Where To Travel On A Budget In 2017

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Frostie

We’re almost ready to turn the calendar over to a new year, and that means all kinds of suggestions and predictions for 2017 are floating around the internet. People are talking about resolutions, major upcoming events, changes in the world, exciting films on the way, and all kinds of other things. But one of the most enjoyable things to talk about this time of year tends to be travel. The turn of a new year is a great time to plan ahead for a vacation or two, and around this time there are always new (or rather, updated) suggestions regarding where to go.

Here, we want to look at a few destinations in particular that might be ideal for travellers on a budget in 2017.

Namibia

Even among those who are fascinated by the idea of vacationing in Africa, Namibia doesn’t seem to come up often. Most people tend to focus on places like South Africa, Morocco, or Tanzania. Lonely Planet—one of the better online sources for destination browsing—wrote up a list of 2017 budget destinations and pointed to Namibia’s appeal in a pretty irresistible fashion. Noting the long-term depreciation of the Namibia dollar as a reason that now is a great time to go, the article pointed out desert wildlife spotting, river canyon hiking, and even sand surfing as activities to enjoy. And on top of it all, this is a country filled with rare natural beauty—which of course is the cheapest feature to enjoy on any vacation!

Venice, Italy

If you’re interested in travel, you probably don’t need to be told about the beauty and intrigue of Venice. Viewed by many as one of the most stunning destinations in the world, it’s a bucket list item for a lot of us. However, it also has a reputation as an expensive place to stay. But the aforementioned Lonely Planet post points out that thanks to services like Airbnb it has become far easier to find affordable accommodations in Venice.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi led the way in a write-up about budget travel destinations compiled by the Irish lottery site Lottoland. While primarily geared toward gaming, the site makes a point of posting about fun things for lucky winners to do with their winnings. As a result, this was a nice little travel article. Regarding Hanoi, the point was that despite immense growth and popular recognition as one of the world’s most fascinating cities, has remained incredibly affordable. A hotel room can cost as little as £20/night, and food costs are practically negligible compared to most popular destinations. For those prices, travellers can enjoy an amazing city steeped in history and cultural intrigue.

Bolivia

Bolivia, and specifically the capital city of La Paz, is also mentioned in the Lottoland write-up, on the grounds that it offers the beauty and charm of Latin America at a far more affordable rate than most other destinations in the region. It’s estimated that a whole day of activity in Bolivia can cost as little as £20, which means that outside of actually getting there, this can be an extraordinarily cheap trip. Best of all, visitors can check off one of the truly magical places in the world from their travel lists: the legendary salt flats, or Salar de Uyuni.

Portugal

Forbes compiled its own list of 30 cheap places to travel in 2017, and was remarkably thorough about it. Portugal was included because it tends to be more affordable than the rest of Western Europe. It’s also worth noting that Portugal is sometimes overlooked alongside France and Spain as a stunning destination. Described in the Forbes article as “California Highway 1-meets-Tuscany,” it’s a beautiful place to explore, and one where you’ll find plenty of comfort in food and wine as well!

The Exhibit, Balham Restaurant Review

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

– Location: check

– Atmosphere: check

– Great food: check.

As a born and bred Londoner, I’m embarrassed to write that I’ve never ventured to the restaurants or bars of Balham.

But yesterday evening, we stepped inside The Exhibit, a pretty venue just round the corner from the station.

On the ground floor we were impressed by the well-stocked bar and an array of colourful cocktails clasped in the hands of the trendy post-work crowd.

We headed one floor up to the dining area and were warmly welcomed by the waiting staff.

I loved the décor; white washed brickwork, glass blocks separating the two distinct dining areas and the open kitchen where you can see the chefs literally cooking up a storm.

My fiancé Marcin ordered the salmon tartare with guacamole, sesame seeds and soy dressing. The salmon, more red than pink, was smokey while the tang of the soy dressing and delicate taste of the guacamole all fused together beautifully.

I opted for the pulled pork terrine with chef’s piccalilli and the stringy pork had a char flavour which together with the spice of the piccalilli, was a pleasant starter.

