PhillySteph Travels

All the places I like to eat, sleep, and explore throughout my travels!

A summary of my travels, hotels I stayed, activities I did, tour guides I used, and any recommendations. From your recent feedback, I’ll also start adding packing tips, travel essentials, and cost-cutting tips!

Scroll over for each destination in alphabetical order by country.

I added links to every hotel/restaurant/excursion I used for your easy reference.

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Please send me feedback for what else you’d like to see in my blogs! Also, if you have a specific question about any of these locations, email me!

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Aruba

One Happy Island! Even if you’re traveling solo!

Travel Date: July 2020

Aruba has it all! Beautiful beaches, 5-star all-inclusive resorts, historical sights, tons of “foodie” restaurants, downtown areas with nightlife, and great scuba diving. Best part, it’s a very affordable island. Drinks, food, and hotels are much cheaper than islands like Cayman Islands or Bermuda.

I visited Aruba as a solo traveler, and felt safe everywhere. Even during Covid-19 every door had sanitizer, etc.

Taxis are easy to get, and $30 from airport to Palm beach hotels.

Tip: no need for Aruba local currency, everywhere takes USD and is the most used currency so don’t worry about currency conversions.

HOTEL - RIU Palace all-inclusive

The RIU palace was the most affordable all-inclusive I could find. As a solo traveler, I wanted to stay somewhere safe. I chose the RIU Palace since $250/night all-inclusive was the best deal I found. It had multiple restaurants on site, huge beach area, scuba diving onsite, and all the amenities all-inclusives provide. Such a beautiful property!
Note: RIU Palace is family friendly, RIU Antillas next door is adults only.

RIU Palace - all inclusive

ACTIVITY - Scuba Cribe scuba diving

Scuba Cribe is located at the beach of the RIU Palace, so I didn’t even have to leave the resort property. The staff were so friendly. One day we did a shore dive off the South side of the island, and the next day we did a boat dive to the famous Antillas shipwreck. They didn’t offer nitrox which was a bummer, but everything else was fantastic, the rental gear was great, and the dive masters were amazing! $65/ dive was a great price! They also offer sailboat dinner cruises and daytime snorkeling cruises if you don’t scuba dive.

Scuba Cribe diving

ACTIVITY - Baby Beach

Baby beach is the locals favorite. Its tucked back in a sheltered area, so very calm waters for snorkeling. Beautiful blue water. There’s also a beach bar there.

Baby Beach

SIGHTS - Divi Divi Tree

The Divi Divi trees are the famous trees found in Aruba and the ABC islands. They are really cool, free to see, and great for photos! This one is located at Eagle Beach.

Divi Divi Tree

SIGHTS - Natural Bridge

FREE to see! Either rent a car and go yourself, or use a tour guide from TripAdvisor or your hotel lobby. The hotel I stayed at, RIU Palace was great for organizing day-trip excursions with local tour guides.

Aruba’s Natural Bridge

DINING - Bugaloe Beach Bar

Bugaloe is a super cool restaurant on Palm Beach. It sits on the beach at the RIU Palace. I love eating on the dock over the water so you have pretty views during your meal. It’s fun here, live music at night, and the servers sing during happy hour! Love it here.

Bugaloe Beach Bar

DINING - Zeerovers

Zeerovers was recommended by the locals. The freshest fish on the island. Menu changes daily depending what is caught that day. Right off the boat, weighed on a scale (raw, but they cook it for you) and on your plate! I was amazed how delicious this fish was.

Zeerovers

PACKING TIPS

Staying at an all-inclusive, you can pack light. I didn’t pack a towel which I usually do for beach vacas.
Pack a water thermos, to keep your water cold. Or else bottled water gets hot too quick on the beach.
I packed my mask & fins for snorkeling.
Pack a hat, sun screen, and nice clothes for fancy restaurant dining at night.
Pack versatile sandals, no need for high heels, save suitcase space.
Use USD currency, and even though the electric plugs are not US plugs, my hotel has outlet converts built in. If you stay at an Airbnb or smaller hotel, bring your own outlet converter.

Australia - Magnetic Island

Our scuba diving, koala bear finding, 1 Year Anniversary!

Travel date: September 2019

For AJ and I’s one year wedding anniversary, we spent a week on Magnetic island, aka “Maggie.” We chose magnetic island because it’s a local island not a lot of tourists go, recommended to us by an Australian dive vacation planner. It’s a 2 hour boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef, 2 hour boat ride to SS Yongala shipwreck, and a 3 hour drive to Airlie Beach, where you can tour the famous Whitsunday Islands.

Magnetic Island wasn’t as tropical as I wished for a 1 year anniversary, but the activities were great and the koala bears made the entire trip! This island is fun to rent scooters or the mini pink Barbie cars to get around.

TIP: there is A LOT more to see and do if you rent a car. We walked/ took Uber a few days, then rented scooters the later half of the week, and we enjoyed the scooters more.

TIP: Make dinner reservations several days in advance. All the restaurants fill up fast and only take reservations.

VISA: You must pre-purchase an Australian visitors visa online prior to arriving. It’s $20 and links electronically to your passport so no documentation is needed.

HOTEL - Island Leisure Resort

This hotel was cute, walking distance to the dive shop, and most importantly affordable compared to other nearby hotels... around $80/night. The pool was cute, and the rooms were spacious.

Island Leusire Resort

SIGHTS - Rock Wallabies at Geoffrey Bay

You have to visit the rock wallabies! It’s FREE! Just ride your bike or car to the parking area, and walk down towards the water to see the wallabies! They will come right up to eat food pellets out of your hand! Food machines are there, for a few quarters you get yourself a handful of pellets. So cute!!

Rock Wallabies at Geoffrey bay

SIGHTS - Forts Walk

It’s FREE!! A walk up to the top of the island to see the old historic forts. There are some steps, so a beginner level hike. Pretty easy for AJ who never hikes LOL. Seeing the forts were awesome, the view from the top was breathtaking, and around 5pm all the koala bears come out!! Seeing koalas in their natural habitat was the best experience ever.

Magnetic Island Forts Walk

SIGHTS - Butterfly Walk

It’s FREE!! This cute walking trail will lead you into thousands of butterflies! It’s quite amazing, shake a tree limb and see hundreds of thousands of butterflies! It’s not a far walk, only takes 5-10 minutes!

Butterfly Walk

ACTIVITY - Scooter rentals

The best transportation around the island is the Topless Pink car rental, or, have fun riding motor scooters! We walked to Road Runner scooter hire, and single rentals are around $50/day. So much fun!

Road Runner Scooter rentals

ACTIVITY - Bungalow Bay Koala Village

This Koala sanctuary not only saves and protects koalas, but also many other types of species local to Australia. Turtles, crocs, lizards, snakes, birds, and more.
Take a tour for $30, and pay extra $15 for a photo with a koala. Seems steep, but it all goes to protect the koalas!

Bungalow Bay Koala Village

ACTIVITY - Picnic Bay Beach

There’s a lot to offer here. Huge beach, pretty big boulders with a beautiful background, a jetty/pier you can walk to the end for more views, and lots of bars/restaurants. There’s often live music at the bars also.

Picnic Bay

ACTIVITY - Adrenalin Scuba Dive

Adrenalin scuba dive shop is on the main land in Townsville, but they also pick up at the Magnetic Island marina. We picked Adrenalin because the other dive shops on Maggie were sold out, so, book early! The GBR dives were beautiful and calm. The SS Yongala wreck was rough and strong currents, so only recommend for advanced divers.

Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive

FOOD - Scallywags Cafe

I loved Scallywags!! We ate here for breakfast and dinner! The coffee is great, the breakfast was huge and delicious, and the outside dining was a cool atmosphere!

Scallywags Cafe

FOOD - Shaka

This is a shack on the side of the beach. The absolutely best avocado toast and avocado milkshake I’ve EVER had. Holy cow it’s fantastic. The açaí bowls also looked amazing.

Shaka healthy eats

FOOD - Man Friday

After days of eating seafood, we switched it up to Mexican. Man Friday was walking distance to the Island Leisure hotel, so easy for us. Delicious! Make a reservation, they get packed.

Man Friday Resturant

FOOD - Peppers Blue on Blue

This restaurant is one of the fancier ones on the island. It’s at the marina hotel resort. We liked it for a nice meal when we wanted to splurge, but the nightly entertainment with a live band was excellent on the outside deck. This pic is my gnocchi and AJs steak, delicious!

Peppers Blue on Blue

PACKING - tips

For a 2 week trip (we visited Sydney and Melbourne after Maggie), I was able to stuff everything into a carryon. AJ checked a bag. It’s free when flying international. Bring versatile clothing you can reuse for multiple outfits. Bring walking/hiking shoes, and flip flops. I packed snorkel gear, because there’s several reefs around the island. Pack bug spray, long sleeves, and long pants, we needed it at night. Also pack a flashlight if you’ll be walking around at night. The island is very safe, but not well lit when walking home from the bar :) Don’t forget sun screen for the beach!

BAHAMAS - Nassau, Bimini, Exumas

The closest Caribbean to the USA!

Travel dates: March 2018, 2016, 2013.

If you want a quick trip to the tropics, Bahamas has it all for a long weekend away from the states. You can get direct flights to Nassau from many US airports. There are so many islands to see in the Bahamas, and each is beautiful in its own way. Here’s where I’ve been:

1. NASSAU - is best for activities, night life, and kids. Atlantis is here, on Paradise island, which has the largest water park I’ve ever seen in the world! The water park alone is worth visiting.. it has the BEST LAZY RIVER, water slides, and aquarium! There are several beaches, and multiple pools. Dining here is expensive, so pack your own booze & water bottles, and eat dinner outside of the resort in the downtown local areas to save on food costs.

2. BIMINI - is the best if you want a local island feel, close to home. You can reach Bimini from a ferry ride from FL, you don’t even need an airplane. I love Bimini for scuba diving because this is the island famous for shark diving operators, specifically hammerheads. Bahamas is some of the only shark-protected waters in the world where it’s illegal to catch them so the diving is fantastic.

3. EXUMAS - is fascinating for Pig Island, if you want to see the swimming pigs. I’m glad I went, but I won’t go back because the pigs are a lot scarier and stinkier than you think. There’s several other islands in the Exumas you can boat hop around, and the beaches are calm and beautiful. There’s not much night life here, so if you’re a partier like me, you’ll be bored late-night.

BELGIUM - Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent

Beer and Chocolate lovers dream!

Travel dates: Nov 2015, 2014

Belgium is every beer lovers paradise. And if you love chocolate, even better. I love Belgium mostly for the beer, but also because:

1. The people are very nice. Unlike some other European neighboring counties that get a reputation for not liking Americans, Belgium is welcoming to tourists.

2. It’s not as famous as its neighboring counties, so things are cheaper here. One local I met here, was shocked an American (me) chose Belgium over France or Germany. He said “we’re the red headed step child of Europe.. no one chooses to come here, tourists just pass through on their way to France.” I thought that was hilarious and he and I had several beers after that!

3. The food is amazing, coupled with amazing beer.

4. You can see several other great Belgian cities within 1 hour train ride from Brussels.

5. The architecture on the buildings are mesmerizing. You can walk around all day and stare.

6. Seriously has the BEST chocolate everywhere. And I’m not talking Godiva.. Godiva in Belgium is like Dominos in America.. don’t do it.. go local instead!

7. Each city is very walkable. Not too large and you can cover almost everything on foot.

TIPS:

- Beer is cheaper than water here. So bring a big water bottle to refill from your hotel room and carry it around with you. My friend literally brought her Camelpack.

- Have cash. Tipping is easier in cash. Some public restrooms require some coins to enter. A lot of taxis want cash. Withdraw Euros from the ATM upon arrival. Don’t bring dollars and exchange it for Euros, you’ll lose a lot of money on the conversion fees.

- VISIT BRUGES (aka Brugge). I don’t care if you’re short on time, GO. It’s worth it 100%. A train from Brussels to Bruges is 1-1.5 hours, and they run all day, often. If you can stay overnight, do it. If not, even a day-trip is worth it. It’s a fairytale city! Also, try to go on a weekday because weekends are packed!

BRUSSELS HOTEL - Saint Nicolas

This was a cheap hotel, I paid around $70/night, in the heart of the city. Right next to Grand Place, and all the bars. No frills hotel, but it was clean and walking distance to everything. Front door is on a cobblestone street next to a casino, so looks scary, but it’s not!

Saint Nicolas Hotel

BRUSSELS SIGHTS - Grand Place

FREE! Grand Place is the center square of Brussels. Definitely all the tourists are here, but it’s so beautiful you have to see it. Go at night too, it’s stunning lit up!

Grand Place

BRUSSELS SIGHTS - Galeries Royale Saint Hubert

It’s FREE to walk through this beautiful shopping mall. There’s shops, cafes, etc. just be prepared to pay a higher price if you eat here because it’s tourist central. But totally worth a photo!

Les_Galeries_Royales_Saint_Hubert

BRUSSELS DINING - Nuetnigenough

The BEST Belgian food you’ll eat in Brussels! I’ve eaten here several times, the food is fantastic. Bring google translate, there’s not much English here! My favorite restaurant!

Nuetnigenough

BRUSSELS PUBS - Delirium Cafe

Delirium Cafe is the most popular beer bar and restaurant in Brussels. Actually, in the world. It’s made the Guinness book of world records several times for the most beer available.. over 2,000-3,000 different beers! There’s 3 floors, the basement is where the party’s at! For €5 you can buy the menu, which is an entire magazine of beers, and a good souvenir.

Delirium Brussels

BRUSSELS PUBS - Moeder Lambic

This is my favorite bar restaurant in Brussels. All the best beer is available here, in a calmer, more local pub style setting. I’ve even come alone and feel comfortable at the bar.

Moeder Lambic

BRUSSELS BEER - Cantillion Brewery

Cantillion is the Lambic lovers paradise. Cantillion is the king of all sour beer breweries. They are world famous for sour lambics, and the main reason why I love Brussels. Take a tour, it’s very informative how unique their brewing process is!

Cantillion

BRUGES HOTEL & SIGHTS - Sint Donaas ruins at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

FREE! Go to the basement of the Crowne Plaza hotel, to visit the ruins of the historic Sint Donaas. The hotel was required to keep the ruins when they built here. It’s so cool to see! If you want to splurge and have a nice hotel stay.. you might as well stay here too! I didn’t, it wasn’t in my budget LOL.

