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5 Essential Tips for Solo Travellers!

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5 Essential Tips for Solo Travellers!

Travelling alone is not always sad and mopey and pathetic. It can be a joy because there’s just no one you’ve got to accommodate, no one you’ve got to please. You’re just you and you can do whatever you please (sounds good?). But then again, without knowing what you can do, you’ll not be able to enjoy a nice trip. So here’s another 5 tips for you!

1. Talk to The Locals

It’s easy. Just walk up and say hello. The worst that can happen is you’ll get ignored, or laughed at. The best? You could make a new friend and gain valuable insider knowledge about wherever you are. Locals are always the ones who know the area the best, and may or may not lend you a helping hand when you need it. Solo travellers tend to end up with so many more friends than if they were to travel in a group.

2. Try New Things

There are many things in foreign countries that are fun for solo travellers. You just got to be daring! Try things you wouldn’t try at home (as long as they’re safe). Whether it’s horse riding or quad biking, or something more extreme like scuba diving or skydiving, if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do then go ahead and book it in. However, don’t forget to make sure your guide/teacher understands you (and vice versa) and ensure the experience is safe.

3. Safety First

Perhaps the foremost concern of the solo or single traveler is safety. Without a companion to watch your back, you are more vulnerable to criminals and scam artists, as well as simple health worries. So be careful, know the emergency numbers of the country you’re heading to. 

4. Opt For a Home Stay

Home stay is pretty common when you travel alone. AirBnb offers breakfast and bed with a local host in the country you’re visiting. Staying overnight in a local’s home can be frightening but  it is insightful at the same time. You won’t even feel alone, and you can also learn about the culture and community of the country. It’s like killing two birds with a stone! AirBnb hosts are always ready to host.

5. Local Meals

If you’re afraid of staying over at a stranger’s home, then you can opt for another option, which is to have a meal with the locals. You don’t have to worry about staying over, all the inconvenience you’re afraid of are dispelled if you share a meal with the local host. You can also learn about the culture and community of the country without having to stay over! BonAppetour hosts are always ready to welcome travellers for a hearty meal.

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Honeymooners: Romantic Things to do on Holiday

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Honeymooners: Romantic Things to do on Holiday

"Travel brings power and love back into your life."

Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet, once said that travelling and romance are never two separate entities. When you’re on your honeymoon, don’t give up the chance to travel and relax with your spouse. See the world, and understand the simple bliss in marriage and life.

Here are 5 romantic things that you can do on a holiday with your spouse:

1. CATCH THE SUNRISE

This may sound a little tad cheesy, but have you ever actually got up early to watch the sun rise? Taking your honeymoon as the opportunity to do this will make it even more of a special experience. Remember to pack some food and wine before heading over to a beach. Or, you can always catch the beautiful golden sunrise from the Zattere to the Giudecca Canal. Watch as the sun colours the sky in tinges of vermillion and yellow when the day begins. The waters will amaze you when they turn from light blue to pale orange. Don’t miss this chance to watch the sun rise! 

2. PAMPER YOURSELVES

What better excuse to enjoy the finer things in life than your honeymoon? Why not pamper yourselves with a meal in the classiest restaurant you can find? There are tons of fine dining restaurants that are have quiet music and a soft ambience in which you can enjoy a peaceful meal with your other half. Italy is filled with romantic restaurants available for dining. Amore restaurant near the Trevi fountain in Rome may just be the perfect place for you! “A Little Rome Romance” is what they pride themselves with. 

3. ORDER ROOM SERVICE 

Sounds ridiculous? Ordering room service can actually be a small highlight of your trip. Imagine just lazing in the comfort and warmth of your blankets, with a pipping hot meal before you. It’s splendid. You can catch the morning news or watch some TV whilst spending quality time with your other half. You may just fulfil everyone’s dream of breakfast in bed!

4. PICNIC THE DAY AWAY!

Picnics are cliche in every sense, but they can be the most romantic thing to do if you’re filled with nothing but greenery and beautiful floras beneath a clear blue sky. Pack more sandwiches and a bottle of champagne and head down to the nearest park! If not there are plenty of beautiful parks in Europe that may just be the right place for you. Here’s a list of beautiful parks for you. 