For my main, I fancied trying the 24-hour honey and rosemary marinated lamb neck, with tomato bulgar wheat and aubergine croqueta. Having never tried this cut of the meat (it’s much cheaper than say a shoulder of lamb), I found it to be tender, fairly lean and with a more distinct lamb taste. The aubergine croqueta was crispy and the bulgar wheat was similar to a Mediterranean couscous.

For his main, Marcin chose from the special board – Galloway 32-day aged 8oz ribeye, café de Paris butter and chips. He said cutting into the steak was a real pleasure as the knife seamlessly sliced into the tender, juicy meat which was seared well on the outside while the inside was deliciously pink.

With a naturally sweet tooth, I plumped for the sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice-cream. The sponge was moist, the butterscotch sauce sugary and the vanilla ice-cream provided a refreshing coolness to the palette.

We did swap puddings half way though and I devoured the remains of Marcin’s chocolate and amaretti cake with crème fraiche. It was made of dark chocolate and was intensely rich while the little crispy puffs layered on top added a nice crunch to the bite.

The atmosphere was really chilled, the diners all had a fun vibe and our date night was accompanied by Torrontes white wine – a delicate, crisp and fruity wine which seemed to compliment each of our dishes.

We took a wander around The Exhibit – in one room speed-dating was taking place, while upstairs, it boasts an additional bar and best of all, an intimate plush cinema-come-karaoke room. On its website, The Exhibit prides itself on being “your go-to neighbourhood eating, drinking and entertainment choice for the people of Balham.” I only wish I’d left Clapham, Shoreditch and Camden behind and headed to Balham sooner – whether for post-work drinks, date night or even a sing-along, The Exhibit is a fabulously versatile venue for any event, large or small. No doubt we’ll be returning there soon.

Where To Go For Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Catherine Balavage

Hakkasan

Romantic and stylish. You can’t go wrong with Hakkasan. It is decadent and romantic.

Read our Hakkasan review.

Gaucho Sloane

Argentinean and with a reputation that precedes it. The steak is amazing and the waiters really know there stuff. The Mojito mocktail tastes just like the real thing.

Read our Gaucho review.

Yauatcha

Their food is out of this world. I would eat here everyday not just for the food, but also the atmosphere. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, and they also have an amazing patisserie. Buy up everything for the one you love.

Read our Yauatcha review.

Charlotte’s Bistro

Just brilliant food. Their gin soaked salmon was one of the best starters I have ever had in my life. They also do amazing cocktails and have a Gin School. Yes, a Gin School. Sign me up.

Read our Charlotte’s Bistro review.

Cinnamon Soho

Quite possibly the best Indian food in London. Reasonably priced and the food looks great too. Their house white is superb.

Read our Cinnamon Soho review.

Bob Bob Ricard

Deserves a mention for their ‘Press here for champagne’ button alone. Incredibly stylish and the waiters look great in their pink waistcoats. Their sea bass is just brilliant.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar

It has a wonderful location on the South Bank. Great view, amazing steak and brilliant cocktails. You couldn’t ask for much more.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar review

Don’t know what to buy your love for Valentine’s Day? Check out our Valentine’s Day gift guide.

10 Tea Destinations You Should Visit Once In Your Life

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Frostie

Image credit: Turkish tea by Sztanco Demeter

It warms us up when we are cool and it will cool us if we are too heated. Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world after water and this is probably the reason why it has become a worldwide little treasure- From the time of the ancient Chinese Dynasty to our present, tea has taught us there is nothing better than its flavour when it comes to relaxing or catching up with friends and family. Welcome to the worldwide art of drinking tea!

Argentine: The land of mate

People say that in order to know beautiful Argentine, you need to try its meat and of course, its mate. Did you know there is an entire museum dedicated to mate? This herb is without any doubt the national drink in the country and it is said that the more you drink it, the strongest the after-taste. If you fancy some more information about this caffeine-rich infused drink, don´t hesitate to visit Museo del Mate (289, Lavalle, 1648 Tigre, Buenos Aires). Image credit: Mate by Marta López

Morocco: Experience the mint tea!

