Latest Posts

Backpacker Fashion: Teva Sandals

Published by Sheree Milli

I never in a million years thought my Grandad would be lauded as a fashion icon, but in recent years exactly that has happened, from his raw denim straight-leg jeans to the New Balance he has rocked so faithfully over the decades. His Birks’ ‘n’ socks signature is one I’ve adopted of late and I’m pretty sure the man invented ‘normcore’.

The latest trend to be pillaged from his sartorial sack of goodies are these Geography field trip-worthy Teva sandals. They’re everything you could want in a travelling shoe; sturdy, orthopaedic, comfy and… well, fugly. Plus they won’t fall off at that Full Moon Party and they look absolutely fantastic with a sock (should your feet start to rub or blister from epic hikes). On a real though, these sandals are this year’s Birkenstocks, and at less than £35, they are waaaay more pocket-friendly. Grab ’em while they’re haute.

Get yours here, here and here.

Tips For Eating Healthily While Travelling

Published by Sheree Milli

Eating healthily is hard enough most of the time, but what if you don’t have a fridge, an oven or *gasp* a Nutribullet to whip up something nutritious? As a backpacker, you’ll probably be eating on-the-go and be at the mercy of whatever the local cuisine is. Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to stay true to the #eatclean movement while on the move.

Forget Western Food

Why anyone would want a Burger King in Thailand is beyond me, fast food chains are now sadly a completely global thing. That means whether you’re in Cambodia, Argentina or Cape Town you’ll be able to grab a McDonalds easily. Chance are that the local version of ‘fast food’ will not only be cheaper but way healthier. If you’re a fussy eater just GET OVER IT, try something new and you won’t regret it. An authentic dish like a Pad Thai in Thailand will taste immeasurably better that any western fast food. Besides, you can grab a pizza back home.

The best fast food from around the world

Eat Three Meals a Day

Without a routine like going to work each day (insincere sad face that you’re on on holiday) it can be easy to slip into a weird eating schedule. Snacking whenever you feel like it and not paying attention to what you’re eating. By ensuring you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner each day you’ll ensure you’re eating well and it will stop you snacking on crap. Vegetable-based dishes are great for vitamins and minerals and lean proteins keep you full, oh and try and switch up your meals so you get a variety of nutrients.

Alcohol is Not a Food Group

As delicious at some of it is, drinking lots of alcohol isn’t good. Especially when your hungover lie in is in a hostel! Drinking lots of booze gets your blood sugar all out of whack making you crave carb-filled sugary foods as well as dehydrating you. Plus when you’re drunk/hungover you make bad food choices (let’s not even go into the romantic choices we make when half-cut). Save money and eat smart by drinking less – a cold beer in the evening is great, a bucket of ‘vodka’ and blue pop is not so good.

India – My First Impressions

Published by Sheree Milli

So I’ve spent my first 24 hours in India and I feel like I have been here a week already! A lot has happened, but I’m glad I dived right in.

On the flight here there was a man being deported back to India and he was not happy about it – so there wasn’t much sleep to be had due to all his screaming. Ah well! It’s not too long a trip.

e-Visa

At New Delhi airport, if you’re from the UK, you’ll have to get your e-Visa… which takes ages. They take your fingerprints and retina scan you but either the machinery wasn’t working or some people have very faint fingerprints as it was taking up to 15 minutes for some people thus making the queue about an hour long. When it came to my turn it took 2 minutes… I have very pronounced fingerprints.

The Metro

I decided to get the Delhi Metro to where I was staying instead of a taxi as I prefer public transport when travelling alone, it feels safer, also I couldn’t be bothered trying to not get ripped off after my long journey. At the airport you can buy a token to New Delhi Railway Station which costs 60 Rupees (60p), the Metro was quick, quiet and clean and at NDRS I bought another token (12 Rupees/12p) to take me to Karol Bagh where I was staying.

