latest on the blog

5 DIFFERENT HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS FOR 2024.

Monday 11 March 2024

I’m at the age now where a lot of my friends and people around me are getting engaged, and one of the most exciting things that comes with that (apart from marrying the love of your life) is the honeymoon! Most people associate honeymoons with the Caribbean or overwater bungalows,  but sometimes people don’t have either the budget or time for that or just fancy a different type of holiday. Here are 5 honeymoon destinations for 2024 for any type of couple. 


honeymoon destinations 2024


1. Albania


Albania has gained popularity in the last few years and it’s easy to see why. It’s accessible, cheap to fly to and relatively cheap to stay in. There is also a plethora of things to do and even has its own ‘Albanian Riviera’ in the South West of the country. Ksamil is the best place to base yourself if you’re looking for a relaxing honeymoon of white sand beaches, cocktails and good food. The easiest way to get here is to fly to the Greek island of Corfu and then take a 30 minute ferry across to Albania. 

If you want a bit more adventure from your trip, you can hire a car and travel around the country to places like Dhermi, Permet, Berat and of course the capital Tirana. Across the country you can find activities like white-water rafting, beautiful hikes and UNESCO sites. Their national dish is  ‘Tave kosi’ which is made up of lamb with rice and yoghurt. 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Xheko Imperial Hotel & SPA

Best time to visit: April - October 


Photo Credit


2. Caribbean Cruise


Cruise holidays are great if you don't want to do a lot of the planning yourself and want to see a few places in a short space of time. For your honeymoon, I recommend going with Virgin Voyages as they offer ‘adults only’ cruises and have more activities and parties catered for older age groups. More so, you can choose to buy the all-inclusive drinks package to make the most of your trip. Just make sure you purchase this online in advance as it will be cheaper than buying it when you get onboard. 


If you have children and want to bring them along on your honeymoon, then a Royal Caribbean Cruise is probably your best bet as there’s activities for everyone, and a creche you can leave your kids at for a few hours should you wish to have some alone time! Your main expense for this holiday will be flying to the US, but the cruise itself is generally cheaper than the voyages from Europe. 


Cruise recommendation: Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

Best time to visit the Caribbean: February - May 


Photo Credit

3. Seychelles


Seychelles is a group of islands off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, and is one of the more unique honeymoon destinations as it offers something exotic and its close proximity to Kenya and Tanzania means you can combine a trip to Seychelles with an African safari in the Serengeti to give you the best of both on your honeymoon. 


The archipelago consists of 115 islands, 25% of which consists of private resort islands which means most resorts have their own private beaches. If you’re looking for those famous overwater beach huts, you can rest assured that you’ll definitely find them here. This type of holiday will mainly revolve around sunbathing, snorkeling, exploring the national parks and enjoying some local food such as ‘kat-kat banane’ and lots of coconut curries. 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Hotel Coral Strand

Best time to visit: April - May, October - November  


Photo Credit


4. Costa Rica


Costa Rica is known for having the world's greatest biodiversity and micro-climates, meaning there is a lot to do and discover. It’s a place that you definitely don’t want to stay in just one place and rather explore the whole country, but even just a week is enough time to explore the best that the country has to offer. I recommend visiting La Fortuna (where you’ll find the Arenal Volcano), San Jose, Tortuguero National Park and Puerto Viejo. 


On your trip here, you can try horseback riding, ATV, zip-lining, kayaking, scuba diving and so much more. Not to mention seeing some of the incredible wildlife like sloths, squirrel monkeys and toucans. When it comes to food, you’ll want to try dishes like ‘chifrijo’ (fried pork with red beans) and ‘rondon’ (seafood and coconut stew). 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Nayara Springs Hotel

Best time to visit: December - April   


Photo Credit

5. Finland


I couldn’t finish this list without including somewhere for those who prefer the cold weather. If you want somewhere to experience the Aurora Borealis whilst sleeping in a glass-roofed igloo, then you’ll want to stay in Finnish Lapland. Here you can also experience sleigh rides, husky safaris and of course, skiing. You can also complete your honeymoon with a therapeutic hot tub session, with a beautiful backdrop of the snowy mountains. 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort 

Best time to visit: December  


Photo Credit

I hope this article has provided you with some inspiration for your future honeymoon, or atleast you’ve added one of these places to your bucket list!