You can’t really say you know the mint tea flavour unless you have been to Morocco. Touareg tea, how Moroccon mint tea is named here, is the real heart of this culture and it is strongly linked to the act of hospitality. In this sense, tea is served to guesses three times-Of course the guess will always have to drink the glass!

China: The art of making tea

Image: All the tea in China by Adam Cohn via Flickr

China is the birthplace for tea; here people have been producing tea over the years, something they call “Chao dao”, which was also exported to Japan. This country is a perfect destination for tea lovers that will be able to visit the only National Tea Museum in the country (opened in 1991 and based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang), where you can find out more about the strong tea culture in this place.

India: The world of Chai

India consumes more tea than any other country in the world. Whoever visits this destination will find out that this drink is literally served on every corner, especially in crowded train stations where you will see people selling this drink from early hours in the morning until night. To find out more about the tea culture in the country, pop in at Kanan Devan Hills Tea Museum (Munnar, India).

Japan: The matcha ceremony

Image credit: Matcha tradition in Japan by Flickr

Tea is in this country a huge part of the food culture. Even though the diversity of teas here is endless, whenever someone mentions this drink is known it’s referred to green tea. The tea ceremony is called here matcha and is seen as a ritual that generations have been using for ages and which consists of serving green tea to a small group in one of those popular old teahouses.

New Zealand: The tea explosion

Like in America, people from New Zealand get interested in this drink because of its healthy reputation. According to historians, New Zealand imported considerable amounts of tea in the nineteenth-century, with the arrival of the British missionaries. A fun fact about the tea culture in this country is that its only commercial tea plantation is called Zealong, which launched its first list of products in 2009.

Russia: Drink tea as a guest

Russians drink tea at different times of the day. Originally introduced by the Mongolians, it has turned into an important part of the Russian culture and today we could say that there is no Russia without this drink. Follow the local style and try a cup of Zavarka, a very strong tea prepared in a separate pot that allows guests to have several tea rounds.

Britain: Enjoy an afternoon tea

Image credit: The Goring by Expedia

There is nothing more British than having a proper afternoon tea, which owes its origins to Anna, the 7^th Duchess of Bedford. Today this ritual attracts hundreds of travellers, especially in London, a city that hosts a wide chic selection of hotels and cafés offering this service. Top tip: Although most hotels in London offer the best afternoon tea in the country, as blogger Antonia Windsor details in this article on the Expedia blog, it’s important to remember that British people, especially Londoners, tend to save these posh sessions for a special occasion. If you ever visit the British capital and you fancy a real afternoon tea, book a table at Claridge´s Hotel (Brook St, Mayfair, London) Cost: £50.

Thailand: A popular tea around the world

Thai tea is one of the most popular teas in the world and it has been attracting consumers over the years across different continents. It is made from strongly-brewed red tea that usually contains anise, red and yellow food colouring and sometimes other spices too. Visit The Museum Coffee & Tea Corner (1, Damnernkasem Road, Hua Hin) and enjoy amazing garden views whilst enjoying classical music.

USA: The tea explosion

Tea is in the States one of the most popular non-alcoholic drinks in 2014. It doesn’t matter if you fancy green, red or even oolong tea, as they are all included in North American people’s healthy diet so you won’ t have issues when it comes to finding them on the menu. Top tip: Remember that American coffee is still preferred for the morning ritual!

Image credit: Starbucks tea by Vivian Farinazzo via Flickr

Author Bio

Marta López is a travel writer based in London. She loves travelling and discovering new cultures. When she isn’t writing on her laptop she can be found around the city looking for the latest tea shops.

Langshott Manor Review | Travel

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

After our recent marriage my new husband and I spent a wonderful bank holiday weekend at Langshott Manor which we booked via http://secretescapes.com. It was a truly wonderful 16th-century Elizabethan manor house in Surrey. We got a good rate and it included breakfast and a five-course tasting menu.

