Europe Travel Blogs

A Scenic Flight Over Helsinki – Flying Over The Finnish Capital

A scenic flight over Helsinki is an incredible way to get to know the Finnish capital. Find out all about this unique experience.

As I boarded my flight from London to Helsinki, I couldn’t help but snap away out of the window as we were coming in to land. Fairytale forests, the impressive Suomenlinna Fortress, and beautiful archipelago filled my plane window. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Over the next few days, while visiting the city as part of Visit Helsinki’s #HelsinkiSecret campaign, I explored the city on foot, by tram, boat, kayak and big wheel. However I never expected for a moment that I’d be taking to the skies in a 4-seater Cessna!

Jutta, a friendly local contacted me via twitter asking if I fancied a unique birds-eye view of the city.

Looking forward to have U in #Helsinki as well, loads of secrets waiting for you! Fancy flying above Hki? @HeathrowAirport @WanderlustChloe

— Jutta/Taiga Colors (@TaigaColors) May 30, 2016

What could she possibly mean? We continued to chat back and forth and days later arranged to meet at Helsinki Central Station. From there we travelled 30 minutes by bus to Malmi Airport. Just 10km from the city, the small airport boasts around 40,000 landings every year.

Elderflower amber at Disfrutar Restaurant, Barcelona

With two Michelin stars and rated one of the top 10 best restaurants in the world, a meal at Disfrutar Barcelona is like nothing you’ve experienced before. After one of the best meals of my life, I couldn’t wait to return!

It’s pretty rare I return to a city and want to eat at exactly the same restaurant I went to to before. With so many places to explore, why wouldn’t you try somewhere new? But when I had a trip to Barcelona confirmed, there was only one place on my mind. Disfrutar Barcelona.

Opened at the end of 2014 by Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas, three head chefs at Ferran Adria’s former-best-restaurant-in-the-world elBulli, it was a restaurant pretty much guaranteed to produce great food. I described my first visit as an evening of magic and theatre. But with expectations sky high – how would it fare on my return?

Third floor seating area at Hotel Kungsträdgården, Stockholm

Elegant, luxurious and historic with tip-top service, Hotel Kungsträdgården is a great choice for a visit to Stockholm on business or pleasure.

Stockholm. One of the most expensive cities on the planet. Unfortunately for my bank balance, it’s also one of my favourites! Food is pricey and accommodation even more so. Unless you’re feeling terribly flush, you may find your budget restricts your enjoyment.

View of Stockholm Sweden — View of Stockholm, Sweden

Opened last January, Hotel Kungsträdgården offers comfortable rooms in a spectacularly restored 18^th century residence, bang in the centre of the city. As I chatted to Adam, the hotel’s immaculately dressed concierge (think English gent meets Swedish aristocrat), he explained that while the hotel’s rooms are on the small side. Basically – the hotel doesn’t scrimp in any other areas, something that makes it top value for money in the city. When it comes to repeat business, this hotel has it nailed.

Street Art Room at Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street, London

Street art themed rooms, epic breakfasts and warm hospitality… a stay at the Andaz London Liverpool Street is a special experience.

The weekend was shaping up to be a good one. With my other half’s big 3.0 on Saturday, I decided to shake things up a little with a surprise the night before.

I checked into the Andaz London Liverpool Street, spent an hour exploring the facilities, hung up a kitsch ‘Happy Birthday’ banner above the bed, and laid out a few presents on the desk. I’d been dying to stay here… and he didn’t know it yet, but he, too, was in for a real treat.

Exterior of Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street, London

The luxurious Andaz London Liverpool Street is a 5-star hotel with ambition. Yes, it’s in the ideal location for business travellers who need easy access to the city, AND a great base for tourists … but it also offers plenty for travellers like me. A Londoner. A Londoner attempting to be a tourist in my own city.

Recently the Andaz collaborated with SideStory – arguably one of the capital’s coolest tour operators, to offer two special experiences. After staying in one of the hotel’s super-trendy street art rooms, guests spend an afternoon on a photography or street art in the local neighbourhood. It’s a great concept, and refreshing to see a luxury hotel looking for a new way to heighten the guest experience.

Hipster or not, here’s why you should visit Sweden for a unique, food experience.

Hipsters. It doesn’t seem to matter where I travel, I always seem to come across some. From tiny bars hidden down cobble streets in Barcelona and Caribbean hipsters drinking beer out of cans in St Kitts, to the trendsetter students in the Kallio neighbourhood of Helsinki, they appear to conform to a style, while having a few unique quirks according to the country. After reading Meet The Original Hipsters, it got me thinking about a few recent encounters with Scandi-hipsters.

Made In Kallio Helsinki — Made In Kallio, Helsinki

You know who I mean right? They’re the ones with the checked shirts, thick-rimmed glasses, heavy boots, signature beard (optional for girls!) and an air of ‘not trying’ (when actually they are).

Embed from Getty Images

Typical hipster: beard – tick, checked shirt – tick, thick rimmed glasses – tick

These are all of my Europe travel blogs!

A Scenic Flight Over Helsinki – Flying Over The Finnish Capital

A scenic flight over Helsinki is an incredible way to get to know the Finnish capital. Find out all about this unique experience.

REVIEW: Disfrutar Restaurant, Barcelona – A Meal At One Of The World’s Best Restaurants

With two Michelin stars and rated one of the top 10 best restaurants in the world, a meal at Disfrutar Barcelona is like nothing you’ve experienced before. After one of the best meals of my life, I couldn’t wait to return!

REVIEW: Hotel Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, Sweden

Elegant, luxurious and historic with tip-top service, Hotel Kungsträdgården is a great choice for a visit to Stockholm on business or pleasure.

REVIEW: Andaz London Liverpool Street Hotel

Street art themed rooms, epic breakfasts and warm hospitality… a stay at the Andaz London Liverpool Street is a special experience.

Sweden’s Incredible Hipster Foodie Scene

Hipster or not, here’s why you should visit Sweden for a unique, food experience.