To be honest it was busy on the Metro but no more so than the Northern Line in London. If you can navigate and stand the crowds on the London Underground then the Delhi Metro will be a breeze. One note though, the people don’t wait for others to disembark the train first and there’s more pushing and shoving – just go with it.

When I got off at Karol Bagh I was immediately rushed by loads of street kids begging, I guess because I had on my huge backpack (obviously a loaded westerner). It was pretty overwhelming so I hopped on a rickshaw just to get away. It cost me 100 Rupees which is a massive rip off! But it’s a pound and I was knackered so I allowed it.

I got scammed!

When I arrived at my hotel I just dumped my bag, took about £5 worth of Indian money out and hit the streets. I got a lovely chapatti thing (22p) and a bottle of water when this guy just said “oh you’ve reached the boring end of the street” and FOR SOME REASON I started chatting to him. Anyway he said there was a beautiful traditional Indian market just around the corner and he’d show me, so I thought ‘why not’ thinking it would be like some fragrant outdoor bazaar.

Obviously he threw me onto a tuk tuk and drove me straight to his mate’s shop. I’ve been to Istanbul and Marrakech where this is common practice, as I’m sure it is in many parts of the world but I couldn’t believe I’d been suckered. The shop was a characterless modern three story building where my new ‘friend’ wanted me to drop £100 on a sari.

Luckily I only had about 400 rupees (£4) on me and just showed the dude my purse, then he was like ‘where is your credit card? You can pay on card’. I am so glad I didn’t have my card with me because I don’t think they would have let me leave without buying something on it. Then they said they would deliver a sari to my hotel – at this point I’m realising I’m a lone woman in a shop with about 15 men who want my cash, and I never get scared, but at this point I just wanted out. So I gave them my hotel name (NOT the real one, one I saw by the Metro) and a 200 Rupee deposit… so they robbed £2 from me basically. I wonder if they ever delivered the sari?

Lessons learned

Don’t go off with anyone, that’s so stupid. Don’t take any valuables or much money out with you. And have a fake name and hotel at the ready. I go by Alesha Dixon in Delhi lol. My little incident in the sari shop ended up okay and I learned my lesson without parting with too much cash, but I’m a pretty hard nut, I can only imagine how some tourists have been swindled after being pressured by their (admittedly good but) very pushy sales techniques.

Happy ending

After my ordeal I went back to my hotel to Whatsapp my friends and family on the free wifi. I was so mad at myself for being so dim but I was just exhausted. So after a nap I went out again, this time with only 100 rupees (£1) and got the most amazing dinner for 40 rupees. It was called Mo Mo’s and was a kind of steamed dim sum (vegetable, I’m a bit wary of the meat here) with a *very* spicy sauce, but I like spicy. I sat and ate it on the street with my headscarf on and soaked in the atmosphere. It is mad in India but I definitely like it here.

Follow me on twitter and try these articles out for size.

6 FEMALE TRAVEL BLOGS YOU NEED TO FOLLOW

THE WORST THINGS ABOUT PLANNING A RTW TRIP

THE BEST FAST FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD

8 REASONS TO TRAVEL IN YOUR TWENTIES

8 Reasons To Visit Istanbul, Like Now

Published by Sheree Milli

One of my favourite cities in the world is crazy, vibrant Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, formerly hub of the Ottoman Empire and oh so many other things. It’s where East meets West – the only city in the world to straddle (ooh, er) two continents. Half is in Europe and the other bit is in Asia – which is pretty damn cool. There’s so much more so I’ll break it down list-form for ya…

1. Shopping

I’m very into my ethnic jewellery and bags, and I also like things to be cheap; if this sounds like you too, Istanbul is the one! There are also lots of designer stores, high-street chains and a fab Sephora – it’s shopping heaven basically.

