In Day 7 of our epic Family Travel Adventure we travel from Geneva to Budapest via Brussels. When we booked our flights on Skyscanner we found the cheapest flights from Geneva to Budapest were on Brussels Airlines, with a stopover in Brussels.
We had the choice of a 2 hour stopover or a 10 hour stopover, so we jumped at the opportunity to spend a day in Brussels. First time we’ve ever been to Belgium, and we knew absolutely nothing about this country. Time to travel and learn!
Brussels Grand Place
A quick bit or research showed us that Brussels is a great place for a 1 day stopover. The city is very accessible via a 15 minute train ride from the airport. Then the main attraction in town is Grand Place, which is the central square in Brussels central and also a Unesco World Heritage site.
This square dates back to the early 13th century and is a living breathing piece of medieval European history. Wow, what a way to spend the day.
The only other research we had was downloading an iPhone app called Brussels City Walks by GPSmyCITY.com. The catch phrase of the app is “Lose Yourself Without Getting Lost”. The app comes armed with a bunch of pre-saved walks overlaid on a Google Maps type environment, and a huge list of attractions which enable you to customise your own tour.
Our Day in Brussels, Belgium
Brussels airport was fantastic, one of the most modern and easiest to navigate airports we’ve come across. After exiting the airport through virtually no security hassles, you catch the escalator down to the 2nd floor to the train station.
On the way there are vending machines where you buy your return ticket into Brussels Central, which cost us 45 Euro’s for 3 people. It was very confusing figuring out which train to jump on, as none of the boards were in English and their were no route maps on display. Bring on Google Maps, a quick search put us on the right platform in no time.
That gave us a full 5 hours to walk around and explore the city centre. Grand Place was within 10 minutes walk of Brussels Central Station. There were several other great attractions within 5 minutes of Grand Place.
Brussels was overall an amazing place to visit, with great attractions and awesome food. We discovered Belgian Waffles, heaps of Belgium chocolate shops and unlimited souvenir shop. We loved our quick stopover and recommend this to anyone who can travel through Brussels.
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In Day 5 of our epic Family Travel Adventure we spend the day in Geneva. We thought we were going to Geneva, Switzerland, but in fact we were staying in Geneva, France! Only a couple of hundred metres on the French side of the border, but France nevertheless.
Visiting a French Brassiere in Geneva
Our day was spent relaxing and catching up with our long time friend Inday, who was good enough to let us stay at her wonderful place. Thanks Inday! We had a wonderful breakfast out in the back yard, being a beautiful sunny day.
With mild temperatures in the low 20’s (Celsius), the weather was near perfect. Great conditions for a garden breakfast. Especially with the stunning Mount Saleve as a backdrop!
After some more relaxing, we decide to take a walk to the local French Brassiere to pick up some bread. Walking through a picturesque village, we learn that they close early on Sundays. Lucky our host knows of another French Brassiere, so we head off in the other direction.
We found the shop and discovered it was full of delicious French pastries and other desserts. We went for a Tropexienne (custard tart) and a Black Forest cake. Clarc and Ramon then give their impressions of these fine French treats.
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In Day 4 of our epic Family Travel Adventure we leave London and the United Kingdom. It’s off to Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5 to catch our British Airways flight to Geneva, Switzerland.
Leaving London to Fly to Geneva
Overall we had quite a long wait at Heathrow Terminal 5. We figured we would wait outside the security area until the standard 3 hours before the flight, then check in our bags. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we could check in our bags immediately. Not only that, we were expecting to pay 65 pounds in excess baggage for our fourth 23 kg bag.
But the man at the counter was nice enough to let us through without paying any excess baggage! Possibly because the last couple of bags were small and 15-18 kg each. Then it was thought to the secure area, and duty-free shopping.
Heathrow Terminal 5 Review
Overall we found this airport to be one of the better ones. There was heaps of comfortable seating, most of it with phone charging plugs along the side. Heaps of good food options, and plenty of good shopping. Ramon even got to update his camera equipment with some hard to find accessories.
Is Geneva in Switzerland or France?
We made it to Geneva and caught an Uber to our destination, staying at a long time close friend’s apartment. We thought we were staying in Switzerland, but just before the apartment things changed. On the left hand side of the road is Switzerland. On the right hand side of the road is France. Then we turned off to the right into the apartment. So we were staying in France not Switzerland. Looks like 3 countries were visited this day.
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In part 4 of our epic family travel adventure we continue our London Sight-Seeing by catching the Big Bus Tour around inner London. We also take on some self guided foot tours to see Trafalgar Square and the National Art Gallery. Then off to the Cavalry Museum, 10 Downing Street and the Guards Museum.
After London Bridge and the Tower of London we again catch the Big Bus Tour over to Buckingham Palace. After that we hire some bicycles to pedal around Hyde Park. From there we pedal over to Kensington Gardens to check out Kensington Palace. Then it’s time to call it a day and head back to our Paddington Airbnb.
London Sightseeing on a Rainy Day
The day was filled with scattered showers, and we had to adjust our tour several times to suit the rain. We were wanting to take a tour on the HMAS Belfast, a military ship moored near the Tower Bridge. We elected not to get wet and took a gamble to go to Hyde Park for some bicycle riding instead.
