one, juggling all of these becomes a burden. And a potential source of conflict. Why not try to prevent it all?

I visited Barcelona and Valencia with four other girlfriends in September. No, I did not go with Adriana, in case you were wondering but do check out her great article on art & architecture in Barcelona, I was surprised to see how many streets/sights I missed while in the Catalan capital. Our group was very diverse: we had a foodie, a sporty one, a shopping lover and a museum-loving introvert. And to top all of that, two of us had already visited Barca before and knew we wanted to see/experience different things, but still get together for lunch and for evening walks. We only had 4 days in the city and needed to get organized. We used an online tool to help us map out all of the things we wanted to see/do,

Tripadvisor has this great maps tool to help.You can create and share a map and each member of the group can customize it by adding venues/top attractions to the map.

Group Holidays: collective maps can make or break your trip. Use them wisely.

This way:

Every member of the group adds value and insight into what is worth seeing.

Every voice is heard. No one can own the conversation or dominate the group schedule

You can group interests in the same area of the city and….divide and conquer. People who want to check out modern art can go see the latest exhibit while foodies can roam the surrounding streets in search of the best tapas/churros/sangria out there. And they can get together later in the afternoon to go see/do something everyone is interested in. Win-win, everyone is happy, right?

You might be able to do something similar with Google maps, take your chances. We used Tripadvisor as it already mapped some of the most important attractions in Barcelona that the majority wanted to visit. Feel free to experiment with any collective map out there.

But since my boyfriend had to go to Horsham with business and I just tagged along, I thought I should make the most of it. So I went ahead and researched on Instagram, Pinterest, the web – you name it – to find out all the “hot spots” in this little old town.

As it turned out, at first sight, there wasn’t really much to be done there. But I did stumble upon a museum, a duck farm (and I LOVE ducks) and a weekly food market so it all seemed good in the end.

I didn’t get to check out everything I wanted though. The duck farm was actually outside the town and another dairy farm I was interested in was also kind of far. However, I adored this little British town. From its dreamy gardens, huge park, adorable houses and friendly people here is why I fell in love with Horsham.

Horsham City CenterSt. John The Evangelist Church – HorshamHorsham City CenterUnitarian Church – Horsham

The Bear – HorshamBeautiful Garden – Horsham

The Hotel

I arrived at Luton Airport, London, at about 10:00 a.m. Then had to wait for an hour to take a bus that would take me to the Gatwick Train Station where I would take a train to Horsham. All this was a bit overwhelming, especially since I traveled alone. It didn’t help that every time I asked someone if I was on the right platform, or where I should take the train – almost no one had a clue. But around 14:00 I finally arrived at the small hotel we had booked: Premier Inn Horsham Hotel.

I simply adored this place! First of all the bed was high enough that I couldn’t reach the floor with my feet. I am a short person, but still, this hasn’t happened to me in a while. It might have been that I was exhausted, but that mattress and those pillows seem like a dream to this day. Needless to say, the first thing I did was take a quick nap before heading to pick up my boyfriend from his office.

The Buildings

I am such a huge fan of architecture, it’s one of the first things I notice and gaze at when visiting a new place. And Horsham had a lot to offer in this respect. From classy houses with neat little gardens, lush with greenery, to bigger, elegant mansions everything looked so typical of what you’d expect in a British town, in the best way possible

Beautiful House – Horsham, EnglandGorgeous Houses and Gardens – Horsham, EnglandAdorable Colored Doors – Horsham, England

English Houses – Horsham, EnglandBeautiful briBeautiful Brick Building – Horsham, Englandck building – Horsham, England

I roamed the streets for 3 days and never got bored. I took countless photos of windows draped by spring flowers, doors in wild colors and gardens that never ceased to amaze me.

Horsham’s Food Market

As I was saying in my London article, one of the first stereotypes you hear about England is that their food is really not good. I beg to differ.

I too expected to adapt to a diet of fish and chips or different pies. But I was surprised to have so many options and not once go wrong with my choices. There’s a strong Indian influence with flavorful curries available even in pubs. But burgers and pasta are just as great.

