Category Archives: travel

October 22, 2012 · 8:04 am

Europe’s most iconic landmarks

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where i’ve been + where i’m returning!

LOLA – an icon in the making

lola loves iconic things! like famous fashion designers, old school actors, even the classic iconic cocktail. i think you know i’d like to be a bit of an icon myself! and then there’s Europe, home to breathtaking views, magical cities and some of the most iconic attractions throughout the globe. a European adventure would not be complete without a trip to one or all of these magnificent historical sites. i’ll be blazing a trail through Europe next month & will see quite a few of these famous iconic landmarks once again! *EXCITED*

Eiffel Tower – France

found in the city of love, Paris is home to the iconic Eiffel Tower. cruising down the city’s famous river Seine, travelers are lost in awe of the true beauty of this manmade structure. LOLA’S FAVORITE…brings a tear to my eye!

Stonehenge – England

the historical landmark of Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. truly a sight to be seen, this enormous stone structure dates back to 2600BC, when construction first began. this is one sight lola hasn’t seen!!

Cologne Cathedral – Germany

one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe, the Cologne Cathedral is a spectacular Roman Catholic Church. with building beginning in 1248, this historical structure displays breathtaking gothic architecture. it’s been many years but this landmark is gorge!

Grand Place – Belgium

representing the centre point of Brussels, the Grand Palace is truly a spectacular site. one of the most memorable landmarks, for travelers to Europe, the Grand Palace houses the breathtaking town hall and various other important buildings in Brussels. never been to Belgium – must go, MUST GO!

Colosseum – Italy

located in the historical city of Rome, the Colosseum is one of the most visited landmarks in Europe. commemorating the barbaric history of the country, the ruins of the Colosseum remain as a reminder of what life was once like. flights to Rome, combined with tour packages of the Colosseum, can be found for a very reasonable price. it is awe-inspiring for sure! i’m going on a special tour of the Colosseum when in Rome – CAN’T WAIT!!

The Louvre – France

one of the most famed art galleries in the world, the Louvre attracts millions of visitors each year. home to the brilliant works of the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, amongst numerous others, this is one landmark that should not be missed. been there, done that. BUT will be doing again…LOLA-STYLE! stay tuned people.

St Mark’s Basilica – Italy

representing a period of the most brilliant architecture of all time, St Mark’s Basilica is visited by devout followers, history buffs and everyone in between. LOVE this square in Venice – even if it hosts the largest pigeon population in the world!

Buckingham Palace – England

this London landmark is home to the Royal Monarch and the primary place of official royal proceedings. while travelers are unable to enter this prestigious landmark, photo opportunities are aplenty. dear Queen Elizabeth, lola is still waiting for her royal invite!

Acropolis of Athens – Greece

the most well-known acropolis around the world, the Acropolis of Athens is perched atop a staggering cliff and is home to the remnants of several historical structures, including the famous Parthenon. LOVE! this was one of my MUST SEE sites of my lifetime. so happy i’ve seen it with my own eyes & walked those historical paths.

Brandenburg Gate – Germany

once a city gate, the reconstructed Brandenburg Gate is now a valuable insight into the history of Germany. situated in the city of Berlin, the gate is now one of the most famous landmarks throughout all of Europe. it is a beautiful gate. it’s almost as if you can feel all the history alive around you as you go through it!

which of these iconic landmarks have you visited?

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Filed under europe, france, italy, london, paris, rome, travel

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October 17, 2012 · 8:04 am

5 financial essentials you need while traveling through Europe

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Numero Uno: Get a SUGAR DADDY!

mmmm – so sweet!

alright…just kidding!

i’m heading off to Europe in a few weeks for 30 days of touring all around that fine continent. do you know what that means? no, not lots of hangovers. lola doesn’t do those.

