My house in Budapest

Being back at Uni as a final year has certainly given me the travelling blues! So, as I had a week off Uni, my bezzie and I decided to go on a long weekend break to Budapest!

We bought tickets for the Big Bus Tour which actually turned out to be a fantastic investment! For less than £40 we got a 3 day bus ticket for all over the city along with tickets to visit one of the main thermal Baths and a River Cruise along the Danube, the river which divides BUDA from PEST. This saves you a lot of money on transport and you can hop on and off at any part of the city! Oh, and we also enjoyed the head set commentary with interesting information and facts about the city-nerds!

A good place to start is on the Buda side on Castle Hill, where we saw the gorgeous St Mathias Church and had a coke whilst taking in the stunning views from Fishermen’s Bastion which over look the whole city. We took the river cruise the first evening when the city was lit up- whilst making the most of the cocktails, the views were amazing especially the houses of Parliament, the Royal Palace and Chain Bridge. (the main bridge which connects Buda to Pest) 

The next day we went to the famous Szechenyi Baths just up from Heroes Square, the city’s grandest square. We went late afternoon so we could have a day and night experience. The buildings are magnificent and it's a really relaxed atmosphere- with many pools reaching a temperature of up to 40 degrees. Getting out was a killer! There are lots of different baths to visit- all stunning in their own ways and with various Spa facilities. In the evenings in Budapest it is a MUST to visit the ruin bars- old abandoned buildings turned into wonderful quirky bars. Our favourite was Szimpla Kert, where you can spend ages walking around exploring or find a weird corner and chill with shisha and an elderflower strongbow! (cheap drinks too) 

We were lucky enough to find accommodation in the heart of the city centre on Vaci Utca. This is the city’s main shopping street and is the perfect place to stroll along and try some traditional Hungarian cuisine! We found our little chic room on air b & b, which I really recommend. It was reasonably cheap at £60 each for 4 nights- so along with the cheap deal on flights we were pretty impressed!

All in all a beautiful city with many great attractions of which I have only mentioned a few! I definitely recommend Budapest for the perfect short retreat! 

Sardinia

One day whilst looking on easy jet at flights home to the UK I saw an offer saying 'Nice to Sardinia from £27.' As we finished Uni earlier than expected we thought we would YOLO it and book a little holiday (As if Nice wasn't good enough already!) 

All I knew about Sardinia was its reputation for idyllic beaches with turquoise waters and white sand- well it certainly lived up to this! We stayed in a small peaceful town called Isola Rossa on the North West Coast. We stayed in a residence called Tanca della torre, which are clean, spacious apartments with terraces and as we went before high season we payed around 11 euros each a night! Amazing value. Of course they are self catered, but the kitchen are well equipped and there are a coupe of little supermarkets in the town, which have the essentials! There are also a couple of family run restaurants or bars if you don't fancy cooking yourself! But thats about it in the town apart from the odd classic tourist shop to buy a postcard or a beach towel you forgot to pack! 

However, the surrounding beaches are stunning and very quiet- I think at times we had them to ourselves! There are also lots of trails to go exploring! There is a small water park just up the road, but that doesn't open until the main summer months! We noticed a spa hotel, which could be worth checking out and some thermal pools nearby too.

The town of Castelsardo is a charming medieval village close to Isola Rossa, which is known to be one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. From the top of the Castle the views are stunning- definitely worth a visit.

As beautiful as Isola Rossa is, we were grateful that we hired a car so that we could go on a couple of day trips! We hardly saw a single bus, so not sure how easy it is to get around or to and from the airport without a car so definitely something to think about! 

One day we took a trip to Alghero where we drove to see the Neptune Caves- the best way to access them is by boat, however we drove and had to climb hundreds of stairs- but it was worth it! There are loads of small idyllic beaches around the area- we just pulled in to the first couple we saw on sign posts on the way back from the caves and they were beaut. Another day trip we took was to some beaches around Olbia Tempio, which you can tie in with going to the airport. 

I think wherever you go in Sardinia you will have the same stunning beaches and various historical sites to visit, check out some of my pics! I had such a nice and relaxing few days it felt very surreal! 

21st Birthday

I was fortunate enough to be living in Nice for my 21st birthday, and wanted to do something memorable! A few weeks before my birthday I noticed a boat rental office in Villefranche, and that seemed like something cool I could do....so, I went in and enquired. Of course, I went ahead with the idea and rented a small motor boat for the day of my birthday! We had a skipper, and 8 friends and I were picked up from Nice port! It was a beautiful sunny day and we cruised around the french riviera in style (with lots of champagne!) We stopped off at various little beaches along the coast to have a swim/sunbathe and some food! It was during the time of the GrandPrix and we even managed to stop in Monaco Port and listen to/see the cars whizzing by. A great atmosphere! I hired the boat with Easy Boat Rentals in Villefranche- they were fantastic in ensuring I had the best day I could- very friendly, efficient and organised. I had such an amazing day and will never forget turning 21 in true style!

Cannes & the Film Festival

Cannes Film Festival is one the best known film festivals in the world. Although the chance of getting into film showings or ending up at a party with Leo is next to 0, the town is full of celebs so if you hang around by the red carpet long enough or linger by some of the top bars/restaurants/hotels and clubs or luxury Yachts, you could be in for a celebrity spot! But, even if you don't, the town has a great buzz and atmosphere during the festival. There is also a huge screen on the beach giving tourists the chance to watch films, which is also a great experience. Outside of the festival, I enjoyed hopping on the train from Nice to visit Cannes. It has a magnificent boulevard full of palm trees and stunning buildings with beautiful sandy beaches running along side. It has a very rich and luxurious feel about it and is very pleasant to wonder around gazing into designer shops or relaxing in a cafe watching the world go by!

Nikki Beach by Yacht..

I think its safe to say we completed the true south of France experience by ending up on a 100ft Yacht to St Tropez! We happened to get chatting to a group of people during the Cannes Film Festival who were taking out their Yacht on a trip to Nikki Beach the following day- apparently owned by a music composer for films, but who knows! But after being sceptical at first of the offer to join them, we all got on well and couldn't possibly turn such an opportunity down! It was a very surreal day- cruising along the Cote d'Azur in a 100ft Yacht- catching some rays out on the top deck, unlimited drinks and a three course paid for meal at Nikki Beach! Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Villefranche-Sur-Mer

A beautiful atmospheric coastal town in-inbetween Nice and Monaco, perfect for exploring by foot with cobbled alleys, steep steps and secret passages of a medieval village. It The easiest way to get there from neighbouring towns is to hop on the train or to catch the 100 bus. Only minutes away from the bustling town of Nice, Villefranche makes a great escape to a more peaceful environment with fewer tourists! The beach is sandier which makes sunbathing very pleasant! It oozes character and historic charm- one of my favourite places for a day visit whilst living in Nice.

Monaco/Monte Carlo

Since we arrived in Nice, Sian and I had long been awaiting a trip to Monaco/Monte Carlo...and when we found out it was 40 minutes away on the bus we were off! We just went for a few hours when my mum was here, but got to see plenty. We visited the Prince's Palace, where we saw the changing of the guards, the cathedral and some of the many stunning gardens. We also had a nice wander around Monaco Ville and the Port, where we ate lunch and couldn't believe our eyes at some of the boats! There are also boat and train tours which take you to the main attractions, which looked good... Don't forget your wallet to try your luck in the Grand Casino! 

I LOVED Monaco, definitely going back in the near future, don't see why I wouldn't at €1.50 each way on the bus! (The bus is the 100, and you can get it just off Garibaldi Square, here is the time table)