2019 Archives - Wander-Lust

30 May 2019

Amsterdam Event Calendar for June 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On May 30, 2019 With 1 Comment

We haven’t published our monthly event calendar for the last 2 months due to deadlines and press trips, but it’s back! Enjoy our brand new event calendar for June with loads to do in Amsterdam!

The Taste Of Amsterdam

When? 1st – 3rd of June | Amstelpark
Restaurants, chefs and foodie brands showcase the best of the best. Another food festival? Yes, but this one is a bit different. A bunch of amazing restaurants and chef’s introduce their best flavors to the public. You can think of it this way; going out for dinner or lunch, but at several places at on the same day! Besides eating there are workshops and many many great drinks from coffee to G&T’s! www.tasteofamsterdam.com

Sneakerness

When? 1st – 2nd of June | Kromhouthal
After many successful Dutch editions the main sneaker event in Europe returns to Amsterdam on the 1st and 2nd of June. This time Sneakerness takes place in the beautiful Kromhouthal in Amsterdam North. Brands, shops and private sellers from all over Europe come to Amsterdam Noord to showcase a superb selection of the latest, most rare and vintage sneakers. Info & tickets (€14,-)

Roef Festival

When? 7th & 8th of June | Rooftops in Amsterdam
Rooftops participating are QO, Nemo, Hopp, Volkshotel, W Amsterdam, Sea Palace, ADAM Tower, Zoku and more. You get to explore innovative roofs, green havens, live music, and theatrical surprises. Silent disco dancing until the sun comes up. For more info visit their website

Bacchus Wine Festival 2019

When? 7th – 10th June & 14th – 16th June | Amsterdamse Bos
When you say wine, Amsterdam is listening. This time Bacchus is striking down for 2 weekends and is also open on the bankholiday Monday! There will be wine, cava, champagne, rosé and food to go with it. Kids have free entree and can play in the “Chateau Migraine” play corner. Tickets are €15,- and include a glass of wine.

Redlight Jazz

When? 7th – 9th of June | Redlight District
Red Light jazz is an annual jazz festival in and around Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District. Started in 2014, initiated by local entrepreneurs, Red Light Jazz highlights the rich tradition Amsterdam has as a true jazz city. For tickets and more info about all the locations and artists, check www.redlightjazz.com

Komm Schön Alter Festival

When? 22nd of June | Tuinen van West
This festival is one of our favorites. This small and intimate festival welcomes a crowd from 24 years old and over, only. By doing so, the festival has a wonderful family feel to it, with no (too) drunken teenagers running around. This year, the line-up includes Einmusik, Gabriel Ananda, Arjuna Schiks, Miss Melera, Oxia and more. www.kommschonalter.de

24H Zandvoort

When? 15th of June | Zandvoort
Ok, this is not in Amsterdam but not too far! 24H is usually hosted in the different district of Amsterdam but this time they wanted to highlight the coastal town that is hosting the F1 race next year. More info. Looking for the best beach clubs in The Netherlands?

5 Years Ceuvel Festival

When? 15th of June | Café Ceuvel
Art, music, food and drinks meet at Ceuvel for this 5 year festival celebration. The programme includes music on stage, yoga workshops, a rain bar (bring your raincoat), inspirational talks and more. Entrance is free up till 6pm and evening tickets are €10,-. More info.

Doek Festival

When? 14th -16th of June | Bimhuis
For two days full of music and art the Bimhuis will be transformed into a meeting place where all sorts of exchanges take place, from goods and services to smells, flavours, cultures, sounds, glances, blushes, curses and currency. Market stalls offer music, art, and more. Doek Festival is an initiative from 8 musicians that combine their love for art and music. More info

Its Festival

When? 19th – 24th of June | Nes
The ITS Festival 2018 is a six-day-long vibrant place where a new generation theatre makers, professionals and their audience meet. The festival is hosted at the Brakke Grond in Amsterdam, which is a place for art, food & drinks. Graduating artists from theatre and dance schools in The Netherlands and Belgium will present themselves on the stage, definitely worth checking out! www.itsfestival.com

Tony’s Chocolonely Serious Friend Event

When? 20th of June | Tropen Museum
The slave free chocolate brand is hosting a serious party, for serious friends. There is an exposition, music, drinks and a little surprise! Join this event by making yourself a serious friend of Tony’s and be there!