Sint Donaas ruins at the Crowne Plaza

BRUGES HOSTELS -cheap

You can get a good hotel for less than $100 a night in Bruges. Look on TripAdvisor, set your price range, and look for anything 4 green circles or higher. Both times I visited Bruges, I stayed at Hostels to save money. I didn’t link them because it looks like both are out of business now! But I stayed in a private bedroom with my friend, and also in a shared room when I traveled solo. There’s multiple hostels for $30-50/night. I find Bruges very safe with the friendliest tourists so I enjoyed the hostels. Just make sure to read reviews, and stay within the INNER CIRCLE of the Bruges map. For reference, Markt is the center of Bruges.

BRUGES SIGHTS - Burg Square

Another beautiful square for photos. Also here is the Basilica de Blood (church of Blood) and my favorite chocolate shop and waffle truck in this square!

The Burg

BRUGES SIGHTS - Belfort Tower

The Belfort tower is famous in the Colin Ferrell movie “In Bruges.” It’s the center of the Markt, and stunning to see all day and at NIGHT. For $12 you can climb 366 steps to the top. The sights are amazing to see the inner workings of the clock. The view from the top is OK, it has a wire cage around it so it’s hard to take photos. The view of the city from the top of the De Halve Man brewery is much better. TIP: This has long line of tourists, so go early before the crowds. Not recommended if you’re claustrophobic because the steps are narrow and windy.

The Belfort Tower

BRUGES SIGHTS - Windmills

Rent bikes! Go see the windmills! It’s a long walk from the center city of Bruges, but a quick & scenic bike ride. Follow the river perimeter around the center city and you’ll see the calm windmills as an escape from the busy city.

Windmills of Bruges

BRUGES ACTIVITY - Free walking tour

Most European cities have walking tours, Bruges has several for free! Just tip the tour guide! This is a great way to see the major sites in the city in just a few hours, and learn history too! The picture is the most historic canal in Bruges.. and my favorite!

Free walking tour

BRUGES BEER - De Halve Maan Brewery

For something to do, TOUR the Brewery! The tour is really cool, around €15-20 which includes 2 beer tickets, and a roof top view of Bruges! The beer is decent, but the tour and view is amazing.

De Halve Maan Brewery

BRUGES PUBS - De Garre

De Garre is a must-try beer bar with the best Triple (a strong ABV beer), in photo. It’s on the SMALLEST street in Bruges, it’s easy to miss. Look for a cobblestone tiny alley!

De Garre

BRUGES PUBS - 2be

Come visit the famous beer wall at 2be!! There’s a ton of outdoor seating here, and more outdoor patio seating overlooking the canal out back. There’s also a beer store for carryout in the basement!!

2be

GHENT ACTIVITY - Gravensteen Castle

Take a day-trip from Brussels or Bruges to Ghent. The midevil castle of Gravensteen is worth the trip! I was so fascinated by this massive castle, which is now turned into a museum. Ticket entry $13

Gravensteen Castle

GHENT SIGHTS - Graslei

This is the most picture-worthy spot in Ghent. Center of the city.

Graslei and Korenlei

Belgian chocolate

Chocolate is everywhere on every corner. Make sure to ask if it’s family run or if it’s a corporate chain. Do not get sucked into places like Godiva! The small, local owned chocolate shops are the best! My favorite of all time is the chocolaterie De Burg in Bruges (locates next to the Basicila de Blood in the Burg square).

Chocolaterie de Burg

Belgian waffles

Eat as many waffles as you can! There are everywhere, so pick the ones that are freshly made, NOT ones sitting in the window on display. My favorite waffles were from the waffle TRUCK IN BRUGES! The truck sits in the Burg Square daily. These were to die for!

Belize - Ambergris Cay & Caye Caulker

Where I stayed, ate, and explored!

Travel Date: July 2019

I’ve been to Belize twice. Once in Ambergris Caye once in Caye Caulker. Either place requires a boat ride from the ferry terminal, or a short puddle jumper flight from BZE airport. Belize is amazing for its excursions. Don’t come to sit at the hotel all day, because the beaches are somewhat murky due to the sea grass. The beautiful water and amazing coral reefs are a quick boat ride away. There are excursion companies all over the islands to take you everywhere.

MONEY TIP: The ferry is much cheaper

PACKING TIP: pack bug spray and wear long pants at night. The mosquitos got me!

1. Amergris Caye I preferred because there’s more to do.

2. Caye Caulker is unique because there’s no cars on this island. You ride bikes, walk, or golf cart.

HOTEL - Blue Tang Inn (Ambergris)

We LOVED the Blue Tang Inn. Pretty affordable compared to bigger resorts, $150/night. Ocean front views, hammocks, free breakfast, pool. Walking distance to everything. Amazing staff. Would love to stay here again!

Blue Tang Inn

ACTIVITIES - Sirena Azul Sailboat (Ambergris)

At the Blue Tang Inn, is a historic sailboat you can do a day-sail to the marine reserve for snorkeling, or a night dinner sail. The marine reserve was amazing! So many nurse sharks, sting rays, and turtles.

Sirena Azul Sailing excursion

ACTIVITIES - Chuck & Robbies scuba diving

We scuba dived with Chuck & Robbies Dive center. Great people. The boat was small and not so luxurious, but smaller boat means less people, so we enjoyed that! The dive sites in Belize are some of the BEST in the world.

Chuck and Robbies scuba Dive & snorkel

ACTIVITIES - Lazy Lizard @ The Split (Caye Caulker)

The Lazy Lizard is a bar/restaurant at the farthest end of Caye Caulker called “The Split.” You can eat here and watch people trying to swim across the split, or you can go down the waterslide and hang out in the water with a drink. I love the cornhole games here too.

The Split & The Lazy Lizard

DINING - Palapa Bar (Ambergris)

We came to Palapa bar every day! Food & drinks are great, but the pier with the beach chairs and floating inner tubes outside the bar is the best!

Palapa Bar

DINING - Hungry Grouper (Ambergris)

By far our most FAVORITE restaurant in Belize! We loved it so much we ate here twice! The food is to die for, and the owner/chef is amazing. He custom made my fish with a variety of sauces from the menu!

Hungry Grouper

DINING - Estel’s (Ambergris)

Estel’s for breakfast! (Or lunch) it has a beautiful beach front view. But it’s packed here all the time, so expect to wait for a table.

Estel’s by the Sea

DINING - El Fogon (Ambergris)

This was a great restaurant, recommended by a local on the island. Cute outdoor dining atmosphere, great food & drink.

El Fogon

Bermuda

Bermuda on a budget!

Travel date: May 2019

Let’s face it, Bermuda is one of the most expensive islands you can visit that’s only a few hours flight from the east coast. However, with flight deals as cheap as $320 round trip, there are ways to see Bermuda on a budget!

1. Wait for a flight sale. They happen often. Set Google flight alerts, or check the flight special websites I have linked in the “Flight Deals” tab.

2. Use TripAdvisor to find cheaper hotels. They will be 2-star rated, and not in the beach, but user ratings of 4 green circles is still a good, clean, trustworthy place to sleep.

3. Pick a hotel walking distance to a convenience store. Groceries are expensive in Bermuda, so stash your own water and snacks in the hotel. Even better... Pack them if you can!

4. There’s no rental cars in Bermuda, and no Uber. Only taxis, and they are not cheap. So pick a hotel walking distance to a beach if that means the most to you, or walking distance to downtown if you want a bar scene every night. There are Gypsy cabs, but they’re hard to find. Everything is safe here, so don’t worry about that.

TIP: there’s a local app for Bermuda cabs, called “Hitch” so you can order your own cab, and track their location. Similar to uber. Download it, thank me later.

HOTEL - The Sandpiper

My second time to Bermuda we picked the Sandpiper because it was the cheapest option, I think $180-200/night, with a pool, and good location to walk to the beach, and the Swizzle restaurant. It was a simple apartment, a little outdated, but very clean, and a full kitchen to store our booze & snacks. The pool was nice! And the staff were great. I’d stay here again!

The Sandpiper Apartment-Hotel

HOTEL - Grotto Bay Resort

Grotto Bay has it all... but for a price. My first visit to Bermuda I stayed here, but not for long because it’s over $400/night. However, if you want a resort with a little of everything, this is it. The beach is fantastic and has great snorkeling with a lot of fish... there’s even a sunken shipwreck off the beach for snorkeling. The beach chairs are already setup. There’s a beach restaurant and indoor dining onsite. The scuba dive shop is onsite. BEST PART: there’s a cave you can go into, and swim in there!! Part of the spa is also in this cave if you want to treat yourself. The rooms are a bit outdated, but who cares.

Grotto Bay resort is also the closest to the airport, only 5 min drive so the taxi fare will be cheap. But it’s not close to downtown, so you can’t get much nightlife here besides walking to the Swizzle Inn.

Grotto Bay Resort

SIGHTS - Horseshoe Bay Beach

FREE! This is probably the prettiest, largest beach in Bermuda. I loved this beach. The snorkeling wasn’t the best here, but the pictures were! And pretty pink sand!

Horseshoe Bay Beach

SIGHTS - Warwick Beach

FREE! This beach is also called Marley beach on Google maps. Some locals call it Secret Beach. No one goes here, so you’ll have the beach to yourself. (We did!) However, the wind & water was more rough on this side, and there’s no beach amenities. So pack your own towels, chairs, and coolers, and you can have a nice cheap beach day away from the crowds. It’s hard to find, walk through a pathway or look for the brick stairs.

Warwick bay Secret beach

SIGHTS - Tobacco Bay Beach

Tobacco bay beach offers beautiful scenery, and entertainment. There’s a restaurant & bar here, so you can sip drinks on the beach. And there’s a pool table and ping pong if the weather is nice. Problem is, it’s a small beach, so you are basically laying on top of your neighbors. And you have to pay for chairs & umbrella. There is a small area to the side for free if you want to lay towels in the sand.

Tobacco Bay beach

SIGHTS - Blue Hole

FREE! If you want to go hiking.. an easy hike, turn on Google Maps and walk yourself through the woods to find this big hidden Blue Hole. It’s cool looking, but I couldn’t figure out an easy way to go swimming in it, so I didn’t jump. But others did! How they got out, I have no idea LOL.

Blue Hole Park

ACTIVITY - Front Street bars & shops

Front street is the main strip downtown with all the shops and bars. We ventured here every night for the bar scene since it seems to the be the only nightlife open after 9/10pm.

Front street

ACTIVITY - Crystal and Fantasy Caves

This is a good backup plan if it’s raining. I never actually visited the caves since we didn’t get rain, and I had limited time. But, Bermuda is famous for its caves so I hear this is worth the visit if you need a break from the beach. Entry is $24 each cave, or buy both caves for $35.
TIP: it gets crowded so ask what times are best for less crowds.

Crystal & Fantasy Caves

DINING - The Swizzle

The Swizzle is FAMOUS in Bermuda. There’s 2 locations, both are great. Get the famous Swizzle cocktail, it’s like a boozy fruit punch that will totally creep up on you! The food is good too, but the atmosphere is the best. (The photo is from the Warwick location)

The Swizzle

DINING - Mickeys Beach Bistro

Very nice restaurant, waterfront. We had great food and cocktails while enjoying the view. It’s part of Elbow Beach resort, so you can poke around the resort if you’re nosy :) Just can’t use their beach chairs, but the sand is free!

Mickeys Beach Bistro

PACKING TIPS

I can’t explain how expensive Bermuda is. $9 a beer, $15 breakfast sandwich. So, PACK as much as you can with you!! If you’re checking a bag, pack liquids! I packed my own vodka in water bottles (it’s legal, I just put in plastic so glass won’t break). I pack powder electrolytes and MIO drink mixers cause they take up less space and can be mixed with water upon arrival. PACK SNACKS!! Pack granola bars for breakfast, fruit snacks, cheeze Its, Chex mix, nuts, munchies. Anything for snacks at the pool/beach, and to save you from buying breakfast daily. PACK SUNSCREEN and a hat.

Bonaire

A scuba divers paradise!

Travel Date: July 2018

Bonaire is part of the Dutch Caribbean islands. The “ABC islands” is Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

Get to Bonaire by flying into Curaçao (CUR) and taking a local island plane to BON. Or look for your main airline flight to BON, but it won’t be a direct flight and might be more expensive than just flying into CUR.

Rent a car. It’s the only way around. Most of the rentals are pick-up trucks with racks in the back because divers need to lug their air tanks and gear in the bed of the truck, and they pull right up on the beach to walk out to the dive site. There’s over 80 dive sites and most don’t even require a boat! This was my first time ever “shore diving” and I loved it.

I got my Advanced PADI certification here. Was very cool walking down the beach and swimming to 80+ ft drop offs and wrecks. I love Bonaire. It’s definitely a scuba divers island. If you don’t dive, you might be bored here.

TIP: need booties. Don’t dive with full-foot fins because booties save your feet walking across the coral and rough beaches to the water.

HOTEL - El Encanto

I stayed at this hotel because it was the cheapest option as a solo traveler, for a nice hotel. It was $75/night, clean, but further away from the “downtown” areas so having a car was important. The hotel was not crowded, I rarely saw anyone use the pool, or the restaurant. The fish at the restaurant was actually very delicious.
**looks like this hotel is now closed** so I recommend using TripAdvisor to find a comparable option. I’ve heard Buddy Dive resort is nice.

El Encanto Boutique Hotel

ACTIVITY - GOOODive

I chose Gooodive because other (closer) dive shops were sold out for lessons. I wanted an Advanced scuba diving cert, so that takes 3 full days and no one else could accommodate me. Gooodive was amazing. I love them, live the shop, and I learned so much with my advanced license that makes me a better diver. Highly recommend Gooodive!

GOOODive

ACTIVITY - 1000 Steps

1000 steps is a famous dive site named by the long narrow staircase to get to the beach. Also, it’s just as great snorkeling here. I snorkeled, and found tons of fish, including a scorpion fish!

1000 Steps dive site & snorkeling

ACTIVITY - Hilma Hooker shipwreck

This is a famous shipwreck, right off shore. You. Park the truck, walk down the beach, and the wreck is a short swim as it drops 60-90 ft deep. Fully in-tact, full shipwreck. Amazing to see! This pic was after I dove the wreck, as part of my advanced scuba license.

