It was something I wanted to do for a while, and as soon as I could commit the time and money to do it, we got on the road. When we got back from our travels we got asked tons of questions. So I decided to put together a post on some of the things we get asked the most. I’m planning on slowly writing about each location that we visited (eventually!), so stay tuned.

What was your favourite stop?

It’s difficult to say because we went to so many different places and they were all so wildly different. But sitting underneath the majestic Toblerone mountain, Matterhorn, in Zermatt, Switzerland was one of the most awe-inspiring views I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience. I could have sat there all day marvelling at the view (to which I did…).

What did you learn?

We learnt so much, more than I ever thought we would. From learning about Low Emission Zones in cities and driving regulations in Europe through to stuff that really changed my perspective. For example, I learn that if I don’t work every minute of every day, my business doesn’t fail. I also learn that having a work fire extinguisher is essential when you’re travelling in a camper van.

Did you guys argue?

S and I don’t really argue. Occasionally we bicker about how I have too many clothes or about how S doesn’t clean his desk, overall though we’re pretty relaxed. Living in a tiny van for 2 months was going to be a test for us but we barely argued, other than when we got lost a couple of times. Even in horribly stressful situations we somehow still managed to laugh through it.

What went wrong?

In the beginning, EVERYTHING. The van broke down, we had a gas leak and set our ‘home on wheels’ on fire, S snapped off the door handle, our electric cool-box broke, the wing mirror broke off. But we worked through it and we were rewarded with the trip of a lifetime. Sometimes we felt like going home but I’m so glad we didn’t because the majority of our bad luck passed in the first week and it was 100% worth it.

How did you work and travel?

We’re so lucky that we can work from anywhere in the world, as long as we have our laptops. We both had 45GB of data and used personal hotspots to work, and we charged our laptops on the solar panels on the van. It was difficult trying to concentrate when you’re somewhere new and gorgeous every day, so we welcomed rainy days, although we only got about 3!

Would you do it again?

Everybody asks us this. 100% we would do it again. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I wish I could do it all over again right now. Unfortunately, life gets in the way and we can’t just travel all the time. We could have carried on but we have other priorities in our life, so we need to juggle that. One day though, we’ll be back on the road when the time is right.

Was it difficult travelling with Alfie?

Absolutely not. I thought taking Alfie was going to hinder our trip, but bringing him with us had no negative impact. We had to make a couple of adjustments but everywhere we went in Europe was so dog-friendly. We loved having him with us and he enjoyed being walked 12+ hours a day. He was so well behaved, even when he went on a gondola in Venice! You just need to be mindful when he needs to rest, when your dog will need more water etc.

How much did you spend?

We get asked this a lot, too. We never calculated how much we spent on the van, diesel, food and exploring. It was far from cheap, which is the reason we’ve decided never to work it out. Let’s just say, It would have been cheaper to fly/drive to each destination and stay in a hotel every night for 2 months… But alas! we had an unforgettable adventure, and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

What would you do differently?

Surprisingly, not much. Everybody said our van was too small to travel around Europe in, and whilst a larger than would have been nice, we didn’t spend a huge amount of time in it so it didn’t matter much. When we do it again, we’ll be doing it with a much newer van. I love that Boris was a retro beauty, but spending a week broken down at a garage in Belgium was pretty stressful.

The post FAQ: Traveling Around Europe In a Van With Our Dog! appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

There are a few places on the cards such as Croatia, Greece, and Egypt but we’ll probably wait a few months until it heats up. In the meantime, we need some mini-breaks to satisfy our itchy feet. Valentine’s day is on the horizon, and a short getaway is perfect for indulging in some romance *hint to the boyfriend that may be reading this* and treating each other to attention that all too easily escape a busy working week.

For those who aren’t keen on grand gestures or who would rather stay closer to home, like us, there are plenty of spots in the UK that are just as romantic as Italy. In fact, an alternative to cliché romantic locations can be far more appreciated. It shows consideration, creativity, and most of all, that you’re not taking tips from the movies. One place in particular that offers true romanticism and escape is the swoon-worthy Lake District.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes, dramatic falls, and gorgeous greenery, the Lake District is the perfect spot to whisk away a loved one for some TLC. If you idealize a quiet haven for just the two of you, there are secluded spots that enable you to turn off technology, enjoy each other’s company and absorb the striking views. However, for those who prefer a little more of a cosmopolitan touch, there are small towns and villages that boast shops, bars, and renowned restaurants to suit fine dining connoisseurs and bargain hunters alike.

