Under 21 Car Hire

Under 21 Car Hire

Sunday, 30 July 2017

Read post

I dreamt of road trips around Australia, the freedom of being in complete control of your transport and not having to stick to flight times, or catching buses but instead being able to stop and start when you like. If you don't like a place move on, stumble across an unexpected gem and you can stay there a couple more days. However if your under the age of 25 it can be tricky, and under 21 even tricker- in some places near impossible.


A Few Tips

I would always opt for full insurance, which means paying no excess and usually no bond. Although it will come at an extra cost, it does mean in the unfortunate event that you have an accident regardless who's fault it is you will not have to pay anything.

Plan the trip with regular stops. It is so so easy to loose concentration on long drives, especially in somewhere like Australia. You can drive for hours without having to turn, change gear or see another vehicle. Plan where you can fill up with fuel, and also stop off get out the car and give yourself a break.

Take snacks, just incase your journey takes longer than planned or you get peckish along the way. Pack plenty of water, and snacks to keep your energy up.

Fill up when you can. This applies especially to Australia, driving through the outback but on any long trips. Fuel stations can be few and far between, so always fill up when you have the chance rathe than holding it out till the next opporuntity just incase something doesn't go to plan.

Jucy Car Rentals

Offering Cars, Campervans and Motorhomes Jucy has everything you would be looking for. With a small surcharge for under 21's, the option of full no excess insurance, as well as being able to add on any extra equipment you may need for the perfect road trip. They also allow you to add extra drivers for no, or a very small charge. They also have relocation opportunities, meaning you get to hire the car for $1 a day in exchange for driving the car from a set location to another- next to free car rental and you get a road trip as an added bonus! Pickup/ Drop off locations in Australia, New Zealand and America.

Wicked Campers

Wicked Campers are easy to spot, with their vibrant controversial (at times) graphics along the side of the iconic camper vans. However Wicked Campers have a huge range of vehicles available, including cars, 4WD and motorhomes. I would be wary of one way fees, however apart from that they offer very affordable vehicle hire, again with no excess insurance as an additional extra. Pickup/ Drop off locations in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America, North America, Africa, Japan and Scandinavia.

Check out this post on my Western Australian Road trip from Perth to Esperance.

Summer Lipsticks

Summer Lipsticks

Thursday, 27 July 2017

Read post

Summer is the perfect time to dig out any super bright lipsticks you've got hiding at the back of a drawer and give them a whirl. I have picked out a few of my particular favourites to share with you.

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipsticks are amazing, and I need to get my hands on the rest of the collection. A pink lipstick never goes out of season, this particular lipstick is in the shade pink cushion. It has an smooth, even texture and is very long wearing. If you do want a slightly less intense colour, you can dab this onto your lips for more of a tint. The red shade is called you say tomato and delivers a super punchy colour, perfect to make a statement this summer.

Kat Von D possibly offers some of the most crazy lip colours including this vibrant bright orange shade Halo is ideal if your looking for something more alternative this summer. As with all Kat Von D products these lipsticks are top quality, offering a huge amount of pigmentation as well as an unbeatable texture. If your looking for something just as punchy but something your may be more used to, this beautiful pink is the shade Sexer and I absoulety love it for a statement pink!

Topshop lipsticks have been my favourite for a while, with an ever growing collection from their amazing range of shades. Ooh La La has been a long time favourite, the perfect coral lipstick. With a satin finish this is very comfortable to wear, with the same pigmentation of any matte lipstick. Rio Rio has been a topshop cult classic, the perfect bright pillarbox red.

Perth to Esperance Roadtrip

Perth to Esperance Roadtrip

Sunday, 23 July 2017

Read post

Western Australia is often over looked when people plan their trips to Australia, but it should be way up there near the top on your bucket list. On my first visit to Western Australia, myself and two friends did a road trip down the south coast from Perth to Esperance. A beautiful, scenic road trip which isn't too long. We didn't want anything where we wouldn't see any towns, cars, or people for hours on end. We hired a car from Wicked Campers, picked it up in Perth and set off on our trip.

The Route

Day 1- Collected the car from Wicked Campers, drove to Fremantle for the day. Headed down to Herron Point Camping Ground for the night. Which was a beautiful, simple campsite on the side of a lake with bathrooms but no showers or clean water (it was all salty!) however it was super cheap (although we didn't end up paying because we arrived after the ranger had been round) and a very peaceful place to stay.

