10 tips for surviving long distance travel

Australia is very far away... 

From everywhere.

Which means if I want to go anywhere, I need to get on a long distance flight.

I have been back in Australia for just over 3 weeks now and the 18 hours spent on the plane is still fresh in my mind. I hate the uncomfortable seats, the small foot space and the freezing cold air conditioning.

So I've had to come up with ways to make the flight more enjoyable and to survive the long distance travel.

So here are my top 10 tips for surviving long distance travel.

1. The most important thing for surviving long distance travel is wear the right clothes. If you are uncomfortable on the flight, you will notice it for the entire journey. Also, wear layers or pack layers because the plane will get very cold. I usually pack a cardigan/jumper, jacket and blanket scarf with me if it gets too cold.

2. Pick the right seat. If you need more support when you sleep, maybe choose the window seat so you can rest. If you want to stretch frequently or use the bathroom, maybe pick the aisle seat so you don't interrupt the other travellers. Also, check the capacity of the plane once you take off, you may be able to move and get an entire row to yourself!

3. Charge your devices. Make sure everything you need is charged and ready to go. There's nothing worse then getting on the plane to realise you forgot to charge your laptop or iPad! I bring along a battery pack too, just incase I need to charge my phone, iPad or camera. The more battery you have, the more entertainment you have for your flight.

4. Drink lots of water. On those long haul flights you can ask for more beverages to keep yourself hydrated. The constant cold air conditioner and the cabin pressure can cause a headache. So drink water! It will help. By drinking lots of water, you may need to use the toilet frequently but the walking around will help.

5. Don't jump straight into the onscreen entertainment. Space out the movies and TV episodes. It will make the time go quicker. I usually browse a magazine or read a book until beverages and food is served.

6. Stand up and stretch frequently. This will help with the back and neck pain and the restless legs.

7. If you are a creative type, use the downtime to be creative. I write new blog posts or come up with ideas or write some of my novel. 

8. Freshen up. Every couple of hours, I go to the bathroom to clean my face, brush my teeth and my hair. This makes me feel clean and re energised. 

9. Pack a travel survival kit:
I always pack with me: 

- a travel pillow
- Ear plugs
- Lip balm 

- Medication
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Moisturiser

- Travel socks

10. Set your watch to the time of your destination. This will help you get your body clock used to the time difference. As soon as you take off, try to sleep and eat your food at the time you would eat them at your destination.

I really hate travelling, especially long distance so by following these tips, it makes the journey more enjoyable and comfortable.

What are your tips for surviving long distance travel?

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5 reasons why you should travel France

If travelling is something you want to do, but your not sure where to go, can I make a suggestion?

France.

Buy a ticket to anywhere in France, you'll thank me later.

So here are my 5 reasons for why you should travel France

1. It is so beautiful. I've been to quite a few places in France and loved all of them. Whether we drove through the city or camped in the nature, everywhere we went was beautiful. In France, you can see every possible landscape. Beach, mountains, cities, architecture, rivers... It's every travel photographer's dream!

2. The food. I'm not much of a foodie but I do love desserts. And French dessert... *Insert drool here* is amazing. If you love food, France is the place to visit. You get 5 course dinners starting with aperitifs, entrée, main, cheese and finishing up with a delicious dessert! My weakness = mousse au chocolat (chocolate mousse!) 

3. The streets are quiet and peaceful. I have slept in a few French cities, Angers, Montpellier, Toulouse and also camped in a few locations and most of the time, I've had a quiet and peaceful sleep!

4. Paris is always a good idea! I've been to Paris a few times now and every time I go, I love it. For any fashionista, being in Paris is a dream come true. I love the French boutiques, high end department stores and even people watching for the latest fashion trends. It's amazing and having a picnic under the Eiffel Tower never gets old.

5. If you don't know the language, it can be tough but as long as you make an effort and say the pleasantries in French (Bonjour, sil vous plait, merci, etc) they will be patient with you while you try to explain what you want. And it's always a nice surprise when they speak English with you!

I spent more than 5 months in France and it still wasn't long enough!

What's your favourite thing about France?

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Top 5 tips for trying to open a bank account in London

The first two months in London were difficult.

I was super excited to come to London and to explore a new city.
That was until I realised how difficult it was to open a bank account in this city! Without a bank account, it means difficulty in getting paid and without getting paid, you will be crushed and eaten alive by this expensive city! 

Until you start earning pounds, your funds will dry up quickly and you'll be left with nothing! So make sure you have plenty of time, patience and money to help you getting set up in London.

So here are my top 5 tips for trying to open a bank account in London.

1. Most importantly, ensure you have enough money to survive up to 4 weeks in London. This is the most important thing! If you plan your budget and live cheaply, you should be able to manage!