Pastries – Horsham Food Market

Sweets – Horsham Food Market

However what I loved most about Horsham was its weekly food market that takes place every Thursday. Food trucks there make it very difficult to choose between pulled pork sandwiches, tacos or exotic dishes. And you will also find art sellers, vinyls and vintage music tapes and all sort of nick nacks that make for lovely presents for those at home. The only downside is that usually, the most popular dishes are the most delicious too. That means they are sold out in no time. So if you’re not there early, you might not get to choose.

A walk in the Park is a must

I was never aware of how hugely popular parks are in the UK. Or how good they are at gardening for that matter. But every day I had to go through Horsham’s central park in order to get to the town center from our hotel. And I loved it!

Horsham Park – EnglandSee? She was just fine after dropping from the tree.Horsham Park – England

Human Nature Garden – Horsham Park , EnglandHuman Nature Garden – Horsham Park , England

One day I witnessed a “ferocious” fight between two squirrels, that ended up with one of them falling from a tree in a bush. She was fine, but I was left amused for the whole day. Another evening while I was showing my boyfriend what he’s been missing while working all day we bumped into another couple enjoying a romantic stroll in the park: a duck and her drake.

You could also have tea or lunch there at The Conservatory Cafe. I still regret not stopping by for an afternoon pick me up there.

Horsham Museum and Art Gallery

It’s the only museum that is actually in Horsham, so a visit there it’s a must! Just kidding, but if you have some time it’s definitely worth a visit.

The museum offers over 26 galleries to go through. They depict scenes from traditional British homes, curiosities, personalities from Horsham and pieces of vintage British fashion, among others.

Royal Family Memorabilia – Horsham Museum

Watercolor Painting – Horsham Museum

Vintage English Decor – Stuffed birds and an elephant’s foot

Oil Painting – Horsham MuseumCostume & Textile Collection – Horsham Museum

They also have an old barn with old agricultural machinery on display. What I liked most was the museum’s garden. I was lucky enough to see it in spring when everything was coming to life. But I bet it’s just as beautiful in summer and autumn too.

Wisteria in Bloom – Horsham Museum GardenHidden Gem Dragon – Horsham Museum GardenBeautiful Details – Horsham Museum Garden

Cherry Blossom – Horsham Museum GardenSundial – Horsham Museum GardenSpring Flowers – Horsham Museum GardenEnglish Garden – Horsham Museum Garden

Like most museums in England, this one also is free and the staff is so friendly! They will be more than happy to give you tips on what else it there to see in Horsham and London too.

St. Mary’s Church

A short walk from the museum, on one of Horsham’s most beautiful and colorful streets, is St. Mary’s church. I’d say it doesn’t really matter if you’re a religious person in order to enjoy a short stop here.

The building is beautiful and the huge stained glass behind the altar took my breath away. A lovely lady at the entrance offered to either give me some materials to read while I walked around the church or give me a tour herself. Of course, I took the guided tour. She seemed to have a lot of beautiful stories to tell, and I was not mistaken. She was so nice that in the end, suggesting I got married there. I had to let her down and tell her I live many miles away. Though a destination wedding someday doesn’t sound like a bad idea, ha!

Hidden gems of Horsham

Special mentions on my list of things to do or see in Horsham would be:

Talbot Lane – Horsham, England

Pretty Things Cafe – Horsham, England

Causeway Street – Horsham, England

A walk through Swan Walk – A small shopping center with a few brands such as H&M or Marks and Spencer. You can also find books and great natural shops with all sorts of nuts, seeds, and herbs.

Waterstones – you will find lots of good titles, stationery, and gifts with great deals. They also have chairs and sofas where you could enjoy a read. Plus on the second floor, you can also grab a tea or something to eat. A lovely place for bookworms out there.

Pound Land – If you are not from England, and it’s your first time visiting you might be just as excited about Pound Land as we were. As the name suggests, everything there is 1 pound. We stocked on Cadbury treats to bring back home.

Causeway Street – It’s the beautiful street that takes you from the Museum to the Church and it’s probably the most photographed street in the town, thanks to its colorful houses.

Pavilions in the Park – If you are a sports addict then this is the place to go. Plus if you’re staying at the Premier Inn Hotel, then you will be right across the street from this center that offers among others, a great swimming pool, gym and sports classes.

