By Isa | IsaUnpacked London is the kind of city where you could spend weeks and still feel like you've barely scratched the surface. There's always another neighbourhood to explore, another market to wander through, another restaurant someone insists you have to try. But sometimes you don't have weeks. Sometimes you have one day, maybe you're passing through, maybe it's your last day before heading home, maybe you just want to make the most of every single hour. So I asked my

By Isa | IsaUnpacked If you want to see where Stockholm's food culture really lives, forget the trendy brunch spots and the tourist menus head straight to Östermalms Saluhall. This market first opened in 1888, so not only is it full of incredible food, it's also packed with over a century of history. And honestly, it feels like it the moment you walk in. Stepping Into Old Stockholm The entrance alone is stunning. The building itself is a piece of architecture that you want to

By Isa | IsaUnpacked In Sweden, fika is not just about coffee and cake. It's a moment to slow down, catch up with someone, and enjoy something sweet, and it's such a big part of everyday life here that it almost feels strange not to do it. It's built into the culture in a way that's hard to explain until you've experienced it for yourself, and once you have, you'll wonder why the rest of the world hasn't caught on yet. I wanted to show you what real Swedish fika looks like, s

By Isa | IsaUnpacked Some days just come together perfectly. The sun was out, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and Stockholm was looking like the most beautiful city in the world. I wanted to take you on a walk through one of the most historic and stunning parts of the city from the blossoms to the Parliament, the Royal Palace, and a surprise ending that honestly made the whole day feel like something out of a film. The Cherry Blossoms Let's start with the magic. One o

By Isa | IsaUnpacked Want to know where Swedish locals really go for their summer holidays? Not the tourist spots, not the Instagram-famous islands. I'm talking about the places that Swedes actually drive hours for, arrive by boat for, and plan entire weekends around. Let me take you to Trosa. Known as "the end of the world," Trosa is one of those places that feels like a true Swedish summer escape. It's a small town about an hour south of Stockholm, tucked along a canal that

By Isa | IsaUnpacked If you've ever been to Spain and wondered where people actually go shopping, not the tourist shops on the beachfront, but where locals spend a proper afternoon browsing, let me introduce you to La Marina. It has the perfect mix of well-known high street brands and more affordable local favourites, which makes it such a good spot for a real shopping day. And spoiler... I definitely found some good pieces. I wanted to take you through the stores I visited,

By Isa | IsaUnpacked The Costa Blanca gets a lot of attention for the bigger names Benidorm, Alicante, Calpe but tucked quietly between them is a stretch of coastline I keep coming back to: Albir. It's smaller, calmer, and feels a lot more local than its neighbours, but it has everything you'd want from a Spanish beach day. A long promenade, that perfect mix of sand and stones underfoot, and views that genuinely make you stop and stare. I've been to Albir more times than I ca

By Isa | IsaUnpacked Borough Market has been on every London food list for years, and for good reason. The second you walk in, you're hit with this wall of incredible smells coming from every direction fresh bread, sizzling meats, melted cheese, roasted coffee. It's a lot in the best possible way. I actually travelled up from Bournemouth for this trip, and getting here was surprisingly easy. I took the train straight to London Waterloo, then it was just one Tube to Borough Ma

By Isa | IsaUnpacked There are some places you visit once and immediately know you'll keep coming back to. For me, that place is the Old Town of Altea. I try to visit at least once every trip to Spain because it just has everything beautiful views, charming local shops, incredible food, and this atmosphere that makes you feel like time slows down the second you step onto those cobblestone streets. If you're anywhere near the Costa Blanca and you haven't been yet, let me walk

By Isa | IsaUnpacked If you know me, you know I'll never say no to good food, especially when a Michelin star is involved. So when I found out that one of Alicante's restaurants was awarded a star in 2025, I knew I had to go. But before I get into the food, let me tell you a little bit about Alicante itself, because this city deserves way more hype than it gets. Alicante Stole My Heart a Little Alicante is one of those places that just feels good to be in. Whether you're stay