All posts tagged: Travel

Lounge Review: No. 1 Lounge in Gatwick South Terminal

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On our way back to NY from Copenhagen, we had a stopover at Gatwick South Terminal for 5 hours. The South Terminal is small and dated and also serves as a hub for British Airways at Gatwick Airport. The terminal has two levels with the usual shops and fast food restaurants…nothing particularly outstanding. There is a small Harrods’s gift shop at the terminal for last minute British gifts. The terminal itself is overcrowded. When I was there in March, it was hard to find a seat anywhere. Luckily for me, I had access to the No. 1 Lounge at the terminal. Besides the No. 1 Lounge, there is only a British Airways Lounge, thus making both venues busy like the terminal. The No 1 Lounge’s entrance is on the second floor and located between Dixons and JD Sports. I walked through a nondescript entrance that resembled a service entrance to another set of double doors where I was greeted with a representative who was tougher than a NYC bouncer. Apparently the lounge was full around …

Weekend Unexplored: 2 Days in Copenhagen, Denmark

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Copenhagen was the last stop on our week long Nordic trip. My group purposely scheduled Copenhagen at the end of our Iceland adventure as we wanted a balance from our rustic Icelandic adventures. We did not have anything planned out for Copenhagen besides our dining options, so the weekend was more spontaneous. Copenhagen also has a burgeoning food scene that rivals NYC in quality and innovation with two restaurants currently listed in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. I was in charge of booking the restaurants and I took on the challenge with glee. Day 1 We had an early flight from Reykavik to Copenhagen on Iceland Airlines. After an uneventful flight, we easily found a taxi and headed to Hotel Nyhaven located at the end of the picturesque Nyhaven Harbor. When we arrived around 1:00 pm, our rooms were not yet available so we left our luggage with the front desk staff. At this point, we were starving as we had been up since 6 am for our flight. My original plan was to eat …

5 Days in Iceland in March

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Iceland was not high on my destination priority list as I had always imagined the country to be very cold and bleak. Ruffing it does not appeal to me, especially for a New Yorker. I was glad to be proven wrong for once! An opportunity came up when my snowboarding group decided to go to Iceland this year and I quickly signed on board. Luckily, my friend had been to Iceland before and planned our itinerary based on what she had experienced. This post will detail our 5 day itinerary and tips we picked up along the way. First, the pace for our 5 day road trip on Golden Circle was leisurely. This is a deviation from my normal jam-packed itinerary, however, it did forced me to prioritize the top two things I wanted to do each day and to slowly take in the scenery. A significantly amount of the time was spent in the car as the sites are one to two hours’ drive from each other. We also decided to visit Iceland in …

What to pack for Iceland for Winter and Spring

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I recently went to Iceland in the middle of March and, like most people, I was furiously googling on what to pack leading up to the trip. The weather is so unpredictable that Iceland can get three seasons a day, if not within a few hours. Even though my group went in the middle of March, the weather was winter in some areas and early spring in others making it difficult to pack efficiently. Furthermore, I do not own any real gear for trekking through uneven terrain and the unpredictable weather of southern Iceland. At the same time, I did not want to spend more money on a new wardrobe that I only wear once. This packing list is what I ended up bringing and is what works for the Icelandic weather. Ski or snowboarding gear If you have snowboarding or ski gear, you are half way done. It rains in Iceland…a lot and at random times. It can be sunny one minute and pouring the next. I ended up bringing a waterproof and windproof Marmont …

Our List: Travel Tricks and Gear from Our Editors

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All of us at La Vie Partagee travel extensively, whether for business or pleasure.  Our trips range from a short domestic flight to long haul flights around the world.  I compiled a list of must have products and tricks from our editors and contributors to help you with your next travel adventure. Short Haul (1-5 days trip) I travel a lot on short overnight trips for work so I try not to bring much with me.  My staples include the following: 1. Flip Flops / Travel Slippers: Unless I am staying at a five star hotel where they provide slippers, I usually wear flip flops around the room.  I do not know how well the carpet has been cleaned even in reputable hotels.  A bonus is that when my feet get weary of heels, I can wear flip flops out casually. I recently stopped by the Muji store at JFK and spotted these travel slippers. They are comfortable and compact. These slippers now has a permanent spot in my luggage. 2.  Shower Gel and Shower …

