Group trip diary

1. Activities in San Francisco for... the nature-lover

Angel Island State Park

Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay, and the stunning scenery alone makes a trip to this hidden gem a must! From the island, which is accessible by ferry, you can enjoy spectacular views across Marin County and San Francisco, enjoy the areas dedicated to preserving wildlife and nature, or challenge yourself on one of the hiking trails.

If you’d like to learn more about the island, which was once the entry port and immigration processing centre for thousands, why not book a group tour?

Alternatively, if you’d like to take a look around independently, think about bringing a bike or wandering by foot before enjoying lunch in a café by the dock. 

2. Activities in San Francisco for... the sightseer

The Golden Gate Bridge

Did you know that the Golden Gate Bridge remains the most visited and photographed suspension bridge in the world, despite being neither the tallest nor the oldest?

On your visit, you can choose to take a walking tour to learn about the bridge’s history (and understand why it was so difficult to build!), or even book a Golden Gate cruise.  Enjoy the ride while you take in the world-famous scenery! 

3. Activities in San Francisco for... a family

California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is the world's only aquarium-planetarium-rainforest-living museum! See penguins and parrots, sharks or stingrays, and even fly across the Milky Way from your planetarium seat.

Children and adults alike will be thrilled by the living rainforest (complete with a swamp and an albino alligator called Claude) and the virtual safari in the African Hall. Arts and crafts are also available to occupy kids, perhaps while parents enjoy an international lunch from the restaurant!

If you're travelling without kids, why not visit after hours for an adult-only NightLife tour?

There's truly something for everyone in San Francisco, the City by the Bay, and it’s a great choice for your next holiday, no matter who you’re travelling with. Remember your camera!

With visual checklists, handy tips and lists of destinations, attractions and worldwide events, the Travelary travel journal isn't just any old notebook!

Inspired by the travels of Kin Tse and his dissatisfaction with the travel journals then on the market, this journal is the perfect gift for creative and organised travelers. 

For comfort-seekers...

Passage Pillows

Keen to make the journey as enjoyable as the destination, Laura Hamilton created Passage Pillows as a luxurious and stylish take on the camping pillows she carried during her globe-trotting 20s.

The current collection has eight designs to induce envy in fellow travelers ("do you mind if I try it out?"), but the pillows are equally great for lounging at home with or for an afternoon in the garden.

For tech friends...

New Trent iGeek External Battery Charger

Equipped with dual USB ports to charge your tablet and phone simultaneously, the iGeek is the ideal remedy for unplanned battery disasters while on the road.

The gadget gives a faster charge than standard wall chargers, and you can easily give it a recharge boost when you're back with the included micro-USB cable.

For photographers...

Custom Leather Camera Strap

Pictured above, this custom leather camera strap by RSVPhandcrafted is 100% handmade and hand-stitched. Have you seen anything like this in your local department store? Thought not.

Chose the color, stamp, custom text, name and initials to suit your recipient and make it a personalized travel gift to remember.

For art-lovers...

Vintage travel prints

Etsy is a treasure trove of unique gifts, particularly for travelers! The site is especially great for travel prints and posters, like the one pictured above, and it'll be unlikely that the lucky recipient will have anything like it.

Choose something personal, perhaps with their favorite destinations in mind, and it will add a sense of adventure to their life back home.

Let us know your favorite travel gift ideas in the comments box! If you're anything like us, you'll probably have a few extra ideas on your own wish-list now too...

Bambarol, C/ Santalo 21

Bambarol is popular, small and the new kid on the block, so it’s worth booking a table. This isn't much of a hassle to do, and we'd say it's worth it! 

Highlights of their menu include a Spanish interpretation of scrambled eggs, featuring chorizo and potato, as well as superb patatas bravas and Catalan pa amb tomaquet.

If you're vegetarian they're good at accommodating (especially with delicious mushroom dishes), and the waiters speak good English if your Spanish needs some work.

Bodega Biarritz 1881, C/ Vidre, 8

This cosy family-run tapas bar in Barcelona’s Barri Gòtic (or the Gothic Quarter) is a must-visit, although you may walk past it a few times before noticing it. Once inside Bodega Biarritz 1881, you’ll experience excellent service, reasonably-priced drinks and a great selection of  tapas. Specialities include cod croquettes, and a delicious goats cheese, spinach and roasted pepper tart.

Looking to leave Barcelona with fond memories of Catalan cuisine? Give these three tapas bars a try!

