A WEEKEND AT THE RADISSON BLU | GAUTRAIN SANDTON

 

Who said a weekend in the city isn't fun?

This past weekend I spent two days at the Radisson Blu Gautrain in Sandton City.

The hotel is perfectly located within the business and shopping districts which are just a few steps away from the hotel. 

Whether you are planning a business trip or a shopping spree, then the Radisson Blu is the perfect place to stay at.

The Business Class suite is not your typical cramped hotel room. The space is extremely generous, offering a luxurious bathroom, study area, lounge and one breathtaking panoramic view of Sandton.

While staying in the Business Class suite, we were treated to our very own Nespresso machine, lindt chocolates on our bed and a handcrafted Mocca cake with a personalised welcome note from the Radisson Blu team. 

The bathroom was stocked with various toiletries from the brand "This Works." I really appreciate hotels that offer good quality skincare and toiletry products for their guests. The bath also had a beautiful view of the city and made for a very relaxing environment, despite being in the middle of the city. 

The hotel has one restaurant called Capital One, which is spilt into two. The Capital One Bar is on the pool side of the hotel, while Capital One Restaurant is located adjacent to the bar, overlooking the tall skyscrapers of Sandton. 

Arriving at the hotel around 5pm, we had to have sundowners at the Capital One bar next to the pool and enjoyed the picturesque African sunset. The cocktail menu is specialised and unique to the hotel, making it exciting to try new drinks. We also enjoyed a typical South African snack platter, which was named the "Dry Platter" and consisted of nuts, popcorn, chips and biltong. 

There are many restuarants that are walking distance from the hotel but we opted to stay indoors and enjoy everything that the hotel has to offer. Therefore, we had dinner at the Capital One Restaurant. The food is tasty but the portions are extremely small for what the restaurant charges. The service was not the best either, from having the table dirty and the waiter annoyed to clean it up to also having extremely slow service when trying to order our meals, I'm not to sure that I would eat dinner here again. I do love the convenience of having a restaurant inside the hotel, however I would expect it to be of the same standard as the hotel itself. Needless to say, the buffet breakfast that is offered at the hotel is really delicious and the variety offered is endless! I love a hearty breakfast and the hotel's breakfast certainly made up for the mediocre dinner.

Overall the stay was pleasant. I think this hotel is in a prime location for those who want to stop by for a drink to avoid the rush hour traffic or for those who need to quench their thirst after an extreme shopping spree in Sandton City, but most importantly, I think this hotel is the best for those on business. It is centrally located and directly across the road from the Gautrain station, where you can hop on the train and jet off to work in minutes. 

For more on my trip, head on over to my Instagram page.

TC

xoxo

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SPICE ROUTE DESTINATION | PAARL

The Western Cape has so much to offer, beyond the city of Cape Town.

Of course there are plenty of famous locations such as Stellenbosch and Franshoek where one can enjoy breathtaking sites and world class wine, however, there are more less explode locations which are well worth the visit.

On my recent trip to Cape Town, this past week, I was able to travel to the Spice Route Destination in Paarl. Paarl is a small town about 45 minutes outside of Cape Town offering unique boutique hotels, bakeries and of course famous wine estates. 

The Spice Route is one of it's kind offering an array of things to do, places to eat and plenty to see all in one location. The Spice Route Destination offers beer tasting, chocolate tasting, gin tasting as well as wine tasting. In addition to this there are three amazing restaurants on site, which offer easy meals to fine dining. 

The Spice Route Destination offers a "Spice Route Passport" where you are able to do tasting at all the locations on site, however, you are able to do individual tasting at the spots that you enjoy more. Of course the team and I opted for the passport. 

