Tag: Travel

4 Amazingly Fun Things To Do In Manila, Philippines

Manila is the heart of the Philippines and it has endured all kinds of challenges in the past years. Being an archipelago, Philippines is no stranger when it comes to typhoons and calamity.

Despite all these, Manila is always able to get back up and restore to an even better state, making it still the best place to visit if you are looking for good tour activities, food, and experience. Here are the top 4 awesome things to do when you visit Manila!

1. Manila Ocean Park

Credit: ZeoTrip

Don’t miss the chance to visit the only Oceanarium in Manila and interact with hundreds of marine animals. They also have different attractions that showcases barn animals, birds, and even the creepy crawlies.

Their best spot is the 25-meter curved glass walkway tunnel where you can walk along sharks, sting rays, and different kinds of fishes in all sizes. The Manila Ocean Park also has sea lion, bird, and water shows that would definitely make your visit memorable. There is also a toy museum perfect for the kids and even the kids at heart.

They have a hotel inside which you can choose to stay in and make the most of your visit! Plus, this place is only walking distance from Luneta Park, Intramuros and Fort Santiago – where you can take a stroll and be in one of the most historical spots in the Philippines.

Location: Luneta, Manila, Metro Manila 1000

Entrance Fee: $14 – 23 USD

2. Star City

Credit: Star City

If you are up for some thrilling rides and fun times, then this is the place for you. Star City is located in the middle of the busy streets in Manila and is the second most popular amusement park in the Philippines.

Enjoy extreme rides such as Vikings, Frisbee, Jungle Splash and Surf Dance! For a complete family getaway, you may also enjoy the family-friendly rides like the Dragon Express, Magic Forest and the most recommended – the Philippine’s tallest Ferris Wheel, which stands 60 meters high!

This is the only place in the Philippines where you can have fun and enjoy the snow at Snow World. In Snow World, you can make snowballs and throw it with your buddies, lie down there or even play and act like a child.

Location: Vicente Sotto St, Manila

Entrance Fee: Up to $12 USD

3. Philippine National Museum

Credit: Philippine Tatler

The National Museum is one of the best places in the Philippines that you can visit for free. Learn about the country’s Fine Arts, Ethnicity and Archeology.

You’d be surprised on how interesting and diverse the Filipino’s antiquity is. Though it is free, it is best to at least book your visit in advance if you will be coming in large groups to avoid inconvenience.

Location: 1000 Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Manila

Entrance Fee: FREE

4. SM Mall of Asia Bayside

Credit: iStar-Tariray

This is the best place to visit if you are looking for a fantastic shopping experience and sunset view. The mall itself is the fourth largest mall in the country and the eleventh worldwide.

Aside from the endless shopping and ice skating experience, the Bayside area offers a lot of dining and fun activity both for individuals and families. You can visit rides in the area that will really give you a different experience from taking a stroll at the mall.

They also have the MOA Eye which is a huge Ferris wheel that shows you the entire view of the metro. We recommend trying this ride at night and marvel at the beauty of the colorful night lights of the busy city.

Location: Pasay, City

Entrance Fee: FREE

Whether it’s a trip with your friends or family, Manila has a wide variety of offerings to make your trip awesome. There are a lot of free attractions you can visit if you want to learn more about the city. Having hospitable locals is a bonus if you feel a little lost or overwhelmed with the city’s diverse beauty!

Hotel Review: Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani

JenjalanKami is so excited to have our second trip to Sungai Petani! Read our first experience in Sungai Petani here.

This time around, we’re going to see what’s all the buzz about at Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani. Let’s check it out!

1. Nice view of the pools

Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani is located in Sungai Petani, a town in Kuala Muda District, Kedah. Whilst most of our other hotel reviews have sea views (oh yes, we’re beach lovers), the view from our room is satisfactory.

We had pool views! And it’s nice to see some greeneries around the hotel as well.

Don’t forget to bring your camera to the poolside at night! Who knows you’ll be able to capture some stunning shots. We particularly love this angle!

2. Behold the beauty of the Junior Suite

You may want to remember this room number. This is the Junior Suite that we stayed during the trip… And we love it!

Upon entrance, you will see a mirrored cupboard on your right, and a big cupboard on your left. You definitely can bring another guest in this suite, and still have loads of places to put your things!