We'd also love to hear about your favourite tapas discoveries in the comment box below: we're looking for outstanding food, good service and a cosy, authentic atmosphere!

1. Know where to find the best festivals online

Our go-to site for festival research is 2camels, an online gold mine of festivals around the world with all the information you need for planning.

The guys behind it are also working on The Festival Gadget, which will "provide the best travel sites on the web with the finest, most comprehensive festival and event information on the market ". Pretty exciting, huh? This means finding the most awesome festivals around the world will soon be easier than ever.

You can also check out our ten favorite festivals for inspiration!

2. Stalk the festival website for early news and ticket information

We're guilty of bookmarking our favorite festival sites, adding them to our blog readers and checking them on a daily (ok, sometimes hourly) basis to see if the line-up changes or if we can book our tickets yet. It's good to be prepared!

3. Festivals are the ultimate group trips!

What better way to enjoy a trip with friends than by visiting a festival together? 

4. Going abroad for a festival is extra fun

Why not check out our cities on Tripobox and combine a trip to London with Wireless Festival, a trip to Barcelona for La Mercè, or a weekend in Paris for the Fête de la Musique? Festivals abroad are always memorable, and you can get to know a new part of the world while you're there!

5. Pack lightly - you won't need half of what you first pack

We always think we need to pack loads for festivals, but you'll thank yourself when you just chuck a few essentials into a backpack! Make it easy to carry around your luggage and you're likely to see and experience so much more.

Festival Trip Checklist

Which festival have you always wanted to go to? What festivals will have you bouncing up and down in the months and weeks before?

Would your friends share your excitement for this festival?

What will your group number be?

What's your budget? Is everyone in the group ok with it?

How are you going to get to the festival?

Obvious one, but have you sorted your tickets? Getting Glastonbury tickets, for instance, will have you all refreshing the festival website for a good few hours.

Where will you stay? Camping, glamping, hotel or apartment?

Will you need backpacks to carry your stuff around?

What essentials do you need to pack? 

Is there anything else you'd like to see or do in the area?

How will you get back from the festival?

Do you have any festival planning tips you'd like to share with us? Let us know in the comments!

Your advice on Twitter...

Maggie Langeness ‏@eventfulwander - @tripobox be prepared! First aid kit etc.

1. Stay in an apartment instead of a hotel room

This will help you save money, but it’s also a great way to make the most of a group trip with friends or family. Imagine spending a few days in this Barcelona apartment!

2. Book a tour that gives you a local’s perspective

Decide not to be a tourist and experience your destination like a local. How about a West End Beer Tasting Tour? A homeless guided tour in Amsterdam?

3. Sample the local cuisine in a cooking class

A cooking class will be much more memorable than a hotel dinner! And if the offer of sampling the food is there… well, how can you resist?

4. Try a new sport or seek some adrenaline

When you’re in a new place there are so many exciting opportunities around you! Ever heard of flyboarding?

5. Let someone cook you dinner in their home

Think we’re crazy? Give it a go and you’ll soon change your mind: you’ll meet amazing people, eat great food and enjoy unforgettable experiences!

6. Book a once-in-a-lifetime activity

What have you always wanted to do? Skydiving? Helicopter ride? Now is the time to do it!

7. Find a new way to get around

 Boycott the tours you always go on (and tell yourself the Metro isn’t the best way to see a city) and try something new. Scooters, bicycles, Trikkes and Segways are all exciting options!

How do you escape the norm when you’re traveling? Let us know in the comments box!

Thank you @stayQuirky for your great suggestions on Twitter! You can see more of their quirky ideas over on their site.

@tripobox Thanks! Staying in unusual or quirky accommodation is great like a yurt or a cave + we always like to check out strange museums.

Social media means social travel

Most of us use social media when we plan a trip, travel, and get home from a trip. Whether you prefer Instagram to Google+ or choose Facebook over Pinterest, social media is revolutionizing the way we travel. Being able to use social media to easily contact friends and put together the group trip of a lifetime is one reason why we think the future of travel is social!

Online booking platforms make group trips easy

It’s easy to use social media to plan a trip, but it’s just as straightforward to book a group trip! In our Barcelona office we work hard to ensure that Tripobox makes group trips easy from the planning to payment stages. After creating our platform with Tripobox’s group travelers always in mind, we’re sure that travel has a social future!

Handy apps keep us connected

How many apps do you have on your smartphone? If you’re anything like us, there are too many to count! There are so many social apps on offer - Snapchat and the mobile versions of Facebook and Twitter as just a few examples - and they make keeping in touch and making travel plans unbelievably easy!

