Accommodation, California, Destinations
california palm trees blue skies

The Royal Treatment in San Diego: King’s Inn Review

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A Late Change: Where to stay in San Diego?

When it became clear that the Super Bowl was going to throw a spanner into the works with our trip, it necessitated some last minute adjustment to our itinerary. Not only did we have to flip San Francisco and LA around on our itinerary, but Lake Tahoe was no longer feasible and we needed a new stop between LA and Vegas.

That stop? Sunny San Diego!

california palm trees blue skies

With only a few weeks before the trip, my fearless assistant, Zorica (you can find her at EuroTribe) went into overdrive and was able to arrange a few last-minute partners for the Great US Road Trip.

I’ll be writing about my experience exploring San Diego wine country next week, but I couldn’t not write about the fantastic experience we had at our hotel in San Diego.

king's inn san diego room
Image courtesy of King’s Inn.

King’s Inn, San Diego

I can’t speak highly enough of the King’s Inn in San Diego. Not only were they a late saviour in helping to make the trip possible, but they were also one of my favourite hotels from the entire trip.

Why?

There were a few reasons:

Great location

Located just off the highway at the aptly named Hotel Circle, King’s Inn was in a great central location for accessing San Diego proper or getting out to our friend’s place on the fringe of town for the Super Bowl festivities.

king's inn san diego
Located right off the highway, it was super easy to get to and from. Image courtesy of King’s Inn.

Great service

I spoke at length with David, the hotel’s manager and the man who has poured a hell of a lot of his heart and soul into revitalizing the hotel. One of his points of pride was that the staff were always willing to do more than what was expected of them.

When times were hard and renovations weren’t possible, David instead focussed on improving the one area that costs no extra: customer service. It shows in the way the staff carry themselves. They’re either genuinely happy to be helping you out or the best actors in the world, and with Tinseltown just up the highway, I’m inclined to believe it’s the former.

king's inn reception foyer
We arrived four hours before check-in, but the friendly staff looked after our stuff and let us change for our Super Bowl party. Image courtesy of King’s Inn.

When I asked a few different staff members for their recommendations for local restaurants or activities, they all answered with their own flavour. There was no company line to be spouted out, and everybody had a vivacious and fun personality.

From the long-winded chats with the girls at Waffle Spot to the bubbly conversations with the reception staff to casual interactions with the cleaning staff as they went about their work, there was a clear focus on customer satisfaction and creating a warm atmosphere. That’s a winner in my book.

waffle spot san diego interior
Waffle Spot was hard not to like. Brightly coloured and with walls plastered with hand-drawn King Waffles, it had an infectiously fun vibe. Image courtesy of King’s Inn.

Great facilities

San Diego was a pit-stop for relaxation rather than tourism, and so we needed a few essentials:

  • Good food nearby;
  • Reliable WiFi;
  • A pool to relax by;
  • A place to do laundry;
  • A gym so I could pretend I was still working out.

King’s Inn checked all of the boxes in this regard. Whether I was chilling out by the pool with my Kindle, streaming Raw over a pizza in my room, or sipping an ice cold beer at the attached Mexican restaurant, I was definitely feeling that chill San Diego vibe.

amigo spot king's inn san diego
Amigo Spot serves up flavourful Mexican cuisine with a California twist. Image courtesy of King’s Inn.

The on-site gym isn’t anything terribly fancy, but it had a decent selection of free weights and cardio equipment.

The laundry, located just by the gym, was affordable and a great addition for budget travellers who might not want to venture off to a laundromat.

king's inn gym san diego
Officially a fitness centre, the King’s Inn Gym helped me work off my pizza indulgence. Image courtesy of King’s Inn.
king's inn laundry
You do laundry here. Image courtesy of King’s Inn.

The King’s Inn prides itself on catering to families as well, and between its pool, the adorable Waffle Spot diner, and the affordable rates, I could definitely see why it is so popular.

If I had one small criticism of the hotel, it would be that the rooms themselves were a little dated in their decor and the bathrooms were a tad cramped. It was far from vacation ruining, but I can’t just spout glowing praise without a little constructive criticism.

bathroom king's inn
I may have spent a good hour in the fetal position in this shower after too many Super Bowl beers… Image courtesy of King’s Inn.

Fantastic food

Another big selling point of King’s Inn with families are its attached restaurants: Waffle Spot and Amigo Spot.

Both are frightfully kitschy in a really fun way, with Waffle Spot a diner straight out of the 1950s and Amigo Spot a colourful Mex-American restaurant with a dive bar feel to it that I quite liked.

