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experiencelb222

@experiencelb222

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Real Experiences | Exceptional Moments
Retail • Hospitality • Beauty • Travel
Celebrating excellence & sharing constructive feedback.

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🇨🇿✨ FAIRMONT GOLDEN PRAGUE | A VERY SPECIAL 50TH BIRTHDAY STAY ✨🇨🇿

Turning 50 this year has given me the perfect excuse for a few rather special trips, and Prague was somewhere I had never visited before. Staying at the beautiful @fairmontgoldenprague made my first visit even more memorable. 🤍

The hotel blends its striking heritage with Czech artistry and contemporary luxury, and is incredibly proud to hold Two MICHELIN Keys, recognising it as one of the world’s most exceptional hotels. ✨

But, as always for me, a beautiful hotel is only as special as the people inside it… and the team here were wonderful.

From the moment we arrived, everyone was warm, kind, attentive and genuinely seemed happy to be there. I returned to my room to find the loveliest birthday card, a little cake and such a personal message. 🎂 Those thoughtful touches may seem small, but they completely change how an experience makes you feel.

The rooms are modern, stylish and wonderfully comfortable, while the food was absolutely sublime. There are six restaurants and bars to discover, including @zlatapraha_restaurant, @greenhouse_praha and the rooftop @goldeneyebar_prague

And then there is the spa… 😍

A gorgeous space with treatment rooms, a peaceful garden, gym and Prague’s only indoor/outdoor pool, meaning you can actually swim from inside to outside. Such a fabulous way to start or finish the day.

Add to this a brilliant location for exploring Prague’s beautiful Old Town and you really do have everything you could possibly need.

For my first ever visit to Prague, and as part of such a special birthday year, this was a wonderful experience.

Beautiful hotel ✔️
Fabulous food ✔️
Gorgeous spa ✔️
Perfect location ✔️
But most importantly… exceptional people and hospitality. 🤍

I couldn’t recommend the Fairmont Golden Prague more.

📍 Prague, Czech Republic
⭐ Two MICHELIN Keys

#experienceLB222 #FairmontGoldenPrague #Prague #LuxuryTravel #HotelReview by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

🐾 OUR FIRST LITTLE STOP ON THE ROAD TO CRUMBLE… 🤎

On our way to Cumbria to collect our gorgeous Crumble, we decided to make the journey part of the experience and spend the night @thefleeceatruleholme and what a lovely little find it was.

A luxury Lakeland inn surrounded by the beautiful Cumbrian countryside, The Fleece manages to combine traditional country charm with a really lovely feeling of contemporary luxury.

From the moment we arrived, the welcome was warm and friendly. Our room was gorgeous, spacious, super cosy and thoughtfully put together, with so much attention to detail. And after a very long drive, the beautiful freestanding bath was VERY welcome! 🛁✨

What really stood out for me was the space. Not just in the bedroom, but everywhere. Generous bathrooms, wide corridors, lovely little sitting and study areas, beautiful reception spaces and lots of dining space, with dedicated dog areas. Nothing felt squeezed in or compromised.

We enjoyed a lovely evening, a wonderfully comfortable night and woke up knowing that the next stop was to collect our newest little travelling companion. 🐶🤎

And perhaps most importantly for our future adventures… The Fleece is very dog friendly! 🐾

A fabulous pitstop if you’re travelling through Cumbria, but equally somewhere I’d happily return to for a proper countryside escape.

Highly recommend. 🤎

📍 The Fleece at Ruleholme, Cumbria
🐾 Dog friendly
🛏️ Luxury Lakeland Inn
🍴 Dining, drinks & countryside escapes

And so begins a slightly different chapter of our travels… with Crumble along for the ride. 🐾✨

#thefleeceatruleholme #cumbria #northengland #dogfriendly #experiencelb222 taken in The Fleece At Ruleholme by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

🐾 MEET CRUMBLE… MY NEW LITTLE EXPERIENCE PARTNER 🤍

I thought it was time to introduce the newest member of experienceLB222… my gorgeous little Crumble. 🐶✨

From now on, Crumble and I will be experiencing a little more of life together. We’ll travel together, shop together, stay together, eat together and, of course, share our experiences along the way.

