Summer Adventures 2022

After three years, I finally made it back to Europe! This trip was two weeks and started in Croatia, led to Paris, and ended in the Champagne region of France! It was absolutely incredible to get back to Europe and experience new cultures.

We also left the day Roe was overturned, so it was honestly a really emotional time and I was happy (and privileged) to leave the country. The state of America also came up quite a bit while we were abroad and I tried my best to answer questions thoughtfully as well as listen to the concerns of others about the United States. What does this have to do with travel tips? EVERYTHING. Travel is a privilege. Experiencing other cultures, meeting people who live life so differently than I do is WHY I do this. The more you can travel and experience other cultures, the more empathy and compassion you have for others. I am beyond lucky to get to do this. It matters to me to come back better for it (and to be a good human while I’m there). You are a GUEST, act like it.

Let’s talk some brief general travel tips!

Planning

I’m a planner for work and by nature. If I’m spending the money and time to fly across the world, I’m doing it right. We usually start planning about 6 months in advance. This allows us a better chance at finding reasonable flights, places to stay and get reservations at the restaurants we want to go to. Especially in a post Covid world (LOL, post covid…right!) where gas is expensive, everyone is traveling and others are planning up to a year in advance, having your shit together matters. Sure, you can wing it, but I know the things I want to see and do and I’m not willing to miss them, so I don’t take that chance.

Flights

• Fly the airlines you have status with if you can. It might be a tad more expensive, but it’s worth it in the long run

• Skyscanner is a great resource if you’re flexible and able to do some research

• The Points Guy gives awesome tips/tricks/reviews for flying abroad

• If you only have enough money to upgrade one way, upgrade your flight home. That’s when you’re more likely to be exhausted and ready to get home in comfort.

• If you can’t afford to upgrade from economy at all, find the rows that don’t have anyone in front of you and snag the aisle seat (this is why you book in advance, get the best seats!)

• Fly in the morning if you can, morning flights are less likely to be canceled and usually on time. Before 10AM is morning

Accommodations

• I don’t stay in Air Bnb’s in the US, they’re usually where all the issues you’re seeing in the news occur

• Air BnB’s abroad are fine but I look for folks with 4.8 stars or more and are super hosts or I don’t consider it. Read the reviews!

• I'‘m a Marriott rewards member who saves their points. We were able to stay 3 nights free at a stunning resort in Dubrovnik (ocean view balcony room!) because of that. Use. Your. Points.

• Stay places that provide you walk able access to the city you’re staying in.

Restaurants

• Now that restaurants are open again, they book fast! Make reservations for every dinner. We even made some breakfast reservations and I’m glad we did

• Do your research. Ask friends, check TripAdvisor, browse the blogger sites. The best restaurants book fast. And I’m not just talking the high end ones.

• Be specific in your reservation. Ask for a table outdoors, with a view and then tip well when you get it

Activities

• I love tours. I love boat tours, tours to National Parks, wine tours, all the things! Book them early and be strategic. Leave time between tour days for wandering the city or lounging on the beach

• TripAdvisor has awesome tours with reviews and you know you’re booking with a reliable company

• Read the reviews! Make sure they talk about locals running these tours so you’re getting really awesome info and the best experience possible

• Bring cash to tip. I cannot emphasize this enough. Do not be the jerk who doesn’t tip!

Summer 2022 Trip Details

Croatia

Some basics:

• Croatia is SO inexpensive. It will be on the Euro soon though so that won’t last long!

• Dubrovnik was by far my favorite city. It felt more idyllic, clean and historic! Split felt really dirty, crowded, and touristy

Dubrovnik

Where we Stayed: Sheraton Dubrovnik (used points, we had a Twin sea view)

• This property was 15 minutes by car from town, so it wasn’t walk able but it was less touristy, stunning and we were able to walk around some smaller villages that were clearly local. It was absolutely perfect to be able to easily access other areas of the city quickly and then retreat back to our quiet resort after

• Splurge for the sea view, it’s stunning

• The spa is WAY less expensive than in the US. I paid $90 for an hour and a half massage and it was easily the best massage of my life

Where we ate: Restaurant Marinero, Panorama Restaurant, Orsan at the Yacht Club, Konoba Bocana

• Everywhere we ate was incredible. Not a bad meal.

• Panorama has the best views ever, take the cable car and go for brunch EARLY. Get the first reservation you can and go enjoy coffee and a meal for hours

What we did: Pool day, spa day, Old Town exploring day! We tried to rent a small boat for the day by the hotel but didn’t reserve in advance so we lost out!

