Tag Archives: European tourism

thank you, děkuji, grazie, gracias, merci beaucoup!

dear Europe: thank you for one of the best months of my life!

please accept my long overdue thank you for hosting me last month for 30 lovely days. it will go down as one of the best trips of my life! i have so many i wish to show my gratitude to, so please bare with me while i do my best to remember those who went above and beyond to make my month so incredible.

go with oh cities

1) Go with Oh for the perfect apartments in Prague, Florence, Rome, Barcelona & Paris

marionette

2) Truhlar Marionety for the wonderful 4 hour lesson in making your own marionette with the master himself Pavel

pubcrawl

3) Pub Crawl Prague for the fun tour of bars & clubs

dinner at Four Seasons Prague

4) Four Seasons Prague for the delightful dinner at CottoCrudo

shopping in milan

5) Melanie Payge for the amazing behind the scenes shopping tour of Milan & bubbly company at the Four Seasons Milan Barolo dinner

barolo wine dinner

6) Four Seasons Milan for the gorgeous room & divine VIP white truffle & Barolo wine dinner

chef vito four seasons florence

7) Four Season Florence for the princess treatment by both Luca, Italian Barman of the Year & Vito, genius Executive Chef

il fontanaro cooking class

8) Walks of Italy & Il Fontanaro for the memorable cooking class & stay at a Tuscan Farm House in Paciano

rome food tour

9) Walks of Italy for the behind the ropes tour of the Vatican, the mouthwatering food tour of Rome & the day trip to Orvieto in Umbria

orvieto

10) Chef Lorenzo for the custom made lunch & educational tours of a cheese & olive oil factory

pompeii, vesuvius, naples

11) Walks of Italy for the fascinating discovery tour of Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius & the Naples National Archeological Museum

positano - amalfi coast

12) Walks of Italy for the entertaining tour of the gorgeous Amalfi coast

flamenco lessons

13) Go with Oh for the oh-so-fun flamenco lessons at Flamenco Barcelona to indulge me

cocktails at Eclipse

14) W Barcelona for the tasty lunch at Wave & cocktails at hip lounge Eclipse

photo shoot with Eduardo Frances

15) Go with Oh for the fabulous photo shoot with photographer extraordinaire, Eduardo Frances

thanksgiving in Barcelona

16) Sara & Arno and the Go with Oh staff for the fun multi-culti Thanksgiving celebration

dinner at W Paris Arola

17) W Paris for the awesome tour of your property & the “spark” design explanation as well as the outstanding dinner at Arola

how to become a Parisian in an hour

18) Go with Oh for the hilarious “How to Become a Parisian in one Hour” show

parisian tattoo

19) Abraxas for the parfait tattoo to always remember Paris by as if i could forget

burgundy wine tasting

20) Caveau de Chassagne-Montrachet for the delicious wine tasting in Burgundy

lunch at Four Seasons Paris

21) Four Seasons George V Paris for the restful retreat & most indulgent lunch of my lifetime at Le Cinq

Lionel Richie

22) Lionel Richie & Co for the unforgettable Friday evening dinner in St. Germain Paris

Henley-on-Thames

23) Mr. & Mrs. O Around the World for the warmest welcome to Henley-on-Thames with a holiday party & lovely friends

Four Seasons London Park Lane

24) Four Seasons London at Park Lane for the stunning suite & Rolls Royce ride, Amaranto for the delicious dinner & cocktails tasting, the spa for the best massage yet AND the entire property for the best staff ever encountered

Jeff Leatham

25) The incredibly talented Artistic Director for the Four Seasons George V Paris,  Jeff Leatham, who wows the world with his floral designs but made time for a chat with me

kevin at Louis Vuitton

26) Kevin, Louis Vuitton personal shopper to the rich & famous, for the fantastic history lesson behind the LV brand

52 martinis

27) Miss 52 Martinis for a quick cocktail tour of Harry’s Bar, an old haunt of Hemingway’s, on a busy Tuesday night in Paris

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST

lola & leah

28) Leah Travels thank you for being the best travel partner in crime i could ever EVER imagine. our month of adventures will bring us a lifetime of laughter!

XO – lola

 

16 Comments

Filed under barcelona, europe, france, italy, london, paris, prague, spain, travel

Lola & Leah Eurotour commences – we want your photo dares!

we’re all packed & ready to go

it’s that time gang! while Leah has been methodical in her plans & packing, i’ve been more concerned about my props for my stunts i’ll be pulling for you all.

speaking of stunts, here’s the list of dares so far…

PRAGUE

  • photo with a musician or street performer – bonus points if a viola player!