So if you’re ever in the area, make sure to stop in Horsham. It’s such a lovely, charming English town, with lots to offer for a small place. I am still dreaming of it and hope to return soon!

You fancy modern art? Then I don’t need to tell you that Barcelona is the city of great artists. Gaudi, Dali, Picasso and Miro worked here and you’ll be amazed to see their works even in public spaces.

A city-break in Barcelona is enough for a few inspiring visits in different quarters of the city. Nowadays you can sense the artsy style in many corners, on buildings architecture, public sculptures or on the streets walls. Designers and local artists’ studios spread throughout the city and some street artists constantly mark their distinctive style on the walls.

Medieval Street in BarcelonaGothic Church in El Raval

Graffiti Girl FaceElOtrograffity on shop shutterBL2A BarcelonaMontjuic Barcelona

Catalan modernism and Gaudi

In L’eixample district you’ll find many modernist buildings and you can even follow ”routa de modernisme” sign. Check the colored mosaic and tiles, a clear Moorish influence, natural shapes as branches and bones, and fancy column shapes.  Add a mix of stone, iron, stained glass and ceramics. After all, this is what I call modernism.

Modernist Building, Entrance DetailModernist Building in L’eixample Barcelona

Catalan Modernism in L’eixampledistrictBarcelona Building with balconies

Modernism Route Barcelona, Pavement Pattern

Barcelona’s distinctive architecture style, Modernisme is a Catalan modernism style usually explained as Catalan art nouveau. I am not going to lecture here, but 9! buildings in Barcelona are part of Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Take a day or at least half a day to enjoy Gaudi’s masterpieces. His signature is in many places around the city, from ParcGuell, Casa Batllo, LaPedrera to his most beloved SagradaFamilia or Palau Guell. The house where he lived 20 years is located in ParcGuell and is also worth visiting.

ParcGuellParcGuellColumnsLizardParcGuellCollage with mosaics BarcelonaGaudi House in ParcGuell

Save some money if you want to dive into his imaginative world. Namely, the entrance fees to SagradaFamilia and the houses designed by him range from 15 EUR to 23 EUR and require online booking. But you will not regret one penny. Other beauties are Hospital de Sant Pau and Palau de la MúsicaCatalana, close to the Gothic quarter.

Modernist buildings and Casa Mila BarcelonaCasaBattlo Barcelona

Inside Casa BattloBarcelonaCasaBatllo view to the interior gardenEntrance to the Elevator Casa BatlloSagradaFamilia Entrance View

Modern art in Barcelona – Picasso and Juan Miro

I loved Barcelona even before going there, but Juan Miro Foundation and Montjuic area have a special place in my heart. I’m bias, for sure, but do you imagine a full mansion with surrealism paintings, beautifully colored lines and shapes, on a hill?

In addition, a large sculpture of Miro is in a park close to Plaçad’Espanya: Woman and Bird. The artist has left marks in the city and it’s highly possible you’ll walk on his colored mosaic circle of the pavement in La Rambla, close to the Mercat de la Boqueria.

Juan Miro paintingView from Juan Miro FoundationJuan Miro Fundation – Woman Sculpture

Juan Miro Woman and Bird Sculpturemosaic Juan Miro in La Rambla

To move on, Picasso is another acclaimed modern artist in Barcelona. The museum is in the Gothic quarter and emphasis his evolution toward a cubist, his blue period, reinterpreted Las Meninas painting and a collection of ceramics. First Sunday of the month is free to access, but book online before!

Otherwise, you can admire his work in the street on the upper part of the building called CollegiArquitectes, in the square of Le Catedral. These drawings represent Mediterranean Festivals.

Picasso Museum Barcelona : Picasso in the streets

Dali should be also mentioned here, the works of this Catalan surrealist reside in Barcelona, but Teatre – Museu Dali is in his hometown, Figueres, an hour away from the city.

CaixaForum Barcelona

Initially, a textile factory, now an art gallery sponsored by La Caixa Bank, the building itself is a modern piece of architecture. With this in mind, good temporary exhibits are hosted here and the entrance fee is only 4 EUR. I was lucky enough to enter to Warhol. Mechanical Art, about the pop artists that worked with advertising materials and American stars. In addition, I attended a quite different exhibit:  The world of Giorgio de Chirico. Dream or reality. Briefly, Chirico’s paintings are complex, he is all about strict lines and an architectural perspective.