We started at the Wilderer for Gin tasting, which gave us a strong kick start to what was a head for the rest of the day. Our second stop was at De Villiers, where we tasted more than 10 different varieties of organic handcrafted chocolate which was absolutely delicious. I am a "chocolate snob" and De Villiers chocolate is one of the most amazing artisan chocolate I have ever tasted. After over indulging on chocolate, we moved on to CBC (Cape Brewing Company) where we tasted four traditional German craft beers. What I enjoyed most about the beer tasting is that CBC is manufactured at the Spice Route and while tasting we got to experience how this beer is crafted.

For our final stop we decided to combine the wine tasting and cured meat tasting together as it was recommended the two compliment each other well, which of course it did. We paired various Spice Route Wines with Richard Bosman cured meats and I must admit the two tastings went to well with each other. 

After a fun filled day of exploring the Spice Route Destination we had the pleasure of enjoying a three course meal at one of South Africa's most renowned Chef's restaurant, "Bertus Basson." I could honestly do an entire blog post on this restaurant as it was such a great experience. Bertus Basson's restaurant at the Spice Route offers a truly South African experience, offering traditional South African cuisine with a modern twist. Not only is this restaurant a wonderful dining experience for international guest wanting to taste traditional South African cuisine, but it is also a unique opportunity for South African's too, as it is rare to find this food at restaurants in the bigger cities. 

If you are looking to explore more of the country side outside of Cape Town, then I would highly recommend visiting the Spice Route Destination. For more information on the Spice Route and all that it offers, click here. 

TC

xoxo

MALTA TRAVEL GUIDE

You all know by now that I love to travel and am very fortunate and grateful to be able to travel the world as a blogger and visit amazing destinations. As most of you know I was recently in Malta. 

What a wonderful island to visit. I really got to experience the best of this magical island in September. Not a lot of people know much about the Maltese islands (Malta, Gozo and Comino) and therefore, I thought I'd put together the Ultimate Malta Travel Guide so that you can learn more about the island and that if you wish to travel to Malta, you'll be able to stop at these locations that I have recommended.

Even though the island is only 27 kilometers long and 14 kilometers wide, Malta has so much to offer! A fun fact about Malta is that season one of Game of Thrones was filmed on the island and you can go on a guided full day tour to all the locations where the series was filmed!

BEACHES TO VISIT IN MALTA:

1.) Paradise Bay - This beautiful blue bay is located near the PopEye Village in the Mellieha area. The name of this bay speaks for itself and if you are looking for a location to take beautiful photos on the cliff's edge of Malta, then I highly recommend visiting Paradise Bay. 

2.) Blue Lagoon - Located on Comino Island (the smallest island I have ever been on, which separates main land Malta and the island of Gozo). The Blue Lagoon is amazingly beautiful. I have never seen such clear sea water in my life. I really did feel like I was in the Maldives. The Blue Lagoon is a gorgeous location for swimming and snorkelling as well as taking amazing photos. My only criticism about this location is that is is completely over crowded and there is no actual beach, so you end up having to sit on rocks and "try" enjoy the scenery. Luckily I did not visit the Blue Lagoon in the middle of summer, as I can only imagine how much more crowded this Lagoon must be in peak season. Despite my criticism, I still highly recommend taking a chartered boat to the Lagoon and spending a couple hours there.

3.) Mellieha Bay - One of my favourite swimming beaches in Malta. Although Malta is very rocky and most of the Bays do not have much space to lay on the beach, as there is no sand but only rock, Mellieha Bay is the exception to the rest. This Bay is the largest sandy beach in Malta and is perfect for swimming as the water is crystal clear, shallow and warm. Personally I preferred this beach over the Blue Lagoon because it is not so crowded and you can at least lay on the sand comfortably and enjoy the day out at the beach. 

SIGHTSEEING IN MALTA

1.) Gozo - Gozo forms part of the Maltese islands and it takes about 30 to 45 minutes to travel via ferry from Malta to Gozo. Gozo, just like Malta, is rich with history! Although you can visit the island in one day, it is still worth spending a couple days on the island itself to really appreciate it's beauty. Fun fact, although Game of Thrones was filmed on mainland Malta, most of season one was filmed on Gozo island. A must see when on Gozo is the Azure Window (also where a major Game of Thrones scene was filmed)! Although Azure Window is no longer there, as a storm last year destroyed it, it is still worth going to the location and viewing the beautiful Mediterranean Sea from the high cliffs edge. 