Now you see, we haven’t entered the bedroom area yet – but the space was very large! It’s large enough that our toddler decided not to sit down and explore the whole area. There’s a living room with TV at one end, and a study table at the other end. We decided to put an extra bed for Shafa’s mom in the middle between these two areas.

Just beside the living room is the dressing table. Perfect, because Shafa’s mom loves using dressing table to put on makeup. Shafa rarely use it – she doesn’t wear makeup!

The toilet is separate from the shower room – so no need to fight if you need to use the toilet NOW!

And this is the bedroom… The cupboard that you see immediately when you enter the room is connected to the shower room, which you will see again in below pictures. There’s also a low shelf near the window of the bedroom to put your extra things.

And the shower room was great – it has Jacuzzi! Our toddler definitely had loads of fun bathing in there. He didn’t want to come out!

And beside the Jacuzzi is the cupboard, which was connected to the bedroom. The bathrobes are in there, so it’s really handy!

Watch the above video, recorded live on Facebook, to have a better view and feel of the Junior Suite!

3. Breakfast with a view

Who wouldn’t want to have this? Having your breakfast with a great view of the swimming pool. Probably let your kids have their fun at the swimming pool while you’re enjoying your own sweet time with your favourite food. Of course, your parental eyes will always want to look at your kids whereabouts – so this is definitely the place where you want to be if you’re not a water person!

And we definitely love the view of the egg counter… So full of greeneries! Watch the above video uploaded on Instagram to have a look of the live cooking there. The video is pretty shaky, though. Our toddler was not cooperating!

There’s a Roti Jala counter just beside the egg counter. We were quite frustrated that the Roti Jala was finished on our first day of breakfast (which means it must’ve tasted really good), but definitely happy when it’s available on our second day of breakfast! Watch below video for the full look and feel.

4. Tasty lunch and desserts

As family travellers, we know firsthand how unpredictable kids, especially toddlers, can be. They can get tired after pool time, and doze off in your arms just when you’re about to leave for lunch. Like this particular guy!

So it’s pretty convenient to just have lunch at the hotel. And we did just that! It was a great decision – turns out the hotel serves great lunch and desserts! Check out our previous post on food review at Garden Terrace, Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani.

5. Don’t forget to have your dinner at Hotmas restaurant

We know, the picture of the restaurant wasn’t that amazing. But believe us, the food was great!

After having a frustrating dinner during our first night at a restaurant nearby the hotel, we decided to try Hotmas during our second night, thanks to the reviews that Yusof had read online. It’s just a 4-minute walk from the hotel to the restaurant!

It was a great experience. They serve big portions at an affordable price. And the best thing is, the service was quite fast for that amount of crowd. Kudos!

So what’s your view after reading the full stay review at Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Food Review: Garden Terrace, Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani

JenjalanKami is excited to share our next food review on lunch menu at Garden Terrace in Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani, located in Kedah!

If you have been following this blog closely, you would have known that we have previously reviewed another cafe in Sungai Petani for their Ayam Gebuk Lunch Set. So, what makes Garden Terrace different? Read on to find out!

1. Be prepared for the ‘tower’ of Ais Kacang

Seriously, it’s a tower! We struggled to finish this, even with a family of 3 adults & 1 child (OK maybe because the adults are small eaters, and the child was sleeping).

Our toddler was in his own sweet dreams, so it was up to us to finish the Ais Kacang! Luckily it tasted so good, even Shafa’s mom was really excited digging in (watch below video)!

Thank you, Ibu! And we’re really glad you enjoyed it.

2. Perfectly breaded Fish & Chip

Well, don’t ask who ordered this. Shafa is THE fish fan in the family, so it’s definitely hers. She’s trying to make our toddler a fish fan too.

Unfortunately, our toddler fell asleep, which left Shafa alone to finish those BIG breaded fillets of fish… And she happily ate them. It was served with french fries, creamy coleslaw and tartar sauce. Delicious!

3. Crunchy Chicken Chop

Shafa’s mom ordered Chicken Chop. It was really crunchy! This is actually the chef’s specialty, and served with french fries and vegetables. You can choose to have it with either mushroom sauce or black pepper sauce. She wasn’t really a chicken fan, but the fact that she’s eating a big portion of it was a good sign!

4. Creamy Cream Of Mushroom

We ordered the Cream Of Mushroom for our toddler, but we ended up finishing them ourselves as he fell asleep. The soup was creamy, and served with garlic bread. You can never go wrong ordering this for your toddler anywhere!