And she brings a whole new perspective to the page… how genuinely dog friendly is the experience? 🐾

Because there’s a big difference between somewhere that simply allows dogs and somewhere that really welcomes them. The little touches, the bowl of water, a treat, a warm hello, somewhere comfortable for them to settle… those things make such a difference when your four-legged friend is part of your family. 🤍

Of course, Crumble won’t be able to join me everywhere, so there will still be plenty of my usual travel, hotels, restaurants, shopping and experiences without her.

But whenever she can come along, we’ll be sharing Crumble’s dog-friendly verdict too. 🐾✨

So welcome to the team, Crumble.
My new little friend, travel companion and experience tester.

I have a feeling we’re going to have some fabulous adventures together… 🤍🐶✈️🛍️🥂

experienceLB222… now with added paws. 🐾

#dogfriendly #puppiesofinstagram #cockersofinstagram #dogsofinstagram

Puppy Carrier @muttsandhounds which has been fabulous 🤍🐶✨ taken in Carlisle, Cumbria by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

🇫🇷 PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA… BUT IS EUROSTAR PLUS WORTH THE EXTRA? 🚆✨

There is something rather fabulous about leaving London and arriving in the heart of Paris just 2 hours and 20 minutes later. No airport transfers or Paris traffic. For convenience, Eurostar is incredibly hard to beat.

A little history… @eurostar launched its Paris service in 1994, transforming travel between London and mainland Europe. More than 30 years later, travelling underneath the Channel still feels quite amazing! 🇬🇧➡️🇫🇷

There are three classes, Standard, Plus and Premier. Whenever we travel to Paris by Eurostar, Plus has always been our choice, with more spacious seating and a choice of two meals served at your seat. However, our latest journey made us question whether the upgrade still justifies the extra cost.

Security and border control at St Pancras were super smooth and efficient. Once through, the experience dropped. The departure area feels far too small for the number of passengers, with very little seating and plenty of seats occupied by bags. Be prepared to stand.

Onboard, Plus does give you more space, good legroom and seats that recline slightly. 💺 But breakfast was disappointing. The Danish was freezing cold and the offering felt incredibly basic. We actually went looking for an alternative in the café carriage. At least I found a latte! ☕️

WiFi was intermittent too, leaving us asking, what are we actually paying the extra for?

Would I travel Eurostar again? Absolutely. Stepping off at Gare du Nord and already being in central Paris is a huge win.

Would I automatically book Plus again? I’m not sure. Perhaps next time it’s Standard for the convenience or Premier for the full experience.

🚆 Convenience ✔️✔️✔️
💺 Comfort ✔️
🥐 Food ❌
📶 WiFi ❌
✨ Plus experience ❌
🇫🇷 Central Paris ✔️✔️✔️

There are compromises… but when Paris is waiting at the other end, convenience wins. 🇫🇷✨

#Eurostar #EurostarPlus #LondonToParis #Paris #Review taken in St Pancras International by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

🇫🇷 ONA par Benjamin Bruno | Sainte-Maxime

There is something particularly special about discovering a beautiful new restaurant in a place that feels like home.

And @ona.saintemaxime par Benjamin Bruno is a very welcome addition. ✨

Benjamin Bruno comes from quite the gastronomic family. His father, Clément Bruno, founded the legendary Chez Bruno in Lorgues in 1983, creating a restaurant that has become synonymous with one of Provence’s greatest treasures, the truffle. Benjamin grew up surrounded by this wonderful culinary heritage and today continues the Bruno family story.

ONA, meaning “wave” in Catalan opened in 2026 in Sainte-Maxime’s beautifully refurbished marina, overlooking the boats and the gorgeous Gulf of Saint-Tropez. ⚓️🌊

The restaurant feels fresh, elegant and wonderfully Mediterranean, with beautiful terraces that make it just perfect for those long South of France summer evenings.
And the food… absolutely delicious. 🤍

Beautiful ingredients, gorgeous flavours and everything we had was cooked to perfection. There are little nods to Benjamin’s truffle heritage too, but ONA very much has its own identity, lighter, coastal and Mediterranean.

Sitting beside the harbour, surrounded by beautiful boats, enjoying fabulous food as the evening unfolds… this is exactly what summers in the South of France are about. ☀️🥂

I also think ONA has helped elevate the newly refurbished port of Sainte-Maxime and it is so lovely to see this part of town becoming a destination in its own right.