The London sight-seeing was a great day out. Clarc found the simple fun of bicycle riding one of the highlights of the day. The bicycles only cost 2 pounds each for 24 hours of hire, and it was a beautiful sunny day to enjoy riding amongst the squirrels and geese of Hyde Park. Along the way we saw some landmarks like the Albert Hall and Kensington Palace.
Other Things to See in London
Overall a fairly active day and a fun day had by all. We can now give directions to most of the big attractions around London city. We also saved plenty for our next trip to London. Next visit will be getting the London Pass, and we plan to take the expensive tours inside some of the main attractions which are included in the London Pass. I would like to take the City Boat up-river to visit Greenwich, the Queen’s House, and the Royal Observatory.
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In part 3 of our epic family travel adventure we catch the Big Bus Tour around London city for some sight-seeing. First we check out Trafalgar Square and the National Art Gallery. Then off to London Bridge, where we actually got to drive across the bridge.
After checking out Tower of London, we catch the City Ferry down to Westminster Abbey, Parliament House and Westminster Abbey area.
Tower of London from the Big Bus Tour
The Tower of London looked like such an interesting and expansive place to go inside, however when we enquired the staff advised us that we need a full 3 hours to see inside.
Closing time is 5pm daily, thus you need to arrive by 2:00pm to make the tour worthwhile. Because we arrived at 3:30pm, we missed out on this fascinating tour.
Buckingham Palace
Then a stroll amongst the squirrels, through St.James’s Gardens to see Buckingham Palace. Whilst at Buckingham Palace we walked through the “Australia Gate”, a very special occasion since we are an Australian family!
We also walked through some magnificent gardens, and witnessed the guards in the big black hats.
Other Famous London Attractions
We saw many other attractions along the way, including St.Paul’s Cathedral, St.James’s Park, St.Margaret’s Church, the London Eye, just to name a few. The last part of our adventure for the day was trying to catch a Big Bus Tour home.
We looked for ages to find a bus stop, to no avail. In the end we got a taxi! And the lesson we learned – download the Big Bus Tours app so you can find the bus-stops!
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United States is an amazing place for a road trip. Where else can you find such a stunning diversity of landscapes and nature, and endless miles of magnificent roads. Our bucket list has has USA right at the top for many years. Now our 14 day California Road Trip had become a reality.
Our plan was to pick up a hire car at LAX and to drive up Highway 1, aka Pacific Coast Highway. This would take us through Morro Bay to San Fransisco. Then we would drive back to Los Angeles taking the inland route along the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
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Our hire car in the Morro Rock car-park
Our road trip plan was simple. All our accommodation was pre-booked about 2 months in advance to secure some great discounts. We used our old favourite booking.com to find some great deals, mixed with some AirBnB experiences. We did not plan our itinerary at all on this trip, apart from accommodation. In fact we did very little research prior to the trip.
Our plan was to ‘make it up as we go’ from each of our pre-booked stopover destinations. Driving North from Los Angeles our first stop was Santa Barbara, where we visited the marvellous marine sanctuary of the Channel Islands. Our second stop was Morro Bay, a picturesque coastal village just North of Santa Barbara.
Tip: You can read about our stopover in Santa Barbara HERE.
What’s There to See at Morro Bay?
Our stay was brief in Morro Bay. We only booked one night at the lovely Harbour House Inn. We wanted to see as much as we could in the short time we were at Morro Bay. It was after all our shortest stopover for the entire road trip.
After a day of whale watching in Santa Barbara we drove north along Highway 1 and arrived in Morro Bay about one hour before sunset. We drove straight to our accommodation, the Harbour House Inn and checked in.
I asked the receptionist where to find the best place to watch the sunset in Morro Bay. She explained that most people at the Inn just sit on their balcony to watch the sunset for uninterrupted views, however since our room was on the ground floor this wasn’t an option. The hotel receptionist told us the best option was to head to Morro Rock for sunset.
Morro Rock from the surf beach car park
Tip: You can read about our Santa Barbara Whale Watching adventure HERE.
Morro Rock
Morro rock is the solidified core of magma from an ancient volcano. It’s a very impressive sight, standing 581 feet tall and visible for miles around. It is in fact one of a chain of 13 similar volcanic plugs along this part of the coastline. It’s a great place to bring your binoculars or telephoto lens, as the rock is home to many sea birds nesting and doing birdy things.
We arrived at Morro Rock about half an hour before sunset, to find a spacious unpaved car park flanked by an estuary on one side and a lovely surf beach on the other. The magnificent Morro Rock was in the middle. As soon as we pulled up next to the estuary waters we saw a bunch of Sea Lions playing, only 20 metres from the edge of the car park.
We have not seen many Sea Lions in the wild before, which made these fun-loving fellows mesmerising. After watching these guys for a while, we moved the car to the other side of this gigantic car park, near the surf beach and Morro Rock. This, we decided, is the best place to watch the sunset in Morro Bay.
Surf Beach
The Morro Rock car park, we discovered, appears to be a kind of Mecca for surfers. The nearby surf beach was a party zone for a large number of surfers enjoying the sunset on a moderate swell. It is a magnificent beach too, with dozens of holiday makers enjoying the expansive beach.
The conditions were idyllic, the backdrop stunning. It kind of makes me wish I was a surfer, it’s an awesome way to experience the coast. A sunset surf on an idyllic Californian beach – I’m not sure if it gets much better than that.