When it comes to food, the Lake District is a particular hotspot for fine dining experiences, with numerous Michelin star restaurants to hand and Michelin recommended eateries in almost every town. For those who want to experience the true drama of the Lakes, you can venture to the Michelin recommended restaurant The Samling. Here, you can taste sophisticated, environmentally inspired dishes that are theatrically presented before a striking backdrop of Lake Windermere.

In close proximity to here, you can head to the famed Holbeck Ghyll for considered, local dishes and a divine tasting menu, or you can head to The Forest Side in Grasmere for a sophisticated interpretation of local produce.

The Lake District is fast becoming notorious for its quality restaurants, introducing head chefs from all over the country. If you ever managed to watch Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan’s “The Trip”, you’ll understand the sudden appeal for the Lake District and high-end eating. Not all food is catered to the higher end and higher budget, however, and there are plenty of characterful small restaurants in the area. 

When it comes to creating a romantic atmosphere, sometimes these can be much more effective, creating a sense of intimacy and warmth. Be sure to look out for hotels with restaurants too, as these tend to boast some of the best views in the area. The Inn On The Lake in Ullswater boasts a lake-side position and is secluded by forests and hills for a wonderfully romantic meal. With a sophisticated menu and a bar next door, you can easily spend a whole evening and top it off with a stroll around the grounds.

Spending Valentine’s Day in the Lake District can be a great way to enjoy new experiences together and make the most of the outdoors. Without having to pay a penny, you can enjoy hikes or gentle strolls, suitable for all levels of fitness. An entire day can be spent rambling the countryside, exploring the falls and forests of Borrowdale, Derwentwater or Penrith. You can even fit a hike into a day or two spent at the shopping hub of Keswick, with an adventurous hike up Castle Crag or Cat Bells.

  The best lake walks this winter in the Lake District

To really amp up the romantic atmosphere of your trip, you can also hire a boat at Ullswater or Derwentwater and enjoy a romantic row over the gorgeous lakes. Perhaps you’ll take a leaf out of famed Lake District poet William Wordsworth’s book and recite a little poetry of your own.

Landscape and dining aside, there is an abundance of romantic activities that you could do whilst stay in the Lake District. The romance of the area has seen an influx of artists and poets take root here, in turn creating a plethora of small galleries and shops. In Keswick, the stunning, traditional cinema called the Alhambra makes a delightful alternative to large commercial cinemas, or you can browse bookstores and quaint shops in every picturesque village.

Whether you want to indulge your senses or just stay cooped up inside with your loved one, a trip to the Lake District is the perfect way to enjoy each other’s company this Valentine’s Day.

The post Why You Should Visit The Lake District This Valentine’s Day appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

Running my own business, managing a blog and being a university lecturer leaves little time for me to get into the Christmas spirit, so I need to make a real effort to dedicate time to enjoy one of the most beautiful times of the year. Last week I decided that I wasn’t going to let Christmas pass us by, and we headed to the airport to catch a 7-am flight to London to get Christmassy.

We’ve teamed up with glh Hotels who have recently launched London Covered – an interactive online map that features ‘trips’ to follow using pre-loaded points of interest. We jumped at the chance to give this a whirl, as it takes the stress out of planning.

Watch the Muppets at Snow Kingdom 

Backyard Cinema is a hidden ice kingdom buried deep within the heart of London (more specifically, South London – just a 5-minute walk from either Borough or Elephant & Castle station.).

The cinema is based in Mercato Metropolitano, a 45,000 square foot market space offering a mixture of Italian and London based artisan producers. Before curling up to watch a movie, we decided to fill our bellies with tasty food, because we just couldn’t resist!

Equipped with a lantern, we travelled through a secret cave of ice and walked across a frozen lake on a suspended bridge before opening the door to the Snow Kingdom cinema *the video below perfectly captures the experience*

We were greeted by staff who directed us to blankets, a bar full of sparkling cocktails and warm drinks, before showing us to bean bags at the front of the room.

When we first read about the cinema, for some reason, we thought it was outside – I guess the word *yard* threw us! The weather was miserable that morning and we were worried about sitting in the cold. Little did we know, that we were super warm and comfortable in the shelter, we had absolutely nothing to worry about!

It was such a lovely and novel way to watch a Christmas movie. We even looked at the upcoming showings and there are some of my favourites coming up, including Elf, Mean Girls and Titanic!   I’ll definitely be coming back…

Treat yourself to a tasty lunch at the Coppa Club

Once we finished watching the Muppets, we headed over to the Coppa Club at Tower Bridge to have some lunch (you’ll notice throughout this article that food is regularly featured; I blame the cold weather!). Next to the Tower of London on the banks of the River Thames, Coppa Club is a lovely restaurant that has been tastefully decorated.

