Posts in Beyond London
Top Travel Tips for Solo Travelers: How to Explore the World with Confidence

Solo travel is one of the most enriching experiences and the most incredible gift you can give yourself. Whether you're embarking on your first solo journey or a seasoned solo traveler, it’s always helpful to have a few tips to ensure your trip is smooth, safe, and enjoyable. So, let me share my top solo travel tips, favorite destinations, and essential advice for solo female travelers.

1. Pick Solo-Friendly Destinations

Choosing the right destination is crucial for a successful solo trip. Some places are naturally better suited for solo travelers due to their welcoming atmosphere, ease of navigation, and safety. So, do your research and plan something you have always wanted to do but within your comfort zone. These are a few of my top places.

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Beyond London, ExploreChristina Fordtravel, Women Travelling Solo, traveller, Toronto, Cinque Terre, Croatia, Seville, Spain, Malaga, Madrid, Essential Tips, travel tips, Google Maps, Google Translate, ChatGPT, Apple Maps, Solo TravelComment
A World Without Men: Unpacking South Korea's 4B Movement and its Global Shockwaves

Beaten down by the patriarchy is not a new concept. As a woman who worked decades in a career dominated by men, the environment was thick with sexist comments, ripe with sexual innuendo, career blocking and what I like to call disgusting man behavior. And like myself, many had to endure the punishment that came directly from refusing the sexual advances of men in power.

My salacious boss had physically cornered me in a hotel elevator on an overnight shoot. That resulted in a permanent career demotion when I politely refused to let him penetrate me. Sadly, my story, this story, is a tale as old as time. #metoo!

So, is it any wonder women have had enough? 

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Life Lessons, Beyond LondonChristina Ford4B Movement, South Korea, Drew Barrymore, Sharon Store, Cher, Women's right, Equal rights for women, #metoo, TikTok, Sharon Stone Comments
The 12 Most Instagrammed Places in Istanbul

Ah, Istanbul. A city where you're just as likely to get run over by a motorcycle on the sidewalk as you are crossing the street. It was my first trip to Turkey, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had visions of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express mixed in with a smattering of Midnight Express. And fortunately for me, it was nothing like the latter. The city's soundtrack is a melody of street vendors barking their wares, a constant "lady, lady, lady", mingled in with the blasting of car horns, all punctuated with the haunting, melodic Call to Prayer five times a day. Istanbul is an exciting mix between ancient and modern. Opulent luxury pushed hard against the hustling assault of markets selling spices, handbags, kababs and rugs.

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Beyond London, Explore, TravelChristina FordIstanbul, Murder on The Orient Express, Midnight Express, Instagram, Most Ingrammed Places in Istanbul, Grand Bazaar, Fodor's Guide, Spice Market, Rugs, hand bag, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Blue Mosque, Unesco World Heritage, Hagia Sophia, Basillica Cistern, James Bond, Dan Brown, Inferno, Ortakoy Mosque, Bosphorus Strait, Kucuksu Palace, Galata Tower, Umbrella Street, Taksim Square, Istiklai Street, Cats of Istanbul Comment
If There Is One Place You Need To See Before You Die, Let It Be Vietnam.

Vietnam. I could go on and on about the vast variety of things to see in Vietnam. Its stunning physical beauty, the friendly welcoming people or its complex history. Or I could credit Anthony Bourdain’s culinary exploration of the delicious food I discovered as I ate my way across the country not gaining a single pound (take note Italy and France).

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Explore, Beyond London, TravelChristina FordVietnam, Saigon, Ho Chi Min City, Anthony Bourdain, Hanoi, Cu Chi Tunnels, Viet Cong, Mekong River Delta, Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Rex Hotel Comments
Muskoka Summer. Oxygen For The City Soul 

I have the extreme privilege of being able to take a month every summer and head to one of my favourite places on earth, Muskoka, Canada. For those who do not know Muskoka it is a spectacular lake region just a few hours north of Toronto. 

Muskoka consists of two contrasting lifestyles ~ The First, Old Muskoka

Old Muskoka families who have rustic cottages whose grandparents or great-grandparents had purchased. Years ago they would come by train to summer in the Canadian wilderness of crystal clean lakes, miles of untouched shoreline, countless islands and the gentle peaceful sound of the “dip dip and swing” as their paddle propels them across the lake in their red Hudson Bay canoes.  But these old Muskoka families and their cottages are quickly disappearing.

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Beyond London, Explore, Places I Love, TravelChristina FordLake Rosseau, Lake Muskoka, Muskoka, meteor showers, yoga, JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka, Lake Joseph Club, Lake Joseph, Cottage Comments
Top 10 List Of The Most Sung About Places In The World

Going back to the time of The Late Show with David Letterman I had become obsessed about two things, Stupid Pet Tricks and Top Ten Lists. Although it might be more visually entertaining showing you a Rottweiler fit five tennis balls into its toothy mouth I have decided to focus this week’s blog on a Top Ten List I found, one that includes two things I love, London and music.

