Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, rivals Lisbon in its more quaint atmosphere, historic charm, beautiful nature, and artistic cityscapes. Porto is also famous for its easy access to beautiful national parks, thousand-year-old vineyards, friendly laid back locals, azulejo (tiled) facades, and a gorgeous river at the foot of the hilly city. However, despite these attractive qualities, most tourists…
The Medieval town of Bruges is a destination you can easily spend days enjoying, but if you have a tight schedule it is still very much worth doing a day trip to Bruges or even a half-day visit! Due to my limited work schedule, that’s what I had to do. And it was still a…
Bhaktapur, Nepal: an ancient Newar Kingdom from the 12th century, located 8 miles from downtown Kathmandu. Bhaktapur was the largest and most powerful of the three main Newar Kingdoms, the other two being Kathmandu and Patan. Today, the city of Bhaktapur is known and visited for its well-preserved ancient architecture including courtyards and UNESCO world heritage sites; many of which…
I returned from my first trip to Cuba sporting a glowing tan, whistling to the hymns of the Buena Vista Social Club, and expressing a newfound snootiness for coffee. My more recent trip to Cuba, however, was less romanticized and involved a more “nacional” experience where I gained a more in-depth perspective of life on the island. Along…
House sitting is a wonderful tool for travelers, especially digital nomads, to spend time abroad for free in exchange for taking care of someone else’s apartment or cat/dog. Recently, I lived in a luxurious apartment all to myself, while taking care of a gorgeous King Cavalier Spaniel dog in a quaint part of Brussels in…
Let me start off with a blasphemous admission: I hated the Bronx. [Gasp!] A lot of people love to reminisce about it and proudly cross their arms into an X chanting, “BX!” And while it does give me a warm sense of pride and camaraderie to hear others boast about our roots, when I’ve said…
Jarabacoa in the Dominican Republic is a quaint mountain town located at the foot of the majestic Dominican Alps. This area is often overlooked by tourists, most of whom travel to the Dominican Republic seeking our beautiful beach towns or resorts. Thus, Jarabacoa has retained a quaint and underrated beauty, encapsulating an almost spiritual ambiance….
The Trump Administration’s amendments to Cuban Assets Control and Regulation (CACR) have caused a ripple effect of doubt and misconceptions regarding travel to Cuba. In the midst of the hyperbole regarding the latest changes, many travelers have decided to cancel their flights or travel plans to Cuba. However, the changes enacted on November 8, 2017,…
For all you non-expert-mountaineers, there is a way for you to get up close to the Himalayas, including Mount Everest without having to hike or climb: Everest Mountain Flight Tour! There are a few airlines offering the Everest flight tour from Nepal’s Kathmandu airport. I went with Buddha Air since I had positive experiences with…
The water sports town of Cabarete is a hidden gem in the Dominican Republic. It’s easy to spend days, months, or even become an expat here due to the warm community vibes and inspirational access to fitness and healthy lifestyles in this cozy beach town. But what makes Cabarete so special is that prioritizing your…