The best group trip ideas are all online

After coming back from an unforgettable group trip, most of us will share our experience and travel tips online on social media, blogs and review sites like TripAdvisor. This provides so much inspiration to help others do the same!

Have you had some of your favourite travel experiences on group trips? Let us know in the comments! Otherwise, head over to tripobox.com and create your tailor-fit group trip! 

For outdoorsy travelers… See the tulips

If you love meandering around spectacular gardens in flower, Amsterdam is a destination you can’t miss! Every March the fields just outside the city show the first signs of new life, and when the flower season is in full swing, the views are out of this world. Make sure to check out the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse at this time, the world’s largest flower gardens. There will be seven million flower bulbs blooming over thirty-two hectares!

To get a taste for Dutch nightlife… In de Wildeman

Arguably the best beer cafe in Amsterdam, In de Wildeman serves over 300 beers from the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium amongst many other countries known for their great beer! This Amsterdam attraction is definitely a must-visit for beer lovers, and it’s a great place for a fun evening with friends on your group trip.

To admire art… The Rijksmuseum

This iconic museum - with its “I amsterdam” sign that’s currently one of Amsterdam’s most photographed spots - is bound to be memorable for art-lovers. Paintings from Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Vermeer are displayed, alongside many other pieces from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. The most famous painting on show is probably Rembrant’s The Night Watch - a masterpiece that will surely demand some of your time to appreciate it!

To discover the city… Prinsengracht canal

What comes to mind when you think of Amsterdam? Canals, maybe? The Prinsengracht is one of three major canals that shape Amsterdam’s world-renowned identity, and it’s located close to the Anne Frank House, the Houseboat Museum and the Tulip Museum. The area is exciting to walk around if you’d like to spend some time outdoors, or you can of course experience the canal by boat. There’s so much great architecture to admire around Prinsengracht canal too!

To learn some history… The Anne Frank House

Visit the hiding place at the back of the office where Anne Frank secretly lived, and experience the surroundings of a historical landmark for yourself. Although visiting the house is clearly emotional, it’s an experience all visitors of Amsterdam should consider in order to understand the city and its history a little better.

To get some great views… The Amsterdam Public Library (OBA)

The Amsterdam Public Library, found on the Oosterdokskade, will surely be a favourite Amsterdam attraction for book lovers! Yet it’s not all about books here, as you can also attend a performance in one of two theatres or spend some time in the  top floor café with spectacular views.

No matter what you want out of your trip away, Amsterdam is sure to be a fantastic destination to choose! Here at Tripobox we make it easy to plan your group trip to the vibrant, cultural, outdoorsy party city (yes, it’s all those things), so why not give us a bell? The 6 attractions above are just the start!

Group Trips

Remember those days of school trips and outings? Recreate that fun with your friends and other guests. For those who love something more active, there are plenty of Bike Tours (Royal London and River Thames are wonderful tours) or endless walking tours (London Under Attack for those who love history) if you prefer travelling on foot.

Shopping in London

If you can believe it, London is one of the greatest spots for luxury shopping as well as catching a great bargain. Camden is a delightful spot to pick up bespoke items for your wedding guest looks that won’t break the bank.

Of course, Regent, Jermyn, Bond and Oxford Street are all amazing locations for those last minute wedding gifts. Mayfair is a perfect spot for extravagant retail with Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co being just a few top shops to be found.

Tourist it up, Joey Style

A true tourist gets to look as silly as they like when touring a big city like London. Because London is full of interesting and “out there” looks and people, no one gives a second glance to crazy outfits. Remember that episode of Friends where they all travel to London? Joey’s “London baby!” attitude was hilarious but pretty spot on.

We say, take this opportunity to let out your inner “Joey” and visit every clichéd place possible (a huge Union Jack hat is fairly essential to complete the look). Take a double decker tour across the city, visit every big location and take as many snapshots as possible (bonus point for a photo with a Queen’s Guard). You may only be there once after all!

Berlin

Get to Berlin this winter and enjoy a walk through Potsdam Gardens, peruse the wonderful Christmas markets, and enjoy the world-famous celebrations on New Year's Eve. A winter trip to Berlin is something we should all experience!

Paris

Probably the most romantic pick of the bunch, Paris is often said to be most beautiful during winter! It also tends to be less busy, so you can truly enjoy museums such as the Louvre or Musée d'Orsay, as well as booking a few shows, operas or exhibitions.

