Solo in Oslo: Starting the Year in the Stunning Norwegian Capital

On January 26, 2025 By Laura Ferries WriterIn City Breaks, europe, Norway1 Comment

I have always held an intrigue for Oslo since I first started going on European city breaks in the days of student loans and part-time work that I’d cobble together for a couple trips a year. Over the years, trips took me to other places but Oslo always sat there quietly on my wish list, waiting for a rainy (or snowy) day.

My mum had sent me some money for Christmas and birthday and I had a browse online which lead me to doing a ‘Ryanair Roulette’ (not quite a roulette but going with an open mind and seeing what locations are presented through your chosen dates and prices). I didn’t want a flight that was over two hours as it was only going to be a 2-night trip. Everything fell into line and there was my Christmas/birthday trip: Oslo; a mere 1 hour 50 minutes away from Manchester.

Typical of Ryanair, the airport they list as Oslo is actually in a small Norwegian town called Torp, some 75 miles away. Although this took some careful planning around my flight times concerning trains and hotels, it actually became a part of the adventure so I was glad of it.

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Discovering the Beautiful Channel Island of Jersey!

On December 27, 2024December 27, 2024 By Laura Ferries WriterIn Channel Islands, solo female travel1 Comment

After travelling through Spain in July and August, I was not ready for summer to end even at the end of September.

I didn’t know much about Jersey therefore hadn’t ever thought about visiting, until I saw my mum and dad’s photos in spring 2023. I was sat at my desk in Ormskirk (where I was working at the time) looking out of the window at bleak grey skies while they were sending over photos of unexpected azure blue skies and sea views from their hotel room’s window.

Wow- I had no idea! The food, vibe, and people they described made me chalk it up to my wish list, along with countless other places.

About 18 months later, in September 2024, I was browsing EasyJet’s early autumn sales and was reminded of Jersey. I entered dates to stay for two nights and saw I could fly there for £47 return! Booked in the blink of an eye.

On Sunday 29th September, I drove to Liverpool Airport and parked up, had a coffee then took off into the calm sky for a 1 hour flight.

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Uncover the Best of Bilbao: The Capital of Spain’s Basque Region

On December 21, 2024 By Laura Ferries WriterIn europe, spain1 Comment

Bilbao, the capital of the Basque region in the very north of Spain.

Admittedly, I knew very little about it and had never visited any of the more northern cities in Spain such as Vigo, Santander and San Sebastián. My sister’s colleague had returned from a trip to Bilbao earlier this year and sang its praises so we, and our cousin, booked on for five days this August to see what it is all about.

The Basque region spans a certain region across some of the north of Spain and some of the south of France, connected by the Bay of Biscay. They share a common language called Euskara, or Basque (easier to say for English speakers!), and there has been a political Basque independence movement for several decades which included the separatist group ETA who sadly utilised violence and terrorism, including bombings at Madrid airport in 2006.

The majority of Basque people, of course, did not and do not advocate for violence and times have moved on into perhaps more unity and acceptance of others.

In fact, today, Bilbao is a very modern, international university city where people from many backgrounds study, work and live together in what feels like the friendliest city we’ve experienced in Spain.

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Exploring Villajoyosa: A Colourful Coastal Town on Spain’s Costa Blanca

On September 23, 2024September 28, 2024 By Laura Ferries WriterIn solo female travel, spain4 Comments

This summer, I was based in Alicante Old Town for three days on my own and knew that I’d want to incorporate visiting one of the seaside towns along the Costa Blanca for the day whilst I was in the area.

I spent several hours reading up on Albir, Altea, Calpe, Dénia, Gandia, Jávea and Villajoyosa, finding it really difficult to make a decision on where to spend one of my three days in Alicante as quibbles on Trip Advisor proved inconclusive about which one was the town most worth visiting.

In the end, I went with visuals and I chose the most colourful town, the most joyful town (literally in the name): Villajoyosa, or, La Vila Joiosa in Valenciano. It is often referred to simply as ‘La Vila’.

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Discovering Alicante Old Town: A Couple of Days as a Single Female Traveller

On September 7, 2024September 11, 2024 By Laura Ferries WriterIn solo female travel, spain3 Comments

I had only ever passed through Alicante once when I landed into the airport then caught a coach to Benidorm back in 2015. I saw nothing of Alicante and despite the fact the Costa Blanca has lovely, soft-sand beaches, I had no inclination to holiday there.

However, earlier this year, my cousin Luke and I were watching food tour videos on YouTube and the end of one rolled into the start of another which happened to be Alicante. Interesting, I thought. I had never heard much heard about Alicante’s food nor any buzz surrounding its culinary scene, despite having lived in Spain (albeit much further south, in Andalusia) for 3.5 years.

We watched as the video host narrated and ate his way through various stalls in the Mercat Central d’Alacant and other quaint wine bars and restaurants in the old town.

On that drizzly spring afternoon in the north of England, my interest was piqued.

I had been loosely planning a summer trip through certain parts of Spain and I knew I wanted to spend a few days alone near the beach with free time to read and write so I looked into Alicante Old Town, preferring a quieter location and not a typical ‘Brit-abroad’ location with full English breakfasts and karaoke bars. A quick Google and I was convinced, it looked surprisingly stunning. Pardon my prior ignorance.

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