Hilma Hooker shipwreck

DINING - Chibi Chibi

This restaurant is nice for a sunset dinner. Beautiful view of the water while you eat. The restaurant is inside the Divi Flamingo beach resort.
**looks like the restaurant has a new name now, but same location at Divi**

Chibi Chibi restaurant

DINING - La Creperie

Amazing breakfast! With a view!! I was so happy for this breakfast :)

La Creperie

Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman (East end vs. Seven Mile Beach), Cayman Brac, Little Cayman

Cayman Islands is one of the most expensive islands in all the Caribbean. It’s beautiful, but $9 a beer and $550/night for hotels is not my style. However, there’s a way to see Cayman Islands on a budget!!

1. Look for flight deals. As long as your travel dates are flexible, Cayman Islands often runs flight sales from major airports. See my “Flight Deals” page at the end of this blog for tips. Or, setup Google flights price alerts so you’re emailed when prices drop. I paid $350 round trip from PHL to GCM, and my second visit paid $275 round trip from Miami. Cayman Brac CYB, cost $350 round trip from Miami.

2. Seven Mile Beach area has the most expensive hotels, because it’s where the most tourists are, restaurants, shops, etc. Staying here I split the room with 3 other friends. When I didn’t have a group to split the costs, I stayed on the East end where it’s more quiet and half the price.

3. Rent a car (it’s cheap, $50/day) and drive yourself to the East side where everything is half price. NOTE: cars drive on the right side of the road! But the roads are easy to navigate, so no better place to learn! Also Rum Point is cool to see!

4. Visit different beaches around the island for free! Pack a lunch, bring your own snacks, and your own booze & mixers in insulated water bottles.

5. Use TripAdvisor for local food! Restaurants on Seven Mile Beach are expensive, but if you want a night to splurge, it’s delicious. See below for suggestions.

CURRENCY: the Cayman island dollar is stronger than USD, so as you’re reading menu prices and it seems affordable, remember to convert to USD and it becomes more expensive. Everywhere takes credit cards so I didn’t need cash, but you can pull cash from ATM for tips.

SAFETY: I felt very safe everywhere on the island. Even on the east side where it’s less crowded, and at local eateries.

CAYMAN BRAC: Has a major airport with direct flights from Miami. A much smaller, quieter island, is best for scuba diving, cave exploration, rock climbing, and outdoor activities. There’s not much nightlife here after 9pm, but the beaches are beautiful and the coral reefs are pristine.

LITTLE CAYMAN: Even more secluded than Brac, with no major airport. You arrive by puddle jumper jet from either Cayman island. There’s no more boat/ferry option. Scuba diving is also pristine here as the reefs are less visited by tourists. But there’s not much else to do on the island.

HOTEL - Marriott Seven Mile Beach

Marriott was really impressive. It was cheaper than the Westin or other Seven Mile resorts, the beach was great for snorkeling, watersports, and the food & bar drinks was very delicious. The hotel bar was open later than most actual bars in town! Fantastic gin & tonics. The rooms were clean, and the service staff were really friendly. Pricy, $400-500/night, so split it with friends!

Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort

HOTEL - Morritt’s Tortuga Club (EAST End)

Morritt’s was amazing! Huge resort with multiple swimming pools, including an infinity edge with a pool bar. Scuba Diving on-site. And rates are only $250/night which is half price compared to other resorts by Seven Mile Beach. It’s 45 mins from the airport.

Morritt’s Tortuga Club

HOTEL (BRAC) - Cayman Brac Beach Resort

Convenient all-inclusive dive resort. It’s 10 mins from the airport and handicap accessible. Huge swimming pool, relaxing hammocks on the beach, delicious all-inclusive meals, and amazing staff. Outdated rooms and average bar drinks. Amazing dive shop & crew.

Cayman Brac Beach Resort

ACTIVITY - Scuba diving (Seven Mile)

When staying in Seven Mile beach, go scuba diving with Wall to Wall divers. I had the best dives with this company, the best spacious boat, and small crowds (no more than 6 divers at a time).

I also dove with DNS Divers, they were great too, but more crowded. Ask to dive the North Wall!! The North Wall is siiiiiiiick with so many amazing dive sites. The wall drops hundreds of feet! It’s like a cliff underwater.

Wall to Wall Divers

ACTIVITY - Tortuga Divers (EAST End)

Tortuga divers was awesome! Located inside the Morritt’s Tortuga Club. Funny story, the morning of my dive, I got a Qtip stuck inside my ear and I was scared to dive for fear I wouldn’t be able to equalize my ears. The dive instructors tried to pick the cotton swab out, but couldn’t, so I ended up going to the hospital for professional tools. But the diving staff were amazing in trying to help, and let me come back that afternoon to dive without any advance notice.

Tortuga Divers

ACTIVITY - Stingray City

My first visit to GCM I refused to visit stingray city because I didn’t agree with the concept and wasn’t educated enough to decide if it was ethical. My second visit, I went. I spoke to locals, my dive instructors, and boat captains. None of them seemed to protest against stingray city and they almost all have visited themselves. They told me during Covid, when there’s no tourists, they would get approval to visit stingray city and feed the stingrays just to keep them on the sandbar because no one was visiting and feeding them for nearly a year. The stingrays have been trained to receive food here for so many years it’s become their natural behavior. Whether or not this is ethical I still can’t decide, however it’s not a captive environment and the locals seem to really care about the stingrays.
One local was on the boat and even brought her family to visit the stingrays. So I figured if the locals are supporting the businesses to visit stingray city I might as well. It was a great time!

Stingray City - Captain Marvins

ACTIVITY - Cayman Crystal Caves

What to do if it’s raining?? Explore the caves!! I never went, and I usually won’t post recs if I haven’t been there myself, but I heard it’s cool because not only do you explore the caves, but there is also a rainforest afterwards to see. $40 adult tickets. If you go, message me and tell me if it’s worth it!

Cayman Crystal Caves

ACTIVITY (BRAC) - The Bluff hike/climb

The highest point of Cayman Brac is called the Bluff. It’s a 200-ft cliff with beautiful views. Hike it, or rock climb like I did!

The Bluff

SIGHTS - Cemetery Beach (Seven mile)

For a free beach day, try Cemetery beach! The views are beautiful here and the snorkeling is some of the best on the west end (so I’ve researched… when I visited the waters were too rough to snorkel). Free parking and public bathroom & shower here too.

Cemetery Beach

SIGHTS - Rum Point Beach (EAST end)

For a free beach day, away from the crowds of Seven Mile Beach, come to Rum Point instead! It’s so chill here, relaxed, and even has a good beach bar for food & drinks. The beach was pretty empty when I visited, I basically had it to myself! Great snorkeling here too, calm waters.

Rum Point

SIGHTS - Blow Holes (East end)

If you stay on the East end, stop by the Blow holes for a quick photo and a free 15 min of fun. I wouldn’t necessarily drive 45 to see this if you’re staying on Seven mile beach.

Blow Holes

SIGHTS (BRAC) - Rebecca’s Cave

Free, visit to Rebecca’s cave and learn history. The infant who drowned here during the 1932 hurricane and now the cave is named after her.

Rebecca’s Cave

SIGHTS (BRAC) - Bat Cave

Literally bats inside this cave!! Dare to enter!?? So cool. Amazing colors too.

Bat Cave

DINING - Agua (Seven Mile)

This was our favorite meal the entire trip! Every single dish was absolutely fantastic. Some of the most delicious and artistic food I’ve eaten in a long time! Bravo chef. Also a cool outdoor dining atmosphere!

Agua

DINING - Union Grill & Bar (Seven mile)

Right next to Agua is another amazing 5 star restaurant called Union Grill. Our food was equally unique and delicious. The service was top notch. We were the last customers dining late and they stayed open just for us and treated us like royalty. The gin & tonics were to die for!! The truffle mushroom pâté was the best!!

Union Bar & Grill

DINING - Ms. Pipers Kitchen (Seven mile)

We came here for drinks and apps, and live music. Amazing!! The band was so fun. The drinks were fancy and creative. The outside garden seating was a cool vibe. Love this place. It’s inside the Hampton Hilton next door to the Marriott.

Ms. Pipers Kitchen

DINING - Peppers (Seven mile)

Peppers resultant was right across the street from Marriott, so easy walk. The jerk chicken was really good. But you’re not going to get fancy food here, but it’s local and chill.

Peppers Bar & Grill

DINING - Tukka (East end)

For fancy dinner or lunch with a great waterfront view, come to Tukka! Fresh seafood and craft cocktails. It’s not the cheapest, but for the amazing food, atmosphere, and views, it’s still cheaper than the other side of the island! They also have Happy Hour specials!

Tukka

DINING - KAIBO Beach Restaurant

If you’re north near Rum Point or Starfish beach, visit KAIBO for lunch. The food is delicious and you can’t beat dining with your toes in the sand!!

KAIBO Beach Restaurant

DINING - The Wreck Bar at Rum Point

Rum Point is a must-see. It’s so chill, relaxed, and beautiful. Wreck Bar is the restaurant at Rum Point and it’s got great food for decent prices. And you can’t beat the view! Stay for hours, enjoy the beach, and eat lunch & drinks at Wreck bar. **(CLOSED as of July 2022, so check the website when it reopens)

Wreck Bar & Grill

DINING - Kurt’s Corner (CLOSED as of 2022)

Kurt’s Corner had my FAVORITE food on the island! The place looks like a shack not to be trusted, but holy shit the food was authentic! Cayman style, amazing curry, and so flavorful. Order at the counter, saves money, very affordable. Just go!!

Kurt’s Corner

Curaçao

My favorite A-B-C island!

Travel date: May 2023

The ABC islands are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. I’ve finally visited all 3!

I prefer Curaçao because it reminds me of Europe with the colorful waterfront downtown business district, but has the perfect Caribbean island feel at the same time.

The beaches are beautiful, the water is crystal clear, and the scuba diving is amazing! There’s shore dives & boat dives, and plenty of beach resorts with delicious food for the non-divers.

It’s easily accessible by air, with multiple flights from most major US airports.

Safe to travel alone! You’ll want to rent a car at least 2 days to explore the island and see different beaches (and shore dives)!

HOTEL - Lions Dive Beach Resort

Loved it here! Multiple restaurants on site, several with beach front views. Boardwalk with shopping, coffee shops, and souvineers. Onsite dive shop was the BEST. Walk-out house reef off the beach fantastic for night dives.

Lions Dive Beach Resort

HOTEL - Dolphin Suites

Located across from Lions Dive Resort, Dolphin Suites is a more affordable option since there’s no direct beach access. You must walk 5 mins to Lion’s Dive beach across the street.

Dolphin Suites & Wellness

ACTIVITY - Ocean Encounters

Ocean Encounters is one of the best dive companies I’ve ever used, worldwide! Their staff is highly trained, fun, and excellent managing handicap divers and new divers. They taught us how to spear lionfish! You can rent tanks from them for your own shore diving. They have snorkel trips and boat trips for non-divers too. Highly recommend!!

Ocean Encounters

SIGHTS - Downtown Pontoon Bridge

Walking the bridge is a must-do!! The sights of the colorful European style houses are just the best views!

Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge

SIGHTS - Mount Christoffel

The highest mountain peak of Curaçao! It’s a challenging but rewarding hike to the top. The hiking trail becomes more like steep rock climbing by the end. It took about an hour to hike up, no amenities so bring your own water!

Mount Christoffel

SIGHTS - Watamula Hole

Easy flat hike to a coral rock cliff, with a blowhole. I wouldn’t waste my time here, but worth the free visit if you’re already driving by. Cute wild goats along the hike.

Watamula Hole

DINING - Hemingway Beach Bar

Stunning views of clear water beaches while you have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at this beachfront restaurant!

Hemingway Beach Bar

DINING - Nemo Sushi

Delicious sushi, beautiful oceanfront views. Slow service.

Nemo Sushi & Wok

Denmark

2.5 days in Copenhagen was not enough!

Travel date: April 2024

I visited Copenhagen for a Dave Matthews concert at Royal Arena. Copenhagen came highly recommended to me from friends, because there’s a lot to see and do! I fell in love with Nyhavn, this is a must-see! I wish I had 1 more day, because I didn’t get to visit Reffen, or climb the outside windy stairs of Church of Our Saviour for a city view.

I didn’t realize the original Little Mermaid is from here!

Trains, trolleys, subways are so easy to take. You can also rent bikes & scooters to get around anywhere. Locals ride bikes, there’s a lot of bikes!!

-Currency is Danish Krone. Not Euros. But credit card is accepted everywhere, I never used cash.
-Easy to get here by train from any neighboring country.
-Safe, no concerns walking around alone at night to visit the bars!

HOTEL: Absalon Hotel

Cute hotel with a simple free breakfast, and hotel bar with good cocktails. No restaurant attached though. Great location, 2 blocks from central train station and Tívoli Gardens! Decent price about $170/night.

Absalon Hotel

SIGHTS: Nyhavn

The most beautiful part of Copenhagen! Famous street lined with colorful houses. I could stay here for hours! Tons of restaurants here too.

Nyhavn

SIGHTS: Strøget street

A popular street with tons of shops & beautiful architecture buildings. The Guinness Book of World Records museum is also here.

Strøget

SIGHTS - The original Little Mermaid

Did you know the Little Mermaid was created by a Danish author from Copenhagen? She represents good luck overlooking the harbor to keep the ships safe from bad weather. See her for FREE! Easy bike ride or subway there.

The Little Mermaid

SIGHTS: City Hall

I didn’t go inside because I ran out of time, but I think you can tour it. It was massive and grand from the outside!

Copenhagen City Hall

ACTIVITY: Tívoli Gardens

One of the original amusement parks! Such a beautiful park! Even if you don’t ride the rides, it’s still worth the entrance fee to walk around the park.

Tívoli Gardens

ACTIVITY: Rosenborg Castle

I loved this castle! So grand inside the rooms are exquisite!! Take the tour, it’s worth it!!

Rosenborg Castle

DINING: Galionen Bistro 23

While walking around Nyhavn, I ate lunch at #23 (all restaurants identify by their address). It was very good, and the cozy outdoor patio blankets were the best.

Galionen Bistro 23, Nyhavn

DINING - TORVEHALLEN Food Market

I love shopping at food markets. I can walk around to all the vendors and pick multiple local foods to eat. I had delicious Danish pastries, nuts, coffee, and tea to bring home!

TORVEHALLEN

BEERS/DRINKS: Mikkeller Pub

I’m a beer snob, and Mikkeller is my favorite beer from Denmark. I drink it in the USA at pubs skilled enough to import their craft beers. Their sours are the best!
NOTE: there’s 3-4 different locations, so check Google Maps for the location nearest you!

Mikkeller Bar

Honduras: Roatan

My 40th birthday scuba diving daydream!

