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  • Our Ambergris Caye Restaurant Guide

    Our Ambergris Caye Restaurant Guide

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While Ambergris Caye is relatively small, there was no shortage of delicious food to eat while we were there. These were some of our favorite spots![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rain Restaurant & Roof Top Terrace – our first dinner stop was Rain, near the Grand Caribe Hotel, north of town. You’ll need a golf cart to get here, or you can contact them about a complimentary water taxi ride if you don’t have a golf cart during your trip. The big draw here are the sunsets you’ll catch (unfortunately the night we ate here there was not much sun) but the food was great as well! From bacon wrapped dates on top of pineapple, mussels and clams in champagne, coconut crusted shrimp and our favorite key lime pie of the trip (yes, we may have eaten key lime pie every night) everything was delicious. They also had cocktails, beer, and a great wine selection.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1016″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506055470795-aba98551-ed9d-9″ include=”1017,1018″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Elvi’s Kitchen – located right in town, this is another must while you’re in Ambergris Caye. While I am sure everything tastes great here I have to advise you – get the coconut curry! It was so delicious, definitely one of the best meals I had while there.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1035″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Blue Water Grill – located just south of town and right on the beach, this is a great spot for a nice dinner. While not originally planned, we ended up here for Toby’s birthday dinner. If you like sushi, make sure to visit on Tuesday or Thursday. Otherwise get yourself some dumplings, the scallops appetizer, the shrimp dynamite crusted snapper, and the mixed grill![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1506055470811-b4e15985-90b2-5″ include=”1020,1021,1022″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Estel’s Dine by the Sea – we had a kitchen so spent most mornings cooking up our own bacon and eggs, but treated ourselves to one brunch at Estel’s. The menu is written on chalkboard, so figure out what you want to eat, order, and then take a seat and enjoy the ocean view. We had yummy shrimp and lobster omelets but whatever you get, you must order fry jacks! I probably don’t need these in my life every day but we need more restaurants to start serving them! Wash your breakfast down with a mimosa or two and enjoy your day![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1023″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”1024″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hidden Treasure – we, very unfortunately, did NOT get to try this restaurant while we were in town. I had made reservations for Toby’s birthday dinner (check out the photos – the place looks cool!) and we made the long drive from our hotel north of town to this southern part of the island to find they were closed for repairs! While upsetting, we luckily ended up having a great dinner at Blue Water, and when I emailed Hidden Treasure to share my disappointment they responded immediately and apologetically and send us a meat and cheese tray and bottle of wine that accompanied us to some deserted dock sunsets later that week.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1025″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Stella’s Smile – we noticed the sign for this wine bar on our many trips to and from town – located on the lagoon side, it made for the perfect sunset stop. We enjoyed a couple of glasses or wine, appetizers, and a beautiful sunset.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1026″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”1027″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]El Fogon – located close to the airport, be prepared to sit outside without much of an ocean breeze. However, that doesn’t mean the food isn’t great! Get yourself some Belizean Creole and enjoy![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506055470839-9b66d462-889e-7″ include=”1029,1030″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hungry Grouper – I always go between loving to research and leaving some things up to chance – on our last night we picked one of the higher rated restaurants on Tripadvisor and ended up at the Hungry Grouper on the lagoon side of town. It was a small, hot place, but they know what they are doing. We let the owner order for us – from jerk shrimp to blackened fish and dirty rice – I’m not sure you can go wrong here. Just remember to BRING CASH![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1028″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sandy Toes Beach Bar & Grill – located barely north of town, this little beach bar is an easy spot to spend a couple of hours at. With Adirondack chairs and inner tubes in the shallow water and yummy drinks and food for lunch, we enjoyed a nice afternoon here after Toby went diving.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1032″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One spot that we didn’t get to because it was closed for the season was the Truck Stop. Located north of town, the Truck Stop is a few different food options in shipping containers on the lagoon side – complete with a nice little dock to catch the sunset from. So, if you go, make sure you check it out and let us know what you think![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Aside from all of the eating we did, there are plenty of fun bars to visit while you’re there. From late nights at Jaguars to hermit crab races at Canucks, there is something for everyone on this little island.

    Read more about what we did on the island here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 5 Perfect Days in Ambergris Caye

    5 Perfect Days in Ambergris Caye

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For this year’s annual birthday trip we decided to take a more relaxing route and chose to spend five perfect days in Belize. We absolutely fell in love with Ambergris Caye and have already been recommending it to everyone.

    As a disclaimer, we did go in early September, right before the slowest of the slow season, so we may not have gotten a taste for how crazy or busy the island can get at more popular times of the year, so keep that in mind![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On the first day, we arrive in Belize City on a flight from Atlanta. It sounds like most flights from the United States come from there or Houston. Their international airport is tiny, but has food options, a bar, rum tastings, and plenty of knick knack souvenirs to buy.

    We were through customs and waiting for our puddle jumper flight to Ambergris Caye in no time. There are two airlines that fly to the cayes – Tropic Air and Maya Island. We found cheaper rates on Maya (around $60 one way) and took the easy 15-minute flight over. You also have the option of taking a taxi ($25 – 30-minute ride) to the ferry (about $15 one way – 90-minute ride) but since we had limited time we opted for the slightly more expensive flight – plus the views from the plane are amazing.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707430-8fc4b35c-f942-9″ include=”995,1003,1004″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Where to Stay

    We used Chase Sapphire Reserve points and chose Belizean Shores Resort. We opted for this resort as it was a little smaller than some that came up in our search, but was still beach front with a great pool. We had a one-bedroom seaview condo during our stay. I can’t say enough about how amazing the staff was before and during our stay. Jose was always quick to respond to any questions we had along the way and offered to be as helpful as possible.