There are currently igloos out the front of the restaurant that you can dine in, decorated with sheepskin rugs and elegant candles, they looked incredibly cosy! I say ‘currently’ because I assume they aren’t erected all year around but I have no idea why they wouldn’t be. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a table booked in an igloo but the view of the Thames from our window seat wasn’t too shabby.

We ordered a couple of mocktails (cucumber and mint cooler, yum!) and took in the view.

  The Best London Travel Tips for First Timers!

Go ice skating at the Tower of London

If you’ve never been to the Tower of London at Christmas, you’re really missing out. As soon as we stepped out of the tube station, we felt super festive. The Tower was lit up with dancing snowflakes, and Michael Bublé tracks echoed through down the streets. I would definitely recommend heading to the Tower of London ice rink in the evening for this experience alone, but it was also really quiet when we joined our session at 5-pm.

I’ve only been ice skating a handful of times in the last 10 years, so I was a little bit apprehensive when putting on my skates, but the staff were super friendly and helpful when we arrived. After being put at ease that I probably wouldn’t break my hip or slice off a finger, we took to the ice! The first 15 minute was a little wobbly but before I knew it, I was back to my 8-year-old former self, feeling confident and free.

We spent 45 minutes on the ice, which was the perfect amount of time. I honestly thought I’d duck out sooner than that because I was feeling so anxious about it, but I ended up having so much fun.

Sip hot chocolate at Southbank Winter Festival

If you want to get into the Christmas spirit but avoid the chaos of Winter Wonderland, then head over to Southbank. The stalls ranged from tasty chocolate waffles to beautifully handcrafted leather handbags, which as you can imagine, was hard to tear me away from. It’s busy enough that there is a great atmosphere but equally, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic and you don’t spend ages queuing to get to stalls or bars.

My brother (a now Londoner) came and met us straight from his work near Liberty House, Oxford Street. I didn’t give him much notice but luckily he was able to come and see us briefly. I don’t get to see him much anymore, as he’s always so busy with work and going on adventures with his girlfriend, so it was nice to catch up. We sat by a fire, drank hot chocolate and chatted about our recent trips to Asia the week prior.

  Single for the Holidays - 4 Great Ways to Travel Solo

We stocked up on brownies and other chocolate delights before heading back to our hotel.

Check-in to a suite at the Thistle Trafalgar Square

Whenever I go to London, it’s always about luxury and indulgence, for me. We had also just come back from spending 10 days away on our recent trip to Tokyo and Kamakura in Japan, we needed a little TLC. We checked-in to the suite at the Thistle hotel, just stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square.

The room was fitted with a state-of-the-art flat screen LCD TV, rain shower, bathrobe and slippers. Upon arrival, there was also a bottle of wine and chocolates waiting for us in the living area, which is a lovely touch, even if we don’t drink alcohol. The bed was enormous, S and I could starfish on the super king-size bed and still not be touching.

I ran myself a steaming hot bath and took advantage of all the complimentary toiletries (who doesn’t?!). I had the BEST nights sleep before leisurely waking up at 9-am. We filled our bellies before jumping on our afternoon flight back to the Motherland of pasties, Cornwall.

The food at the Thistle Trafalgar Square is worth a mention too… I’m a self-confessed snob when it comes to buffet breakfasts in hotels. Don’t let my petite frame and my size 6 waist fool you, I’m always hungry and usually eat more than my 6ft boyfriend. Thank the Lord, the Thistle didn’t disappoint – they had everything, from high-quality pork sausages to a selection of cured meats, and plenty of cereals and yoghurts. Kudos!

Needless to say, our mini-break in London was perfect to get into the Christmas spirit and to feel a little pampered. Want to do the same route as us? You can find London’s riverside festivities route online.

Goodbye London, until next time!

The post How We Spent The Perfect Festive Weekend In London (and You Can Too!) 🎄 appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

Join a ski school

If you’re a beginner or want to ski more difficult slopes than you have done previously, being supervised by a qualified ski instructor is the safest way to get you ready for the mountains. French resorts are home to many great ski schools, we’ve picked out just a few of them:

• ESF: Boasting over 17,000 instructors, ESF is the largest ski school in the world. The vast majority of these instructors are fluent English speakers and are available for tuition at over 250 centres in France. They also offer the successful Piou Piou clubs for children aged 3 and over.