HOW TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN WARSAW, POLAND.

Thursday 8 February 2024

Warsaw is the second city I've visited in Poland, and both Warsaw and Krakow had its unique charm to me. The Polish capital is full of history, quaint buildings and good food. If you're looking to spend a weekend in Warsaw, here is my guide with things to do, where to go and what to eat. 


tea with gi warsaw


5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE VISITING JAPAN IN 2024

Tuesday 7 November 2023

There's not many countries that I've visited in the last few years that I'm in a rush to go back to, but I'd love to see Japan again (mostly for the food). We spent just over a week travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto and I think we managed to see all the cities have to offer. On my next trip I'd love to also visit Osaka and try all of their famous street food. If any of these cities are on your bucket list, keep reading to find out 5 tips for travelling to Japan in 2024. 



1. Research the best time to go for what you want to see.


We visited in February because it's when we kicked off our Asia trip, and it was definitely cold! We did manage to see Mount Fuji which as told by our guide, is very dependent on what the weather is like that day. You can take a day trip to Mount Fuji from Tokyo. We paid £45 which included pick up from Ueno station and drop-off (1.5 hour journey), and we visited 3 locations. We couldn't actually go to the 5th Station (entrance to the mountain) as it had been snowing and so the roads were too slippery, but we did get great views of Fuji from Kawaguchiko lake and Oshino HakkaiTo increase your chances, the best time to visit Mt Fuji is between November and February


If you're more interested in cherry blossom season, then the best time to visit is in the spring (late March/early April). There's no shortage of cherry blossoms in Tokyo, one of the more popular places to see them is at Ueno Park. If you want to find somewhere a little less crowded, head to the English Garden in Shinjuku Gyoen. If you're in Kyoto, you'll want to see the 'weeping cherry tree' at Marayama Park. 



2. Purchase a SIM or eSIM for Japan.



The first question on most of our minds when we land in a new country is - how can I get connected to the internet? Your best choices are either purchasing a local sim or carrying a portable Wi-Fi device. Mobal specialises in providing contract-free Japan SIM cards and Japan eSIMs for travellers, whether you're going to be visiting briefly or staying long-term. If you need any help they provide English customer service and their profits also go to charity. 

The best part about purchasing an eSim is that you don't have to risk misplacing your old sim and you don't have to queue up at the airport at one of the kiosks either! 

3. Get an IC card at the train station.



I'm not sure if the situation has improved since I went to Japan in 2018, but the train stations in Japan were probably some of the most confusing I've been to! Firstly because there is barely any english signage and secondly, there were 2 main train/metro companies and it wasn't always clear if the ticket you had bought covered your journey. 

To avoid this I suggest you firstly get an IC card from the ticket machine, which is essentially like an Oyster card. You can tap this at any of the stations and means you don't have to keep buying single journey tickets. Secondly, use Google Maps! This will make getting to your destination 100 times easier as it will give you the correct platform and everything too. 


4. Stay in a traditional ryokan



You could choose to stay in a chain hotel that you're familiar and comfortable with, or you could properly immerse yourself in the Japanese culture and stay in a ryokan. A ryokan differs from a hotel in that you'll usually sleep on a futon bed and the rooms will be quite minimal and the floors are usually made of 'tatami' matting. Not exclusive to ryokans as you'll see these everywhere, that Japanese toilets have a lot more functions than your regular toilets back home!

You will find a wide selection of ryokans in Kyoto and can vary from budget accommodation to the more luxury style. Kyoto Ryokan Kinoe is a highly rated on in the Gion area in the centre. 