Morro Bay surf beach from the car-park
Sunset at the rock
Time to put on the photographers hat and get some stunning sunset photographs. We had never seen the sun set over the Pacific Ocean! Us Aussies tend to see Pacific Ocean sunrises or Indian Ocean sunsets, so this was a special sunset for us.
It’s little moments like this that make holidays so memorable, all those new experiences. The sunset was glorious, deep orange with the magnificent Morro Rock in the foreground. Flocks of sea birds flying to and from Morro Rock added some great perspective to the photos.
Watching the sunset near Morro Rock
Where to eat
A lot of the surf safari guys were coming in from the surf and having their dinner right there in the car park, in the back of their cars. Great idea, this is a good way to save on expensive restaurants. However we were in the market for a nice take-away meal. We followed the coastline south for about one mile from Morro Rock and found several popular restaurants dotted along the shore-line.
We went for a take-away fish and chip shop, that’s what we like to do visiting coastal towns. I guess our expectation is that the fish may be the catch of the day from the local fishing boats. Sadly, a frozen fish meal was the end result. Oh well worth a try.
Morro Bay Harbour board-walk has lots of eating places
Where to Stay
Because we booked our accommodation on booking.com, we had already read several reviews and knew what to expect here. The Harbour House Inn was rated very highly at 8.1. The way we use booking.com to find our perfect accommodation is:
Look for heavily discounted places
Look for a high user review score
Read a bunch of user reviews to see if it suits our needs
We are rarely disappointed by following this trusted formula, and always secure some great discounted accommodation. The Harbour House Inn was no exception, it was a gem. It’s set back a little way from the main tourist strip which may account for the cheaper than normal rate. However the rooms were huge and well equipped, and we had parking right next to our front door which was super handy.
After a long day of touring the Southern California coastline, the super-comfortable Harbour House Inn was blissful and we had a wonderful overnight rest.
Harbour House Inn is highly recommended
The Board Walk
Next morning after our complimentary breakfast we just had one or two hours to look around Morro Bay before leaving. First stop was a stroll along the harbour boardwalk part of town. This part of town has numerous cafes and eateries spread along the boardwalk.
As you stroll along here you’re rewarded with great views of the estuary and marina area, of Morro Rock, and of some local wildlife. We even spotted a floating platform a hundred or so metres out from the boardwalk full of barking Sea Lions.
Once again we were mesmerised by these playful creatures. Seeing the wildlife of Southern California was fast becoming the highlight of our road trip.
Morro Bay Harbour Boardwalk
Activities
Down at the harbour boardwalk there were a lot of different water-based activities. We saw lots of people hiring kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and other self-propelled craft. As a matter of fact there are several places where you can hire these craft along the boardwalk.
On the day we visited it was a very calm, safe and sheltered waterway. Under those conditions it’s perfect for taking the kids out on a paddling adventure, where you can paddle right out to the Seal Lions out in the middle of the estuary.
We overhead the kayak hire guide giving one of his client directions to find Sea Otters. He was instructing his clients “just paddle over to those rocks, and you will usually see a couple of Sea Otters in the water”. I closely followed the line of where his finger was pointing.
Soon after we left the board walk area and drove to where the guide’s finger was pointing. We desperately wanted to see some Morro Bay Sea Otters before we left town.
Paddle-boarding past a pontoon full of Sea-Lions
Sea Otters
Next we stopped near a boat ramp along a rocky fore-shore, about a half mile around from the harbour boardwalk. I was sure that’s where the guide was pointing, so we excitedly scrambled out onto the rocks looking for wild Sea Otters. There were none there, but we did see some squirrels scrambling over the rocks.
Off in the distance, about a quarter-mile around the rocky shore, we thought we saw some splashing in the water. Whilst my wife and son followed the paved footpath to the new location, I went back and relocated the car.
One of the many cute squirrels we saw
We headed to the same spot as the previous night, the Sea Lion spot. What we found were 2 groups of Sea Otters, floating on their backs resting and playing with each other, tossing and turning in the water. In the foreground there were still more squirrels scrambling around the rocks.
Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine we would see wild Sea Otters on our road trip! The otters were only 30 or 40 metres off shore so they were very easy to see and were a lot of fun. But the road trip must go on, so time to look for the next adventure.
Sea Otters seen from the Morro Rock car-park
Up The Road
We had a really enjoyable and relaxing time in Morro Bay. The town has a really relaxed vibe about it, and makes you really feel like you’re on holidays. We were pleasantly surprised by Morro Bay, which has so much to offer visitors.
Morro Rock itself is an iconic landmark and also worth seeing, especially because you can drive/walk right up to it. Note that climbing Morro Rock is not permitted.
This is what Sea-Otters do on their day-off!
We definitely recommend an overnight stop in Morro Bay, there is plenty to see and do! We ran out of time to visit the scenic Coastal Parks with their miles of walking trails, I hear they have some of the best walks in the area.
If walking trails or hiking is your thing, then perhaps you should stay 2 or 3 nights. As for us, it’s good bye to Morro Bay and onto our next stops, elephant seals and the magnificent Hearst Castle.
And here’s a short video of the Morro Bay Sea Otters, enjoy!
