Aga, Author at Aspiring Snob

Presents!

Put The Gift In Its Place

Holiday season is when gifts can occupy quite a large spot in our headspace. Some of us are better than others when it comes to giving gifts. However some of us can feel “gift anxiety” at the thought and pressure of having to find the perfect gift. It is rather shocking how a gift – something that is supposed to bring joy and show thoughtfulness and love – can make us feel stressed, inadequate and disorganised. At the worst it can even make us doubt our sense of taste or our relationships as we struggle to identify what our friends and family like!

Where to get the perfect spa facial: the UK or the continent?

Deals, Experiences, Hotels, Lifestyle, Rituals, Spa, Tips, Travel Aga

As we are headed towards winter, my thoughts meander more and more towards places where I can get some heat and feel cosy. Given it’s not always possible to escape to the tropics, a pampering spa day or weekend is the next best thing in my book. As we like to explore luxury value for money at Aspiring Snob, I thought a comparison of some of my favourite European spas would be perfect for this time of year.

Comfort zone or adventure? Tips for work and pleasure travel

Lifestyle, Rituals, Tips, Travel Aga

In my mind, there are two main reasons most people travel. Travelling for pleasure and travelling for work.

When you travel for pleasure, you are in a different frame of mind than when you travel for work. You might react completely differently to the same events. For instance, when I have to get up super early in order to set off for a work trip, I am a zombie. However, when I have to get up at the same time to set off for holidays, I am energised, curious and happy. Oddly, I am not tired but am waiting for the upcoming adventure. Unlike for a work trip, I actually relish seeing the sun come up knowing it means my holidays are about to begin.

Why The People Are The Best Element In Any Hotel Stay

Hotels, Tips, Travel Aga

There are many elements that go into making a hotel stay not just good or great, but truly memorable. After many travels and stays in many hotels, I set it upon myself to look into what separated the memorable stays from the “normal” ones.

Trying to think about what has impressed me over the years, my list contained numerous elements such as the decor of the reception area or the plushness of the bed. It included more gimmicky items such as bathroom mirrors that were also TVs or outdoor jacuzzis on a beach-fronted terrace. Then there were the usual suspects such as grand views of the Sydney Opera House and bridge or New York’s Central Park.

Fine Dining Etiquette – How to Split the Bill

Fine Dining, Food & Drink, Tips Aga

In our previous article about fine dining etiquette, we covered some of the basics for people who enter the world of fine dining for the first time. Today I want to cover the intimidating and oftentimes, controversial area around splitting the bill. When done smoothly, it feels good and comfortable. However if done incorrectly it may be a rather stressful experience. Not only can it shed a negative light on the whole dining experience, it may also sour the relationship between the diners going forward.

How do we ensure that the bill is split correctly and fairly? There are a few ways of doing it, and which method you choose depends on the situation and the people dining. To help us navigate this subject, we have turned to etiquette expert Bonnie Tsai of Beyond Etiquette to provide some tips and advice on this.

Spas of Europe

Lifestyle, Rituals, Spa Aga

With another summer coming to an end and winter approaching us, my thoughts have started turning to warm and relaxing spas. While I genuinely believe that a good spa is great for any time of year, there’s something extra special about being pampered in comfort and in expert hands during colder days.

As any regular spa user will know, the prices can get quite steep. For me, there’s nothing worse than going to a spa that is competitive on price but fails to deliver any worthwhile experience, sometimes to the point where the massage can leave me with pain.