Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia …

March 18, 2019

    Hubby and I recently returned from 3 weeks travelling through various parts of Asia and our first stop was Kuala Lumpur (KL). We had previously visited KL about 15 years ago and decided to stopover for 3 nights on our way to Vietnam. As we had seen most of the sites on our last trip, we wanted to visit somewhere new and settled on the Batu Caves.   Taking their name from the Batu River that flows nearby, the Batu Caves can be found inside a large limestone hill which features 3 main caves and a series of smaller ones. It’s a very … read more

How I Get the Best and Cheapest Accommodation when I Travel …

February 1, 2017

  I’m excited! In 7 weeks and 4 days, I’m jumping on a plane and flying to London … but who’s counting! My youngest daughter went to the UK for a Gap Year in late December so I’m heading over for three weeks to see my gorgeous girl and take in some sights at the same time. You can read a little more about her adventure here: Bon Voyage … My Sweet Girl …   We will be staying in London for 6 days, travelling to Paris for 6 days, heading up to Edinburgh for 4 days, flying to Ireland for a week and then it will be time to say farewell! I booked my flights … read more

My Dental Experience in Thailand …

January 12, 2017

    Please note, this is my personal story and an account of our experience when hubby and myself recently travelled to Thailand for dental work. It is in no way a judgement of Australian dentists who, in my opinion, are qualified, well-trained, empathetic and ethical professionals. It is also in no way a recommendation that everyone should book the next flight to Thailand, or any other country, to have dental work carried out. The decision to have dental work, or any other medical procedure, performed in another country is a difficult, important and … read more

Simple Hints and Tips for Buying, Using and Organising your Travel Adaptors …

January 18, 2016

  These days when I travel, I rarely leave home without my laptop, ipad and mobile. Add to that my camera and I end up with quite a few electronic devices, all of which need to be charged to be useful. Therefore, one of my absolute essentials is one (or more) travel adaptors for the country I’m visiting. It’s simply a plug that allows my devices to work or be charged in overseas powerpoints, which typically have different fittings to the power points here in Australia.   Yet despite their necessity, they are also one of the easiest things to overlook … read more

The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA …

December 23, 2015

  Located in Arizona, the Grand Canyon is spectacular and has been carved out over time by the mighty Colorado River. It is just over 440km long, 29km wide and over 1800 metres deep … wow … and, if you have time, a side trip here is often high on the list for anyone visiting Las Vegas.   We first visited the Grand Canyon just over 20 years ago, so when we found ourselves heading to Vegas for a wedding, we decided another trip needed to be included on our itinerary. There are two main parts to the Canyon, the North Rim and the South Rim and the first time … read more

Trump International Hotel, Las Vegas, USA …

November 23, 2015

  For those of you that are new to the blog, in October, hubby and I travelled to Las Vegas to attend a friend’s wedding. We stayed at three hotels while in Vegas and you can read about our first night at The Luxor here, followed by 4 nights at The Cosmopolitan here. On our final night in Vegas, we weren’t able to extend our stay at The Cosmopolitan, so we checked into the Trump International Hotel and boy, were we impressed.   Trump International is a 64-storey hotel with just over 1200 rooms. It’s located about 200 metres off the Strip, and although that … read more

Zion National Park, Utah, USA …

November 7, 2015

  Late last year, hubby and I attended a friend’s wedding in Las Vegas. We had an absolute blast and it was so much fun. After 6 days of craziness and neon lights, however, we were ready for a change of pace. We hired a car and drove to Springdale, Utah, where we stayed overnight before setting out the next day to explore Zion National Park. The drive from Vegas was only about 3 hours and very easy along Interstate 15. Springdale itself is a gorgeous, small, quaint township of less than 1000 people but whose population swells by the tens of thousands of people … read more

