Ultimate travel guide to Milan

Italy has always been one of those countries that has been on my travel bucket list for a looooong time and I finally got the chance to visit this summer. It was the perfect end to first year exams and the best start to my summer. When initially booking this holiday I had planned to the best of my ability for it to be an inexpensive trip (due to being a student). Therefore I'll be including prices and budgeting tips to help you plan your trip to Italy and what you can do to be money savvy whilst being on holiday.

So lets take it all the way back to the booking process. When booking flights I used the website Skyscanner and let me tell you this site is such a God send. Not only does it provide you with the cheapest dates to travel but lets you create price alerts via email informing you whether the flight prices have dropped or gone up.

This is just an example of just how cheap flights can be where the green indicates the most price affordable days to fly out. I used the same format getting flights for £9 to Milan Malpensa and £20 flights back to London Stansted with Ryanair. We chose to fly out from Stansted because it was the cheapest option. Furthermore due to our flexible nature originally I didn't have a fixed destination in mind and used the 'everywhere' tool on Skyscanner providing me with the most low cost flights.

In terms of our accommodation I used Airbnb and booked a little apartment in the heart of Milan. The space for the 4 of us was fitting where it came with one double bed and a comfy, spacious sofa bed. In total for 4 nights the entire place cost £327 working out to £81.75 per person for the entire length of the stay.

On the day of our flight we did an airport transfer with National Express from Liverpool Street Station to Stansted Airport costing £4.75 single each (this is if you book in advance). We decided to depart from this station as it only took 50 minutes and again was the cheapest option. 

With Ryanair you find that you have to check in online and this can be done with their mobile app where you obtain your boarding pass on your phone making it more convenient. In regards to luggage Ryanair allows you to take one form of cabin luggage and one small carry on under 10Kg that gets checked in for free at the gate at no extra expense. We opted for this option as we was only going for 4 nights and didn't really need the excess luggage. 

My first and foremost tip for luggage would be that make sure that all your liquids fit in one clear sealed plastic bag. Through security you are not allowed more than one plastic bag and it turned out that I had 4 bags of liquids. It was the most stressful airport security experience as some of my things had to be left behind only taking essential liquids through with me.

The flight was only 1 hour and 40 but because of Italy being one hour ahead we landed at 9:35PM. Instead of getting a taxi from the airport to our place we decided to do a bus transfer with a company called Terravision from Malpensa to Milan Central Station costing 8 euros each for a 55 minute journey. The bus departs every 20 minutes so you'll never be waiting around for long.

Due to arriving very late in the night at Central Milan our Airbnb host was kind enough to pick us up and take us to the apartment which is another reason why you should book with Airbnb because nothing beats their hospitality and food recommendations from a local.

1. Breakfast at Pavè

 For those searching a savoury breakfast in Italy you can abandon your search because there is virtually no such thing. Italians typically have a very sweet breakfast with a cup of coffee. Although there was only one thing I could eat on the menu which was a vegan brioche it was worth the trip here. Bear in mind that nearly all eating places have a service charge that you can not avoid. So the brioche was 1.80 euros but I ended up paying 2.60 euros including the service charge. Another thing to take into consideration is that Milan has no concept of tap water so I would recommend buying a bottle of water and keeping this during your entire stay as there are frequent water spots dotted around the city. This was one of my favourite things about Italy as you get fresh cold water whilst walking around in 30 degrees heat.

2. Visit the Duomo

The Milan Cathedral is an architectural beauty and if Milan got one thing right, it is definitely their beautifully constructed buildings. I'm going to be honest this place is flooded with people trying to get the picture perfect instagram and because of the overwhelming number of people it is pretty hard to get a decent picture of yourself in front of the cathedral.

The total entry price is 12 euros this is if you want to take the stairs up to the terraces (there's not a lot of stairs trust me) otherwise the ticket would cost 16 euros if you wanted to take the lift option. The terraces would have to be my favourite part as it's less congested allowing you to get those perfect instagram shots. Additionally, the terraces allow you experience a panoramic view of the entire city. Take into consideration that the Cathedral is a godly place thereby you will be expected to cover your shoulders and legs up until your knees. If you are not wearing the appropriate attire you will be expected to buy a kimono from the ticket office for an additional 2 euros. Another top tip of mine would be if you have extra time on your hands visit the Duomo around sunset this is when less people are around and the deep colours of the sky truly makes the Cathedral look magical.


3. Visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Didn't I say that they hit the nail on architecture and can you believe this is a shopping centre?! I am like most of you still bewildered to how this is a shopping centre to this very day. All the shops situated here are very high end designer and if you've got the cash to splash then by all means go ahead. Otherwise it serves the function of being an aesthetically pleasing building to take a stroll through.

4. Have lunch at Piz

If you want to try the best pizza of your life you have to come to Piz and theres no debate about it. Piz for me was the best Italian pizza I had ever tried and nothing else can beat it. We decided to go for lunch around 1o'clock knowing that if we went any later it would be closed from 3pm onwards and would not open again until dinner which would be 7/7:30pm. When we arrived there was a humongous line out the door (thats how you know its good). The hospitality here was AMAZING where they served us prosecco (for those that drink) and cheese, tomato and spinach flatbread whilst we waited. The wait looked like it was going to take 40 minutes but instead it took 10 minutes. The entire menu was in Italian but the waitress kindly explained it to us in English and it was a literally no brainer that I was going for the margarita. The pizza is like no other, where the tomato sauce seems to be taken freshly from the tomato itself giving it a tangy/salty flavour and then the cheese was just phenomenal. I couldn't recommend this place anymore (look how much I have gone on). The total cost of this pizza was just 8 euros and it was worth every cent.

5. Get Gelato at La Gelateria Della Musica 

This gelato place has to be on everyones list when they visit Milan. The service was amazing and due to the range of different flavours I just couldn't decide so was given the chance to try nearly every flavour that they offered. In the end I decided to settle with cookies and cream and salty pistachio costing 2.80 euros for two scoops which is such a bargain. If you truly want an authentic gelato experience I highly suggest coming here. Since I have returned I have literally had gelato cravings, that's how delicious it was.

6. Visit the Porta Sempione 

If your ever passing by Sempione Park come and visit the Arch of Peace (it kind of reminded me of the Arc De Triomph in Paris). In front of the arch there are several grass areas and huge steps you could sit on whilst possibly having a picnic and soaking up the sun in front of this majestic view. 

7. Visit the Sforza Castle

Again if your in the Sempione Park region the Sforza Castle is another place you can visit. Normally you have to pay entry during the day but if you come one hour before closing time which is at 5:30PM you get free entry. 

8. Visit the Navigli District

The Navigli district is about 20 minutes on the metro from central Milan and is such a cool spot to chill alongside the canal. We decided to take a little pit stop here due to our feet killing us, I think tip of the trip would be if your doing a city break definitely bring a pair of comfy trainers to get about because sandals are not going to make the cut. Milan is seriously developing a pattern of great picnic spots and by the side of the canal makes the perfect spot to relax for the evening with live music in the background. 

9. Dinner at Pasta d'Autore 

This pasta find was not planned within the itinerary but spontaneously found whilst browsing trip advisor. Situated in the Navigli area it was the best pasta I had tried on the trip. I went for the four cheeses option and boy it was the creamiest pasta ever. The portion appears quite small but it was the complete opposite. Again the entire menu was in Italian (thats how you know your in an authentic restaurant) but the waitress was kind enough to translate. The bread were complimentary starters and the entire meal costed me 9 euros without service charge!! Does Milan get any better?

10. Eat at Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo 

Look at this beauty of a pizza. For you pizza lovers out there Sorbillo is the place for you. We stumbled across this find from a time out recommendation and loved it here. With every popular restaurant there was a queue leading out the door but we was seated fairly quickly. When the pizza's arrived I was mesmerised at the size and can truthfully say that it was extremely bigger than my plate. Crazy right!? The pizza was for sure value for money as a pizza this big only cost me 8.30 euros and lasted me till breakfast the next day. So if your ever in Milan this has to be on everyones food list. 

For more Milan pictures follow me on Instagram: _davinderkaurr

Italy lookbook

Today I am coming at you guys with something different from my usual posts...an Italian lookbook ranging from a variety of outfits and style inspiration. As an individual who seeks to dress modestly whilst trying to look relatively stylish proves to be challenging due to little modest inspiration that is out there. So with further ado I present you modest influence. Alongside my looks I will incorporate my friends outfits for those who have diverse style than mine and hope to take fashion insight from them.