    The resort is located 3.5 miles north of town, so we ended up renting a golf cart for the length of our stay (the longer you rent a car the cheaper it gets!). They do have water and land taxis, but the water taxis are pretty infrequent and stop around 10 pm. To be able to go wherever you want, whenever you want, I’d highly recommend going the golf cart way.

    That being said, we did drive to town every day and night, so while I absolutely loved Belizean Shores, I think we would potentially opt to stay closer to town on our next trip – of course, if you have no desire to be anywhere near town then again, I can’t recommend Belizean Shores enough![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707439-a0eda903-b529-5″ include=”996,991″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What to Do

    Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley – there seems to be an endless amount of companies who run snorkel trips, but we settled on Chuck & Robbie’s and couldn’t have been happier with our experience. You can do this snorkel trip in a couple of hours so you have the option to choose the morning or afternoon trip. Their shop is located just north of town and if you’re staying outside of town they’ll also pick you up in their boat (for a fee). The snorkel spots are just a few minutes away from the dock and the marine life is absolutely amazing! Another spot (that we didn’t get to) is Mexico Rocks, a spot more recently turned into a marine reserve.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”997″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Scuba Dive – if you’re a diver, Belize is probably already on your list. The Blue Hole is probably on your bucket list. However, after some research and chatting with a few people, Toby decided to stick to diving the reefs right off shore than making the long (and expensive) trip to The Blue Hole. From what we heard there is almost no marine life, your a few hour boat ride away, and really, it’s just a bucket list dive.

    We had been so happy with Chuck & Robbie’s that Toby went back to them for a two tank reef dive – the diving is SO close that you actually spend your surface interval going back to the dock to grab your next tank (plus snacks!).

    If you don’t dive but are still interested in checking out The Blue Hole, there are snorkel trips, fly overs, and even skydiving. All of these activities come at a high price though – so just be prepared if it’s on your list![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Secret Beach – a long bumpy road, Secret Beach was worth a few hours in our opinion. There’s no seagrass here and a couple of little restaurant bars have popped up so you only have to come prepared with your sunscreen and bathing suit. I’m sure the sunsets are pretty amazing here as well but the drive back would be quite dark![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1006″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Day Trip to Caye Caulker – when we were initially planning our trip we were thinking about splitting our stay between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, or possibly just staying in Caye Caulker the entire time. Because Caye Caulker’s motto is “Go Slow” and we were already going to be in the throws of the slow season, we opted to just take a day trip and not spend the time switching hotels. I don’t regret the decision but I’d also love to spend a night or two on Caye Caulker next time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wander around the town, grab a delicious iced coffee (I cannot remember the name of this place but it was so good!), jump off the platform at the Split and grab a slushy drink at the Lazy Lizard, and get yourself over to Koko King. I could have lost a few days loving life at Koko King.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707451-201e3238-0fb8-5″ include=”993,990″][vc_single_image image=”1002″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Relax! Here were some of our favorite spots to grab a day drink:

    • Palapa Bar and Grill – grab a drink and hang out in an inner tube of the dock. Sometimes there is a live band (other times they just play all of my favorite country music songs) – just north of town (and just south of Chuck and Robbie’s!)
    • Sandy Toes – just a little bit north of Palapa, this bar has Adirondack chairs that you can sit in the shallow ocean while sipping on a drink – and inner tubes as well!
    • Amber Bar & Grill – if you’re looking for a little fun just south of town, Amber Bar & Grill is home to the El Diablo waterslide as well as some inflatable ocean toys – accompanied by delicious drinks on a bar over the water.

    [/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707460-b8351f58-3dad-6″ include=”998,1005″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Catch the sunset – the sun sets on the lagoon side of the island and while many bars and restaurants sit oceanfront, there are a handful that have docks over the lagoon – the perfect way to wind down your not-so-stressful day. Or, when it’s slow season and places are starting to close down, grab a bottle of wine or a couple of beers and find an empty dock all to yourself![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707466-925563ba-1b85-0″ include=”992,1001″][vc_single_image image=”999″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fish – while we didn’t end up doing any fishing, there are a variety of fishing tours available and plenty of fish to be caught![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Party – one thing we weren’t totally expecting was the late night party scene here. While Caye Caulker is known to be more of a happy hour place, Ambergris Caye is pretty empty until people finish up dinners around 10 pm (or later). Of course, being the slow season there wasn’t a whole lot of craziness going on but you can still catch Hermit Crab Races at Crazy Canucks, the Chicken Drop (still sad we weren’t there on a Thursday), and enjoy cocktails at a variety of spots in town.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”994″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All in all, we absolutely loved our time in Ambergris Caye and would definitely come back.