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Santa Barbara is famous for its wide beaches and stunning natural beauty. Just 2 hours drive north of Los Angeles, this coastal location is the perfect getaway for anyone seeking a beautiful beachside getaway with easy access from Los Angeles. And one of the premier activities is whale watching in Santa Barbara!
Being so close to the big city, a whale watching trip couldn’t be any easier. And for those families with kids, a whale watching cruise from Santa Barbara offers a safe, comfortable and exciting adventure. Available all year round, Santa Barbara offers half-day cruises into the Santa Barbara Channel to experience whales up close.
Sea Lions close to the main pier in Santa Barbara
Why Choose Santa Barbara for Whale Watching?
Although named way back in 1602 by Spanish explorers, Santa Barbara was was not inhabited by the Spanish until 1769. It had a strong Spanish, and later a Mexican influence until it fell to the United States in 1846. Roughly 100,000 inhabitants live in Santa Barbara.
A unique style and vibrant character is enjoyed in this part of Southern California, thanks to the strong Spanish and Mexican influences. Fascinating local architecture and attractions are plentiful in Santa Barbara, and thanks to the Mediterranean climate it is suitable to visit all year round.
Santa Barbara Channel
Santa Barbara also has an incredibly diverse underwater topography, just off the coast in the Santa Barbara Channel. In fact Santa Barbara Channel is home to more than 30 species of Whales, Dolphins, Seals, Sea-Lions, and many other forms of marine life. It is one of the best locations to find Blue Whales. You can also find plenty of Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, and even Orcas, aka Killer Whales.
Especially interesting is the Blue Whale, being the largest animal known to ever have existed. At 30 metres long and 170 tons in weight, these animals are truly the gargantuan of the oceans. And for anybody with a sense of adventure, Blue Whales can be easily spotted from Santa Barbara on a half-day whale watching cruise.
After checking their website, two things about Condor express really impressed us.
They have a whale watching guarantee. If they don’t see whales or have sightings of other marine animals, the Captain will issue “whale checks”. Whale checks are good for a free trip of your choice on another Condor Express Whale Watching trip during the season.
They have a “Captains Blog” on their website. This is essentially a whale watching report, and it details exactly what species of whale were seen on each day trip. They include a photo and details of other creatures encountered on the day. Readers will have a good idea of what to expect after reading the Captains Blog.
We saw plenty of playful Sea Lions
What Will You See?
On a good day out with the Condor Express, you may encounter half a dozen or more Blue Whales, as well as many more of other species of whales. You will probably also see hundreds if not thousands of dolphins and sea-lions.
On the day we booked, there were fairly good sightings of Blue Whales for the previous few days. Not every day, but most days. This was good enough for us, we liked our chances. Besides, there were daily Humpback Whale sightings, so if we missed the Blue Whale we were pretty much guaranteed to see a Humpback Whale. We were able to book a trip for the following day. Ready, set, go!
Getting a whale education on the sundeck of Condor Express
The Condor Express
Built and launched in 2002, the pride of the fleet is aptly named the Condor Express. It is a catamaran boat with a modified hydrofoil wing which lifts the boat up at high-speed to give a smoother ride. The cruising speed is 28 knots, which is quite fast in boating terms. At this speed the Condor Express can reach the Channel Islands in just 45 minutes. That is if doesn’t stop to view some whales on the way, which is very likely.
The boat has a large sun deck up top with plenty of seating. There is a large weather-proof cabin downstairs with a bar and kitchen. Here you can purchase a wide range of drinks, snacks and freshly cooked meals. It has wide decks where you can walk right around the boat, and a large open area at both the bow (front-end) and stern (back-end) of the boat. Overall the boat is beautifully appointed and feels new, even though it has quite a few years on it. At 75 feet long and 26 feet wide it is a large, comfortable and well equipped boat.
Passengers aboard the Condor Express can view the variety of marine life up close from virtually any angle on the boat, and there is ample room so the people can spread out and not feel crowded. We give this boat a giant thumbs up, it is comfortable, safe and exhilarating.
The Condor Express
The Trip to the Islands
Just a few miles offshore from Santa Barbara is the Channel Islands National Park, also called the Santa Barbara Islands. With a rich and diverse history, humans have lived there for the past 13,000 years. And it takes a little under an hour to reach the Channel Islands from Santa Barbara aboard the Condor Express.
As you approach the Channel Islands you will cross the Santa Barbara Channel,an enormously deep part of the ocean with a diverse variety of underwater landscapes. Ocean basins and troughs in this area reach depths of about 6,000 feet (1,800 metres). No wonder the sea life is so rich and the whales love coming here so much. The sea is absolutely teaming with wildlife. Even before you leave the port you will probably observe Sea Lions, Pelicans and other wildlife.
Passing close by a Santa Barbara oil rig
What We Encountered
After leaving the marina in Santa Barbara we headed straight out into the Santa Barbara Channel. Then, after a few minutes we observed some very unnatural sightings. Oil rigs up close which have apparently been operating since the 1960’s, and are still operating to this day. They are actually quite impressive to see if you’ve never seen these before.
After passing the oil rigs we started heading straight for the islands, and only got about half-way across the channel before seeing our first whale. The activity was centred around a giant school of herring, which was being herded to the surface by a giant school of dolphins. The dolphins were in a feeding frenzy, attacking the helpless school of small fish from all directions.
Sea Lions at the Channel Islands
So Many Sea Lions!
