Where we’ve been this summer...
Lise was in Paris, France
Where I stayed
In the 8th Arrondissement near the Place de la Concorde and just round the corner from the Hermès flagship store. My best friend and I ate, walked and talked for 3 days - we vowed never to take any form of transport and must have walked about 20km each day!
Food
For seafood, the classic brasserie Le Boeuf sur le Toit is excellent. This is an art deco Paris institution and I recommend that you ask for a table at the front. For classic French cuisine, try Benoit, one of Alain Ducasse’s restaurants. His other restaurant, the Jules Verne, is in the Eiffel tower and is literally out of this world. Book well in advance.
What I packed
Comfortable shoes! I lived in my Converse, though a little tricky every time I wanted to try shoes on. A Hermès scarf has multiple uses and you may pass as a Parisian! An LBD, great for going to a trendy bar or a smarter restaurant, but simple enough to look casual. A small handbag that you can wear across your chest and with the opening against you - pickpockets are a real menace.
My top tips
Walk, walk, walk…
You can get just as good a meal in a small café as in a nice restaurant. - look for the busy ones.
Beware of people trying to get you to sign a petition, they are there to distract you while they pick your pocket!
Look out for exhibitions and events on www.parisinfo.com
Do the Louvre Museum in stages, 45 minutes at a time and focus on one area/period or interest, don’t try and do it all.
The Musee des Arts et Metiers is great for older children it has great pieces of 19th and early 20th century engineering. The craftsmanship is amazing. If you ever wondered who invented the machines that build machines, you will find the answer there.
Have your coffee at the bar rather than at a table, it’s cheaper.
Jonny was in Sydney, Australia
Where I stayed
Bondi Beach, right on the beach with the most beautiful view of the sea and sand. My brother and I went exploring, hiking and even took our turn at surfing… it’s a lot harder than it looks!
Food
I fell in love with a bar / restaurant called Bucketlist. Situated right on the sea front with a full view of the beach it really is the perfect setting for a sunset meal and drink. Serving delicious seafood along with great BBQ grub. The atmosphere is just right for those sunny days, with chilled out music and good conversation you can really kick back and chill out!
What I packed
Comfy! I never took off my Havaianas, apart from the long walks (they even have vending machines selling them just in case!).
Pack for the weather according to the time of year you go. Remember it’s their summer around Christmas, so it can get very hot.
I also packed a few nice shirts and shoes for meals in the city; although you are literally 20 minutes away from sand, sandals and vests the CBD of Sydney has some fantastic trendy bars that will require shoes and a shirt.
My top tips
Do the Bondi to Coogee walk; it travels across the coastline and really is breath-taking. It normally takes around 45 minutes.
Take the bus into the CBD; it is costs a fraction of the price of a taxi (around about $5) and they come every 5 minutes. Look out for the 281 / 280 and the 333 buses. They go straight into town.
Visit the Royal Botanical gardens, these beautiful landscapes include a number of different trees and flowers, perfect for a sunny day.
Take a train up to Katoomba Mountains, it takes just over an hour and drops you into Katoomba. From there take a bus into the Blue Mountains - easily the most scenic place I have ever visited, it also has the world’s steepest train!
Obviously you have to check out the amazing Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can actually walk along it in a group; just make sure you are good with heights! Failing that you can sit back and relax at the Opera Bar. This is situated next door to the iconic Sydney Opera House and from here you can see the bridge and also the opera house.
Go to the public BBQ area in south Bondi. The council provides an area for people to go and take their own food and cook, as long as you clean up after. Here you can meet new people while watching the sunset.
Don’t go for a short period of time - it takes a while to get there so you may as well make the most of it, try and go for minimum of 3 weeks; it takes 4 days to get over time difference and jet lag!
Vanessa was in Phuket, Thailand
Where I stayed
I stayed at the Novotel Karon Beach Resort and Spa - a 10 minute drive from town. The hotel was really nice and relaxing, the room was so comfortable and the service was fantastic!
They have an amazing pool surrounded by trees - I just loved it! The room rate per night was really affordable - I would definitely recommend this hotel.
Food
Yummy! Don’t be afraid to try out the great markets serving traditional food and cuisine - it’s definitely worth it. There’s plenty of seafood, along with fresh fruits and juices which were pretty much my daily cravings! Two of my favourite restaurants were Joe’s Downstairs in Patong Beach, they served Thai cuisine and the most amazing seabass I’ve ever had; and Da Maurizio’s which served Italian cuisine - really nice food with the best view and it is super romantic also at Patong Beach!
What I packed
Casual! My suitcase was full of comfy dresses, shorts and beach wear with flip-flops and a nice flat sandal for the evening. I also took running shoes for walking and a cross body bag to keep my hands free.
My top tips
Visit Phi Phi Island, it’s the most beautiful, quiet island in Thailand. Walk around Bangla Road at night, well it is the only street in Phuket. In day time there’s nothing much to see but it gets totally mad at night!
Get a massage! They are so cheap… they turned into my daily routine at night before I went to bed. Get your picture taken with a Tiger at Tiger Kingdom. Visit Flying Hanuman - one of the best zip lining experience.
Shop until you drop!