2. The famous Grand Bazaar

This is the biggest market I’ve ever been to, it kind of looks like something out of Arabian Nights, and sells everything from rings, hookahs and ceramics to spices and knock-off designer handbags. Plus, if you’re willing to haggle (it’s fun, trust me. Start at 10% of the asking price and go no higher than 50%) it’s ludicrously inexpensive.

3. The food

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh it is f*cking amazing- spicy and healthy- lots of Mezzes and wraps and stuffed leaves… yum, it’s just divine. And so cheap – try a fish sandwich on the Galati bridge for about 2TL. Or a Durum wrap from a street vendor, you’ll want to eat one every day.

4. Efes

I think the Turks, arguably, have one of the tastiest beers on the planet, Efes. Best drunken ice cold with a mint sheesha in hand. Heaven.

5. Soho House

If you’re lucky enough to be a member can I please be your plus one? No, seriously, Soho Houses the world over are all amazing. One of my fondest ever memories is slut-dropping with Sam Smith and Sam Sparrow at Shoreditch House (true story, although there were mild stalker vibes coming from my end). If you want glamour and excitement look no further than rthe recently opened Istanbul House. See also the W Hotel for similar stylish leisure.

6. The call to prayer

This might divide opinion but I’m firmly in the camp that loves hearing the daily call to prayer, I find it so relaxing. Istanbul is guilty of the loudest CTP in the world I think. I’ve heard it in many other countries but the Turks take the biscuit, so you’ll definitely hear it.

7. Topkapı Palace

This palace is just WOW, and also Jasmin’s palace in Disney’s Aladdin was based on this stunning building. Once home to over 4000 members of the Ottoman Royal family including the Sultan and his many wives, plus a kind of built-in prison for his many, many concubines (later all were drowned at sea, ew). You can also check out the prophet Mohammed’s sword and cloak. It’s a UNESCO World heritage site for a reason. If you’re in town, GO! See also: Hagia Sofia & The Blue Mosque.

8. Taksim Square

Located in the European part of Istanbul Taksim square is the epitome of a cosmopolitan, thriving city with street art, cool bars, hipster cafes and more eateries than you can shake a stick at. It’s the perfect counterpart to the historic old town of istanbul.

So there you go, 8 reasons to visit Turkey’s coolest city. I really would recommend Istanbul if you’re more of a culture vulture than a beach bum. It’s steeped in history and is truly unforgettable. I’ve been four times now and I will DEFINITELY be back!

The Fashionable Backpacker Manifesto

Published by Sheree Milli

To travel the world. To do so in style!

Before I was a world traveller I was a London-based fashionista…

I had an award-winning fashion blog, had worked with numerous fashion magazines, had a job creating content for a huge UK high street fashion brand. Plus I was a regular at all those fashion-type parties and London Fashion Week.

So you can see how it might be hard for me to reconcile a lightweight life on the road with my innate need to be sartorially spectacular!

That’s how The Fashion Backpacker was born. While I was researching my round the world trip I searched high and low for travel tips that had a little bit of extra cool. Just because I’m going to be a backpacker it doesn’t mean I’m giving up who I am. I still want to look and feel great and if I have to wear hiking shoes and a money belt they will damn-well be the most stylish you can get your hand on!

The Hoxton Hotel, Holborn London

Published by Sheree Milli

Smack bang in the centre of London Town, this is hotel full of character that you probably won’t want to check out of…

What’s the hotel vibe?

The Hoxton Holborn, much like it’s big sister in East London, is a creative’s dream. The foyer-cum-meeting area-cum-bar is an attractive New York-style large open plan space. It features ample comfortable seating, a mish-mash of sleek mid century furniture, modern armchairs and magazine-laden coffee tables. There’s original artwork adorning the walls and a well-stocked Vogue archive for us fashion types.