There were many Sea-Lions joining in on the action, and coming up to the boat to check out the humans. We also were treated to one Humpback Whale lunging from deep below, getting huge gulps of herring filled water. The Humpback Whale kept breaching the surface, rising vertically out of the water with giant mouthfuls of doomed herring. And of course there were hundreds of sea-birds joining in the feeding frenzy, dive bombing and going every which way.
We stayed and watched this spectacle for about 30 minutes, and then moved on and try to find another Whale. Alas we made it all the way out to Santa Cruz Island and did not see any more whales.
Beautiful replica Spanish Galleon with Channel Islands in the background
Santa Cruz Island
The Condor Express made it across to Santa Cruz Island, which is part of the Channel Island group. There the Captain edged the boat into a beautiful harbour which was alive with sea life. On one side was a large rock full of Sea Lions. These were barking, playing, diving into the water, and being downright entertaining as Sea-Lions usually are. All around us were sea birds of all descriptions. And up above us on the mountainous island was a group of hikers enjoying the view. An interesting account of the history of the island was presented by the Captain, including the human habitation which dates back some 13,000 years. We then set sail for home, hoping to spot more whales on the way home.
Mako Shark
We did not spot another whale, although there were plenty of interesting things to see. First there was a Mako Shark, whose dorsal fin could be seen swirling around the surface near the Condor Express. Then there was a replica Spanish Galleon sailing through the channel, a spectacle out on the open seas. And there were hundreds more dolphins doing their wonderful dolphin antics. The seas were calm, the passengers happy to have seen a Humpback Whale, and the day almost over. Just a few more Sea Lions to pass on the way back to port and the trip was complete.
Hikers on Santa Cruz Island
Overall Experience on the Condor Express
Reservations can be made online for the half day whale watching cruise on the Condor Express. This is a feature which rates very highly with us, and is the way we made our booking.
We found the parking a little difficult when we arrived. First we had some trouble locating the correct car park. Then we found the car park was full, and had to park a couple of hundred metres from the boat launch site. It’s recommended to arrive at least half hour before launch site, and I would add an extra 20 minutes to find the car park. The parking also carries a small fee but is reduced by presenting your Condor Express tickets.
Enjoying snacks in the Condor Express galley
Wildlife in Southern California
The highlight of our coastal road trip in Southern California was the wild-life. We spotted Elephant Seals, Sea Otters and Sea Lions up and down the coast. But the Humpback Whales we spotted were the most awesome wildlife we saw, especially because this was our first whale watching trip. Although a little disappointed not to have seen any Blue Whales, the awesome spectacle we witnessed with the lunge feeding of the Humpback Whale made up for it.
Santa Barbara Whale Watching is definitely bucket list worthy, and an experience your family will never forget. Santa Barbara Whale Watching is a perfect activity for you family travel adventure!
The Condor Express returning to port
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Batu Caves is one of the premier tourist attractions of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The caves consist of 3 larger caves and several smaller ones, penetrating into a huge limestone hill. The beauty of Batu Caves is that they’re very accessible from central Kuala Lumpur, just 11 km from the city. We visited Kuala Lumpur in August 2016 and took a family day trip to Batu Caves.
Monkeys like being photographed
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Where are Batu Caves?
Batu Caves are a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples. They are very accessible on the outskirts of Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur. The main cave is open to the public and has a magnificent 42m high golden statue at the front. This cave is one of the most popular Hindi shrines outside of India.
To access the cave you must climb a very steep flight of stairs 272 steps high, which takes you to an elevation of about 100m. Curiously they seem like very big steps by the time you reach the top. The ascending journey is very tiring, however the cute monkeys along the way will entice you to stop for a rest and a photo.
Monkey at Batu Caves
How to get to Batu Caves
We caught the train straight from our hotel to the Batu Caves complex. Our hotel was the Berjaya Times Square Hotel, which is conveniently located right on the monorail line. From there we caught the monorail to KL Sentral, the main train station of KL. There we had to change trains onto the KLM Comuter Line. The last stop on this line is Batu Caves.
AIt sounds easy, however changing from the monorail to KLM Comuter proved to be quite confusing. For starters it is about a 10 minute walk from one platform to the other, even though they are both in the KL Sentral Station. We had to cross a busy street, down stairs, up stairs and navigate through a busy shopping mall. None of this was clearly signed so it was quite puzzling the whole way. But we did find the next station without getting too lost. Alas we just missed the train by 5 minutes, and had to wait a whole hour for the next. The wait on the platform had little in the way modern conveniences, just a bland, old-fashioned train platform. Good thing it had shade because the weather was very hot.
KL Sentral Station
Journey Time From Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves:
What Google Maps say:
Walk Berjaya Times Square to Imbi Station: 5 minutes
Imbi station to KL Sentral on the monorail: 4 stops and 12 minutes
4 minute walk
Komuter train to Batu Caves Station: 8 stops, 30 minutes
5 minute walk to the cave
Total: 56 minutes
Disembarking at the Batu Caves train station
What We Experienced
Walk Berjaya Times Square to Imbi Station: 5 minutes
Wait for the monorail: 10 minutes
Imbi station to KL Sentral on the monorail: 4 stops and 12 minutes
10-15 minute walk after getting a little bit lost
Wait for the next train: 1 hour
Komuter train to Batu Caves Station: 8 stops, 30 minutes
Walk to the cave: 15 minutes with a few photo stops along the way
Total: 2 hours 27 minutes
The cost was negligible, trains were so cheap that it’s not even worth adding up the fare.