    Check out our Restaurant Guide for Ambergris Caye for our foodie reviews of all of the delicious meals we had while we were there![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • A Valparaiso Photo Tour

    A Valparaiso Photo Tour

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”886″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Due to the fact that we were trying to fit so much into such a short period of time, we only had one day to go to Valparaiso. That day happened to be a Sunday, when many restaurants and shops were closed, but we still had a great time.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”890″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]We took a 90-minute bus ride from Santiago – check out companies such as Pullman or Turbus, and wandered around the city until we found a spot open for lunch overlooking the water. Definitely recommend La Concepcion Restaurant.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1502746096204-f0d4b49b-e6db-5″ include=”882,883,884″][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1502746096205-26d867f0-9d67-9″ include=”885,887″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After lunch we wandered around some more, taking photos of all of the great graffiti art every few minutes.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1502746096206-a0fff67f-0bdb-5″ include=”888,889″][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1502746096207-46ad1024-166b-0″ include=”892,894″][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1502746096207-ed3b2c7b-b80d-6″ include=”898,891″][vc_column_text]If you’d rather participate in an organized tour rather than doing it yourself, they do have Street Art Tours you can join.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Once we were done wandering around, we took a short train ride over to Vina del Mar and found a spot on the beach to grab a few pisco sours and watch the sun slowly start to set. Knowing we had an early wake-up call the next day, we decided we’d make our way to the bus station and hop on the next bus back to Santiago.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”899″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One thing to note is that while it was just another day of vacation for us, it was the end of the weekend for everyone living in Chile, which meant everyone else was taking the bus back from the beach to Santiago. When we arrived at the bus station the next available bus wasn’t for another 2.5 hours. We made the decision to spend some extra money, take an uber, and get some actual sleep before a long day of travel the next day. If possible, I’d recommend buying your return ticket in advance if you have the slightest idea of what time you might want to return – especially if it’s a Sunday![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”897″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Want to read more about Chile? Check out the posts below!

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  • How to Tackle Chile in a Week

    How to Tackle Chile in a Week

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When we jumped on the $200 error fare to Santiago, I’ll be honest, I had NO idea what we were going to do for a week (okay, eight days) in Chile. I assumed we’d have to stick to a bunch of day trips from Santiago (which, upon my research, really wouldn’t have been such a bad trip at all!) and that getting down to Patagonia was going to cost an arm and a leg.

    Luckily, once I put my travel research hat on I realized that wouldn’t have to be the case at all.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”876″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you’re not one for action-packed trips and like a more leisurely pace, this itinerary may not be for you, but hopefully anyone reading gets some good tips and ideas out of here anyway![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Day 1: Arrive in Santiago. It probably depends where you are flying from, but we took an 8-hour redeye flight from Mexico City. We’re both lucky enough that we sleep relatively well on planes, and always try to hit the ground running after an overnight flight. We spent the afternoon exploring Santiago – eating, drinking, and taking it all in.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Day 2: Day trip to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. We were flying out early the next morning so an overnight trip wasn’t an option for us – it made for a pretty long day but I knew we wanted to fit in a trip to the graffitied city. This happened to be on a Sunday, and if that happens to you be forewarned that many restaurants will be closed, but we found a hilltop spot and then enjoyed wandering around the streets and checking out all of the art. We also weren’t sure when we would want to head back to Santiago so did not buy a bus ticket in advance – typically not an issue but at the end of the weekend everyone else was heading back to Santiago as well – we opted to take an Uber home rather than a bus that would have gotten us in after midnight. You live and you learn, right?[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Day 3: Travel to Puerto Natales in Patagonia. Be prepared for a long day. This involved a 3-hour flight south to Punta Arenas (hello, 600-miles from Antartica!) and then another 2 1/2 hour bus ride north to Puerto Natales. We opted to fly their budget airlines, SKY Airlines, which got us there safe and sound, and then Bus Sur for the comfortable bus ride. Tip: You can buy your tickets online beforehand and choose your seats. Once we arrived, we settled into our hotel and then took a taxi over to The Singular Hotel for a relaxing late afternoon bottle of Chilean wine and snacks.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Day 4: Today’s the day! You’re going to spend the entire day exploring Torres del Paine. Obviously, due to our time constraints, we did not have time to do any of the 5-day treks, so we opted for a full-day tour allowing us to check out many amazing sites along the way and go for short walks and hikes as well.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Day 5: After your full day in Torres, followed by another delicious dinner in Puerto Natales (seriously – head over to our blog about Patagonia to check out where we ate!) you’re back on the bus and headed to the airport. While another long day, we were scheduled to arrive back in Santiago around 5pm, giving us a bit of time to relax before dinner. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed for a few hours so we didn’t end up arriving in Santiago until 8pm. Luckily I had made dinner reservations a block from our hotel and they still seated us an hour after our reservation time![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Day 6: Back at the airport. Yeah, I know! But there are no direct flights from Punta Arenas to Calamia so we were stuck with an overnight in Santiago. There are a couple of flights a day to Calamia but we chose to take the earliest one to maximize our time in San Pedro de Atacama. The flight was much shorter (under 2 hours) but make sure to maximize anytime you have to nap! Once we arrived in Atacama we dropped our stuff, headed to the hot springs, and then Valle de La Luna.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Day 7: Exploring Atacama. We had rented a car which gave us the flexibility to sleep in a little bit later than if we had booked a tour. We spent the day driving around, basically following the tour route that looked the most interesting to us, while avoiding all of the tourists. Want to learn more about what we did? Read more here![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Day 8: It’s time to start the long journey home. It’s still dark out when we leave our hotel – we’re catching the earlier flight to avoid any potential delays that could force us to miss our flight back home. When we arrive in Santiago we still have about 8 hours to kill so we head to the fish market, the yarn street, the historic center, and pretty much just walk the city until we’re in need of pisco sours, Chilean wine, and snacks to get us through. The sun sets and we are on another redeye back to Mexico City.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Once I started researching Chile I realized there was so much greatness all over the country – while we saw A LOT we barely scratched the surface of mountains, lakes, and wine country to see!