New York

Wrap up warm and enjoy all that New York has to offer on a winter weekend break. Take a trip up the Statue of Liberty at evening, spend a few hours in a cosy café, and research all the cultural goings on. Yes it will be cold, but you should be able to enjoy a blue sky and lots to do!

London

London isn't a city to shy away from the wintery or festive! If you travel in the lead up to Christmas, you can look forward to a glorious array of lights and decorations, and if you're in the city over New Year's Eve, the city fireworks display is simply spectacular. Wrap up warm, find some typical English pubs, and bring your camera!

Take a look on Tripobox and get inspired to plan your next weekend break this winter! Who said vacations had to be taken in summer?

This is why you should be travelling:

1. You'll make friends - from all manner of backgrounds - who'll stick with you for life and help you out when you least expect it.

2. Travel is the best education you can get, and you can't get it from books. As Sean (Robin Williams) says to Will (Matt Damon) in Good Will Hunting,

 So if I asked you about art, you'd probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written. Michelangelo, you know a lot about him. Life's work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientations, the whole works, right? But I'll bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel.

3. After doubting for so long your ability to get out of your comfort zone and see the world, you'll realise your worries were all for nothing. It's hard not to gain more confidence in your self and future after this.

4. You'll realise what you're really like as a person: what interests you, what you're good at, what motivates you. This sort of stuff doesn't happen when you're sitting around at home.

5. You'll open your mind to new information and skills, pushing your capacity to process, understand and make use of knowledge. You may even learn a language.

6. You'll be able to challenge yourself and be pleasantly surprised when you realise how much you've truly achieved.

7. Because you can. What's stopping you from booking a trip? If your answer involves money, work or commitments, rethink this now or you probably never will.

8. Nothing will draw people more to you than the incredible stories you can tell about the beautiful places you've seen and the cherished memories you've made.

9. You'll achieve the goals and dreams that you've accumulated from your youngest years; aspirations you've only been able to imagine beforehand.

10. Travel is the antidote to regret. No one lay on his deathbed and thought, 'Man, I'm so happy I made that trip to the supermarket every day of my life'.

Wouldn't you want to be thinking of the vibrant cultures you've experienced, the people you've met, and the sublime views and sights you've archived in your mind for life? It sure sounds good to us.

Browse Tripobox and get inspired by our simple and social planning and booking process - the trip you've been waiting for is just around the corner! 

The VIP package includes...

A delicious champagne greeting when you arrive at your hotel

Unlimited Internet access for your mobile devices throughout your stay, wherever you are in the city

Your very own hen or stag do organiser to help you plan the perfect itinerary.

All this is yours when you book our personalised Barcelona hen do or stag do package, which in itself includes VIP club entry! So, what are you waiting for? Get booking this month before the offer expires!

Get to Tripobox, start planning, enjoy a simple and social booking process, and let us help you the whole way!

If you want to talk to us directly about how we can make your hen or stag do perfect, send us an email at info[at]tripobox.com or give us a call on +44 207 048 6996. We're more than happy to call you back if you let us know your phone number by email!

We want your hen or stag do to be flawless and unforgettable, without it breaking the bank or causing any stress!

Check out our personalised stag do package

Check out our personalised hen do package

If you book either of these, we'll make sure you get the VIP package too. We look forward to hearing from you!

Our New York Christmas Shopping Tips

Macy's

The Big Apple-based department store never fails to disappoint during the festive period! You can enjoy the incredible shopfronts for free, or go inside and make a few purchases. Also, remember to free up some space in your suitcase for shopping in the sales!

The famous children's favourite, Santaland, is open at Macy's from the Friday after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, but prepare for long queues, particularly if you're waiting to see Santa on a weekend close to Christmas.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks is an upscale department store with a huge choice of designer brands. Whether you're looking to browse and enjoy the superb Christmas window displays or alternatively do some serious shopping, we're sure that you'll enjoy your visit! 

Apple Store

If you're addicted to all things Apple, why not head to the Fifth Avenue store during your New York city break? This two-story space with a stunning glass staircase is full of gadgets to test, although your Christmas money won't last long here!

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

Featuring around one hundred artisans and food vendors, Columbus Circle Holiday Market is great to wander around in the days leading up to Christmas. Sample some festive food, check out the unique pieces of jewellery, and find some gifts to treat your loved ones to!

Union Square Holiday Market

Packed full of handmade gifts, including art, jewellery and ornaments, the Union Square Holiday Market is where your Christmas shopping starts. The red-and-white-striped market tents exude a festive spirit, and the helpful Market Concierge would turn even Scrooge into a happy Christmas shopper! 