Scenery between Batu Caves train station and the caves
What To See at Batu Caves
When you get to Batu Caves you will want to stop and marvel at the giant golden statue and take a few pictures. It is not exactly a historical relic, it was only finished in 2006. But it does look spectacular in photos, and is very popular on instagram.
The climb up the stairs was very hot and tiring. Because it’s located in an equatorial climate it was hot, humid and sweaty all the way. When you get to the top the view is awesome, however you will probably experience a smoggy haze which is not altogether photogenic. Then you enter the cave itself.
We were gob-smacked at the size of the cave, it is seriously big. In addition to the expansive floor area, the roof is extremely high. In fact they had a couple of chaps inside playing Hindi music and the acoustics of the cave were astounding. Finally you pass through the first cave, up some more stairs and enter the second cave.
The second cave is also seriously big but has no roof. It does have some religious temples and so on inside, you might even see some religious rituals taking place. You don’t really need to spend more than 20-30 minutes in the caves, there’s not a lot to see really.
The view from the top
What To Bring To Batu Caves
Whilst there are few eateries and restaurants, there are plenty of vendors selling cold drinks and snacks. Also the journey from the Batu Caves station to the cave itself is virtually lined with street vendors for the entire 10 minute walk. Above all I suggest travelling very light, as you will need to be nimble on your feed for the big stair climb ahead. Timewise, you need to allow about 4-5 hours for the round trip depending on how lucky you time the trains.
Inside the first cave
Time and Cost to Get to Batu Caves
We spent less than $10 for the whole family for the round trip, making it a very affordable day. Our next stop was a pre-booked climb to the top of Petronis Towers. You will have enough time for at least one more attraction on the day
The second cave has a hole in the roof
Our Conclusion about Batu Caves
All things considered Batu Caves is a must see destination on your Kuala Lumpur holiday. If you decide to take an organised city tour, virtually all tours will stop at Batu Caves. Alternatively grab a GetYourGuide.com tour as shown below. If you want to take a self guided tour, Batu Caves is an easy and inexpensive option, especially if you decide to take the local trains. Overall Batu Caves are well worth the visit.
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AirBnB is the hottest way of booking travel accommodation. It seems that everybody in the travel blogging world is raving about it. Renting out a part of somebody’s house for a fraction of the cost of a hotel, it’s ingenious. It seems I’m the only travel blogger who has never tried AirBnB. Not for much longer, I’m determined to try AirBnB and learn exactly how to use it.
Traditional Travel Accommodation Booking
In the past most of our family travel bookings have been through either Agoda.com or Booking.com. Occasionally we use Trivago.com, Hotels.com or Expedia.com, but Agoda and Booking are my go-to sites. Here’s the pro’s and con’s of these sites in my opinion.
Agoda
Good because you can build up credits and cash them in on a free night accommodation.
Good because they have mobile deals where you get special discounts offered only to mobile customers. We have found some amazing deals this way, especially for 5 star accommodation.
Good because we have found incredible discounts using Agoda over the years. Especially on 5 Star hotel with huge discounts.
I’ve been burnt with being charged high cancellation rates. To be fair this is mostly my fault for not taking the time to read the booking conditions, aka the fine print.
White & Green Resort booked on Agoda.com
Booking.com
Good because they also have amazing discounts.
After you’ve been with Booking.com a while you get a flat 10% discount for being a “Genius”.
On the desktop version you can easily search by an interactive map. This is quite common now but Booking.com has the most user-friendly map I’ve come across. The map will automatically update all offers as you pan around. This allows you to go a bit wide of your original search to secure an extra special deal. AirBnB also does this, but Booking.com does it best.
Good because cancellations are mostly free prior to a few days out. I prefer Booking.com if I may have cause to change or cancel.
I’ve used a few site comparison sites like Trivago.com, and Booking.com consistently comes up with lowest or near lowest rates.
A Halong Bay Cruise booked on Booking.com
Budget for Travel Accommodation
Our target budget is normally about US $40-80 per night for a 3-4 star hotel. Keep in mind that most of our travel has been in South East Asia where you can get lovely 3 star hotels for US $30-40 per night. $100 should elevate you to high-end luxury if you do a little bit of research. Our criteria is to read lots of user reviews to gauge overall satisfaction. Especially check that it has no bed bugs reported. Also cleanliness is a super high priority for us. Third priority is convenience to public transport and convenience stores.
Our First AirBnB
Our test case is a two-week Californian road trip in mid 2017. Our plan is to hire a car from LA airport and do the coastal road trip to San Fransisco. Along the way we plan to take a detour to Sierra Nevada mountains. We’re super keen to see Yosemite especially, but also King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. A perfect opportunity to test out how practical AirBnB is for this, our typical family holiday!
How Does Airbnb Work?
Getting onto AirBnB is easy enough, you just download the app on your iPad then create an account. Log in using your Facebook logon if you like. The desktop version is more feature packed and fairly similar to Booking.com. There is an interactive map so you can easily search outside your original search area.