CaixaForum Andy Warhol expoAndy Warhol Judy GreenChirico paintings

Public Art and Sights along the seaside

You are in Barcelona, so let’s be honest, you’ll want to go to the beach at least if you travel between May and October.

From Port Vell, there are only a few minutes to Barceloneta beach and there’s more to explore if you go north toward Parcdel Forum. As a matter of fact, that’s more than a 5 km walk and further away than the Olimpic port, you’ll encounter joggers, rollers, skate parks, quiet beaches.

One of the tallest buildings in Barcelona, W Hotel, a modern building with a sail shape is close to Barceloneta beach. Homage to the Swimmers, Homage to Barceloneta, Peix, the gold fish designed by Frank Gehry lie along the seafront.

W Hotel Barcelona beach view

National History Museum Barcelona

Once you reach Parcdel Forum you have a new, contemporary square, with high buildings, a space for conventions and events and a beautiful blue façade building for the Natural History Museum.

Street Art in Barcelona

This city is a large canvas with murals and street art, on walls and on shop’s security shutters. Hence, keep the eyes wide open in El Raval, Poble Sec and Sant Antoni districts. I’m going to mention just a few spots:

Hot air balloon façade close to Sant Antoni Market. This is actually the oldest building in the Eixample district and it’s called la Carboneria.

Tribute to Juan Miro, a huge mural in Miro’s style, designed by SIXE.

North-west of parcGuell is an alley with graffiti walls. If you visit ParcGuell, reach the top for the view and for this alley.

Typography on cans is a style you’ll see almost on every quarter. Chef Love is using mainly Catalan or Spanish words, and his messages are rather positive. You can check Me_Lata on instagram.

Agora Juan Andres Benitez, 2 min away from Rambla del Raval, is an open space for social debates and a small cooperative. Grafitti works that surround this area are representative of this story: Juan Andres Benitez, a gay businessman died beaten by the police officers.

Agora Juan Andres Benitez BarcelonaAgora Juan Andres Benites Graffiti Detail

Gothic

I started this post thinking about modernists and street art, but I cannot finish without mentioning the gothic footprint. In essence, the other great landmarks of Barcelona are Gothic. Despite the hordes of tourists, the medieval streets unfold historic buildings in Barri Gothic and La Ribera. At least, check La Catedral (The Cathedral), MuseuD’Historia (History Museum), PlaçaReial (Royal Square).

History Museum in BarcelonaPlacaReialBarcelonaElCatedral in Barcelona

El Born area is small, nice and surrounded by small art shops. On one side you have El Born CCM, a cultural space in a restored former market with excavated city ruins. It’s free to visit and it hosts a worth-to-check exhibit with ceramics. Then you can take a stroll on the Passeigdel Born, the little boulevard, and end with Basilica Santa Maria del Mar.

El Born CCM Barcelona

Other great places to check:

MNAC, Museu Nacional D’art de Catalunya. The building, National Palace, is huge and you should check it at least on the outside. It’s standing proudly on the hills of Montjuic and seems a Roman basilica, with a large dome.

PobleEspanyol. A village replica with all Spanish architectural home styles, close to Montjuïc Fountains and  National Museum of Catalan Art.

MACBA Museu D’art Contemporani

Museum of Design

Warsaw, Poland is more than just a historic city. Second World War was harsh to them and the communist regime that came afterward is not an easy one to handle. Although scattered from the foundation, now Warsaw is a vivid and modern city. For a good background, check this documentary website. However, if you’re in Warsaw during summer time, go out of the Old Town and experience the usual city life. Polish people have a thing for deckchairs, ice-cream and beer, so my personal recommendation is to lie down and enjoy the life.

Skaryszewski Park Warsaw

Expect many hip cafes, with deck chairs outside and queues to artisanal ice-cream spots (lody in Polish). Summer days are perfect for long walks on the large boulevards and parks and for multiple stops at pubs and bars, while enjoying the strong local beers. Oh, and promenade along Vistula River is a must! Walk along this river side, rest on the urban beaches and bars along the Vistula River and admire the biodiversity on the Praga district side.

