Stephanie, Author at Villa Finder Magazine

Destination Guide

Pattaya vs Hua Hin – the better choice for families

Still looking for that perfect place to spend a relaxing beach holiday with the family? Thailand is great! Exotic, colourful, tropical and home to some of the best beaches in the world. You can stay at splendid private pool villas, do lots of fun things and see beautiful places. Next question is – where in Thailand are you going to spend this family beach holiday? Is it going to be the vibrant and exciting beach city Pattaya or Thailand’s original resort beach town Hua Hin? To see which of these 2 fabulous holiday destinations is best for you, let’s zoom in a little and do some comparisons. This is Pattaya vs Hua Hin for families. Pattaya vs Hua Hin Pattaya is a major tourist hub famous for beach fun, nightlife, shopping and more nightlife. We’ll be honest, it’s not usually the first destination you’d think of for a relaxed family…

New Zealand Guide

Best time to visit Queenstown – Find the right time for your trip

Queenstown is an all-year-round travel destination. No matter when your travels are bringing you over to Queenstown, you will be blown away by her beauty! In the summer, you can swim in the lake and in the winter you go ski down the mountains with snow as far as the eye can see – amazing! There are 4 seasons and all have a magical something to them. However, if you came to ski, you must come during wintertime! If you came for watersports, picnics and swimming, summertime is your season. Hiking and mountain biking? Why not try Autumn or spring? Let’s zoom into all 4 seasons, what you can expect and what to do: Summertime and the living is easy Oh yes, Summertime is full on happening in Queenstown – the Adventure capital of the world. Clear blue skies, warm but not too hot, beautiful surroundings and you can still…

New Zealand Guide

Get to know Wanaka weather: when is the best time to visit Wanaka?

What’s Wanaka weather like? When is the best time to visit this beautiful destination? Well, the answer to this question really depends on what kind of holiday you are after. Wanaka is located on New Zealand’s Southern Island, just a 1-hour drive from Queenstown, and it has got 4 wonderful seasons, each with its own magic. Just like the seasons’ change, Wanaka has got something different to offer in summer, autumn, winter and spring. No matter when you decide to come down to this gorgeous lakeside mountain town, you will be struck by its beauty and you will always have a wide range of activities to choose from. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect during the different seasons in Wanaka: Wintertime – A snowy winter wonderland Wanaka is a stunning snow-covered wonderland during wintertime and it makes the ultimate playground for travellers and families who love to…

Bali Dining Options

For the Gram: 8 Cutest cafes in Seminyak You Must Check-in

The coffee scene is expanding in trendy, sophisticated Seminyak and there are more and more super cute, vintage coffee cafes opening up along the lively streets of this celebrated beach town in the south of Bali. We tracked down some of the cutest hot spots in town. Charming places to get a lovely breakfast with coffee in the morning or a delicious hearty bite in the afternoon. Places with bright colourful, vintage interiors, beautiful mural paintings, sweet cakes and laid-back atmospheres. Awesome places where you can turn to for your daily shot of caffeine, combined with a healthy detox juice and a piece of raw chocolate. Our pick of 9 cute cafes in Seminyak are highly Instagrammabe, too! 1. Kynd Community Colourful, charming and always busy from morning until closing time in the late afternoon. Kynd Community is a cool and trending plant-based cafe located in Petitenget. A great place…

Eat

6 Best Wanaka Restaurants: Your culinary adventure awaits

Even for a culinary food journey, you came to the right place in Wanaka, New Zealand! The town is only small but there are lots of excellent restaurants to try out serving up all kinds of food, usually prepared with fresh, locally-sourced produce. Yum! Then, there are the local vineyards around Wanaka where high-quality pinot noir wines are made to compliment your fine-dining experience in the centre of town. When it comes down to food and drinks, we got your covered. Check out our favourite Wanaka restaurants below! 1. Relishes Cafe Let’s start with the most important meal of the day: Breakfast. The best place to go for breakfast in Relishes Cafe (brunch or lunch will also do if you prefer to have breakfast at your Wanaka Holiday Home!). Everyone raves about this charming lunch spot in town, serving modern cuisine all year round. Relishes Cafe even has a fireplace for…

New Zealand Guide

Getting around Wanaka like a pro: bus, taxi or car rental?

