In comparison to beautiful, blonde haired, blue eyed, straight A student; Barcelona, Madrid is very much the unloved child of Spain. However, the city can only be described as an underestimated and unappreciated European wonder. This blog will provide you with the ultimate guide to getting the most out of your weekend away in my favourite European city
For years Ireland and the Irish people have been well known for so many great things. We have produced some of the greatest sports stars, some of the most successful musicians and some of the most talented poets and storytellers the world has seen. The scenery of our beautiful countryside and the welcoming spirits of our people has long been some of our most famous characteristics. The stereotypes that we all just eat potatoes and have red hair and freckles are some of the most well-known stereotypes of any people around the world. But above all else, the Irish people are said to have a love for drink like no one else and while this may or may not be true, Ireland does know how to produce some of the best drink you’ll ever taste. We’re going to have a look at some of Ireland's best and most famous breweries and distilleries.
Working daily at a 9-to-5 job can sometimes get boring, and you might want a break and have some adventure in life. What better thing to do than travel to someplace new? There are many places in Asia that are worth visiting, such as Thailand or South Korea, but personally, Japan is my favourite as there are many unique places to visit, and the food is amazing. It’s also rich in culture and tradition that is evident in many aspects of Japan.
Everything You Need to Know About This Modern Emirate!
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the UAE. Out of the population of 9.2 million, expatriates contribute approximately 7.8 million. The culture fusion in Dubai makes everyone from everywhere welcome and that is certainly how I felt when I travelled there for a week in January 2020.
Spots to Stay
I stayed in the 5 star JA Ocean View Hotel, a Jumeriah Beach Residence. We booked a Superior Twin Room for myself and my friend and it was perfect. The beauty of this room is that every room faces onto the sea so nobody pays extra for a sea view room, its a given. The photo below is a photo I took from the balcony. I would recommend staying in the JBR area and travelling to Downtown Dubai and Old Dubai, Deira when you want to sight see and not vice versa. Other hotel recommendations are the Sofitel, JBR Dubai or the Habtoor Grand Resort. As a young traveller, they are all of similar middle budget and won't blow you out of the water. They all provide beach bags with umbrellas for you to set up on the beach free of charge.
Cultural Differences and Customs
Before we went to Dubai, people were warning us that we could never wear a skirt above our knee and that our shoulders would need to be constantly covered. This however we found to be highly dramatic. You can wear summer attire in all tourist locations and swimwear on the beach. You need to wear a t-shirt and longer skirt in malls and more suburban areas of Dubai and cover up when you go into beach side bars and cafes, you cannot lounge in your bikini. When visiting a mosque, you must be completely covered but if it is a tourist attraction, you will be provided with such attire. You should not show public affection in public or be obnoxiously loud but there is signage to remind you. If I did not know any of this in advance I would not be able to notice anything different versus a holiday in Spain. In regards to tipping, it is similar to America in that tips are expected and you are often prompted to tip. It is not as pressured as America however and it is not expected in casual dining locations.
Attractions - what to do besides bathe
Below is a list of everything we got up to, I will include links of where we booked each excursion if possible:
We booked using the above link and it was amazing, this is what you can expect (perfect for Instagram pictures😉)
It takes a whole day so factor this in when building an itinerary before you leave home!
This was a fantastic way to spend 1.5 hours and you get to see the Palm, The Burj al Arab and spectacular views of Jumierah Beach.
This was the best foo
d I had in
Dub
ai. So elegant, tasty and an amazing experience. The Atlantis is incredible and I can't wait to be able to stay ther
e one day, ho
pefully😂👏
Breathtaking views of Downtown Dubai from 135 floors up, so worth it!
We were not going to go here but I am so glad we did.
Dubai do
es everything to the absolute highest standard and no expenses are spared. This is what I mean:
With summer just around the corner, I know that my fellow lovers of music genres such as R&B, Trap, Hip-Hop and Afro beats, are really looking forward to a summer filled with sun, our favourite musicians and good vibes. Urban music is finally getting the recognition that it deserves, and as black twitter would say ‘we love to see it!’. So, whether you’re a Travis fan, a Davido fan, a Stormzy fan or you just want to be surrounded by the urban culture, you definitely do not want to miss out on these 5 festivals this summer 2020!!
Want to explore Europe but don’t have enough money? I urge you to read this entire blog post if you want to save hundreds of euros when exploring Europe. Europe is an amazing continent with so many different places to experience. The problem is that travelling from country to country is expensive! Sadly, I learned this the hard way and was not smart with my money on my first couple trips in Europe. I am writing this blog so others do not make the same mistake with their money and have the ability to visit as many different countries as possible on a cheap budget!