5. Choices of pasta selections

Pasta lovers, worry not. For Garden Terrace got you covered! They offered spaghetti with a selection of aglio olio, napolitana or spaghetti bolognaise (Yusof’s choice). He ate them without talking much, to the very last bite. Must be pretty impressive!

6. From healthy drinks to the sugary ones

As much as we would love to promote the healthy drinks, we were guilty as charged to order the sugary ones! Our choices of Cold Tea and Cold Coffee were perfect to quench our thirst.

Of course, they also have a wide variety of beverages from hot and cold drinks to freshly squeezed juices, carbonated drinks, milk shakes and healthy drinks! By healthy drinks, we mean Pegaga Juice, Cucumber Juice and Tomato Juice. Awesome, right?

So, what do you think of all the food & beverages here at Garden Terrace in Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

How To Choose The Right Travel Luggage For Family Travellers

The school holidays are coming soon! We’re pretty sure everyone is busy booking holiday destinations at this point of time (if you’re going to have early flight from Kuala Lumpur, a stay at Tune Hotel KLIA2 is highly recommended). But wait, have you checked whether your bags are in good condition? Lucky if they are, but worry not if they don’t – as it’s not too late to buy them online. We love online shopping – we even do our weekly grocery shopping online, too!

person using black and white smartphone and holding blue card
Photo by PhotoMIX Ltd. on Pexels.com

Being frequent travellers ourselves, we have made research of what we look for when it comes to buying a travel luggage, which we are happy to share in this blog post! Oh and yes, some of them are affiliate links – it would probably help us to buy a teh tarik at the nearest mamak restaurant 🙂

person holding pink ceramic mug
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Let’s not waste time and see what we think about choosing the right travel luggage – especially if you are a family traveller (and in our case, travelling with a baby or toddler)!

1. Consider your travel partners

amn holding luggage bag
Photo by Daniel Nieto on Pexels.com

We usually travel with a toddler (who loves throwing tantrums) and an elderly (who don’t have too much energy) – so having wheels is a must! If you travel with small kids, four-wheeled luggage like this streak travel luggage 20inch cabin size works wonders, especially if your toddler loves pushing them, too (be careful, they can even run and push at the same time). However, do note that most four-wheeled luggage have hard case, so you don’t have the option to put documents inside it without having to open the main zip.

2. Consider your itinerary

photo of woman walking while holding her hair
Photo by Ivandrei Pretorius on Pexels.com

If you are like us, who dragged our luggage around for stadium tour during our short stop in Manchester (yes, we did that), you may find trolley duffel bags like this Oxford Waterproof Trolley Duffel Bag Thick Style Suitcase Women&Men Travel Bags convenient. Not only will you be able to pull the luggage around for a quick tour, it is even easy to carry when there’s a lot of stairs! They also usually have stylish looks – so perfect shopping bag for you even when you’re visiting upmarket places like Bicester Village.

3. Don’t forget your mummy bag

yellow and black leather cross body bag
Photo by Timothy Paule II on Pexels.com

This is a bag any mom won’t leave home without. Believe me, mummy bags make life easier, especially when toddler starts throwing tantrum – opening the normal luggage seems like taking forever! Consider travel-friendly mummy bags like this Travel Luggage Bag Foldable Nylon Women Mummy Carry Bag . Not only are they large enough to carry everything (when travelling with a toddler, it seems like everything is an endless list), they are also light-weight and usually foldable. You can easily slip it inside one of your luggage if you decide not to use them!

Those are some tips from us about choosing the right travel luggage for family travellers, based on our experience travelling with a toddler and an elderly. Do you have some other points to recommend as well? Drop your comments below – we are more than happy to receive more ideas!

 

 

7 Things to Do In Orlando With Toddlers

Anybody who is a native of Orlando knows that there is no end to engaging, fun venues for entertainment. In fact, the city is famously known for being one of the largest amusement park hot spot of the United States. Within just a few short miles from downtown you have parks such as Disney, Epcot, Universal, SeaWorld and many more! These parks alone are a major draw for tourists as well as native Floridians but there are a lot of families traveling to Orlando for vacation that may not be too keen to spend their time at some of the busiest, most expensive places the sunshine state has to offer.