Wanaka is charming town in the south island of New Zealand. Known for its beautiful surroundings, it’s situated by the side of Wanaka Lake with plenty of activities to keep you entertained. The town itself is small and you can easily get around on foot to sample one of their many cafes and restaurants. There’s even an old-style cinema that serves warm, straight-out-of-the-oven cookies during an old fashion intermisson! We’re not kidding. The whole cinema smells like cookies. Already found the perfect villa? Good on you! Had a look at things to do in and around town? Excellent! If you’re wondering how to get around, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some useful tips on transport possibilities! Getting to Wanaka Wanaka is just a 1-hour drive from Queenstown. There are 3 international airports in relative close proximity to Wanaka: Queenstown Airport (ZQN), Dunedin (DUD) and Christchurch (CHC). The…

See & Do

12 things to do in Wanaka – Make the most out of your New Zealand trip

Wanaka is a big little heart stealer! Surrounded by majestic mountain ranges and snow-covered mountain peak, this area is also known as ‘the Alps of New Zealand! Wanaka used to be a sleepy town but with her stunning beauty and all-year-round activities, the town is grabbing the attention of more and more travellers. Nature lovers, outdoor sports fanatics, families, couples, Wanaka has got something to thrill everyone. The natural beauty of Wanaka is overwhelming and the town itself is very charming and pedestrian-friendly. The list of things to do around the massive Wanaka Lake is endless. The location is superb with close proximity to Queenstown (just a 1-hour drive away). One note of warning: once you set foot in this charming mountain town, you will want to stay forever! Check out these 12 things to do in Wanaka: 1. #ThatWanakaTree #ThatWanakaTree is one of the most iconic places to visit…

Family

Wanaka with kids: How to keep your kids happy in Wanaka

Snow-covered mountains, lush green hills, a massive lake, Wanaka is an amazing family destination in New Zealand, just a short 1-hour drive away from Queenstown! Unspoiled, stunningly beautiful and a great holiday destination all-year-round, you and the kids are bound to have an unforgettable time here in Wanaka. Find yourself the perfect family home in the centre of town and off you go, exploring all the highlights, viewpoints and family activities. Travelling to Wanaka with kids? Here are 10 family activities in Wanaka for a wonderful holiday. 1. Family fun at Lake Wanaka Beautiful Lake Wanaka is the main attraction point in this lovely tourist town. As expected, most of the activities and tours are happening on and around this enormous lake. Indeed, Lake Wanaka is one heavenly playground for families with kids and the views are breathtaking! There is an endless list of things to see, do a and…

New Zealand Guide

Transportation in Queenstown – Bus, Taxi, Uber or Car Rental?

Queenstown is a beautiful lakeside town with a small but very charming city centre and it is surrounded by majestic snowy mountain peaks and famous ski fields. The town is found on New Zealand’s South Island and it is the main gateway to get to the Southern Alps. It is also known as the Adventure Capital of the World and it is one of the most popular tourist towns in all of New Zealand. Planning to stay in Queenstown this coming holiday? Great idea! No matter when you are travelling to Queenstown, it is always a good time to come! Here’s what you need to know to navigate your way around this lovely town: Getting to Queenstown, New Zealand By air Queenstown Airport (ZQN) has got frequent daily flights coming in from big cities in New Zealand and Australia. Whether you are coming from Aukland, Wellington or Christchurch, Sydney, Melbourne,…

Queenstown Activities

Things to do in Queenstown: 10 activities you should not miss

Queenstown, wild at heart but oh so beautiful! Whether you came for the breathtaking views of snowy mountains, lakes, valleys and snowfields or you came to get the adventurer out with adrenaline outdoor sports and thrilling experiences, Queenstown has got it! Also known as the Adventure Capital of the World and a longtime backpackers paradise, Queenstown attracts all kinds of travellers with her stunning natural beauty and the wide range of amazing activities. Let’s take a closer look at this adventure paradise in the southwest of New Zealand’s southern island; 10 things to do in Queenstown you should not miss: 1. Go Bungee Jumping in nature Bungee jumping may not be for everyone but if you dare to make the jump, there is no place on planet earth more incredible than right here in Queenstown, New Zealand. In fact, the first human being that ever made a bungee jump and…