Guests at the hotel get discounts at both restaurants, and we well and truly made full use of ours at Waffle Spot. Huge portions of hearty American comfort food were an ideal start to our days, and I loved the sassy waitresses who were always on hand with a fresh pot of coffee or a tale about their travels.

waffle spot san diego king's inn
Sizeable helpings at low prices made Waffle Spot a favourite way to start our days in San Diego. Image courtesy of King’s Inn

We only caught Amigo Spot on our last night in town, but both enjoyed the hell out of a hefty California burrito with an ice cold beer. It’s definitely the kind of place we could have enjoyed a few leisurely beers while watching sport if we hadn’t had an early start ahead of us.

In Summary

I really couldn’t have been happier with King’s Inn. While I’m obviously especially pleased because they were kind enough to sponsor my stay on late notice, it was a genuinely pleasant experience from start to finish.

I’m not a guy who needs a lot out of his accommodation, but King’s Inn definitely exceeded my expectations in the best of ways.

Travel Tips
road trip pacific coast highway

How to be a Great Road Trip Companion

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road trip pacific coast highway

How to be a Good Road Trip Companion

It’s a weird situation I find myself in. I’m a guy who loves nothing more than the open road and a good old-fashioned road trip, but I don’t drive.

You read that right: I just completed a five week cross-US road trip and my hands never once touched the wheel.

Despite this obvious disadvantage, I’ve taken more than a few unforgettable road trips in my life. From San Francisco to New York and along the legendary Karakorum Highway of western China, I’ve honed my skills as a passenger.

I like to think I’m pretty bloody good at it too.

You see, even when you aren’t the one behind the wheel, you’re a vital cog in the creation of an unforgettable trip.

If you’re doing your job right, it will be unforgettable for all of the right reasons.

What does it take to be a good road trip companion? Let me tell you…

Stay Awake!

I can’t stress this one enough. Just because you’re riding shotgun, doesn’t mean you can take the opportunity to doze off or catch up on your old friend, Jamie Lannister.

Your driver is being kind enough to do the driving, so the least you can do is keep your eyes open and keep them company.

Don’t fall asleep on the job! It’s tempting to drift off on long journeys when you’re not the driver but stay awake and keep your driver company – Bethaney, Flashpacker Family

ALWAYS stay awake. This is your most important job as co pilot – Tara, The Traveling Waitress

It’s not just about courtesy either. Your life is in another person’s hands, and all you have to do to keep yourself (and your friend) safe is make sure they stay awake.

How are you going to do this if you’re fast asleep?

road trip sleeping in car
It goes without saying, but your driver should definitely not be sleeping. Image courtesy of smlf

Be Entertaining

As a good passenger, you need to do more than just stay awake and stare listlessly at the road ahead of you.

Driving can be a tedious task, especially when you’re barrelling through West Texas where everything is painted in the same shade of depressing.

Keep up the conversation, make sure the driver is fed and sufficiently caffeinated, and generally be the fucking glorious social animal you are.

couple in tractor
You just know she’s telling him all kinds of awesome stories. Look at that stony faced stare! That’s the German equivalent to hysterics. Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

We had a good playlist, we sang along to all the songs, always had good snacks and plenty of water around and kept the conversation flowing – Tiia, Fangirl Quest

Part of being a good companion is also knowing when to shut up.

Know when to stop talking, there’s a lot to be said about having comfortable silences with your travel companion – not only will they appreciate your consideration when having a bad day, but you will too when they return the gesture – Derek, No Hanging Around

You’d better believe me when I say that after five weeks sharing hotel rooms and the tight confines of a Mustang convertible, there were more than a few times when silence was fucking golden.

There were also times, like when we were winding our way down the Pacific Coast Highway, where talking would have taken away from the show nature was putting on.

Pick your moments, kid. A captive audience doesn’t mean you can recite all of your poetry.

Be a Good DJ

A good playlist is a vital part of any road trip.

Whether we were singing along to David Bowie’s “Dance Magic Dance”, listening with sombre reverance to Nils Lofgren’s “Black Books”, or rocking out to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, we were almost always accompanied by some good tunes.

wayne's world bohemian rhapsody
Legally speaking, it’s not a road trip until you’ve rocked out to Bohemian Rhapsody.

Always have a solid playlist at the ready. No Bieber – Edna, Expat Edna

When late night radio isn’t cutting it and you sing late 80s early 90s cheesy songs to keep the driver awake – Alexandra, The Florentine

Be an awesome DJ nothing moves a road trip along like great tunes – Tara, The Traveling Waitress

While I wouldn’t go so far as to completely ban any one artist (I suffer from a guilty enjoyment of The Biebs’ new album), the playlist is definitely something that needs to be open to negotiation.