Budget

Warsaw and Poland, in general, is very cheap. The local currency (zlots) almost equals Romanian (RON) money and 1 zlot is less than 30 cents. Keep only a small account in cash, you can pay almost everywhere with the card. Good ice-cream 1 – 2 EUR, a lunch approx 4 – 10 EUR, museums fee approx 5 EUR, transportation from the airport to the city center with local bus – less than 1 EUR and cheap Uber.

What to do in Warsaw

Warsaw during summer is wonderful, so my recommendation for you is to choose outdoor activities, rather than spending time inside. If the weather is chilly, you can opt for one of the many museums or shops in town. You can see the city in one day or one week, you will not get bored. In 3 days and a half and 20 km per day walking we reached to less touristic neighborhoods.

Old Town

Being destroyed 80% in the Second World War, now the Old Town in Warsaw is a masterpiece of city restoring. We had a lovely 2-hours walk with the Orange Umbrella’s Free City Walk, which I totally recommend.

Royal Palace square, with Sigismund Statue, has colorful buildings and authentic architecture. Sigismund III of Poland had Swedish roots and was known due to its influence in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. So it’s no surprise that he moved the capital from Krakow to Warsaw just to be closer to the northern states. You can visit the Royal Palace, or at least go into the courtyard to see the architecture details.

Old Town Market Square (RynekStaregoMiasta)

Then enjoy The Old Town Market, the center and the oldest part of the Old Town. A UNESCO site, this is a crowded area with lots of restaurants, souvenir shops and the Museum of Warsaw. Tourists are trying to capture the “Fighting” Mermaid Statue placed in the middle of the square, a symbol of the city.

Barbican is the getaway between the Old and the New Town. Along the fortification you’ll see the Statue of the Little Insurgent, in the memory of children who lost their lives in the Warsaw Rising.

Get lost on the less crowded streets, these are quiet and tiny. In one of the courtyards you will see one of the smallest buildings in Europe. It’s a trick – it’s just the façade, which consists of the front door only, but the rest of the house has a normal size. This gimmick was a solution to pay lower taxes, back in time the taxes were based on the size of the façade.

Royal Route

This is an old communication route from the Old Town to the South, at Wilanów, Sobieski’s palace. It includes a series of old royal residences and landmarks, which makes it very important for tourists. The burger houses, with prominent roof windows, and the neoclassical buildings with perfect geometry will enjoy your eyes.

On this route you will see Nicholas Copernicus Monument, University of Warsaw, neoclassical Tyszkiewicz palace, Łazienki Park and Presidential Palace and many others. Even you don’t go all the way, take a walk along lively NowySwiat to enjoy the architecture of the buildings and its many cafe and boutiques.

Vistula Riverside

I realize that outdoor recreation is a trend that I definitely like! The city is split by this large river and the river bank is nicely set up. One side has more bars, deck chairs and sand, paved walking alleys, while the eastern bank has rather wild beaches and biodiversity.

Praga district

The eastern side of Warsaw is known as Praga district. From the distance it seems like a forest with few buildings. Actually, in the past, it was an industrial area, where only the poor people lived. The area is in a constant development, but can still see traces of its poverty on flats, old markets and bars.

We walked a lot in this area, but I think 2 or 3 hours are more than enough.

Neon Museum Warsaw

My recommendation is to cross one of the bridges close to the National Stadium, go through Skaryszewski park (loved it!) and visit the Soho Factory area. Soho is a mix of cultural and industrial styles, where you find design shops, exhibitions, restaurants. Here you can also visit a cool museum, Neon Museum. You may think it’s silly, but after checking it and reading the history behind it, I saw many neon signs on the streets.

Hipsters and all kind of artists are reported to hang out at the bars on the 11 Listopada Street. Just make sure you get there after 6 pm and you throw yourself into this local unique experience.