Split

Where we Stayed: This Air BnB. Highly recommend! It was walking distance to everything but wasn’t IN old town where it’s loud. HUGE size and the host was wonderful.

• Don’t stay in the city center, it’s more expensive and super loud/chaotic

• Everything is walk-able from where we stayed

• If you’re there in later summer, ensure your place has AC or it’s unbearable!

Where we ate: Dvor (Michelin Star), Portofino, Bajamonti, Ma Toni, Kat’s Kitchen, Ciri Biri Bella (also a hostel if that’s your vibe!)

• The best and cutest breakfast place was Ciri Biri Bella (we ate there twice!)

• Dvor was amazing, great views, amazing staff but they were out of quite a few menu items when we went, so the experience wasn’t as good as it could have been

• Portofino is the cutest little spot in between two buildings and was SUCH a romantic little setting

What we did: Plitvice Lake Tour, Speedboat Tour, Gooster Beach Club

• Full transparency, if we didn’t have such fun excursions planned, we would have left Split early. It was not an interesting city for us at all

• Plitvices has been on my bucket lit forever so I was beyond happy we did this. it is a LONG day so if it’s not on your bucket list and you don’t like walking or nature, it’s not for you!

• The boat tour was hands down the most fun we had the entire trip. The guides we had were incredibly fun and knowledgeable and the islands were stunning. Bring water shoes, the beaches are all SO painfully rocky

• Gooster is outside of town at Le Meridian and is not a party spot at all. It’s more for relaxing, lounging and getting sun. It was exactly what we wanted and super inexpensive to reserve beds with towels ($40 for the day)

France

Some Basics:

• France is notoriously expensive

• Paris is busy and restaurants require reservations because they’re so small!

Paris

This wasn’t my first time in Paris and we were there for such a short time, we did a TON of walking! We also met up with friends for drinks. Paris in July is beyond crowded. It didn’t interfere with the experience for us, but if you’re crowd adverse, it’s not a good time for you to go!

Where we stayed: This Air Bnb. I cannot recommend it enough. The location is PRIME in the middle of restaurants and shops and easy access to the rest of the city. It is also hidden so it’s quiet inside. The actual apartment is HUGE by Paris standards and extremely comfortable. No AC but the place stayed beyond comfortable and cool and the shower was enormous (which we know is rare in Paris!).

Note: It’s located on a street with sex shops so if you’re conservative, IDK, that might bother you. Please keep in mind, sex in Paris is not taboo or like how we treat it in the US. It was an awesome location and the hosts were AMAZING.

Where we ate: Pink Mamma, Seine Dinner Cruise, HollyBelly

• Pink Mamma is a big “Instagram” spot. It’s the spot to go for cute photos and the line was out the door the entire time we were there. The food was DIVINE (drinks too!) but the service was atrocious. Truly nothing special and I don’t recommend it. There’s plenty of other places to have a better experience in Paris

• HollyBelly is so cute and has the most delicious food! I would definitely go again

What we did: Seine Dinner Cruise, Walked 18 miles around the city!

• The Seine dinner cruise might sound touristy, but locals actually recommend it too. It’s a great way to hit the hot spots from a different viewpoint. There was also a live singer, great food, and decent wine! Highly recommend it!

• When I say we walked the whole city, I mean it! We got in 18 miles because it was our only real day in the city. It was fun to explore shops and see the sights, but definitely prefer to have time to explore more leisurely.

• I recommend going to Luxembourg Gardens with some bread and wine and a book and people watching if you have half a day to do so

The Champagne Region

This was my second time doing a French wine region and did not disappoint. We stayed in Reim (pronounced Ranse), which is the largest city in the region. It has all of the gorgeous French architecture but is small, clean and very idyllic. It’s super easy to navigate and easy to access if you chose to just take the high speed train from Paris for the day.

Where we stayed: This perfect Air BnB. This location was perfection. Literally across from the train station and just a short walk to downtown. Between the train station and this building is also a gorgeous park we hung out in during the day. The host was the sweetest and most accommodating woman and the actual apartment was so cute!

Where we ate: Le Jardin (Michelin Star)

• We stayed here only two nights and tbh, the other two places we ate were just ok so I haven’t listed them

• Le Jardin was pure magic. Easily one of my favorite places we are on the trip. Divine food, gorgeous garden setting. Walk around the French Estate that’s also a hotel before dinner!

What we did: This wine tour

• This was SO much fun! Our guide was a born and bred local who knew his stuff and made the day FUN.

• You definitely get large tastings but also you learn a lot about how to select good champagne and a lot about the history of the region. Truly a really cool experience.

• Choose a tour that shows you local smaller champagne houses as well as a big one. I loved the smaller houses a lot more!

