Mannas Travels

This blog post is definitely a long time coming. Rather than breaking up my New Zealand Cruise I’ve decided to do one big review. A lot of people I’ve met are constantly apprehensive about whether cruises are truly worth it. So I’ve decided to give you all my opinion. 100% yes.

The cruises I’ve gone on tend to be between $1000-$2000 depending how long you go for and where. This was my second cruise and was even better than the first! Most people my age are scared that cruises are full of 50-60 year old couples and while the majority of people are more mature, I made so many friends that were between 18-28. Most of us met at the nightclub or 18+ boat parties held on the main deck. Cruises are great ways to relax, meet new people and eat all day!

The food is incredible and thank God nothing like aeroplane food. Most of the food is free, however, some restaurants require payment. In saying that, these restaurants tend to require a quarter of the coast that they would on land. Some of the food that costs extra is sushi, fish and chips (prawns muscles etc) and the level 10 restaurant. The probes are minimal and you’re saying so much already on food I always found it justifiable to pay here and there.

There’s never enough time on land. Especially in Auckland. I did one tour and had to go back but it was still an amazing experience where I was able to go through a beautiful rainforest.

From someone who has travelled overseas more than most my age - in the humblest way - I personally feel cruises are the only holidays I’ve ever truly relaxed. When you travel to Europe or America, there’s so much to see you want to go everywhere and see everything. When you’re on a cruise, there’s one boat. You have 10+ days to explore 24/7.

If I was under 18 I definitely would prefer to be older, however, it’s just as fun. I have been on a cruise when I was underage, and there have been heaps of things to do! Being 18 allows for a bit more freedom and definitely the ability to make more friends!

Some of my closest friends were made on this cruise, some who I still keep in contact with! Friendships I’ll cherish for my life. It’s amazing the kind of people you meet on trips like this.

Overall, I think cruises are the best way to have a relaxing holiday. They are so cheap for what you get from them!

Day 1

The first day of any cruise I feel is a ride off. We weren’t able to broad until 2:30 so we spent the day exploring Sydney, eating lunch and dropping off our luggage at the ship.

Once we had free range on the ship we took a tour of the spa. We initially thought the tour of the spa was just someone taking us to the spa, however, the point of the spa tour was to force us to sign up for various things like acupuncture and gym classes. One negative about the spa was the staff’s forcefulness to sell products and treatments. Other than that the entire cruise was incredible. After settling in, my sister and I explored the ship finding various relaxation areas available to those above 18 to avoid children interrupting our calming holiday.

One of the best features of the ship is the ‘Serenity Bar.’ It’s a small area on the back of a ship with a spa, pool, and numerous chairs and bed pods for guests to enjoy. For days at sea, the Serenity Bar is incredible.

After exploring and relaxing, we booked a spa treatment and prepared for dinner. The benefits of a cruise are the incredible low price, which includes all meals and accommodation. However, the spa prices are incredibly expensive.

Dinner on the Carnival Cruise Ship is great. For the full cruise, you sit at the same table each night with the same wait staff. By the end of the cruise you do have a fun relationship with the staff you see regularly. The food on the boat is great. There’s a different menu every night so no matter how long you stay on the boat you don’t get sick of the food.

Day 2 and 3.

Travelling overseas every time I needed a break from uni or work or life in general is 100% unrealistic. Sometimes a small getaway in your home country or hometown is just as important as traveling worldwide. When I need a quick break I typically go into the Melbourne CBD. However, when the idea was presented for me to travel to Mornington for a few days with my closest girlfriends, I jumped at the chance.

The weekend began driving up to Rye. Day one was a relaxed day of watching movies over indulging and relaxing the day away. On the second day we were able to fully immerse ourselves in the surroundings.

We went to the Mornington peninsula hot springs, to enjoy the amazing bathes. At first the idea of public bathing was scary and sounded grotesque, however, once we arrived and entered the water I understood the relaxing benefits of the hot springs. While we were unable to book any treatments at the spa, the morning at the hot springs was just as enjoyable as I imagine the treatments could have been. The rest of the trip was spent relaxing and winding down.

