Category: Reviews

Review: National Express Bus from Bath to London Heathrow

by A Purple Life, posted in Reviews, Travel, Travel Reviews

Before I reserve travel with a new company to trek across a country, state or city, I always look for detailed reviews of their service to know what I’m getting into and set expectations. However,  I often find that these kinds of detailed reviews don’t exist.

There are general travel reviews, but I prefer to know the nitty gritty so I can mentally prepare for what I’m about to do and hopefully not make additional mistakes that traveling in another country can easily result in.

So this was my experience using a National Express Bus to travel from Bath to London Heathrow in the summer of 2025. Let’s see how it went 🙂 . 

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Slow Travel Review: Iceland – The Land Of Fire And Ice

by A Purple Life, posted in Budget Check-In, Finance, Food, Reviews, Slow Travel Reviews, Spending, Travel, Travel Reviews

So I don’t usually write a Slow Travel Review unless I’ve lived in a place for at least a month (hence the “slow” part”), but I’ve now visited Iceland for a total of two weeks across 2024 and 2025 and I have to talk about it. I love Iceland so much that I gush about it to anyone who will listen and today I’ll do a deep dive into why. 

Continue reading “Slow Travel Review: Iceland – The Land Of Fire And Ice” →

The Best Carry-On Luggage: The Travelpro Platinum Elite Collection

by A Purple Life, posted in Reviews, Spending, Travel

I’m about to wax poetic about a piece of luggage of all things, but that’s what I want to do today so strap in! After 5 years of using a $21 40L Foldable Backpack and a free Vanguard Tote, I upgraded my travel luggage. Why? Several not fun reasons 🙂 – basically: Old age, injuries and jealously🤣. Continue reading “The Best Carry-On Luggage: The Travelpro Platinum Elite Collection” →

Medical Tourism: A $69 Dental Cleaning In La Paz, México

by A Purple Life, posted in Reviews, Travel, Travel Reviews

As I’ve mentioned, I’m in the ACA Marketplace and have dental insurance in the US. However, the fact that US medical care can be straight up garbage continues to lead me to often using medical tourism and paying out of pocket instead. Here’s my latest adventure wading through medical care.

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Review: Dashing Diva Glaze Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips

by A Purple Life, posted in Hobbies, Reviews, Travel

I’ve mentioned countless times on this blog that I’m obsessed with Dashing Diva’s “Gloss” nail stickers. I’ve been raving about them on my Instagram and various blog posts for almost two years straight. They are the answer to my ideal nomad beauty wishes. They’re an easy, affordable and travel friendly way to always have beautiful nails. Continue reading “Review: Dashing Diva Glaze Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips” →

Review: TIDAL – A Better Spotify Alternative

by A Purple Life, posted in Finance, Reviews, Spending

For years I’ve paid for Spotify Premium and used their service for hours every day. I’ve mentioned in my Annual Accomplishments posts how part of my weekly routine was to listen to the 1.5 hours of personalized music Spotify put out for me every Monday in Discover Weekly, and the 1.5 hour Release Radar they released every Friday. No longer 🙂 – and I’m better for it. 

I left Spotify Premium this year and am now a happy customer of TIDAL. So let’s get into why I felt the need to change my music service and how it’s going. Continue reading “Review: TIDAL – A Better Spotify Alternative” →

Slow Travel Review: Auckland, New Zealand – The Land Of Nature And Cafes

by A Purple Life, posted in Budget Check-In, Finance, Food, Reviews, Slow Travel Reviews, Spending, Travel, Travel Reviews

When I first visited Auckland, New Zealand with my Mom in 2023 I thought, “My Partner would love this city”. It’s gorgeous, close to nature and filled with unique Mom and Pop coffee shops.

In 2025 after my Partner asked that we “meet in the middle” while I was in Japan and he was in New York, we met in Auckland and stayed for 6 weeks. I’m happy to report that he loved it for the reasons I suspected he would.

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Review: Singapore Air Economy Class – Tokyo, Japan to LAX for $44

by A Purple Life, posted in Finance, Reviews, Spending, Travel, Travel Hacking, Travel Reviews

We’ve finally reached the end of my “flying around Asia and Oceania on points” saga. This is the last flight I took in that batch that I booked with Singapore KrisFlyer points, which all together allowed me to spend the first quarter of 2025 galavanting around Japan and New Zealand while spending a total of $160.06 USD on international flights. Madness 🙂 . 

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