2. If you followed my Top 5 things to do BEFORE moving to London, you'll be waiting for your N.I. number and it will be arriving any day now. Once you receive this, you'll have your choice of banks to go with!

3. If you are like me and don't have proof of address, it will start to get difficult now! Without proof of address, most banks will not even look twice at you. I have been told many times, by many banks that they only accept utility bills, tenancy agreements, current UK drivers licence, tax bills or a National Insurance Number. So, if you don't have this information, don't bother with Metro Bank, Barclays, HSBS or Nat West!

4. If you don't have proof of address (like me) you can try Lloyds bank. They apparently open accounts with just your passport. I was however not so lucky with this! I made the mistake of mentioning I live at a share house and when I mentioned this, they completely shut me down. So, don't mention the share house or anything, just bring your passport!

5.  If you plan ahead before arriving to London, I was told by HSBC that you can provide proof of address from another country, they just want to prove you are who you are but they do require originals (see point 1 to see the documents they accept!) so bring these from home.

And a bonus tip, if all fails (like it did for me) ask for other payment options by your employers/Human Resources, they may be able to do something for you. They may be able to issue you with a cheque. You'll need to find a money changer and they will take a percentage of the balance but at least you'll have some money to tie you over.

Moving countries, cities or continents can be hard so don't let it get to you if they say no. I went to more then 15 banks just to be shut down by every single one of them. It's stressful, frustrating and seriously annoying. So be patient and try your best to get all the documents you need to make it easier.

Head to the London Series for more tips from London.

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Top 5 tips for surviving London on a budget

A lot of people complain about how expensive my home city of Perth is to live... Well, I have to say, London is even more expensive! And when you haven't earned your pounds yet... It's seems like you have a money pit draining from your wallet.

So here are my top 5 tips for surviving London on a budget.

1. Everthing is more expensive in Central London, so find accommodation further out into the suburbs. While this is a catch 22, you'll spend more money on commuting, you'll save money on accommodation, surrounding bars, restaurants and supermarkets. The benefits sure outweigh the negative.

2. Don't be afraid to shop at the cheaper supermarkets. There is an amazing place, I have only just discovered, called Poundland! Everything is only 1 pound... Amazing right? It's a good place to stock up on your toiletries,  non perishables and other basic supplies. It's a place where you can buy non branded products so you aren't paying for the label.

3. In the 1st point, I said it can get expensive when you commute into Central London, but you can buy Travelcards for the London transport system. This will be Zone specific so you'll pay a less amount if you stay within your Zone options. Just remember to stay within your selected Zones otherwise you'll pay a penalty!

4. If you are thirsty at a restaurant, ask for a glass of tap water not bottled water. The price for bottled water in a restaurant is ridiculously over priced. If you ask for tap water in a restaurant, they legally have to give it to you. Save your pounds for wine and drink the free tap water!

5. Don't take taxis in this city! It's definitely only for the rich and frivolous! If you miss the last train, don't forget about the many, many night buses you can take. It will be so much cheaper and it will be during the off-peak time so it will be even cheaper.

I am still settling in to London life, what are your money saving tips for surviving London?

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Top 5 things I'd love to change about London

I've been in London for officially one month now and while I am still in the honeymoon stage of our new relationship, there are some things that I'd love to change about London.

So I've compiled a list of the top 5 things I'd love to change about London, to make sure we have a long and happy relationship for the future!

1. This is one seriously expensive city. And when I say seriously expensive, I mean, it's really, really expensive. If you are planning on moving to London to work and save (like me!), don't expect the saving part to happen right away. Whilst, I still love this place, it costs more than 10 pounds a day, to travel into Central London and rent costs almost your entire pay cheque, it takes some serious work hours to make ends meet.

2. You will feel like a tiny little ant when you are in Central London and you will be forever getting out of the way of crazy shoppers. There are so many people here. It's a highly populated place which is permanently hustling and bustling. If you are someone who hates really busy places, London isn't for you.

3. You will never, ever get a seat on the Tube during peak hour. Now as a young person, I know I shouldn't complain about standing on the tube for 20 minutes but when you work on your feet all day.... It's nice to be able to sit down during your commute.

4. You will work many, many hours in this city. While you may work a traditional 9 hour day, it will feel like an extremely long day when you add your commute to and from your work. If you are like me and can't afford living in Central London, you may be based in Zone 3 or 4, which makes your working day feel so much longer.

5. The city goes dark by 4pm. The first day in the city, I was in shock that the streets were in total darkness before I had my afternoon coffee! Seriously, why?

So, while I am super excited to discover a new city, I can see this being one of those love/hate relationships. 