Organising What to Wear for a Long Distance Flight …

November 3, 2015

  Miss 17 recently travelled overseas to play netball. It was such an exciting time for her but she had to plan and pack very carefully as she would be travelling between two totally different climates … the oppressive heat of Singapore to the cold, wet winter of Paris. We busily planned what she would pack but also gave a lot of thought to what she would wear on the plane. Whether your 17 or 70, I think the same general principles apply. It’s about finding a balance between looking good and being comfortable, so here are my tips for organising your clothes and … read more

Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA …

September 22, 2015

  We recently went to Las Vegas to attend a friend’s wedding and decided that we’d turn it into a bit of a holiday. After going to the wedding and spending an action packed 6 days in Las Vegas, the pace slowed a little when we hired a car and headed to Utah to visit Bryce Canyon. I’d always been intrigued by this part of the country having heard wonderful stories about the spectacular scenery but nothing really prepared us for just how spectacular it was.     Bryce Canyon is a National Park and has the largest collection of hoodoos in the … read more

9 Simple Tips for Labelling your Luggage when you Travel …

September 14, 2015

  Until you’ve had one of your suitcases lost by an airline, it’s difficult to imagine that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach you experience when you’re the last person waiting beside the luggage carousel and there are no more suitcases circling on the conveyor belt.   It happened to us about ten years ago and I found myself wondering “Has someone taken/stolen my luggage either intentionally or accidentally?” or “Is my luggage on it’s way to some remote location in Alaska?” Either way, as panic sets in, you’re next thought will usually be “Am I … read more

Hotel Review … The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, USA …

September 4, 2015

  I recently shared a review on The Luxor, the hotel where we stayed on our first night in Vegas … it turned out to be ideal following our midnight arrival by plane. For the next three nights, however, we chose The Cosmopolitan. Prior to booking, I hadn’t heard of this hotel and I think that’s because it is one of the most recent to be built on The Strip. It opened on December 10, 2010, consisting of two high rise towers that feature 2,995 rooms, 3 pools, convention/meeting space, shops, restaurants, an 1,800 seat theatre and, of course, a Casino. But probably … read more

The Deuce Bus, Las Vegas …

August 31, 2015

  On our recent trip to Las Vegas it was hot … so hot, in fact, that walking the vast distances along The Strip became uncomfortable and exhausting. There’s so much to see on the Strip and the hotels are so huge, most with several thousand rooms.   Each hotel features it’s own unique design and attractions all aimed at pulling the crowds inside. For example, at the Venetian you can glide along the Grand Canal in an authentic Venetian gondola as your gondolier sings to you. You will float through a typical Venetian streetscape under bridges and beside … read more

Hotel Review … The Luxor, Las Vegas, USA …

August 25, 2015

  Hubby and I were recently in Las Vegas in America to attend a friend’s wedding. It was held in the Chapel at Planet Hollywood and we had so much fun. Because we were going to travel so far, we decided to turn it into a bit of a holiday and I’ve had loads of requests from readers who wanted to know more about our trip, the things we did and where we stayed.   So, over time, I’ll share the details of our adventures (along with some tips) and I thought I’d start today by sharing my experience at the first hotel we stayed at … The Luxor in Las Vegas, … read more

Simple Tips to Help Organise Makeup, Skincare and Hair Products when you Travel …

July 18, 2015

  I usually find myself on a plane at least half a dozen times a year including visits to see family and friends interstate, business trips or a conference accompanying my hubby and the occasional holiday. I’ve learned a few tricks that ensure I travel with only the minimum makeup, skincare and hair products that I can get away with. I’m keenly aware of the size and weight of those items so I try to reduce what I have to pack and carry … after all, the less room they take up, the more space I have for my shopping.   So, here we go:   Find … read more

How to Create a Currency Converter to Use when Travelling …

June 26, 2015

  Travelling overseas is exciting … new things to see and do, new foods to taste, new experiences to be had and usually some shopping to buy things either not available at home or some souvenirs to remind you of your trip.   But when you’re in another country dealing with another currency, it can be confusing and difficult to judge if you’re getting value for your money. Whenever I buy anything overseas I like to do a quick calculation to figure out how much I’m actually spending in Australian dollars so I can evaluate if what I’m buying is worth it. When … read more