2.) Valletta Waterfront - The waterfront has only recently been completed and is a beautiful location to enjoy a romantic night out. There are plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy and a perfect place to overlook the city of Valletta. As you walk along the waterfront there are traditional doors which are painted in red, blue, yellow and green. Each colour symbolises the Maltese culture. Red symbolises wine, blue symbolises fish,  yellow symbolises wheat and green symbolises fresh produce.

3.) Popeye Village - not far from the beautiful beach of Paradise Bay is where PopEye Village is located. The PopEye Village was built specifically for the 1980's musical "PopEye" starring Robin Williams. The Film set is now a popular tourist attraction, which has turned into a small but fun theme park with restaurants and fun activities to enjoy!

THINGS TO DO IN MALTA:

1.) Laguna Marina - A charter company located at the Valetta Waterfront, Laguna Marina is a great company to take you out on a chartered boat around Malta and enjoy all the sites while sipping on some champagne, of course. The team and I enjoyed a boat cruise with Captain William from Laguna Marina, who took us around the different bays on the north eastern side of the island. It was a fun filled day and highly recommendable to those who enjoy boat cruises.

2.) Mdina - The Silent city of Malta and previously the old capital city of Malta, Mdina is absolutely breathtaking. This city traces back more than 4000 years ago and is filled with medieval history. If you are interested in history then this is most definitely a place to visit. Not far from Mdina, is the town of Rabat where the St Paul's catacombs are located. This for me was super fascinating and really worth the visit, despite the heat underground. 

3.) Upper Barrakka Gardens - The beautiful public garden overlooks the Grand Harbour in Valletta. Everyday at noon the cannons go off saluting the traveling navel vessels. This happens daily and is a great place for taking photos and enjoying the view of the three cities. 

RESTAURANTS TO EAT AT IN MALTA:

Before I begin naming my favourite restaurants in Malta, you can read about each of them in depth by clicking on the links below. 

1.) Paranga - If you love fish and good quality seafood then I suggest visiting Paranga, which you can read all about here.

2.) Water Biscuit - Located inside the Intercontinental, this modern restaurant serves the best Salmon Ceasar Salad I have ever tasted. Click here to read all about it. 

3.) Cibo - I love authentic Italian food and I found the perfect restaurant in Malta that serves this. Read all about it here. 

4.) Harbour Club - MORE Fish and GREAT fish! The Harbour Club, which is located on the water's edge in Valletta is a beautiful and romantic dinner spot to enjoy the freshest seafood in the city! You can read all about my experience on my blog post about this restaurant.

One more fact about Malta, is that the Maltese people love fireworks. I have never been to a country where fireworks are displayed on a daily basis. Whether is be in broad daylight or in the evening, the Maltese people are always celebrating something!

As you may have noticed fro my photos, every spot in Malta is very Instagram worthy, so if you decide to travel to Malta you can't miss the opportunity to capture the moment for the gram!

TC

xoxo

INTERCONTINENTAL MALTA | PANORAMIC SUITE

What a warm welcome from the wonderful staff at Intercontinental Malta. I haven't stayed at a hotel like this in a long time where I can most certainly say that the staff members are outstanding! Not only are they so well trained and knowledgeable but they are also very polite, friendly and welcoming.

Our week long stay at the Intercontinental was a wonderful experience. If you are looking for accommodation in Malta and wanting that extra touch when it comes to service, accommodation and experience, then I, without a doubt, would recommend staying at the Intercontinental Malta.