This is what http://secretescapes.com said:

A 16th-century Elizabethan manor house, complete with red brick walls, casement windows and an ancient moat, Langshott Manor is a real boutique gem. Set within three acres of secret garden near Horley in the heart of sleepy Surrey, you’re just an hour’s drive from the Big Smoke. Slip on your Hunter wellies and get ready for a decidedly stylish country retreat.

The refurbished Mulberry Restaurant is full of nooks and crannies to hide away in. Packed with original features, it has a cosy fireplace and views out across the pristine gardens. The menu is both refined and hearty, with plenty of home-grown produce and local ingredients.

Good to know

Please note that check-in is at 4pm ad check-out is at 11am.

The restaurant’s dress code is smart-casual, which excludes trainers, sportswear and ripped denim.

We like

The quirky original features in this grand 16th century Elizabethan manor house

The re-invented Mulberry Restaurant where you can have fabulous gourmet dishes and afternoon tea

Walking through the grounds to discover the ancient moat and beyond, tranquil countryside

We were very impressed with the food, the service and our room. The grounds were beautiful and relaxing. Ducks played in a pond and even came right up to the restaurant. They were completely adorable. Our room had a four poster bed, a hall and a beautiful bathroom. The food truly is first-class, as good as anything in the best restaurants in London.

We had a wonderful time. Upon checking out we noticed the service charges were quite a lot but, to be fair, the service is impeccable. The papers are not free and will be added to your bill. The nearest train station is Horley. You could take a taxi to the manor house and it won’t cost much. It is also possible to walk as long as you have a good sense of direction or GPS on your phone.

My husband and I have become quite obsessed with http://secretescapes.com since we booked out mini moon and are already working on our next trip.

Busan BBQ Summer Pop-Up at Old Bengal Bar

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Frostie

This August, AmeriKorean street food van, Busan BBQ, will pop-up at Old Bengal Bar for a series of summer BBQ evenings.

Popping up every Monday and Tuesday evening through August in Old Bengal Bar’s courtyard, Busan BBQ will be serving a selection of dishes from their American-meets-Korean menu. Served from their bright red Busan tent, the menu will include Busan’s staple Busan Burger with 28 day-aged rare breed British beef burger covered in Bulgogi soy marinade and topped with mustard-pickled onions, Sweet and spicy pork belly bun with gochujang sauce and mooli slaw and Korean style oven baked chicken wings with sticky garlic soy marinade. Busan have also teamed up with head chef Barry Macmillan to create a bespoke Old Bengal Prawn Po Boy sub-sandwich; cooked on the Big Green Egg and fusing Busan’s Asian flavours with New Street Grill’s traditional British ingredients, this dish will be available to enjoy Monday through Saturday at Old Bengal Bar in August.

Additionally, Old Bengal Bar’s manager, Milos Popovic, and his team have created a range of Korean-inspired cocktails to go alongside especially for the pop-up, which will be available throughout the month.

Located in the City’s oldest surviving warehouse built by the East India Trading Company, Old Bengal Bar’s heritage nods to Asia. Exploring the East further this August, Old Bengal Bar’s Busan BBQ AmeriKorean pop-up is sure to be a sweet and spicy street-food experience, perfect for post-work barbeque bites and al fresco summer dinners alike.

Busan BBQ will be at Old Bengal Bar on Monday 4^th, Tuesday 5^th, Monday 11^th, Tuesday 12^th, Monday 18^th, Tuesday 19^th and Tuesday 25^th August.

Bounce Ping Pong And Cocktail Club | Restaurant Review

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

It is hard to create something unique and different in London, but it is fair to say that Bounce – Europe’s largest social ping pong and cocktail club based in Holborn, achieves this. In fact, it has everything you could need: cocktails, good food and ping pong.

The venue was designed by lauded interior designer Russell Sage and is visually stunning. It boasts an impressive 95 cover restaurant and cocktail bar and 17 bespoke designed ping-pong tables available for play – one being the Olympic final table. All of this can be enjoyed surrounded by London’s most impressive UV installation rolled out throughout the entire club.

The Frost team went down in force to review. Here is how we got on.

