Most memorable nights sleep while travelling (Travel Link Up)

Being a travel addict and ex-flight attendant means that I have been through my share of places. Some beautiful, some charming, some ugly and some just downright plain and forgettable. The memorable for me are those that have a story, good or bad, something that stands out.

Thanks to the lovely girls Emma and Kelly and Rebecca for this travel link up.

My most memorable was a night in Athens (I surprised even myself with that one). The hotel was nice and the bed was comfortable enough but that had nothing to do with why it was memorable. It was the earthquake. I slept through it. Sort of.

I was slightly woken up in the middle of the night to what, to me, sounded like a massive truck rumbling along as it sped through the street. It was so loud it felt like the walls were shaking. In my half sleep half dream stupor I didn't think more of it and drifted off back to sleep. When all that noise was followed with a loud bang and what felt like the bed shifting off the wall and slam back into it, I simply thought I was dreaming.

In the cold light of day the next morning, I began to wonder...did I really dream all that? The girl at reception told me that Athens had an earthquake that night and it was one of their bigger ones. There wasn't any major damage as they are prepared for such things but I was shocked. I SLEPT through a big earthquake!! I thanked my lucky stars that it wasn't more serious and at the same time laughed at how, for a light sleeper, I'd managed to sleep through it. Oops.

My favourite sleep was in Santorini where I was waking up to the gorgeous blue and white every morning on my own terrace. My worst sleep was in Naples during my trip through Italy. Seriously, I wanted to sleep on the floor the bed was that uncomfortable. I also really enjoyed staying Freising, Munich. The hotel was cute, comfortable and an easy walk to the village which was off the regular touristy path.

I also had a minor incident with an inconsiderate girl at a hostel when I first arrived in London who insisted on waking up the entire room while drying her hair every morning but I'll save that story for another day.


What was you most memorable sleep while travelling?

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Moving to London and Finding a New Home

Recently i was very lucky to have Internations publish an expat guide i wrote on Finding a New Home in London. If you are moving to London and are looking for a place, be it a shared house or your own, then have a read of my article, it will be a great starting point.

I have been through the rigmarole of trying to find accommodation in London. I have both lived in a shared house and have rented my own place, and for anyone new to London, there are some things that can be a bit daunting.

While writing this article, i did realise that i have a whole lot more to say on the subject than i initially thought so i am considering writing more here in the hopes that others will find it useful. Be sure to leave me a comment or send me an email if there is anything in particular you wish to know.

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Tokyo and Kyoto accommodation

Dreaming of Shinjuku...

For those of you who are interested, i thought I'd post about the two places i stayed while in Tokyo and Kyoto. Both places were different and have their pros and cons but i still recommend them and i would definitely stay there again given the chance.

In Tokyo i stayed at the Shinjuku Prince Hotel, in Shinjuku. The hotel is in a FANTASTIC location. it is not the cheapest but if you can get it on sale,its worth it. It is a few minutes away from Shinjuku train station which is serviced by the Narita Express (Express train that serves Narita, one of Tokyo's main airports). All the lights, sights, sounds and bustling urban atmosphere is right on your doorstep. And it doesn't matter which side your room is on, your bound to get a great view.

The thing you will need to bear in mind is that if you are a non-smoker, you have to specifically mention that you want a non-smoking room when making the booking or you will find yourself on a smoking floor which is not pleasant. This happened to me. The first leg of my trip I'd mentioned i wanted a non-smoking room but the second leg I'd neglected to mention it in my booking. But the staff were quite understanding and efficient in sorting out a non-smoking room for me to move to.

The other thing you will need to bear in mind is that hotel rooms in general all over Tokyo are on the smaller side. The bathroom was like something out of a spaceship and the room was....ultra-compact. They had all the necessary amenities such as shampoo/conditioner/body soap/shaver/body sponge/toothbrush/comb etc.

The tea/coffee facilities were limited to green tea and a small thermos that could be filled with hot water from a machine on the landing near the lifts. Also, there was no minibar but there was a vending machine also near the lifts.

Pics of the hotel and views from the hotel

Shinjuku Prince Hotel - 2 bed room

Shinjuku Prince hotel vending machine

Views of Shinjuku

Japan is known for a different type of accommodation called the Ryokan. It is a sort of inn which is usually desgined in the traditional family style home. They have tatami mats and futons on the floor and usually a small garden. They can be VERY expensive. Luckily my friend A- knew of one in Kyoto - Ryokan Rukucho - that didnt cost an arm an a leg and that was family run. 

This Ryokan did not have a meal package (which can be the norm where breakfast or dinner is included in the nightly rate) and was located slightly outside the main bustle of Kyoto city. This was probably why it was so affordable. An added benefit to staying here was that it had a small shared kitchenette and washer and dryer. My favorite touch however was the electric blankets :) Bathroom facilities are shared but they had both a western style bathroom (ie shower) and Japanese style bathroom where you wash yourself before getting into a deep tub of hot water.

I actually enjoyed being located a little bit outside of the city centre as it gave me a better sense of what local life was like. But as it was serviced by an underground line and buses direct to the city centre and many of the sightseeing spots it didn't feel as though i was far from anything or missing out.

Ryokan Rukucho - Sakura room

Pretty sweet view

A little thank you note i left for the owners

Considering i was visiting Japan for the Sakura, it seemed an apt room to stay in.

The Emergency Exit ladder

High tech toilet control panel

The lovely owner seeing me off after my stay in the front garden

So thats my 2 cents on where i stayed while in Japan, i promise that they are my own views and experiences and that i wasn't paid to write this post. If you find yourself in Tokyo or Kyoto then check them out for yourself :)

Vanishing Point

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