ITALY

  • pics of silly faces in Rome
  • photos with raunchy Roman statues

BARCELONA

  • surfing photo op on the ‘wave’ in Parc Guell

PARIS

  • pic with the boa at the Eiffel Tower on one of the observation decks
  • photo of us drinking wine out of baby bottles in Montmartre
  • standing over the subway grate as the air blows up our skirts photo op in Pigalle

it’s certainly not too late to participate & you can even WIN prizes for doing so with Go with Oh multiple time for the cities we’re visiting. check it out!

OVERALL DARES THROUGHOUT EUROPE

  • drinking a shot of the national beverage pics in front of famous landmarks
  • photos with cute bartenders & hot men
  • pics of men in each place visited with the boa & us
  • photo op of people spelling out LOLA with their bodies in each city
  • photo of a cute European man mooning us (not sure how we verify he’s cute if we’re photographing his bum) 😉
  • and then there’s the topless beach or thong bikini photo ops
  • finally, a nudie photo with our boas covering any inappropriate lady parts

NOW, i cannot promise we’ll do all of these. i like your thinking and feel you’re on the right track BUT i do think you can be more creative.

THAT’S YOUR CHALLENGE FROM MOI!

now tweet to @GowithOh your creative photo dares with the hashtag #iDareGowithOh

 

2 Comments

Filed under barcelona, czech republic, europe, france, italy, paris, prague, spain, travel

top romantic European destinations

ooo la la romantic places, tres bien!

lola mixing cocktails with a cute bartender

i know i’m all talk about flirting with the bartender to score a free cocktail but really lola is a romantic at heart. even though i’m going on a Eurotour with my travel partner in crime, Leah Travels, and don’t have any romantic plans per se with her (HAHA) there is NO DENYING Europe is a tres romantic place!

whether you’re planning your honeymoon or just want to spoil your love interest, it’s hard to beat a romantic getaway to the charming streets of Europe. Paris, Prague, Venice and the Amalfi Coastline are just a few of the most romantic destinations in the world – and you can find them all in the breathtaking surrounds of Europe!

Venice, Italy

one of the most romantic cities, throughout the entire world, Venice is a lover’s paradise. winding canals and historical buildings set the scene for romance in Venice. St Mark’s Basilica is a popular destination amongst all tourists and provides a charming backdrop for the city. while the accommodation in Venice includes the finest lavish features, all of your senses will be delighted during this getaway, with some of the best food & wine in the world. whether you decide to take a leisurely stroll past the Grand Council Chamber or a romantic river cruise through the city, you are sure to enjoy your time in Venice.

the mysterious & romantic Venice

Prague, Czech Republic

imagine walking hand in hand, passing breathtaking sculptures and historical landmarks, as delicate snowflakes brush past your cheek. romantic elegance is the name of the game in Prague, with high-end fashion & chic boutiques lining charming lanes. dining options are virtually endless in Prague, particularly for couples who enjoy fine wines and world-class service. if you’re looking for the perfect place to pop the question, how could they possibly say no, in a city so passionate.

the city of light & l’amour

Paris, France

commonly referred to as the ‘city of love’, Paris is a truly the most romantic destination in Europe, if not the world. cobblestone pathways and historical buildings ooze romance and charm, as you get lost in the streets of this captivating city. if you’re planning to spend a romantic day, exploring the breathtaking sites of the Eiffel Tower & the Louvre, be sure to research Paris holiday deals, for packages that often offer the best prices. exploring the city, hand in hand, or snuggling up beside a crackling fireplace is the picture of ideal romance in beautiful Paris.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

carrying on with the beautiful regions of Italy, a list of the most romantic European destinations would not be complete without a mention of the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. Moorish-style architecture can be seen covering the coastal cities and towns of the area, providing breathtaking views for travelers. the luxury resorts, which cover the cascading mountainsides, are a popular attraction for couples & honeymooners who want to experience the finer things in life.

traveling BFFs heading off to 3 out 4 romantic destinations! MWAH!!

Leah & i will be hitting 3 out of 4 of these fabulous places. as much as we love each other, there will only be funny moments shared between us! 🙂 having said that, Europe truly is one of the most magical destinations in the world. historical buildings and intricate architecture provide old-world charm that is undeniably captivating. if you’re planning a romantic getaway, jump on a plane to one of these wonderful destinations, for a vacation you’ll always remember.