Final Thoughts

We really crushed this trip from a planning perspective. Having reservations, planning out activities as well as down time was truly the best way to go. I really enjoyed that we were able to see and do everything we wanted without feeling rushed or exhausted. There’s nothing that I wish I had seen that we missed. And although I said I didn’t like Split, I’m really glad we went because the excursions we went on were a must do!

Next up? Wait and see…I’ve got some things in the works!

A Lady of European Leisure, Part Deux

Well, against my better judgment, I have arrived back in America after two weeks abroad. I was able to completely log off work and enjoy two weeks exploring Spain, France, and Portugal. This piece is for all the women tagging adventure on their Instagram pages and linking hands with their boyfriends to get that golden social media photo opp. JK, this one is not for you. When I travel, I don’t even pack makeup, let alone that super cute floppy hat and white billowing boho chic dress.

This blog is for the true traveler. It’s for the folks looking to immerse themselves in culture and eat their weight in tapas while guzzling Port wine at 9AM on a Tuesday.

Let’s get down to business.

Barcelona

Where to stay: Gothic Quarter, it’s historic, inexpensive and easy to walk everywhere.

Where to eat & drink: Elsa Y Fred (Brunch), Viana (Dinner), Brunch & Cake (Brunch)

Where to explore: Obviously La Sagrada Familia (book a morning tour online when its less crowded), Walk to the other Gaudi designed buildings as well (we didn’t do tours), Park Guell (Make reservations for a morning tour online), Beach (grab some wine and snacks and go do the walk from the marina along the beach)

Key takeaway: I loved the historical buildings and truly unique architecture of Gaudi. The rest of my group didn’t love the city because it was crowded and it can feel a bit dirty (lots of graffiti) but I really enjoyed both the people and wandering the Gothic Quarter.

Bordeaux

Where to stay: City center. It’s very walk-able and easy to navigate.

Where to eat & drink: Kuro Espresso Bar (Breakfast/Coffee), Lou Lou (Dinner)

Where to explore: Wine tasting! Pay the $50 at the tourism office to take a bus out to the Chateau’s and see wine country. The wine pours are terrible but the history and sights are well worth the cost. Go to the mirror fountain outside of the palace for the best IG photos, the public garden for traditional Parisian walks (bring wine and a baguette and people watch!), and walk the bridges!

Key takeaway: Sleepy French town that I adored. It’s less of a hustle than Paris but all of the French charm. It’s also significantly cheaper than other French cities and deeply rooted in French history!

Lisbon

Where to stay: Alfama Disctrict (Historical city center). It was super loud because of festival season, but it was also where all the action was. Easy to walk all over town and very close to train stations.

Where to eat & drink: I didn’t love the food I ate here except Time Out Market. We ate at the restaurant upstairs and it was divine!

Where to explore: Time Out Market, Sintra day trip, walk along the waterfront, Bellem Tower

Key takeaway: This was personally my least favorite city. It felt a bit touristy and crowded. I really enjoyed Sintra, it was stunning, but Lisbon was too much of a big bustling city for me overall.

Horta

Where to stay: We stayed by the bay (literally across the street) and it was perfect. We felt like locals because we were away from the main marina. However, this tiny island feels very quiet overall so you’re really not going to be anywhere that’s bustling. Everything is easily walk-able in Horta but on the rest of the island you can call a cab or rent a car.

Where to eat & drink: Very limited but Genuino Restaurante for dinner (the owner is a two time solo trip around the world sailor), A Padaria for pastries and coffee (Coffee was 40 cents!), Peter Cafe Sport for lunch (order the special of the day whatever it is and try the gin!)

Where to explore: The beach! We were on the beach and because it’s such a small island, we had it entirely to ourselves! Private beach feel, not the prices! Also do a whale watching trip, we saw so many cool animals and being on the water was amazing.

Key takeaway: My family originated here so I thoroughly enjoyed making the trek here from the mainland. It is about 2 and a half hours of flying to get to, but well worth it if you love sleepy towns with a gorgeous island feel. I’d love to go back and explore more of the Azores.

Porto

Where to stay: We stayed up near the University. It was quiet, super comfy in the three story Air BnB we shared and easy to walk all over the city because it was so centrally located.