4 Essential Drug Store Items For Travel

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I have traveled  more than 30+ countries in the past 10 years  for work and have learned from experience on the travel essentials. I often stay several weeks in a foreign country at a time or a few days depending on the assignments.  The four items that are always in my luggage are budget friendly drug store items that are also multi-purpose. These are my must haves for traveling. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for Face & Body Travel Size Source:  Target This try and true sensitive skin cleanser is great for washing your face and body in a foreign environment. The local water can range from soft to hard water and this product helps offset any skin irritation. It’s a great face wash. However you still need to take your makeup off first with a makeup remover for it to be effective. It can also be used as shaving gel to give you a closer shave. Johnson’s Baby Oil Travel Size Source:  Target I have used baby oil for years to moisturize my skin after a hot shower. It is cheap …

Vietnam – Posts Index

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Vietnam is quickly becoming the next hot destination in southeast Asia. I have been to Vietnam so often that is is practically my third home country. Over the last year, our bloggers have written numerous posts on what to do, where to sleep and what to eat. I have combined the links of all the Vietnam travel articles into one post for our readers. We are constantly writing up new post about Vietnam so check back for updated links. Ho Chi Minh City – Metropolitan city in the south Select Local Eateries in Ho Chi Minh City – District 1 Hotel Review: Hotel Nikko Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) Hue – Central region with an imperial history Local Favorite Eateries in Hue, Vietnam Hotel Review- Pilgrimage Village Resort  Hanoi – Capital of Vietnam located in the north My picks for Hair, Nails and Spa Must eats in Hanoi Hotel Review- Hanoi Delano Hotel Da Nang – Modern beach city in central Vietnam Must Do’s Part 1 Must Do’s Part 2 Hotel Review-Fusion Maia Resort Phu Quoc Island Weekend …

Weekend Unexplored: 4 Days in Southern France (Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence, Lourmarin, Bonnieux and Cassis)

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Provence has always been on my list of places to visit in Europe. I had an opportunity to visit Europe again this year and made it a priority to visit this charming region. My sister and I choose to visit the region in early May before the tourist crowds descend onto the area. Luckily my good friend grew up in the region and planned my trip for me. There is nothing better than having a local show you the best of their home region! Friday-Saturday: Provence/ Marseilles Sunday: Aix-en-Provence, Lourmarin and Bonnieux Monday: Cassis Arrived Friday My sister and I flew into the Marseilles International Airport Friday morning to uncharacteristically rainy and windy weather. Marseilles Airport is very small and the car rental lot is right next to the airport. We rented a small automatic car from Hertz prior to arriving in Provence and the whole process to pick up the car took over an hour and a half. Things move very slowly in southern France. We were advised to book our car months in …

Weekend Unexplored: Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

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Big Corn Island, situated off the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua on the Caribbean Sea, has historically been influenced more by the English than the Spanish.  The locals are descendants from Miskito Indians, European pirates, British settlers, and freed slaves.  Over the years, Nicaraguans from the mainland have moved to the island as well.  My friends and I spent a couple of days there in March, hoping to explore the local beaches and dive sites.  Listening to people speak Creole upon arrival was interesting; the language slides so easily in and out of English and Spanish with blends of words and phrases.  Of course, everyone on the island understands both English and Spanish perfectly.  Most have earned their income from lobster fishing, but now many are turning to tourism to bring new job opportunities. Approximately six square miles, the island has a paved road that runs along its entire perimeter.  For only 20 cordobas, or $0.70, we explored the full length of Big Corn Island by taxi cooperatives, sharing the fare with other passengers going the …

A Layover in Narita, Japan

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On a recent trip to Asia, I decided to have a 12 hours layover in Narita to explore the city. Narita Airport is at least 40 minutes on a train from Tokyo while Narita city is only a 10 minutes train ride away. Narita city is not about the sights as there are few things to see. However the city boast an abundance of charm and a good way to observe everyday Japanese’s lives for a short duration. Narita is known for grilled eel or unagi and that is where my senses led me. I was fortunate to have a friend residing in Japan meet me in Narita for a short sight seeing break. This is the breakdown of my  adventure in Narita. I had Japan Airlines’ Sakura Lounge access so I was able to freshen up after a red eye flight and grab a quick bite in the lounge. I stored my luggage at the lounge but there are locker options at the arrival hall as well. You can inquire about the locker option at the information …