    Where should we go the next time we make it down to Chile?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • High Altitude in Atacama

    High Altitude in Atacama

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Before we booked our flight to Chile, I had honestly never heard of the Atacama Desert. It wasn’t until I started researching what there was to do outside of Santiago that I learned about this crazy, but awesome place.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We spent two days and two nights in Atacama and accomplished A LOT. While our itinerary was nonstop on this trip, it’s definitely proof that you CAN see it all – at least the mountains, desert, and city, all in one trip. Side note: while researching Chile I learned that there is SO much more of this beautiful country left to visit and I hope to make it back one day to continue exploring.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”844″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We took the first flight out of Santiago that morning and arrived in Calama around 8am. We opted to rent a car for this portion of the trip as most of the activities you want to do and sites you want to see really don’t require any kind of tour, or even four wheel drive. We hopped in our SUV and made it to the town of San Pedro de Atacama in under an hour.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Stay

    We decided to stay in the sister hotel of Altiplanico Sur – Altiplanico Atacama. It was a short, easy walk into town but at night quite dark – I highly recommend bringing a flashlight if you’re staying here and planning to head into town for dinner and drinks. The rooms were nice and we had private patios and an outdoor shower. Don’t worry – there was an indoor shower as well.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1501211934193-4993bb5a-2983-2″ include=”855,854″][vc_single_image image=”843″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    What to Do

    Valle de la Luna – probably the closest thing to town to do is visit the Valle de la Luna. We had read that sunset was the best time to go so we made the drive over just in time – we paid a few dollars and drove to an area where a decent sized group of people were parking. Due to the time we didn’t get to drive all the way around the park, but luckily we captured a pretty great sunset.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”857″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”856″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”852″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Salt Flats & Lagoons – again, one of the benefits of renting our own car meant going at our own pace (aka doing everything we could have done on a tour, but sleeping an extra hour and ending up having parts of Atacama all to ourselves. We stopped by the Atacama Salt Flat, hung out with flamingos (or desperately tried to be quiet enough to get close to them), had a delicious $7 lunch in the village of Socaire on our way to the lagoons, and then visited the Miscanti Miniques lagoons.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”847″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”848″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”850″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”863″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Termas de Puritama – when we arrived at our hotel our room wasn’t ready so we decided to head to the hot springs for the afternoon before settling in and then heading to Valle de la Luna for sunset. If you like to relax in natural hot springs I definitely recommend! You drive to a pretty high altitude, walk down into a canyon, pay a small entry fee, and relax! Tip: I don’t care how warm or cold out it is, you’re sitting in crystal clear water at 14,000 feet – wear sunscreen.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1501211934203-aa6e08c7-584b-5″ include=”838,840,839″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Eat

    Adobe – while we didn’t have time to eat many meals in Atacama, Adobe was by far the best place we ate. Be prepared that there may be a fire going so it might get a bit smoky, but the food is delicious and the live music is a lot of fun. Definitely make sure to head here for dinner one night.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”853″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Mal de Puna – a spot we passed on the walk from our hotel into the main part of town, this place was a great spot to stop for a drink and snack of ceviche or one of their wok dishes.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”845″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]La Estaka – honestly, not our favorite meal of the trip, but the ambiance was great, the location was right in the center of town, and hey, there are plenty of other dishes to try – I just didn’t find my curry bursting with taste.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1501211934206-e813156a-c5e1-4″ include=”858,859″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While Patagonia has a huge draw, I wouldn’t write off visiting the desert if you have some time – especially if you don’t spend much time in deserts, it feels a bit out of this world.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”862″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 4 Days in Mexico City

    4 Days in Mexico City

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I had never given too much thought to Mexico City. After all, I’d done the beaches in Cancun and Cabo and the border was 30 minutes from my house. But after a couple of layovers there and hearing more and more good things about it, we decided to look at flights. $115 round trip from Tijuana. Done.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Before I get into all of the things we ate and did, here are a few tips I have:

    1. We went to Mexico City in July which is part of the rainy season. (Yeah, living in San Diego I tend not to consider those things). I was a bit dismayed checking the forecast before we went but don’t let the “rainy season” stop you from traveling there. It was pleasant during the day, sometimes hot and even sunny. The rain would start between 4pm and 5pm and every day we were there it wouldn’t last too long. It also happened to rain whenever we were heading back to the hotel for a nap, shower, or watching Lucha Libre so it didn’t bother us in the slightest.
    2. If you’ve read about Mexico City at all you’ll know to expect traffic. And you should. But if you don’t mind walking and are staying in a central location you don’t always have to hop in a car or bus. We didn’t take the Metro but did take Uber every time we needed transportation – it’s ridiculously cheap and felt safer than trying to catch a cab.
    3. Mexico City sits at about 7,500 feet. Altitude affects (and doesn’t affect) everyone differently but I would just remember that you’re pretty high up there! We tried to drink as much water as possible (this also may have been because we were also drinking beer, wine, and mezcal).
    4. There is not a whole lot going on in Mexico City on Sunday night. I didn’t find Monday night to be too much better. We knew this going into our trip so planned accordingly and still had some great meals, but just something to be aware of – 90% of the bars and restaurants you might be looking to go to will not be open (if they’re open on Sundays they’ll be closing early).