If you’re visiting Sainte-Maxime this summer, add this one to your list.

📍 ONA par Benjamin Bruno
Quai Léon Condroyer, Port de Plaisance
Sainte-Maxime 🇫🇷

A gorgeous new chapter for the Bruno family and a fabulous new addition to my second hometown. 🤍

Highly recommended.

#SainteMaxime #ONABenjaminBruno #BenjaminBruno #SouthOfFrance #CotedAzur taken in Sainte-Maxime by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

🎄✨ CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK ✨🎄

If you’re thinking about spending Christmas in New York… please just do it. ❤️

There’s nowhere quite like it at Christmas. The city turns into a glowing Christmas bubble — lights, window displays, cold crisp air, and that feeling of being inside a movie. 🎬🗽

And yes… I still get excited spotting places from Home Alone 2. ❤️

A few favourites that make it special:

🥞 @abckitchen – perfect festive brunch
🌳 Central Park walks – especially early morning, wrapped up warm ❄️
🥂 @tavernonthegreen – cosy, twinkly, magical evenings
🛍️ Fifth Avenue – shopping and iconic Christmas windows
🎄 Rockefeller Tree – even better in real life than photos
✨ Bryant Park Winter Village – markets, skating, and skyline views

And then the in-between moments… walking the streets in scarves and gloves, grabbing coffee, hearing Christmas music everywhere, and just soaking it all in.

It’s cold, busy, a little chaotic… and I absolutely LOVE IT. ❤️

New York is my favourite place anyway, but at Christmas it becomes something else entirely.

If you’ve never been, put it on your list. 🎄🗽✨

Some trips you enjoy… and some stay with you forever.

This is one of those. ❤️

#christmasinnewyork #nycchristmas #newyorkcity #centralpark taken in New York City by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

✈️ HEATHROW T5 POD PARKING | One of my best travel tips

I’ve been using @heathrow_airport Pod Parking at Terminal 5 for years, and I was genuinely surprised recently to discover how many people don’t know it exists!

For me, it is without question the best way to park when flying from T5.

I’ve never been comfortable handing my car or my keys over to someone else when I travel. With Pod Parking, you park your own car, take your keys with you, and your car is exactly where you left it when you return. No waiting for somebody to bring it back. No handing over keys. Just simple, easy parking.

And then comes the fun bit… the Pod! 🤍

These little driverless electric vehicles whisk you from the car park to Terminal 5 in around six minutes. You simply get in, select where you’re going and off you go. No driver, no unnecessary waiting, and in all the years I’ve used them, I’ve always found them incredibly clean and efficient.

They’re actually quite fun too, a lovely little start to your holiday and, after a long flight home, an equally easy way to get back to your car.

A few things worth knowing:

✨ Pods carry up to four passengers plus luggage
✨ They operate 7 days a week, from 4am–12.30am
✨ Heathrow says you shouldn’t wait more than 30 seconds for one
✨ Outside Pod operating hours, a shuttle bus operates
✨ Pod Parking is specifically for Terminal 5

MY LITTLE TIP: There are two Pod stations in the car park: A and B. Take a quick photo or make a note of which one you used when you arrive. When you land, you’ll know exactly which one to select for your journey back to the car. 🙌🏻

📍 Heathrow Pod Parking
Northern Perimeter Road
Heathrow Airport
TW6 2GX

⭐️ experienceLB222 verdict:
Convenient ✔️
Quick ✔️
Clean ✔️
Keep your own keys ✔️
No waiting around ✔️
And just a little bit of fun ✔️

I genuinely cannot recommend it enough. If you regularly fly from Heathrow T5 and haven’t discovered the Pods yet… this is one travel tip worth saving. ✈️🤍

#TravelTips #LondonHeathrow #AirportParking #TravelExperience taken in Heathrow Terminal 5 by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

🇫🇷 ROOTS | SAINTE-MAXIME 🌿

I’m so excited to finally share a recommendation from my second hometown, Sainte-Maxime a place that holds such a special place in my heart. 🤍

@roots.street is a gorgeous little restaurant situated on the beach road, right on the corner, created by chef Jordan and his lovely wife. From the moment you arrive, it feels warm, welcoming, relaxed and incredibly friendly, exactly the sort of little independent restaurant I love discovering.