Palace of Culture and Science

This is a Stalinist present, a massive building common among former communist countries. We have a smaller replica, here in Bucharest. In Warsaw, this “palace” stands up among all other modern sky scrapers around it. I wouldn’t recommend visiting it unless it’s on your way and you want a close picture of it. Anyway, you can see it from the bridges or towers which offer the city panorama and if you go to the central train station.

Museums

Warsaw has plenty of stories to say, due to its history and some scientists. I’m not a museum freak, but I like to check at least one while traveling and to dig into one specific topic.

I’ve already mentioned Neon Museum, but there’s another one you should consider: The Warsaw Rising Museum. Set in an industrial building, lots of pictures, videos, stories and objects will show you the fighting and everyday life during the Rising. Entrance fee is 20 zlots or you can visit it for free on every Sunday. The museum is located in Wola district, an area in flourish which seems to me a business and upper-class residential area.

Outside of history, you can go into arts at Chopin Museum, or at Centre for Contemporary Art (located in the beautiful Lazienkipark. For science passionate, there’s Marie Curie Museum and Copernicus Astronomical Centre. Plenty of choices for everyone, you just need time.

London is probably one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Even though one of the most expensive, and recently plagued by one too many terrorist attacks, it’s still a top destination. It might have to do with the historical touristic attractions, the culturally rich background or the hip vibe of “must-see” restaurants, cafes and markets. Whatever your interest, there’s lots to do and see in the UK capital.

London has long been on my list of places to visit. Having majored in English language and literature in high school, I’ve always been fascinated by England. So it only made sense that I had to start with London. Only I didn’t! My first contact with UK was visiting a small town, a few kilometers away from London. It’s called Horsham and I’ll write more about it soon, but for now – London! Here’s what you must know when planning a trip there:

1. Plan in advance

It’s already a cliche, but you really should plan your trip in advance. A plane ticket bought some months in advance (from Romania) could be snatched for only 10 Euros. One bought 2 weeks before the trip won’t be less than 250 Euros and up to 500. So make sure to check well before you plan to leave and don’t overlook the low-cost companies such as Ryanair and Wizzair.

2. Check all available routes

This one is closely related to the previous point. Take into consideration that you have several airports to chose from. That means you should choose the one with the lowest fare for the airplane tickets, but also closest to your accommodation or with the best transfer options (think subway, bus, and trams). Why drag your luggage for hours through public transportation when you could get settled sooner and start exploring the city?

3. Accommodation can make a huge difference

We didn’t have a very accurate image of how huge London actually is when we chose our accommodation. So we focused on price and quality. Of course, we made sure to be somehow close to the center, but in retrospect, we could have been closer. We used Airbnb and rented the attic of a lovely house in Brixton. There are a lot of buses that will take you wherever you need, but that would always mean up to an hour or more spent on the bus, which for our 3 days spent in London is a lot! Next time I will spend the extra cash to be closer to all the popular landmarks which we didn’t get a chance to see.

4. Pack for a moody weather

Londo rain is proverbial and that’s what we actually expected in April. However, we had 3 full days of sunshine and warm weather with only one day of showers rather than rain. So make sure to pack for all options and dress in layers so you can always take something off or add if it gets chilly. Leave room for some shopping, as you don’t want to miss Oxford Street and don’t forget your umbrella!

London Eye and Big Bang view, LondonSouthwork Bridge, LondonLondon, Brixton area

5. Cash or Visa?

I usually like to have cash on hand when traveling abroad, so that meant making sure to exchange some money before leaving as in Britain you can only pay with pounds (which are kind of tricky to find in Romania when you need to exchange). However paying with your card won’t be a problem at all! Even in transportation means you can pay just by swiping your card once, so whatever you prefer, works.

6. It’s expensive

This is another cliche, but prices are quite high in London. Meals will never go under 10 pounds (11,3 Euro) and that means street food or supermarket. Transportation and souvenirs are also pretty expensive, but I guess that’s to be expected. For example, I spent close to 35 pounds on transportation in 4 days, which is a lot, and I have no clue how much Ubers and taxis are, but I imagine more. So come prepared, especially if you plan to shop or visit a lot of the attractions for which you have to pay.