CV Workshop & Personal Branding

When? 22nd of June | House of Watt
Started applying for jobs but somehow you find yourself lost in the jungle that is called “The Dutch Job Market”? Expat Republic in cooperation with Edith Veerhoek offer you a masterclass in wich you’ll learn about the Dutch job market, how the recruitment process works, and how to beat the system! You’ll also learn how to write a resume with which will help you stand out. As a bonus you’ll get an explanation on how to update your LinkedIn profile! More info.

Fête du Champagne

When? 28th – 30st June | Rembrants Park
With more than 100 different champagnes, this festival celebrates it’s first ever edition! Located in the wonderful Rembrants Park, surrounded by trees and flowers, the setting is going to wonderful. Yes, there will be food and music too. Play some Jeu de Boule, play the ultimate Champagne quiz and let your kids play dress up. www.feteduchampagne.nl

Vondelpark Open Air Theater

When? 2nd of June – Sept 2019
This open air theater in the middle of the famous Vondelpark has been organizing music performances since 1974. For the next 5 months you can enjoy performances and concerts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For all the dates check www.openluchttheater.nl

More than enough to keep you busy this month!

Love,

Wander-Lust

08 May 2019

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5 Music Festivals in Paris You Should Attend This Summer

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On May 8, 2019 With No Comments

I know Spring has only just arrived, but I’m sure we’re all looking forward to Summer already. Whether you’re a fan of pop music or rock and roll, if you’re planning on visiting the City of Light in the next few months, make sure you read on and check out some of the most phenomenon music festivals that will be held here in Paris, to make your next trip even more memorable!

Solidays

21 – 23 June 2019

The three-day festival is back for its 21st edition this year with close to 80 new concerts from artists such as Macklemore, Josman and Therapie Taxi, an exciting mixture of French and international performers. The coolest thing about the festival has got to be the generous donation they make to organisations combating AIDS each year from the proceeds. As with the previous years, Solidays will be held in l’Hippodrome de Longchamp and you can bag a ticket for as little as 46,50€.

©Anais Fayola

The Peacock Society Festival

5 – 7 July 2019

Despite being smaller in size than the other festivals mentioned herein, this annual electronic music festival is not to be missed whether you’re a fan of this music genre or not. Unlike the others, again, The Peacock Society Festival is a night-time festival and the party doesn’t start till 8 pm at Parc Floral de Paris. But, don’t worry, you’ll get your electronic fix by the end of the night (or more accurately, the start of the next day, at 7 am). Make sure you’ve got enough energy to power through the night on the dancefloor to BICEP DJset, The Black Madonna 3H set and Toma Kami. There are still some tickets left for 39€.

Afropunk

13 – 14 July 2019

For the booty shakers and rhythm lovers, for two days each year, Paris puts on a phenomenal line up of iconic and emerging musical talents, celebrating African heritage in the purest way we know how – collectively in a safe environment. The acts this year include Solange, Janelle Monae, Maleek Berry and Masego, just to name a few without giving it all away! This year, Afropunk will take place in La Seine Musicale and tickets go from 65€.

Lollapalooza Paris

20 – 21 July 2019

This originally American music festival Lollapalooza is coming back to Paris this summer, with an impressive line-up that you wouldn’t want to miss, including Twenty Øne Piløts, Martin Garrix and Clean Bandit. The festival will take place at Hippodrome Paris Longchamp, a large racecourse inside Bois de Boulogne, over the weekend. Tickets are on sale from 79€.

Rock en Seine

23 – 25 August 2019

This is undoubtedly one of the biggest music events in Paris. This year, the festival will guarantee insane performances by Major Lazer, Jorja Smith and Aphex Twins. Rock en Seine will be spaced out over three days at Parc de Saint-Cloud, which can easily be reached by metro, tram and buses. Don’t you think this is an adult only festival! Children can also join in the fun at their own Mini Rock en Seine. Tickets are priced from 69€.