Day 2- We set off super early, after naturally waking up as the sun rose and headed straight down to Margaret River to watch the Surfing Pros Women's final. We stayed at Wharncliffe Mill campsite, which was located in the middle of a forrest, with hot showers, a covered eating area and kitchens all a short walk from the centre of Margaret River.

Day 3- Headed back down to Surfers Point for the Mens finals, and then took some time to look round Margaret River. Margaret River is full of wineries, however we decided to head to Colonial Brewing Co for a cider, and to relax in the sun before a quick drive to Hamelin Bay Camping Park.

Day 4- Drove to Denmark, where we didn't stay for long and continued on to Albany, where we attempted to have a beach day but it was so windy we decided it would be better to continue our drive  and get a bit closer to Esperance. We settled on going to Hopetoun, which was half way between Albany and Esperance. We came across a lot of closed roads on this route, so be warned- including one which meant we couldn't get to our desired campsite. We stayed in Riverview Campsite, after having to jumpstart the car in their carpark!

Day 5- Headed straight down to Esperance, driving past the pink lake which unfortuently wasn't pink when we were there. We spent the day laying on the beautiful, empty beaches. Before heading to a campsite, which I can't remember the name of but there are loads in Esperance.

Day 6- Despite intending to spend the day sunbathing on a beach, it was cloudy and cold so we did the ocean drive around the coast of Esperance before deciding on making a start on our return journey to Perth. We drove to Pingelly, which is almost the entire way back to Perth. We stayed in a campsite right in the centre of the town, which had showers, fresh water and a undercover cooking area.

Day 7- Finished our road trip by heading back into Perth, and returning the car! Before staying the night in Billabong Backpackers Hostel.

The perfect 7 day road trip, we saw all the highlights of the South Coast and had plenty of time to explore places, as well as fitting all the driving in during the day as none of us were particularly keen on driving in the dark.

Have you done any road trips? Or visited Western Australia?

Ways Solo Travel Changed Me

Ways Solo Travel Changed Me

Thursday, 20 July 2017

Read post

I am a strong believer that everyone should travel solo at least once, travelling with friends has a massive appeal and is incredible fun. However solo travel enriches you on a deeper level, you learn lessons about yourself which you would of never discovered.

Solo travelled proved to myself of just how much I am capable of, if you had told me a year ago I would be travelling Australia alone for the most part, I would not even be able to comprehend that little stressed, anxiety consumed me was even capable of attending a party surrounded by mates let alone putting myself out there to the big world wide in my pure venerable state. I have been able to handle everything that was thrown at me, by myself, come up with solutions to every problem and this a irreplaceable quality.

I learnt what was important to me, what made me truly happy and what my priorities in life are. I felt truly content, and so very happy with where I was and what I was doing. I just wanted to see more, do more and soak up more of this amazing country. I realised that happiness is something you should endeavour to discover in everything you do, life is way too short not too.

The importance of my family, and true friends became very apparent. Although I often wished they were experiencing things with me, it made me appreciate them even more. I realised just how lucky I am to have a family that supports every single decision I make, regardless of what they think of it. I have friends who have stuck with me, taken interest in everything I've been doing despite the time difference. My friends and family are all so busy living their own lives, but they still had time to take an active interest in mine and for that I am eternally grateful.

I learnt that comparison really is the thief of joy. To enjoy what I was doing, being inspired what others were doing, but not let anyone else's pictures or stories make mine seem any less impressive. I mean I left school, came to Australia, travelled and worked for 12 months and had the time of my life, nobodies adventures could compare to what I've experienced, the memories, the lessons I've learnt. They are all mine, and mine only.

I learnt true independence, something which I had never experienced before. Not only could I do whatever I want, with no one stopping me, I was also completely responsible for myself, for my safety and for my adventures. Nobody was going to stop me partying till the sunrises, but nobody was going to pick me up and tuck me up into bed while I nurse my hangover either.

The list could go on and on, solo travel teaches you so much and you will come back a completely different person than when you left. 

In The Photo
Hat - http://bit.ly/2sUW1YI
T-Shirt- http://shopstyle.it/l/cvZW
Backpack (similar)- http://shopstyle.it/l/cv2h
Bikini Top- http://bit.ly/2vhllZU
Bikini Bottoms- http://bit.ly/2vhNIau

New and Improved

New and Improved

Sunday, 16 July 2017

Read post

So I've been blogging for over three years now, which is crazy. I started this blog one Christmas after watching endless YouTube videos on cold evenings snuggled in bed. I discovered the likes of Tanya and Zoe. But also people like Chloë Morton, Emily Canham and they are who inspired to start this blog. 

