How To Decide Where To Tavel!

You might have every travel channel possible, google and pin a thousand different places, but the only real way to find inspiration is to get out there, see it, and experience it. Travel should start at an early age (Children under 2 fly free, so take advantage if you can!) I try to discover one new city or country a year, aim to go to as many places as I have pages in my passport. 

The Tourist can be a horrible stereotype; the trick is to blend in with the locals, respect their culture and the doors will open for you to explore. Picking a destination is like deciding which chocolate to pick from the box; you can see what it looks like in the picture, but you don't know what it is like on the inside until you have taken a bite. Take a risk, and find a new favourite. 

The internet can be a great source of inspiration so can books and movies - The Sound of Music will take you to Salzburg, Moulin Rouge to Paris, A Suitable Boy to India. Everyone should visit the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, stand at the top of the Empire State Building, wake up on a tropical island. 

Do you have travel plans? This year Wonderland is off to Prague, Amsterdam and India in the New Year, how about you? Or where do you dream of going next? 

Pack Like A Pro!

Packing has become an art for. Whether going on a short trip or long journey, you don't want to find yourself with 'nothing to wear'. Avoid packing too much and bring things that are interchangeable. For example, with each pair of trousers you should have three tops that work.  It's good to add layered outfits so you can add or take away, as no one can ever really predict the weather. 

 

Never pack too little. Always bring a jacket, even if you're going to a warm place, you don't want to get stuck in the cold when the sun goes in. 

Avoid bringing too many shoes - easier said than done - but they bulky to pack. Try to plan outfits around two pairs, plus the ones you're travelling in, which should be the ones that are least easy to pack, say your biker boots. Be versatile. Also stuff the toes of heels with tissue paper, scarves or rolled up tights so that they keep their shape in the case. 

 

Accessories are key for the traveller. They are small, and a great way to change and modify  your looks (belts, jewellery,  and scarves all pack well) Dresses are also great travel items as you can roll then into your case, and they are whole look in one. 

 It is always good to have one dressy look, just in case you end up somewhere fancy. Lastly, a great pashmina or shawl is a must have. It is as stylish as it is adaptable, from wrapping round you on a plane, to draping over your shoulders in the evening. 

Do you have any packing tips?

Worlds Wackiest Hotels!

Generally, we like our hotels luxurious and beautiful. But sometimes, you just want something a little different—like a hotel shaped like a donut, or a capsule hanging off a cliff's edge.

Here are our picks!

…a Jet-Setting Plane maybe?

One look at China's "Doughnut Hotel"—otherwise known as the Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort—and it's little surprise that its architect, Beijing-born Ma Yansong, was named as one of the most creative people in architecture. The newly opened resort actually consists of three buildings, two of which curve to form a 27-story torus that towers over Taihu Lake, west of Shanghai in the Yangtze River Delta.

 The Ecocamp’s design is inspired by the dwellings of the Kawésqar, the all-but-extinct nomadic seafarers who devised domed huts to withstand 100-mile-per-hour winds. Though the 24 geodesic domes, run entirely on hydro- and solar power, provide some domestic comforts—bathrooms have flush toilets and running water—staying here isn’t for anyone unwilling to be immersed in the elements.

 A "oneness" theme is central to Tom and Rosey Chudleigh's woodland hideaway on Vancouver Island: Each of the couple's three rentable spheres was designed to blend innocuously into its natural surroundings. The cosy modules are strung to 15 feet off the ground with heavy-duty ropes and are anchored by nearby timber; they sway ever so gently with the whims of Mother Nature (or more turbulently as guests move about inside). The orbs are wired with electricity and stay toasty-warm in winter. Guests must be 16 or older.

Though Bivacco Gervasutti seems to rest precariously at 9,300 feet above sea level, the capsule is well-secured—it was designed to prevent snow accumulation, resist avalanches, and withstand high-altitude conditions (and it provides sleeping, dining, and living space for 12). The only trick is getting there: The ascent from Val Ferret Valley to Mont Blac's Frebouze Glacier takes about four hours.