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Beyond London, Things I LoveChristina FordTop Ten List, London, New York, The Late Show With David Letterman, Stupid Pet Tricks, Celebrity Cruises, US Billboard Hot 100, UK Official Singles, Drake, Jay Z, Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Ed Sheeran Comments
The English Country Life~ My First Traditional Pheasant Shoot

Since Downtown Abbey I have become obsessed with British period dramas, a genre I am now addicted to mostly thanks to Mathew Crawley (sigh) and Colin Firth (double sigh) as Mr Darcy. So in my binge watching I discovered you would be hard pressed to find in any aristocratic storyline some outing that didn’t have at least one scene around a shoot or hunt. The British elite, royalty, or even peasants (not pheasants) like myself dress in their scratchy wooly tweed and their rubber wellies as they step out on the English countryside, guns and dogs by their side as they prepare for one of England’s longest standing traditions, the shoot.

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Beyond London, Explore, Things to DoChristina Fordpheasant, pheasant shoot, bird shoot, English sport, English traditions, Gun Dogs, Downton Abbey, Colin Firth, Plus Fours, Games Keeper, Beaters, Picker-uppers, guns, shotguns, claret, Range Rover, sloe gin, Kate Wake-Walker Comments
Cinque Terre, Italy ~ A Perfect Trip For The Senses & The Solo Traveller

Ever since I read Eat, Pray, Love (confession, I never got passed the “Eat” part) I was obsessed with Italy and the idea of exploring that incredible country. The food, the wine and the glourious picturesque landscape. As I was needing to make a hasty retreat out of London (a blog for another time) and looking for a journey that was not only great for the soul but a treat for the rest of my senses I decided to do a three day solo trip to Cinque Terre, my own mini version of Eat Pray Love. I am calling it “Eat, Drink, Repeat and I think I decided I want Chelsea Handler to play me in my movie adaption unless of course if Charlize Theron is dying to play me.

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Beyond London, Explore, Places I Love, TravelChristina FordCinque Terre, Italy, S'Well Water Bottle, Zero Gravity, Eat Pray Love, Julia Roberts, Monterosso, Hiking, Levanto, Vernazza, Pesto Pasta, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Puccini, Madame Butterfly, Wine Comments
A-BROAD ONBOARD THE ORIENT EXPRESS

When you talk about a bucket list adventure for me riding the Orient Express was right on top of that list.  I mean what other trip has been at the centre of a murder mystery best selling novel and several movies. The Orient Express is everything that you would think it would be. Glamorous, romantic and a very special adventure. Come onboard as I take you inside the world's most famous luxury train ride, The Orient Express. I even found a mysterious man with a moustache to rival Poirot.

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Explore, Beyond LondonChristina Fordorient express, luxury, luxury train travel, Murder on The Orient Express, Venice Simplon, Agatha Christie, Bucket List, L'Oriental, Lalique, Taittinger Champagne, Etoile Du Nord, Côte D'Azur, 3674, British Pullman Comments
MAKING THE MOST OF THE SHORT WINTER DAYS...GET OUTSIDE!!!

SEVEN SISTERS CLIFFS, EAST SUSSEX ROAD TRIP

If you are anything like me the lack of sunlight as you approach the dead of winter is so unbelievably depressing. Living in London it actually starts getting dark at 3:30 in November AND we haven't even got through the worst of it. So what is that saying, make hay when the sun shines?  So in order to survive the long, dark winters you have to make the most of the short sunny days and a road trip is exactly the way to do it. 

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Places I Love, Beyond London, ExploreChristina FordSeven Sisters, East Sussex, Cliffs, Eastbourne, Seaford, Cuckmere Haven, The Grand Hotel, Zoltar The Fortune Teller, London Road Trip Comments
RAGE AGAINST THE LATRINE. ASIA TOILETS - HOLY CRAP!!!!

A-BROAD OBSERVATION - TOILETS OF ASIA

I have always consider myself a student of the world, you know... open to celebrate the vast colourful differences between one world, culture and traditions and my own. I have been fortunate enough to travel different parts of the globe and I willingly drink in those cultural differences between countries, ....until now.

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Explore, Beyond LondonChristina Fordtoilet, Asia, Thailand, Tokyo, Kaula Lampur, Hong Kong, North America, Loo, Bathroom, Restroom, Pop-Up Urinal Comments
A WEEKEND IN NEW FOREST Where Wild Horses Couldn't Drag Me Away

Ever bored with London? Ok, that is a trick question. But sometimes you need a get away. Turn down the volume, unplug, breathe fresh air and exhale. New Forest is just the wonderful escape to do just that. Just a two hour drive south of the hustle and bustle of London where the only traffic you are likely to hit are a herd of wild horses taking their own sweet time crossing the street.  

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Travel, Explore, Places I Love, Beyond LondonChristina FordNew Forest, London Road Trip, Wild Ponies, Wild Horses, Beaulieu, Marshland, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Donkey, William The Conqueror, Walking Trails, The Pig, Moors, Barton On Sea, Milford On Sea, Hurst Castle, Keyhaven Harbour Comments
A-BROAD ON A BREAK - SUMMER IN MUSKOKA, CANADA
Places I Love, Beyond London, ExploreChristina FordMuskoka, Lake Rosseau, Canada, Life is Better On The Dock, Grand Electric, JW Marriott, Muskoka Chop, Turtle Jacks, Port Carling, Kee To Bala, Sunsets and Shooting Stars, Cottage Ho, Chalet Slut, Sofa Surfer, Cottage, JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka, Conte Nast, Conte Nast Traveller, Windermere House, Lady of The Lake, Cleveland's House, Dirty Dancing, Crossroads Restaurant, Cottage Bistro, Freddie Surf Club, Timeless French DecorComment