1. Milan

Summer prints are a staple in virtually everyones wardrobe and is a definite must have piece to wear on your summer holidays. My trousers I have had for years and originally they were palazzo trousers but I decided to turn them up and turn them into culottes (with the help of my grandma of course). I paired my topshop trousers with a simple white top from primark as I wanted the summery print to stand out and take all the limelight. Prior to my holiday I had been looking for the perfect sandal to take on holiday that would match all my outfits and I happened to find that pair in H&M for £13. I just loved the overlapping shoe detail and of course the versatile colour. In terms of accessories I coordinated a small pink across the body bag from topshop that really highlighted the pink detailing  from my trousers.

In this picture you can see the detailing of my necklace of choice better. This particular necklace from Cath Kidston was the perfect accessory adding an element of vibrancy and generally tying in together all the colours of the outfit.

Now we all know that the all white look is the most hardest outfits to pull off but my friend pulled this off so effortlessly, creating a crisp yet a minimalistic look. The off the shoulder top from misguided at £12 is such a flattering piece and with the flared arms adds an extra pizzazz to such a simple outfit. The trousers and shoes were sourced from Primark costing a grand total of £15 for the two items. Yes, I know what all your thinking...all these pieces from Primark?! I was just as shocked as you but clearly they have some outstanding items in their summer collection. Lastly, the white clutch completing the outfit from New look came with a cheap price tag of £16 indicating that you can buy an affordable outfit that is fitting for the fashion capital of Italy.

This outfit follows a similar pattern as the one above but this time has a splash of colour breaking up the palate of creams and white.


2. Venice

Stripes are a necessity in everyones wardrobe as it is so easy to style and chuck together in any situation whether that may be on holiday, casually or formally. The stripey Zara find was the perfect length for me whilst fitting me like a glove. I paired it with a white sheer shirt (which you can find literally anywhere) however undid the top few buttons giving it a more relaxed look.

Here you can see my necklace in greater aspect with the integrated blue tones that complimented the blue in my skirt. My go to pair of sunglasses were the round raybans again providing that versatile function for every outfit that I wore.

This pink on pink look encompasses a dress, a piece yet again from Primark. The dress entails florals which again is a print that you can not go wrong with at any time of the year especially the summer. The V neck adds a more flattering touch to the neck and chest giving it an overall perfect fit.

The floral theme continues with this relaxed floral kimono which adds an extra layer of pattern to the outfit. Due to the hot weather you can opt to wear this outfit with or without the kimono. The choice of accessory here was a bright pink side bag adding an aspect of colour brightening up the outfit. This particular outfit is more dressed down with the Primark dupe of converses bringing an element of comfort.

In this shot you are more able to see the lace texture of the bralet paired with navy blue culottes. This outfit proves that it can be dressed down or dressed up depending on the function.


3. Genoa

It was a personal goal of mine to combine more colour into my summer wardrobe and I instantly fell in love with this full length dress from Zara. Although it was £40 (considering I am a person who solely shops in sales) it was definitely an investment piece that is versatile to day or night wear. This dress for sure left me feeling like a sunflower and was the most flattering tone of yellow on my skin colour. In this case I have used my side bag as a clutch providing a multi functional purpose.

This pop of pink in the wide legged trousers is a stand out piece demonstrating a more bold look which can be worn on evenings out, on holiday or to a fancy dinner. Because of the sheer brightness of the trousers it is best to pair it with any form of a white top to balance the colours and ultimately let the pink take the stage.

The last look of the trip is this playful playsuit which is a deep burnt orange in colour and is an excellent beach outfit to get your tan on (that is if you haven't brought appropriate beach attire). it is such an easy throw on piece making this literally an effortless outfit. 

