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.

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!

5 Alaska Destinations That Will Blow Your Mind

By Nikki Spitzer

A vacation to Alaska is one you will never forget! There is so much to see that will ultimately astound you, but I would like to share my favorite 5 Alaska Destinations That Will Blow Your Mind!

1. Juneau

Famous for being the state capitol, Juneau has much more to see than the small and not so typical capital building. Juneau is unique because is only reachable by boat or seaplane.
Mount Roberts towers over town and you can take the tramway up for beautiful views. Once at the top, you can choose to take the tramway back or hike down.
Juneau Icefield above the city contributes to the areas many glaciers, but Mendenhall Glacier is the big attraction here. My favorite, and the best way to see Mendenhall Glacier in my opinion would be the “Paddle & Trek” excursion. Start out paddling across Mendenhall Lake, explore the glacier’s gorgeous ice caves and then trek up the glacier with crampons on your boots. Quite the adventure!

2. Hubbard Glacier

Most cruises include Hubbard Glacier on their itinerary and it is a sight to see. As you sail past small icebergs in the water a massive 400-foot-tall wall of ice awaits. The glacier spreads more than six miles where it meets the ocean. The best part is the calving. Once you hear a crack, look for a large piece of ice to tremble and listen for the coming thunderous roar. It is incredible!

3. Talkeetna

Along the way to Denali, this tiny town at its base is what you would think of as an idyllic small Alaskan town. It is filled with art, yummy food and fun outdoorsy adventure opportunities. Being close to Denali, flightseeing is popular. Float trips and fishing are also options since Talkeetna is located where three rivers meet.
Eat a delicious lunch or dinner at Wildflower Café and visit Nagley’s Store, established in 1921. Besides being part of Talkeetna’s history, Nagley’s was also home to Mayor Stubbs, a famous cat who was named Mayor in 1998 and remained mayor for 20 years!

4. Denali National Park

Denali National Park is a must see on any visit to Alaska. Mount Denali is the tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet. Appropriately, the meaning of the Athabascan word Denali is “The Tall One” and it is an amazing sight to see. The park itself consists of 160 miles of a beautiful landscape consisting of mountains, valleys and rivers. This is an incredible background for wildlife viewing with over 37 species of mammals and 130 bird species. There is definitely a lot to see here!

5. Anchorage

This is Alaska’s big city complete with its own Hard Rock Cafe. Although to most of us, it isn’t so large but just big enough for a wide variety of cultural, entertainment, food and adventure options. Anchorage is a perfect Alaska “base camp” and was named one of “The 10 Hottest U.S. Destinations for Summer 2018” by TripAdvisor.
Within walking distance is Ship Creek where you can rent fishing equipment and fish for Salmon right there in the city. There are over 135 miles of paved trails for walkers and bikers. For hiking, horseback riding and even dog sledding there are more than 300 miles of unpaved trails. All sorts of daily excursions are possible as Anchorage is a short drive, boat or plane ride to many wilderness adventures including fly-fishing, gold panning, ice climbing, glacier exploring and much more.
Anchorage is also home of the starting line of the “Last Great Race on Earth” – the famous Iditarod, dogsledding at its best. The race is scheduled for March 2, 2019 and making it a fun time to visit. While in town, be sure to kiss the statue of Balto the famous sled dog for good luck!

For more on Alaska and other travel destinations, please visit my blog at www.travelalatteblog.com

About Author

Nikki Spitzer is Travel Agent specializing in Alaska, Hawaii and Europe. Her love of travel began when she was small and since then she has been totally addicted! She and her family value travel and vacation time together and she is always planning their next adventure. Nikki especially enjoys working with families and groups to create personalized itineraries that exceed their expectations. By taking care of all details, she saves clients time and stress so that they can enjoy their time together.
To discover more about Alaska and other travel tidbits, check out her website at https://www.magicalmomentsvacations-nikkispitzer.com

5 Places In Malta That Will Make You Travel

By Lily In The World

1. Valletta

The capital of Malta, Valletta, is one of the most beautiful capitals I’ve ever seen! Old buildings and new buildings are composing this amazing city. In 2018, Valletta was European Capital of Culture. Film festivals, theatre, music, live show… the city was never sleeping. Visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens, you will have a stunning view of the “3 cities” of Malta (Birgu, Senglea, and Kalkara) and of the Grand Harbour. Have a walk in the cute tiny streets and don’t forget to look up. All the houses have these typical colorful Maltese windows, called the bow windows. The city is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, which offers very nice views everywhere. If you’d like to know more about the country and its history, stop at Malta Experience. A short movie will explain you the roots of this incredible country.