Their philosophy is centred around street food, food that satisfies that desire for something immediate, authentic and full of flavour. Dishes prepared with personality, inspired by flavours from around the world, creating that wonderful space somewhere between restaurant dining and the comfort of home cooking.

And the food is SO good. 😍

Out of season, my absolute favourite is the chicken curry, genuinely one of the best chicken curries I have ever eaten. During the summer months, the tempura shrimp is another firm favourite. Beautifully cooked, packed with flavour and the sort of food you find yourself thinking about afterwards.

They also offer their street-food-inspired sweet & savoury brunch every other Saturday from 11.30am–2.30pm, with the changing brunch menu displayed on the chalkboard.

Nothing pretentious. Just a beautiful, authentic little restaurant, wonderful people and seriously delicious food.

If you’re visiting Sainte-Maxime or the Côte d’Azur, put Roots on your list. 🌿🇫🇷

Another little gem for #experienceLB222 — and hopefully the first of many from Sainte-Maxime. 🤍

📍 Sainte-Maxime, South of France
🌿 Street food • Cosmopolitan flavours • Brunch
🥘 LB favourite: Chicken Curry
🍤 Summer favourite: Tempura Shrimp

#SainteMaxime #côtedazur #experience #southoffrance taken in ROOTS by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

🇫🇷 HÔTEL BOWMANN, PARIS | FIVE-STAR BOUTIQUE LUXURY

We stayed at Hôtel Bowmann in Paris this weekend and had such a lovely experience. ✨

Located in the 8th arrondissement, the location was perfect for everything we wanted to do, but what really stood out was just how comfortable the hotel felt.

The rooms are beautifully designed, the beds are absolutely gorgeous, one of those hotel beds you genuinely don’t want to leave and we had the most fabulous night’s sleep. The bathrooms were equally lovely, with a proper powerful shower, beautifully soft towels and all those little touches that make a stay feel luxurious. 🤍

From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive and personal. We were welcomed and shown to our room, everything was explained to us, and even on departure the team arranged an extended checkout to work around our later train back to London. Nothing felt difficult or overly formal, just genuinely thoughtful hospitality.

There’s also a gorgeous TERRAKÉ spa and wellness area, complete with an indoor pool, sauna and fitness room, a little sanctuary after a day exploring Paris. 🧖🏼‍♀️

@hotelbowmann is a five-star boutique hotel and member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and for me, that’s exactly where its appeal lies. You’re getting a beautiful five-star Parisian experience without stepping into the price point or grandeur of the Palace hotels such as the George V or The Peninsula.

Elegant, intimate, luxurious without being extravagant and fabulous service.

A really lovely Paris find and somewhere I would happily stay again. 🇫🇷✨

#HotelBowmann #ParisHotels #ParisLuxury #BoutiqueHotel #FiveStarHotel taken in Hotel Bowmann by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

✉️ CAFÉ PLI TEMPLE, PARIS | THE MOST UNEXPECTED LITTLE CAFÉ 💫

This is definitely a FIND! 🤍

One of the most unexpected little cafés I’ve discovered in Paris, and quite possibly one of the most enchanting experiences of my weekend.

@cafepli is Europe’s first letter café, a beautiful little concept where you put down your phone, pick up a pen and write a letter… to your future self. ✨

We booked a table and on arrival were given paper, a postcard, an envelope and a little pot filled with pens and crayons. With the perfect hot drink beside you, you simply sit, stop and write.

You can choose for your letter to be stored for 1 year, 5 years or even 20 years, before Café Pli posts it back to you. You can also write to someone you love and arrange for it to arrive on a special date in their future. 💌

I chose one year.

I genuinely didn’t think I would have enough to say to fill the paper… yet somehow I wrote front and back, added little drawings and completely lost myself in the moment.

And that was the magic of it.

Putting my phone down.
Putting pen to paper.
Stopping for a moment.
Living completely in that moment and thinking about the things that really matter to me. 🤍

Once you’ve finished, you get to wax seal your envelope and place it into the designated slot for the year it will eventually make its way back to you.

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about the whole experience, almost like going back in time. No screens, no rushing, no distractions. Just you, your thoughts and a piece of paper.

The team were warm and welcoming and the whole café has such a lovely energy. Little gems like this are hard to find, which made discovering it even more special.