First stop – Santa Barbara – 2 nights
The trip from South East Asia to LA is gruelling. Our top priority for the first two days is not sightseeing. It is not shopping or cooking. It is not being sociable. It is resting and adjusting to the new time zone. A nice bed, easy breakfast and a pool would be perfect. Booking.com for US$107 per night for a 3 star hotel with 8.0 user review rating. AirBnB is not really suitable for these type of requirements. I’ve even heard where customers are waiting at the front door for a long time for the AirBnB host to come home to let them in. Not this time.
Second stop – Morro Bay – 1 night
Wow this area is so expensive! We found a 2 star hotel on Booking.com for US$139. AirBnB had a few for less than this however they all seemed to have dogs/cats or no parking. Suitable AirBnB’s were all over US$150 so hotel was the cheaper option.
Third stop – Monterey – 2 nights
Monterey is another expensive coastal town. US$200-250 seems to be the entry rate for average 3 star hotel rooms. We did find several great looking family friendly AirBnB’s for under $200 per night and secured one for AUD $185 per night. Note we were later contacted by the host to say we’d made a mistake booking 1 person not 3. This jacked the price up an extra US $40 per night, putting it about the same as typical hotels. However, we’re looking forward on a much nicer experience in an AirBnB.
Fourth Stop – Yosemite National Park – 1 night
This was booked through the Yosemite Park. No AirBnB’s available inside the National Park. We did want to stay 2 or 3 nights however booking 2 months out they were nearly fully booked out.
Fifth Stop – Kings Canyon / Sequoia NP – 3 nights
We really wanted to stay inside the national parks, but these were fully booked. Booking.com located some outstanding hotels for around US $80 per night, but driving time would be 2-3 hours per day return trip from the park entrances. The close to the National Parks, the higher the Booking.com prices. All hotels near the parks were fully booked. This is where AirBnB was most useful, we found two awesome options in perfect locations between the two national parks to minimise driving times. We went for a private caravan behind somebody’s house in the mountains for US $70 per night. Reviews say there is deer and other wildlife to be seen from the caravan. The first place to come near our budget, and a unique experience to boot. Good win for AirBnB
Sixth stop – San Fransisco – 5 nights
San Fransisco makes Monterey seem like a cheap trailer park. Man is this place expensive! US $200 per night is quite a cheap rate for a standard hotel/villa. On AirBnB we found loads of places below that, but finding a place with free secure parking was much more of a challenge. We did find a place for around US $110 per night with parking which seemed very reasonable. Great reviews, cozy house, Air BnB wins hands down.
Results With AirBnB
So AirBnB proved superior in 2 out of 6 of our bookings, and equal in a third. It could not compete in the remaining 3. As far as we can see there are quite a few positives to using AirBnB.
Pro’s to using AirBnB
Experiences
You can stay in a unique lodging. With a bigger budget the options are mind-boggling, from chalets to castles to mansions. But on our meagre budget a caravan in the Sierra Nevada foot hills is about a unique as we were able to find.
Local knowledge
Some of the accommodation promotes that the owner has lived in the area for decades and has intimate knowledge of the area. So you have open access to vast local knowledge, tips and an insight to the area from a local. It’s always great to meet the real locals.
Cooking
Many user reviews state ‘the owner cooked us a lovely breakfast’. Or ‘the owner left delicious snacks out for us’. I’ve read hosts saying that if you get them on the right night they are happy to cook you a meal. Not only does this save on meals, you might get some insights to local cooking.
Kitchen
Hotel kitchens are usually quite ordinary at best. Even apartment or villa kitchens usually have generic and basic cooking items/cutlery. It sounds nice to have a fully stocked home kitchen.
Cons to using AirBnB
Pets
We are not exactly pet lovers and have good medical reason to avoid pet hair. However it seems quite common to have to deal with the owner’s dogs or cats. If you have kids who are not used to pets this could also present a problem. Kids have the uncanny ability to push placid dogs beyond their patience limit. On a positive note, it is clear on the website if pets will be on the property.
Parking
In cities it seems quite rare to find a place offering free parking. This presents a problem if you are driving. In comparison, hotels normally come with a complimentary car parking space.
Cleaning fees
There is always a cleaning charge on top of the nightly rate on AirBnB. Whilst normally US $20-$40, one of our cleaning fees is US$90. This elevates the overall price. On a positive note it good that you can be confident the room is clean.
High fees
I was told by one owner that AirBnB charge a 28% fee which raises the prices substantially. The owners are not getting as much profit as you might think. To me this seems rather too high.
Cost
You get what you pay for. There are some great bargains to be found on AirBnB. You might find that it’s in somebody’s run-down 30-year-old trailer. Or an old back room of somebody’s house. Be very wary of the bargains and read ALL reviews.
Adjustments
I found it confusing when the owner had to make adjustments to a reservation. This happened in 2 out of 3 of my bookings, where it was more than a simple reservation. With Booking.com it is so simple, you just reserve a room and pay normally when you get there. Sometimes you simply pay the full amount up-front via credit card. AirBnB was a whole lot trickier and confusing.
Hotel confusion
I read user reviews where hotels are listing as AirBnB in Bangkok leading to confusion at the front check in counter, where the staff are not aware of AirBnB. The result can only be a less than pleasurable experience, especially when you throw in a language barrier.