Travel date: July 2023

Roatan is an island off the north coast of Honduras. It’s long and skinny, so the west side of the island has all the touristy bars & restaurants, and the east side is more secluded with private beaches and bungalows.

The island has its own international airport, RTB, so you don’t need to fly to the mainland or take a puddle jumper (like you need to for Belize). Direct flights from Miami are pretty cheap, especially during the off-season months of July-Sept.

Roatan is a scuba divers paradise. Most tourism revolves around diving. There’s 150 dive sites around the island, all just 5-10 min boat ride from shore. Snorkeling is great too.

The island itself is generally safe, and most speak English. USD$ is also accepted everywhere, but if you don’t have exact change you’ll likely get local Lempira currency back. ATMs will dispense Lempira, and a lot of establishments are cash only.
Tip: if paying in USD, make sure there’s no rips or imperfections, they will decline the USD.

Water is not safe to drink from hotel faucets, so drink bottle water and be careful brushing your teeth. I got the runs by Day 3, but the local pharmacy sells OTC CIPRO which saved me!

Outlets were US-compatible so I didn’t need a power adapter.
Upon arrival to airport it’s best to pre-book your transportation to the hotel. Taxis can be inconsistent.

HOTEL - Splash Inn Dive Resort

For $80/night which includes breakfast and diving, this was the cheapest hotel that looked clean with decent reviews. You get what you pay for, no ocean view room, the A/C only works with a room key inserted, and there’s no pool on the property. But the dive shop was amazing and made it all worth it. The hotel staff are awesome too. If you’re on a budget, this works.

Splash Inn

HOTEL - Anthony’s Key Dive Resort

Disclosure: I did NOT stay here because my group was more budget-conscious, but I’ve had several friends stay at Anthony’s Key and absolutely loved it. Higher quality all-inclusive, dives included, hence the higher price around $300/night. I would love to stay here next time! NOTE: it’s located in Sandy Bay, so not walking distance to downtown West Bay. (Stock photo not my own)

Anthony’s Key Dive Resort

ACTIVITY - Scuba Diving

There’s over 30 dives shops on the West End. Splash Inn has their own shop, pier to dock their boats, dunk tanks, showers, and locker rooms. The crew was the best, especially Tania our dive instructor.

Splash Inn Dive Shop

ACTIVITY - Water Taxi to West Bay

West End is different from West Bay. West End has the late night bars & night clubs, where as West Bay has beautiful beach front resorts & restaurants. Take the water taxi! It’s a lot safer than walking, and adds to the experience.

Water Taxi to West Bay

SIGHTS - Rusty Fish Recycled Art

Souvenir shopping? I loved the Rusty Fish, everything made here is from recycled metals, plastics, or fabric, made by local artists. Feel-good store!

Rusty Fish

DINING - Calelu’s

Best for a cheap lunch! $1.75 Baleadas were my favorite lunch of the week! Also has a small grocery store attached. Great views from the upstairs deck!

Calelu’s

DINING - The Sunken Fish

This tree-top restaurant and eco-lodge has amazing beach views, and food! It’s in Sandy Bay, so take a taxi from West End. Worth it!

The Sunken Fish

DINING - Argentinian Grill (West End)

My favorite meal of the week!! We took the water taxi here. Open-air , beach front Steakhouse with plenty of fish and veggie options. Espresso martinis were the best!

Argentinian Grill

DINING - Ipanema Beach Bar

Awesome views, over the water restaurant! But the food was a tad overpriced and OK quality. Definitely paying for the views.

Ipanema Beach Bar

DINING/BARS - Happy Harry’s

Happy Harrys has the coolest ambiance. There’s overwater hammocks, hammock beds, swings, and an upstairs for better views. Colorful, vibrant, and live DJ. I didn’t eat here but the views are worth a visit!

Happy Harry’s Hideaway

BARS - Tita’s Pink Seahorse

Best local beach bar! Feet in the sand, great chill crowd, cornhole bags, and fish specials. We met so many locals here! Tita is the owner and bartender, she’s amazing! So his her staff. We drank here every night.

Tita’s Pink Seahorse

HUNGARY - Budapest

So underrated! It’s magical here!

Travel Date: Nov 2016

Budapest is one of my favorite Eastern European locations. Plan for at least 3 days here! There’s so much to see and do, that you won’t do it justice in 1-day “pass through.” Make it a destination. It’s also very affordable given their lower currency rates.

Budapest is famous for the Thermal Baths. Try several! They’re all very different experiences.

The architecture is stunning! You’ll spend a lot of time roaming the streets looking at the cathedrals, the Parliament, the many bridges, and the castle.

VISITOR TIPS:
1. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes.
2. Try the local food, goulash, it’s delicious.
3. Visit the downtown food markets. You can get the best bang for your buck here!
4. Always CALL A TAXI. There are fake “imposter” taxis in Budapest that will rip you off significantly. Never hail a cab in the streets, they are imposters. Real, regulated taxis sit in designated areas or need to be phoned in.
5. Download Google translate. Many tourist areas speak English but it’s hard to understand.
6. CURRENCY: Hungarian forint (NOT Euro). Withdrawal from local ATM upon arrival to airport. Don’t waste money converting currency and losing exchange fees.

PACKING TIPS:
1. European electric plug adapter
2. Light backpack or drawstring bag to wear while you walk the city.
3. Check the weather and pack heavy jackets if winter.
4. Your most comfortable walking shoes
5. Bathing suit or 2 for the thermal baths
6. Suitcase scale, if traveling to other European countries via air. Most European airlines have lesser weight limits (7kg) for carry-on luggage than US does.

ACTIVITY - Széchenyi Thermal Bath

This was my favorite thermal bath because it was the largest, and most beautiful architecture. It’s also one of the only outdoor baths, which I was nervous during November when it was freezing outside, but still very worth it.
Entry price $12, or more if you add a massage package.
NOTE: currently closed per COVID-19, but check the website for reopening.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath

ACTIVITY - Gellért Thermal Bath

These baths are all indoors, but is still large enough to try several baths at different temperatures. Again, beautiful architecture.
Entry price $13.
NOTE: currently closed per COVID-19. Check website prior to visiting.

Gellért Thermal Bath

ACTIVITY - Hungarian Parliament tour

The Hungarian Parliament is the most stunning building in all of Budapest. I could stare at it for hours. Make sure to walk by at night and during the daytime, it really glows at night!
FREE to just admire the outside.
$15-$20 to tour the inside. Worth it!

Hungarian Parliament tour

ACTIVITY - Buda Castle

This castle is HUGE!! I couldn’t stop staring at it, daytime and especially night time when it glows. It sits atop the hill on the Buda side of the Danube, and is stunning. I never toured the inside, but I wish I did.

Buda Castle

ACTIVITY - Fisherman’s Bastion

FREE to walk around this area and admire the architecture. Its located on the Buda side of the Danube. You can take a tour bus here which I recommend, so you can see other sights along the way. It’s uphill and too far to walk from the Pest side of town.

Fisherman’s Bastion “Halaszbastya”

SIGHTS - St. Stephen’s Basilica

FREE is walking around the city and admiring the beautiful Basilicas. You can also enter for free if you want to see the inside.
St. Stephen’s is located on the Pest side of town.

St. Stephen’s Basilica

SIGHTS - Szechenyi Lanchid Bridge

This is the most extravagant and beautiful bridge in the center of Budapest. Each bridge has its own design and beauty, but this was my favorite. FREE to walk it!

Szechenyi Lanchid Bridge

SIGHTS - Shoes on the Danube

FREE! Don’t pay for a tour, you can see this for free as you walk by. Everyone is quiet here to pay respects to the Jewish people who lost their lives by being shot in their backs and falling into the Danube (hence leaving their shoes behind). Very sobering and a must-see.

Shoes on the Danube

DINING - Firkasz

Delicious local restaurant. Everything we had here was so good! And cheap! Try any meat or fish. And local beer!

Firkasz restaurant

DINING - Hungarian Bistro

This local restaurant was amazing! Must try the signature dish, Goulash. It was my favorite!!

Hungarian Bistro

JORDAN

A Wonder of the World!

Travel date: March 2024
In Jordan, you can visit a Seven Wonder of the World (Petra), float in the lowest waters on Earth (Dead Sea 1400ft below sea level), ride through the UNESCO desert of Wadi Rum, and scuba dive/snorkel in the Red Sea! There’s soooo much to see in Jordan, you’ll need a tour group or local guide that can drive you from Amman to all these places. I linked a few below, but you can also Google Jordan tour groups, or find them on TripAdvisor.

My itinerary:
DAY 1: Jerash Ruins
DAY 2: Downtown Amman & Mount Nebo
DAY 3: Dead Sea
DAY 4: Petra (a 7 wonder of the world)
DAY 5-6: Red Sea (scuba diving)
DAY 7: Wadi Rum desert

MONEY: Jordanian Dinar is worth more than the US Dollar, so withdrawal cash from the ATM but make sure you budget the conversion costing more USD $. Almost everyone takes credit card, but tips and bargains will require cash Dinar.

ATTIRE: The further south you go, the more modernized dress codes for women. In Amman and Petra, it’s respectful to cover your shoulders, chest, and knees. Tourists don’t need a full head/hair cover unless you’re entering inside a mosque or religious site. In Aqaba (Red Sea), it’s more modern, beach style, so shorts & tank tops & bikinis are OK on the beach or boat. Accessorize with a scarf at all times in case you need to use it to cover up quickly. Lightweight pants (think swishy sun-pants, or linen pants) with elastic ankles that you can pull up to your knees and make capris are best to cover your knees, jeans are too hot.

SAFETY: I felt very safe with my group and in the tourist areas. Stay away from border crossings due to political unrest. And stay away from mosques on Fridays as that’s the local day to peaceful protest. Otherwise the locals loved seeing tourists because they appreciate our tips and buying souvenirs.

POWER PLUGS: Jordan uses both the UK plugs and the EU plugs. Depending where you are, some hotels have both but it’s smart to bring a universal adapter that works for all countries.

OTHER: Some restrooms don’t have toilet paper because they use water hoses, so always bring a travel pack of tissues with you. Also, bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper because the outdoor prayers are sometimes loud at night and early morning you can hear it through your hotel wall.

TOUR GROUPS (scuba-focus)

Pick local tour guides! I used Girlsthatscubatrips.com who hires local guides for our group the entire trip. But for people who don’t scuba dive, there’s 2 more I can recommend below.

Girls That Scuba Trips

TOUR GROUPS (women)

The Blonde Abroad “TBA Escapes” is another girl travel group, that is more upscale (5-star) resorts so it’s a bit more expensive, but she runs Jordan trips twice a year and knows her stuff. My friend traveled with TBA Escapes and Highly recommends.

TBA Escapes

TOUR GROUPS (women)

Alex In Wanderland hosts girls trips to Jordan every year, with daily Yoga. You can buy just the Jordan package or also add-on the Aqaba scuba diving extension. (Stock Photo)

Alex In Wanderland Retreats

HOTEL - Amman, Sulaf Hotel

For 2 nights in Amman, we stayed at the Sulaf. It was a great price with a large buffet breakfast included, but NOT walking distance to downtown sights like the Citadel or the Roman Theatre. I would stay somewhere else if I booked this myself. I don’t even have my own photo, so using a stock image!

Sulaf Luxury Hotel

HOTEL - Petra, Old Village Resort

We stayed at the most adorable authentic hotel next to Petra. I’m obsessed with this hotel because the grounds remind me of Arabic culture, the rooms are quaint and charming, the lobby gives you the best hot tea on arrival, and the dinner & breakfast buffets were so delicious! My favorite hotel of the trip!

Old Village Resort

HOTEL - Hilton Dead Sea Resort

The Hilton was huge & beautiful. Walk right to the beach to float in the Dead Sea.. the lowest place on Earth! Rub yourself with the mineral rich mud, and feel your baby smooth skin. The Hilton rooms were luxury, and the food was all-included.

Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa

HOTEL - Aqaba, Hyatt Regency Resort

This Hyatt was top notch bougie! Massive property, fancy massive buffet breakfasts and dinners, multiple restaurants and pools, waterfront view rooms. It was walking distance to Diverse Divers which is why we stayed here. It was so fancy, it was slightly above my expense level, but hey, you’re only in Aqaba once! I loved this resort. I just didn’t spend any time in their pools since I was diving everyday. That’s my only regret!

Hyatt Regency Resort - Aqaba

HOTEL/CAMP - Wadi Rum, Bait Ali Camp

To camp in the middle of a UNESCO world heritage site, don’t expect fine luxury. The Bait Ali Camp was simple, but authentic. I enjoyed it for a night, but that’s all you need here! Book a camel ride and a desert Jeep tour! I wish I had time for the hot air balloon ride. Bring a scarf, it’s dusty!

Bait Ali Camp

SIGHTS - Jerash Ruins

A city over 6,500 years old, Jerash is an hour north of Amman. See the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa including the 2nd-century Hadrian’s Arch, and the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis. I LOVED Jerash, and easily spent 6 hours walking around this massive site of historic ruins.

Jerash

SIGHTS - Amman, The Citadel

The Amman Citadel is an archeological site at the center of downtown Amman, dating back to 1800 BC! Amazing history here, a small museum, extremely large columns, and the most beautiful city skyline view of Amman.

The Citadel

SIGHTS - Amman, Roman Theatre

Roman Theatre of Amman is a 6,000-seat, 2nd-century Roman theatre, still used today for entertainment. The history is amazing and also the city views from the top! You can walk here from downtown Amman.

Roman Theatre

SIGHTS - Mount Nebo

Mount Nebo is the historic memorial site where Moses saw the promised land. From Mount Nebo you can see Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, and Jericho. The mosaics making up the cathedral are from year 530!

Mount Nebo

SIGHTS - Petra

The entire reason why anyone comes to Jordan.. to see one of the 7 wonders of the World, PETRA! Plan for all-day, it’s a lot of walking. If you’re an advanced walker, hike to the top to see the Monastery (pictured here). It’s almost as amazing as the main Treasury (pictured at top of blog). The numerous tombs, theatres, and other ruins here define life in the historic town of Wadi Musa. Breathtaking!

Petra

ACTIVITY - Float in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth! Over 1,400ft below sea level, the water salinity is 10x saltier than anywhere else, so you just float! It’s rich in nutrients, but will burn your skin if you have a wound, so don’t shave! Also don’t splash! It will burn your eyes! So cool, it’s like a hand keeps pushing you back up to the top of the water. No fish live here either, it’s too salty for any sea life to survive. Pick a hotel that’s waterfront so you can just walk to the beach!

