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A Better Place Seoul came into my radar, courtesy of TikTok. If there’s one thing you need to know about me, I love using that app to find unique, one-of-a-kind hotels, cafes, stores, etc. Naturally, I was keen to experience ABP Seoul, when I searched for places to stay, during my three-week long trip to the Seoul.

ABP Seoul is located in the Sindang area of Seoul. If you came by train, like I did, with my carry-on luggage, you would have come out of the station and walked adjacent to Sindang market, also known as Seoul Central Market. It has some charming old-school restaurants, industrial spaces converted into cool bars and bakeries, and of course, a geometric looking building called ABP – A Better Place Seoul. This was where I would be staying for the night.

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This is Room 201 that I stayed in. Walking into this space, I was greeted with a beautiful layout and tons of space. It almost felt like walking into my own studio apartment, rather than a hotel. The kitchen, on the right, faces a lovely dining table, which doubles as a spot to work on my laptop. Just before that, you have a reading nook, with a variety of books and an iPad to play music throughout the room. The main star of the show if the bed, of course, as comfortable to sleep in as it looks. What is a nice design element are the pleated walls that have hidden compartments for storage. This helps keep the room looking minimal, by having books, cutlery, etc stored inside the walls.

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One thing that I wish they would change is the closet space. I’m used to open-concept wardrobes but this one felt a bit too minimal. For someone wanting to stay longer than a night or two, or for a couple, there needs to be a better space for hanging or folding one’s clothing. Who knows, if this is something ABP will consider, in the future ?

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If I had more time, and friend or two to host, I would have loved to make use of the kitchen and dining area. I’m not one to do heavy cooking but this would be perfect for a night of eating in, perhaps ordering something online and watching a movie or two with guests.

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The bathroom comes with a shower and separate tub, the latter of which I made use of. They stock Aesop products, along with a Dyson hair dryer, plus the usual hotel amenities.

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The ABP Lounge downstairs is a cafe that is open to the public. A lot of young people gather to work in groups or individually. In the evening, it’s a beautiful low-lit space, perfect to have a drink or two in.

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After checking out, I spent some time on the rooftop of ABP. Accessible only to guests, this place offered a quiet oasis from downstairs. Not that the lounge downstairs is noisy, by any means, just that sometimes it’s nice to have an entire space to yourself. Free beverages are on offer, inside a mini fridge, and there is sound system linked to an iPad, where you can select a soundtrack to listen to, while you work. Private events are also hosted on the rooftop, mostly dinners or something food-related, from what I’ve seen on their Instagram page. I, too, would love to host something in this space, in the near future. Then, afterwards, I would take everyone to explore a cool cocktail bar, nestled somewhere inside Sindang Market.

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If you would like to book a stay with A Better Place, Seoul, you can choose from their two locations: the Sindang branch ( stay in Room 201 like I did) or the Jongno branch, which only has one room, so it feels more like a private home stay than a hotel.

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Spring signals in the change of weather, when one starts to shed off the layers of winter, welcoming in a more colourful palette to their wardrobe. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t wear a lot of colour, but I appreciate it on others. If I’m going to add colour to my Spring wardrobe, you’ll find it in the form of an animal print shoe or a bright red shoulder bag. I do love the colour lilac, so this Chloe mini dress will work well with my usual neutral and black wardrobe. In the meantime, here are a few of my favourite items that you should consider adding to your Spring wardrobe. Get yourself this KNWLS dress and wear it with this COS trench coat before it sells out.

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SHOP COATS & JACKETS

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SHOP DRESSES

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SHOP BAGS

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SHOP SHOES & ACCESSORIES

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Running on a treadmill starts to get boring and repetitive. Personally, it’s the staring at the wall or another treadmill in front of me that I get tired of. Watching something on your phone whilst running is either impossible or an uncomfortable experience. So what’s the solution ? Running outside. I’m not the world’s best runner, but if there is one thing I make sure to do my research on running, it is what trainer to get.

Having only done HIIT classes here and there, with short bursts of running on a treadmill, mixed with floor work, I never cared about the trainer I ran in. My knees have felt some sort of strain or pain, in the past, which has now made me more cautious. Not too long ago, I bought a pair of trail runners from Nike, thinking that their thick cushion would help. But then I quickly realised why trail versus road running trainers are different. I am someone who is more inclined to run on the road, along the river bank, or a park, with either a concrete or flat surface. That being said, I had to find a suitable pair of trainers for that. I quickly discovered On Running’s Cloudmonster 2 trainers as the best pair, for the type of running that I want to do, moving forward. With its forward rolling design, it is ideal for road running, along with the level of cushioning on the sole.

SHOP ON RUNNING

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More styles available on the ON RUNNING website

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Bodrum is a city on the Bodrum Peninsula, stretching from Turkey’s southwest coast into the Aegean Sea. This is where you will find Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort, located in a beautiful cove, as is the norm with many hotels & resorts, in this area. Boasting 282 rooms and villas, there is an option of staying in a Suite, Laguna or Villa room. They all come with Aqua di Parma toiletries in the bathrooms, a well-equipped mini fridge and plenty of closet space.

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THE ROOMS

The room that we had the pleasure of staying in was one of the Suites. We also got to tour a Laguna room, which boasts 3 bedrooms, allowing up to 6 people to stay comfortably.

AMMENITIES

There is so much on offer at Maxx Royal Bodrum. Besides soaking up the sun at the beach, there are a variety of activities to do. Personally, shopping is one of them for me. You get a selection of high-end boutiques, including Missoni, to shop from. There is an indoor pool, located on the ground floor of the fitness centre, which also boasts a reformer pilates room. A steam room, sauna, even a salt room are amongst the many amenities you will find in the spa area. For families with small children, there is an in-door play centre for them, filled with everything toddlers and small children would need on vacation. The hotels amenities are truly for everyone – from young to old.