Facebook sign in
I made the mistake of signing in and booking using Facebook. Whilst this is easy enough to do, it is painful that every time I want to open a link on an AirBnB email, I have to re-enter my Facebook password. There seems to be no way for iPhones to solve this frustrating issue. I did create a direct AirBnB login, but that presents another issue where bookings are split between the Facebook login and the AirBnB going, there seems to be no way to merge the two accounts.
Clunky app
Overall the app is quite basic and clunky compared to the bigger hotel booking sites. Booking.com wins the app review hands down in my opinion, it is a sleek user-friendly experience from start to finish. I often book hotels on my iPhone in about 3 minutes on Booking.com, in hotels that I am familiar with.
Verdict on AirBnB
AirBnB is definitely competitive with hotel booking sites and in some cases cheaper. It seems you need to spend quite a lot more time doing your research than you do on Agoda.com or Booking.com. We found two bargains out of six which is fair. The variety is far greater on AirBnB and we will get to meet some locals up close and personal. I’m excited to see how it goes!
Stay tuned for a wrap-up review of our first experiences using AirBnB!
Note: This page does include affiliate links to Agoda.com and Booking.com. Whilst you will pay no extra for using these links, we do receive a commission if you do make a purchase.
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Travel apps are an essential part of your overseas travel adventure these days. You’re always on the lookout for new apps to take travelling with you, right? I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 travel apps for 2017, which have all been rigorously road tested in 2017 on my overseas travels. Hopefully you will find some new ideas for best travel apps to make your next adventure just that little bit more rewarding.
We found our way here using travel apps
My travel usually involves 2-3 week overseas trips with my family. I like to think of myself as reasonably tech savvy, and always ensure my trusty iPhone is armed with a local SIM card and internet access. On our recent family holidays to Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and USA, these are the apps which I found most valuable for our travel experience. I am not saying they are the best out there, but they are the most useful travel apps on my iPhone right now.
I’ve broken the list into two groups
Essential apps are used multiple times daily and live on my home screen.
Non essential apps are used less frequently but definitely get used each holiday.
Essential Travel Apps
XE currency converter
Invaluable for quickly converting that souvenir or taxi fare into your home currency to make sure you’re not getting ripped off. This app greatly assists your bargaining power to make quick decisions, which is such an important part of travelling in South-East Asia.
Use XE to calculate in dollars
Google Maps
Two incredibly useful modes in Google Maps are walk mode and public transport mode. Walk mode is fantastic for exploring on foot in unfamiliar foreign cities, especially when the signage is in another language. Public transport mode is awesome for navigating big public transport networks, and it will even calculate fare costs for you.
Google Maps on the iPad in walk mode
Trip Advisor
Looking for activities to do in your new holiday location? Trip Advisor is the most universal app for finding all the best activities to do in virtually any area on the globe. When you enter a new region you can quickly look up the top attractions and read other traveller reviews to decide which attractions you want to visit. It can even be used to search dining, hotels and airfares.
We picked out this place on Trip Advisor at short notice
Bankivity
If you’re anything like me it’s important to closely track your travel expenditure, not only to know how much you spent but to enable you to build a solid budget for your next holiday. On Bankivity you can quickly log an expense on your iPhone, which then syncs back to your main accounting budget on your home computer. It only takes a few seconds to log an expense and comes in super handy for dining out, groceries, taxis, buses, souvenir shopping, etc.
Log this expense easily on Bankivity
Photos
I just love having 1TB of icloud photo storage and being able to synchronise all our family photos into a single location. It’s not uncommon for us to take several hundred photos on a day tour from our Iphones, DSLR, Coolpix and Go-pro. The Photos app magically combines them into a single location in the cloud, and then using your hotel wi-fi you can easily share any of your family photos on social media.
A typical day out shooting photos
Social Media apps – Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+
Part of travelling these days is to share your adventures as they happen, it’s great to have all these social apps on your front screen. Especially now Instagram live and Facebook live are becoming so popular and easy to use. Also great when waiting for public transport.
This scene was uploaded onto Facebook Live as video
Messenger
This is now the go-to app for keeping in touch with family and friends back home. Making free video calls to the other side of your world on free hotel wi-fi is almost an essential part of overseas travel these days.
Non-essential apps
Dropbox and iCloud Drive
Your little computer in the sky with important documents like hotel bookings and itineraries. These apps offer peace of mind just in case you lose your hard copies or your phone.
Not those sort of clouds
Tripit
It’s important to know exactly when your next flight is so you can organise airport transfers and hotels, and Tripit is the number one app for this. Your can quickly enter all your flights many months in advance which makes trip planning so much easier. If your want you can also enter accommodation and ground transport. Personally I have never found the need to do this.
Our airport transfer was perfect thanks to Tripit
Spotify
Nothing like chilling out back at the hotel room after a long day of touring, listening to your favourite tunes through your bluetooth speaker whilst you do some quality net surfing, social media or game play. Spotify makes chilling out so much more enjoyable.
Perfect Spotify time
Skyscanner
When researching your next flight Skyscanner makes it so much easier. You can and will find some seriously cheap bargains using this app and it’s so fast to use. Great for comparing different itineraries for your next trip.
Time to check the next holiday
New Possibilities for Travel Apps
There you have it, my top 10 travel apps for 2017. I hope you discovered a new app which will enhance your next overseas travel adventure. Let me know if you have any more app suggestions, I am always open to exploring new possibilities!
Great app for the Tokyo Subway
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