So what have you been wishing on the stars for this week? Luck? Success? Just a plain-old good day? That’s cool…we’re busy, we all want an easy life and we definitely want an awesome weekend ahead of us…so what are you doing? What do you want out of this weekend? Sparkles? Lots of wine? Productivity?

Well this where you let loose and write it all down…go on…tell me what you want this weekend, it will make it happen.

I am excited about:

- Networking and hanging out with awesome bloggers at TBU Europe.
- Exploring more of Rotterdam (I love this city!)
- Writing
- Reading my TEFL for Dummies book in preparation for my course (so damn excited). This weekend has confirmed how much I need to set up my travel-orientated career. Eeek!

Short and sweet but sometimes that’s all it takes. Have a beautiful weekend dolls! Drop me a line, tell me what you’re wishing for. I’m sending you so much love from the Netherlands.

Love and waffles Em xoxo

The post Future Fridays: With Love From Rotterdam appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

So y’all may have seen my Pin It Forward UK badge now sitting in my sidebar? Well that’s because I am now a little bit of a Pinterest Ambassador in these here parts! OOOOOOO…you say…well, it’s because I love ‘dem pins but I must admit it it wasn’t always that way, it took me a while to get into using Pinterest. Now, I’m kinda amazed by that, because I bloody adore it…it’s such a great resource for bloggers to source pictures for posts, find their own inspiration and to find out what really truly floats your boat.

I think it’s because when any new social media site launches, I always tend to roll my eyes a little bit and say…’oh no not another one I must join’ but then I’m just as quick to join it as I am to dismiss it…I’m a complex creature I won’t lie! But now, all you need to know is that I’m completely smitten!

Image c/o: verticalresponse.com

I personally think Pinterest boards should be shown to all prospective dating partners, so they can learn what you’re really and truly all about…you know a lot can be said about a person from the pictures they pin (although my Girl Dreams board could freak the fella out a little at first – goddamnit I can’t help it I’m a sappy hopeless romantic!).

So that’s why I specifically chose my Gohemian Love pinboard to feature in this year’s Pin It Forward UK campaign because I wanted new readers and fellow pinners to get a real taste of what Gohemian Travellers is all about, and this board sums it up perfectly for me:

http://pinterest.com/join/?username=gohemiantravel&boardname=gohemian-love-travel

I adore finding images and quotes that just make me want to get out on the road (like immediately!). And anything that inspires me to my very core! I like quotes that you read and think ‘you know what? YEAH I could do that!’, ‘I deserve to pack a vintage suitcase and just GO, right NOW!’ ‘I just need to travel’…you get the picture. 

Like this pic for example:

Image c/o: traveliciousdee.wordpress.com

Because that’s how I genuinely feel. I don’t care that the idea of it isn’t realistic or whatever, I’m going to do it, because I can do it, because I’m capable of doing it. When you have that kind of passion for something, it flows from your pores…but the people around you may not be so aware of how strongly you feel and that’s where that little Pinterest follow button comes in really handy…coz then your friends and family can see all those pretty pictures that just fill you with joy and hopefully begin to understand your weirdness!

I’m seriously considering sending this picture to my ex-boyfriend’s in like a ‘BTW memo’ because at least then they would finally get it….I travel because I can, because I want to, because I don’t want to settle, I want to fly!

Image c/o luckyenoughblog.com

Isn’t that just great?! I wish I’d made it….

As a travel blogger I must admit I don’t have many destination boards, I guess as weird as it may seem, I hadn’t really thought of doing that, I just wanted to focus on my general passion for travel and how it makes me feel rather than focus on the places! So that is something I’m considering doing because of course there are a zillion places that I’d love to draw up inspiration boards for…and of course I’ve taken some awesome pictures over the years so of course I’d love to upload those to inspire others to go where I have been…so look out for those in the future kids!

Zoe from The Quirky Traveller does a great combination of the two in her boards if you take a look….she includes a great selection of pictures that she’s taken, as well as of pictures that inspire her to go! So that definitely got me thinking about maybe what I should be pinning. Normally I just pin a bit of a mish-mash of stuff…from hot tattooed men to quotes about manifesting…anything that takes my fancy really, and as much as I don’t want to just be all about travel (coz there’s more to me than just that) I also do want my boards to reflect my blog’s interests…so maybe it is time to take my boards around the world a bit more too! Zoe’s website is awesome by the way….I love quirky travel, it’s what I’m all about really too so check out her site…it’s rad!

