#108 AirBnB in Japan

I recently went on a trip to Kyoto and Osaka. It was a Japanese public holiday, and everything booked up quite quickly. With no hostels available, or hotels in our price range, we ventured onto AirBnB.

If you don't know, it's basically an app where you can stay at a persons house. It's usually much cheaper than a hotel or even a hostel, especially if you have a group of 4 or 6. You even can find some unique places, but it all depends on the situation.

So I had downloaded the app and browsed through it before. Cheap prices and quirky locations sounded very tempting. But the thought of actually turning up to a strangers house, and just hoping for the best that it was like the photos, sounded a little scary. However, with no other options available, it was time to take a chance!

I was honestly very nervous about the whole thing (the added language barrier didn't help), and as I had suggested it, if it were to go horribly wrong I would have other people to answer to. The good news is, it was a great success! With a group of 6 of us, it was much cheaper than if we had gone to a hostel, and we had the places to ourselves. Both places were perfectly clean, and I had no complaints (and I do like to complain!).

My biggest recommendation for using AirBnB is to book somewhere which already has a lot of reviews. This is probably the best way for you to decide if the place is actually as listed and therefore a good choice. (I actually accidentally booked a place with no reviews, which really worried me as it is definitely not something I would purposely do, and although it was fine it really isn't worth the risk!)

You pay through the website so if anything does go wrong you can get a refund - it's just the being temporarily homeless thing would be the issue....

Some of the downsides; it was a hassle to be there at the allotted times to be shown around/given the key. We (as a group) had all agreed on times - but when it came down to it we were an hour early for the first place and had to wait outside, and the second place I had to check in by myself because everyone else went for dinner. Not ideal. The freedom of a hotel or hostel is much more advantageous, but I'm sure with some places they leave the key for you under a mat or in the postbox.

As we were a relatively big group having only one key was a bit tricky, we were trying to guess who would be home first, or if we should leave the door open if someone was coming home late and we wanted to sleep. Maybe some places have more than one key though..

Also, don't expect for everything to be exactly as listed. I was so relieved that it wasn't a scam and the houses were in good condition that I didn't care about anything else, but other members of the group were concerned about the wifi information or the "hot tub" they had listed (presumably a bath?). Although if they list it it should be there, it's not a hotel and you're not paying hotel prices. If it's a nice place for a good nights sleep, try not to stress over minor details.

Overall, I would like to stress that point. It's not a hotel, and you're (probably) paying far less than the hotel going rate. So you can't expect hotel service and hotel quality, and to do so would be foolish. If you want hotel quality, book a hotel. But if you want to take a chance, keep an open mind and try something new, then this is a good option for you.


Would I use it again? Honestly, not unless I had to. Although my experience this time was overwhelmingly good, I feel like the casual nature of it will always make me apprehensive, and the fear that if something goes wrong then I'm on the street or paying high rates for a last minute hotel is just too great.
But if everywhere else is booked up, or the prices are looking a little high, I'd definitely venture back on and see what I can find.

#99 Geocaching: A Real Life Treasure Hunt

I just wrote a post about this over on my personal blog so you can read it over there philippasue.blogspot.ie/2014/12/your-new-favourite-hobby-for-2015

But basically, it's a treasure hunt. You download the Geocaching app, and then you use the GPS on your smartphone to locate the nearest Geocache. When you find it, depending on the size, there could be a log book for you to sign, and maybe a prize too! Of course, you can also make your own for other people to find too.

I have just discovered it, and I can't wait to get out there and start finding them! You can even use it as a world wide adventure, and use the app to find Geocaches hidden in other cities and places around the world.


To find out more the website is here: geocaching.com

and the (free) android app is here: play.google.com/store/apps/geocaching.intro

A map of Ireland showing all the Geocaches

#91 Slow on the old posting-front I'm afraid

This is a courtesy post to let you know I'm still here, but won't be posting so much for the time being.

Please feel free to browse through my other posts using the blog archive or search labels to the right >>

I know many people are heading over to Japan around now for the JET programme, so for my Japanese related posts look from 2012 to January 2013, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to comment :)

Anyway, here's a picture of beautiful Ireland to brighten up this post a little!

#81 The Travel Show Podcast 25/2

This week, discussing Amusement parks with special guest Luke Hogg!

The Travel Show 25 Feb 14 by Ulfm on Mixcloud

We discussed some of our favourite theme parks, including places in America and Japan, and parks like Six Flags and Disneyland.

Also in the show we had 'Tuesday's Travel Trivia' where you have 5 hints and have to guess where we're talking about, our top Irish Destination of the Week, and some top tips for the best amusement park experience!