LOTS OF PLANNING is what! while i want to focus on my food, cocktails & sightseeing stories AND plan my outfits out, i must really be serious and think about other logistical things right now. LIIIIKE getting the right phone plan. HELL, how about just getting my seats secured on my flights. that would be a good start!

other important tasks (i think you know what i’m about to say) are thinking about finances while away.

tasks on my financial essentials hit list

number 1: have a few Euros on you upon arrival to start off on the right foot. i usually have some left over from previous visits to Europe and i feel comfort knowing i can buy a drink or take a cab without having to rush to find a decent ATM upon arrival. HMMM…i wonder, does the Czech Republic operate in Euros? more research!

money, money, money, money – MONEY!

number 2: maybe even more important than having those precious Euros is telling your bank your whereabouts and length of time out of the country. my bank will close down my account like Fort Knox if i haven’t given them the heads up. talk about awkward and irritating when you are going to the ATM for the first time. AND when you do get around to that withdrawal, be smart about it. what i mean is take out plenty of cash because typically you’ll be charged fees from the ATM & your bank plus a percentage of the withdrawal amount. SO – the less times you withdrawal money – the better! DUH

BONUS TIP: check your bank account online to find out if you bank partners with banks in the countries you’ll be visiting. if it does & you use these partner banks ATM’s, you can save on the withdrawal fees from both institutions!

what’s in your wallet?

number 3: AND the same is true for your credit card companies. in this world of theft & fraud, when you are suddenly on the other side of the globe – it may seem suspicious. all of these pre-trip calls are a pain but so necessary to make your time away seamless. c’mon, who wants to be paying for a precious souvenir only to have to make an emergency phone call to your credit card company because the card has been denied! SO embarrassing.

BONUS TIP: while you are on the horn with your bank & credit card companies, get their emergency collect call phone numbers while traveling abroad. obviously, write these down & leave them in a safe place in case your credit card, wallet or, god forbid, entire handbag gets stolen.

note the darling chip thingy-ma-jig

number 4: it’s also a good idea, pre-trip, to shop around for the best credit card. i’m not talking about the one with the most bling or clout. i’m talking about one that’s widely accepted and has the least or no foreign transaction fees. my bank recently starting carrying a card for frequent travelers and it even has that chip thingy-ma-jig that some retailers require your card to have to even be accepted nowadays. that’s correct – even more things to consider with your financial planning abroad.

hello money. let’s have a chat!

number 5: finally, it’s a good idea that you are set up and able to check your bank account online to check balances, etc. some banks have apps for this should you be traveling with your smart phone. i’m taking my laptop so i’ll be all set. i mean i will be gone from November 5 through December 5 soooo that means i’ll be having to pay some bills while on the road. sadly, they will not magically pay themselves!

am i forgetting anything?? what are your financial essentials when traveling abroad? 

 

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October 16, 2012 · 6:55 am

Cocktails of Cambodia

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MMMM Cocktails of Cambodia

that’s right! the drinks were divine in Cambodia. AND i think you know i’m a tough critic in this category since i’d like to pride myself on being a bit of an expert! it was as much of a surprise to me… a 3rd world country that is into cocktails?! say whaaaa?!!

YEP i felt pretty much right at home in Cambodia. this country LUUURVES its happy hour. and everything is already dirt cheap – BONUS for lola! i’m talking $4 mojitos that are now $2 – incredible! let me give you my Cocktails of Cambodia tour:

Best Drink

the gigantic red wine at Topaz in Phnom Penh. it must have been the glass but i was impressed!

Worst Drink

probably the mojito at Titanic in Phnom Penh. it was just ok and i had to wait like half an hour to get it!

Most Usual Drink

definitely has to go to the red bull & vodka buckets at the Temple Bar in Siem Reap. YES i’m that lame that i’ve never had a bucket before. BTW this should also be listed as most lethal of cocktails of Cambodia!

Biggest Booze Surprise

the local beers were actually quite tasty!

CHEERS – lola

 

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October 11, 2012 · 9:57 am

Lola & Leah’s Eurotour 2012

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T-minus 4 weeks – OH BOY!

is Europe ready for the Double L Trouble?

i THINK & HOPE you know that Leah, of Leah Travels, and i are going to Europe on one incredible whirlwind Eurotour in exactly one month. we have an idea of where we’ll be and what we’ll be doing BUT, you know, anything is really possible. we have our apartments squared away in Prague, Florence, Rome, Barcelona & Paris through Go with Oh. AND i guess this will keep us pretty much on schedule but i’m open to ANY extra adventures and am looking for ideas.