• Evolution 2: With 11 schools in the French Alps, Evolution 2 offer small group sizes for more personalised tuition, as well as multi-lingual instructors and various ski programmes tailored specifically for children.

• New Generation: all of New Generation’s ski instructors are fully qualified and have several years of training behind them, so you can be sure you will be in safe hands. They operate in 15 resorts across the French and Swiss Alps.

• Progression ski & snowboard school: this ski school offers multiple options for children, but also caters specifically for teenagers, knowing that this age group are often fit and wanting to pick up speed, but might need some help with the technical side of things before they hit the black runs with their parents.

Ensure you’re equipped & fit to ski

It’s always a great idea to check the weather forecast before you head out onto the slopes, and make sure you’ve packed the necessary equipment and are wearing suitable clothing. You should also be physically ready for the day ahead, experts recommend that you warm up before doing any kind of skiing. Remember that you need to be focused and alert to ski safely, so don’t consume alcohol before you head out or whilst you’re on the slopes. Many French resorts offer great après ski activity, but do save it for après!

Be prepared for emergencies

If you follow the guidelines for skiing safely, hopefully you’ll have a perfect ski holiday and it won’t come to this! However, it’s always a good idea to cover yourself in case of an accident or emergency. Always purchase travel insurance before you leave for your skiing holiday, and make sure that your policy covers winter sports. Do also pay attention to the small print; for example, some policies require that you wear a helmet and will otherwise be invalid. In the off-chance that you do have a skiing accident in France, you can call the Europe-wide emergency services number 112.

SnowTrex is an international winter sports tour operator, offering ski holidays in up to 1.500 accommodations and 500 resorts around the Alps and other areas.

The post How To Stay Safe On a Ski Holiday In France appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

In these instances, taking a gap year can be a wonderful time. This is your chance to learn more and experience the world around you, becoming more familiar with who you are, and your ever-developing tastes. No matter who you are, you should see the value of a gap year. This can help you in a myriad of ways. We’d like to suggest what those ways are, as well as recommend some wonderful tips for you to experience your gap year in style.

You’re only young once, and responsibilities are surely headed your way at a million miles an hour. Just be sure to enjoy the ride, and take some time for some inner reflection.

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  Is A Gap Year Program Right For You?

Backpacking

Backpacking across a continent, especially Europe, can be a very cost-effective and excellent method of travelling during the first few months of your gap year. Not only will it give you a humble way of traversing cultures, but you can extend your time able to do this by working in select destinations. Not only that, but purchasing an interrail pass on the train system will give you plenty of freedom to explore countries at your wish. One pass is valid for a whole bunch of European countries, giving you plenty of time to explore and get absorbed in cultures that neighbour your own.

You can do this alone, but it’s much wiser, much more fun and safer to take a friend or two and head across the great landscapes of Europe together. Here, you can look out for each others safety, and become more absorbed and interested in the whole pursuit.

Holiday Homes

After your time saving up during the initial stages of your gap year, what better way to ring out the entire year than to celebrate in a gorgeous location in a beautiful holiday home? Not only will this provide you with a luxurious landing pad from which to explore your country of choice, but it will certainly be a far cry from the quiet struggle of interrailing and travelling around. Here, good old fashioned fun, sun, sand and seas are the only things you need to concern yourself with.

Spain holidays can help you get all three of these and more. Many young people are also very interested in experiencing a holiday in Spain, because let’s face it, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Some exported club brands have made their way here too, so if you truly need to get down and release some steam, this gorgeous country could be the place to do it. Not only that, but the history and culture here could take several lifetimes to explore and become fully versed in, so if you prefer a cultural slant to your holiday, you will be well catered for.

In the drudgery of experiencing life at home, looking after employment, grades, studying and family or relationship life, a large trip to this locale could be the only thing you truly need.

  Things Every Solo Traveller Needs To Know

Take Time To Assess

While exploring, travelling and getting more in tune with yourself in the presence of new cultures is very important, it’s not all that’s required. Simply taking time to walking around in the local park, spending time in nature (away from the constant pull of digital entertainment and smartphones,) can help you finally grasp time to assess what it is you truly want.

A gap year is not simply a superficial time where you can explore and evade responsibility for a little while. It’s a time where you should have the space to become more in tune with yourself. Who are you, and what do you really want to experience? Sometimes we feel pushed into a certain direction by our parents, or by our peers. Sometimes, the thing we really want to try and achieve is blurred underneath this layer of expectation.

When you’re caught up in the development of your schooling or college experience, you might forget what your original intention was. Even if you’ve completed a degree before taking a gap year, you shouldn’t worry about choosing a path you truly would like to experience. Your degree or training may come in useful in more ways than you know, on a path that makes more sense to you.