2. Birgu

Birgu is one of the 3 cities and it’s the most important one. It’s a very important city in the Maltese culture. Indeed, during the Great Siege of Malta in the 16th century, it’s there that the knights were based. They were sleeping in hostels that you can still visit nowadays. You can also visit the Fort St Angelo, a very important place. You will learn more about Malta.

3. Mdina

Mdina is the ancient capital of Malta. It is called the “silent city” because it’s very quiet. Only 294 people live there. In the city, there are just a few bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. And of course, a beautiful cathedral. Nowadays, lots of people visit Mdina to see Mdina Gate, the main entrance of the city. Why? Because some scenes of Games of Thrones were filmed there, the Mdina Gate was used as the entrance of King’s landing.

4. Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk is totally different from the 3 other places. It’s the fisher village of Malta. The bay is full of “Luzzu”, the typical Maltese fisher boats. Every Sunday, there is the fish market. For lunch, stop in a restaurant and try the fish of the day, or a seafood platter. Delicious!

5. Gozo

Maltese people often go on holiday to Gozo, the 2nd biggest island of the Maltese archipelago. Gozo it’s a paradise for nature lovers. You can do a lot of activities there: diving, snorkeling, climbing, hiking, cycling… You can reach Gozo by ferry from Malta in 30 minutes and the ticket costs €4.65 back and forth.
Now I bet you want to book a flight to Malta, right?

About Author

Behind Lily in the world, there is Linda, a young woman of 25 years old. Born in Belgium and raised by Italian and Moroccan parents, she lives now in Malta. She traveled a lot (Italy, France, UK, Hungary, Sweden, USA, Ireland, Spain…) and her travel wish list is still super long!

Links
Blog: http://www.lilyintheworld.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lilyintheworldblog
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lilyintheworldblog

Top 5 Places To Visit In London For Family Travellers

London is one of the favourite cities in the world. It has so many options for tourists to visit, you have no idea where to start! Below are some guide to the top 5 places to visit for family travellers while you’re in London.

1. Piccadilly Circus

As you can see in the picture, Piccadilly Circus is a busy meeting place, and a famous tourist attraction. The place is famous for its video display and neon signs, which are displayed on its buildings.

From this location, you can easily walk to Piccadilly, Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue or Regent Street. Piccadilly circus can be accessed via the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines.

2. London Paddington

Welcome to the town of the famous Paddington Bear! For the fans of the movie & books, you will love the Paddington Station. There is a bronze statue of Paddington Bear under the clock on Platform 1. Looking for Paddington Bear souvenirs? Head over to the Paddington Bear Shop in the station!

Paddington station is the London terminus for the Heathrow Express train to London Heathrow airport. It also has two separate tube stations providing connections to the Bakerloo, Circle, District, and Hammersmith & City Lines.

3. Coca Cola London Eye

Looking for a great overview scenery of London? Head over to the Coca Cola London Eye! The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel, on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.

You can buy the ticket on the spot, or you can buy it online, and save 10% off the price. There is also a combination package with other London attractions, so you may want to check their official website: https://www.londoneye.com/tickets-and-prices/

The nearest London Underground station is Waterloo. It is also within walking distance from Charing Cross, Embankment and Westminster.

4. South Bank

South Bank is situated just beside the River Thames. There are usually events and street shows happening in the area, so the walk is very lively! From here, it is walking distance to the iconic landmarks of London, such as Big Ben and Coca Cola London Eye.

5. M&M World London

If you are the type of person who likes cute colourful things, selfie at instagrammable spots and happen to have a sweet tooth, M&M World London will be the perfect place to visit!

Situated in Leicester Square, it is spread across 4 floors, with exclusive M&M’s chocolates and merchandise. If you have a London Pass, show it in-store and enjoy 15% off all purchases made at M&M world London.

These are the top 5 places that are fantastic for family travellers. Enjoy your stay in London!

Top 3 City Destinations That Will Make Your France Road Trip Perfect

France is definitely a great country to visit. Not only because of its beautiful landmarks and sceneries, the people are also very friendly and helpful. However, be ready with some very basic French vocabularies, such as “combien” and “un” to “dix”, as well as “tout droit”. These words will give you such a big help!

For a road trip with very limited time, Below are three top city destinations that you should include in your itinerary.