And before you leave, don’t forget to add your own little Post-it note and daily affirmation to the café. ✨

I would definitely recommend booking to make sure you get a table.

For me, this wasn’t just a coffee stop, it was one of the highlights of my Paris weekend.

And now somewhere in Paris is a sealed letter from me, to me…

I cannot wait to meet the person who opens it in a year’s time. 💌⏳🇫🇷

experienceLB222 | Paris Finds ✨

#cafeplitemple #paris #letter #experience taken in Café Pli by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

CHEZ JULIEN, PARIS 🇫🇷🥂

There are restaurants you visit, and then there are restaurants that become part of your memories of a city. @chezjulienparis is that place for me.

If I’m visiting Paris, there is one reservation that is always made; Chez Julien. I’ve been coming here for over a decade, through every season, and it never disappoints.

Tucked away in the Marais, close to the Seine and overlooking the beautiful Saint-Gervais Church, Chez Julien is housed within a former Belle Époque bakery, classified as a Historic Monument. Inside, original tiles, stained glass, velvet, crystal chandeliers and the fabulous Empire bar capture all the romance and elegance of old Paris.

This visit we were lucky enough to have the beautiful window table, champagne poured, gorgeous food arriving and Paris just outside. ✨

A huge part of what keeps me returning is the consistency. Chef Helmi Derbal continues to create the most wonderful food, while the team are always warm, welcoming, friendly and engaging. After all these years, the experience still feels special.

I’ve experienced Chez Julien on cosy winter nights and fabulous summer evenings, but I particularly love it when the terraces open and you can dine outside amongst the trees, for me, Parisian dining at its absolute best.

And my order? It has to be the French Simmental Chateaubriand, Sarawak & Penja pepper sauce, house-made fries with truffle… followed, of course, by crème brûlée. 🤍

During Fashion Week, tables become particularly sought-after, with the restaurant a favourite amongst the couture crowd but for me, its magic is there all year round.

My favourite restaurant in Paris, and one I simply couldn’t visit the city without.

My advice? Don’t come to Paris without making a reservation at Chez Julien. 🇫🇷🥂

📍 Le Marais, Paris
✨ History • Parisian culture • Beautiful food • Fabulous service
⭐ experienceLB222 favourite

#chezjulien #paris #parisianstyle #experience taken in Chez Julien Restaurant by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago

LA GALERIE DIOR, PARIS 🇫🇷 | HISTORY & CULTURE

If you are a Dior fan, this is quite literally Christmas. ✨

Located at the iconic 30 Avenue Montaigne, the historic home where Christian Dior established his couture house and where the Dior story began, @lagaleriedior is an incredible celebration of the heritage, creativity and craftsmanship behind one of the world’s most famous fashion houses.

For me, this was always going to be special. Dior is my favourite designer and holds a very special place in my heart. I see the beauty in every piece, so to actually walk through the original house surrounded by decades of Dior creations felt incredibly magical.

There is SO much to see, breathtaking dresses, couture, sketches, photographs, accessories and archive pieces. You can get completely lost in the history and see how the unmistakable codes of Dior have been interpreted and reinvented by the designers who followed Christian Dior.

I particularly loved looking at the archives knowing that Jonathan Anderson is now writing the next chapter for the House, taking inspiration from its extraordinary history while recreating and reimagining Dior for a new generation. It makes seeing the original pieces even more fascinating.

And the dresses… ❤️ Some are simply breathtaking. Seeing them this close really makes you appreciate the detail, imagination and incredible craftsmanship that goes into couture. They are not just clothes, they are pieces of art and fashion history.

The gallery itself is beautifully curated, with so much information and the most beautiful imagery throughout. Do not rush it, there is far more to discover than I expected.

And of course, there is a gorgeous little Dior café where you can finish your visit with a cup of tea and a beautiful pastry or Dior cake. ☕️🍰 A very Dior ending to a very Dior experience!

For anyone who loves fashion, design, craftsmanship, history and culture, I couldn’t recommend La Galerie Dior more.

But if, like me, you simply love Dior… this really is pure magic. ✨❤️

📍 La Galerie Dior, 30 Avenue Montaigne, Paris

ExperienceLB222 | History & Culture

#lagaleriedior #dior #experience #paris taken in DIOR Galerie by @experiencelb222

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2 months ago