Get Experience

Again, while a gap year is a time to relax and feel more comfortable (this space is important to gather your thoughts,) getting experience should be your secondary pursuit. When you have properly identified what you want to do, taking your free time and pushing it in a positive direction can do you a world of good. For example, if you want to work in marine biology, could you volunteer in an Aquariums bio-environment team to get some necessary forefront knowledge?

Having this on your CV will not only help you apply to better universities, but it will give you that foot in the door you may need. Of course, the experience can be defined in many many ways, so you shouldn’t feel pushed in one direction over another. Depending on your experience level, you could really do some wondrous good in making sure your experience is a force for future benefit, and not the opposite. Don’t be afraid to ask for payment if you’re conducting a responsibility which other paid staff should be carrying out, and don’t sell yourself short.

However, if you time this well, you could introduce yourself to a team who are more than happy to take you on prematurely, or when you finish your degree studies. These potentials make the effort of reaching out to these firms more than worth it.

With these tips, you will find that your life becomes much-expanded thanks to the efforts in your gap year. From experiencing new cultures to becoming more at one with your goals, all these pursuits will contribute and build together to develop you into a better person at the end of the year.

The post Taking A Gap Year? Kick It Off In The Right Way appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.

With winter on its way, some of the more challenging walks become difficult, or even treacherous to the novice, so we’ve decided to give you some of the safer routes around the region. We’re sneaking off for another trip soon, but we want to spend more time relaxing, so these walks are going to be perfect for us. Each of them navigable during the winter months, and all promising fresh air, good exercise, and the majestic scenery that this UNESCO World Heritage site is renowned for. 

A circuit of Latrigg

This is probably the easiest walk in the whole of the Lake District, one that the whole family can get involved in, whether little kids, elderly people, those using a wheelchair or those with a buggy for infants. The National Park Authority (NPA) has created a path for low-mobility visitors that leads to the summit of Latrigg, allowing the less mobile of your party to enjoy the magnificent view over Derwentwater and Keswick.

The rest of your group would need to start at the car park on the Skiddaw access road. From there, you can see the path, clearly marked and laid out, requiring you only to navigate a few stile gates between it and the car park. The path takes a circular route around Latrigg, ending up at the same viewpoint that the low-mobility path reaches.

All told, this walk is about a mile and a half, and it is pretty easy. It commands wonderful views of the hills and lakes of the area, including the impressive Skiddaw mountain range, which is a walk in itself, though perhaps recommended for more experienced walkers. 

Great Wood and Derwentwater

If Derwentwater impressed from the top of Latrigg, why not try a slightly longer walk that takes you from the Market Square in Keswick to right alongside the lakeshore of Derwentwater itself? This walk is about 4.3 miles and should take no longer than three hours to complete.

From Market Square, you walk past St John’s Church to the right and onto Springs Road, which leads you to a public footpath. This takes you past the lovely Springs Farm and up to Springs Wood, where you’ll find a T-junction, where you should turn right. As you climb, you’ll get your first views of the beautiful Derwentwater, nestled among the fens.

Following the path round, using the signs to Great Wood, you get more views of Derwentwater, as well as Keswick itself. Entering the woods, you need to keep to the higher path, which will eventually lead to a tarmac track, finally becoming the lakeshore path as you enter the woods along the lake. The path will pass through a gate, leading you back to the lakeshore. The path continues to the boat landings and the Theatre by the Lake, finally reaching an underpass, leading back to Keswick and your starting point.

Keswick Landings to Ashness Gate

Another easy stroll for the whole family, taking maybe an hour or two, this is a great way to walk off a hearty lunch or work up an appetite for supper. From the Keswick landings you should follow the water’s edge, keeping the lake to your right. Following the woodland trail as far as Friars Crag, you should then bear left, through the gate into Strandshag Bay.

Continuing along the path, after passing the grassland, you will find another gate, also leading to a woodland trail. Cross the footbridge, then walk to the end of the path, which eventually heads onto a rough road, which you should follow. It takes you past the National Trust Centenary Stone at Calfclose Bay and continues along the edge of the lake until you hit Ashness Gate.

From there you can walk back by the same easy route, or catch the launch back to the Keswick landings.

Keswick is a great place to stay in you fancy a hotel break in the lake district; these three walks, along with many others, are easily accessible from the town. Keswick itself is also a beautiful place to explore, especially in the winter months!

The post The Best Lake Walks This Winter In The Lake District appeared first on Strawberry Squeeze.