Where to eat & drink: Make reservations wherever you go! Hotel Dom Henrique (17 Degrees Bar & Restaurant). If you can eat and finish at sunset, you'll maximize views. It overlooks the entire city and even across the river. The service is incredible and you have to dress a little 'nicer' aka a sundress is fine, but the food was incredible and the views are the best in the city. It's more expensive but honestly not crazy, the steak was $30. For brunch, hit up Zenith Brunch, it's more Americanized in what it serves but it's SO cute and the food is divine. It is ALWAYS busy so be prepared to wait a little (15-20 min max). They also have a great HH for delicious strawberry mojitos that we loved. Go to Base (located next to the Harry Potter bookstore on top of a building in a park for casual outdoor drinks. Drinks are expensive because it's a total hot spot outdoor bar for the 20's crowd, but it's so cool for people watching in the sunshine. Another dinner I LOVED was Brasao Aliados for dinner.

Where to explore: Take a river cruise of the six bridges (It’s about an hour), Go on a Douro Valley Wine Tour (this was sincerely my favorite part of the entire two weeks!!), check out Livaria Lello (pay the 20 Euro to skip the line and go before it gets crowded), Cristal Palace Gardens, Shop at Almada 13

Key takeaway: I am obsessed with Porto! It’s such a clean city with plenty to do but also not overwhelming. The food and people were both really awesome and it felt like I was able to explore without becoming overwhelmed by a bustling city.

Combined stats

I’d say Porto was my favorite city. It’s not consumed by tourism yet, really easy to wander around, inexpensive, and I had the opportunity to truly relax. I’m a big fan of getting into cities before they become the next best thing. Prime example, I wanted to go to Iceland but it became such a thing, I’m out for at least another 5 years. Porto is right on the verge of being the next big thing so my advice is to go now! I also really enjoyed the Azores because my family roots are there and it’s so not touristy at all.

As always, I’m coming back humbled, grateful and excited about the world. There’s nothing like exploring a new culture to remind you how small you are in the overall ecosystem. It’s also a great way to remind yourself we are all different and thank the sweet glitter gods for that!

Global Lady of Leisure: A Recap

Well, Europe came and went and I am now back to my peasant life of the 9-5 job in Dallas. Obviously the trip was incredible. As if we had any doubts. Here's my recap for all you global travelers out there:

Remember, my travel style is local. It's not important to me to eat at super fancy restaurants. My goals are to immerse myself in the culture as much as possible! 

Paris

When I first got to Paris, I thought it was super overrated. It's a bit dirty on the outskirts and sort of chaotic. But the more time I spent there, the more I fell in love. We stayed in the heart of Paris, near Notre Dame. And at its core, Paris is far from dirty. It's certainly busy, but in a way that gives you energy. 

Must See: Notre Dame, Luxemborg Gardens (take a bottle of wine and a baguette!), Louvre 

Overrated: Eiffel Tower (go see the park, but honestly waiting in line and going up wasn't impressive), Love Bridge (they're starting to remove all the locks)

Where to Stay: Air BnB. It's the best way to live like a local and explore the city. I'm obsessed with where we stayed and would absolutely stay there again.

Where to Eat: Le Lutece, Le Paradis de Fruit, Le Petit Medicis

Monaco/Monte Carlo

I absolutely loved Monaco/Monte Carlo. My favorite meal of the trip was in this tiny little sunken restaurant in an alley in Monaco. It's a very clean area of Europe and we arrived right after the Grand Prix so we got to see all the cool setup without the crowds.

Must See: Monte Carlo Casino, Palace at Monaco. Walk from Monaco to Monte Carlo and back. It's hilly, but gorgeous and gives you the full views. 

Overrated: Monte Carlo Casino. It's not the same glitz and glam it used to be. Go see it, snap the photo, but other than that, it's not worth your time. Aquarium of Monaco. I'm from California so I've gone to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium many times. Nothing else compares. Wasn't worth the $16.

Where to Stay: We stayed at a Marriott a block outside of Monaco. If you have points, I highly recommend using them here and springing for the ocean view. It was nice to have a normal sized shower and A/C at a hotel. 

Where to Eat: The best pasta I had on the entire trip was at La Taverneta. 

Nice

Surprisingly Nice was my favorite stop of the trip. We stayed here as a last minute sort of pit stop and ended up falling in love with the beach, the food, and the town square. If I could do the trip over again I'd dedicate at least 4 days here.

Must See: The town square area where the farmer's market is and the majority of the local restaurants is stunning. Just go walk around here and if you're staying longer than 2 days, go to the market for the best fresh fruits, veggies, cheese, and fish and cook yourself a local meal.

Overrated: The main strip of restaurants right before old town are so awful and really touristy. Walk on by this area directly to old town. 

Where to Stay: Highly recommend the Air BnB we stayed in. 2 blocks from the private beach we loved and in a super safe building/area. 

Where to Eat: Di Piu (huge portions, really good food), Bistro DiAntoine, Farmer's Market! 