So check out my boards and I’ll check out yours, give me feedback, drop me a line anytime – that’s how I met my wonderful reader friend Anamayya – who sent me the most adorable vintage postcard, after I pinned it to my Website Design Inspiration board. How cool and sweet is that?

Love and pinning Em xoxo

The post Pin It Forward UK with Pinterest appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

Image c/o: digidiaryat.tumblr.com

 Well time has flown by because as you’re reading this I will be on my way to Rotterdam to attend the Travel Blogger’s Unite Conference!

Yup I remember when I signed up for those tickets last year and what a crazy idea it seemed….especially because the destination hadn’t even been announced yet. It could have been anywhere in the world but that’s exactly why I signed up…because I love that feeling of spontaneity! Not knowing where I was going felt way more exciting! But I knew if it was a reallty expensive city like Rome then I probably wouldn’t be able to afford it but when Rotterdam was announced I felt that would be more do-able.

My thinking was that I wanted to go regardless though, it would be a great way to learn and hang out with my peers and it would give me a spontaneous opportunity to go abroad. It’s the Gohemian dream! I love spontaneous travel…I haven’t done enough of it, but after this something tells me, I’m going to do a lot more.

So I’m taking time out of my dull office to go on a little working holiday….it will be exhausting for sure as it will be work-related, but at the same time I know it will be a lot of fun. Some of my colleagues won’t understand why I haven’t got a tan from my holiday or gone further away from home, but that’s another reason I love it! It’s unlike any other trip I’ve ever taken! It’s different and of course at GT we love all things different! And I get to hang out with my awesome blogger buddies! YAY!

The irony was that I really didn’t even know anything about TBU until I attended World Travel Market last November. If you’ve been following me since then you will realise that, going to that huge travel industry event massively opened my eyes to the opportunities and possibilities that come with travel blogging. WTM kinda changed my life, it made me massively up my game. Before WTM I was just writing passionately about my love for travel, I now realise I am most definitely not the only one out there that’s doing it – there’s a whole wonderful posse writing animatedly about how much travel flips our lid! Since November, I have met so many wonderful and talented bloggers who have proven to me the capability and power bloggers can have within the travel industry.

Image c/o: abbv.net.br

TBU exisits because Oliver Gradwell, a travel professional of 12 years, believed so strongly in the new and exciting emerging industry of travel blogging and saw a gap in the market to link bloggers with industry professionals. He could clearly envision how travel professionals could work hand in hand with bloggers to achieve equally beneficial results. It’s because of a talk I attended at WTM that I even know about TBU and so I’m now very excited to be attending. I may still be quite small potatoes in this big old blogging dish but I am very willing to learn and put myself out there. You will remember I wrote specifically about ‘putting yourself out there’ earlier this year in reference to attending WTM. And that just proves how much things can change and how much you can learn in 6 months, especially if you push fear to one side and just go for something – attend a big event, write a book chapter….whatever. It can all only lead to good things.

TBU is a big event! There is alot going on over this next week and I am very excited to be part of it. So here’s a quick overview of what I will be getting up to:

Wednesday:

• Arrival into Rotterdam and checking in to the lovely Stay Okay Hostel with my lovely ladies Savoir There, Love and Passport and The Nadwork.

• Pre-conference drinks (lesson learnt from Traverse don’t go too crazy with the drinks…hold back on that first night hehe).

Thursday:

• City Tours from 10am to 12.30 – I opted for the ‘Highlights Of Rotterdam tour’ which starts on the water and takes us around this city’s fine port. Via the Veerhaven we take a stroll to the famous Santa Klaus statue (I get to see Santa early! YAY!) and around the city’s famous shopping areas the Lijnbaan and the Koopgoot).

Image c/o: mundo-escencio.blogspot.com

• I was meant to sign up to do a photo or video tour after that but I left it too late…so I may have to sneak my way in or maybe go shopping hehe.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

• These are the main dates for the conference where we will get to listen to fascinating keynote speeches, get advice, attend workshops, networking slots and listen to discussions. Awesome! My brain will hurt afterwards but it will be worth it! Each evening we will attend networking dinner/drinks sessions – also ouchy for le brain! But fun! Paracetamols at the ready!

Image c/o: travelllll.com

Monday and Tuesday:

• Post-conference blog trips! I’m super excited about this! I am going on the ‘Off The Beaten Track’ trip which will take me to the beautiful Hotel Bazar where I will be staying for 2 days. Me and my group will then head off to Blijdorp zoo via electric tuk-tuks – awesome! I’m particularly excited about seeing the Oceanarium…

• We will then head to the fantastic SS Rotterdam a beautiful 1950s ocean liner for a tour and cocktail making worshop! It looks spectacular! I will need my best vintage nautical outfit for that one….