I was fortunate enough to spend my 18th birthday overseas. I tried to find out as many fun things to do for an 18th in Italy but couldn’t find anything online!

Eventually, I organised my own ideas and had the best birthday of my life. As someone who is a massive fan of history, visiting the Colosseum is a must. So for my birthday, the day started inside a world of gladiators. Visiting the Colosseum took an hour to an hour and a half. There were so many cool photos I was able to take and as someone who has studied photography, I was very excited. I also had an audio tour with me which told me numerous facts about the Colosseum and how it was used. I think the Colleseum is a must for absolutely anyone! Typically I hate crowds, however, the Colosseum is so beautiful that the crowds are worth it.

After the Colleseum, I had lunch out and spent the rest of the day visiting the Spanish Steps and surrounding areas. The Spanish steps are quite interesting, while I didn’t know a lot about them and to this day don’t know why they’re even called the Spanish Steps I took some photos and found a bar at the top of the steps as well as some street art. Obviously, as it was my 18th I went straight to the bar, I shared some drinks with my sister and enjoyed the sun while being in ITALY! I’m not sure my 18th could have been much better.

I absolutely adored the street art and so I found pieces and purchased them - side tip: always haggle. If they don’t budge, walk away and they’ll quickly agree to your price. Providing its reasonable of course. Don’t suggest a euro for a full-sized piece. There were so many artists around that they will definitely negotiate.

For the night, I went back home, re-did my hair and makeup, changed my clothes and was ready for dinner. I ate near the Trevi fountain, however, far enough from it that the food was still good and not overpriced. The biggest mistake tourists make is eating in popular areas, getting bad food at high prices. Always travel a little further from whichever tourist location you’re at, no matter what country you’re in, everyone should always do this! You will save more money than you even realise.

At the end of the night, I did the one thing I was deadset on doing. Visiting the Trevi fountain at night. As a child, I had seen films of the Trevi fountain during the day and at night. I definitely thought that going at night with the lights would be so beautiful! It was. Ignoring the annoying people attempting to sell me selfie sticks, I stood in awe at the beauty.

TIPS FOR HAVING A BIRTHDAY OVERSEAS!

1. Always research what you would like to do and create a plan before leaving your country.

2. Don’t be afraid to not stick to your plan, if you end up seeing a nice bar or restaurant that you would prefer, go for it!

3. Plan an outfit to bring from home as a backup but try buy something overseas. For me, it made it feel more special because I was overseas, wearing an outfit that I bought overseas, celebrating my birthday overseas.

The journey from central London to Harry Potter Studios is a big one. Making this trip on a day when London’s trains went on strike made it that much worse. The morning started with running in the rain wearing large coats trying to find a train station that was so big, we struggled to find our way around. Once arriving at the closest station - Watford Junction Railway Station - to Harry Potter Studios, a bus was provided to take people from the station to the Studios. I found this an asset to the experience; it made the entire journey easier. Being surrounded by so many Harry Potter lovers and being able to watch some behind the scenes videos made the whole bus ride that much more exciting. The anticipation for the tour grew as the videos went on. While I had missed my set tour time of 12, I was able to fit into the next tour. While they state they are strict on the time you book, they hadn’t even noticed we had been late. The tour begins entering a large room with big screens; a staff member goes through some basic information and we are able to see another few videos that show us a bit more about the making of the film. Eventually I was able to work through for me one of the best parts of the tour, the dining room. The dining room is massive and as it was close to Christmas there were Christmas decorations and a Christmas feast on the table, the professor’s costumes were lined up and it genuinely felt like stepping into the screen. There was then a large room showing various key costumes, sets etc. However, the best part of the entire tour was the most interactive part. I was able to go on the Hogwarts Express, as well as sit in an interactive Hogwarts Express. Which created a video of my sister and I looking outside the window. I rode a broomstick and did so many various things. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, or even like Harry Potter a little bit, this tour is so much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone.