Clothing links:

H&M sandals: http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0581228002.html

Dupes of both pink side bags: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/bags-shoulder-bags/chain-leather-bag_23053024.html?c=81&n=1&s=accesorios.accesorio;40,340,440

https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/bags-shoulder-bags/pebbled-cross-body-bag_23060420.html?c=85&n=1&s=accesorios.accesorio;40,340,440

Pink trouser dupes: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/trousers-loose/straight-linen-blend-trousers_23083023.html?c=85&n=1&s=prendas.familia;26,326

White trouser dupes: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/trousers-straight/drawstring-flowy-trousers_23033597.html?c=01&n=1&s=prendas.familia;26,326

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/flowing-trousers-p02539745.html?v1=6162489&v2=719022

H&M floral kimono: http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0552904009.html

White clutch bag dupes: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/bags-handbags/metallic-handle-shoulder-bag_23025668.html?c=01&n=1&s=accesorios.accesorio;40,340,440

Red off the shoulder top: http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0648173002.html

If you wish to see more of our holiday pictures follow us on our instagrams: _davinderkaurr, tanyakk__, amankv

Indico

As you may know I am OBSESSED with Indian street food that's why I have to dedicate a whole blogpost to Indico. If you truly appreciate delicious Indian street food and Bollywood/authentic Indian decor then this is the place for you to eat. For me Indico has been one of those places that have been on my food list for so long (food lists are revolutionary, you all need one) and was pretty excited to visit. Indico is located in Solihull hidden behind a few other restaurants situated next to the Asda. So if you see the Asda you are definitely in the right place.

As soon as I sat down I was blown away by the decor, art and the vibrant colours that reminded me of India. Before you knew it, my phone was whipped out capturing as much of the artistic beauty of the restaurant. I can hand on heart say that I have never visited such a dynamically decorated restaurant, all the more making my lunching experience more worthwhile.

Not only is the decor one of my favourite things about Indico but their lunch time menu which is between 12pm-5pm has happy hour on the cocktails/mocktails thereby two mocktails costing you £4.50 (bargain alert). The one on the left was soda shikanji which was almost like a mojito with a masala twist and the one of the right being the Jaipur passion one of the tastiest drinks I have ever had. 

Food glorious food. How amazing does this display of food look? I can conclude that the food was definitely as incredible as the decor. Some of my favourites from this spread were the chole bature which was £6.50 (such a generous portion as well), the masala fries (however I do wish there was more fries within the serving), the pani puri and the aloo tikki. 

Another Indian fact for you: I'm not a fan of kulfi. So you must all be thinking what am I doing with a kulfi in my hand if I don't like them? I decided that although I am not the biggest fan of them I couldn't leave the place without having a traditional Indian desert and surprisingly it wasn't so bad. 

Overall I would really recommend trying out Indico as it has student friendly prices, mind blowing interior design and great food. The service was just as great making my lunch experience totally worth it. I want to give a huge thank you to Indico for hosting me and I look forward to being back here soon.

Exploring Oxford

The second feature in my list of day trips to take in the summer would have to include Oxford which was perfectly described by one of my friends as the "city of bikes and yellow brick." I can not express how perfect this tag line of Oxford is, making it a city to add to your summer plans. Like most places, Oxford is accessible via the train (or you can drive). An average train ticket will cost you around £30 return however this isn't so bad if you have a railcard; making it a little bit cheaper.

1. Go have breakfast at the Organic Deli

If you arrive in Oxford on an empty stomach without having any breakfast head to the Organic Deli where it has the most beautiful settings to have breakfast (although I have to admit that my breakfast only consisted of a brownie *facepalm*).

2. Visit the Radcliffe Camera

Radcliffe Camera without any doubt has to be one of the most impressive buildings in Oxford therefore making it on top of your Oxford to do list. This building can be easily found whilst wandering the streets.

3. Take a walk around Oxford

Yes, go for a walk without any sense of direction or a destination in mind and it is literally one of the best things you can possibly do. It's the feeling of being surprised and having no expectations of what your going to see. You'll find yourself completely mesmerised at the antique beauty that Oxford holds all the way to its stunning backgrounds for pictures.

4. Go to Observatory Street

Observatory Street is a phenomenal place of different coloured houses although this one picture does not do the entire street justice thereby concluding that you'll have to go and see what its truly like. For any of those who used to watch Balamory in their childhood (or was it only just me?) this really reminded me of the show...but just a more pastel version of it. 