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN! i’m looking for a dare list of photo ops from you. what antics would you like to see lola pull? i’m not promising i’ll agree to every suggestion but i’ll at least consider it. C’MON, don’t be shy! leave me a comment or email me with your ideas and, before we set off, i’ll announce what photo dares i’m taking on to humor you.

i’m expecting to hear from you, first and foremost, our sexy video editors Captain & Clark – who should feel carte blanche in the dare category because i owe them. SHIT!

as well as some of my more outrageous, kinky & creative friends I Live to Travel, Waegook Tom, Scarlet Wonderland & Will Peach at the verrrry least!

here’s the warm & fuzzy video.

NOW gimme the naughty obstacles that i have to live up to on my Eurotour! I DARE YOU!!

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Filed under czech republic, europe, france, italy, spain, travel

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October 10, 2012 · 2:43 pm

lola’s 5 airport essentials

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a few of my travel musts

ready for take off

if you are a frequent traveler like me, you probably have spent more than your fair share of time trekking through airports. barring the few times you may have seen me running through the airport like a crazed maniac to catch my flight, (I’M LOOKING AT YOU, ZURICH) these experiences don’t tend to be too bad. this is usually because a number of things go right AND many of them are because of my planning. in light of this, i decided to put together a check-list of airport essentials, that you might wish to put into your repertoire, whether it’s before leaving home or while you’re at the airport.

i always bring things to veg out with like books & magazines

number one: bring something to do while you are waiting at the airport and sitting for hours on the plane. for some, this may be just using your smart phone to play one of your many games like words with friends, solitaire or angry birds. BUT keep in mind, if the airplane doesn’t have WiFi, you’ll need other things to distract you. i bring music, magazines & a book to keep the boredom at bay. AND being a writer, i always have a notepad handy just in case i have a funny travel moment to document or find my creativity thousands of feet up in the air. actually, i usually do a lot of writing during my travels!

no matter where you are – grab some H2O

number two: buy a bottle of water once you’re through security. it’s extremely frustrating if you bring a big bottle of water to the airport with you, thinking you’re really sensible and prepared, only to have it confiscated the minute you go to security. i typically have this issue in between connecting flights. makes me SO crazy to pay for drinks only to have them taken!!! so to save any embarrassment, buy your water once you have gone through this ordeal and are on your way to the gate AND be sure to drink it before boarding your next flight or you’ll get it taken like i have a hundred times.

things lola always travels with – baubles, iPhone, flip flops, pashmina & moolah

number three: after all the long haul traveling i’ve recently done, i’m thinking compression socks are a REALLY good idea. i’ve never seen my feet & ankles so swollen than after my flight home from Asia and then to Spain. i also think that bringing a scarf, pashmina or blanket of your own is a MUST. you never know when an airplane is going to be frigid or that your fellow passenger will have a nasty cold that you’d like to cover your face from!

lola’s favorite jet lag remedy

number four: depending on where you are going, it’s always a good idea to bring on board any medications you’ll be needing while traveling and away. if i’m doing a timezone change of 3 zones or more, i always take No Jet Lag. BIG FAN of this jet lag remedy although there was NO HELPING me for my recent visit to Spain. jet lag definitely won the battle on that trip! some people need eye drops because the air on the flight is so dry. whatever your case may be definitely don’t take the chance of checking important prescription medications!!

carrying on the essentials for the ‘just in case’ clause

number five: lately, i’ve been taking some clothes in a carry on for a day or two of survival – just in case my bag didn’t make one of its connections. luckily, it has always arrived BUT this mode of operation gives me peace of mind. i also think any precious valuables should travel with you onboard. if it’s possible that your checked baggage is going to get ransacked by some kind of mystery security – i for one don’t want to trust that they won’t take my precious trinkets. FINALLY, probably the most important thing to remember to bring with you (BESIDES YOUR PLANE TICKET & PASSPORT – duh) is a sense of humor. air travel is full of obstacles that could make you MAD. better to laugh it off than to burst a blood vessel or worse, when dealing with all the unknown frustrations that air travel gives us all!

what helps you get by during your travels & is on your airport essentials list?

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