Days 21-28

Finally, the part I was looking forward to the most, London. Since my first trip to London in 2009 I have loved the city, the people have always been so nice, the sites are beautiful and I’ve never not enjoyed a day in London. This time was by far the most exciting. I had a whole week to spend in one of my favourite places, and a long list of things I wanted to do.

The first few days were so incredible. I spent my days shopping. I always write a list of things to purchase so that I don’t forget things when I’m there! I buy as much make up as I can that isn’t available in Australia. The shopping in London was the best out of the entire trip. Clothes, workout gear, make up, everything for me was great in London!

One night in London I was with a family friend who was intending on taking us to Flat Iron - a highly regarded restaurant which exclusively sells various meat and different side dishes. However the wait was extensive and instead we chose a pizza restaurant in Soho! It was probably some of the best pizza I’ve ever eaten! The atmosphere was amazing, the staff was great and it was an amazing night to experience London with someone who’s lived there for years.

There’s so much to say about London, I was lucky enough to go to Harry Potter World - a seperate post to come - Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford Upon Avon and various castles in the country side.

Stratford Upon Avon, was incredible. I’m not the biggest Shakespeare fan, however, after going through ‘Shakespeare’s Birthplace,’ and learning more about him, his life and his work, I definitely developed an appreciation for him. The town itself is gorgeous. I see as it one of those towns you see in movies and think oh that would be nice to live there and it’s really just a small town, not a lot of people but has a vintage vibe that really emphasises the history of the town. That’s what this was. The Shakespeare’s Birthplace had original writings from Shakespeare and scenes from his play on repeat. It was a beautiful environment and for anyone studying or anyone who enjoys drama, acting or even Romeo and Juliet then this a must visit place for you.

I also went and saw Warwick Castle, another amazing place however this time one for history buffs. There were artefacts from Marie Antoinette, small bedrooms and grand ballrooms. The palace was so gorgeous and while it had vibe that felt haunted, it made the whole castle that much more exciting. There was a beautiful story about ‘The Legend of Guy of Warwick,’ and various stories/legends spread around the castle. This gave a bit more character to the castle and made the people who once lived in Warwick seem more real. There was also a princess and prince area for children to dress up and play. To do this in a real castle as a child would have been so exciting, so I highly recommend this for families.

Towards the end of the trip, I of course had to travel to 221B Baker Street to get a picture. I didn’t go inside the museum as I’ve heard it was overrated. I did, however, go to the gift store and was able to pick up a few cute bits and pieces.

Favourite Food- Pizza (attached photo)

Most Memorable Part- being the only person at 221B asking the guy dresses up as Sherlock to take a picture of my sister and I rather than be in the picture. #sorrym8

Rating- 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧/5

(Another post to come outlining the Harry Potter Tour)

Also, head to my Facebook mannastravels to see all my photos from this trip!

1. Always bring a travel pillow!

While a travel pillow may seem like a waste of $30-$50 considering you’re typically given a small pillow on the plane, to me, it is one of the most necessary items. The shape of the pillow prevents you from falling asleep on the stranger next you, is able to comfort you and for me the pillow is the difference between getting sleep on the plane and not. (Side Tip: Always buy one outside of the international deperatures gate/outside of the airport for a cheaper price).

Cheap Travel Pillows on Amazon

2. Create a ‘To-Do’ list

Something I often hear people complain about in everyday life is not having the time to sit down and read or sit down and catch up on their favourite show. If you’re about to embark on a long flight, you finally have the time to do this! I always create a list of things I want to do on the plane. Whether it’s finish a few books, watch a certain show/movie that I’ve downloaded, completed some work. Whatever it is, I have the time for it on a plane! Don’t get bored up there! Create a list and if you manage to get through some of it, great!

3. ALWAYS BRING HEADPHONES AND A PHONE CHARGER!

You may or may not be like me but I constantly need headphones when I travel. I might want to listen to music, watch movies, whatever the case may be I hate the headphones given to me on the plane and having my own is my slice of comfort on such a draining flight.