    [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”824″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]

    Where to Stay

    We opted to save a few bucks and used points at the Sheraton Maria Isabel which I’d recommend. It’s a really central location with nice rooms that you’d expect from a nice Sheraton. Apparently, there is a second tower that hasn’t been updated yet but since we didn’t stay there I can’t speak to that. If you want to splurge a bit the Four Seasons and St. Regis are down the road and really, at under $300 a night (at the time we visited) not a splurge for the fact that they are the Four Seasons and St. Regis. Or, you can find plenty of great Airbnbs for low prices if you’d rather go that route.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

    Where to Eat (and Drink)

    La Docena – not only was this place delicious, it’s open on Sunday nights! And near the arena where you can catch a Lucha Libre match. La Docena is known for their oysters but they plenty of other seafood and meat dishes too. But…their oysters…now, I honestly don’t get what the big deal is over a raw oyster but these…these were smoked with tuna crudo on top. They were not only the best oysters I will probably ever have in my life, but just generally a really great dish. We also had some yummy mussels, a tuna special, and summer wine (whatever that is) mixed with vodka served in a penguin.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”809″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Seneri – Seneri is a contemporary Mexican restaurant that sits above Mercado Roma (which looked delicious itself). I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a nice dinner date. They took their time bringing out our food and we had a nice night with a bottle of wine from Guadalupe Valley.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1500954021137-22664871-e350-2″ include=”801,802,803″][vc_column_text]Fonda Fina – another restaurant in Roma Norte, this place was a bit more casual but still definitely delicious. We had pork belly sope, a squash blossom salad, and a flank streak. After the small plates and salads you get to pick your meat (or fish), sauce, and side. Try the mezcal ice cream to end your meal. Also…they’re open on Mondays![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1500954021140-b151efd0-8c34-7″ include=”813,814,815″][vc_column_text]Lardo – we walked here for brunch on Sunday. Expect to wait a bit (perhaps not during the week). You can buy a coffee and pastry while you wait. We ended up sitting at the bar and had two good egg dishes and some mimosas. I thought the food was pretty good and I wasn’t feeling all that adventurous with my order so it would be worth going back to.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Parian Condesa – we checked out this food hall on Tuesday afternoon. It was pretty empty so we were able to get a seat out on the back patio and they have waiters that serve you from any of the stalls in the food hall. We ended up ordering some delicious guacamole and had a few tacos as well, but they had all kinds of varieties of food if you need a break from Mexican![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

    Tacos!

    El Califa – located just a couple of blocks from the Sheraton – we had a variety of delicious tacos with lots of cheese, guacamole, and a few beers. The tacos definitely differentiate in price and I think there are definitely cheaper taco places out there, but this was really good![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”799″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]El Farolito – located in Polanco, this was another delicious taco stop. I felt like I overate at El Califa so tried a little bit less here, but overall I think I preferred El Califa. This stop did finally bring us to the neighborhood of Polanco so we spent some time walking around after and checking things out after that.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

    Drinks!

    Due to the fact that we arrived on Saturday and Sundays and Mondays are completely dead, we didn’t have a chance to check out as many places as I would have liked.

    Felina Bar – a small, dark, hipster bar that made us feel like we were in Brooklyn or San Francisco. You could tell the bartenders put a lot of love into making their drinks (and a lot of time). We had a fun time here the drinks were yummy but if small, dark, hipster bar isn’t your scene I would probably skip it.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Licorera Limantour – we found seats at the bar here on a Saturday night and tried a couple of different signature cocktails. Delicious! I definitely recommend coming here for a drink. They also played amazing old school hip hop music the entire time we were there adding to the greatness.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]La Cerveceria de Barrio Condesa – we stopped here for a drink and to take in some people watching. Located on the corner of a cute street with shops and restaurants, you can grab a beer and a variety of Mexican food (we went with some tuna which seemed to be one of the themes of the weekend). Definitely a nice stop on an afternoon walk![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    To Do

    Teotihuacan – these Aztec ruins are located about 45 minutes outside of the city. We spent about 2 1/2 hours there walking around and hiking up and down pyramids. We went on a Monday morning, which I’d definitely recommend — or at least, I wouldn’t recommend going on a Sunday when it’s free for Mexicans so more crowded, and by the time we were heading out a little after 1pm it had gotten a lot more crowded than when we arrived at 10:30am. Be prepared to walk! We probably walked around 5 miles when we were there and climbed A LOT of flights of stairs – but the ruins were cool and it was definitely nice to get a break from the city.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1500954021142-010b520e-4203-9″ include=”812,810″][vc_single_image image=”811″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Chapultepec Park – this huge park is in walking distance from the Sheraton. We checked out the castle which was pretty cool and just spent some time walking around the park. We also found Alas de la Ciudad (the wings of the city) which is fun for a photo op! We heard the Anthropology Museum was great as well, but didn’t make it there.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”805″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”821″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Luche Libre – so, so entertaining. We ended up going on Sunday at 5pm which was perfect because 1) it ended up raining while we were at the match 2) it was close to La Docena which is open on Sunday nights for dinner. I think we might have paid around $15 for tickets and then got cheap giant Coronas and random snacks. There were 5 matches and the entire thing lasted for 5 hours. They don’t have matches every night but if you’re in town when they do, it’s definitely an entertaining (and cheap) two hours.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1500954021145-eb64ec12-fa87-1″ include=”806,807″][vc_column_text]Centro Historico – the historic center of the city wasn’t my favorite but worth checking out the Zocalo and the cathedral and walking around for a bit. When you need an escape from the chaos head up La Terraza in the Gran Hotel and have a drink overlooking the square.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”800″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”825″ img_size=”500″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Walk around! La Condesa, Roma Norte, Zona Rosa, Polanco – there are so many restaurants, bars, and shops to check out and when it’s a nice day, it’s nice to just walk![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1500954021150-c6bc21ee-967b-9″ include=”808,804″][vc_column_text]Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo Museum) – our experience at the Frida Kahlo Museum wasn’t the best – the whole experience was completely unorganized and crowded and I’m not sure if I can recommend it (perhaps I just wasn’t appreciating it enough). But, it did bring us to the area of Coyoacan which felt like a small town worlds away from Mexico City. If you’re in the area on Saturday there is a big market – there were still a handful of stalls open when we were there on a Tuesday. Note: closed on Mondays (as most museums are).[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1500954021151-e74d2ab4-988c-0″ include=”818,819″][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1500954021152-819c12a5-a3e5-4″ include=”822,816″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All in all we had a great time in Mexico City, and for the price of flights and hotels, we would definitely go back – but probably make sure to leave by Sunday evening next time. There are so many more delicious restaurants and bars to check out! In addition to where we went, we plan to go back and try out Tacqueria el Greco, Volver, Quintonil, Maximo, Pujol, Peua, and Guzina Oaxaca for food and Gin Gin, Baltra Bar, La Mascota, Bosforo, Maison Artemisa, Romita Comedor for drinks![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Stopping Through Santiago

