my top 5 new websites of 2009
18 Nov 2009 Leave a Comment
in general Tags: estie thirion, fly.com, simonseeks, travelzoo, twitter, whatkatiewore
What Katie Wore
By now, hundreds of people have been made aware of this darling website. Every day, Joe posts a picture of his gorgeous girlfriend Katie wearing a different outfit. Totally different, every day, for a year. Katie works her kooky magic with whacky colours, awesome accessories, crazy tights, designer, vintage and high street, and hair like an apostrophe. Checking out this site is a small highlight of every day for me – it’s an inspirational splash of brightness that’s become a daily fix. Who knows what will happen after this yearlong project has ended?!
Simonseeks
I’ve written about my predictions for Simonseeks shortly after it launched and early signs are there that I was right. The site won the Website of the Year award from the Good Web Guide and I’ve had four guides published: one on the wildlife in Cape Town, one on our honeymoon destination Pringle Bay, another about a short foodie break in the Lake District and the most recent on the culinary delights of Marseille. I’ve had over 1,000 clicks on these and have the princely sum of £5.48 in earnings to my name. Most of all, I’ve enjoyed squeezing the creative juices about one of my favourite subjects – travel – and getting feedback on it. I’m sure it will be just a matter of time before many thousands more writers have jumped on the bandwagon and I’m pleased to have been one of the first few hundred.
Twitter
I was suspicious of Twitter at first and couldn’t really see the point of the whole microblogging craze. But now, following interesting people and 166 tweets in, I’m a convert. I’ll have to do a separate list of my favourite Tweeters of 2009, but suffice to say my days have been brightened by links to travel pieces, snippets from celebs, recipes, tips and general musings which made me stop and think on a busy day. I was amazed at the role it played in the Jan Moir debacle and to see how things like football matches, Nick Griffin and the X Factor affected trending. Most of all for the next year, I’m interested to see what direction Twitter will take, especially from a business point of view.
Estie Thirion Photography
So I’m biased and Estie is one of my nearest and dearest, but her blog has just given me so much joy in the last year. The photographs are mini works of art, taken in some of the most beautiful parts of South Africa, and of course it’s always a joy to see those you love follow their dreams, inject passion into everything they do and make a success of each and every day. I’m a very proud pal.
Fly.com
What a clever search engine this is. I’ve long been a fan of the value of TravelZoo’s deals and this flight search engine is a great addition to the Top 20 newsletter and other offerings. I find it easy to use, reliable and comprehensive, so I’m sure it will give me lots of good service and deals in the years to come.
bargains for paris anniversary weekend break – c’est magnifique!
09 Sep 2009 2 Comments
in travel Tags: france, manchester, paris, travelzoo
Being a travel industry expert, Chris was quick to spot a bargain last week when Air France had some cheap flights available. We swiftly booked return tickets from Manchester to Paris for £79 pp (including taxes) so we can spend one night in Paris to celebrate our fourth year together.
This will be our first return to Paris since we had our very first mini-break as a couple there back in the early days of our relationship. That trip was my first visit to the city of lights and I instantaneously fell in love with all things French. We’ve since visited other parts of France as well, such as Provence and the Cote d’Azur, and I’m pleased to say we’ve come a long way in terms of travelling in style.
Chris and I at the Arc de Triomphe during our first visit to Paris
Back in 2006, it was all about being on a budget. Chris and I took a Eurolines coach from London to Paris which took about 7 hours. It was cheap as chips but surprisingly comfortable too, especially because we could disembark and walk around on the ferry when we crossed the Channel.
Our accommodation was also picked based on its proximity to Montmartre and – you guessed it – price. TripAdvisor’s reviewers will give you a good idea of what Friends Hostel was like. We were in a private room during our stay, with its own tiny shower room, so we enjoyed enough privacy and comfort. Besides, we were there to explore and enjoy Paris, so spent as little time as possible in our room.
But this time round, we will only be in Paris for one night and because we have now ticked off all the major sights from our to-see list, our priorities are slightly different. Enter the fantastic Travelzoo Top 20 (I’m biased because Chris works for them, but still). Thanks to this newsletter, we have now booked a great hotel for more than 50% cheaper than its usual rate. And wait for it… our room will have a view of either the Eiffel Tower or my beloved Sacre Coeur! A free Seine river cruise is also thrown into the deal – something we’ve not done before – so I’m even more excited now than before.
Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, Paris
This also means I’ve dusted off my teach-yourself-French kit and I’m newly inspired to impress on my next trip. J’adore Paris!
