travel – LIFE WITH TWO TEES

Travel Tips – 6 Ways to improve your airport travel experience

Travelling can be such a drag sometimes – from the long queues, navigating airport security, uncomfortable plane seats (oh Lord help if you’re stuck in a middle seat) to unending transit hours and arrival anticipation.
But what if i tell you it doesn’t have to be this burdensome?

Everything/Anything can be fun if you plan ahead and guess what? I’ve highlighted some tips which I’m certain will enhance your travelling experience.

First thing i like to do and suggest is Check in online.

Most airlines give you the opportunity to check in online. This window normally opens 24 hours before your departure time. So for example, if your flight is for 10pm on Friday, the online check in portal opens at 10pm on Thursday. The perks of this are numerous.
1. It buys you some time to get to the airport, so you can avoid the airport queues to check in. Just proceed to print your boarding pass and show at the counter.
2. We can agree that a trash seat can make your entire trip a horror story. With this, you have the opportunity to select from the available best seats to avoid being assigned randomly. This is also useful if you’re traveling with a partner – so you don’t get assigned random seats. POINT TO NOTE (not all flights have 24 hour online check in. Some have 48 hour windows etc. so do some research to find out)

Keep your travel documents close – If you’re not on a direct flight, endeavor to keep your travel documents close, you don’t want to be unpacking your hand luggage every time you’re asked to show it at the various check points. I’ll suggest a fanny pack or a specific corner in your bag you can easily reach.

Light hand luggage – Is it just me or don’t you roll your eyes at people with “hand luggage” like main luggage, you see them struggling with different boxes while trying to get a charging spot at the airports (read my Nigeria sister and family).I will always recommend light hand luggage, something that you can easily monitor for security purposes and just to make your transit a little less stressful.

Books/TV to keep you busy – I feel like books/TV shows are usually more fun while traveling but again that’s probably a ME thing. I try to catch up on a chapter or two of that book i’ve not had the time to read or shows i need to catch up on, thankful for Netflix, you can remotely access and enjoy. So before you travel, try to download your favorite shows so you can binge watch (while waiting) even without internet.

Dress loose/comfortable – Personally i wont recommend jumpsuit. Maxi dresses, track suits, and leggings are my favorite travel outfits. If possible, avoid belts or anything metal that will need to be removed during screening.

Cash Always – Have some cash, for spontaneous activities like accessing a lounge or getting coffee. It may or may not have anything to do with my lack of trust in Nigeria cards or maybe I’m just old school but what can really go wrong with that?

Long transit times and general travel delays can really make you want to tear your hair out. These are just some of my suggestions on keeping your sanity through it. How do you survive? Let’s talk.

TEN THINGS TO DO IN BERMUDA

If you’re a regular here, you probably already know I’ve been sharing my recent Bermuda experience, but of course, if you’re new, welcome, please have a seat and catch up here (Thanks for visiting by the way, please subscribe and stay) ��

Today on the blog, I’ve decided to share on “Ten things to do in Bermuda” These are in no order but take into consideration location and the time you must spend. I would advise you plan your day based on the proximity of the locations below, so you visit places in the same area on the same day- this way, you maximize your time efficiently and effectively.

Exploring George Island, Flatts Village and Hamilton City

Bermuda is known for its beautiful, colorful structures so it’s only right to spend some time strolling and taking in all the beauty the city has to offer. Oh and of course it won’t hurt to take a picture or two while you are at it. I spoke about Flatts Village and Hamilton Street in my previous post. Let’s give you a minute to catch up.

Great! Moving on.

Crystal and Fantasy Caves

Except you have a phobia for underground activities and the likes, this is a MUST VISIT actually. Crystal Cave is said to be one of Bermuda’s oldest natural treasures. We set out early in the day and the tour took about 40 minutes. Our tour guide was quite funny and witty and this made the experience even more fun. He explained how two little boys ages ago, were searching for a lost cricket ball and stumbled on this cave. The deep clear blue waters, the incredible crystal like formations will astound you and leave you in awe. Sadly we did not have enough time to visit the fantasy caves but I would recommend both if you have the time and money.

HORSESHOE BAY BEACH

Horseshoe bay beach is Bermuda’s most popular beach and one of the best beaches in the world. No, no need to argue, just research OK? One advice – dedicate a lot of time because walking on the light pink sand, viewing the gorgeous rock formations and experiencing the clear waters and blue skies is not something you want to do in a rush. You need time to take it all in. I am not sure pictures can do justice to how beautiful this beach is. You need it to experience it. So amazing and picturesque. No exaggerations here. Guess what? It is free.

BREAKFAST AT THE LOREN AT PINK BEACH

Why are you on a vacation if you cannot enjoy great breakfast with an amazing view?

ELBOW BEACH

Elbow beach is a lot less crowded than other beaches. The beach has a gentle curve resembling an elbow hence the name. Great place to just kick back and enjoy the day. One tip – take your drinks and food with you.