7. 2 for 1 Tickets at main attractions

Thanks to Mihai Jurca’s travel blog I found out about this cool website Days Out Guide. If you travel by train, you can use the train tickets to get 2 tickets for 1 at over 150 touristic attractions. The catch is that it has to be a train ticket bought on the same day you want to use it. We used it when we visited Kew Gardens because you can also get there by train, for almost the same price as if you traveled by subway. It saved us 16 pounds and in can save you more if you have a big list of things to visit.

Palm House, Royal Botanical Garden, LondonPrincess of Wales Conservatory, Royal Botanical Garden, LondonRoyal Botanical Garden, London

8. Plan what you want to see

We had such a huge list of things we wanted to see: the Botanical Garden, museums, parks, restaurants, markets and what not. In 3 days we barely got to check 4 or 5 things off the list, admittedly we were not very well organized and kind of lazy because of a very unfortunate flu. So, make sure to make a list of what you want to see, check out best routes to incorporate as much as you can and make a top of things you don’t want to miss. Start with those and work your way through your list. For us at the top of the list were Kew Gardens (more on that soon, as it was the highlight of our trip), the MaE Deli, Borough Market and Oxford Street. Not the best list to start with, I admit, but next time it will be much better!

Borough Market, LondonLondon Bridge view from Southwork Bridge, LondonView of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London

9. British food is not what you’ve heard

You must have heard a lot of people complaining about British food. Well, I think they’re either lying or didn’t know what to eat. There wasn’t a single dish I didn’t like both in Horsham and London. Actually, I had the best meal in my whole life there! A life changing korma chicken with almond and coconut. I’ll come back with more on my culinary adventures in the UK, but don’t be afraid to try. Go for the curries and the street food, as for fine dining, there are countless options where you can tickle your taste buds.

Deliciously Ella, Seymour Place, LondonDinner at Deliciously Ella DeliFresh sea food at Borough Market, LondonStrawberry, toast, cheese and vegetables brunch

10. Museums and touristic attractions

In the UK most museums are free to visit. So when going in London for the first time there’s no point in paying to visit anything, especially if you’re on a budget. That’s unless one of the attractions for which you have to pay is on your must-see list. Otherwise, I would first check off the list the many free museums such as British Museum, Natural History Musem. Museum of London, Tate Modern, and many others. Check out a list here.

Natural History Museum, London

As after any trip I came back with a list of regrets. I could have seen more, I should have walked more and wake up earlier and buy more souvenirs, etc. There’s always a next time! So while you should plan in advance to optimize your time and budget, don’t ruin your vacation running around like a maniac. Take it all in, enjoy the culture, the sights and the people and be sure next time you’ll be better prepared.

When it comes to summer and beach vacations, Greece is always my first choice. It has to do with the instant feeling I got the first time I visited the country. Like coming back from a very long journey and finally arriving home. It also has to do with its superb beaches, the incredible food, and welcoming people.

That’s how a few years back, we found asking ourselves again: where should we go this summer? And since it was already June or July, our options were not plenty. So after a little research and some calculations, we decided on a trip to Corfu, as neither of us had ever been there.

The logistics

We opted for half board at Hotel Mare Monte (now apparently called Corfu Senses). As it was a last minute option we took what we found, so the conditions were not ideal, but it was cheap:

The rooms are on the small side and the furniture kind of austere, but it was clean at the time.

It’s placed in a secluded area of the island, so there are no restaurants, tavernas or bars nearby.

The food was ok, but not traditional and nothing really delicious.

On the good side, the hotel is placed on a small beach, better than others I’ve seen on the island.

The hotel pool was kind of nice and we spent a lot of time there since we weren’t really crazy about the beaches.

Beach in front of Mare Monte hotel

Beach in front of Mare Monte Hotel, Corfu

We traveled from Romania by bus, which was not the best option, so wherever you come from, choose the plane.

Why I wasn’t impressed with Corfu

Before traveling to Corfu I heard so many good reviews that my expectations were set quite high. But once arriving there I must say the island didn’t live up to them. So here’s why my experience was different than what you might hear from others:

The island

Maybe we didn’t stay in the best area and were not aware of better beaches, but nothing really made an impression on me. The villages nearby seemed desert, the beaches were not the best I’ve seen and there was not much to do around.

