Hey guys,
So last weekend (the Bank holiday), me and Luke decided that we wanted to go away somewhere- it's not very often that I get a 3-day weekend and so we thought that we would make the most of it.
Luke generally left it down to me (because his suggestions suck) and I fancied going somewhere that has more to offer than just drinking and shopping (eventhough they're my fave activities!) and I figured that Cadbury's World is somewhere that I've always wanted to visit so that was my plan.
I then realised that whilst we are travelling that way, we may as well take a trip to the West Midlands Safari Park too (obvs!) and so a plan was born.
So yeah, Saturday morning we got up bright & early and set off towards the West Midlands Safari Park, stopping for a Mcdonalds breakfast, of course. Once we had got there, we realised that it was going to be crazy-busy due to school holidays and the bank holiday, which wasn't brilliant, but I was still so excited to get in and see some animals. We queued in our car for what seemed like forever in the sweltering heat, whilst getting strange looks from families around us (yes, we are early twenties and still like safari parks, so what!) and once we had finally got in, we found that there were.....
MORE QUEUES!
For any of you that have been here before, you'll know this, but for you guys that haven't been, you basically go around the safari in your car, following the trail in and out of different sections e.g. 'Wild Asia' or 'The Lion Kingdom' etc, however it was that busy that you can't move anywhere so it's basically like sitting in stand-still traffic for 3 hours... Like that's not bad enough, there are such steep hills that you are expected to sit on and there were cars breaking down all over the place! (this is not told before you book tickets, so watch your clutch on your car!) I also thought that it was pretty pricey for what you got, but I do think that it would've been tonnes better had it been mid-week and a lot quieter. You can book tickets here.
After this, we went to the hotel that I had booked (a Park Inn situated in West Brom), left our bags, freshened up and went out to find some dinner as by this point, I was starving. We found a local shopping centre called 'New Square' (I think) that was fantastic- it had so many different retailers and restaurants and we settled on a Nandos which, as usual, was amazing. (Nandos has quickly become my favourite food btw). We mooched around the shops for a little while and then nipped into the biggest Tesco I've ever seen & got a cheeky bottle and some snacks then went back to the hotel to enjoy them. The next morning, we got up & got ready and luckily, we had breakfast included (yay!). Breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day, although I'm more of a continental breakfast kinda gal, not really a massive fan of fry ups. This hotel has the best breakfast I've ever seen. Everything was help yourself, including lattes, warm food, pastries, cereal.. You name it, they had it. Amazing! Here is a link to the hotel in case you're ever in the area: Click Here
After checking out, we made our way to Cadburys world in the hope that it would make up for the disappointment that we had encountered at the West Mids Safari Park and boy did it do the job. It was everything that I had expected and more. There is something for everyone- down to the history of Cadburys, to the way it's made, through to old packaging, games and a 4D experience. It was just a great day. I don't want to give too much away for those of you that haven't been, but honestly, if you haven't been, go and book here!
So after we had been to Cadbury's world, Luke decided that he wanted to go out for dinner in Birmingham as a nice end to the weekend and so we travelled there, parked up & got out. As I went to walk off, he shouted be back and gave me my overnight bag and let me in on the secret; we were staying in Birmingham overnight, wahoo!! I honestly had no idea- I was so sure that we were going home...
He directed us to the hotel (The Macdonald Burlington) and wow. It's one of the nicest hotels that I've ever had the pleasure to stay in. The period architecture is what makes it feel so posh and elegant- the chandeliers are to die for- and this was only the reception. I stayed back with the bags whilst Luke checked in & then off we went to our room...
By room, I mean suite!!!! Luke really had gone all out and had booked us in to an executive suite which Blair Waldorf would envy. It was a huge apartment overlooking the busy streets of Birmingham city centre that had one of the largest bathrooms that you could wish for (and included a fancy robe and designer toiletries), the comfiest bed, pillows and bedding that I have ever used and also a living room complete with comfy settees and a TV. I felt like a princess!
We did end up going out for dinner again and, no surprise, we couldn't resist walking past Nandos and so that's where we ended up :) I woke up the next morning to Luke telling me that we had breakfast in this hotel too, which I was really looking forward to- and for a good reason too. We had waitress service and it was all very posh, but you could order whatever you wanted off the menu, they bought you over tea and coffee with toast and an array of jam jars (cute) but then you could also pop into the other room and help yourself to a continental breakfast too. Fantastic!
I really did have the best weekend and if you've never been to any of the places listed above, please please please go and give them a go. I'd love to know what you think!