5. Be mindful of cultural differences



Once you've got over all the water functions your accommodation toilet has, there are some other things you should be mindful of when visiting Japan. 

1. Don't eat and walk - even though Japan is full of wonderful street food, you'll never find anyone eating and walking at the same time as it's frowned upon. If you order something in one of the food markets, just stand to the side and eat it if you can't find a place to sit. 

2. Make sure you're in the right train carriage - as passed 6pm, some trains have 'female only' carriages (which I think is great). You'll also find that locals form an orderly queue by the train doors when waiting to board, so there's no pushing and shoving to get in. 

3. Slurp that bowl - it's actually a sign of respect and that you've really enjoyed your meal! 



I hope you've found this post useful. If you have any other questions about Japan, feel free to message me on my socials or check out my travel guides below!

G


3 days in Tokyo, Japan

HOW TO SPEND 2 DAYS IN GIBRALTAR (FROM A LOCAL).

Sunday 5 November 2023

I've done a fair bit of Gibraltar based content in the past, but realised I haven't done an itinerary of what the perfect 2 day trip to Gibraltar would look like. There are a lot of tourists who come to Gibraltar for a day or on a cruise stop, so I wanted to show that Gibraltar is worth spending more than just 1 night in.


For those who have just heard of the place, Gibraltar is an overseas British Territory on the Southern tip of Europe. We border Spain, which means that because of Brexit tourists do need to have their passport stamped when crossing in and out. Whilst exploring Gibraltar, you'll notice the contrast between red telephone boxes and fish & chips, with tapas and hearing people speaking a mix of both English and Spanish. If you're looking to spend a weekend or 2 days in Gibraltar, this is the perfect itinerary.  



Day 1



Breakfast

To start your trip, I would head to Hustle n Flow for breakfast if you like instagrammable food that doesn't compromise on flavour. This place has all the cosy vibes and even has a little play area for kids if you're travelling as a family. My personal favourites on the menu are the blue eyed girl and the French toast



Explore the Rock of Gibraltar 

Once you're all full up from breakfast, you can either choose to walk around 30 minutes to the rock of Gibraltar (before starting your incline) or crossing the road and catch the number 3 bus towards South Pavilion Steps Terminus. You can ask the bus driver to let you know the closest stop for going up the rock, which will be by the Old Casino

Another way to get up the rock, is to walk up town or get the number 1 bus to Flat Bastion Road. Here you'll find a set of steps with the union jack which lead you to the Upper Rock. A lot of the attractions are found on the rock, so you can expect to spend a couple of hours here.

If you want to save money then I recommend buying a GibraltarPass - which will get you access to most of the attractions mentioned in this blog as well as restaurant discounts and a few freebies. Who doesn't love a free glass of wine? Some of the attractions included are the Mediterranean Steps, Skywalk, Cable Car, WW2 Tunnels, Wildlife Centre and you also get free transport on the Citibus. 

You can use my code TWG23 for 5% off your pass!


Mediterranean Steps

If you're the outdoorsy type, then start off with the 1 hour trek through the Mediterranean Steps. You'll definitely be out of breath by the time you get to the top, but it's doable for people of all ages. To get here, find your way to the Pillars of Hercules and you'll see the starting point 20m from there. Entry for tourists is £16. 

The Skywalk

This is one of Gibraltar's newer attractions, and was actually inaugurated by Mark Hamill back in 2018. The skywalk offers a glass walkway with 360 degree views of Gibraltar, and also allowing you to see both Africa and Spain. If you're afraid of heights, then you'll probably want to skip this one!


St Michael's Cave

I definitely recommend you stop by to visit the St Michael's Cave as the colours and formations are really something. This place is actually used as a theatre and over the last few years we've had several international comedians like Jimmy Carr and Alan Carr perform here.

If you're looking for something more adventurous, you can actually book a tour for Lower St Michael's Cave. This tour lasts 4 hours and involves scrambling and some rope climbing, and you can expect to get wet!