Dead Sea

ACTIVITY - Scuba Dive in the Red Sea

The Red Sea, specifically in Aqaba, is famous for abundant shipwrecks and reefs. Aqaba is a modern-style beach town, less conservative than northern Jordan. Wear your bathing suit and book a dive or snorkel! I highly recommend Diverse Divers, they have an amazing luxury liveaboard boat with all the amenities.

Diverse Divers - Aqaba

ACTIVITY - Wadi Rum, Camel Ride

We chose the 6am sunrise camel ride! So glad I did this, it’s such a beautiful site watching the sunrise over the desert. Book through your hotel or tour group.

Wadi Rum Excursions

ACTIVITY - Wadi Rum desert Jeep tour

Wadi Rum is a UNESCO world heritage site. Book an open-air Jeep tour through the desert to watch the sunset, it’s breathtaking! You’ll also visit some fun sights in the desert like a quicksand hill and the Bedouin camps. Book through your hotel/camp, but I’m linking other tour operators here just in case.

Wadi Rum desert excursion

DINING - Green Valley, Jerash

Walking a million steps exploring Jerash ruins makes you hungry! We stopped at Green Valley Restaurant, recommended by the locals. Delicious authentic Mediterranean mezze served family style, with the cutest patio atmosphere.

Green Valley Restaurant

DINING - Ward, Amman

Ward was walking distance to our hotel, and could accommodate our large group. The family style Arabic mezze was good, but they didn’t serve alcohol. The atmosphere was very pretty inside! I’d eat somewhere else closer to your hotel.

Ward

DINING - Hashem, Amman

Eat local Jordanian food! It’s Halal, Arabic mezze, with hummus, baba ghanoush, pitas, and dips. I loved this restaurant, it was packed with locals so you know it’s good, and for a good price. One of my favorite meals of the entire trip!

Hashem down-town

DINING - Ankyra, Aqaba

We escaped the free dinners at the Hyatt one night, and splurged on authentic Mediterranean food, at Ankyra waterfront restaurant. Walking distance from the Hyatt, and the Dive Shop. Great food!

Ankyra

Mexico: Cabo San Lucas

5 star all-inclusive resorts for affordable prices!

Travel date: Sept 2020

My husband and I traveled to Cabo San Lucas for our 2 year anniversary. Mexico is a great option for all-inclusives because let’s be honest, its Mexico!! Things are cheaper here. Most all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean are $450-$800 per night. However you can get luxury 5-star resorts in Mexico for $200-$400 per night! If you don’t want all-inclusive, then it’s less than half that price!

When staying all-inclusive, there’s less desire to leave the resort. But in Cabo, there’s a cool downtown with amazing restaurants, so it might be worth your while.

Note: Cabo San Lucas is ~40min drive from SJD airport. Make sure to pick resorts in Cabo San Lucas, not San Jose Del Cabo (which is only 10min from airport). I’m sure San Jose Del Cabo is also nice, but Cabo San Lucas is the party town with more to do.

***Traveling to Mexico during COVID does not require a Covid test. They make you fill out a health check form, and scan your temperature upon arrival. I do recommend choosing a trustworthy, high-rated resort for their cleanliness for safety. Our resort was fantastic with their cleanliness, and even had body sanitizers you step into, and turn around in circles as it sprays you. Amazing!

TIPS:
- No need for a rental car. Ubers are super cheap. Taxi to downtown is $14 but Uber is only $3!
- No need for electric plug converters.
- No need for MXP (Mexican Peso) currency. Everywhere accepted USD. See below “Packing Tips” for more in currency.
- See below “Packing Tips” for clothes/shoes other stuff to pack.
- Most people speak English, especially in hotels & restaurants. If you get in a Uber or taxi and you can’t speak Spanish, then just download Google Translate app and speak through it!

HOTEL - Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort All-Inclusive

After much research, we chose Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort because:

1. It’s 1 of 4 Pueblo Bonito resorts in Cabo, so for the price of 1, you get access to all 4.
2. It’s the largest of all 4 resorts, with the most open restaurants during COVID, and multiple swimming pools. Golf carts take you around the property, it’s so big!
3. It’s a newer property than the Rose or Blanco on the beach, so the rooms were a lot nicer. We got the upgraded room with a tanning deck, hot tub, and daily champagne service for only $60 more per night!

Glad we did! After visiting, we realize it was the best of the 4 Pueblo Bonito resorts. Even though you can’t enter the ocean on the Pacific side (it’s too dangerous), just take the shuttle to the Rose or Blanco resorts downtown on the Gulf side.

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach

ACTIVITY - Manta Scuba Diving

I’ve never been scuba diving in the Pacific before. The ocean floor can get stirred up easy and have poor visibility. Manta Divers was awesome and kept us on the Golf side for diving so we were safe. We dove Pelican Rock and Neptune’s Finger. Both were great, and our private dive instructor Luis was the best! He’s been diving these Cabo waters for over 20 years so he knows the oceans better than anyone. Very trustworthy, great boat, and great equipment. During our surface interval the captain even showed us the famous Arch, Lovers Beach, and Divorce Beach.

Manta Scuba Dive

DINING - Mango Deck

Ocean front food & drinks on the beach! We escaped the resort to party downtown. Mango Deck was fun, had entertainment & DJ, beach contests, and a swimming area. Great day-time party scene!

Mango Deck

DINING - Cabo Wabo

Cabo Wabo Cantina is Sammy Hagars famous bar downtown. I didn’t eat here, but had to stop by for a photo and a Tshirt!

Cabo Wabo

Packing Tips!!!

-CLOTHES- Of course bring several tanks & shorts for the beach & pool. Also bring a few dressier options like sundresses or maxi dresses because Cabo has many nice restaurants (in resorts & downtown) that you’ll want to dress up for. TIP: bring fabrics that you can’t see sweat marks through.. so, NOT cotton. It’s too hot and you’ll sweat outside! For the plane & airport, bring one light weight long sleeve or hoodie.
-SHOES - To save on space, avoid heels. I brought 1 pair of flip flops, 1 pair of dressier flat sandals, and 1 pair of wedges. I probably didn’t even need the wedges, I wore them once. Make sure your shoes are versatile colors and can match with any of your outfits (black or tan shoes). For the plane, my feet get cold so wear closed-toed flats or sneakers on the flight.
-BEACH BAG - To save on space, I use a thin foldable bag that folds into itself and takes up the space of a deck of cards. $1 at IKEA.
-ALUMINUM WATER BOTTLE - sitting at the beach or pool for hours will roast your plastic water bottle. Bring an aluminum one so water stays cold.
-SUNSCREEN & HAT - the sun is brutal!! You will still burn wearing SPF 30 so make sure to reapply often.
-No need for a towel or hair dryer, resorts have that.
-MONEY - Don’t carry lots of cash. And if you do, keep it in low bills since tips are the best way to get great service. There’s ATMs and credit cards everywhere. Some ATMs even withdraw USD if you don’t want MXP. Don’t convert extra MXP to USD, you’ll waste more money on conversion fees. Just withdraw what you need, and charge the rest. Any leftover MXP, leave it as housekeeping tips or bartender tips.

Panama

3 days was not enough!

Travel date: April 2022

I generally can see enough to satisfy my curiosity for a destination in 3 days. This was NOT the case for Panama, as there was so much more to see and do than I realized. I wish I had 4 more days as I didn’t see enough of this beautiful place!

1. Spend a day in city center, and see the Panama Canal. Also visit the historic district for dinner & nightlife. If I had more time I would have also rented a scooter down the causeway.

2. Visit San Blas Islands. It’s beautiful. Just beware the long travel times and bumpy roads to get there are not good if you get car sick.

3. Bocas Del Toro is most famous in Panama for the over water huts for tourists. You’ll need to fly a local puddle jumper, (or drive 10 hrs) which I didn’t have time for this trip.

4. For scuba, the best place for diving is Coiba Island. Large marine life often seen is manta rays, whale sharks, white tip sharks. Drive 6hrs to Santa Catalina, and dive operations will take you from there. If you don’t have enough time, try diving in Portobelo which is a 2 hour drive from Panama City. Also offered is “2 Oceans in 1 Day” dive trips where you dive the Caribbean and the Pacific.

TIPS:
- currency is USD, so no need to exchange money.
- electric plugs are also US outlets
- a lot of people in the city speak English, so it’s manageable if you don’t know Spanish. Ask nicely for English please.
- do NOT take a taxi, they will rip off tourists. Take Uber instead, it’s cheap.
- look for flight sales; PTY airport is often less than $200 round trip from MIA on Copa Airlines or American. (See the end of the blog pages for flight deals)
- very safe for female travelers, except I heard of some spotty areas downtown in historic district after dark. Stay near the bars/restaurants and you’ll be fine.
- no COVID-19 tests are required to enter for vaccinated travelers.

Poland

My Heritage!

Travel date: April 2024

Poland was amazing! My ancestors are Polish, so I couldn’t wait to visit here. I grew up eating Perogies and Golabkis at Grandmas house. Both Warsaw and Krakow were charming, beautiful cities. Visit both! The train runs every hour, so public transit is easy and affordable.

CURRENCY: Poland doesn’t use Euro, they have their own currency, so it’s best to withdraw cash upon arrival. Some places will accept Euro, but you’ll get change back in Polish Zloty. Overall, Poland is very affordable and you get a lot more for your money here.

TRANSIT: Public transit is easy and often. The train connects Warsaw & Krakow and runs every hour. Inter-city trams and busses are safe and cheap. Uber is also very cheap in Poland.

TIPS:
- Tip 10-20% on dining. Tips aren’t expected for taxis, or other services besides dining/restaurants/bars.
- Bring a EU electric plug adaptor.
- Credit Cards are accepted everywhere so you don’t really need cash. You can even tip on credit cards.
- Polish language is unique, and they will appreciate you much more if you learn how to say “thank you” in Polish... “Dziękuję”
That’s all, just learn that and you’ll make someone smile.

TRAIN from Warsaw to Krakow

Visit both Warsaw and Krakow by taking the train! It’s only 2.5 hrs and you can ride cheap in coach, or business class includes lunch. Trains run all day long!

Polish Trains

HOTEL: Bristol, Warsaw

The Bristol is a 5-star, historic, boutique hotel (owned by Marriott brands). Located next to the Presidential Palace, and walking distance to Old Town, you’re in the perfect location. The Hotel is so charming, and has the BEST speakeasy cocktail bar famous for their gin. It’s around $280/night, which is amazing when a hotel of this caliber costs double anywhere else.

Hotel Bristol

HOTEL: Bachleda Luxury MGallery, Krakow

This is a 5-star boutique hotel if you want the best service, about $300/night. It has a 5-star fine dining restaurant attached, and a very classic speakeasy cocktail basement bar. It’s a 15 min walk from the main center square, but it’s closer to the waterfront, 5 min walk. I loved this hotel, but for the price tag I prefer to stay closer to Stare Miasto.

Bachleda Luxury Hotel Kraków - MGallery

HOTEL: Amber Design Residence, Krakow

I loved the location of this hotel, and the price. For $90/night, you are 3 mins walk away from Stare Miasto. It’s boutique, 4-star hotel, but doesn’t have dining or a hotel lobby bar. They do have a 24hr front desk.

Amber Design Residence

ACTIVITY: Auschwitz-Birkenau

This is a day-tour from Krakow. The tour operator will pick you up from your hotel. It won’t be fun, but it’s necessary. Educate yourself on the cruel history of the Nazi Concentration Camps where over 6 million Jews were sentenced to death. It’s a must-do.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Day-Tour

ACTIVITY: Wieliczka Salt Mine

A Day-tour from Krakow, this can be lumped into your Auschwitz tour by the same operator, the same day. It’s about an hour drive apart. I highly recommend visiting both, because the Salt Mines were amazing!! They’ll drop you off at your hotel afterwards.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

SIGHTS: Warsaw, Old Town Square

This was my favorite part of Warsaw!! The colorful homes and architecture are so charming! I could sit here for hours.

Rynek Starego Miasta

SIGHTS: Warsaw, Castle Square

This is the central Old Town square of the Royal Palace. This square also has the famous landmark of Sigismund’s Column. Beautiful square! You can even tour inside the Palace for a fee.

Plac Zamkowy - Castle Square Warsaw

SIGHTS: Warsaw Barbican

View the historic castle-like wall that led to the old city, from the 16th century. There’s a museum here also, but I didn’t go inside.

Warsaw Barbican

SIGHTS: Warsaw Uprising Monument

Landmark outside of the Poland Supreme Court, symbolizing the sacrifice of anti-Nazi resistance fighters in 1944. There’s also a beautiful cathedral and Palace in this same square.

Warsaw Uprising Monument

SIGHTS: Krakow Old Town Square

The main square in Krakow is called “Stare Miasto.” You want to pick a hotel near here, it’s the main central location, lined with cute buildings and restaurants.

Krakow Stare Miasto

SIGHTS: Krakow, Rynek Główny

Central street with an indoor crafts market, the St Mary’s Basilica, and many restaurants.

Rynek Główny

SIGHTS: Krakow, St Mary’s Basilica

The main Basilica in the central Old Town square. Take a look inside, it’s the most stunning interior I’ve seen of all Polands churches.

St. Mary’s Basilica

SIGHTS: Krakow, Wawel Castle & Catherdel

Stunning cathedral and castle, side-by-side atop a tall hill. Beautiful waterfront views of the river. You can tour inside too, there are tombs. Don’t forgot to see the dragon statue outside that blows fire!

Wawel Cathedral

SIGHTS: Krakow remains of Jewish Ghetto Wall

The cruel history of the Jewish Ghetto Wall, where the Nazis forced thousands of Jewish Poles to live within these walls before they were eventually transported to a concentration camp. There’s also a Jewish memorial right around the corner, where each chair statue represents 1,000 killed. Just heartbreaking.

Jewish Ghetto Wall remains

SIGHTS: Krakow, St. Joseph’s Church

Stunning from the outside! Not as stunning inside. But if you’re walking to see the Jewish Ghetto memorial, this church is nearby and worth the view.

St. Joesph’s Church

DINING: Krakow, Starka Restaurant & Vodkas

Amazing pirogies, delicious hand-mixed infused vodkas, and very cute atmosphere! Authentic Polish cuisine. I had horseradish vodka, so good!