Your driver might not share your love of The Corrs, and you might not have his fondness for the complete works of Kate Bush.

(Seriously, James, I liked Wuthering Heights, but the rest can fuck right off)

Know How to Navigate

Perhaps the single biggest role you have to play as passenger is that of the navigator.

Unless you want your driver to be wrestling with maps or have his head buried in his phone, you’re going to have to be the one making the calls when you’re out on the open road.

Once in town or approaching town, navigate! – Chris, One Weird Globe

Be a good navigator. Don’t tell the drive you should have turned back there but you missed it because you were checking Facebook – Tara, The Traveling Waitress

reading a map
I think you’ve fucked up, Jeff. We’ve lost the car. Image courtesy of CIFOR.

It’s easy to get complacent when the miles are unfolding behind and ahead of you, but you’ll need to be on your game when you’re navigating busy streets and annoyingly hard to find side streets looking for that hotel in LA.

You might be a map person. You might be a Google Maps person.

Whatever you are, make sure the driver knows where they’re going, and do it without too much sass.

Keep your eye on the bumps, not the beauty – Ruth, Exploramum & Explorason

Keep a Positive Outlook

We’ve all been in a car when the driver has lost their temper or had a bit of an emotional meltdown.

Maybe they missed a turn and they’re frustrated. Maybe they’re getting hangry. Maybe they are uncomfortable driving in the rain.

If he takes a wrong turn, just go with the flow – Billie, Sante Fe Travelers

Whatever the reason, it’s important that a good passenger plays the cheerleader and the optimist.

I don’t mean being a relentlessly glass half-full idiot with a shit-eating grin. I mean knowing when to sympathise and when to put on a happy face.

tony abbot shit eating grin
Our very own former prime minister does his best shit-eating grin.

Stay Loyal

This one’s a bit out of left field, but my old friend Jessica at Family in Faraway Places brought it to my attention and I definitely agree with it.

She had the experience of listening to two travel buddies bicker and have their friendship dissolve because Girl A had liked Boy 1, but Girl B had slept with him despite knowing this.

I’m not telling anybody what to put into what holes, but if you’re going to be stuck with somebody for an extended period of time, it’s probably best not to make them unhappy.

You don’t need to be wingman of the year to be a good travel companion, but probably don’t cut your mate’s proverbial balls off, especially if he’s the one in control of the high speed object you’re stuck in together.

wingman
Wingman Level: 10.

Be Prepared

Like a good Boy Scout, it pays to be prepared.

If your friend is doing all of the driving, use your extra time to make sure you have the essentials.

Snacks? Check

Red Bull/Coffee/Water? Check

Car charger? Check

energy drink
My doppelganger shares my enthusiasm for energy drink. Image courtesy of Mike Mozart

On our recent trip, we faced a mini-disaster when we learned only one of us could charge our phone at any given time. The driver needed his to play music, and I needed mine to relentlessly post on SnapChat, Twitter, and Facebook about my every thought and desire.

We avoided a dissolution of the Commonwealth because I had a ZUS Car Charger, which not only charged two devices and charged them quickly, but had an in-built GPS to help us find the car after parking it in a strange place.

You can use the promo code ZUSROADTRIP to get $5 off your own ZUS Car Charger.

Your Say

What do you think makes a good road trip buddy?

I’ve written at length about the worst people to travel with before. Do you have any horror stories about awful road trip companions?

Disclaimer: ZUS provided me with a free ZUS Charger. Opinions are entirely my own.

Christchurch, Destinations
Waiau Riverbridge Bungy Jumping

Christchurch for Adrenaline Junkies

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Christchurch for Adrenaline Junkies

One of the go-to destinations in New Zealand is Christchurch. This amazing city is located on the edge of Canterbury Plains and is surrounded by hills and the Pacific Ocean. It is also the way to New Zealand’s South Island, where you can enjoy a lot of adrenaline-filled activities.

Christchurch offers countless of outdoor adventures perfect for all the adrenaline junkies out there. It is the ideal place to spend your vacation with family or friends. Once you plan your holiday in this stunning region, you will definitely have one of the best days of your life.

When you finally reach the city, you can simply get a car hire in Christchurch and drive your way to countless tourist destinations around the island. Commuting is quite difficult in this place so these cars are the convenient way to explore what the city has to offer.