5. Go to friends fest

Now you must be thinking how on earth has friends fest got any relevance with Oxford well let me tell you OXFORD IS ONE OF THE DESTINATIONS THAT HOSTS FRIENDS FEST. How exciting right? If you are a die hard friends fest fan then this is an event for you. I suggest keeping an eye out on tickets and destinations as my preferred destination had sold out thereby enabling me to attend the one in Oxford. To be specific friends fest was held on the grounds of Blenheim Palace (which is another beautiful place). From central Oxford to Blenheim Palace only requires you to take a direct bus making it very accessible to get to.

Summers day in Bridge North

Summer is fast approaching and I'm coming at you guys with a series of a number of different day trips to take in the summer. I guess you can say I have been inspired with the wonderful bank holiday heat wave we've been fortunate with. Personally I like to be prepared, planning or getting a rough idea of what I would like to do in my months off. Without further ado I present you Bridge North a little magical town situated in Shropshire. To get to Bridge North you either have the option of driving or getting public transport. The easiest public transport route would require you catching a number 9 Arriva bus from Wolverhampton bus station. The ticket you would need would be the all day ticket which costs £6.

This town is divided into two halves known as Low town and High town. Low town consists of a vibrant blue river that runs across the entire length of the town. The river provides a stunning location to take a stroll by. 

To get to High town yes it does require you walking uphill but all assured the views are worth it. To start your ascend upwards you have to keep a close look out for a hidden entry/stair way that leads to your walk upwards. However if you are totally lost I recommend asking a local or you could get the cable car to the top but whats the fun in that?

I would have to say that the best part of Bridge North is that it's not too populated with 'tourists' or with people generally due to not many people typically knowing about this location so you can really take your time and soak in what this little town has to offer.

Another tip I would suggest would be getting here relatively early on in the day that way you really get to have the whole town to yourself to explore.

See...did I or did I not say the views were totally worth it.

Afer all that hard work why not treat yourself to an ice cream, after all that's what summer is all about. X

Afternoon tea at the Ritz, London

It was for my 19th birthday that I had decided that I well and truly wanted to mark the occasion therefore I decided to have an afternoon tea at the Ritz hotel, London with my two best friends. I never gave it a second thought to have an afternoon tea anywhere else but the Ritz itself. To have afternoon tea at the Ritz came with the price tag of £54 per person (however this has now gone up to £57) which I was more than happy to pay as I heard so many grand reviews about the Ritz. And what a better way to spend your birthday right. The booking process was very sleek where you could book online or over the phone. I opted for the phone option as I had dietary requirements of being a vegetarian that does not consume eggs or gelatine. When I booked over the phone the procedure that I had encountered was that they take your card details as lets say a 'deposit.' So if you do not attend your scheduled slot and don't cancel you afternoon tea beforehand your card gets charged the total amount. However this is nothing to be alarmed by.

I was completely stunned with the elegant interior of the Ritz and did not really know what to expect but this blew any expectations that I did have out of the waters. And may I add how picturesque this corridor is! (As you can tell I really have a thing for 'picturesque' places.)

Now for the most anticipated part yet...the review. I was overwhelmed with the vast range of tea's that was available (in a good way.) After great deliberation I ended up with a simple yet light camomile tea as I didn't want to feel too full up. The service was AMAZING and that's something important to highlight as it made my experience even highly enjoyable. The waiter pours out your tea for you because let me tell you ladies those metal tea pots are not exactly the lightest things. And yes it gets better. Not only do they pour your tea out once for you but they continuously top it up. You literally do not have to lift a finger.

In terms of the sandwiches they were unlimited which was great because you really do get your moneys worth (yes I'm the biggest cheap skate but who isn't?!) However, I personally was not the biggest fan of the sandwiches and maybe that was partly because my options were very limited being someone who doesn't eat egg. Although it was a little disheartening enjoying one sandwich out of four, the sweet treats greatly made up for it and I was so pleased with the eggless selection. Bearing in mind I had no idea what the menu consisted of beforehand everything was an utter surprise to me.

For me, my afternoon tea experience was heightened when the waiter brought out a birthday cake and my birthday was very much authentically celebrated and I believe I was not the only one. Immediately straight after the whole room came together to sing happy birthday. It was really something special.

Overall I exceptionally enjoyed my first high end afternoon tea experience at the Ritz and didn't let the sandwiches put me off. This is another great recommendation to come to with your loved ones to celebrate an occasion or simply when you fancy a cup of tea and cake!