XO – lola

13 Comments

Filed under europe, italy, paris, prague, travel

5 financial essentials you need while traveling through Europe

Numero Uno: Get a SUGAR DADDY!

mmmm – so sweet!

alright…just kidding!

i’m heading off to Europe in a few weeks for 30 days of touring all around that fine continent. do you know what that means? no, not lots of hangovers. lola doesn’t do those.

LOTS OF PLANNING is what! while i want to focus on my food, cocktails & sightseeing stories AND plan my outfits out, i must really be serious and think about other logistical things right now. LIIIIKE getting the right phone plan. HELL, how about just getting my seats secured on my flights. that would be a good start!

other important tasks (i think you know what i’m about to say) are thinking about finances while away.

tasks on my financial essentials hit list

number 1: have a few Euros on you upon arrival to start off on the right foot. i usually have some left over from previous visits to Europe and i feel comfort knowing i can buy a drink or take a cab without having to rush to find a decent ATM upon arrival. HMMM…i wonder, does the Czech Republic operate in Euros? more research!

money, money, money, money – MONEY!

number 2: maybe even more important than having those precious Euros is telling your bank your whereabouts and length of time out of the country. my bank will close down my account like Fort Knox if i haven’t given them the heads up. talk about awkward and irritating when you are going to the ATM for the first time. AND when you do get around to that withdrawal, be smart about it. what i mean is take out plenty of cash because typically you’ll be charged fees from the ATM & your bank plus a percentage of the withdrawal amount. SO – the less times you withdrawal money – the better! DUH

BONUS TIP: check your bank account online to find out if you bank partners with banks in the countries you’ll be visiting. if it does & you use these partner banks ATM’s, you can save on the withdrawal fees from both institutions!

what’s in your wallet?

number 3: AND the same is true for your credit card companies. in this world of theft & fraud, when you are suddenly on the other side of the globe – it may seem suspicious. all of these pre-trip calls are a pain but so necessary to make your time away seamless. c’mon, who wants to be paying for a precious souvenir only to have to make an emergency phone call to your credit card company because the card has been denied! SO embarrassing.

BONUS TIP: while you are on the horn with your bank & credit card companies, get their emergency collect call phone numbers while traveling abroad. obviously, write these down & leave them in a safe place in case your credit card, wallet or, god forbid, entire handbag gets stolen.

note the darling chip thingy-ma-jig

number 4: it’s also a good idea, pre-trip, to shop around for the best credit card. i’m not talking about the one with the most bling or clout. i’m talking about one that’s widely accepted and has the least or no foreign transaction fees. my bank recently starting carrying a card for frequent travelers and it even has that chip thingy-ma-jig that some retailers require your card to have to even be accepted nowadays. that’s correct – even more things to consider with your financial planning abroad.

hello money. let’s have a chat!

number 5: finally, it’s a good idea that you are set up and able to check your bank account online to check balances, etc. some banks have apps for this should you be traveling with your smart phone. i’m taking my laptop so i’ll be all set. i mean i will be gone from November 5 through December 5 soooo that means i’ll be having to pay some bills while on the road. sadly, they will not magically pay themselves!

am i forgetting anything?? what are your financial essentials when traveling abroad? 

 

10 Comments

Filed under europe, travel

Lola & Leah’s Eurotour 2012

T-minus 4 weeks – OH BOY!

is Europe ready for the Double L Trouble?

i THINK & HOPE you know that Leah, of Leah Travels, and i are going to Europe on one incredible whirlwind Eurotour in exactly one month. we have an idea of where we’ll be and what we’ll be doing BUT, you know, anything is really possible. we have our apartments squared away in Prague, Florence, Rome, Barcelona & Paris through Go with Oh. AND i guess this will keep us pretty much on schedule but i’m open to ANY extra adventures and am looking for ideas.

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN! i’m looking for a dare list of photo ops from you. what antics would you like to see lola pull? i’m not promising i’ll agree to every suggestion but i’ll at least consider it. C’MON, don’t be shy! leave me a comment or email me with your ideas and, before we set off, i’ll announce what photo dares i’m taking on to humor you.

i’m expecting to hear from you, first and foremost, our sexy video editors Captain & Clark – who should feel carte blanche in the dare category because i owe them. SHIT!

as well as some of my more outrageous, kinky & creative friends I Live to Travel, Waegook Tom, Scarlet Wonderland & Will Peach at the verrrry least!

here’s the warm & fuzzy video.

NOW gimme the naughty obstacles that i have to live up to on my Eurotour! I DARE YOU!!

18 Comments

Filed under czech republic, europe, france, italy, spain, travel