One example of this is definitely parents with small children. Like us, who don’t see toting tiny littles around through all of the hustle and bustle as a feasible option, tourist families would much prefer a smaller scale entertainment venue. Little ones are apt to get cranky, tired, overheated/cold, hungry and a myriad of other issues that can quickly make a fun day go downhill. Plus, after shelling out the big bucks for top dollar amusement parks (Disney, SeaWorld, etc.) it can be frustrating and disheartening to parents to have to pack up the family and leave midway through the day.

This is why, as parents with a toddler, that we decided to do a little digging and see what the city of Orlando has to offer for travelers who want to get the most out of their trip. We were shocked at just how many different options Orlando has available, especially in terms of affordable entertainment for the younger family members in a traveling group. If Orlando is on your traveling bucket list in the near future and you’ve been stressing about options that you can enjoy with even the smallest members of your family, stay tuned because we’re about to list 7 of the best options we found!

1. Take a ride on the Icon Orlando.

Are you a fan of breathtaking views? If so, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to board the tallest observation wheel on the East Coast. Be sure to come with your camera/phone fully charged because you won’t want to miss a single beautiful moment from the time you board until the time you disembark from this giant rotating observation wheel. Single day admission is also super affordable, so if in the future we’re able to visit with our little one, it won’t break the bank either!

2. Take the family tubing down river at Kelly Park/Rock Springs Run.

There are those who dream to see blue waters but don’t like to fry at the beach. That’s us, and Kelly Park offers a great alternative with its spring fed waters that stay cold (68 degrees!) all year long and crystal clear waters. The park features a fully functional concession stand, picnic pavilions, souvenir shops and much more. You can rent tubes onsite as well as reserve camping spots if you’re looking to spend a weekend at the springs. Admission is typically about $6 per carload, parking is within easy walking distance to the water and the experience is one you’ll keep with you for years to come.

3. Get creative at the Crayola Experience.

As one of the most iconic brand names in U.S history, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to explore Crayola if you find yourself in the Orlando area. With dozens of creative, hands-on experiences featuring every color imaginable (and even ones you can name yourself) the Crayola is a unique and one-of-a-kind family adventure that you’ll want to revisit time and time again. Among the available things to see and do, you can shop the gift store, travel between a dozen activity station, play games and grab a tasty lunch from the snack bar. There’s even an indoor playground on site to help keep the smaller members of your group happy.

4. Satisfy your sweet tooth at the World of Chocolate Museum.

Yes, you read that right, there’s a museum dedicated to chocolate right in Orlando. From the moment you step foot in the museum your journey to all things chocolate will begin, including a brief stop in the rain forest to learn about cacao, the origin of all things chocolate. Though the guided tour itself is only 45 minutes in length you’ll get the full experience with stops that include 25 sculptures made purely from chocolate, see some of the machinery used to make chocolate and visit the tasting room! From there you can explore the cafe as well, so no need to despair once the tour is over.

5. Get your glow on at the Putting Edge.

Family members of all ages will love being transported from their every day world and into a world of ethereal glowing features. This illuminated universe is made even more epic by the fact that you get to play mini golf against your loved ones and visit the included arcade if golf isn’t your thing.

6. Enjoy the farm experience at Green Meadows Petting Farm.

As of this very moment, the farm is expanding and moving to another location so it’s closed for the big move, however, it’s definitely an experience you don’t want to miss with your little ones. From cows to chickens and goats, you’ll be in awe at the animal encounters that are available for the picking and your little ones will delight in being able to provide the animals with daily snacks.

7. Fly into the sky with the Orlando Balloon Rides.

If you’re the fearless type, then these hot air balloon rides are for you! This is truly the experience of a lifetime, as the Orlando Balloon Rides company has become one of the worlds largest operators of commercial hot air balloons to date. The company is committed to making each and every experience a memorable, experience for each member of your party.

Although we’ve included 7 of what we consider the best experiences to share with your family, little ones included, we haven’t even scratched the surface of what awaits you in Orlando, Florida. A quick internet search will provide you with dozens of other opportunities that we strongly suggest taking advantage of if you’re looking to save money as well as ensure that your youngest family members can join in on the fun during your Orlando vacation!

Why Family with Toddlers Should Consider Travelling to Japan

You know the daily drill of the exhaustive process of potty training a toddler. As any parent who has ever potty trained a child will tell you, leaving the country – or even the house – during this difficult stage can be stressful and counterproductive. Why should you visit a foreign country – with a whiny toddler even?