Suspension bridge

Again, if you're scared of heights then you might want to choose an easier path to get down the rock. If not, then you do get a bit of a thrill by walking across the suspension bridge and you get great views of Gibraltar. 

Apes Den

I couldn't write this post without mentioning the Barbary Macaques. Even though most of them hang around Apes Den, you'll probably come across a few roaming around the rock of even upper parts of town. My suggestion, don't have food out or try to feed them and don't stare at their babies! 

If you don't feel like walking much further after exploring the rock, you can catch the Cable Car back down for a fee. 



Lunch

Next we're heading to Chatham Counterguard, where you'll find a strip of tapas restaurants. You'll find this area is the most vibrant on a Friday night or Saturday lunch time. My most visited restaurants in Chatham are probably: 
  • Vault 13 for their asian prawns, octopus and bao buns;
  • My Wines for their duck nachos and lemon chicken fingers;
  • Tapas by Gauchos for their steak tartare and truffled mash.


Gin Distillery tour

If you've a lover of gin, then you need to make time for Spirit of The Rock's gin distillery tour. The owner Peter will take you through a bit of history of where gin came from and how it made its way to Gibraltar.

You'll get to try 6 different gins (from the original purer forms to the newer gin mixes) and then you will get to enjoy your own gin based cocktail at the end. You can either choose to water down the gins or shot them straight, in which case I suggest you have a big meal beforehand! The tour times vary so I suggest looking on their website beforehand to see their availability. 


Main Street

After the gin tasting tour you will find yourself at the top of Main Street. You'll want to make your way down to Casemates Square to see everything it has to offer. Along Main Street you'll find shops, bakeries and restaurants and a few alleyways to explore. 

If you fancy an afternoon snack, then head to The Muscle Bakery on Cornwall's Lane. I buy treats from here almost every week because not only are they guilt free but I love the unique flavour combinations they come up with! They often have seasonal specials too for Halloween, Christmas and every other holiday in between. Their products are always gluten-free and if you're a gym goer, a lot of these baked treats are also made with a high amount of protein. My personal favourites are the skinny dream bars and the kinder doughnuts. They also have a savoury menu if you don't have much of a sweet tooth. 


If you're visiting from the UK, you'll also recognise some of the high street shops such as Marks & Spencers, Superdry and Debenhams. 

I'm assuming by this point, you'll want to head back to your room to freshen up, upload your instagram pics or just have a good ol' holiday nap. 


Dinner

Last year I did a survey to find out what the best places for a meal out in Gibraltar were, according to locals. Little Bay in Ocean Village came in the top 3 and it's no surprise why! The indian food here is delicious and I've never had a bad meal here. 

This place is always full so expect to wait a while for your food, but it is worth the wait. My usual orders when I go are the chilli cheese naan, the pomegranate aloo tikki chana masala, the anardana jhinga which is a prawn dish, and the chicken murgh makhani. For dessert, the pistachio kulfi is lovely. I also recommend checking out their signature cocktail menu!



Nightlife

One thing which you might find a little different when visiting Gibraltar, is that the nightlife is more buzzing on a Friday. If you're looking for a place to end your night then your best options are Bruno's or Viceroy Nightclub. Both venues are open late on Fridays and Saturdays. Bruno's is free entry and although it's technically a restaurant, they turn the inside space into a dance floor on the weekends. 

Viceroy opened its doors this summer and has an over 25 door policy and charges £10 entry after 11pm on Fridays (Saturday nights are usually free!). If you just fancy some cocktails during the day then it's free to enter and they have a lovely outside area for it. They sometimes have events on with international DJs so it's worth having a look at their website to see what's on! 