#70 Hultsfred Music Festival

So Hultsfred Music Festival 2013 was a very last minute decision, as my friend and I applied only a week before, and amazingly got accepted to volunteer there!

We were working in shifts for parts of the festival, so it was impossible for us to see everyone play. However, we saw almost all the acts we wanted to, which was great! The festival was very small, less than 5,000 people I'd guess. It had recently moved from Hultsfred in Southern Sweden to an hour outside Stockholm to try encourage more sales (which I didn't think worked...).

The main headliners were Fatboy Slim, Two Door Cinema Club, Arctic Monkeys, Imagine Dragons, Bastille, Adrian Lux and Portishead. For me this was a mediocre lineup, but since the ticket was free I decided to go anyway!

Arctic Monkeys were just boring and Fatboy Slim just DJ'd instead of playing any known songs, so for me the real stars were Imagine Dragons. I hadn't heard much of them before the festival, but they were fantastic live, and I'd recommend you see them if you have the chance! We also by chance met the drummer and bass player wandering around the festival, which was cool. (Super nice guys, we were chatting to them for ages too!) We also sat in on someone called Miriam Bryant, just to fill in some time. We had no idea who she was or what type of music she sang, but we were pleasantly surprised when she came onstage. I'm sure she hates this - but the easiest way to describe her is like a cool, Swedish Adele (she sings in English though!). And she was amazing live, even better than recordings. So I'd advise you to look her up too!

The campsites were quite small, and there was no other entertainment available - so if you weren't listening to  a band there was nothing really to do. Also, there were very few artists - there were at most two artists playing at the same time, and at some points there was just one! This could be good as you don't have the problem of two or more people you like overlapping, but it also meant if you didn't like either you didn't have much choice.

There were (overpriced) food stands, hot showers and the toilets were cleaned quite regularly so that was good at least! We didn't sleep there as we had no tent, but there were free buses running to Stockholm so it was easy to get there.

The most surprising thing I found at this festival, (and also at the Grona Lund concerts) was that I could walk up to the stage, while the band was playing, and get a spot at the front! It seems the Swedes prefer to be at the centre front, or even just at the centre. This leaves ample room to the right and left of the stage so I can just walk up and snap a few great pictures! This would never ever happen in Ireland - if you want to get to the front you have to camp out all day! There are some exceptions, but generally you can get very near the front quite easily.

So anyway, that was Hultsfred, probably not the most exciting music festival, but not terrible either!

 Fatboy Slim

 Guess who?

 Festival Area

 Big crowd for Adrian Lux

 Miriam Bryant

 Two Door Cinema Club

 View of the festival

View of the second stage

#61 Gröna Lund - Stockholms Amusement Park!

Last week, everyone's favourite place in Stockholm - Gröna Lund, opened its doors for the summer! This amusement park is located in the middle of Stockholm, on the edge of the island of Djurgarden. My favourite thing about Gröna Lund is that all the roller coasters give you not only a heart attack, but a fantastic view of Stockholm!!

{I didn't have my camera with me, so I will return this week and update this post asap with some fantastic pictures!}


I bought the Green Card for 220kr, which gives me free entrance, but no rides. However, it also gives me free entrance to all the concerts they have on during the summer. Most of the acts are Swedish and I don't know them, but there are a few big names like Fun, Kesha, Tenacious D, Slayer and Loreen.

On Saturday I went to see American band Fun, which was, well, fun! We also got the daypass, so we went on as many rides as we could until we were sick (for me, this was unfortunately literally!). Most of the lines were about 15 to 20mins which was fine, and then after the concert at about 9pm the lines were only 5 minutes long, which was fantastic! The park doesn't close until 11pm, so I would definitely recommend sticking around until closing when there are very short lines.

The roller coasters give a great view of Stockholm, even if it might be a little difficult to appreciate when you are being hurdled upside down at breakneck speed! Some of the rides also extend out over the water which is super cool too!
My favourites were Insane (the white and purple one), Twister (the wooden one), Jetline (the big blue one), and Kvasten (the red one). I didn't try the free fall ones because they make me really sick afterwards, but there's 3 of them and they're popular! There's also the new ride Eclipse, the worlds highest star flyer! It swings you around Stockholm and gives you the best view, but there are also usually lines of about an hour.

"Insane" rollercoaster

 Eclipse starflyer

 Jetline (blue) and Vilda Musen (purple) intertwine throughout the park

 Kvasten taking off

 The drop in Twister, it looks okay but it's steep!