1. Lille

Perfect for old city lovers, Lille is a historic 17th century city. It offers historical landmarks, museums, heritage sites, shopping, art, great hotels, and restaurants.

You don’t want to miss this city, especially since it is so easy to get to via Eurostar from London (only 90 minutes from London). As for us from Den Haag via Ouibus, it takes a mere 3 hours 55 minutes ride. Both of these will arrive at Gare Lille Europe (signboard in the picture).

The building in the picture is Garre De Lille Flandres, the main Railway Station of Lille. It is a terminus for SNCF Intercity and regional trains. It is only 500m walking distance from Gare Lille Europe, and both stations are adjacent stops on one of the lines of Lille Metro.

2. Rouen

Rouen is a vibrant city with beautiful architecture. The buildings of Rouen shows elements of a Norman architecture, such as half-timbered houses and Gothic cathedrals. Below are some of the buildings worth visiting in Rouen.

The picture is of Le Gros-Horloge (the big clock). It is a beautiful astronomical clock set within a Ressainance arch that stretches over the street bearing the monument’s name.

Other beautiful places and buildings include Historial Jeanne D’Arc, Old Market Square, Grande Pharmacie Du Cntre and the churches.

3. Paris

Visit to France is incomplete without visiting this city of love! Paris has so much to offer it’s visitors. The main one, of course, is the Eiffel Tower. You can choose either to pay more by taking the lift to the first or second floor, or you can pay less and use the stairs! You can skip the long queue by booking online, but be sure to book on a much advanced date, as it is always sold out! Alternatively, you may book your visit with a tour group, which is the fastest way to go up (with a bit more to pay, of course)!

The city is best explored by riding the hop-on-hop-off buss. It will take you to the tourists attractions around Paris. You can then visit Arc De Triomphe and Champs-Elysees, the best shopping place in France!

If you are an art lover, or just want to see the Mona Lisa, head over to the Louvre Museum! The museum is very big, you may want to use the map provided to visit the highlights of the museum, if your time is very limited.

These are the three cities suggested for the city lovers who are having road trip to France. Happy planning and have a great trip!

Europe Trip Day 2 Part 1 – London to Manchester

Our 2nd day of Europe Trip was quite a journey. Both of us are total suckers for public transport, so we decided to have our 2nd day trip by bus. Woohoo!

Since we planned a lot of transportation & accommodations during our whole Europe Trip, we decided to use technology to organise ourselves. In this case, we used TripIt app.

TripIt is so useful when you have a lot of bookings on hand. Below is the print screen of how our 2nd day trip were planned in TripIt:

As you can see, on 17 September at 7 a.m., I will be on board National Express NX540 to Manchester Coach Station. Then we will have another journey at 6.15 p.m. to Blackpool Central Coach Station, on board National Express NX333. I have also booked a 4 star TripAdvisor-rated B&B. All this in 1 single page.

If you click further, you will have more details. Below are the examples:

Well, that’s our sharing for today. Will write again soon!
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Europe Trip Day 1 Part 3 – London

Here goes the 3rd part of our Day 1 trip. We have no idea why the picture uploading didn’t work for the rest of the pictures in the last post. Probably there was a limit? Let’s have a test today.

Ok, let’s continue to the rest of the journey that we had during the rainy day trip (yes, it rained for the rest of the day).

So here goes the rest of our London visit!

1. St James Park

The first picture was that of Shafa & her brother at St James Park. The scenery was beautiful, even in rainy days! This is Shafa’s favourite picture of Day 1, as it potrays perfectly a brother-sister bonding time.

We are both animal lovers, and so we specifically love this park because of that. Just look at how adorable the ducks and swans at the below picture!

And of course, one of the reasons why we love London so much is the fact that one attraction is located at a mere walking distance to another. As proven in below picture link.

2. Trafalgar Square

Some travel books would suggest you to start your journey from Trafalgar Square. While it still depends on where you are based in London, starting you journey from Trafalgar Square may be a good choice. For us, specifically, we’re more than excited to take pictures with the lion statues, being a big fan to the Night at the Museum movie. He he.

3. The National Gallery

We heard the National Gallery was good, but our time was too packed to explore. So we decided to just take a picture of it.

4) Night View of the London Eye & Thames River

London at day is spectacular, but night view is even better! Below are the pictures taken at the Embankment, with view of the London Eye & Thames River.