Photo by @viceroygib on Instagram


Day 2



Breakfast

When I asked 400 locals what their favourite breakfast spot in Gibraltar was, My Wines was a clear winner. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savoury, or having breakfast with your family there’s something for everyone. I recommend the pancakes, bacon eggs benedict or a simple mollete bread with tomato and jamon serrano if you want a typical Andalusian breakfast. If you visit around autumn/winter, they also have pumpkin spiced lattes on the menu. An interesting breakfast item they have is the ‘breakfast hunger killer’. This combines their famous lemon chicken fingers in a warm mollete with melted cheese. 

If you're a fan of bottomless brunches, then keep your eyes peeled on their Instagram account, as they regularly do 'Brunch n Boogie' events on their terrace. 



Escape Room

If you happen to be staying in the Holiday Inn, then you'll only have a short 5 minute walk to reach the Rock Escape Rooms. I've done a few of these myself and they're always a lot of fun (with a few jump scares here and there). I recommend doing the Jack the Ripper or the Prison Break rooms!

Lunch

From the escape rooms, you can reach the beaches within 10 minutes. First you'll come across Eastern Beach and at the entrance, you'll find Karma Chiringuito. Here you'll find Mediterranean dishes such as paella, fresh seafood, fish and meat. 

They occasionally run wine pairing events too, so make sure to check their Facebook page to see if they're holding one whilst you're here!

Photo from @karmachiringuito on instagram


Beach day

After lunch, you can choose to stay at Eastern Beach or keep walking another 10 minutes towards Catalan Bay or Sandy Bay. Catalan is definitely the prettiest as you'll find a backdrop of colourful houses that will have you thinking you're in Italy. In terms of the actual beach and water, Sandy bay has the softest sand in my opinion! 

Tip from a local: ask for a 'frozen sun top' at the kiosk, it's been a beach staple at the beach in Gibraltar since I was little! 


Lighthouse & Europa Point

Before heading home, catch the number 2 bus to Europa Point to see Gibraltar's lighthouse and some great views of Africa. Here you'll also find the Gibraltar University and the Bistro Point Restaurant, if you want to sit and have a drink with a view. 


Dinner

After you've freshened up, head to Queensway Quay where you'll find a number of restaurants that in my opinion, are the perfect places for a date night or a celebration. Some of these are pricier than other parts of Gibraltar, but the quality of the food matches it. Some of my favourites are:
  • Monique's Bistro for their duck salad and mushroom pilpil;
  • The Lounge for their crispy pork belly with potato terrine;
  • and Rendezvous for their steaks!


Quiz, Karaoke?

If you head to Ocean Village, you'll find something going on most nights. For reference, here is a weekly summary of what's on in Gibraltar at the time of me writing this article. 

Wednesday: Karaoke at Allswell, Bingo at The Hendrix
Thursday: Quiz & Karaoke at The Ship
Friday: Quiz at Hendrix
Saturday: Karaoke at Hendrix or Lord Nelson
Sunday: Quiz at The Bridge 


USEFUL INFO


  • Our first language is English, but you'll find a lot of us also speak Spanish and there are also a lot of spanish nationals working in Gibraltar. 
  • We use pounds in Gibraltar, but you might find some of the notes and coins look slightly different. That's because we also circulate the Gibraltar Pound (GIP) which won't work in the UK, so make sure you get them changed. Euros also work in any shop. 
  • If you're feeling lazy or you've arrived late and want to order food, download the Hungry Monkey app. You can actually claim 10% off your order using my code TEAWITHGI when you checkout. 
  • Please don't refer to Gibraltarians as Spanish, we've fought hard to stay British! ;)
  • Most hotels are quite central, Sunborn Gibraltar is on the higher price range but in the heart of Ocean Village, but the Holiday Inn is just 10 minutes away from it. If you'd rather stay in town, then Elliot's Hotel is your best bet. There are also a lot of Gibraltar AirBnBs popping up, so make sure to look their too!

I hope you've found this post useful! if you want any further info or even fancy meeting up for a coffee when you're in Gibraltar you can reach me on any of my socials below. 











© TEA WITH GI. Design by FCD.