I typically use my phone a lot on a plane and during stopovers so I always have my charger with me! The benefit of new planes is they always have a USB port and some even have wifi on board. Contacting family in between flights is important to me and even making sure I can connect to some wifi during stopovers to keep up with everything happening back home.

4. Have a spare change of clothes and toiletries

On my latest few trips I brought a spare change of clothes between my flights. This is now a staple in my routine and so incredibly necessary. For me, changing clothes made me feel a little more fresh than wearing the same thing for the total duration.

Even having some fave wipes to freshen up is so key in making the long flight that little bit easier. A toothbrush and toothpaste can also benefit the mental and physical exhaustion of a big trip.

5. Walk around!

A lot of people do not understand the benefits of walking on a plane. It reduces the risk on swelling, helps to keep the blood flowing and stops the pain from sitting in one spot. For every 3 hours on board I try to stretch and walk for 10 minutes. Don’t worry about annoying the people around you, sometimes you need to focus on your own body and making sure you aren’t harming yourself!

Keeping these 5 tips in mind, you will definitely stop yourself from having a painful long haul flight.

France 🇫🇷 Days 4-20 France is a beautiful place, Paris in particular is great to see once or twice. However, for me, who has been to France quite a few times in my life, it isn’t my favourite country to visit. The reason being, the people aren’t the most friendly and definitely aren’t interested in speaking English to help you figure out the country or order some food. Despite this, there is nothing better than waking up and smelling a fresh chocolate crossiant or indulging in cheese, bread and wine, learning about the French Revolution while walking through Versailles or even walking across the love bridge. My time is France was mainly spent with family in the small town of Longwy, celebrating Christmas and the New Year. While I didn’t get the white Christmas I was hoping for, a few days after I walked outside to every part of the ground covered in snow. Even though I fell - quite a few times - it was one of the most beautiful experiences. I think the best part of travelling is seeing something that you’ve only seen on tv or pictures of and then suddenly it’s in front of you and you’re just in awe. Walking outside and seeing snow on cars, driveways and letterboxes was exactly this. This moment of awe and excitement and revelation that I was in France. I travelled to Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is incredibly frightening, with the air thinning the higher you reach, it was not the greatest experience. The sight was brilliant. The snowy mountains and being able to turn one way to see the Swiss Alps and another to see Mont Blanc was fascinating. In Australia, you look up from the Eureka Skydeck and you have a nice view. In France, you see a whole other country, another culture, another language! Let’s be honest for a moment, one of the best parts about travelling is the food so let’s get to it. While I’m not the biggest fan of frog legs or snails, surviving on cheese and bread was suffice for me. There wasn’t a cheese I ate that I didn’t love. If you’re like me with an massive sweet tooth then France is probably the place for you. The highlight of my food journey in France had to be the crossiants and crepes. While I only had one or two crepes in my time there, they were incredible. Why wouldn’t they be? A light drizzle of chocolate and caramel on the thinnest crepe I’ve ever seen was amazing! Definitely can’t compare to the kind in Australia. I’ve never eaten such a beautifully flaky crossiant. They’re completely different to what we have in Australia and I’m sure what is everywhere else in the world. What I learned from France was that it’s sometimes the little things that make you realise where you are. It’s not always seeing a big sign that says French Boarder but some snow or a sweet that really helps to set it where you are. While I enjoyed Brugge more I have to rate France equally. Nothing compares to seeing family. You never know when you will see them again and for that I rate France 3/5 🇫🇷

Favourite Food- Bread and cheese 🧀 Most Memorable Part- Standing on a love bridge with my sister. We researched a little and found out that this bridge is a major attraction. While it is the love lock bridge, it’s believed by kissing on this bridge you will be in love forever. As somehow who has a close relationship with my sister, we couldn’t resist trying to love each other as much as we do now forever. So took some cute snaps on the bridge and it really was a moment where we appreciated one another and that was my favourite moment in France. (Photo below) Rating- 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 out of 5 flags