Where start your Christchurch adventure? Here are some outdoor activities that will pump up your adrenaline:

Bungee Jumping

For the thrill seekers across the globe, Christchurch is the place for an extraordinary bungee jumping experience. You can try this extreme outdoor activity on top of the 135-year-old Waiau Ferry Bridge and free fall 35 meter towards the clear waters of Waiau river. Thrillseekers Adventures organizes the bungee jumping tours and after completing it, you will be given a certificate and a t-shirt. Snapshots are also available to look back at the whole experience.

Waiau Riverbridge Bungy Jumping

Water Rafting

Never miss out the chance to go on a fun water rafting activity when you are in Christchurch. Make sure to visit Rangitata River to experience white water rafting at its best. This river is known as one of the backdrop to the epic fantasy movie, Lord of the Rings. So expect the unscathed landscape and billowing rapids to surely give you a memorable day. You can experience paddling the rapids by making a reservation with Rangitata Rafts who organizes the activity.

Rangitata Rafting christhcurch

Quad Biking

Ride through the breathtaking view of Hanmer Springs by driving quad bikes. You can plow through the rocks, mud, streams, and forest while enjoying every bit of the specially-designed track adventure. Also, there is nothing to worry about  because experienced guides are there to lead you on a safe and exhilarating trip.

Jet Boating

If you are looking for an exciting adventure, then jet boating at the Waimakariri River is a must-try. You can jet through the braided shallows, narrow gorges, and white water rapids. The famous 360-degree spin jet boat, which was first invented in New Zealand, will take your breath away once you engage yourself to this activity. Additionally, you will get to witness the awe-inspiring scenery of the entire place as you skim and spin at high speeds. Several companies such as Alpine Jet and Jet Thrills operate jet boats in the Waimakariri River.

Waimakariri River Jetboat

Skydiving

One of the best places to go skydiving is Christchurch. From the city center, you can free fall between 9000 and 15000 feet in the air at a speed of up to 200kph for 15 minutes. It is every adventurer’s dream to experience this extreme outdoor activity, so try it out even if you are a first-timer or a professional already. Skydiving Kiwis is highly recommended as they offer tandem jumps for beginners.

Skiing

During the months of June to October, Christchurch becomes a paradise for all the snow-lovers and snow sports enthusiasts out there. You can find the top three greatest ski fields here, including Mt. Dobson, Mt. Hutt, and Porter Heights. Every ski field gives you the opportunity to try out different levels of skiing experience. Whether you are an amateur or an expert in this sport, each try is totally worth it.

Mt Dobson Skiing

Hiking

Since Christchurch is popularly known as the “Garden City” globally because of its striking fauna, it is a perfect destination to enjoy some outdoor activities, which include hiking, tramping, trekking, and mountaineering. There are different ways on how you can enjoy your hiking experience here depending on your own preference. You can actually try a three-day or a week-long hike, if you want. Also, this region offers scenic views and impressive natural wonders that will surely take every visitor’s breath away.

On the whole, Christchurch is a haven to those who are in search of electrifying activities. By trying out the adrenaline-pumping activities mentioned above, your stay in Christchurch will be worth it. So, make sure to plan your trip to this city and explore numerous fun adventures. This is the best time to give yourself a little something to look forward to when you are out on a vacation.

 

New England, Travel Writing
australian celtic festival pipe band

Discovering the Australian Celtic Festival

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Discovering the Australian Celtic Festival

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I attended the Australian Celtic Festival for the first time.

Despite having lived in and around Glen Innes since 1995, I’d somehow managed to miss its flagship festival event until I was in my early 30s and no longer living in the area.

Held each year in May, the festival transforms my otherwise sleepy corner of the New England into a bustling hub of Celtic pride. Kilts and knobbly knees are on prominent display, bagpipes become the soundtrack for a few days, and the town’s impressive Standing Stones Monument is transformed into a festival of sights, sounds, and smells.

With media pass in hand and an empty SD card, I woke up on that chilly autumn morning and made the trek in from Ben Lomond to Glen Innes to see what the festival had to offer.

Australian celtic festival glen innes
Preparations are already underway for the 2016 festival.

About the Australian Celtic Festival

An annual event celebrating the region’s Celtic roots, the Australian Celtic Festival takes place each autumn in Glen Innes and celebrates a different Celtic region each year.

This year’s festival celebrates the Isle of Man (and all things Manx), while last year saw the Welsh being celebrated most prominently.

