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A Fairytale Village in Northern California Location: Spruce Street and Hearst Ave Normandy Village, also known as Thornburg Village, is a neighborhood in Berkeley that resembles a French Village. As someone who adores European Architecture, it’s definitely my favorite continent, I HAD to see this …
I said in a previous post that I was going to start writing more travel posts about places that are near me in California. This is me finally delivering on that promise. As you probably guessed, I am avoiding any long distance travel due to …
This post is to help those who are planning a trip to Europe and are not sure which would be the best option for them. Perhaps you are traveling with young children and don’t know what would be practical. I will help you better understand some of your options with honest insight on when each accommodation will be best.
Sidenote: I know you might be asking, “What about B&B? Couch surfing? House swap?” I won’t be discussing those because, frankly, I have never chosen those accommodations while traveling through Europe. I would rather discuss what I have first hand knowledge of. Hopefully in the future, I will experience those things and share my honest thoughts.
I am sure everyone reading this blog has stayed in a hotel at least once. It’s usually everyone’s first choice when they start planning a trip. Especially if they are new to the whole experience of traveling. Hotels are definitely a great option. They are all over Europe and most will provide a unique look or experience. You can really pick and choose exactly what you want with a few hours of research and scrolling through travel sites. The downside is, they can be expensive in popular cities and you will need to spend a lot for great location, view and amenities/services. You may not mind this, but if you’re just looking for a place to rest your head and be off exploring the city as soon as the sun comes up, there might be a better option for you.
Hotels are a great option during your stay in Europe if luxury and privacy are important to you. I’m not saying all the hotels in Europe are luxurious, but it’s the option you should choose if luxury is what you’re looking for. In addition, the room will be totally yours. Which is nice if you want privacy for your family or to sleep in all day and bar-hop all night without judgement. Hotels are also a good option if you need to stay in a very specific part of a city. Let’s say you’re visiting someone during your stay, you will have an easier time finding a hotel that’s near them than you would a hostel.
Hostels are similar to hotels except instead of booking a room, you’re renting a bed. Many backpackers, students and budget travelers stay in hostels because it’s a much cheaper way to stay overnight in Europe. It’s important that I preface I have found hostels to be in better locations than hotels for a fraction of the cost. (Just make sure you look up the address before reserving.) Almost all include free breakfast and wifi too, which can be a lifesaver. Some hostels will have private rooms around the same price as hotels, but most are shared rooms with multiple bunk beds and a shower/toilet outside of your room. However, not all hostels are the same and you may be surprised what you prefer from a hostel. Rooms can be unisex, have private bathrooms, look like a hotel, look like a sleepaway camp, be crowded, be almost empty… In London, I stayed in two different hostels. One was with 4 beds, but it was noisy, smelly and unsafe. The other was a 14-bed room above a bar, but was quiet, clean and everyone was friendly. The 14-bed room was also less than $20 a night and half the beds were empty! The only downside was waiting in line to shower because there were only two tubs for the entire floor.
One thing that is really great about hostels is you can easily make friends during your stay. That’s why I always recommend hostels for people traveling alone but don’t actually like feeling alone. I’ve met some amazing people while staying in hostels. The staff is usually extremely helpful and friendly too. They’re always people passionate about traveling and love getting to know new faces. A majority come from a different country as well. When I was staying in Barcelona, most of the staff were students interning for the summer from other countries.
Maybe you’re not traveling alone, but with a large group of friends. Hostels are also great for that because you can all choose to stay in a large room together (if the beds aren’t reserved already). Hostel websites will usually give you the option of exactly which room you can pick. It varies in price and can be anywhere from a private queen bed room to something like a 20-bed room full of bunk beds. If you’re going to Europe with ten friends, all being in the same room might be a fun idea and something that isn’t easy to come by with a hotel or cruise.
Cruise ships are a fun and easy way to travel because they’re like inclusive resorts and move every night. You have all you can eat buffets, free and priced restaurants, bars, casinos, spa, live entertainment, pools, gym, library/computers and kids clubs. It’s very different compared to the hostels and hotels in Europe.
I should note that cruises are loved and hated by many. I’d say a majority of relaxed vacationers love them, but people that travel as a hobby or career don’t seem to like them. The reason they’re so great for vacationers is they don’t require much effort. It’s really great for seniors and parents traveling with children. On the other hand, purposeful travelers like to see many things and to immerse themselves in a city. It’s difficult to do that when you arrive to a port at 9AM and need to be back to port by 6PM that evening.
I personally like to think of cruises as a traveling sampler. I get to visit different countries/cities for a day, and if I really enjoyed them, I can come back and stay longer in the future. In the past, there have been some destinations I’d look forward to visiting, but after going for one day on a cruise, I’d be glad I didn’t choose to stay there for long. Usually because it didn’t have much to offer besides a few great pictures. Who wants to fly 10 hours and pay for a hotel just for a few pictures? 😉
I hope you found this information useful and have a better understanding of where you should stay during your time in Europe. 🙂
-Ayla ♥
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There are amazing, incredible, beautiful cities all over the world but no city has as many songs written about it, films based in it or novels written about it. Half of which are practically a love letter to New York City itself. Hello? Sex and …
It was a few years ago when I went to Russia, so it may be a little difficult to remember some of my experiences and places I visited. A few things have stuck in my head over the years, and some of these photos definitely …
The beautiful coastal city located on California’s famous Route 1.
Big Sur is growing in popularity thanks to the extraordinary images captured on Instagram. The beautiful ocean views, epic Bixby Bridge, lush hills, and rugged coastline make this a popular stop for everyone on the Route 1 journey.
As a California native, driving along the coast to and from Southern California can feel like a bit of a nightmare. Winding, narrow roads, frequent stops, slow drivers that are hypnotized by the incredible views? Which way to highway 5? In all seriousness, Cabrillo Highway (or Route 1) is a beautiful road to take if you are visiting California and have the time to stop by incredible cities like Big Sur.
Our journey along Cabrillo Highway started near Monterey and only went as far as Big Sur. Even though we only spent a day in Big Sur, I got to capture some incredible photos and see possibly everything important it had to offer. A day, or even a few hours on your Route 1 journey, is all you really need for Big Sur. However, there are campgrounds and nice/luxury hotels in the area. If you want to stay in a hotel but save some money, I’d recommend something outside of Big Sur. Monterey is a bit more budget friendly in comparison to Big Sur.
Garrapata State Park
McWay Falls
The McWay waterfall is a bit difficult to capture in a photograph due to the size and distance from the viewing point. I’ll upload my Big Sur videos to my Instagram story which will be up until 4pm tomorrow and on my California highlights after that.
I have another coastal town coming up next week. Until next time, I hope you enjoyed these photos.
-Ayla♥
If you’re not from the Bay Area, or have been living under a rock your whole life, the Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park filled with rare and unusual tropical plants and holds special exhibits. I went during …