All five music festivals are different in their own ways, yet the one thing they all have in common is that you will be guaranteed a good time! Book your tickets and pack your festival gears! We can’t wait to hear which music festival you’re ready to rock this Summer!

Love,

Chantelle

*Chantelle is one of our guest editors from Hong Kong. She has lived in three different countries and have travelled across many continents. Graduated with a Law degree, she is now taking a break in Paris for the year as she figures out her next step in life. Always passport ready, she is an expert at traveling light and on a budget, although she still enjoys the occasional indulgence in a luxurious holiday. Follow her on Instagram.

Check our full Festival Guide for 2019!

07 Jan 2019

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7 x food & restaurant trends for 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On January 7, 2019 With No Comments

Food is life and therefore we are always looking out for the latest food and restaurant trends. The new year just started and food website IENS just published their trend report for 2019. Let’s take a look..

1. Visual sensation
In recent years, Instagram and other photo sharing apps have revolutionized the hospitality industry. Some restaurants have even created special dishes and cocktails to maximize the impact on social media. Instagram Stories, Facebook Live and YouTube have further developed this trend and show what works well through visual content on their platforms. Restaurants (especially in the fastfood industry) do everything they can to surprise their customers. The rainbow-colored Bao Buns from Happy Happy Joy Joy in Amsterdam or the pancake-coated pizzas from restaurant Fiko in Amsterdam are not to be forgotten on Instagram. This development stimulates the sharing of a culinary experience via social media.

Eye Catcher. Rainbow bao’s at Happy Happy JoyJoy

2. Continuous growth of technology
95% of restaurant owners in the US indicate that technology significantly improves the efficiency in their restaurants (source: Toast). From delivery with drones to paying with apps, restaurants are going to use technological solutions more than ever. In the Netherlands we see in particular the rise of tablets to pass orders. In some restaurants, tech is even part of the experience. For example, a Robot. In a seafood restaurant in Shanghai that is located in the supermarket of Alibaba, the robot processes almost all the ‘work’ of the personnel. The software system guides them through QR codes supplied by the customer to retrieve seats, orders and payments via the app. These technological developments range from drone-waiters to hyper-realistic augmented reality menus. In this context, the restaurant tries to find the right balance between efficiency brought about by innovation and human contact.

Food & restaurant trends for 2019 that we like!

3. Dining based on DNA
Consumers find it increasingly important to learn more about where and what they eat. This leads to the launch of apps that help restaurant guests identify unknown ingredients. BARCLAYCARD made a prototype of an app that allows guests to familiarize themselves with the ingredients listed on a particular menu. Vita Mojo, a London-based restaurant chain, creates meals that are tailored to the guest’s personal genetic code through a partnership with the DNA testing company DNAft from Canada.

4. Transparency and environmental friendliness
Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency regarding sourcing, the origin of foods, growth methods and processing methods. In response, companies need to adopt a multi-faceted approach that influences both service delivery to their customers and their internal policies. As a result, there will be more transparency about prices, fees and company performance, more emphasis on fair trade and diversity and more attention and communication about their environmental impact. Large chains increasingly roll out mainstream eco-initiatives. Small businesses find environmentally friendly solutions to combat food waste such as restaurants that create menus with leftovers from supermarkets. An example of this is the InStock restaurant in Amsterdam or the BlueSpoon bar in the Andaz hotel in Amsterdam, which processes the useful remnants from the restaurant into cocktails in the hotel bar. Many restaurants already ban plastic straws to reduce plastic waste and pollution and we hope more will follow.

5. Veganism
Vegetable-based dining increasingly influences the whole policy of restaurants, towards a strategy to not produce waste and to stimulate sustainability. Due to the growth of veganism, the entire restaurant industry is introducing more and more vegan menus and wine arrangements (contrary to what most people think, not all wine is produced in vegetable production). This trend also leads to new concepts that combine veganism with another kitchen, such as the vegan Korean restaurant saVeg in Calgary, Canada, launched by Canadian YouTube star Cheap Lazy Vegan.