Amalfi Coast

Everything here looks as it does on Pinterest. Seriously. My favorite village was Positano hands down but I also really enjoyed where we stayed in Amalfi itself. They're all sleepy coastal towns with cobblestone roads and breathtaking views. It was also significantly less expensive here than France. 

Must See: Hike to Ravello (extremely difficult, we didn't make the entire 6.5 miles, but the views are incredible and its quiet), Positano, Do a boat trip around the area (best part of the trip)

Overrated: Capri, Salerno

Where to Stay: Air BnB is significantly cheaper than any hotel. The one we stayed at was the perfect location, it was huge by European standards and had one incredible patio. I'd stay in Positano if I were to do it again. 

Where to Eat: Il Tari, Lo Smeraldino, Stella Maris, Restaurant Marina Grande 

Rome

Rome is incredible. As a history nerd, I couldn't get enough of the history of everything around us. You literally see the modern world built on ancient Rome. It's an incredible place to go if you love to learn. Not to mention the food is divine and its the easiest city to navigate. 

Must See: Colosseum, Cesar's Compound, honestly just walk everywhere you can

Overrated: Trevi fountain

Where to Stay: Hotels here are insane expensive, again, do Air BnB. The place we stayed was HUGE and had an incredible private patio. It was also super cheap for what we got. Amenities were decent and service was just OK. The location was great though, I'd stay again purely for the size, patio and location.

Where to Eat: We got lucky and got into this tiny restaurant off an alley that is literally booked for weeks straight. Plan in advance and get reservations to Osteria Barberini. Hands down best service we ever had on the trip and the food is to die for. Very fresh and very local. 

Tips for Overall Travel

My number one tip, research. I'm a planner by nature. I was lucky enough to travel with one of my best friends who had previously planned a similar trip so she knew a lot as well. Basically, you're not going to Vegas. Understand that traveling abroad is an undertaking so educate yourself as much as possible so that when you're there, you have time to enjoy.  

Transportation: Norwegian Air. Buy the regular peasant class and bid for an upgrade. In Europe fly EasyJet. It's cheap, it's easy, and its comfortable. The train is also an awesome way to get around Italy and wasn't too difficult to navigate. Otherwise, walk as much as you possibly can in the cities you stay in. It's the best way to see the sights as a local. 

Lodging: Air BnB is so easy in Europe and the best way to live like a local. You often find really good local tips where to eat and what to do when you ask your hosts. You also get to meet locals this way! 

Finances: Get Euros in advance. Most places take card, but you really would do better to have Euros just in case. It also makes you stand out less! Please do not try to split bills either if eating with others. It’s rude. Also, nobody tips in Europe. If you do for exceptional service, it’s more like 10%. 

Packing: I did everything in a carry on. Highly advise doing this to make it easier to get around. Most places have a washing machine you can use as well for free. I'm not a backpacking girl so some of you may be able to do a big backpack for this trip, but I'm a hard case roller bag kind of girl.

Language: Learn the basic phrases for whatever countries you go to. It's important to respect the culture and country you're visiting. Please don't be like our President and make us look like asshole Americans. Learn please, thank you, and basic travel phrases like where's the bathroom and how to ask for water. 

Bottom line? Epic trip. Can't wait to keep adventuring. Stay tuned for what's next, we are thinking a yacht trip!

European Lady of Leisure

This post is for me.  I'm going to Europe shortly for two weeks with one of my childhood best babes and I want to know where to go, what to see, what to do, what to eat/drink!  

Here's the route:

Paris, Monaco/Monte Carlo, Nice, Naples, Almafi Coast, Capri, Rome

Now let me tell you about my travel style:

• Low Key: I'm packing a carry on and that's it!  
• Foodie (And Wino): I love to eat and I love me some good wines.  But I'm a simple gal.  I don't need 5-star dining.  I want to eat and drink local and really prefer the places that have history.
• Adventurer: I love to be outdoors and adventure.  I want to hike and wine taste, enjoy the beach - everything! 
• Culture Seeker: I love to learn about the culture and people wherever I go.  I'm not a fancy resort stay on the tour type of girl.  

Alright my sequins, give me your best advice on what to do and not do and what's worth the money versus what's not!

This is my first big adult adventure into Europe so I'm looking forward to the journey and culture it's going to provide.

And may I say, if you ever get the opportunity to travel with your best friend(s) to a new place - take it.  Sure, Cabo and Vegas are lovely, but we are grown now.  Get out and explore the world and learn about places that you know nothing about.  Being cultured is how we learn to appreciate and value each other a whole lot more.  Save your money and spend in on the experiences that shape you.