5) Tower of London & The Shard

Our first day was too packed! We did not have the time (nor the budget) to visit the Tower of London during the day. So we just had a stroll around the Tower of London at night. It was magnificent! And the view of The Shard just made it complete.

6) Tower Bridge

Last but not least, the Tower Bridge. During the day, the Tower Bridge looks perfect. At night, the lightings made it look even more grand. In this particular picture, the Double Decker bus made it look even more London. 😉

And so that completes our 1st day journey, Phew! Still long way to catch up.

Till then!

Europe Trip Day 1 Part 2 – London

Hi Everyone!

In our last post, we had shared some of the pictures taken when we had our Emirates Stadium Tour. Before we start to continue sharing pictures of the rest of our Day 1 London tour, let us share a bit on how we booked our stadiums tickets.

Well, as all of you would have known by now, Yusof is a big football fan. Yusof’s favourite is actually Manchester United, but the rest of his family supports Arsenal. So we decided to visit both stadiums.

We initially planned to book the tickets separately at the respective teams’ websites, but then we found this great website called Visit Britain Shop (www.visitbritainshop.com – the site where we also mentioned in our previous post that you can buy your Oyster card).

No price reductions, however (we had searched the internet extensively for a discounted entrance fees to both stadium). Prices were standard, no matter where you buy it. Only thing you gain when you buy at Visit Britain Shop is the convenience of buying them at one place! Not to mention you can also search for other places entrance tickets (together with promotional prices, if available). We would highly suggest this website if you do plan to buy any entrance tickets in the UK.

Enough said on this, let us now share with you the pictures of the rest of our Day 1 trip!

Us, in front of the House of Parliament, its clock tower is also famously known as Big Ben. It was raining and traffic jam, so ignore the background 😛

Shafa in front of the London Eye. Also still raining, but Shafa didn’t mind being drenched.

Yusof, Shafa & Bang Shah (Shafa’s brother), getting all happy wefie-ing in front of the Buckhingham Palace. With the hope of bumping into any of the royalties, but no luck.

Well, we do plan to upload more pictures in this post, but something went wrong. They couldn’t be uploaded! We will continue again in the next post. Till then!

Europe Trip Day 1 Part 1 – Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)

It’s been a month since we arrived London, and we just want to start writing about our 1st day there. Sigh, we were too busy with work when we got back, but we vow to not let that be in our way!

Our 1st visit on September 15, 2015 was to the Arsenal stadium. It was drizzling that day, but we were too excited to be down about it!

That’s Yusof with Shafa’s brother proudly standing in front of the stadium (with umbrellas :p)

Yusof landing his hand to save Thierry Henry from being drenched.

Yusof getting his photography inspiration. Football is his passion! 🙂

“One day, I’ll be one of them” probably the voice in Yusof’s mind? :p

Shafa enjoying her visit. She had no idea who were those guys, she only chose based on looks :p

Yusof’s favourite player in Arsenal. 🙂

Shafa’s getting all energetic!

Somebody’s having press conference :p

“Let’s go and play at the field! Who cares about the rain”.

The MOST epic picture. Arsenal’s future manager. He he.

All in all, it was a great Arsenal stadium self tour with audio guide. Worth the £20 paid. 🙂

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London Journey Plan

And so our Europe travel began in London. We took the tube (Piccadilly line) to Shafa’s brother’s house in Wood Green. The area was reachable by Piccadilly line, so no train change needed!

Of course, we use Oyster card in our London travels to enjoy cheaper rate & price caps (refer TFL website for details). The card can be bought from the airport train station. Just ask anyone, they’ll guide you.

Alternatively, you can buy it online (we prefer to shop for UK tickets at http://www.visitbritainshop.com – it’s a one stop centre). You can key in your departure date, they’ll make sure to deliver the card to you on time. Only downside, you’ll have delivery charges (in British Pound). You can gauge & decide whether you want to be worry free and have the card before your journey or just buy it at Heathrow airport. We’re sure Malaysians will do the latter, considering our currency against GBP. 🙂

In any case that your destination is using another line, be sure to check out the London tube map. You can view the map at TFL website, also they will have a journey planner at their website.

Alternatively, you can download an app called London Journey Planner. But personally, our favourite app is called FetchMyWay (for Android) & Rome2Rio (for iOS). It will literally gets you from anywhere to anywhere (it doesn’t necessarily have to be station names), with details on costs & timing. Also there are options of different transportation alternatives (including walking!). Below are some screenshots of the app:

That’s all for our tips on London journey plan. See you in next entry!

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