Well, if you’re talking about potty training – first things first! Japan will make the process a bit easier. There are child-sized toilets in a lot of the public restrooms, which any toddler will feel much more comfortable using. The bathrooms will be a point of interest for older children (and adults), as well. They’ll will be fascinated by the toilets in Japan with all their buttons and fancy gadgets. In their staying in hotels or apartments, you’ll find special toiletries for kids. And when dining out, don’t worry if you have a picky eater who refuses to eat sushi. In many of the restaurants, you’ll find a children’s menu. The food was even served on adorable children’s dishes with small eating utensils at most restaurants where we dined.

Everything is whimsical, themed, or cute. Japan has a way of taking something completely ordinary and making it whimsical and cute. If you order a donut for your child, it will very likely be decorated with googly eyes and a face. If you order a hot dog from the child’s menu, they’ll cut it and cook it to look like an octopus.

If your children enjoy amusement parks, you’ll find a number of popular parks to choose from when visiting Japan with kids – including Disneyland Tokyo and the only Disney resort with a nautical-theme, Disneyland Tokyo!

Tokyo, Japan, specifically, is a serious stimulation of the senses. Everywhere you look, there are bright lights, colorful signs, and flashy electronics.
It’s a city packed with action. Just the type of place that would wow a child. Is your kid a gamer? Tokyo has an entire district dedicated to video games and Anime. You’ll even find urinals equipped with gaming systems.

It is one of the friendliest countries. So naturally, the friendly people make visiting Japan with kids a lot easier. It’s nice going to a place where people will smile at children and offer to help families with children. More to it, Japan is safe and clean even for young kids! It is even one of the safest countries in the world. It’s also very clean.

Let us know your Japan experience!

5 Malaysian Travel Bloggers You Need to Follow this School Holiday

What a way to start the school holidays but to discover more places so here we compiled a list of some of Asia’s top up-and-coming, Malaysian travel bloggers; keen observers and documenters of life that let us see the world vicariously through their globetrotting adventures and drive us to count our pennies at home—so that we might fulfil the wanderlust in us!

You’ll pick up great tips on the best places to eat, the country that gives you the best bang for your buck, and the priceless experiences you won’t exchange for anything in the world!

1. RAMBLE AND WANDERER

RaW of Ramble and Wander takes travel blogging to new heights with his award-winning photos and posts, some of which have been gained international recognition on BBC Travel, CNN, and Lonely Planet!

2. MALAYSIA ASIA

David Hogan Jr. is a multiple award-winning travel writer and blogger from several tourism boards in Malaysia. He covers the latest news and events related to tourism and the local scene in Malaysia, such as the upcoming 20th Century Fox World theme park at Genting Highlands.

3. MY TRAVELLICIOUS

Why you should know him: If you’re looking to inject some humour in your reading list, look no further than Fadli of My Travellicious. What differentiates Fadli from the other travel bloggers is that his posts are bilingual (Malay and English) and he writes from a first-person point-of-view using a highly conversational tone and a stream of consciousness style.

4. THE TINY WANDERER

Kher Ying of The Tiny Wanderer keeps a record of her personal travel experiences on The Tiny Wanderer, so you won’t see much in the way of reviews, but instead, you get a first-hand view into certain experiences, such as waitressing in Melbourne, working on a cruise ship and living in Germany.

5. ALEXANDRA LUELLA

Aside from being a foodie lover who documents her gastronomic conquests across the world, she’s also quite the stylite who takes an interest in eclectic wacky clothing lines and attends acclaimed fashion events!

10 Things to Do in Merida, Mexico

The stunning colonial city of Merida is located in the Yucatan. This city is rich in both culture and architecture. What captures you most about Merida is the people. Unlike some of Mexico’s more popular vacation destinations the pace is slow and the smiles are big. Merida is also widely considered to be Mexico’s safest city for years now.

Narrowing the list down just 10 things to do in Merida is tricky. That becomes increasingly difficult when you realize just how many amazing day trips from Merida there are. This list is a starting place but by no means all there is to do in this thriving Mexican city.

1. Wander the Historic City Center

The historic city center better know as Centro is the beating heart of Merida. You’ll find shops, restaurants, markets and entertainment everywhere you look. The stunning colonial architecture and brightly painted homes come with right stories. This is undoubtedly the number one thing to do while you’re in Merida. If you want to take a deeper dive into the the homes and gardens check out this great walking tour.