Some of the extra play-to-win games

Some of the rides include: rollercoasters, waltzers, tunnel of love, bumper cars, sudden drop rides, kiddies rides (mini rollercoasters, spinning tea cups, carousel etc) ghost trains, and then lots of stalls were you have to shoot in the circle or something and you win a teddy bear, or a giant box of chocolate (but these all cost extra, between 15kr for one try and 100kr for a few).

Ticket info: Entrance to the park costs 100kr, and it is 310kr for a day pass for all the amusements (so 410kr total). Most of the rides cost about 60kr, so it could be cheaper to just buy some 20kr coupons, depending on what you want to go on. Other options include a Green Card for 220kr for free entrance all summer (no rides, but includes entrance to the concerts). You can only get tickets online if you have a nordic credit card, so your best option is the ticket office outside the park.
The park is located on Djurgarden, get the ferry from Slussen or the tram from Sergels Torg.

The park at night, as seen from the ferry

#53 A List Of Free Things To Do In Stockholm

This is for the people who want to see Stockholm on a budget! There are so many great things to do here that don't cost money, so I will keep updating this post as I discover more fun things to do in Stockholm for free. The obvious things are walking the streets and sightseeing, but during the weekdays many museums are free in the evenings so it's good to check before your visit.

Katarina Hissen - Great viewing point of Stockholm. Located beside Slussen metro station.

Monteliusvägen - Viewing point. Take the metro to Mariatorget and then 5min walk.

Gamla Stan - The Old Town. Walk around cobbled streets. Located at Gamla Stan metro station.

Ericsson Globe Arena - The World's Most Spherical building! Metro stop Globen.

Maritime Museum - NOT to be confused with Vasa! Bus 69 from Sergels Torg to Museiparken.

Sports Museum - Bus 69 from Sergels Torg to Museiparken.

Free walking tours - Every weekend and some weekdays www.freetourstockholm.com

Changing of the guard - Located at the Royal Palace, usually Wednesdays and Sundays at 12pm

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo locations - Google it! Popular places are Fiskargatan 9 and Bellmansgatan1.

IKEA Kungens Kurva - Take the free IKEA bus from the city or go to Skarholmen metro station.

The Woodland Cemetery (Skogskyrkogarden) - Skogskyrkogarden metro station

Skeppsholmsbron (the bridge with the crown) - Bus 65 from central to Nationalmuseum.

Drottinggatan shopping street - Located near Stockholm central train/metro station.

[Stockholm Travel card: You can take the ferry, tram, see metro station art]


Special Days Only (most of these exclude June, July and August, please check in advance)

[Mondays only: Royal Coin Cabinet - Located at the Royal Palace. Metro to Gamla Stan]

[Tuesdays only: Nobel Museum (free from 5pm)  - Take the metro to Gamla Stan]

[Wednesdays only: Nordic Museum (free from 5pm) - Take the tram from Sergels Torg.
and Technology Museum (free from 5pm) -  Bus 69 from Sergels Torg to Museiparken.]

[Thursdays only: Army Museum (free from 5pm) - Take tram to Nybroplan
Royal Armoury (free from 6pm) -  Located at the Royal Palace. Metro to Gamla Stan]

[Fridays only: Moderna Museet (free from 6pm) - Bus 65 from central station
and Architecture Museum (free from 4pm to 6pm) - Bus 65 from central station
National History Museum - Take tram to Djgardsbron]

#51 Tekniska Museet

Tekniska Museet (aka the Museum of Science and Technology) is another museum free on Wednesday evenings from 5pm (the other being the Nordic Museum).  If you are in Stockholm and like fun things, this place should be high on your list for things to do! 

It's a great place to bring children, and teenagers will enjoy it too. There are lots of interactive things, including a games room for younger children, and also another room aimed for teenagers and adults that includes testing your strength, rowing machines, lift your own weight, dance off, tight rope walking etc. There is also a realistic recreation of a mine which makes you feel a little like you're lining up for a roller-coaster in Disneyland. There are things here with buttons to make things light up or explode, there are places to smell things, there is a room of mirrors, there is a fake little TV studio, and there is a great game called "brainball" that puts two people against each other with a special headband one staring at a ball trying to make it come closer. Really interesting and great fun!! I'm not sure if we learned much about science or technology during our visit, but we all had a really fun time here.

 This lights up!

 The mine!

 TV studio

Brain ball!

The museum is conveniently located on the bus 69 route not far from the city centre in a little group of museums, the most notable being the Maritime Museum (Sjohistoriska) and the Sports Museum (RiksidrotsMuseet) which are always free, but only open until 5pm (so if you plan your Wednesday carefully, you could visit these two museums first and then at 5pm go to Tekniska)!