There is a variety of restaurants at Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort to choose from. From a la carte, to sushi and local Turkish dishes, there is something for everyone. There is even a pastry cafe – Le Melange by Maxx Royal – open late into the night, where you can indulge your sweet tooth.

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HOW TO GET TO MAXX ROYAL BODRUM

Flight times and options will vary, depending on where you are coming from. If you live in the United Kingdom, specifically London, there are flights on British Airways. Granted, those will not be as frequent, and your hotel booking will be affected by when you can book the return leg of your journey. Easyjet has better options, although you will be flying from Gatwick, instead of Heathrow and some flights leave super early in the morning. An early flight is worth it, as you don’t want to arrive late at night and miss out on a day’s worth of enjoying the Aegean Sea.

Book Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort on their website, a travel partner site or on Leading Hotels of the World, if you are a member and would like to take advantage of the loyalty program.

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Summer is in full swing and many of us are looking for the perfect pair of sunglasses for our summer vacation, or maybe even for the daily commute to the office. There are a myriad of styles and there is a budget for everyone, so finding the perfect pair won’t be an issue. The only problem is, which style will suit you and are you looking for something trend-driven or a timeless, classic pair ?

70s Inspired Style

These types of sunglasses are inspired by the 70s and even 80s style. Think about the vintage-inspired sunglasses that were popular when Alessandro Michele was at Gucci . Sunglasses of this category can be trend-driven, often making it difficult for some styles to last for more than a season. These types of sunglasses can also only suit a select few group of individuals, who are more confident in wearing them than the average user. Hence why, going for an affordable option, to start, is the best way to experiment with this style.

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The Matrix Style

Think Maison Margiela x Gentle Monster when you are looking for a matrix-inspired pair of sunglasses. Brands like Balenciaga fit this type of aesthetic but you can also opt for a cheaper version on Asos, if you don’t want to break the bank. It still feels like a futuristic style which has yet to resonate with the majority of the population and it tends to coincide with a particular fashionista; one who wears mostly black and grey and fits a Demna Gvasalia look.

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The Classics

You can’t go wrong with a classic pair of sunglasses. These are everyday, wearable sunglasses, which most people buy as a safe option. These styles have been around for decades and every brand tends to have at least one pair of these types of sunglasses. The aviator style will always be popular, along with the cat-eye style, so opt for these, if you don’t want to be experimental with your eyewear. And, as always, there are plenty of affordable options online and in-store to choose from.

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Just off the Champs Elysee, on 9 Rue Balzac, you will find Hotel Norman Paris.  Architect and interior designer Thomas Vidalenc is behind the concept of this hotel, whose lobby and bar area are reminiscent of a private member’s club. The decor is very eclectic, with furniture that could be from the 60s but mixed in with modern, futuristic pieces.

Terrace Suite

I had the pleasure of staying in The Terrace Suite, located on the top floor of the hotel. It is a two-story suite, with a living room, bathroom and bedroom on the bottom floor and an 11 square meter terrace with seating on the top floor. The suite sleeps up to 3 guests, if you request an extra bed, which will be placed in the separate living room.

The Spa by Omnisens, located in the lower ground floor of the hotel, offers both face and body treatments. There is a small and cozy gym area to workout in but the plunge pool and sauna are the highlight of the spa. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you have the opportunity to book a treatment at the spa.

Book a stay at The Norman Hotel Paris

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Now that it is the festive season, we will be seeing a lot of red, not only in our food & decorations, but on our lips. Christmas and New Year’s Eve – along with the days in between – are when we dare to wear red lips, as it may be out of some people’s comfort zone. Some people prefer matte over shimmer, while others prefer a liquid lipstick over a regular one. My personal favourite is Violette FR’s Petal Bouche liquid lipstick in the shade Cerise Desir. It is matte and long-lasting, so you don’t have to worry about touching up your lips for photos. Here are some lipstick options that you can shop this festive season, for yourself or even as a gift.

SHOP LIQUID LIPSTICKS

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SHOP MATTE & SHEER LIPSTICKS

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Located within a five-minute walk from Kyoto station, you will find Hotel Kanra Kyoto – a hotel where guests can “experience the spirit of Kyoto”. Nestled right in the corner, where two streets intersect, the entrance has two white draping canvases, with the hotel’s logo on the left side. You are then greeted with double sliding doors, which quickly eliminate any outside noise that one would expect, for being so close to the road. The double-glazing of the hotel windows makes you forget that you are right next to the street. The reception area not only has plenty of space for guests to wait for check-in but also individual seating across each member of staff, who will help you with any of your needs.

The traditional Japanese style of the hotel is its greatest selling point. Actually, one would go as far as to say that their soaking tubs are what attract guests to Hotel Kanra Kyoto the most. Made of Hiba, which is a cypress wood, they keep the tub soaked, with a low level of water, to prevent it from drying and cracking. There is, of course, a separate shower, along with many bathroom amenities, but do make sure to take advantage of soaking in the tub, at least once, if not every night.

One of the best things about the hotel’s location is that, across the street, you have Higashi Hongan-ji Temple. Open from 5:50AM to 17:30PM, entry to the temple is free. It is a serene temple to visit, either before the start of your day, or after a long day of touring Kyoto. There are many great rooms to book but the Deluxe Twin Room for two guests is what I would recommend. If you book the Kanra Suite, however, you can enjoy the soaking tub out on the balcony, with views of the city.

Book Hotel Kanra Kyoto

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