• We then are going for a scrumptious dinner at the Hotel New York…..fabulous! What to wear?! Eeeeek….

• Then it’s off the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen for a mooch around the exhibitions and 1930s garden, followed by a beer tasting at the Brewery de Pelgrim and a walk around the historical Delfshaven district.
• We then end the evening with an awesome dinner at Pan-Asian restaurant Izkaya where can order our food on an interactive e-table…erm amazing! 

Ever been to this fine city? Ever been to TBU? Then how’s about you hit me up with some tips? I’d love to hear from you.

Love and jetplanes Em xoxo

The post I’m Off to Rotterdam: TBU Europe Here I Come! appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

Image c/o: ciaochessa.com

For decades, last minute holidays have been a popular part of the package holiday market. If you’re not sure how it works, here’s the gist: last minute holidays are packaged breaks that are on the verge of expiring – ie. the departure date is close and there’s a risk that the holiday will go un-sold. In this case, tour operators often reduce the cost of the holiday to encourage customers to buy up the last few holidays based on the attractive price. Hence, these holidays are known as late deals.

Holidaymakers have long enjoyed great savings with late deals and it has always been a popular and cost-effective way to go on holiday without paying over the odds. But is it still worth it?

In recent years, following the global recession and with strong growth in alternative methods of travel such as DIY holidays and low-cost flights, the package holiday market has faced high levels of competition. Increased costs such as fuel taxes and inflation has also played its part, and as such, late deals are certainly not as cheap as they used to be.

Image c/o: imgfave

However, while the availability of ‘cheap’ holidays might be a little slimmer than ten years ago, late deals are generally still worth it. With the rising cost of living, now more than ever customers welcome cost reductions on holidays. Many now realise that the best way to get a cut-price last-minute holiday is to be as flexible as possible, and if price truly is the top priority, customers can gain a fantastic holiday by adjusting their criteria until they find the best combination of personal preference and price.

There are still plenty of good value late deals out there. Why not go online and search for holidays departing within the next six weeks? You’ll soon see for yourself if last minute holidays are still worth it…

The post Are Last Minute Holidays Still Worth It? appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

Image c/o: bathcitysound.com

The start of the week ughhhhh, it’s gross, it’s long, it’s depressing but that’s why our weekly gratitude lists are so important loves…they get us out of that Monday-mope and into happy-go-fabulous-mode. YAY! There is always stuff to be happy and excited about -even if you still feel hungover from Saturday night (Seriously still?! Yup I’m getting old. Oops!). So here we go:

I have been LOVE, LOVE, LOVING:

• Friday night hangouts with friends. Fridays should always be about friends that’s what I’ve decided. We drank, ate, danced, took dumb pictures and then went out to an impromptu rave…awesome!

•  Me and my two friends snuggling up in my bed once again. We were packed into my double bed like a human hotdog…it was really cute.
• Dressing up like Katy Perry in glittery hotpants and going out on Saturday night! FUN!

• Having lots of nap time.
• Not doing any work at the weekend (sometimes a gal just needs a break!).
• Getting dressed up to go to Camellia’s Tea House with Rosie on Saturday to consume my cream tea winnings! I won a competition to eat there you see and we loved it!

If you’re in Carnaby Street, head to Kingly Court – a cute square full of cute boutiques and cafes and check it out. The tea selection is incredible and you can buy any of them if you fall in love with the flavours. We tried the Dancing Rose and Lilac and White Rose and Raspberry teas and they were wonderful! I would have bought the white rose tea, but it had sold out – it was beautiful!

• Starting the day with pilates and then my walk to work…it’s makes you feel so good to know you’re actually starting the day in a positive way
• This car display hanging from the ceiling in Liberty’s of London. I love it!

• Batch cooking and cleaning my room. I don’t know why but sometimes doing chores really makes me feel better. Weird I know…
• Hanging out at Dalston Superstore and its sister store Voodoo Ray’s on my home patch. They are cool hangouts if you wanna find the best hipster hangouts but if you wanna eat really great hangover cure food they are even better. It helps that one of my besties is the head chef at DS and the brainchild/CEO behind SLAP! Sandwiches. BEST FOOD EVER!

• Blue skies in London…ahhhh beautiful. You really can’t beat it!
• This video and song….isn’t it a little bit magical? I cannot stop watching it….it’s an awesome collaboration between PYYRAMIDS (from the Flaming Lips, MGMT fame), Damian Kulash of OK Go and photographer Martien Mulder. And the whole thing was filmed on a Sony Xperia Z…how cool is that?! It’s so dreamy…j’adoreee.