2. Climb Uxmal

While a day trip to the famous Chichen Itza is totally possible we are going to recommend visiting Uxmal. This set of ruins is equally as impressive as it’s more famous cousin and boasts some incredible perks. There are two major reasons Uxmal gets our vote, the first being you can climb the ruins. Climb up, take some pictures or just marvel in the moment. The second reason is there are far less tourists. The crowds at Uxmal are small so you won’t waste time waiting at the entrance.

3. Relax at the Beach in Progreso

There is a bus called AutoProgreso that take you directly from Centro to Progreso Beach. The beach is lined with restaurants and bars to enjoy while you take in the view. If you make a purchase for any of the restaurants they will allow you to use one of their beach chairs. Progreso is alo a cruise port, on days the the ship is in town you’ll see lots of street vendors pop up as well.

4. Browse the Markets

At the root of all cultures there is food. To find the most authentic, fresh ingredients you have to visit the market. Merida’s biggest market is the Lucas de Galvez market, located in Centro. The tip here is to go in the mornings before the crowds and the heat pick up. You also get your pick of all the freshest produce and food.

5. Swim in a Cenote

If swimming in a freshwater, underground cenote is on your bucket list the Yucatan is perfect for you. Within a short drive of Merida you can swim in all cenotes of all shapes and sizes. The hidden gems can be tricky to find so linking up with a great local guide for a cenote tour means you’ll get the most of the experience.

6. Visit the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya

To truly understand this region of the world you need to make a stop at the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya. The museum focuses on the history and culture of the Mayan World. You’ll have a chance to learn about the way of life and see what aspects are still present in everyday life. The beautiful modern building is air conditioned making it a great option for a hot afternoon.

7. Taste Yucatecan Food

When most people think Mexican food they think taco. While you will find plenty of tacos they are not the main event. The Yucatan has its own unique dishes including cochinita pibil, huevas motuleños, panuchos and chilaquiles. Eat your fill of Yucatecan food at some of these amazing spots. Also,don’t forget to use that salsas found on the table at each meal

8. Experience a Street Festival

Merida is one of those cities where there is always something going on. Every Sunday there is a street festival in Plaza Grande. Vendors selling food and handcrafts line the park paths and streets. If you time is right you’ll hear music and see people flocking to the streets to dance. It really is the best way to spend a Sunday.

9. Ride Bikes

In Merida there is a strong focus on families. Family friendly activities are common and easy to find. One of the most popular is Bici-Ruta, a Sunday morning bike ride. Every Sunday morning between 8:30 and 12:30 half off Paseo de Montejo is closed for the ride. You’ll find bike rentals near the Walmart.

10. Visit the Churches

The churches and cathedrals are pillars of each neighborhood in Merida. Each is backed with history and its own story of how that community has grown and changed. Create your own walking tour, popping in and out of these beautiful spaces.

10 Unbelievable Destinations to Spend New Years Eve

Can’t believe how incredibly fast that 2018 flew by. A whole year and it felt like it happened in the blink of an eye. As the end of the year approaches us everyone is starting to make their New Year’s Eve plans for ringing in the New Year and welcoming 2019. Traveling for New Year’s is always so much fun for me because it is so much fun to spend your holiday in a place that isn’t just your hometown. If you can make it to a big celebration/festival then it will make your holiday that much more fun. Here are 10 of the best and most unbelievable destinations that you can spend your New Year’s Eve throughout the world.

1. Sydney, Australia

Sydney is absolutely beautiful and they host a huge fireworks display and celebration for the New Year. You can watch the firework show at Sydney Harbour and enjoy the beautiful show. Plus it is also Summer time there during the New Year which means it is nice and warm for ringing in your New Year. Not to mention because of how time zones work, you will be the first to ring in the New Year in Sydney.

2. London, England

London is an amazing city and they have an incredible New Year’s Eve fireworks show that you can watch at Stately London along the Thames. But be sure to buy your tickets in advance as they do sell out quickly!

3. New York City

Of course you can’t exclude New York City from the list. It is one of the most famous New Year’s Eve celebration cities in the world and is quite often televised. From watching on TV you always want to know what that experience would be like! Just keep in mind, it gets extremely busy and packed like sardines in Times Square but the view and whole experience is truly amazing.