ST PETER’S CHURCH

For a little bit of history St Peter’s church is a place to stop by. It is the oldest Anglican Church, as it has been in use from the beginning, we accidentally went there on Easter holidays so we were opportune to watch the folk perform, singing drumming and playing different instruments.

THE UNFINISHED CHURCH

Construction of the unfinished church started in 1874, which was to replace St Peter’s Church as the community felt St Peter’s church was old and in a poor state and warranted instant demolishing. However, things did not go as planned. Several developments and improvements later (over more than 140 years now), the church is still not finished. It has become a picturesque scenery and a popular tourist spot.

HORSEBACK RIDING TOUR

Riding horses isn’t for the fainthearted! What this automatically means is I can now claim to be a strong one! Lol! I was a bit nervous as I had not ridden a horse for a long distance, however I got comfortable with little practice. The ride was beautiful as we rode to the beach. However, our tour guide was not as friendly or engaging as I expected. She did not attempt to explain any history and was grumpy when asked to take photos. I can only imagine how beautiful and scenic it would be with a better guide. Jack was the name of my horse and he was such a sweet boy.

OK, I lost count; I did not want this post to be super long. Other places you can visit are the aquarium, museum and zoo, Warwick Long Bay Beach, Tobacco Bay Beach, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse and in addition to horseback riding tour, other fantastic tours like boating and sailing tours are available to make your vacation all the more exciting.

I say this a lot but i really appreciate you for stopping by to read this, please share your thoughts or questions.

With Love,

HOW I SPENT MY FIRST DAY IN BERMUDA

Excitedly exiting the JFK airport, the next hurdle to cross was finding my friend Ufuoma – who I had not seen in ages. (3-4 years to be precise, but that’s still AGES). Shuffling through the crowd with my bag, I looked out for the pretty face that people so often refer to as my twin. And then, there she was! As beautiful as ever.

After our hugs and exclamations, we set off to begin our sojourn in Bermuda. I spoke about my recent trip from Nigeria here.

VISA

You can get into Bermuda with a valid US Visa. No visa or payment at the airport is required, just the usual entering stamp. Bermuda is about 90mins by air from New York. So once you have your ticket, you’re good to go.

ITINERARY

Even though I’d previously visited over ten countries, I never actually understood the planning and details that go into having a well-organized vacation/trip. With Ufuoma and her wealth of experience, I got to see the difference and it was eye-opening seeing the work and attention put into this. Thank you boo.

Ufuoma shared our itinerary here . Now using this as a guide we were pretty much ready to take over Bermuda.

TAKE A STROLL AT FLATT VILLAGE

Right after we got to our apartment (which was beyond beautiful and the view was amazing), we freshened up and set off. I mean, we were tired but this is what holidays are for, right?

Bermuda is known for its beautiful, colorful buildings and Flat village didn’t disappoint.

I was constantly intrigued. It got better with every step and it took a great deal of self-control to not take pictures of every building.

It was quite weird that there was no pathway for pedestrians and the roads were quite narrow. This meant strolling and possibly getting hit was the only way to go. Quite an adventure i must say, and we survived it.

HEAD OVER TO HAMILTON FRONT SEAT

Hamilton is the main commercial street of Bermuda. What caught my attention here is the row of pastel-colored buildings designed so beautifully.

Moving around wasn’t quite easy and we were just getting used to the transportation system, as a result, we missed out on some of the items planned for our day one itinerary.

Long day it was, though very pleasing, we eventually got home drained yet extremely happy with lots of memories to reminisce about.

Conclusions

Bermuda is so beautiful.

Self-control is key.

Transportation is extremely stressful.

Thank you for reading. I will be sharing other things i did in Bermuda, please subscribe so you don’t miss out.

Do you have any specific questions about the Bermuda experience? Flight/Hotel booking etc? Please feel free to ask.

Beach please! Bermuda, here I come!

If you live and work in Lagos, then you’re due for a vacation EVERY WEEK because the stress that Lagos brings is enough to break the strongest person down. So it was with lots of tiredness, plenty stress but also inner excitement that I headed to the Int’l airport for my flight out of the city.

I wasn’t expecting the best of flights, you know, considering economy class travelling is not loaded with the best seats, legroom etc. Matter of fact, I wasn’t looking forward. This wasn’t my first time flying with Virgin Atlantic but this trip was quite enjoyable – I think it’s a combination of different reasons. Checking in at Murtala Mohammed Airport was surprisingly so seamless; a random soldier decided to be my guard and followed me everywhere. I guess he probably assumed I was the daughter of some Senator or such, oh well, I played along. (if you’re reading this sir, thank you for the help. I’ll soon be a VIP so your assistance wasn’t a waste).

At the baggage check section, I was a bit worried about the gala and other things i was carrying but guess what? THEY DIDN’T SEARCH MY LUGGAGE! This should be standard practice (I mean, that’s why they have those screening things), but in Nigeria, they always want to check something. “Aunty, oya open ya bag!” LOL! I was so happy to skip all the explaining and stuff.

