I feel like I haven’t been travelling for a while so today I wanted to rant and tell you 8 things I hate about travelling. Yes, I do talk about how fantastic travelling is and yes I do try my best (at times) to show the glitz and glamour of travelling.
When you cut all the bullshit with the packing, planning, waking up early, getting interrogated at the airport and have done the flight! Let’s be real and honest with our readers, and say that travelling can/is sometimes exhausting and isn’t always glitz and glamorous as we all show you.
Today want to focus around on the not, so glamours part of travelling. The things people don’t tend to show you on their socials.
Things I Hate About Travelling
Checking in
I hate this checking-in with an absolute passion! It’s a difficult one because if you don’t check-in, you ain’t going nowhere! And if you forget to check-in, you might face a penalty (only budget airlines do this)! You can’t win – honestly!
Security
I hate having to put liquids in a plastic bag so they can be checked. Don’t get me wrong I understand why it has to be done, but 7.5/10 I am always the girl that gets stopped. I remember travelling to Singapore to Australia. This was when I lived in Singapore, on arrival, Australia had me unpacking my suitcase and answering a million questions. I was close to having a real melting point!
It gets worst.
On my way back to Singapore, they managed to find my mac foundation, which was more than 120ml!! – guess what they took that from me and flung it in the bin! I was heartbroken! Can you imagine living in an Asian country and not being able to find your foundation colour because it’s not catered for in that part of the world!
Stop overflights
Last year I did a long haul flight and realised how much I don’t very much like stopover flights. Yes, they are useful to cut costs or explore another country, but when they have no wifi, this can be extremely testing! Read this – 5 Things You Should Know When Taking A Stopover Flight
The lack of sleep
This is one dislike I have on my day trips. I get so nervous that I will miss my flight that I don’t sleep! Day trips usually consist of a coach leaving the house at 3/4 am, and a plane from Stanstead Airport at around 6/8 am!
The fear of losing your passport….
Oh my gosh, the fear of losing my passport always scares me! I will check before I leave my flat. Check again when I’m at the lift. Check again when
I get into my uber. Then check when I get on the coach. I will check when I get to the airport. I will basically check and check again until I am sure I have seen it!
Flight delays can irk my soul, especially if you are only doing a day visit. I have experienced several delays in my time. The worst was with AirAsia on my travels in Asia.
Honestly, flight delays can ruin your whole day and disrupt plans you have put in place for your travel journey!
The whole planning of the trip
Planning a trip can be quite stressful, especially if you haven’t been to the country before. Trying to figure out what you should go and miss out when you get to the country can be hard work.
Luckily we have social media, which allows the hard work to be taken off.
Coming back home
Don’t get me wrong sometimes I can be away and miss home. I felt this a lot when I was a student in Singapore.
What I’ve noticed about myself when travelling is that I am so carefree. I’m prepared to take risks you know climb mountains, go sky scuba diving.
When I’m back in the UK, I become this senseless robot that has to pick up from where I left and continue with the same old basic ishh!
Sigh, I think this was quite a depressing post. Not all my post are like that I promise! travelling isn’t always glitz and glamorous as people on the socials make it out to be!
I had planned to write while I was at Coachella (yeah – like that was ever going to happen). This was a very good idea at the time but then I realised I was enjoying myself way too much and just like that it turned out that I didn’t do a damn thing. Well, I did do something I ate good American food (Bubble Gum Shrimp try it), enjoyed the festival; gambled in Vegas; explored Arizona and caught a good old tan. (I do love catching a tan).
It’s been about a month since I went to Coachella and the reason why I haven’t written anything is simply that I have been debating what I should write about first. I asked my lovely followers what they wanted to hear first between Vegas and #Beychella! I knew the answer was going to be Beychella, but I always like to hear from you guys first. It’s always important for me that I deliver content that you value!! I am pretty sure I will have to write a few articles about the festival itself, so if I haven’t covered everything you want to know, be sure to put your requests in the comments section below!
Since I have been back from America, the question I get asked is “how was COACHELLA” LOL! My immediate response is and always will be that “it was AMAZING”, because it if I’m honest it really was. Coachella in one word was amazing. Now don’t get me wrong there are several other words I can use to explain how the festival was, but I wanted MyBreakingViewers to be the first to know my actual initial thoughts. Now, before I get into the glitz and glam, I thought it would be good to give a personal overview of what Coachella is because I don’t expect everyone to know.
SIDE NOTE: Even if you do know what Coachella is, it may still be useful for you to read this section because I share some general tips for the event itself!
I
like to think all my readers know what Coachella is, but if you don’t
do not worry… because MyBreakingViews is going to explain it all to
you….
Coachella
is a huge festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. The festival
itself goes on for three days (Fri – Sun). There are two weekends, of
which I attended the second week. People often have asked me was I
prepared for the second week being that I saw the first week on social
media. The answer to that my dear friends, is no. Watching the
performances on social media, online whatever the platform, is
completely different to experiencing it in person. Trust me!
YThe event has different artist perform at different stages, the Coachella stage being the main stage for headliners (on this occasion it was artists like The Weeknd, Kygo, Beyoncé, Eminem, Cardi B etc.) All other artists are spread around the polo ground. (To give you a more visual idea, for those of you that live in the UK – its like a 3-day Wireless concert but with lots of heat!)