4. Pago Pago, South Pacific

If you’re looking to be the closing lineup for ringing in the New Year then you will want to do so in Pago Pago in the South Pacific. You will be the last place to strike midnight and ring in that New Year with a fun celebration!

5. Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando FL

Disney is a truly magical place but even more so around the holiday season. A great way to spend your New Year’s Eve would be filled with a day of fun at the park followed by the magnificent firework and projection show to end your night. Get there early though because they do tend to hit capacity on holidays!

6. Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland is another beautiful country to visit if you have never been you may want to try it out. There are so many fun activities and festivities to celebrate ringing in the New Year and their celebrations are three days long. The firework show at midnight on New Year’s Eve is a spectacular sight to see as it features 4.5 tons of fireworks that are shot over the Edinburgh Castle, it truly is amazing to see.

7. Hong Kong, China

If you want to mix the feel of the New York City New Year’s bash with the traditional cultures of China then you may want to schedule a visit to Hong Kong this New Year. There is a beautiful fireworks display over the skyline and you will see the famous ball drop just like in NYC.

8. Cape Town, Africa

Cape Town is an absolutely beautiful city and a great place to bring in your New Year. Again, Cape Town is entering the Summer season so you can certainly enjoy your New Year in the beautiful warm weather and enjoy an extravagant fireworks show with fun festivities around you.

9. Berlin, Germany

Berlin is known to be a party city so as you can probably imagine, they know how to celebrate. They bring in the New Year with a celebration known as Silvester that features the Party Mile including food, festivities, and shows/music. The fireworks show at midnight is incredible and the party continues after the show is over!

10. Las Vegas, Nevada

Another party city is of course Las Vegas. The whole Vegas strip becomes one big New Year’s celebration filled with food, festivities, and music. At midnight there are so many fireworks being sent off that you are bound to see them from wherever you are, it makes for a great night!

New Year’s eve is such a great time of the year. You get to reflect on the past year and everything that you went through. If you are looking to make a trip for your New Year’s celebration this year I hope you check out one of these amazing destinations. You are bound to have a blast at any of these beautiful cities. Above all, remain happy, healthy, and safe during your celebrations.

Bicester Village With 1 Year Old – Yay Or Nay?

We have been longing to visit Bicester Village since we had our first couple trip to Europe! Having heard about the beautiful shopping village and how it is cheaper buying there than from outside, it was on our draft plans when we visited Europe as a couple for the first time, but had to take it off the list due to time and budget constraint.

Look how smiley Aydeen was!

We finally visited Bicester Village during our family trip in May 2018. It was such a memorable one, especially with our 1-year-old on tow! We tried to make the trip awesome for everyone (we had range of ages from, 1, 30, 40 & 69, so we were trying VERY hard to make everyone pleased). Here’s what we think!

1. Day trip was fine

We originally wanted to bring everyone to Oxford before going to Bicester, as Oxford was the city where we celebrated our first anniversary (and we personally think it’s a beautiful historic city, especially for Harry Potter fans!). However, since this round of trip we bring other people who were more keen to shop than to visit cities, we just had a car ride around the town and off to Bicester Village.

It only takes about 22 minutes car ride from Oxford to Bicester Village, so you definitely should add this into your itinerary if you are visiting Oxford. If you are from London, it takes about 1 hour 21 minutes car ride, so day trip is fine.

Not going by car? No problem! There is an express train from London Marylebone Station. Alternatively, you can ride a coach.

2. Changing diaper was easy

Diaper changing was very easy at Bicester Village. It is very spacious and clean, our toddler made a trip there every few times while others were busy shopping!

Forgot to bring diaper creams? No problem! They have a machine inside the diaper room that sells just that!

3. You have the option to relax and wait for the things you bought to be delivered directly to you

Being first time parents ourselves, we know how tricky it gets when your toddler starts to throw tantrums. Going to Bicester Village with people who really want to shop – that doesn’t make your life easier. Best way is that you keep your child entertained, it will be a happier trip for everyone.

We went only to selected shops, whenever our toddler was happy. After we got home, we only knew the hands-free shopping service offered by Bicester Village – just sit and relax waiting for the items to be delivered directly to you. Isn’t that just awesome for parents with small kids? Too bad we only knew later, or else we would have buy more things!

Those are some of the things that we can share about our trip to Bicester Village with a toddler on tow. Hope it helps!