Finally boarded the plane and the hostesses were so friendly and fun. Got chatty with one of them and she told me all about her life as a hostess – which was extremely interesting. I had a convenient seat and this was a plus for me.

Getting to JFK after a long ass flight was so relieving. Customs was also easy and fast. Considering the color of my passport, I expected a lil bit of stress. As I strolled out to baggage claim, I was so happy to see my luggage smiling at me as I have had my share of issues (if it’s not delayed flight, it’s delayed or missing luggage).

I decided to go for something very comfy because it was a long trip and I really don’t like stress.

Today was pretty seamless and I was so thankful.

Conclusions

1. A simple short prayer goes a long way.

2. ‎wearing something comfortable for a long trip is the only way.

3. ‎Nigeria isn’t always as bad.

How have your travel experiences been? Do you experience hurdles? Missing luggage? Delayed flights? How do you dress when travelling Any Tips? Please share below.

P.S – I decided to turn my vacation post into a series to keep it short and simple with concise details on each aspect.

Thanks for reading.

Love.

July….

Hey guys!

How’s it going? Happy new month! Second half of the year already and I’m hoping it’s better than the first.
June was alright… It made me realize how nice I really am and how people especially Nigerians don’t appreciate nice people.

Finally moved to Ibadan and I already made a new friend thanks to twitter (you can follow us on there.. @lifewithtwotees). I plan to explore Ibadan. I passed by Agodi Gardens on my way to the palms and it seems like a place I’d enjoy going.. You know, with some friends, food, wine or alone actually. I also saw pictures of a place called Mapo Hall on twitter. The pictures looked really good. Like damn! Is this Ibadan?

One thing I really miss though is Uber. The convenience! Sigh

This post was supposed to be about pictures from Titi’s trip to Dubai. Somehow I ended up blabbing.

Anyway, here are some of the pictures. (I already shared some on our Instagram page @lifewithtwotees).

The hotel was quite great. Free breakfast and dinner. Buffet style. It was not so expensive too.

The view was amazing too. Oh the name of the hotel is Atana Hotel. In case you were wondering.

P.S- I have my camera back so expect pictures of ibadan on our instagram

P.P.S- Titi is engaged! Whoooooop! We have a wedding to plan! I can’t wait.

How was the month June for you?

Any plans for the new month?

Share in the comments section. We’d love to hear them!

Xo!

TOSIN

Retrocode | Dubai

I’ve been wanting to post this for so long but I keep forgetting.

I really really love this shirt. It’s so comfortable and loose and the fact that you can wear it with anything is amazing.

I rocked my retrocode shirt when I visited the Museum in Dubai. I went with my usual look – Shirt/top with jeans.

Pictures were taken by my mom.

I hope you are having a good day so far!

Would you rock a retro shirt? And how would you rock it?

– TOSIN

Comfort | Dubai

Hey guys! I’ve been trying to study lately but that’s not going so well. I’ll soon get my groove back. I went to Road Chef again last week and I’ve seen so many reviews and I don’t think I should do one but I must say, the sweet potato fries… Lord! I could go there just to get the fries. That’s how good it was.

Back to the matter, these are pictures from my trip to Dubai. Clearly, from my outfit you can see that I’m very big on comfort. I love the pants! I really just love anything that’s not so tight-fitting. Yay to loose clothes.

DSC_0060_9 DSC_0057_8 DSC_0123_5

As my mom was taking these pictures, this little boy ran up to me to play with him. He’s so adorable. While I was in Dubai, random little kids would run up to me with the biggest smile wanting to play with/hug me. I’m not sure what is so fascinating about my face. It was probably my hair? I’m not complaining.

DSC_0125_5 DSC_0126_4

I hope y’all are having a great week so far! If not, cheer up! Things will get better, just stay positive.

If you’re not following us on twitter, you can do that now –> @LIFEWITHTWOTEES

To check out our beautiful necklaces for sale. They’re very affordable and beautiful of course. Oh they’re selling out fast, so get on it!

TOSIN

Outfit | Love

Hey guys!! I’m sorry I haven’t posted anything. I know I promised to update y’all daily but It’s actually not exactly the easiest thing to do. I either forget, or fall asleep and by the time I wake up, I’ve forgotten the gist.

I will however give a Summary of my trip to Dubai. So, if/when you visit, you’ll have an idea of how things are over there.

Remember I told y’all Fridays are like Sundays here in Dubai? Ok, well, I went to church and this is what I wore. Obviously, I wore a jacket with the dress. While we were taking a walk, my mom took some pictures of me. She’s amazing.

P.S -There is a story behind this dress. Bottom line is Titi and I have this exact same dress! Lol

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Love & Light!

Dubai |Day 1(b)

After we left the creek, we decided to go to Dubai mall which is a big ass mall. Clearly, we underestimated the walk.

Right outside the mall is the dancing fountain which comes on every thirty minutes and right across is Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. It was ridiculously crowded there like the kind of crowd where your body is touching the next person.

It was worth it though. It was absolutely breathtaking. These pictures are not doing it justice but I’m definitely going to go back during the day.