Ciao for now!
xxx
So last weekend (the Bank holiday), me and Luke decided that we wanted to go away somewhere- it's not very often that I get a 3-day weekend and so we thought that we would make the most of it.
Luke generally left it down to me (because his suggestions suck) and I fancied going somewhere that has more to offer than just drinking and shopping (eventhough they're my fave activities!) and I figured that Cadbury's World is somewhere that I've always wanted to visit so that was my plan.
I then realised that whilst we are travelling that way, we may as well take a trip to the West Midlands Safari Park too (obvs!) and so a plan was born.
So yeah, Saturday morning we got up bright & early and set off towards the West Midlands Safari Park, stopping for a Mcdonalds breakfast, of course. Once we had got there, we realised that it was going to be crazy-busy due to school holidays and the bank holiday, which wasn't brilliant, but I was still so excited to get in and see some animals. We queued in our car for what seemed like forever in the sweltering heat, whilst getting strange looks from families around us (yes, we are early twenties and still like safari parks, so what!) and once we had finally got in, we found that there were.....
MORE QUEUES!
For any of you that have been here before, you'll know this, but for you guys that haven't been, you basically go around the safari in your car, following the trail in and out of different sections e.g. 'Wild Asia' or 'The Lion Kingdom' etc, however it was that busy that you can't move anywhere so it's basically like sitting in stand-still traffic for 3 hours... Like that's not bad enough, there are such steep hills that you are expected to sit on and there were cars breaking down all over the place! (this is not told before you book tickets, so watch your clutch on your car!) I also thought that it was pretty pricey for what you got, but I do think that it would've been tonnes better had it been mid-week and a lot quieter. You can book tickets here.
After this, we went to the hotel that I had booked (a Park Inn situated in West Brom), left our bags, freshened up and went out to find some dinner as by this point, I was starving. We found a local shopping centre called 'New Square' (I think) that was fantastic- it had so many different retailers and restaurants and we settled on a Nandos which, as usual, was amazing. (Nandos has quickly become my favourite food btw). We mooched around the shops for a little while and then nipped into the biggest Tesco I've ever seen & got a cheeky bottle and some snacks then went back to the hotel to enjoy them. The next morning, we got up & got ready and luckily, we had breakfast included (yay!). Breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day, although I'm more of a continental breakfast kinda gal, not really a massive fan of fry ups. This hotel has the best breakfast I've ever seen. Everything was help yourself, including lattes, warm food, pastries, cereal.. You name it, they had it. Amazing! Here is a link to the hotel in case you're ever in the area: Click Here
After checking out, we made our way to Cadburys world in the hope that it would make up for the disappointment that we had encountered at the West Mids Safari Park and boy did it do the job. It was everything that I had expected and more. There is something for everyone- down to the history of Cadburys, to the way it's made, through to old packaging, games and a 4D experience. It was just a great day. I don't want to give too much away for those of you that haven't been, but honestly, if you haven't been, go and book here!
So after we had been to Cadbury's world, Luke decided that he wanted to go out for dinner in Birmingham as a nice end to the weekend and so we travelled there, parked up & got out. As I went to walk off, he shouted be back and gave me my overnight bag and let me in on the secret; we were staying in Birmingham overnight, wahoo!! I honestly had no idea- I was so sure that we were going home...
He directed us to the hotel (The Macdonald Burlington) and wow. It's one of the nicest hotels that I've ever had the pleasure to stay in. The period architecture is what makes it feel so posh and elegant- the chandeliers are to die for- and this was only the reception. I stayed back with the bags whilst Luke checked in & then off we went to our room...
By room, I mean suite!!!! Luke really had gone all out and had booked us in to an executive suite which Blair Waldorf would envy. It was a huge apartment overlooking the busy streets of Birmingham city centre that had one of the largest bathrooms that you could wish for (and included a fancy robe and designer toiletries), the comfiest bed, pillows and bedding that I have ever used and also a living room complete with comfy settees and a TV. I felt like a princess!
We did end up going out for dinner again and, no surprise, we couldn't resist walking past Nandos and so that's where we ended up :) I woke up the next morning to Luke telling me that we had breakfast in this hotel too, which I was really looking forward to- and for a good reason too. We had waitress service and it was all very posh, but you could order whatever you wanted off the menu, they bought you over tea and coffee with toast and an array of jam jars (cute) but then you could also pop into the other room and help yourself to a continental breakfast too. Fantastic!
I really did have the best weekend and if you've never been to any of the places listed above, please please please go and give them a go. I'd love to know what you think!
Ciao for now!
xxx