If you want to get a bit of work done, there are Mac computers to use and free wi-fi if a laptop is more your thing. The beautiful bar is reasonably priced and does a wide range of beers and cocktails. If you want to eat, there’s Hubbard & Bell who also do the room service, plus a branch of Soho House Group’s Chicken Shop downstairs. There’s even a beauty parlour, Cheeky, which alongside beauty treatments, nails and makeup services sell amazing products should you want a bit of pampering during your stay.

What are the rooms like?

I stayed in a ‘Roomy‘ room which as the name suggests is the largest but there are four sizes to choose from. The room was pretty spectacular, when I arrived the vintage Roberts DAB radio was turned on so I entered to some nice music, there was a handwritten note with some Pen & Ink toiletries and lots of tea choices to get stuck into.

The kingsize bed was beyond comfy, which is a blessing after a night on the town, and there were extra pillows and blankets available. I had a desk space which housed the kettle, notebook and pencil and area guides and had a mini fridge with milk and water in it.There was also quite a large flatscreen TV, great for catching up with Sunday Brunch, lots of cool details like the custom cushions, copper side tables, cool artwork and vintage Penguin books. Oh and there were plenty of sockets for charging my devices, free wifi with no code, great air con and a very flattering mirror too.

The beautiful bathroom was tiled in monochrome rectangle bricks with traditional silver fixtures (including a massive shower head), good lighting and mirror, plenty of thick, fluffy tiles and complimentary Pen & Ink cosmetics.

What I did in the area…

The hotel is a 5 minute walk from Oxford Street and close to Soho so I went out for drinks in Freedom at night after checking out the hotel bar and during the day I hit the town for some shopping at & Other Stories and a brunch at The Scandinavian Kitchen. Picturesque Covent Garden and the quirky Seven Dials are also super close by and there are some fabulous shops, bars and restaurants in those areas.

What it costs…

The smallest room is £129 a night, The largest is £199 a night. You get a free breakfast of granola and compote, banana and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Once you’re in the hotel there are no extra charges for the fridge, phone calls or wi-fi and the resident bars and restaurants are fairly reasonable. Plus there’s a supermarket next door that they encourage guests to use and stock the room fridges cheaply.

What’s the verdict?

I loved my stay at The Hoxton Holborn, the staff are super friendly but not overbearing, all the guests were chic, creative types and the room and facilities were second-to-none. It just had a really homely vibe, which is unusual considering how central it’s location is.

It’s like your cooler, older sibling’s house that you want to chill in all the time.
5/5

The Hoxton Holborn, 199-206 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BD

With thanks to The Hoxton Hotel.

The Ace Hotel, Shoreditch London, UK

Published by Sheree Milli

There are Ace Hotels the world over (well, the Western world) but this is a review of just one – I’m told they all have their own personality so I hope to visit the rest someday.

What’s the hotel vibe?

The Ace is a New York-style hotel that attracts creatives and artists (Skepta checked in right after me) with it’s laid-back atmosphere, great music and plenty of space to whip out your Macbook and do some work.

The decor is quite masculine and industrial but very, very cool with lots of little touches, like a lot of greenery, a photobooth and fantastic juice bar, Lovage. The bar sells lots of local craft beers, the restaurant Hoi Polloi is fantastically good and you can rent a dreamy Tokyo bike during your stay too. It’s hard not to like Ace Hotel, especially at night when guests and civillians alike swarm to the foyer for drinks while listening to whoever happens to be on the decks that night.

What are the rooms like?

I stayed in a deluxe double which has a huge bed with super-fluffy pillows, a wall-to-wall built in sofa, table and two chairs for eating or working at. There was lots of storage space and a DAB radio with curated playlists to listen to, or it has a jack to plug in your iPad which I did (my Spotify is pretty damn good, haha). There wasn’t a lot of artwork or ornamentation apart from an impressive full-wall digital mural and a guitar mounted on the wall. I tried and failed to play it!

The bathroom had a bath and shower and really cool mid-century style fittings and the Ace’s own shampoo, conditioner and body wash which are all lovely.