Veganism is continuing to be one of the restaurant trends for 2019

6. Food as an experience
In general, consumers – especially millennials – prefer to spend money on an experience rather than just making a purchase. This development will increase in 2019 and restaurants will be no exception. When choosing a restaurant, people want to be inspired and surprised by both a good meal and a fascinating gastronomic experience. This leads to various new concepts, from a multi-sensory eating experience to permanent pop-up restaurants. This creates new food concepts, such as cartoon-themed restaurants as the totoro-themed restaurant in Bangkok where you can dine as a superhero or Dinner in Motion, a 360 degree restaurant in Eindhoven, where you go on a culinary journey through a sensory experience.

7. Superfood restaurants
Superfoods are already part of people’s diet, even in restaurants. In the first wave of this phenomenon, restaurants introduced the extremely healthy ingredients in their recipes. In 2019 this goes a step further with the introduction of functional ingredients in dishes that promote natural improvements for body and soul. Like collagen for beauty, cannabis for relaxation and carcass for stress reduction and blood pressure reduction. New concepts that follow this trend are holistic restaurants and chic healthy restaurants. Will this be THE new restaurant trends for 2019?

So to which trend do we say jay or nay?

Love,

Elke

28 Dec 2018

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Our best travel moments of 2018

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On December 28, 2018 With No Comments

As the year comes to an end, it’s time for one of those lists that reminds us, that we are blessed to do this thing we call our job. We travelled far and wide, met new people along the way, and left with a suitcase full of new memories. Here are our best travel moments of 2018.

ISAN, Thailand
International press trip, February 2018
This is by far Elke’s most memorable press trip of 2018. Because we were the first ever international media that had been sent to this region, it was even more special. Elke travelled side-by-side with people from Vienna, UK, Dubai, Romania, Germany and more. The trip took us across the North East region of Thailand, a less explored area, which means less to none tourists, a lot of culture, local food, and stunning nature. We visited several national parks, which included a canyon (San Phan Bok) that consist of thousands of holes, some filled with rainwater. To read the whole story check https://www.wander-lust.nl/off-the-beaten-track-isan-northeast-thailand/.

Our first trip as Wander-Lust Agency, Zarautz
Wander-Lust Agency, September 2018
This summer, we launched our Wander-Lust Agency. Here we connect influencers to brands at a beautiful location. For our first trip, we took influencers @bentheliem and @elisebak. 2 lovely girls with a great style, which we connected to Loreal Biolage, Protest Women, Eastpak and Havaianas. We stayed at Zarautz Surfing Village and slept in deluxe tipi tents. During the day we surfed, explored the area and practised yoga. San Sebastian was only a short train ride away, so great for pincho’s, good coffee and shopping! Are you a brand or influencer that wants to collaborate? Send us an email: info@wander-Lust.nl.

Cruising across the French rivers, without a permit
Testing Nicols Boats on the Saône river, July 2018
It was something we had never heard of before, but when Elke got the chance to cruise over the French rivers, and there was no sailing permit needed, she said yes immediately. “Nicols invite me to try it for one week. Cruising from Dole, all the way up to Port Sur Saône by boat. Or may I say yacht. It was huge! The boat they provided for us, was the Estivale Sixto. It had 3 bedrooms, 2 toilets, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and a living area. Oh, and I forgot to mention the large sundeck big enough for 8 people. Instead of 8 people, me, my hubby and our child Caiden opted for the challenge”. Good news if you want to try this in Holland, Nicols is offering a Dutch route this year! More on that soon..Read the full experience here: https://www.wander-lust.nl/cruising-the-rivers-of-france-with-nicols-without-a-license/

A must try!

Coachella Festival
Palm Springs, CA, April 2018
The festival of festivals. Coachella is everything you would expect it to be and more. It was Sarah’s 2nd time at Coachella, and it didn’t disappoint. With performances from Beyoncé (including Destiny’s Child!!), Dr Dré, Eminem, and many more, it was a week to remember. Will you go next year?