    Stopping Through Santiago

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I fell in love with Buenos Aires in 2012, but hadn’t been back to South America since. Toby had spent 3 weeks mountaineering in Peru in 2011 – and we knew we were getting due for another trip down south. I had always assumed the next stop would be Rio, maybe somewhere in Colombia, until we scored $200 flights through an Orbitz error fare. We didn’t spend a whole lot of time in Santiago as we wanted to see as much of the country as possible (in a whopping 8 days) but we did manage to sneak in some great meals and sightseeing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Stay

    W Santiago – We used points for most of our trip to Chile, which landed us at the W for the first two nights we were there. The W definitely didn’t disappoint (I’m a sucker for hotel rooms with balconies) and most of the Starwood and Marriott hotels were in the same neighborhood (Las Condes). The neighborhood seemed to have some restaurants but seemed to be more of a business district so we did spend time ubering back and forth to other parts of town, like Bellavista.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”787″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hotel Loreto – an overnight layover seemed to be our only option between our time in Patagonia and the Atacama desert, so I chose somewhere that would be nice enough to sleep and shower in, and focused more on the neighborhood. We ended up having a 3-hour delay leaving Patagonia so I was even more pleased with my decision to not spend a large sum of money or points for about 6 hours in a room. The room was nice enough (small) and the location was great (and only about a block from the restaurant we had dinner reservations at). I’d recommend this hotel to anyone on a budget – after all, you’re probably spending most of your day out and about![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Eat (and Drink)

    Bocanariz – We landed in Santiago a bit before lunch time, so I was more than ready for some food (and wine) once we dropped our bags at the hotel. Bocanariz hit the spot. They had many different wine flights to choose from so we each ordered something different, and snacked on empanadas and their version of patatas bravas. It was also my first introduction to Chile being more expensive than Argentina.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”780″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Restaurant 040 – while I didn’t find many of our meals in Chile very inexpensive, Restaurant 040 was our splurge. We did a 10? 12? course tasting that was absolutely amazing. I mean everything. Was. So. Delicious. And worth every dollar. We booked in advance and were able to go to Room #9 (their speakeasy bar) after dinner. Even if you decide not to splurge for dinner, I recommend trying to check out Room #9 – I believe there is a new password every day, but the drinks and setting are amazing. The restaurant was located in the Bellavista area, so convenient to many other places.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”786″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sarita Colonia – located a block away from Hotel Loreto in the Bellavista neighborhood, this restaurant was full of quirky, strange things, and delicious food with a Peruvian flair. We ended up getting to our reservation an hour late (thanks to our 3-hour flight delay) but they were still able to sit us. I’ve heard that the roof deck is amazing but we didn’t have a chance to check it out.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”789″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Barrica 94 – this restaurant and wine bar is located in the area named Patio Bellavista. What that is is really a collection of all different types of restaurants (including a steakhouse called Montana that I found myself facing the entire time we were sipping on wine). The idea of the Patio isn’t really my style – I felt like I was in some sort of outdoor restaurant shopping mall, but I can understand why people go there and the wine (and steak) at Barrica 94 didn’t disappoint.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Chipe Libre – Républica Independiente del Pisco – no trip to Chile is complete without taking in at least one (or many) Pisco Sours. I’m sure there are plenty of places to grab a great one, but we found ourselves enjoying our last of the trip at Chipe Libre – conveniently enough right next door to Bocanariz. The decor inside was great and they had a lovely outdoor patio as well. And of course, delicious empanadas to go along with your pisco. If you really want to get into pisco, they offer pisco flights there as well.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”791″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mercado Central de Santiago – I would NOT recommend going here if you hate fish. While you may find something to eat there that doesn’t come from the sea, the entire market is full of stalls selling all kinds of seafood so the smell is undeniable. We settled on Augusto’s, which seemed to be the largest place there, and enjoyed some King Crab and shrimp. It wasn’t anything to write home about, but the experience was at least worth a walk through.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”790″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    What to Do

    To be honest, we didn’t DO a whole lot in Santiago. We walked around the city, stopped for food and drinks along the way, and basically used the city as numerous long layovers.

    San Cristobal Hill – while there is probably a good chance you’ll have to wait in line for a bit, I decided it was worth it to take a funicular up to the top for great views of the apparently giant city we were exploring. You can hike to the top as well but it was a rather hot day when we were there so we opted for the lazy (but sort of fun) funicular ride.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”788″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”783″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Plaza de Armas – this main square wasn’t too far from San Cristobal or the Mercado Central, and I’m glad I didn’t go well out of my way to see it. There were some pretty buildings but I felt the area was loud, congested, and made me want to run back to the peace of the Atacama desert.