All in all it was a great room, I likes the space and the view of East London, I was at the front so you can see Shoreditch station and the overground going by as well as the Gerkhin.

What I did in the area…

There are a million and one things you can do in Shoreditch – the hotel is right on the high street – I’ll list a few suggestions but there really is sooooooooooooo much to do. I had dinner at cult burger joint Dirty Burger but there’s also Pizza East, and if you are, or know a member then Shoreditch House is less than 5 minutes away.

Boxpark is full of cool, independent retailers like BeautyMart for unusual and cult beauty products and Dum Dum Donuts for their famous Cronuts and sensational baked donuts, and is well worth a look. For food, a few places to check out are the in-house bakery at Albion, Bombay-style cafe Dishoom and The Breakfast Club (if you can stand the queues). Oh and do visit House of Hackney, Columbia Road Flower Market and The Crown & Shuttle. This list is about 1% of what you could do in the area, you’re really spoilt for choice.

What it costs…

A standard room starts at £149 a night, and you can get a suite (which are amazing, with huge rooftop balonies) for about £500 per night. There’s no breakfast included or any freebies in the rooms though, and the mini bar is really pricey, so I just went to the offie across the road. For the area, though, I think the prices are pretty good. You can walk to so may places from the hotel that you’d save on transport costs at least.

What’s the verdict?

The Ace is just cool – everyone you see in there is cool, everything surrounding it is cool, everyone staying there is cool – which means you’re cool too. Just by osmosis.

4/5

The Ace Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JQ

With thanks to The Ace Hotel.

Why Travelling In Your Twenties Is Never A Bad Idea

Published by Sheree Milli

As someone who has already made this monumental decision, I can fully vouch for the old clichés about travelling like;

‘If not now, when?’

‘Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.’

The one about the world being a book and if you don’t travel you’re always on the same page… or something to that effect.

They’re true, so true, but you might sound like a tit when you start spouting off quotes from carefully curated Pinterest boards. For me, the travelling began the moment I decided that I wanted to go. Even though I was still in cold and rainy London. Making that choice put everything into perspective.

As a twenty-something you have literally NO responsibilities, none at all. No partner, no kids, no house – I realise a select few twenty-something’s might have some of these things (yay for them) but for a lot of us they’re so far out of reach. This used to feel like a bummer but actually it’s incredibly freeing – we’re free as birds, not tied down to anything.

Of course, hopefully in the future we’ll all have families, beautiful homes and high flying careers which will mean we have to stay put in one place, but for now we don’t – so it’s a very good time to up sticks.

Deciding to travel makes everything that you thought was important and all your stresses just melt away. You gain a lot of perspective.

Your job that made you break out in stress rashes, your flat share complete with evil landlady (hi Michelle), that dude who just isn’t that into you (hi Guy, Josh, Luke… I could go on) just seem so trivial. That’s probably because they are.

From deciding to travel to leaving my job, home and good old London, after a helluva leaving do, took less that 3 weeks. Not hard at all!

As for taking time out of your career, don’t worry, it will always be there, sure you might be a few years behind once you return to it, but all that experience doesn’t just disappear. You’ll regret not seeing the world while you’re young, able and, well… hot. You literally have the rest of your life to work – seriously; we’ll all be retiring at 85!

So, if you have even the slightest inkling to see the world, don’t wait, do it sooner rather than later and it’s an experience that will enrich your life and provide you with years of beautiful memories…. And, who knows, maybe even a naff tattoo or an STI.

5 Tips To Keep You Motivated Before Your Round The World Trip

Published by Sheree Milli

So you’ve booked your ticket, you’re going to travel the world. Goodbye life, au revoir, see ya later suckers… oh, wait, you have to work for a year/six months/ however long to save for the trip and it may well kill you…

Whenever the going gets tough and you feel as though you’ll never make it through this time of waiting with your sanity intact, here are some tips to help you overcome. You can do it!