Greece
Perdika, August 2018
As you guys know, we are big fans of Greece. It’s so stunning, the weather is perfect, the food is yummie and the people are warm and welcoming. Therefore we visit Greece at least every two years to recharge our batteries. Last summer, Elke visited Perdika for the 32nd time (yes, not a lie) to be at her best friend’s Big Fat Greek wedding. Do you want to know more about this part of Greece? Check https://www.wander-lust.nl/greece-explore-the-ionian-islands/

Perdika, Greece

Wine Tasting with Campo Viejo
North Spain, San Sebastian, September 2018
Campo Viejo is a Spanish wine brand that specializes in red wine that comes from the La Rioja region. If you live in The Netherlands, you may have seen their bottles in the Albert Heijn supermarket. Sarah and I are both winelovers, so you we said yes immediately. La Rioja is region located in North Spain and is renowned for it’s local wine industry. The climate is very different than that from Southern Spain, so therefore the wines also taste different. You can fly to Bilbao with KLM and it’s only a 2 hour flight. From there you’ll need to continue by car or bus, as it’s in the middle of the mountains. It was a great trip with lovely people and so much fun!

Picking grapes

Club Med Cefalu
Sicily, October 2018
We experienced the newly opened Club Med Cefalu in Sicily for 6 whole days! The all-inclusive members club is giving their guests the opportunity to relax in this 4 star coastal resort. Several pools, a gym, tennis court and three different restaurants. This place was heaven. Yes, it’s for the traveler that has a little more money to spend, but every dime is worth it. Sometimes you need to treat yourself a little bit, and Club Med is making sure you are treated just fine! (ok, maybe a lot more than fine). Elke also had the chance to explore Sicily which was awesome.

How about that for some of our best travel moments of 2018! And we are not finished yet.. Elke is flying to Malaysia and Koh Lipe this month, so stay tuned on Instagram.

Happy 2019!

Elke & Sarah

21 Dec 2018

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8 x Travel Trends for 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On December 21, 2018 With No Comments

What’s happening in the world of travel this coming year? A lot, if we believe Booking.com. They are predicting 8 travel trends for 2019 and we’ve lined them up for you.

1. Travel to learn
For travelers, making meaningful trips is becoming increasingly important. More than half (56%) of travelers say that traveling has taught them new skills and insights. 68% of respondents want to participate in a cultural exchange and learn new skills, 54% indicate that they want to volunteer and 53% opt for international work placements. We can totally relate and traveled to Bolivia 2 years ago to report about women rights. It was incredible, tough and we learned so much.

2. As easy as possible
In 2019, convenience will become the standard when it comes to technological innovations in the field of travel. The innovations that, according to travelers, will strike the most, are those who offer practical solutions for traveling with artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and speech recognition. Think of opening your hotel room with your smartphone or a robotic concierge who speaks the language of the guests. Crazy? Well, 57% of travelers are interested in solutions such as an app for real-time baggage tracking or one app that has everything for planning and booking their trip. In addition, 31% are interested in the idea of a ‘virtual travel agency’ in their living room, with for example virtual assistants with speech recognition who answer travel questions.

In 2019, a lot is going to happen in the travel world

3. Discover the unknown
When it comes to traveling, we continue to push our boundaries and that includes space tourism. The travel industry and other companies will invest in tests with space travel on earth to make space travel possible. They meet the growing demand of consumers who want to take the big leap. 40% of travelers confirm that they think the prospect of space travel is fantastic, and would also consider this experience themselves (38%). Until space travel becomes reality, 60% of travelers opt for adventure below sea level.

4. The more personal, the better
The generic travel guides are history and make way for shorter but personally relevant content. One third of travelers (34%) want “something” or someone to take the difficult work off their hands and provide them with travel recommendations: 41% would like companies in the travel industry to use technologies such as AI to provide travel suggestions based on on previous travel experiences. The personal is becoming increasingly important; individual recommendations are increasingly giving direction to each journey.