    Buy Yarn! I had heard there was an entire street filled with yarn shops – and this is true. I hadn’t made a definite decision on whether I was going to buy an alpaca yarn, but when we stumbled upon the street leaving Mercado Central I felt like it was meant to be. Unfortunately, it was a lot hard to find Chilean alpaca wool than I would have thought, but I nabbed a few colors and shipped them off to my mom. Photos coming as soon as she finishes knitting me a scarf!

    All in all, I thought Santiago had enough to offer for a couple of nights. I see it more as a city people live in instead of visit (which must be why I know more people who have lived there for a few months or years at a time than visitors) but the proximity to beaches, mountains, and wineries is also amazing (reminds me of a place I might live in).

    Stay tuned to for posts on our day trip to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar and our time in the Atacama Desert.

    Check out our trip to Patagonia here![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • A Taste of Patagonia

    A Taste of Patagonia

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When we spur of the moment bought plane tickets to Santiago, Chile (thanks again Orbitz and your error fare!) I had no intention of going to Patagonia. Between cost and the limited amount of time we had, it didn’t seem like it was even an option.

    After I did a little bit of research I quickly realized it was 100% possible (the fact that our flights from Los Angeles to Santiago were only $200 were definitely helping the budget factor).[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”773″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We booked flights on SKY Airline – a budget airline in Chile that didn’t seem all that different from Spirit – but got the job done. We took an early morning flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, grabbed some lunch at the airport and then set off on a two-and-a-half hour bus we had prebooked with the bus company, Bus Sur.

    I know what you’re thinking. That’s A LOT of travel already. And it was. But the plane and bus both make great spots for extra naps (I can pretty much sleep anywhere) and the scenery was pretty great on the bus ride as well. Alternatively, you could rent a car, but the option for sleeping, gazing at the scenery, and a $10 bus ride appealed to me more.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Stay

    If you’re not doing one of the Torres del Paine treks it’s pretty expensive to stay within the gates of the national park. Most people stay in the town of Puerto Natales, about an hour and a half from the park. We opted to stay at a hotel right outside of town (about a $3 taxi ride) called Altiplanico Sur (thanks, Chase Sapphire Reserve points!). Every room had a beautiful view of the mountains and water, the bathroom had heated floors and a heated towel rack (some personal home dreams of mine), a standard breakfast was included, and all of the staff was overwhelmingly nice. I definitely recommend![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”761″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Eat & Drink

    Afrigonia – A yummy fusion restaurant located right in town. A mixture of Chilean and African food. Definitely on the pricier side but everything we had (including a bottle of Camenere) was delicious.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Singular Patagonia – While located slightly farther outside of town than our own hotel, I feel like this is a must do, even if it’s just for a drink. It’s an old meat refrigeration plant that was converted into an amazing hotel a few years ago. They have a gorgeous restaurant and bar area with beautiful views. We went for a few sunset drinks and charcuterie board, relaxed, and enjoyed the views.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1491529732101-5de53121-ccda-4″ include=”762,763″][vc_single_image image=”764″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Santolla – can you say King Crab? Our hotel recommended this place and we were not disappointed! Located in Hotel IF in Puerto Natales, the restaurant is actually made out of shipping containers that have been constructed together. But, in addition to the aesthetically cool factor, the food was delicious (plus some more wine, of course!).[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”765″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Baguales Brewery – if you find yourself needing a break from wine and Pisco Sours, head here. Fun little microbrewery that seemed to be the popular place to hang out in town.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1491530279666-930d589d-f07d-1″ include=”766,767″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Torres del Paine

    Of course, one of the main reasons you probably flew down to Punta Arenas, and definitely the main reason you’re hanging out in Puerto Natales, is to go to Torres del Paine National Park. Many people opt to do one of the multi-day treks but with our limited amount of time, one day was all we could manage.

    Although we typically try to avoid tours at all costs, this was one time where it seemed to be the easiest way to see the most sites in our limited amount of time. We went with Patagonia Adventure. Being outside of town we were the last pick up around 9am. We made a stop at a little country store on the border of Argentina to pick up snacks, lunch, coffee, and make a bathroom stop and off we went. We made it back to the hotel around 7pm. While we had incredibly wonderful weather, the scenery was magnificent regardless. I’ll let the photos below do the rest of the talking.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”771″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”775″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1491530567205-dff2746e-15fa-10″ include=”768,769″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”770″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Visiting Vineyards in Valle de Guadalupe

    Visiting Vineyards in Valle de Guadalupe

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There have been a variety of articles written about Guadalupe Valley being the next Napa – being that Mexico is a drive, walk, and quick uber away (and much less expensive than Napa) I was excited to check it out.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We walked across the border a little before 11am and called an uber. If you’ve never walked across the border into Tijuana, you should expect a little bit of chaos. There is one road where taxis, Uber, and friends and family are coming to pick up anyone and everyone who has just walked across the border so the traffic is constant. Buy a bottle of water or some street tacos while you wait – it could be a little while.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1490065548307-5b45a17b-bf52-0″ include=”750,743″][vc_column_text]I had read about UberValle (seemingly similar to UberWine in the Paso Robles wine region) but the option was coming up on my phone. Assuming I’d be able to utilize the feature later, I selected an UberX, and twenty minutes later Miguel pulled up in his red Chevy Spark.

