8 Cities I Need To Visit

Lately my wanderlust has been scratching around in my head, taking over many of my thoughts to the point that I've caught myself researching flights and travel to different cities all over the world - predominantly Europe. So as a bit of a release for my wanderlust I've compiled a list of cities that I'm dying to visit!

1. Amsterdam, Holland (Netherlands)
I've wanted to visit Amsterdam for a long time. The beautiful buildings (including those crooked houses!), the cafe culture, the canals, the bridges, the food, the art culture, and the way everyone's riding around on cute bicycles all the time! Everything about Amsterdam is just me. I'm hoping to visit this amazing city in my next trip to Europe!

2. Cape Town, South Africa
Such. A Beautiful. City. It's not even the city itself that's beautiful, but it's natural beauty, the natural beauty of South Africa. I'm half South African on my mothers side, and have always wanted to visit the country but understandably mum isn't too sure after all of the issues this beautiful country has suffered. However Cape Town is one of the safest parts of SA and the most beautiful. It's got a lovely seaside village feel to it and so vibrant and interesting - also the cable cars up to Cable Mountain are a must.

3. Prague, Czech Republic
It's such a colourful and interesting city in a country with so much history. Previously under Communist control, the Czech Republic (prev. Czechoslovakia) is an amazing place to visit for those who are interested in communist and European history - or just history in general! And where better to do so than in the capital, Prague!

4. Warsaw, Poland
I think Warsaw, and in general Poland, is really underrated as far as 'list of cities to visit' go. I don't know where I first got the interest to visit Poland, but once I did it just got stronger and stronger. I still don't know much about the city or country but what I do know is that it looks absolutely gorgeous and I'd love to learn more!

5. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is to Germany what Melbourne is to Australia. It's an urban city full of fashion and graffiti and really good coffee. It could be seen as a little bit ugly what with all of the big city buildings, but that's part of the allure. It's fun, it's grunge, and it's a city I would really love to visit one day!

6. Marrakech, Morocco
I've always had an interest in visiting Morocco. I love new and different experiences, and Marrakech is an explosion of colourful, glorious difference! I can see myself draining the bank on all sorts of interesting colourful items from the rows and rows of stalls and having to purchase another suitcase to lug it all back home in!

7. Bruges, Belgium
From what I can gather, Bruges looks like the most beautiful, small old European city with a stunningly haunting look to it. My mum visited Bruges a long time ago and always said that we should visit, and pick up some of the lace and little trinkets that she wants to get for me to pass down in generations. So for me, visiting Bruges is more of a personal desire. It doesn't hurt that it's an absolutely gorgeous city, often referred to as the 'Venice of the North' due to its canals. I seem to have a thing for cities with canals, they're just so mystical and breathtaking!

8. Dublin, Ireland
I've got Irish blood on both sides of my family so I may be a little bit biased, but Ireland is somewhere I've wanted to go for a while now. I love that Dublin seems to be a bit quieter than many other major European cities, and it (along with the rest Ireland) seems like something out of a fairytale! So cute and quaint and beautiful greenery, Dublin is defintely a place I plan to visit!

I hope you've enjoyed this post! Let me know below, what cities do YOU need to visit?

xx Chontelle Louise

*please note images are not my own*

Air BnB: Live Like a Local

'Air BnB' (aka. Air Bed & Breakfast) is a website that connects travellers with people in places all over the world who are renting out their spare rooms or even their entire homes to guests.

The website has become increasingly popular with travellers looking for accommodation below the usual hotel prices or simply looking for a different type of experience during their holiday. Using Air BnB can provide you with an opportunity to experience your chosen city the way the locals do - as opposed to all the other tourists - giving you a unique travel experience that you won't forget.

The View from our Air BnB room in central Edinburgh, Scotland.

I had originally planned for the trip to take us through London, Paris, Venice, Pisa and Rome. A pretty typical itinerary for a first European holiday, knocking all of the major cities off the bucket list. However, after extensive research and planning for my holiday throughout the UK and Europe, I decided that it would be worthwhile to fit another country in - after all, the flights had already been purchased and we were going to be on the opposite side of the world, so why not make the most of it?

After looking at my options, I finally decided on visiting Edinburgh, Scotland. With only a couple of days and not much money at all to spare, my accommodation options were more than limited. Not to mention, most of the cheaper accommodation had been booked up at this point in time.

Outside of our Air BnB.

So I decided to have a look at Air BnB. I had heard some good things about the website and figured it was worth a try - after all, for such a short stay, it was worth the risk. I browsed through the available rooms and came across a lovely little room on Calton Hill. It was in a heritage listen building (along with pretty much all of the small street), and was warm and cosy with a lovely view. The place was clean and inviting, and our host was welcoming, letting us know about some good local pubs but otherwise keeping to herself. Oh, and it was only $97p.n for the two of us! For the central location, spacious room, use of the kitchen, and booking at short notice, it was a complete bargain!

As you can see, we got a lot more than a hotel/motel would generally provide at $97p.n. However, we honestly didn't spend too much time in our Air BnB place anyway - and why would we, when we were only minutes away from all of the shops and cafes and pubs that Princes St and the surrounding area has to offer!

Just around the corner from our Air BnB and we're in the centre of Edinburgh!