How was Coachella?
As I said before the event was AMAZING. I was in 45 degrees heat daily (I adore the sun). I saw most of my fave artist, was able to explore LA for the first time. Catch a bus to Vegas for a few days and see the famous Grand Canyon.
Coachella provided me with so many opportunities. This of course was only because I wasn’t about to take an 11-hour flight for just the weekend. BUT and there is always a BIG but… I must be honest with my readers and tell you that the event is also extremely exhausting!!! You are constantly on your feet for 6-9 hours a day (this can be dancing, walking to another stage for the next performance). Not to mention you are on the desert, so when the sand starts to blow around your breathing this in and to make matters worst you are dehydrated because of the heat. Tip.. make sure to have something that covers your face like a bandana.
This, of course, is honestly not to put you off, I would never want to that because it really is a lifetime experience that I would recommend for anyone to go too. We have to enjoy ourselves and create long-lasting memories. The performances where just OH MY GOSH I saw The Weeknd (old time fave), Daniel Ceaser, SZA, Khalid (my new crush), Kygo, Ibeyi, Migos, Miguel, HAIM, 6LACK, Cardi B not to mention the incredible Beyonce!!!
Booking Coachella….
I purchased my ticket on 5th January 2018. I’m not sure when the next sale date will be but I will keep an eye out. I had no single idea what I was doing next LOL. People think I plan my holidays … I wish I did, I would most properly save a considerable amount of money! I honestly just do things on a whim and hope for the absolute best and usually, I get that! *Clean hearts always win*
Anyways, I must remind myself not to drift!!
The festival ticket cost me around $504 dollars (I can’t remember the exact figure sorry guys!) which roughly worked out around £373. The tickets without the shuttle bus sold out quickly (but are cheaper). Second tip guys…. if you are going to organise your own travel, my advice to you would get on the website on time and have more than one person looking! The website www.coachella.com is straight forward but the tickets sell fast. I met people that got a taxi of Uber from Palm Springs, which worked out around $40 dollars a day. If you know someone that can drive then this could also work out, but then you must think about who’s going to drive and parking etc.
Shuttle Bus
I know the shuttle bus picks people up from Los Angeles, but as I was staying in Palm Springs; it’s something you would have to research. LA is quite far from Indio, so I would suggest staying close to the festival as possible. After walking 6 hours in 35 – 40 degrees you are completely exhausted, and your feet are in so much pain. Word of advice ladies wear comfy shoes! I saw ladies in heels which is a a big NO NO! And when I say comfy, don’t go and buy Dr Martens like me 2 days prior your leavening date, thinking you can rock them all day. It does NOT work!!
I
ended up purchasing the ticket with the shuttle bus, which in my
opinion worked out well because we had a shuttle bus that picked us up
every day, dropped us back home and it was only an 8 min walk from our
hotel! I liked the shuttle bus because it was another expense that I
didn’t have to think about, whilst you’re out there you must think about
buying food and importantly staying hydrated, which is another expense.
I also met some lovely people on the bus, which was nice and with a
British accent, it’s always very easy to make friends.
Booking Flights…
You would never believe that it didn’t occur to me that I would need to buy clothes, book a hotel and yeah of course FLIGHTS. You guys know how much I love Skyscanner right? If you don’t get to know. I have used them for pretty much every holiday I have gone too. They should really start paying me!
I was able to get a fight for £480 which was good considering I didn’t book my flight until two weeks prior to the event. Hey, now before you judge me… I’m very lastminute.com when it comes to flying out. I was also contemplating if I should go because of the expense, but I realised if I booked earlier I would have said saved so much money. Another tip… if I was you, I would book my flight in Feb I saw flights for £250 pounds just didn’t purchase because I thought I could get it cheaper. Guys get that barging quick!
I
would also suggest planning where else you are going to go… depending
where you are coming from that is. If you are coming from outside
America, you are looking at a 6 -12 flight, so its worth exploring LA
or other states around the West Coast. I went to Vegas and Arizona for a
few days (route 66), but I will save the stories for another post.
Can’t give everything away, now can I?
Booking The Hotel…
My friend pre-booked the hotel and we paid when we got there. We stayed in Courtyard by Marriott Palm Springs, which was about 40 mins drive from Indio. I met people that camped, but I personally wouldn’t camp in such heat. I like to take my make up off, have a nice shower and have a bed at the end of the night. That is just me. You may want to camp, but I don’t think it’s any cheaper.
There
are also Airbnb options, which I know a few people also used. I’ve
heard horror stories of people getting kicked out or worst case the
booking gets cancelled last min. I’m sorry I need a bed, so I can’t
afford for such events!! I would say, it’s best to agree where you want
to stay with whoever you are going with, then agree how far you want to
be from the festival, then work out the costs and book from there.
Please note.
that although the event itself is quite an expense; it’s not always the
best option to go for the cheapest method. I much rather
comfortability. I didn’t realise how drained I would be from walking
around all day. So, take the advice that you will need to re-charge.
I
hope I’ve answered most of questions and if I haven’t, be sure to leave
a comment below and I will make sure another post answers your
questions!
In the meantime, SHARE YOUR TIPS!!! Is there any festivals you’ve been to that you can suggest to MyBreakingViews.