Go Window Shopping!

Take a walk up Fifth Avenue from Rockefeller Center, pass the famous FAO Schwartz toy company, and head over to Barney's on Madison Avenue to see their modern and unique take on Christmas window displays. Window shopping is free, and you'll be able to take some great photos with family and friends!

Other Things to Do on Your New York Christmas Trip

See the big tree at Rockefeller Center Plaza

Ice skate in Central Park or the Wollman Rink

Have you spent Christmas in New York City before? We think it's the perfect time to plan your trip, and at Tripobox we're determined to make your planning and booking process easy.

Also, if you're finding the cost of travelling to New York for Christmas too expensive, why not plan your trip for New Year? You'll find better deals on hotels and flights, but the city will still be in full festive swing!

1. Paris

Ok, we agree with Lonely Planet on this choice! Following the city's plans to reduce traffic congestion, Paris is becoming even more visitor-friendly. Also, the abundance of tourist sites is by all accounts hard to beat. Particular favourites of ours include the Musée d'Orsay and the Marais, which is a great location for walking tours.

2. Reykjavik

We can't exactly say that Iceland's beauty is a secret anymore, but this shouldn't stop us from visiting! The sublime landscapes, waterfalls and geological features makes it the dream destination for photographers, while the tranquility of the Blue Lagoon is ideal for anyone seeking a remedy for frazzled nerves! Get to Reykjavik and you'll find yourself in a great location to get to the beautiful island's finest features. 

3. New York City

"The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world." F. Scott Fitzgerald

What more can we say? It's New York City! Whether you choose to see the city by bike, foot, or even helicopter, there's always a pleasant surprise lurking around the corner in NYC. 

4. Cairo

Known to residents as Um ad-Dunya (Mother of the World), Cairo's blend of ancient history and bustling modernity demands your full attention. Could 2014 be the year for you to visit?

5. Barcelona

As Tripobox's home city, we couldn't have excluded Barcelona from this list! A paradise for all those seeking culture, Barcelona never fails to surprise residents and tourists alike. Head to Parc Güell and view the city's panorama as Gaudi once did, spend a few hours on the beach, or take advantage of the city's vast range of museums and galleries (many of which are free on the first Sunday of the month).

And as we love sharing, you can check out all our favourite Barcelona offers before your next trip!

Which city is a travel must-see for you in 2014? Share your plans and advice with us in the comments box!

1. Burning Man, USA

Last Monday of August - first Monday of September

2. Oktoberfest, Germany

Late September - first weekend in October

3. La Tomatina, Spain

Last Wednesday in August

4. Rio Carnival, Brazil

February - March

5. Glastonbury, England

Last weekend of June

6. Chinese New Year

Between January 21 - February 20

7. Día de los Muertos, Mexico

November 2

8. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico

Early October

9. Saint Patrick's Day Festival, Ireland 

March 17

10. Quebec Winter Carnival, Canada

February

Do you think we've missed any of the world's best festivals? Share your favourite festivals with us in the comments box!

Pub crawl

Do you want to enjoy the best pubs at your destination, but don't know where to start? Go on a pub crawl! You'll get to enjoy some of the best pubs in the area and also meet new people too. Why stay in one pub when you can enjoy several?

Two of our favourite destinations for pub crawls are Amsterdam and New York's East Village, but if you're in Chicago looking for a more cultural experience, check out the historic bar tour on offer there!

VIP treatment

We think that being treated like a VIP can make a good night into an exceptional one! Here at Tripobox we're working hard to make organising your VIP experience simple, and we're starting with our local city: Barcelona!

The Catalonian capital is the perfect destination for hen and stag dos, as well as all manner of other trips, and we'd love to help you arrange your perfect night out. Do you want a private photographer? No problem. A limo to take you around the city? Of course! We'd love to chat about how we can make your trip to Barcelona the stuff of daydreams! 

See the city by night

Do you think you've seen a city just by walking around it during the day? We think you have to see it at night too! Enjoy Paris, the City of Light, by boat, foot, segway or bike after the sun has gone down and the lights have come on. You'll gain a new perspective of Paris, and it's a great way to spend time with friends or family too.

Berlin, Chicago and Barcelona are other favourite cities of ours at night too, and seeing a city by night is the perfect romantic gesture! It's hard to say no to a sunset sailing cruise!

How do you best enjoy a city's nightlife when you're on a trip away? Let us know in the comments box!