5. Awareness Travel
In 2019, the social, political and environmental problems of a possible travel destination will be examined before travelers actually book: 48% of travelers think that social problems in a travel destination are taken into account when deciding on a visit. In addition, travelers are increasingly looking for new and authentic adventures, and want to be sure that they can travel safely – regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. Platforms such as Destination Pride provide destinations with a score that allows travelers to see how LGBT + are friendly. 19% of travelers plan to visit a Pride festival in 2019, of which almost a third (30%) is between 18 and 34 years old.

6. Fight the plastic problem
Millennials and Gen Z search for sustainability in their destination; looking for opportunities to use less plastic and to work more sustainably. More than a third (37%) is prepared to clean up plastic and other waste on a beach or other tourist attraction.

Surfer Julia van Rooij is fighting the plastic soup

Investing in sustainable start-ups is becoming increasingly important in 2019, because travelers who want to travel responsibly increasingly ask more critical questions about the sustainability of their destination and accommodations. This will lead to a number of new start-ups in the travel industry.

Tip: Compensate your CO2? check out GreenSeat

7. On the hunt for new experiences
Two-thirds of travelers (60%) value experiences more than equipment. That is why ‘Doing’ when traveling becomes just as important as ‘going’, and perhaps even more important. There is no less pressure on life, and therefore experiences can help to strive for a less stressful existence. In 2019, two-fifths of travelers (42%) plan to visit a destination where they can feel carefree again.

8. Small is good
More than half of the travelers worldwide (53%) say they plan to make more weekend trips in 2019. These small trips are characterised by the fact that more activities are planned in shorter times. ‘Less is more’ is the motto, and consumers swear by custom on these trips. Think of weekend trips, city trips or road trips.

Take a city trip to Budapest!

Pepijn Rijvers, Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com says: “In 2019 a lot is going to happen in the travel world. Technological innovation continues, the world is increasingly connected and consumer demand for the best travel experiences is constantly growing.

Happy traveling!

Wander-Lust

23 Oct 2018

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The Best in Travel List 2019 according to the Lonely Planet

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On October 23, 2018 With No Comments

With so many people traveling nowadays, it’s almost impossible to choose between the many destinations on offer. How do you decide where to go next? The Lonely Planet has just published their Best in Travel List 2019, that may just help you decide.

Top 10 Countries:

Sri Lanka
Germany
Zimbabwe
Panama
Kyrgyzstan
Jordan
Indonesia
Russia
Sāo Tomé & Principe
Belize

The Best in Travel List 2019 can take you all over the world

Sri Lanka is topping the list this year because the island’s infrastructure is better than ever before. Plus new activities give people the opportunity to discover the jungle, beaches and the local culture. It may come as a surprise, but Germany got the 2nd position. They are celebrating several jubilee’s this year, such as the fall of the Berlin wall 30 years ago. In at number 5 is Kyrgyzstan. This Asian country is known for it’s stunning landscape full of hills and lake Issyk Kul.

Kyrgyzstan

Top 10 Cities:

Copenhagen, Denmark
Shēnzèn, China
Novi Sad, Serbia
Miami, USA
Kathmandu, Nepal
Mexico-City, Mexico
Dakar, Senegal
Seattle, USA
Zadar, Croatia
Meknès, Morocco

Plenty of cities to choose from, but which one is your favorite?

Copenhagen

Best Value Destinations:

Southern Nile Region, Egypt
Łódź, Polen
Great Smoky Mountains, USA
Maldives
Houston, USA
Argentina
Bangladesh, India
Albania
Equador
Slovenia

If you’re looking for a first class destination, without the first class ticket price, these 10 destinations are tipped to be the best in value. Even the Maldives that is normally only home to exclusive resorts, is going through a transition and has more accommodations to suit every budget. We are not talking Asian prices, but the change is there, and that’s a great thing!

Egypt

For the whole list check Lonely Planet. So where will you go in 2019?

Love,

Elke