The beaches

As I mentioned above, from what I experienced, Corfu really doesn’t have the best beaches in Greece. They are kind of small and crowded, mostly rocky and not really organized in any way.

The water

Most of the beaches I went to in Corfu had bushes of algae up to the shore. And the only beach I liked – Paleokastritsa – is placed in a cold streamed gulf, making the water cold most of the time. This meant that while our “divers” (the boyfriends who wanted to scuba-dive) had no problem thanks to their diving costumes, the rest of us had to wait on the beach.

The hotel

It worked well as a last minute option, but I would not return there.

The island tour

We booked an island tour through the agency and while we got to visit some interesting places, we were so hurried up by our guide that we barely had a chance to take it all in.

The food

Corfu is not you typical Greek island. You’d think finding a nice taverna with decent food wouldn’t be so hard. After all, anywhere else I went in Greece, food has never been an issue. Well, not in Corfu! There are not many restaurants and the dishes don’t have much to do with the Greek cuisine.

However, it wasn’t all that bad

Seashell Museum

It’s kind of small but has a beautiful display of seashells gathered from all over the world. They also have an insectarium and some stuffed animals, with genetic disorders that didn’t really fit with the theme of the museum. However, I liked that you could buy many of the shells on display as a souvenir.

Giant white seashell, Seashell Museum CorfuYellow seashell, Seashell Museum CorfuSeashell Museum Corfu

Achilleion

Princess Sisi’s summer home, it’s a far cry from her residence in Vienna, but the exotic gardens are breathtaking and the architecture, beautiful. It’s definitely worth a visit.

Achilleion, CorfuAchilleion interior garden, CorfuMarble statue of Achilleion, Corfu

View of interior garden and Achilleion statue, CorfuAchilleion, Corfu

Corfu Town

As I said before, the tour we took was poorly organized so we only got to spend literally 10 minutes in this beautiful town. The architecture is a mix of Venetian and British styles. The building facades look worn out, yet whimsical and multicolored. So I would surely spend at least one day here, exploring the narrow streets and small cafes.

A kumquat distillery

They did everything kumquat, from jams to cookies and liquors. We were told that this fruit grows exclusively in Corfu and Japan. Although I am not sure that’s true, we got to taste a lot of interesting things and didn’t leave empty handed.

The scuba diving center in Paleokastritsa

While I didn’t dive myself, the boys in our group had a great time there. The owners were so nice as to come and pick us up from the hotel (which was on the opposite side of the island). Plus we got to eat at a restaurant nearby that had the best views and a delicious seafood platter!

Olive oil

On our hurried island tour, we stopped in a small village whose only industry relied on olives. We bought the cheapest, most fragrant olive oil there. If we hadn’t traveled by bus we would have bought a lot more.

Vlacherna Monastery

And the airplanes that landed nearby. I loved it there, the monastery is very small and quiet, but really beautiful. Plus to me, there’s nothing more exciting than airplanes landing so close you feel you could touch them.

Cat taking a nap – Vlacherna Monastery, CorfuCat taking a nap – Vlacherna Monastery, Corfu

Paleokastritsa Monastery

While we are not extremely religious people, Greek monasteries have their unique charm and this one is not any different. Beautiful flowers and views make for a lovely stop, so I wouldn’t miss it.

PaleokastrisaMonasteryView from Paleokastrisa Monastery

Kaiser Throne

It’s a wonderful spot where you’ll have a 360 degrees view of the island. Great for those Instagram shots.

Kaiser Throne view of the island

Kaiser Throne view of the island, Corfu

If you decide to visit Corfu

At the end of the day, our trip was far from a fiasco. However when in Greece I expect beautiful beaches, crystal clear water and delicious food. Corfu didn’t check any of these boxes, so that’s where my disappoint stems from. But if your heart is set on Corfu here’s what I’d say:

Plan in advance and make sure to book a hotel in a populated area. I would avoid Paleokastritsa as I know the water there is cold most of the time.

Skip the organized island tours, rent a car and visit what you want. I would check out everything I mentioned in the “what I liked” section.

Visit the beaches where the Blue Lagoon was filmed, we didn’t and I kind of regret it.

Research – there are a lot of things to do and see on the island, you could start here.