    Miguel was wonderful. And talkative. And a lifesaver. Once we got down to the Guadalupe region (we decided to start at the farthest winery we were interested in visiting, about an hour and 45 minutes from the border) I tried to pull UberValle up on my app to no avail. So, I’m not sure if this service never gained popularity and was discontinued, but I won’t assume it’s an option in the future. Miguel was happy to stay with us for the remainder of the day – even letting me end every ride and start up again between wineries.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    The Wine

    Our first stop was Vinos Las Nubes, which sat perched on top of hill overlooking gorgeous rolling hills and vines. They had two tasting options – one regular tasting of 5 wines for about $8 and a reserve tasting that was a few dollars more. We opted for the regular tasting and a cheese plate – we were in need of a snack after our two+ hour adventure to get there! Their wines are mostly blends, and all mostly delicious. I really enjoyed all of the reds and went home with a bottle of the Seleccion de las Barricas (for under $12!). I definitely recommend heading here, enjoying some wine, and taking in the gorgeous views.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”745″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Our second stop was Villa Montefiori, relatively close by. This winery focused on Italian wines – so if you’re not a big fan of Italian wines I would steer clear. They were smaller than Vinos Las Nubes, but had a nice outdoor patio and the same beautiful views. They had a few different tasting options for $10 and $15 so we did one of each. The wines were okay, but nothing special enough to buy a bottle of, and I don’t think I’ll plan on visiting them again (and, while I drank a bottle of Italian wine every night when I lived in Italy 11 years ago, it’s not usually what I’m drawn to these days).[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”749″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At this point we were starving, so we opted for a winery that also had a restaurant, Corona del Valle. Corona del Valle had a bit of a rustic feel when you walked in, but then led out to a large patio. There wasn’t much in the way of views here, but the food was yummy (and necessary) and the wine was fantastic. We snacked on some delicious guacamole and fresh ceviche and did two different tastings. I really enjoyed all of the wine I tried here and went home with a bottle of the Merlot and a bottle of the Tempranillo/Nebbiolo. The Malbec was another favorite, but a little bit pricey for my wine-tour-on-a-budget plan in Mexico.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1490065235345-0462e8a4-389e-3″ include=”751,754″][vc_column_text]After Corona del Valle we had time for one more stop, but since we were crossing the border back to the United States that evening, we decided to start our journey back. From our last stop it was about an hour and twenty minutes to the border.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”748″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All in all the day was wonderful. Next time I’ll probably plan to have dinner in Tijuana on the way back or stay the night in Ensenada or Rosarito. For more recommendations for dinner in Tijuana on the way back, read on here.

    Our Uber for the day (for about 7.5 hours) was right around $100. Wine tastings were anywhere from $8-$15 and bottles of wine started as low as $11.50 a bottle. With those kinds of prices and the close proximity to San Diego, I’ll definitely be going back![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Making the Most of a Long Layover

    Making the Most of a Long Layover

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I booked my first trip that had an extended layover in London, I knew I had to get out of the airport. One of my best friends from college had been living there for 8 years, and while we had traveled the world together, I had never been to London while she lived there. I started researching what I could do with an eight hour layover and came across many forums warning people not to bother leaving the airport, it’s too far, just stay in the lounge, etc. etc.

    Well, I was determined, so I bought the more expensive Heathrow Express train ticket and found myself in Central London in no time. I had plenty of time to run around and quickly see the sights, have a delicious brunch, and enjoy some beers in Covent Garden.  After that I was sold on long layovers.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1487297397247-3b2ab382-3eeb-9″ include=”727,726,724″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]These are some things I would consider when deciding if you’ll be leaving the airport or not:

    • What time is your layover? (a 12 hour layover during the day is far different than a 12 hour layover overnight)
    • How far is the airport from the city you want to explore?
    • How long does it take to get to where you want to explore?
    • Do you have to get your checked luggage and then recheck your bag?
    • Or if you’re carrying on, where is the luggage storage?

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Once you’ve determined it makes sense to leave the airport and explore I always prefer to have some idea of what I want to see and do. On a 17-hour overnight layover in Tokyo I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the city. We decided to explore just a handful of neighborhoods and felt like we saw a lot in a short amount of time.

    Things we accomplished in 17 hours:

    • Took the train into the city (chose the neighborhood of Shinjuku due to it’s central location and ease of getting from the airport)
    • Ate sushi
    • Checked out the giant crosswalks and famous statue of the dog, Haichiko in Shibuya
    • Ate ramen
    • Wandered around the little alleyways and tiny bars of Golden Gai
    • Had some cocktails

    On the way back we had a 6 hour layover so spent some time in much closer, Narita. We ate some sticky buns, more ramen, had personalized chopsticks made (tourist alert!) and checked out some temples.

    • Took a shower and got some sleep
    • Spent the morning at the Meiji Shrine near Harajuku

    [/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1487297434734-814b9500-3197-2″ include=”725,722″][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1487297459027-8396eb72-d728-9″ include=”721,723″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A year later I was in a similar situation in Shanghai. An overnight layer on the way to Hong Kong and an afternoon layover on the way home. This time I was able to:

    • Take in the beautiful skyline at night and during a bright, sunny day
    • Head to 86th floor of the Hyatt Jin Mao for drinks and (some) views – it was pretty smoggy up there
    • Enjoy authentic Chinese food
    • Wander around The Bund
    • Visit Yu Yuan Garden
    • …and of course sleep and shower!

    [/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1487297488004-4f20b5e3-1fd4-6″ include=”728,729,730″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now I am not only determined to make the most of any long layover, I actually look for them when booking flights! Where’s your favorite long layover or stopover you’ve been?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]