Choosing to try Air BnB in the hopes of saving some spending money and having a different experience for our stay in Edinburgh turned out to be the perfect decision for us, and I'm looking forward to using Air BnB on my next trip abroad. My advice to anyone who is interested in giving Air BnB a go is to make sure you do your research - read the reviews from previous guests (aim for the BnB's with 25+ good to great reviews), and remember that this is not a hotel service but more like staying with a friend or family.

Having said that, I would definitely recommend Air BnB to anyone travelling on a budget or looking for a less tourist-y experience. You can begin your search for the perfect place to stay on your next holiday here.

Five Reasons I Love Paris

Visiting Paris has a been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl. Growing up, I became somewhat Paris-obsessed! I remember looking at pictures of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in awe, imagining sitting outside a cute little cafe sipping on a cappuccino and munching on some sort of delicious French pastries while watching the people - locals and tourists alike - walk by.

Well, in October of 2014, that dream was fulfilled. And let me tell you, Paris was everything I'd imagined it would be and more! I've totally and completely fallen in love with the city, and I was already lusting to return before I'd even left.

So I've decided to share with just some of the many reasons that I LOVE Paris!

1. The Sights! As one of the most famous and well-known cities in the world, it's no surprise that the sights of Paris make it onto my list of reasons that I love Paris. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs-Elysees and the Louvre are just some of the many breathtaking world-renowned sights in the city of lights.

2. The Food! Oh my gosh, the food! It's true, French food is some of the best in the world! From crepes and frites (French Fries are the best fries!) to fondue and escargot, and everything inbetween! I swear I ate more in my four days I spent in Paris than I would in two weeks at home!

3. The People! Whenever somebody mentions Paris in conversation, one of the first comments I hear is "French people are so rude, especially the Parisians". This couldn't be further from the truth. The people I met in Paris were some of the most lovely, friendly and interesting people I'd ever met. Everyone was so welcoming and open to conversation, and talking to a Parisian felt like talking to a close friend.

4. The Latin Quarter! This was honestly my favourite part of Paris, and so I spent a large portion of my time there. I love everything about the Latin Quarter - the quirky stores, restaurants and cafes that open up in the afternoon and come to life by nightfall, the bars and street corners with some amazing musicians, the people gathering anywhere and everywhere to actually socialise, and of course, the resident cat that roams the streets of the latin quarter and sleeps among the products in a souvenir shop whenever it pleases (see picture).

5. The Beauty of Paris! I know, I know, kind of vague. But honestly, Paris is an incredibly beautiful city. From the wide tree-lined streets of the Champs-Elysee to the small cobblestoned lanes and alleys of the Latin Quarter, everywhere you look is just totally gorgeous!

So there you have it, five reasons why I love this incredible city!

Have you been to Paris? Do you dream of visiting the City of Love & Lights? Let me know why you love Paris in the comments below!

xoxo Chontelle Louise

What to do on a stopover in Helsinki, Finland!

Coming from Australia, the usual flight path to the UK and Europe includes a stopover in Dubai or somewhere in South East Asia. While this may be the long-preferred and definitely the much quicker route taken, it can make travelling to Europe quite an expensive option - especially for those of us travelling on a tight budget.

The solution? Fly with FinnAir!

Some of you are probably thinking, "I've never heard of FinnAir, is it any good?" and I'll be the first to admit that I thought the exact same thing when the airline came up in my search for cheap flights to Europe. FinnAir is a Finnish airline (obviously) that has been gaining popularity with Australian travelers for its cheaper-than-average fares between here and Europe. A ticket from the east coast of Australia through to Europe/UK would usually set you back between $1700-$2100 return, and that's if you get in early. With FinnAir, that same ticket can be a bargain $1350-$1550!

Now, before you rush to your local travel agent to purchase your tickets, there is a downside. As I said earlier, the Australia-Dubai/Asia-Uk/Europe route - while being more expensive - is also the quickest, with an average journey time of 20-26 hours and only one stopover. With FinnAir, you will be required to have two stopovers. The first, in Singapore (or Hong Kong) with Qantas, before changing carriers and flying FinnAir to Helsinki, Finland, and then again to your final destination. This journey can take on average, 30-36 hours, possibly more (as many flights don't cdonnect and leave you with a lengthy stopover).

If this hasn't deterred you, the next step is to plan for your stopover.

Since you're likely to be going a fair bit out of the way on your way to your final destination, you may as well make a day out of it and book your flights to arrive at Helsinki Vaanta airport early in the morning, and depart in the late afternoon/evening. This way, you'll be able to make a day out of your stopover and visit Helsinki city!

So, I've put together a list of things to do/see on your stopover in Helsinki, Finland!

1. Visit Market Square by the water, a lovely place to find some local meals, produce, and pick up some souvenirs! Not to mention the gorgeous waterside view!

2. Try some Finnish food! I loved this traditional Finnish pasty with a rice/custard-like filling, Riisipiirakka!

3. Go for a stroll through Esplanadi, a local park with some beatufiul scenery. It looks like something out of a fairytale, or my secret garden.

4. "Bad Bad Boy", a peeing statue and helsinki's answer to the Manneken Pis in Brussels, Belgium. Strangely enough, it seems to totally fit in here. I've heard that this is not a permanent structure so it may no longer be there, but here's a picture anyway!

                                     

5. Visit some of Helsinki's most well-known churches/cathedrals, such as the Helsinki Cathedral (pictured), Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, and the Temppeliaukio (aka, the rock church).