A decade ago, a family decided to make a resort inspired by the way animals live, “perched lightly on the land.” Five years of permits and two years of construction later, this collection of 16 yurts dotting 11 acres along a bluff 400 feet above the Pacific Coast runs on its own generator, has a 65-foot ocean-view bar, sources all of its veggies within 40 miles, and feeds leftovers from its California cuisine restaurant and sushi bar to 18 resident chickens. Each yurt has hot and cold running water but no showers or toilets (those are in the main house, which has heated tile floors).

Snow pods.

Leave it to Las Vegas to bring Barbie's Dream House to life, courtesy of famed potter/interior designer Jonathan Adler, who created the Barbie Suite at the always-over-the-top Palms Hotel. Not a single detail has been overlooked in this 2,350-square-foot hot pink paradise, where girls of any age can live out their Barbie fantasies (the room can hold up to 50 people). Corseted "dress" chairs, custom wall coverings, a two-way fireplace, oversized Jacuzzi, and a sunburst-styled mirror constructed from 65 actual Barbie dolls are just a few of the amenities you'll enjoy in these ultra-girly digs.

This room—one of the hotel's most popular—drew inspiration from the "tankstelle," or gas station. Guests sleep beneath a massive pump canopy stained with "petrol grime" and emblazoned with the Shell logo. The room is also decked out with authentic 1920s Shell memorabilia, including an authentic Shell pump station and petrol canisters.

The newest of the bunch, this architectural treehouse villa just won the Grand Tourism Prize, Sweden's most prestigious travel award. Only five of its 24 rooms are presently available for booking (the rest are still under construction); one resembles a UFO, another a Brobdingnagian bird's nest, and yet another a gleaming mirrored cube. The Scandinavian design emphasizes sustainability: Rooms are outfitted with hydroelectric power, LED lights, and toilets that odorlessly combust or freeze waste; showers are located in a separate unit, as is the tree sauna. Though the closest town has a population of just 600, outdoorsy types will find no shortage of invigorating activities, from hiking and horseback riding to dog sledding and kayaking.

Would you stay in any of these?

Our Travel Tips!

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How you travel is surely up to you, but you will obviously be doing it in style! However that is not dependent on whether you travel first class, or having the latest Vuitton luggage, although most obviously help! 

So what will your travel choice be? The most uncomfortable? the tandem bike, then there is the most expensive - a private jet; the most romantic? the gondola; the most environmentally friendly - a glider or a sail boat. The decision is yours. There is always a car, coach and train, but why not jazz things up and look at a trip on the Orient Express, the Trans-Siberian Railway, or take the Eurostar. Sailing encompasses everything from canoes to cruises. Then of course there is flying, how about a private helicopter or a hot air balloon? Horse drawn carriages, elephants and camels are also options, but they are rather slow and have limited on board entertainment. 

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Now lets be fair the chances are you will be travelling by plane, and our travel tips mostly cover the airport! It is essential to arrive early at the airport, not only does it give you time to do all the necessary check-in and security rituals, but the early bird does baggeth the best seats. 

Upgrading is not an every day occurance but it is more frequent that winning the lottery. It is at the discretion of those behind the counter who gets the bulkhead and who gets the seat next to the toilets. (However with online booking you can also request seats so the early bird does get the worm!) Smile, remember that happiness is mainly dependent on the mood of the person at the check in desk, rather than the number of seats sold on the flight. Dress smartly, but not so smartly you look try hard and will be uncomfortable. 

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In economy the best seats are those next to the emergency exists, as they often have more leg room, although they can be colder. On long haul flights opt for the middle section at the front of the plane, as this is where the fold down area for travel cots and tots is and so there's a bit of extra room. The downside is that a screaming infant might be brought on to use the area. But if you have to be ousted to make room for the travel cot, there's a chance you could be upgraded. 

 

Try hard to have compact hand luggage. Take a rich heavy moisturiser (well buy one at duty free - remember liquids are now banned)  Face spray (same rules apply) a bunch of magaznes, note book, phone (obviously!) and a thick pair of socks. If you are smartly dressed for the airport then take something comfy to change into. Don't underestimate what can be found at duty free, and at great prices. (Just be aware on the restrictions - although they are secure and go through the checkpoints - some countries have rules on arrival so make sure you check them, it's pointless spending lots of Chanel No. 5 to then only get it confiscated at the other end!) 

For more advice on inflight travel check our flight tips! 

Do you have any travel tips?