Paloma, Marcin, James and I arrive and head to the restaurant area. The menu has a great selection and it takes us a while to decide what we want. We order our starters and a cocktail each.

Paloma has the H Forman’s Scottish smoked salmon, roasted beetroots & horseradish cream which she says is earthy and smoked. The horseradish was a perfect accompaniment, didn’t have too much of a sting. Marcin has the Bruschetta 3 ways (Parma ham & pesto, Datterini tomatoes, peas, broad beans & pecorino): he says it is fresh and the pea complimented the mint well. James had the Gamberoni – baked king prawns, smoked garlic, chilli, Sicilian lemon butter, rocket & parsley: he says the prawns were huge and juicy and the sauce was amazing. For my starter I had Buffalo Mozzarella, Pixel tomatoes, Sorrento olives, toasted pine nuts, wild rocket & lemon infused olive oil. It was amazing. The ingredients are high quality and the combination really works well together.

For mains Marcin had the Baked salmon, heritage beets, broad beans and horseradish cream which he said was excellent: tender on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside. Paloma had the Spiced Newlyn Bay crab macaroni cheese. She said it was slightly a let down and overshadowed by chilli. James had a Spicy pork & fennel, plum tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil & fresh chilli pizza which was excellent. James thought it was perfectly spicy. I had the Pan fried Label Anglaise free range chicken breast with smoked pancetta, roast squash, Italian beans in a rich tomato ragu: this dish was amazing. The best one I think. It was comfort food but even better. The sauce was amazing and the chicken was perfectly done.

For my dessert I had the Rum & raisin panna cotta with winter berry compote. It was amazing, with real raisins in. A very unique and tasty dessert. Paloma had the Warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, which she said was possibly the best she had ever had. James had the Spiced plum & amaretto tart with Devonshire clotted cream which he says was superb. Marcin had an expresso which he said was good and we also had some really good English Breakfast tea. The service was also amazing. Everyone is really friendly.

We made a fair dent in the cocktail menu. We had The Tipping Point, which tasted fruity and dangerous. It was far too drinkable for something which had every alcohol under the sun in it including absinthe. Bounce only allow two per person, the clue is in the name but Marcin handled it well, a Hatton Garden Spritz which was delicious and summery, a Wiff Waff which was also amazing and different, The Pink One which was yummy, a Ladies Delight No 2, which, indeed, was a delight, a Ping Pong Show which was brilliant, a Daddy Mac, which says it is not for girls but we’ll show them, it was very tasty and strong. Lastly we had a Gin Lane Spritz which was superb. Phew! All of the cocktails were fruity and easy to drink.

Paloma and Marcin play ping pong.

After all of that alcohol came the ping pong. I was terrible which I won’t blame on the alcohol but just on my general ineptness. I did get a little better towards the end. Annoyingly the boys did very well. Although Paloma held the girl’s side up. The ping pong is lots of fun and comes in thirty-minute slots. Bounce is the home of Ping Pong and you definitely get an amazing vibe from the place. Paloma text me the day before I wrote this review saying Bounce was on Made in Chelsea, so it has reached the peak of trendiness and is showing no signs of letting up. The day before we were going to go, my fiance and I were at his best man and girlfriend’s house and they were also going to Bounce. It is thee place to be seen at the moment.

Bounce has amazing food, brilliant cocktails and excellent ping pong. I cannot praise it enough, we really had a wonderful time. A hen party even come to our ping pong table after we had finished, so Bounce is perfect for many different occasions. We will be going back, numerous times.

Bounce
121 Holborn
London
EC1N 2TD

020 3657 6525

Travel trends: Hot Tips For 2014 Plus 2013 Best Performers

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Frostie

Morocco, Barbados and Kenya were the big success stories for 2013

Montenegro is hotly tipped for 2014, while Spain and Portugal continue to perform well

Morocco has outperformed any other worldwide holiday destination in terms of increased bookings for 2013, according to loveholidays.com

Data from the online travel agency reveals bookings to Morocco are up a staggering 1,100% year-on-year. Barbados and Kenya have seen bookings soar, by 800% and 700% respectively, while regular favourites Spain and Portugal also report big increases.