The suites on the 17th and 18th floor as well as the Sky Beach on the 19th floor have just recently opened and the exclusivity that this part of the hotel offers is phenomenal. We had the pleasure of staying in the Panaromic Suite on the 17th floor. As we arrived at the suite, the team at Intercontinental, kindly sent up a beautiful bottle of Moët and Chandon as well as a personalized card with local Maltese salts.

Daily breakfast is served in the club lounge for all guests staying in the suites. Offering a delicious array of continental dishes as well as an a la carte menu, where they serve a scrumptious Eggs Benedict .

Between 14:00 and 16:00 everyday, we were treated to high tea at the club lounge, where the head chef would present delicious cakes and sandwiches. Thereafter at 17:30, we'd enjoy sundowners and canapés outside on the terrace. From bottomless champagne to ice cold aperol spritz, it was the perfect way to end each day! 

The extra amenities that the Intercontinental suites offer, is well worth the stay. Besides the fantastic all day wining and dining, suite guests are welcomed to their own private infinity pool area on the 19th floor at the Sky Beach that has a 360 degree view and over looks the beautiful Mediterranean Sea! 

From fine dining to casual eating, there are 6 restaurants located at the Intercontinental Malta, which gives guests a variety to choose from. (scroll down to carry on reading..)

Once again the stay was phenomenal! For

More pictures on my stay at intercontinental Malta, head on over to my Instagram page.

Stay tuned for my next blog post on Paranga and Water biscuit, the two fine dining restaurants located at the Intercontinental. 

TC

xoxo

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Plaça Reial

                                                                                              sandals: gianvito rossi
                                                                                              jeans: bershka
                                                                                              belt: yugochic
                                                                                              shirt: mona (here)
                                                                                              sunglasses: zara
                                                                                              bag: mona (here)
                                                                                              earrings: parfois
                                                                                              ph. Jelena K.

Bell sleeves

                                                                                                 shoes: chanel
                                                                                                 shorts: pull&bear
                                                                                                 shirt: mona (here)
                                                                                                 belt: vintage
                                                                                                 bag: chloe
                                                                                                 sunglasses: zara
                                                                                                 ph. Jelena K.

LUXURY LIVING | FORUM HOMINI BOUTIQUE HOTEL

I love finding new places to travel to in and around Johannesburg. This city has so much to offer!

If you follow me on Instagram  you would have seen that this past weekend, I had the pleasure of staying at the most beautiful lifestyle boutique hotel just outside of Johannesburg. The Forum Homini Boutique Hotel is situated in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind and the entire design of the hotel perfectly fits the theme of this area. With each suite replicating a cave (obviously way more luxurious and chic) but still taking you back in time to where mankind originated from. I love how the hotel has really incorporated the rich history and culture with a modern flare to the entire scene. The Cradle of Humankind is the richest treasure trove of early hominid fossils on Earth and this hotel has incorporated that into its design so well.
Our suite was so spacious and modern. I mean look at that, oh so heavenly, bath tub! The heated flooring and a cute little fire place with wine and sherry to sip on, made for a cosy environment.
I highly recommend visiting Roots Restaurant, situated at the Hotel, if you are in the area or planning a little getaway out to the country side. 

Dinner was a 6 course fine dining experience accompanied by wine pairing with each dish. I can't begin to explain all the amazing flavours but all I can say is, that it is an unforgettable dining experience. The effort that is put into planning each and every dish as well as pairing it with the correct wine, made for an outstanding dining experience for me. All the flavours complimented each other so well. 

Let's talk about breakfast, the next morning! OH MY was that the most delicious start to the day. With a 5 course fine dining breakfast, I could not resist (despite still being full from the night before). Additionally, I think the restaurant served the best freshly brewed coffee ever tasted. I am no coffee connoisseur but I do know a good coffee from a bad coffee and this was by far one of the most delicious cups of coffee I've ever tasted. If I could, I would totally drive all the way to Forum Homini for their coffee and of course every meal I ate there.

For more pictures of the hotel and the experience head on over to my Instagram.

TC

xoxo

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