The four day festival is highlighted by two days of food, music, and celebration at the Australian Standing Stones Monument overlooking the town, but it’s a town-wide celebration featuring musical performances, parades, demonstrations, craft classes, history lectures, and a whole lot more.

clodagh wolf celtic festival
Clodagh was one of many musical highlights at last year’s festival.

361 days a year, Glen Innes is just a country town with a Celtic name.

Four days out of that year, though, it goes full Celtic and embraces it in all of its tartan glory. It’s actually pretty magnificent.

red dragon wales celtic festival
Local kids help out by playing the part of a Welsh dragon.

Entertainment

By far the highlight of the Australian Celtic Festival for me is the sheer variety of entertainment that it brings to the town.

While Glen Innes occasionally gets ‘big’ Australian acts like Thirsty Merc to swing by our local race course or Services Club for a gig, it’s fair to say that there’s not a whole lot of variety in the entertainment scene for most of the year.

The Celtic Festival changes that, bringing in dance troupes, pipe bands, folk music acts, and historical re-enactment enthusiasts to lend some frivolity to proceedings.

nemas australian celtic festival
The NEMAS lads engage in a number of battles representing different historical periods.

Highlights on my visit were the honest song-smithing of Clodagh, the ethereal harp and singing of Siobhan Owen, and the never dull sword fights and melees put on by the New England Medieval Society (NEMAS) lads.

Each year’s programme is packed to the gills with performances though, and the real challenge is figuring out which of the pavilions to be in at any given time (and making sure you’re at them early enough to get a seat).

siobhan owen celtic festival
Siobhan Owen was a real treat to see perform. I caught her show twice over the weekend.

Food

A big part of any culture is its food, and I find discovering local cuisine to be one of the best ways to soak in a culture. Whether I’m taking a Thai cooking class or going on a Singapore food crawl, I love to immerse myself in the tastes of a country or culture.

My first criticism of the Australian Celtic Festival, at least in 2015, was the near complete lack of Welsh cuisine on offer. While there were plenty of food trucks selling everything from pizza to ice cream to an Aussie sausage sizzle, there was a sad lack of Welsh food to be consumed.

australian celtic festival food
Wrapping my laughing gear around the only Welsh food I found, a Cornish pasty similar to those eaten by Welsh miners.

I know absolutely nothing about Manx cuisine, but I imagine it’s going to be harder to find vendors of than Welsh was. Perhaps the food is best in years when they’re celebrating more mainstream Celtic cultures like Scotland?

Competition

The Australian Celtic Festival is also a site for competition, and there are a number of competitions that attract competitors from across the country to perform in front of the crowds.

These competitions include the Australian Celtic Dance Championships, a Strong Man competition, and the Celtic Country Yard Dog Competition.

While I wasn’t lucky enough to catch any of these last year, I’m hoping to see some of the feats of strength at the strong man competition this year.

nemas equipment celtic festival

Shopping

Wherever there is a festival, there is obviously going to be an opportunity to sell your wares. The Australian Celtic Festival is no different.

From local craft-work to tartan to books to CDs from the performers, there are myriad stalls looking to catch your eye as you wander the concourse and take in the sights.

Not being much of a shopper myself (unless it’s beer or video games), I didn’t partake. Much of the merchandise on sale tends to be targeted at the older visitors, and I know my folks have bought themselves a thing or two in the past.

australian celtic festival tartan
What’s your tartan?

 

Culture

Of course, the biggest part of the festival is its celebration of Celtic culture, and people from all across the country come to get in touch with their ancestry or just soak in a culture that helped shape early Australia.

Whether your idea of experiencing this is wandering the NEMAS camp to see how we once lived or roaming the rows of clan tents where you can learn more about your extended family, the festival does a great job of embracing not just the culture it’s celebrating that year – but Celtic culture as a whole.

nemas celtic festival village
When they’re not fighting one another, the NEMAS team are dining and ‘living’ in their camp.

For me, it was best exemplified by the feeling I got when I stood in the chill afternoon air in the shadows of the Standing Stones and listened to the massed pipe bands from across eastern Australia play a series of hauntingly beautiful tunes.

The crowd’s quiet approached a reverence reserved for holy occasions, but isn’t there just as much spirituality in communing with one’s heritage and ancestors as there is in communing with a sometimes uncaring God?

Australian Celtic Festival 2017

The 2016 Australian Celtic Festival is just around the corner, with festivities going from the 4th – 7th of May. This year, the festival will be honouring Ireland.

You can learn more by visiting the Australian Celtic Festival’s website or by stopping in at the Glen Innes Tourist Information Centre.

My visit to the 2015 Australian Celtic Festival was arranged by the Australian Celtic Council.