Montenegro, meanwhile, is being tipped as the next big destination in 2014, after it too showed a healthy increase in bookings last year.

Morocco holidays: up 1,100%

Morocco has been boosted in recent years, partly since easyJet launched flights to the destination. Since then, UK holidaymakers have started to realise what great value it is, and because it’s only a three-hour flight away, it’s possible to nip over for a short break.

loveholidays.com founder Alex Francis says: “Morocco is a very decently priced option for people who want to set foot on exotic soil and experience ‘Africa’ from as little as £150 per person.”

“Air capacity from the UK is increasing by 60% this winter with easyJet, for example, further expanding with the launch of a Bristol-Marrakesh service last month. It’s not surprising the Moroccan Tourist Board is predicting double-digit growth in travellers to the country. We think Morocco has still further to go.”

Barbados holidays: up 800%

Barbados is served with a great selection of flights from UK airports and transfer times from the airport to resort are shorter than some of the other Caribbean destinations.

Francis says: “It’s relatively safe and very “British” – you could say it’s got a ‘faraway familiarity’ about it, which is why it’s a firm favourite among Brits. This year, the Barbados Tourism Authority ran a promotion in conjunction with selected hotels giving tourists ‘free spending money’, redeemable at restaurants and attractions, to boost low-season bookings – and this definitely helped raise the island’s profile as a value-for-money destination.

“In addition, Barbados’ best-known export, Rihanna, is never far out of the media spotlight, ensuring regular publicity for the island.”

Kenya holidays: up 700%

Tourism to Kenya reached record levels three years ago, with British travellers making up the biggest proportion of its one million visitors. Political unrest, terrorism and rare instances of attacks on holidaymakers since then have kept the destination in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. But Kenya is so unusual that it never takes long to bounce back. Hence a 700% increase in demand.

Francis says: “There really is nowhere on earth like Kenya and safari holidays combined with a few days on the beach are really popular. Prices remain keen, so a bargain safari and beach holiday in Kenya is perfectly possible.”

Montenegro holidays: up 300%

“Our money’s on Montenegro as a hot destination for 2014. It’s a tiny country, but it’s going to be huge this year, with tourists flocking to the resort of Becici and the nearby Medieval town of Budva. Upmarket accommodation providers, such as Regent Hotels and Resorts and Kerzner International’s One&Only, are opening new properties in 2014; however, even on a smaller budget, it’s easy to experience Montenegro in style and comfort.”

“The four-star Hotel Montenegro Beach in Becici has proved really popular this year. As far as value for money goes, it’s hard to beat – and that’s why we’re tipping Montenegro as one to watch this year,” predicts Francis.

Spain and Portugal holidays: up 571% and 616% respectively

The original summer holiday destination for Brits – Spain – has been back in favour for a few years now. It’s not surprising, since it’s got brilliant flight links, offering the convenience of flying from a local airport in the vast majority of cases. Its neighbour, Portugal, is also a staple favourite and both destinations have a loyal repeat visitor clientele.

“In addition, these are two destinations that, even throughout the economic downturn, still represent great value for money, especially holidays to Spain,” says Francis.

“It’s just over two hours away and has stayed relatively ‘cheap’ while other destinations have shot up in price. Spain is consistently our big seller.”

Other high-performing destinations during 2013, and expected to prove popular next year, are: Tunisia (up 408%); Canary Islands (up 340%); Egypt (up 317%); Aruba (up 300%); Jamaica (up 289%); Balearic Islands (up 267%); Turkey (up 271%) and Slovenia (up 250%).

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Tag Archives: where to go

Where To Travel On A Budget In 2017

The Exhibit, Balham Restaurant Review

Where To Go For Valentine’s Day

10 Tea Destinations You Should Visit Once In Your Life

Langshott Manor Review | Travel

We like

Busan BBQ Summer Pop-Up at Old Bengal Bar

Bounce Ping Pong And Cocktail Club | Restaurant Review

Travel trends: Hot Tips For 2014 Plus 2013 Best Performers

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