I realised I love makeup, I wanted to be apart of this community so as well as reading and watching, I started writing and sharing my own content and people started engaging. I have never found a passion like blogging, something that I felt like I could do but something that I also could develop and improve. Constantly wanting to make it better, produce more content of a higher quality. 

When I came to Australia nearly a year ago, posts began to fizzle out. I felt less inspired to write about makeup, I didn't find the time and so I stopped. Despite this my blog has always been important to me, always on my mind and something I was not going to give up on. So, I'm relaunching it. I'm starting over, and am going to reignite my passion but with a new twist. I always intended that O is for Ottilie would change and develop as I changed and developed, so after this year away its time for a big change.

Loads more travel posts, I've travelled round a lot of Australia, captured loads of memories which I cannot wait to share, tips and tricks I've picked up on the way. I've found a new passion, or hobby in travelling and discovering the world and it's something I want to share, to write about and promote. 

I want content to be regular but not forced, I haven't earnt a penny from this blog so I'm not about to fund non stop trips across the globe just for new content. There will be times when I'm not travelling and therefore will not have new travel posts to share, and if I'm perfectly honest who knows what I'm going to write about. Maybe when I go home, and get reunited with my ridiculously oversized makeup collection that passion will once again begin but right now I hardly wear makeup, so how can I talk about it, test it or share it. A little part of me does miss it though, so the keep a balance, I will continue with beauty posts just expect a little more variety. There really will be something for everyone. 

I named my blog O is for Ottilie to allow myself to be myself on my blog, talk about whatever I wanted, and therefore change was inevitable. But change is exciting, and sometimes just what you need. 

It's been a long time since I posted, so here goes to a fresh start and hopefully another few years of O is for Ottilie. 

You may also want to check out...

End of An Era
Things What Happened in 2016

End of An Era

End of An Era

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Read post

Twelve months ago I sat in Hong Kong airport and wrote this post, sleep deprived but full of uncontrollable excitement for the adventures which were awaiting me. Hours of travelling left, but more than half of it behind me, even the thought of another 10 hours sitting on in a cramped up plane couldn't dampen my mood. 

Twelve months on, I am sitting in Hong Kong airport writing this post. My year has come to an end way too quickly, 10 hours ago I turned my back on the best thing that ever happened to me. Gave my friends one last quick hug goodbye, walked through the gate and didn't let myself look back once, the idea of returning home fills me with pure terror, I feel like an idiot, I have never been as happy as I was in Sydney, travelling Australia, making amazing memories with my mates and I left just like that, I refused to let myself feel the emotion of leaving, because no one will ever understand the experience which I have had, the changes which I have gone through, no one else shares those memories except the few special people I made them with.

Australia was everything I imagined and more, I have fallen so hard in love with this beautifully, unique yet oddly familiar country. The people, the beaches, the animals everything has made me fall for this place which I am now putting miles between me and the sunny beaches of Sydney. I cant put into words how much I have learnt, grown and changed during this year. I never want to take any steps back to how I was before I left, because Australia has changed me only for the better and I will be eternally grateful for this.

Australia has stolen my heart, England no longer feels like home but a place where people and things that I love are. A place I must return to no matter how scared I am, because I need to see people, to show them how I’ve changed, I have wanted to cuddle my dog for twelve months and in 10 hours that will be exactly what I am doing. I can’t wait to give my parents a massive hug, and explain how thankful I am for everything they have done for me, for letting me follow my dreams and do whatever I want with my life. My best friend is going to have the surprise of her life when I walk through the door, days before I am supposed to return. I can’t wait to give all my beautiful friends massive hugs, tell them how much I missed them and hear all about their adventures. I cant wait to see my granny, to see her excitement of seeing me for the first time in a year to share all my amazing memories with her and to talk for hours. Coming home is bitter sweet, and the start of a new chapter for me.

I have had so many amazing experiences, seen so many beautiful places. My passion for travel has grown and grown, and I am bursting with content to produce for you guys. I want to share all of this on my own little space on the internet, I have missed blogging so much. I want to write about travel, lifestyle while still having beauty posts here and there. I can’t wait to show you this amazing country through my eyes, my life filled with travel is only just beginning.

So while this is one of the rawest posts I have ever written, I am in an emotional turmoil, this is just me spilling my heart. Stick around for the journey, the more exciting posts are yet to come.