What you been loving lately then? Write it down and tell me? Even if it’s a bit naughty…go on, I dare ya!

Love and milkshakes Em xoxo

The post Loving Of Late: Gratitude Lists, Giggles and Glitter-Pants appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

Image c/o: creepingirrelevance.tumblr.com

It’s manifesting time kids! A short week done with, here’s hoping you had a great one! I sure did…but now that it’s all over we are going to have a great few days of fun ahead.

What y’all doing? I’m staying in London for a change so making the most of all the city has to offer….which makes a change since I’m usually travelling elsewhere.

So let’s make the magic happen…it’s going to be a great weekend because:

• I’m having a ‘girl’s’ night with my dear friends Spasia and Ben tonight and I cannot wait. Relaxation, gossip, food and booze…heaven.
• I’m going for a fancy cream tea date tomorrow with Rosie (you remember her right? The travelling Gohemian gal I interviewed). We are going to the very lovely Camellia’s Tea House on Carnaby Street because I was privileged enough to win a competition to go there and have a fabulous tea for two! So excited! Diet is kind of going to have to go out of the window….but oh well! Ladies that lunch INDEED! Look out on Instagram for lots of piccies

Image c/o: Groupon.co.uk

• I’m going to dress up and go out dancing with my boy Ben on Saturday night! Cannot wait!
• I’m going to have nice lie-ins.
• Do more Pilates and EFT practice (I love it). I started the day with this yesterday after feeling a bit blue and it really works, I know know how but it really does the trick, it’s great.

• Prepare for Rotterdam – yes I’m leaving for Holland next Wednesday to go to the Travel Bloggers Unite conference with my lovely travel blogger buddies! Cannot wait! More to follow on this soon!

Image c/o: raileurope.co.uk

•  I’m going to do lots of writing and feel good about my work plans. Time is rapidly approaching to start planning for my freelance move, yay!
• I’m going to listen to more music by new bands. After going to a gig last night to see Rosie’s friends play…I am once again in love with finding new music to rock out to. Check out Without Maps they are awesome!

Are you going to stay positive this weekend? Focus on those good things, those aspects that make you happy and do lots of fun stuff. Great weekend = guaranteed.

Drop me a line by clicking on the love-hearts…you know the score.

Love and giggles Em xoxo

The post Future Fridays: Manifesting Your Dream Weekend appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

I’m a big fan of Empire Of The Sun – I think their music is very travel-inspired and awesome! I mean doesn’t that video just make your want to hit some tropical land and put feathers in your hair?…It definitely does for me!

So even though it’s been raining again, listen to that song and relish in thoughts of going away this year. If you have an feather headdress handy, that’s even better, put it on and dance until you feel sunny again.

Image c/o: lauraburkhart-thedaylight blogspot

If you’re a fan of this song check out their latest album Ice On The Dune which is out in June and their new song Alive.

They are hella awesome don’t you think?

Love and light-up dancefloors Em xoxo

The post Song Of The Day: Empire Of The Sun appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

Image c/o: wodumedia.com

Need a back to work positivity fix now that the bank holiday is over? Well I bring you belated Loving Of Late choc-full of the stuff! So what floated your boat and melted your butter at le weekend? The only way to get over the bank holiday blues is by putting it out there what you’ve been enjoying lately. Appreciation lists and pens at the ready people!

• Hanging out at lighthouses and making rock pool discoveries. I was climbing and jumping across boulders like a big kid. I love exploring things with child-like wonder (I think the day you loose that spark of excitement is when you start getting old and BORING). Screw growing up let’s be lost boys forever!

• Going for the best Fish and Chips at Newcastle’s Fish Quay.
• The satisfaction out of buying flowers for someone. – nothing beats it!
• Drinking outside – is there anything better than a drunken picnic…I think not!

• Going to The Biscuit Factory art gallery and seeing loads of great art and cute stuff.

• Sunday dinners with the family.
• The discovery of GeordieMugs.co.uk (JOY!!!).

Whey Aye Man mug from Geordiemugs.co.uk

• And finding this very Goho-positive mug by Bread and Jam:

Bread and Jam’s mugs are aweasome!