Starka Restaurant & Vodkas

DINING: Krakow, Czarna Kaczka/ Black Duck

Delicious authentic Polish food! Make a reservation they book up quick. If the main location is full, try their second location around the corner. I think it’s the same/similar menu. I like the corner location atmosphere better with a huge outside courtyard!

Czarna Kaczka/ Black Duck

DINING: Krakow, Piwnica pod Kominkiem

Authentic Polish food. This was the only restaurant I didn’t order pirogies, but the beet soup was to die for!! Very cute patio seating and fun basement restaurant with a windy stair case.

Piwnica pod Kominkiem

DINING: Krakow, Tartelette Café

Wow, delicious breakfast and coffee! I had the fig toast with bechamel cream cheese it was amazing!

Tartelette Café

DINING: Warsaw, GOŚCINIEC Polskie Pierogi

My favorite pierogis of Warsaw!! Also my favorite golabkis! And my favorite mulled wine! This restaurant is delicious, with adorable street seating. Eat here!

GOŚCINIEC Polskie Pierogi, Warsaw

DINING: Warsaw, U-Wieniawy

Fine dining Polish restaurant with amazing atmosphere! Some appetizers are prepared table-side, and there’s a live trumpet player to serenade you. Get a shot of Polish vodka from their massive menu, they use liquid nitrogen to ice the glass!

Restauracja U Wieniawy, Warsaw

DINING: Warsaw, Vita Cafe

Perfect for breakfast, they are famous for their amazing donuts! I had pistachio cream filled, wow best donut ever. Delicious coffee too.

Vita Cafe - Warsaw

Qatar

Extended Stop-Over in Doha

Travel dates: 2016, 2024

If you’re flying Qatar airways, make sure to take advantage of their Qatar Stopover program. This allows you to extend your layover in Doha to 1-3 days, with $20 hotels, in order to bring tourism money to Doha.

I’ve stopped-over twice in Doha, and loved it both times!

I felt very safe walking around solo as a female.
Uber is available and cheap.
Food is delicious.
Skyline, temples, beaches, and markets, there’s a lot to see!

HOTEL: Golden Tulip Doha

5-star hotel walking distance to the Corniche, Souq Waqif, and museums. Only $30/night with the Qatar Stop-Over program!

Golden Tulip Doha

ACTIVITY: Souq Waqif

Walk through this massive market! It’s both indoor and outdoors, and you could spend hours here. Great for souvenirs, eats, and sights. MUST DO!

Souq Waqif

ACTIVITY: Museum of Islamic Art

I didn’t actually go inside the museum, but it’s the most iconic building on the waterfront for a beautiful photo

Museum of Islamic Art

ACTIVITY: Katara Beach

Beautiful beach with skyline views. Small entry fee, a few dollars. Women cannot wear bikinis. I chose to stay covered and not enter the water.

Katara Beach

SIGHTS: Katara Cultural Village

I enjoyed walking all around here! Beautiful architecture. Walking distance to the beach, and the mosque.

Katara Cultural Village

SIGHTS: Katara Mosque

You can enter if your hair is covered. No photos inside the mosque.

Katara Mosque

SIGHTS: The Corniche

Beautiful waterfront walking path, with skyline views

The Corniche

SIGHTS: The Pearl monument

The Pearl is the famous landmark at the Corniche waterfront.

The Pearl monument

DINING: Layali Al Qahira

Delicious middle eastern cuisine in the Souq Waqif!

Layali Al Qahira

DINING: Chapati & Karak

Great for lunch, authentic Chapati (different meat or veggie variations) and delicious Karak (tea). Cheap! Cost me around $5.

Menu here

https://chapatiandkarak.github.io/themenu/

Chapati & Karak Cafe

ICE CREAM: Cioccolatitaliani

Extravagant expensive ice cream located within the Katara Cultural Village. But delicious!

Cioccolatitaliani

Sint Maarten

Dutch & French Anniversary vaca

Travel Date: Sept 2021

Sint Maarten (SXM) is an amazing island with a ton of beautiful beaches, nightlife, and amazing food!

AJ and I traveled here for our 3rd wedding anniversary. We picked SXM because:

1. Great flight deals - we got round trip for $325 - check the last page of my travel blog for the websites I use for flight deals.

2. Bucket list to see the airplanes fly over Maho Beach so low, it’s almost scary! This airport is famous, all pilots love it! Where else does a plane land right on top of the beach?

There are some all-inclusive resorts, but I’d recommend dining out as much as possible because the variety of cuisine here is phenomenal!

TIPS:
1. USD is accepted everywhere so no need to exchange.
2. Rent a car - you’ll want to visit many different beaches, they are all unique!
3. Stay on the Dutch side if you’re looking for more bars, restaurants, and night life. Simpson Bay is a popular area with the most walking distance.
4. Phillipsburg is downtown where the cruise ships dock, so if you want to stay away from the cruise ships don’t stay here.
5. Stay on the French side if you’re looking for a more quiet experience with plenty of beautiful beaches.
6. If you don’t rent a car, there are taxi vans everywhere which usually charge $5 a person around Simpson Bay.

St. Lucia

Where we stayed and what we did...

Travel Date: December 2020

St. Lucia is one of the southern most Caribbean islands. This island is unique compared to others because it’s an active volcanic island. The landscape is very steep and full of hills, the soil is rich from volcanic sulphur and other minerals, which makes for some fun excursions and beautiful scenery.

There’s a mud bath excursion. There’s a botanical garden with a colorful waterfall. There’s hiking the mountains up the volcano. There’s a tour inside the volcano. I have linked several below.

- Their CURRENCY is Eastern Caribbean Dollar, but nearly all places also accept USD. The exchange rate is ~ 2.6x to 1.

- DRIVING is on the left side of the road, so if you’re going to rent a car, know how to drive on the left. Also, the roads are steep and windy, so it’s helpful to drive a manual transmission.

- ELECTRIC PLUGS are generally UK outlets, so bring an adapter for US plugs if you’re staying at a local B&B or hotel. If you’re at a resort or high star hotel (like Sandals), they usually have both UK and US plugs so you won’t need an adapter. Just research your hotel to find out before you arrive.

- The island overall has a cool breeze. So bring a thin jacket.

HOTEL - Sandals Regency La Toc

We chose Sandals because for Christmas we wanted to splurge on an all-inclusive. I would not recommend this over Christmas because prices were triple. Usually Sandals basic ranges from $120-$250/night during non-peak times. Our rate was over $500/night which was absurd. The property itself was very nice, and the staff were phenomenal. The beach was very rough so too hard for swimming, which wouldn’t be so bad if we were allowed on the other resorts to use their beaches. This was a key issue for me. We specifically chose Sandals in St. Lucia because there are 3 Sandals properties and we were told we can visit all 3 during our stay. When we arrived, they would not let us leave the resort and visit others due to COVID. I understand COVID safety protocols, but then they shouldn’t have told me during booking that we could visit the other properties. If I would have known that, we would have chosen Sandals Grande, or Sandals Barbados because they are much bigger. There are a few other issues I’d like to call out, but read my TripAdvisor review for full details.

Sandals Regency La Toc

ACTIVITY - Catamaran cruise, mud baths & snorkeling

We took an 8-hour excursion on a Catamaran to the town of Soufriere, where the Pitons are (volcanic mountains) and dipped in the mud baths of Sulphur Springs. What a fun day! Snorkeling was also provided, and a full lunch buffet and open bar. ~$120

Catamaran cruise, mud baths, snorkeling

ACTIVITY - waterfalls, mud baths, by bus

A similar excursion is available by bus, if you don’t like boats or snorkeling. The botanical gardens have the waterfall, and you can also see the drive-through volcano, and dip in the mud baths. ~$100

Bus tour, botanical gardens, waterfall, mud baths

ACTIVITY/DIVING - Sandals Aqua Center

At Sandals, scuba diving is included in the resort costs. So I dove for “free” both days. We took a boat to a calmer side of the island, to dive the Lesleen M wreck and Anse Cochon reef. No sharks in St. Lucia (unfortunately) but tons of eel, trumpet fish, puffer fish, parrot fish, drum fish, lion fish, lobster, peacock flounder, scorpion fish, and more. Fun dives!

DINING - La Toc

La Toc was a delicious French restaurant at the Sandals resort. It was indoors and white table cloth, so no views. But delicious food. Not sure if you can dine there if you’re outside of Sandals, so call ahead. Reservations required.

DINING - Armandos

This is the Italian restaurant of the Sandals Regency La Toc location. The view was stunning, so go early to catch the sunset. Reservations required. I’m not sure if they allow non-Sandals guests, so call ahead.

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Caribbean without a passport!

Travel dates: January 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015, and more

My family has owned a timeshare in St. Thomas for 30 years. I’ve been here so many times, and happy to share my favorite places.

St. Thomas and St. John are both US territory islands so no passport needed from the states. They are also neighboring islands, so to get to St. John, you still must fly into St. Thomas (STT). St. Croix is also US territory, but much further away by boat.

Tips -
1. All beaches are public! So even if you aren’t staying at that resort, you can lay on the beach (you just can’t use their pool or amenities).
2. Buy liquor. Top shelf rum and vodkas are $10-20 a bottle. The store will package it up safe to fly.
3. To save money, don’t eat in Havensight. The cruise ships all dock here so prices are jacked up. Use TripAdvisor to find local restaurants, or use mine below.
4. Go to Red Hook. It’s away from most tourists and a fun, younger, local vibe with lots of bars/restaurants.
5. If departing on Saturday or Sunday, get to airport 2.5-3 hrs early if you’re checking a bag. It’s a tiny airport but its “island time” so everyone is slow, inefficient, and the lines are crazy long on weekends. I missed a flight before showing up 1.5 hrs early!
6. Rent a car.. preferably a Jeep. The local roads are windy and steep. There are so many great local bars/restaurants and beach front properties to see. Don’t stay trapped in your hotel resort.

NOTE: the cars drive on the left side of the road, but the steering wheel is still on the left side, so it’s a bit strange until you get used to it.

HOTEL - Bluebeards Castle

This is where my family’s timeshare is, so we stay here. It’s a beautiful view from the pool deck, but it’s not beach front. It got destroyed pretty bad from hurricane Irma in 2017 and the restaurants are still being rebuilt. So I wouldn’t recommend staying here until the restaurants are open. Call them, the website is usually outdated.

Bluebeards Castle

HOTEL - Bluebeards Beach Club

This is the beachfront, sister property to Bluebeards Castle. However, it was still closed in Jan 2020 due to Hurricane Irma destruction so I’m not sure if they are reopening yet. Call them. If they’re reopening, it’s a lovely beach, pool bar, and never crowded. Also has (had) a dive shop on site... Aquamarine Diving, I linked in a separate post below.

Bluebeards Beach Club

HOTEL - Bolongo Bay Beach & Resort

Bolongo Bay is one of my favorite beaches, even if I’m not staying at the hotel. I love the Iggies restaurant and pool bar, the snorkeling is great, and there’s a Dive shop on site - St. Thomas diving club linked separately.

Bolongo Bay

HOTEL - Secret Harbour Beach Resort

Hidden Gem! Secret Harbor has my FAVORITE BEACH. It’s small, but has fantastic snorkeling since the water is sheltered and calm. There’s also a diving platform to swim to! The on-site restaurant is really good, the pool bar is big, and there’s a dive shop on site! My favorite place.

Secret Harbor Beach Resort

SIGHTS - Mountian Top

Warning: This is touristy, but worth the view. There’s a huge gift shop here if you’re interested, but just go for the famous banana daiquiri while you enjoy the view. Drive yourself in your rental car. Don’t spend $50 for a tour guide to take you there.

Mountian Top

SIGHTS - Magens Bay

Warning: touristy! Magens Bay is the largest beach on St Thomas, so all the cruise shippers come here by the flocks. It’s pretty, but I avoid it now, too many people and they charge an entry fee! (It was amazing to snap this pic with no one in it!)

Magens Bay Beach

ACTIVITY/DIVING - Aqua Marine

Aqua Marine taught me how to dive! This was the very fist place I trained and got PADI certified. The owner Anna is wonderful and we dive with her every year!
TIP: in 2020 their dive shop at Bluebeards Beach was closed from Hurricane Irma but they still run diving straight from the Saga Haven marina.

Aqua Marine Dive Center

ACTIVITY/DIVING - Red Hook Dive Center

Red Hook Dive Center has the largest dive shop, and also has the nicest boat I have dived from. Padded floor so you don’t slip! Fancy! They were willing to take me & family out when all other operators were booked up. Great time with these guys.

Red Hook Dive Center

ACTIVITY/DIVING - St. Thomas Diving Club

Another dive shop I’ve dove with. They are great, friendly, but small no-frills boat. They are in Bolongo Bay at Iggies so it’s perfect if you’re staying here.

St. Thomas Diving Club

ACTIVITY - Water Island

Book an excursion to Water Island! It’s a small island only accessible by boat. There’s a food shack for lunch, a calm pretty beach, and great snorkeling.

Water Island excursion

ACTIVITY - Kayak the Mangroves

Full disclaimer: this is NOT my favorite activity and I wouldn’t do it again because the mosquitos were bad, and I’d simply rather spend my time at the beach. However, my favorite part was Hermit Crab island, where literally hundreds of thousands of hermit crabs live and you can see them walking all around!

Virgin Island EcoTours

FOOD/DRINKS - Duffy’s Love Shack

Duffy’s is THE FAMOUS parking lot bar of St. Thomas. Located in Red Hook. The drinks are overly wacky, in crazy cups, and it’s so fun. Food is good. Late night has live music and it’s packed for nightlife!

Duffy’s Love Shack

FOOD/BEER - The Pie Whole

Pizza & CRAFT BEER! It’s the only place on the island that gets imported craft beer from Belgium. Of course I love it here. Located in French Town. Make a reservation, it’s tiny with only a few tables.

The Pie Whole

FOOD - Shoreline Bar & Grille

I LOVE shoreline, it’s casual, great prices, and great food. Also, it’s on a deck literally over the water so you can see the tarpon come eating your leftover french fries if you throw them overboard. This is one of my favorite local spots. It’s hard to find, walk down the steep hill toward the water at POINT PLEASANT resort.

Shoreline Bar & Grille

FOOD - Mims Seaside Bistro

Mims is located in Bolongo Bay. Nice seafood restaurant, beach front, beautiful view, pricy. Come for the sunset! TIP: Bring bug spray! When the sun goes down, the mosquitoes come out!

Mim’s Seaside Bistro

FOOD - Mafolie Restaurant

Mafolie is up the mountain hills, so you get the best view during dinner. Come for sunset, it’s magical. It’s expensive, so make it a special night.