Check back next week for more on the London Series.

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Top 5 tips for finding somewhere to live in London

I have to admit, London is an expensive place to live. Especially when you have foreign currency and need to exchange your euros and Australian dollars in pounds constantly.

However, once you start earning pounds, it makes the place more affordable.

My Frenchy and I have been looking for places to live since we arrived. And I have to say, it's not easy. There are hundreds and thousands of places you can live but how do you know what is the best place for you?

So here are some of the tips that we have found useful since being here.

1. Like I mentioned in my previous post, Airbnb is one of the best places to start out. Find somewhere a little further away from Central London. It's much cheaper in comparison to a hotel room and it's much more comfortable than a backpackers. Also, you can stay as many nights as you want (depending on availability) without needing to pay too much upfront.

2. Figure out roughly how much you will earn per week against the cost of living. This will determine how much you are willing to spend per week or per month and how much you can save. It will also make the search easier if you have a minimum and maximum filter on your search. Like I said, there are so many places to choose from!

3. The next important think to consider is the different Zone options. The further out you live, the more money you will spend on travelling into Central London. So think about where you are going to work and find a suburb close to transport and within nearby Zones.

4. It's important to find a selection of properties you like the look of and schedule an appointment to view them. You don't want to move in without looking at the place first. Make sure you feel comfortable and it's in a great location, close to transport.

5. And finally, don't settle for anything unless you are completely sure. Most places will have a 3-6 month minimum stay and you don't want to agree on it unless you truly love it.

Check in next week for more tips from London.

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Top 5 things to do BEFORE moving to London

My Frenchy and I decided to move to London.

I was missing the English language and I found so many job opportunities online so we made the move. 

We were fortunate enough to have a great Airbnb host and housemate who told us all the important things we should have done BEFORE we moved.

So to save you the trouble we went through, I thought I would share my top 5 tips to help make your move easier.

1. Find accommodation for longer than a few days. It's going to take a little bit of time to find accommodation and check it out before moving in. I suggest Airbnb as a great place to start. You can find some nice, affordable locations, while you look for another place. Here is a link to the Airbnb we stayed. It's a great location and the Host is so helpful.

2. Book your accommodation a couple of weeks in advance. Build up a rapport with your Host and they may be able to help and give advise, leading up to the move.

3. If you are planning on working, call ahead to the National Insurance company to secure an appointment to receive the next available appointment. Ask your host if you can use their address as it is a requirement for applying for a NI number. I booked for an appointment when I first arrived in London and I had to wait 2 weeks.

4. Plan an appointment with a bank provider to make sure you don't have to wait for the next available appointment. Schedule the appointment a couple of days after your NI number appointment. The bank won't give you an account without a permanent address or a NI number.

5. Study the transport in London. Make sure you know how to get from where you arrive in London, to your accommodation. Also, upon your arrival, get yourself an Oyster card. It makes travelling so much easier instead of buying tickets all the time. Also, the more you travel on an Oyster card, the more money you can save.

Be sure to check back soon for more tips from London.

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Top 5 tips for travelling in France

I was recently asked by a reader: What tips can you give me for travelling in France? So I compiled a list of my top 5 tips for travelling in France...

I've been in France for over 3 months now and I've experienced many French towns and cities over the time. I have compiled a list of my top 5 things to know when travelling in France.

1. Learn basic French - Aside from this being incredibly polite, the French people choose not to speak in English so you'll need to understand some of the basics when it comes to ordering food and checking reservations.

2. Don't overeat - Like I mentioned in my previous post Eating like the French, you tend to eat a lot of food in France. So I have a few tips for you: Firstly, skip a big breakfast, instead opt for fresh fruit and a small pastry. Don't forget your coffee too! Next, pick one meal either lunch or dinner as your biggest meal. Don't eat 2 big meals in a day! And finally, if you're like me and love your desserts, share one with your partner, you won't feel so guilty for the indulgence.

3. Buy a city map - They are much more reliable than a GPS and you can use them offline! There have been many times during our travels where our GPS has failed and we've had no wifi to fix it. Also city maps will show you all the must see landmarks in the city, so you won't miss anything!

4. Be careful of pick pockets - I'm sure you hear this all the time but it's so easy to be distracted when you are exploring new places. My tip for women, buy a handbag with an inside pocket zip for your valuables and a zip and buckle closure for the outside. Also, keep the things you use most, in a separate compartment to your wallet so you don't expose your valuables every time you open your bag.

5. And finally, shops don't open on Sundays so plan your shopping around that! The first Sunday here, I desperately needed to buy something but discovered I couldn't. Now I make sure I have everything I need before the weekend hits!

What did you learn from travelling France that you wish you knew before?