• Daily outfit pictures. I tell you having an iPhone again makes playing around on Instagram so much easier and more fun. So

• Finally playing around with EFT and meditation (y’all may think I’m turning into a big hippy but in all my years of dealing with depression – I love finding new solutions to feeling better, so believe me when I say it WORKS!).
• Katy Perry’s Part Of Me movie. It may sound like a cheesy documentary but as I’ve been listening to a lot of her music lately, so I decided I wanted to find out more about KP. She is a damn cool chick in case you didn’t know already and hella inspiring! She understands heartbreak and writes about it honestly which I love – hey, we’ve all been there right?! And obvs I love her costumes – I think her Peacock one is my favourite.

• How my Auntie gives me 4 star hotel treatment every time I visit. I swear to God the women I have in my life are the most considerate souls on the planet. My future boyfriend has a lot to live up to hehe.

Lindor and my folder pjs wait for me at my Auntie’s

• Light-bulb moments realising I’m leaving my job really soon and I’m really excited about it.
• Loving the fact that I’m ready for another HUGE change in my life and that I will probably moving to start a whole new life! Scary but damn exciting!
• Having precious moments with my family. As I know I’m leaving the country next year for a new life in Japan, all these times with my friends and family are super important.
• Making commitments to myself to make myself happier – walking to and from work, doing daily yoga sessions, daily mediation and writing zillions of appreciation lists.
• Improving my knowledge in SEO.
• Watching TED talks on my phone. If you wanna get inspired, the TED app is the way forward. These talks from Elizabeth Gilbert (the writer of Eat, Pray, Love – I adore her!) and Dan Gilbert (a Harvard expert on Happiness) I mucho recommend!

• Having wonderful connections with readers! You guys are the cutest!

Love and happiness Em xoxo

The post Loving Of Late: Back To Work Positivity Fix appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

Image c/o: digitalspy.co.uk

Are you ready for some bank holiday fun?! YES! A whole extraday to ourselves….joy! So as I’m sure you can tell there is extra excitement in today’s post.

So how are you celebrating this weekend? Regardless of whether you have an extra day off work or not, it’s going to be a great weekend! You know why? Because we are going to manifest our arses off now to make it into a spectacular one: Ready…steady….GO-GO!

My weekend is going to be mega awesome because:

• I’m going to Newcastle!!! You know me I love the toon! I get to see my wonderful family, my beloved Tyne bridge and the beach! JOY! Seriously considering a move back here, I’m not going to lie…

• I’m going to have 3 days of lie-ins! Bliss!
• I’m going to enjoy great food and wine and even better company!
• I’m going to meditate using the Headspace iPhone app (have you tried it yet? It’s awesome!) and finally try EFT (it’s only been forever since I said I’ve wanted to try it and I never seem to get around to it – so this weekend is THE weekend for it).
• I’m going to be the positive person I can be this weekend, I’m not going to let any of the small things (or even big things get me down). The weekend is for having fun and chilling out – NOTHING ELSE! No stress allowed!

Goho suggestions for you guys:

• Put your positivity out there and enter some competitions! Who knows you could get lucky! Expedia are doing a great Facebook competition where you can win a holiday up to £2,000! All you have to do is try to create a word/message with using airport code tags on the Expedia Travel Tags FB app – I think it looks really fun! And speaking of competitions there is going to be a great travel hamper competition on here very soon! So if you’re going on your jollys soon and need all your travel toiletries then keep your eyes peeled for a real treat! I provide only the best for you Gohos!
• Do some yoga, stretch and feel good. If you can do it outdoors, that’s even better!
• Go out and spend as much time in the sun as you possibly can.

• Laugh. HARD.
• Eat your favourite food, take a photo of it and put it on instagram for all to see. NOM.

That’s my favourite…especially as it’s a Geordie delicacy! Nommage!

• Call someone you love on Facetime and have a really great catch up. Revel in the fact that technology rules and allows us to see our dear ones even when they are far away. I’m going to do that with my darling Becci! Yay!

Enjoy my dears – message me using the love hearts at the top of the page, I’d love to know what you monkeys are getting up to!

Love and deck-chairs Em xoxo

The post Future Fridays: Newcastle, Competitions and Bank Holiday Fun appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.

Since it’s a beautiful day I thought we should have some Metronomy summery goodness to fill our eardrums! I don’t know about you but I am loving all this sunshine. Even though it’s still nippy in ye olde England….if the sun is out we sure are a happy bunch…

So let’s get dancing and excited for our holidays I love travel-themed music, it makes me wanna get on a plane!

Because this isn’t Paris
And this isn’t London
And it’s not Berlin
And it’s not Hong Kong
Not Tokyo
If you want to go
I’ll take you back one day
It feels so good in the bay

Enjoy!

Love and sunbeams Em xoxo

The post Song Of The Day: Metronomy – The Bay appeared first on Gohemian Travellers.