Mafolie Restaurant

TIPS- Airport

The airport is tiny, but PACKED on Saturdays & Sundays. It takes 2.5 - 3 hrs to check a bag, get through customs and security. Get to the airport 3 hours early on Saturday, for real. I have missed a flight before, showing up 2 hours early. The lines are slow and inefficient, everyone is on “island time.” On weekdays, just an hour early is sufficient.

Turks & Caicos

Places I stayed, ate, and did!

Travel date: March 2020

Turks & Caicos has the most beautiful aqua water in all of the Caribbean islands that I’ve seen. The visibility was over 100 feet for scuba diving. The food & beaches were amazing. The night life wasn’t the best, so come for beach days, not for partying. Except the huge party Thursday nights at the Fish Fry!

HINT: Taxis charge fares per zone, per person. So if you have 3-4 people, you’re better off renting a car for $60/day, than taking multiple taxis for $25 per ride ($5-7 per person)

HOTEL - Grace Bay suites

This was the cheapest hotel we could find. Most resorts in TCI are expensive, so we chose a newly renovated, basic hotel that is not beach front view to save money. Great hotel for the price, but I wish I splurged to stay somewhere with an ocean front view on this island. We paid $375/night.

Grace Bay Suites

ACTIVITY - Parasailing

Parasailing was so peaceful and the view is breathtaking! It was my first time. I loved it. And the staff of Captain Marvins was great operating the boat & equipment.

Captain Marvins Watersports

ACTIVITY - scuba diving

I used Dive Provo for scuba diving. This is the largest diving operation on the island. Nice big boat with sun deck, fresh water shower, new trusty rental gear, great experience. We dove 2 sites in West Caicos - both were amazing Wall dives.

Dive Provo

ACTIVITY - Fish Fry (Thurs only)

Every Thursday night is the best night on the island! The Fish Fry has several tents with food vendors, drinks, and souvenirs. A live band plays for hours, and there’s dancing and partying.

TIP: order food from the tents with the longest lines! It’s worth it. They are the BEST.

Thursday Fish Fry

SIGHTS - Grace Bay Beach

This is the largest beach on the island. I’m talking massive.. it’s hard to walk the entire beach. Beautiful, and plenty of restaurants walking distance. The coconut drinks were good too!

Grace Bay Beach

SIGHTS - Chalk Sound

You’ll need a rental car to get here, but it’s a picturesque lake next to Sapodilla Bay beach. We rented a car for the day to drive to this side of the island. Rental car was $60/day.

Chalk Sound

DINING - Omar’s Beach Hut

Chill vibe, ocean front casual dining, and Watersports! Great fish tacos and fish burgers.

Omar’s Beach Hut

DINING - Coco Bistro

This restaurant is pricy, but worth the treat. It was the most highly recommended restaurant to me by many people. It was such a cool tropical atmosphere, and the food was fantastic.

Coco Bistro

DINING - Sharkbite Bar Grille

Shark bite had the cheapest drinks we could find on the island! $9 frozen cocktails, $5.50 beers. Great view of the harbor. Dive-bar atmosphere on a budget!

Sharkbite Bar & Grille

DINING - The Landing

If you stay at the hotel I did (Grace Bay Suites), The Landing restaurant is walking distance. The sailboat bar is what drew my attention (so creative)! But the food and drinks were also delicious.

The Landing

USA: Key Largo, Islamorada, Northern FL Keys

My favorite places in the northern FL Keys!

If you prefer relaxing daytime water activities, and less nightlife, then visit the northern Florida Keys instead of Key West. Key West is a party town, the northern Keys are fishing & diving towns.

I lived in Islamorada for 8 months while we searched for permanent housing in Key West, so I got to know this part of the Keys very well. I love Islamorada and Key Largo for the scuba diving. The diving here is the best in all the Keys. The fishing is also fantastic, and there’s more beach-front resorts. But nearly all bars & restaurants close by 10pm, and it’s not very biking/walking friendly. You’ll need to rent a car to get around.

Key Largo (the most northern Key) to Key West (the most southern Key) is around 2.5 hours drive. Here’s my favorite things to do outside of Key West!

HOTEL - Gilbert’s Resort (Key Largo)

Gilberts is a great, affordable hotel with a beach in Key Largo, one of the first hotels as you enter the keys. I love Key Largo because of the amazing diving, but you’ll need a car to get around if you stay here.

Gilbert’s Resort

HOTEL - Amara Cay Resort (Islamorada)

Amara Cay is very pretty, has a nice beach front, and a nice restaurant inside. I’ve never stayed the night here, but I would come here often for espresso martinis at the lobby bar because they often have live music in the lobby. It’s a nice resort!

Amara Cay Resort

HOTEL - Postcard Inn (Islamorada)

Postcard Inn is more like a beachfront resort than an Inn. Beautiful grounds, and attached are two great restaurants including the most popular Tiki Bar in all Islamorada. I love walking around this resort, there’s an attached marina with my favorite scuba dive company. And the Key Lime coladas at the Tiki Bar are delicious.

Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina

HOTEL - Cheeca Lodge Resort (Islamorada)

Cheeca Lodge is the fanciest resort in Islamorada, if you want to splurge. The grounds are so tropical, and the restaurants are delicious. The pool & beachfront is also larger than most other resorts around. We had dinner at the sushi restaurant here, and it was pricy, but delicious.

Cheeca Lodge Resort

HOTEL - Coconut Cove (Islamorada)

Much cheaper hotel if you prefer to save money, coconut cove is clean, but no beach, and you can tell the rooms are older & more dingy. A nice pool though, and great price compared to neighboring hotels. Lots of kids in the pool. Read the reviews linked below to decide if this is OK with you.

Coconut Cove

SIGHTS - Seven Mile Bridge (Marathon)

If you rent a car, make sure to pull off to the side of the seven mile bridge. It’s beautiful! The 2 mile walking/biking path just reopened which takes you to Pigeon Key state park where you can snorkel. We even saw a spotted eagle ray swim under the bridge! The Seven mile bridge is also where the famous tree, Fred, lives.

Seven Mile Bridge

ACTIVITY - Robbie’s (Islamorada)

Robbie’s has everything for the whole family. It’s a marina so you can rent charter boats here, or book excursions. It’s also a restaurant/bar, but I wouldn’t recommend the food. It’s also great shopping for touristy items, clothing, & Souvenirs. But the best part about Robbie’s is the tarpon feeding on the dock. For a few dollars, you can buy a bucket of bait fish and feed the tarpon. They are huge! You’ll often also see manatees here, and nurse sharks. Watch out for the many pelicans who will steal the bait fish right out of your hands!

Robbie’s of Islamorada

ACTIVITY - History of Diving Museum (Islamorada)

All scuba divers should visit here. Learn about the history of scuba diving and see the original diving helmets across the world. So cool!. $15 to enter.

History of Diving Museum

ACTIVITY - Scuba Diving

There’s so many great dive operations from Key Largo to Islamorada. The diving here is a lot better than Key West, because there’s so many more shipwrecks and great reefs. My favorite wrecks to dive (in order) is the Spiegel Grove (510ft long, 60-120’ deep), the Duane, the Eagle, the Benwood (shallow).

My favorite dive shops are:
- Islamorada Dive Center (Islamorada)
- Key Dives (Islamorada)
- Florida Keys Dive Center (Tavernier)
- Conch Republic Divers (Tavernier)
- Rainbow Reef (Key Largo) (good for beginners)

ACTIVITY - Turtle Hospital (Marathon)

If you love sea turtles and want to see the great people saving injured turtles, visit here. It will fill your heart! $27 to enter. 1hr drive from Key Largo.

Turtle Hospital

ACTIVITY - Wakeboard Park (Marathon)

Great for kids or adults! Learn how to wakeboard without a boat! There’s also a cool outdoor restaurant here with drinks, hammocks, and games.

Keys Cable Park

DINING - The Fish House (Key Largo)

If you are driving through Key Largo, the Fish house is my favorite restaurant in all the keys! Pick your fresh fish, order it Matecumbe style. The chocolate peanut butter martini is also to die for!

The Fish House

DINING - Islamorada Fish Company

One of my favorite restaurants because the view is stunning!! Huge outdoor dining, with multiple bars, evening entertainment, and the best sunset views. Tarpon swims in the center of the restaurant which can help entertain the kids.

Islamorada Fish Company

DINING - Pierre’s & Morada Bay (Islamorada)

For a fine dining experience, go to Pierre’s. It’s very pricy, but delicious, regal looking inside, and beautiful water views. Right next Pierres is Morada Bay Cafe, which is a outdoor casual restaurant in the sand for much cheaper. Best sunset views here!!

Pierre’s & Morada Bay Cafe

DINING - Ziggie & Mad Dogs (Islamorada)

For quality of food only, Ziggies is the best restaurant in Islamorada. There’s no beach or water view, but the chef is amazing and the food is exquisite! The truffle lobster Mac is to die for and the almond encrusted snapper is the best I’ve ever had. Enjoy :)

Ziggie & Mad Dogs

DINING - Island Grill (Islamorada)

For a cool vibe and delicious sushi with a decent water view, try island grill. Their ahi tuna nachos are delicious and the specialty sushi rolls are massive. They have other seafood too, and Wednesdays is prime rib night.

Island Grill

DINING/Brunch - Mrs Mac’s Cafe (Key Largo)

Best Key Lime milkshake ever! Very cute diner-style restaurant. I eat here often! They also usually have local Hogfish on the menu. There’s 2 locations, close to each other!

Mrs Mac’s Kitchen

DINING/Brunch - Mangrove Mikes (Islamorada)

Mangrove Mikes will usually have a wait for breakfast, so come early. An extensive menu with diner classics, and the atmosphere is better. Locals gem, it’s like a tropical diner. If you have room, the hot sticky buns are the best!

Mangrove Mikes

DINING/Wine - Islamorada Wine Co.

We LOVE this tiny local wine bar. Everyone knows everyone in here, it’s small and for the locals. But visit if you love wine, and the food is also delicious. BEST cheese boards ever! Delicious brunch too!

Islamorada Wine Co.

DINING/BARS - Big Chill (Key Largo)

Big Chill is so cool! Tropical views with a huge deck overlooking the water. Breathtaking sunsets, and fun live music! The food isn’t the best, so maybe come for drinks and the atmosphere.

Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill

DINING/BARS - Hog Heaven (Islamorada)

Hog Heaven is a sports bar in the front, and a BBQ bar in the back. The BBQ out back is pretty good, but the outdoor seating with live music is my favorite. There’s not as much live music in Islamorada as Key West but Hog heaven always has a good live band. And they’re open late, midnight-2am.

Hog Heaven Sports Bar & BBQ

BARS - Florida Keys Brewing

This brewery is much better than the Islamorada Brewery because the beer is better! Also the outside beer garden is very tropical and has great live music. Food truck here too.

Florida Keys Brewing

BARS - The Whistle Stop (Islamorada)

Dive bar, one of the only bars open late til 2am. There’s an attached pizza shop that makes delicious stone oven pizza, even at 2am! I’ve never watched the TV series Bloodline, but this is the bar from that show.

The Whistle Stop

USA: Key West, FL

My favorite things to do

AJ and I spent several months in Key West, working from home. Loved it so much, we moved here!! Key West is the most Caribbean location of the United States, located 3 hours, 180 miles south of Miami, but only 90 miles to Cuba!! It’s not your typical Florida, it’s more island style living.

Airfare tip: Key West has an airport (EYW), but fights are usually more expensive. Fly to Miami for a cheaper fare, and rent a car to drive through the keys. It’s a beautiful drive, 3 hours of turquoise water!! If you rent a car, make sure to look at my other travel blog page for the Northern Keys.

Lodging tip: most of the activities for tourists are located in Old Town, by Duval Street, where everything is walking distance. Hotels are more expensive in Old Town, so if you choose to stay in New Town you will be taking a lot of Uber‘s, or rent a scooter. Parking a car in old town is expensive, around $20/day. Parking a scooter is free. Most hotels also have bicycles for rent which will get you anywhere.

VACATION RENTALS - rental homes

For our 3-month stay, we rented a house from a vacation property manager instead of a hotel. Good for larger parties, or if you’re staying a month or longer. If you want Bed & Breakfast style lodging, by the night instead of monthly, just search on TripAdvisor for places rated 4+ there are a lot.

Key West Vacation Properties

HOTEL - The Saint Hotel

Marriott autograph collection, the Saint Hotel is my favorite because of the cocktail bar! Adults only, a rooftop lounge, and the martini bar downstairs makes the 7 Deadly Sins martinis.. the Gluttony martini is chocolate, yum! They have a fancy brunch, delicious dinner, and perfect location right off Duval St.

The Saint Hotel Key West

HOTEL - Hyatt Centric

Hyatt Centric is waterfront, and in a great location walking distance to Duval St. and all Old Town activities. There’s also a dive shop attached to this hotel, Southpoint Divers keeps their boat on the dock here. The only dive operation that is not in the main marina, so easy if you’re staying here. It’s not cheap, you’re paying for location, around $350-$500/night depending on the season. Also neighboring hotels are the same price (Pier House, etc).

Hyatt Centric Key West

HOTEL - The Pier House Resort

The Pier House is a really nice hotel, with a beach!! It’s also a great location walking distance to the shops & nightlife on Duval Street. You’re paying for location and beauty here, it’s not cheap but it’s one of the best around. The picture is from their restaurant, called One Duval. Great views!

The Pier House Resort

HOTEL - The Opal

The Opal is pricy during busy season, but is literally in the heart center of Key West. No beach, but a beautiful pool, and the best view of the sunset over Mallory Square.

The Opal Resort & Marina

HOTEL - Havana Cabana

Havana Cabana is in New Town, not walking distance to Duval St or Old Town shops/bars, hence more affordable. You’ll be taking Uber’s to downtown, or ride their free shuttle. The hotel is fun & trendy, huge pool & pool bar, but no beach.

Havana Cabana

ACTIVITY - Captian Rio’s Charters

Captain Rio showed us the best day of spear fishing & visiting the sandbars! He runs private charters so can do whatever you want, dolphin watching, etc. He knows all the hidden gems! This was probably our most fun day of our entire time in Key West! Tip: You can only have 6 people in a charter in Key west, without having a registered coastguard vessel.

Captain Rio’s Charters

ACTIVITY - Captain Shippy’s Charters

Captain Ryan is a personal friend of mine, tell him I sent you! He’ll custom-design your charter, from fishing to dolphin watching to sandbar parties.