5. COOKING CLASSES.

Perhaps you can take an interesting turn in your choice for romantic things during your honeymoon. Cooking together can be one of the most intimate ways of bonding with your partner, and taking a private cooking class together can allow the two of you to be creative together and learn about each other's strengths. Private cooking classes do not have to cost a bomb with our BonAppetour hosts. Simona, our host in Rome, organises cooking classes where you can customise the menu together, cook and then dine together. There is a joy in creating something, and food is one of the best ways of creating, and that is all the better when you have an experienced chef to guide you along! Do consider making your honeymoon interesting and unique, different from mainstream romance. 

Start planning your honeymoon today and bring romance to the next level! 

Do check out our dining experiences in the most romantic cities in Europe! Rome, Paris 

Image credits: Allisondavisphotography, Touradvisers

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Women Travellers: Travel Tips

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Women Travellers: Travel Tips

Traveling with a group of girlfriends is the best feeling ever. Imagine running for buses and strolling through the designer streets of Italy. Everything can be fun but don’t forget to plan well and learn some tips for group travel! 

Here’s 5 basic tips for women travelling:

1. Save Emergency Contacts

In any situation and in any country, keep yourselves informed of the emergency contacts. It’s something really simple and important, yet neglected by most travellers. Here’s a list of contacts that may come in handy for you when you plan your trip with your friends! 

2. Don't Be Shy

Even though you may be travelling as a group, but don’t be shy. Speaking with other travellers or the locals is a great way to get some interesting travel tips. Hostels are a great way to meet new travellers, so make it a point to hang out at the lounge areas or the bar with your fellow hostel mates. Where possible, ask the locals for recommendations on where are the good places to eat, or which area of the neighbourhood should you go to. The receptionists at your hostel/hotel, your Airbnb hosts, the owner of the sandwich shop at the corner of the street or event the bartender at a nearby bar would definitely have some great tips. 

Immersive cultural experiences 

Make it a point to immerse yourself in cultural activites happening in that city. Food or street festivals like the Carivale in Venice or the San Giovanni festivals around Italy are occasions where the locals come out to celebrate, and joining in the celebrations can make you feel like a part of the city. Be careful of the large crowds though – and stick close together with your group. Apart from major festivals happening while you are there, try out dining with locals at their homes instead. Being invited to a dinner party at a local home is one of the most intimate ways of experiencing life from a local perspective, and of course, a great way to feast on local cuisines with your girlfriends as well. 

3. Do the Walking Tours

Italy may be a little huge and intimidating for some travellers, especially when you could have heard about the occurrences of con men/women that may be waiting for the perfect opportunity. But fear not, instead of joining a huge tour group that you may be stuck with the entire duration of your trip, you can always join the walking tours. Walking tours let you kill two birds with one stone, and it’s much safer, even for group of women. 

4. Manicures

Something that is second to shopping, girls always look out for beauty salon. Manicures are famous and prevalent in Italy, especially in Florence. Perhaps you might have heard of the horror stories about getting your nails done in Italy, where there are chances of ending up with bloody cuticles. But fear not, there are places in Florence, Italy that serve customers well and leave you satisfied with perfect nails! Istituto di Bellezza Genny brings you a soothing and relaxing manicure! 

5. Shopping

Chain Stores and Mainstream Shopping in Rome
Via del Corso, and the streets that radiate from it, is the most obvious shopping area. The mile-long street which runs from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo has a range of afforadble shops, including the Ferrari flagship store, numerous shoe stores, popular fashion brands like Diesel and Benetton.

Going out with a group of girls, this is something that can never be missed out. Yes, it’s shopping! Here’s a list of areas to shop, from high end to mainsteam to flea markets in Rome.

Looking for High Fashion in Rome?

Some of the biggest names in Italian fashion – Fendi, Valentino, Bulgari – hail from Rome and you will find their flagship stores, as well as boutiques by Prada, Armani, Versace, Ferragamo, Cavalli, Gucci, and many others, along the grid of streets near the Spanish Steps. 

Flea Markets
There are several good outdoor markets, flea markets, and places to buy antiques in Rome. Porta Portese, which operates on Sundays from 7am until 1pm, is the most important flea market in Rome and is one of the largest flea markets in Europe. At Porta Portese, you’ll find everything from antique housewares to secondhand clothing and music to original art, jewelry, posters, furniture, etc. It is the perfect place to find random trinkets with your friends and bring them all home!

Image credits: Backroads, Fleamarketinsiders, Newswire, Dailymail.co.uk, Blogthecoverage

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