Captain Shippy’s Charters

ACTIVITY - Tiki Boat BYO Cruise

Key West has floating tiki boats! They look so funny moving throughout the water, but is such a fun time! 2 hour cruise, pick your time.. daytime or sunset. $75 pp. BYOB. 6 people max per tiki. Try it!!

Cruisin Tikis Key West

ACTIVITY - Paddle board or Kayak the mangroves

Paddle boarding is fun in Key West, I always rent from Lazy dogs because they are right across the channel from all the mangroves which is fun to explore on a paddleboard. You will also see nurse sharks crossing the channel they live under the bridge! If you want a workout, they also offer PaddleFit classes every Wed & Fri mornings, which I do often!

Lazy Dog Adventures

ACTIVITY - Waterpark, jet ski, parasail, banana boat

Fury has an all-in-one water adventure where are you get: a giant inflatable waterpark, Jetski, parasail, banana boat rides, snorkeling. If you don’t want this expensive ticket ($180) with all the activities, you can choose just one activity for less money. A snorkel & sandbar cruise is around $70. They also have a great sunset booze cruise with a live band. Also, if it’s the exact day of your birthday, you go FREE!

Fury water adventures

ACTIVITY - Sailing Schooner America 2.0

Too windy? Go sailing!! The Schooner America 2.0 is newly rebuilt replica of the original America Schooner. Take a day time sail ($55), or evening sunset booze cruise ($95). I loved this!

Schooner America 2.0

ACTIVITY - rent bikes!!

Driving and parking is really hard in Key West. The best way to get around is by scooter or bicycle. You can rent bikes for $10 a day. I’ve used island safari rentals, but there are other companies like Lloyd’s bike tour that you rent a bike and they give you an entertaining tour around the island. Make sure to bike down Smathers Beach (photo shown). It’s the prettiest bike ride of the island!

Island Safari Bicycle rentals

ACTIVITY - rent a scooter

If you want to see more of the island, rent a scooter! Scooters also get free parking downtown, compared to parking a car is expensive in paid lots or meters. Most people drive scooters or golf carts! Join in!

Sunshine scooters

ACTIVITY - Butterfly Nature Conservatory

Amazing for kids and adults! I never had so much fun watching butterflies. There’s thousands in here!! It’s a covered greenhouse so great for a rainy day activity also! $15

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

ACTIVITY - Hemingway House

Visit the historical landmark of Key West, and historical property of the Ernest Hemingway house! All original furniture & belongings where he wrote his books. And the famous 6-toed cats! $17 admission.

Hemingway House

ACTIVITY - Climb Key West Lighthouse

This was such a cute thing to do. The lighthouse has 88 steps and a beautiful view of Key West. You’ll also learn about the lighthouse history, is fascinating! Only $15 and we were in and out in an hour. Worth it!

Key West Lighthouse

ACTIVITY - Mel Fishers Maritime Museum

A Key West legend is Mel Fisher who discovered the Atocha shipwreck, mother-load of treasures, right off the coast of Key West. This museum shows the history about it. I love these kinds of things! $18 entry fee.

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

ACTIVITY - Sunset Dinner & Booze Cruise

All you can eat buffet dinner and booze cruise on a huge catamaran. Watch the sunset and listen to steel drum live music. The boat was crowded in March, but I’ve been other times in the summer and it’s less crowded. Around $70, but the extra $15 for top shelf liquor is worth it.

Sunset Watersports - Sunset Cruise Tropical Buffet

ACTIVITY - Scuba Diving Vandenberg wreck

The Vandenberg is a 522ft shipwreck intentionally sank in Key West in 2009. It is now a fantastic dive site with tons of marine life, swim throughs, and sights. It sits around 90ft deep so you must be an advanced diver or you can pay extra to rent a guide. Its amazing! Must dive!

All dive operations go here. Some great companies I’ve used are:
- Southpoint Divers (at the Hyatt Centric)
- Captains corner
- Dive Key West
- FINZ (stock island)

Vandenberg Shipwreck

SIGHTS - Duval St. - shops & bars

Duval Street is the epicenter of Key West. It’s similar to Bourbon St of New Orleans.. it’s the center of all the shops, bars, nightlife, parties, and people watching. Just walk up and down Duval and you’ll be entertained!

Duval Street

SIGHTS - Mallory Square

Mallory Square is waterfront, few blocks walking from Duval St. Mallory Square is mobbed packed during sunset because the most beautiful, unobstructed view of the sunset is from here. There are street performers for your entertainment after sunset.

Mallory Square

SIGHTS - Southernmost Point

The southernmost point buoy is free, just stand in a long line and you’ll get a photo. Its a very long walk from Mallory Square and Duval, but an easy, quick, bike ride.

Southernmost Point

SIGHTS - White Street Pier at Higgs Beach

For a free activity or to see a beautiful sunset away from the crowds in Mallory Square, bike or walk out on the long pier at Higgs beach! AKA White Street Pier, AKA Edward B. Knight pier.

White Street Pier

SIGHTS - Fort Zachery Taylor & Beach

Fort Zach is history and a beach. You can explore the fort or lay at the beautiful beach or both. This is the only easy access public beach with decent snorkeling by the rocks. It’s a state park so there is a $4 entry fee per person.

Fort Zachery Taylor State Park

DINING (DESSERT) - Better Than Sex

No dinner here, ONLY dessert, but it’s the best, sexiest dessert around! The desserts are named after some sort of sexual reference, and the lighting is dim and romantic. Seriously the best chocolate fudge dipped coffee I’ve had in my entire life!!

Better Than Sex Dessert

DINING - One Love Food Truck

For a quick bite, delicious, absolutely fresh fish tacos, you must eat at One Love Food Truck! It’s located in a gas station parking lot in stock island, but theres seating and parking in the back. I wish I could show multiple photos on this blog how amazing the tacos are.. perfectly rare tuna, perfectly seasoned mahi.. they have it all! Check the link!

One Love Food Truck

DINING - Kaya Island Eats

Kaya is new, and has my favorite fish on the island. It’s Hawaiian style, so unique fruited salsas and toppings. Tons of flavors, everything was so delicious!! You MUST try the food here! Mai Thais were also amazing!

Kaya Island Eats

DINING - Blue Heaven

Blue Heaven is probably the most famous restaurant of Key West, so make a reservation because they book up weeks in advance, or wait an hour. People are obsessed with their breakfast but I also think their dinner is just as good. The huge outside tropical garden sets the atmosphere here.

Blue Heaven

DINING - Alonzo’s Oyster House

We love Alonzo’s! Not sure why the Yelp ratings are 3.5, because we’ve eaten here multiple times and had 5 star experience each time. Amazing seafood, great views of the marina, and great service!

Alonzo’s Oyster Bar

DINING - Moondog Cafe

Moondog is my top 2-3 restaurants in all of Key West. There’s no ocean view, but the food is so delicious it’s worth it. I’ve been here so many times, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also delicious sangria.

Moondog Cafe

DINING - The Cafe (Vegetarian)

This is my favorite vegetarian restaurant on the island. Everything is sooo delicious. if you’re not vegetarian they do have dishes with fish, but there is no meat here. Just give it a try the food is fantastic! Sangria is amazing too!

The Cafe

DINING - Salute! On the Beach

Salute is the sister restaurant of Blue Heaven, so you can get the same famous Keylime pie here. It’s on the beach so has a beautiful sunset, and has live music several nights a week.

Salute! On the Beach

DINING - Latitudes on Sunset Key

Latitudes is a fine dining restaurant on sunset key. The sunsets here are breathtaking, but book a reservation a month early because they are always full. There is a free ferry shuttle from the Key West dock to sunset key specifically for latitudes restaurant. It’s expensive but the view is worth it.

Latitudes

DINING - Louie’s Backyard

Beach front dining. The downstairs restaurant is fancy and expensive but upstairs is more casual, so pick your setting. Either one has a beautiful beach view!

Louie’s Backyard

DINING - Hogfish Bar & Grill

Hogfish Bar has it all. Amazing food, tons of seafood options, huge outdoor and indoor seating, tiki bar feel, creative cocktails, and live music!! So fun, and delicious. Best Ahi Tuna nachos I’ve EVER had!

Hogfish Bar & Grill

DINING - Red Shoe Island Bistro

For an amazing meal, with lower prices than your typical Duval Street highly priced menus, go to Red Shoe Bistro! The atmosphere could be more “key west” but the affordable prices for the amazing quality of food is worth it!! The beef stroganoff gnocchi was insane!

Red Shoe Island Bistro

BARS/MUSIC - Virgilio’s

The best, largest variety martini list in Key West! Virgilio’s is the back bar to La Trattoria Italian restaurant. You can get the same food menu back here as you can inside the restaurant. Martinis are best! Several chocolate dessert martinis too! Also live music nightly. AJ & I drink here a lot :)

Virgilio’s Martinis

BARS/MUSIC - General Horseplay

General Horseplay is my favorite because it’s 2 bars in 1. Inside is a speakeasy cocktail bar with the best craft cocktails & martinis in key west. Outside back bar has a stage with amazing live music every night.

General Horseplay

BARS/MUSIC - Green Parrot

Local, dive bar, off the beaten path of Duval (on Whitehead St). The live music is always good, and the drinks are cheap.

Green Parrot Bar

BARS/MUSIC - Sloppy Joe’s

Sloppy Joe’s is one of the most famous iconic bars in Key West. located in the heart of the Duval St, it’s a must-see, and always has great live bands to dance to.

Sloppy Joe’s Bar

BARS/MUSIC - Tiki House

I love the vibe in Tiki House. Fancy cocktails in Tiki cups, live music, neon lights, dancing. There’s even a secret back bar away from the loud music if you prefer a martini without the crowds.

Tiki House

BARS/MUSIC - Schooner Wharf Bar

Cool atmosphere, outside dining (but average food), they always have live music, this place is just super islandy, and worth a visit! They also do an early morning happy hour!

Schooner Wharf Bar

BARS/MUSIC - Hogs Breath Saloon

Hogs Breath always have great live music. It’s also in a private parking lot so if the bar is packed you can still dance in the parking lot to hear the band. TIP: eat elsewhere!

Hogs Breath

Flight Deals!

My tricks to find cheap airfare!

I use all these flight deal websites below. Some are free, some charge a small annual fee.

Click the links below to see which ones you prefer! I’ve listed them in order of my favorites.

Going (formerly Scotts Cheap Flights) - FREE for basic deal emails, or $49/year for premium deals. My referral link here will give you 20% off a paid membership

Google Flights - click “explore” to see destinations within your price range. Use “alerts” to email you when a specific flights drops in price

The Flight Deal - FREE website that posts deals for all airports

NextVacay - $25/year - personalized flight deals to your inbox

SecretFlying - FREE website that posts deals for all airports

SkipLagged - FREE find all cheap deal destinations from your favorite airport

Get your own website

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PhillySteph Travels

All the places I like to eat, sleep, and explore throughout my travels!

Aruba

One Happy Island! Even if you’re traveling solo!

HOTEL - RIU Palace all-inclusive

ACTIVITY - Scuba Cribe scuba diving

ACTIVITY - Baby Beach

SIGHTS - Divi Divi Tree

SIGHTS - Natural Bridge

DINING - Bugaloe Beach Bar

DINING - Zeerovers

PACKING TIPS

Australia - Magnetic Island

Our scuba diving, koala bear finding, 1 Year Anniversary!

HOTEL - Island Leisure Resort

SIGHTS - Rock Wallabies at Geoffrey Bay

SIGHTS - Forts Walk

SIGHTS - Butterfly Walk

ACTIVITY - Scooter rentals

ACTIVITY - Bungalow Bay Koala Village

ACTIVITY - Picnic Bay Beach

ACTIVITY - Adrenalin Scuba Dive

FOOD - Scallywags Cafe

FOOD - Shaka

FOOD - Man Friday

FOOD - Peppers Blue on Blue

PACKING - tips

BAHAMAS - Nassau, Bimini, Exumas

The closest Caribbean to the USA!

NASSAU HOTEL - Atlantis

NASSAU HOTEL - The Cove

NASSAU ACTIVITY - Atlantis Waterpark

NASSAU ACTIVITY - Stuart’s Cove Scuba Diving

NASSAU FOOD & NIGHT LIFE - Señor Frogs

BIMINI HOTEL - Bimini Big Game Club

BIMINI ACTIVITY - Neal Watsons Scuba Diving

BIMINI FOOD - Sharkies Bar & Grill

BIMINI FOOD - Stuart’s Conch stand

EXUMAS ACTIVITY - Pig Beach & Iguanas

BELGIUM - Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent

Beer and Chocolate lovers dream!

BRUSSELS HOTEL - Saint Nicolas

BRUSSELS SIGHTS - Grand Place

BRUSSELS SIGHTS - Galeries Royale Saint Hubert

BRUSSELS DINING - Nuetnigenough

BRUSSELS PUBS - Delirium Cafe

BRUSSELS PUBS - Moeder Lambic

BRUSSELS BEER - Cantillion Brewery

BRUGES HOTEL & SIGHTS - Sint Donaas ruins at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

BRUGES HOSTELS -cheap

BRUGES SIGHTS - Burg Square

BRUGES SIGHTS - Belfort Tower

BRUGES SIGHTS - Windmills

BRUGES ACTIVITY - Free walking tour

BRUGES BEER - De Halve Maan Brewery

BRUGES PUBS - De Garre

BRUGES PUBS - 2be

GHENT ACTIVITY - Gravensteen Castle

GHENT SIGHTS - Graslei

Belgian chocolate

Belgian waffles

Belize - Ambergris Cay & Caye Caulker

Where I stayed, ate, and explored!

HOTEL - Blue Tang Inn (Ambergris)

ACTIVITIES - Sirena Azul Sailboat (Ambergris)

ACTIVITIES - Chuck & Robbies scuba diving

ACTIVITIES - Lazy Lizard @ The Split (Caye Caulker)

DINING - Palapa Bar (Ambergris)

DINING - Hungry Grouper (Ambergris)

DINING - Estel’s (Ambergris)

DINING - El Fogon (Ambergris)

Bermuda

Bermuda on a budget!

HOTEL - The Sandpiper

HOTEL - Grotto Bay Resort

SIGHTS - Horseshoe Bay Beach

SIGHTS - Warwick Beach

SIGHTS - Tobacco Bay Beach

SIGHTS - Blue Hole

ACTIVITY - Front Street bars & shops