What can I say about Japan? It’s safe, clean, quiet, and they work and party hard! The fashion! The animation! It’s a dream destination for those who love food, anime, fast cars, and Japanese Culture.
I visited three major areas: Tokyo, Osaka, and Hokkaido. There are endless things to do and places to do them. Hopefully, this guide can help with narrowing some of those choices down. The highlights of my trip were the Onsens (Hot Springs), sumo wrestlers, Visiting Nara, and Kyoto.
Flight: BWI-SFO-KIX-HND Baltimore to Tokyo via United Airlines
HND-CTS Tokyo to Hokkaido via Airdo
CTS-HND Hokkaido to Tokyo via Airdo then Tokyo to Osaka via train
I used the rail system throughout Japan and had a MoMoPasmo Pass Card
It was easy to reload and worked throughout rail and bus systems
Osaka to Tokyo VIA Shinkasen
2hrs 30min
I found taxis to be expensive, but there is Uber available (uber was expensive too)
Recommendations
Food and Drinks: Try ramen, sushi (fatty tuna is my favorite) kobe beef, wagyu, Mochi, purple potatoes, soba noodles, udon noodles, matcha, white strawberries, shabu shabu (hot pot), takoyaki, yakiniku (barbeque)
Culture: They really follow the rules here. In Japan it is polite to eat all your food and not order too much (lots of places have different sizes you can order). Don’t walk and eat. Don’t talk on the phone in the trains, and don’t be loud there either. In onsens, take off all of your clothes. The traditional onsens do not allow people in with tattoos.
Planning Tools
Recommended Minimum Budget
$50/day activities $100/night Hotel $40/day Food
Recommended Duration
2 weeks +
Recommended Time to Visit
December to March (low prices and snow) April to May (Cherry Blossom Season)
This is based on my personal experiences and market data in 2023
Activities
Visit Onsens- Highly Recommended!
Mario Kart -via Street Karts $118 Recommend
Eat at the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market
Try street food in Kyoto
Visit Harajuku area
Visit the Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido
Snowboarding at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Area
Visit Hill of the Buddha in Makomanai Takino Cemetary
Try on Kimonos
Visit Temples (Asakusa Kannon Temple, etc.)
Visit Fushimi Inari
Feed the deer at Nara
All of the following were booked through Airbnb Experiences:
Authentic Japanese Food Crawl in Asakusa $62
Let us make a kimono (Kimono is a gift) $45
Watch Sumo Wrestler’s Morning Practice in Tokyo Skytree Town $105- Highly recommend
ZEN Breathing $55
Personal Photographer & Guide in Tokyo $66- Recommend
Ninja Experience in Sapporo City $46
A Guided Photoshoot In – Beautiful Kyoto $76
Complete Kyoto Tour in One Day, Visit All 12 Popular Sights! $105- Do not recommend
Osaka Food Tour – Ten delicious dishes at five hidden eateries– Recommend
Other Activities (Things I didn’t get a chance to do)
Try many of the Themed Cafes (Cat Cafe, hedgehog cafe, owl cafe, etc.)
Mt. Fuji
Sushi Making Class
TeamLab Planets (Immersive and Interactive light museum)
Tea Ceremony
Ningle Terrace
Visit little town of Biei
Inside Scoop
What can I say? It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give you the good, bad, and ugly. I absolutely adored the onsens (completely naked hot springs) but most traditional ones do not allow people with tattoos in. FYI you do have to be completely naked. All the ones I went to were gender separated, so at least you’re not around others of the opposite sex. I won’t say people won’t look at you crazy, but maybe it was just me. I still love spa experiences so the ones with saunas, outdoor pools, salt caves, steam rooms, and all kinds of pools of various temperatures. They are very affordable, so I enjoyed making a spa day out of it. It was also dope to stay in a Hotel that had an onsen in Hokkaido, so after doing snow sports and being in the freezing snow all day I could relax at the onsen each night.
Not to be a debbie downer but Japan was lowkey a hard one for me. I am a true southern belle and the whole mind your own business thing sounds nice but when you’re struggling with your 3 bags going down a flight of stairs and the men and women are walking around you, then you start to appreciate helping strangers. I didn’t find people to be super friendly but just think New York city, for most that might be the norm.
Panama is a lively, fashionable, nature/city/beach filled country. Although I only spent a short weekend in Panama, there was no shortage of fun, delicious food, or beauty to be found all over.
The first day that I arrived I was in awe of the Panama City skyline. I don’t know what I was expecting but the skyscrapers were giving New York vibes. I spent the first day walking around Panama City prior to check-in after I dropped off my bags. I found a swanky upscale restaurant to get some good eats. The ceviche was ok but the drink and tacos (even though they were microscopic) were delicious. I would absolutely recommend Aria for the ambiance and the beverage/food selection. Because I went during rainy season I knew that evenings would likely be indoors. This was ok with me since I typically only go to dinner after dark when I travel solo. By the time it fell dark the rain came and I went for a soak in my hotel’s hot tub which is covered while still having panoramic skyline views of the city. For dinner I opted for some street food when my plan to walk to a highly rated street food stall went left. I did my best to find the restaurant, walking in circles, rectangles, and scribbles with no luck even trying to follow strangers directions along the way which usually works for me. I ended up ordering two empanadas from a stand. They were no frills just meat inside and the white dipping sauce to accompany them did all it needed to do.
Day 2 I had already booked an Airbnb experience “Jungle hike and Embera lifestyle” with Cesar and I can’t recommend him enough! This tour was incredible. First, Cesar picked me up from my hotel and after everyone was in the van we headed to the Chagres. We are ushered to a narrow boat where two tribesmen control the engine and steer utilizing a long stick. They dropped us off where we began our hike through shallow streams and rocks until we reached the waterfall. The hike was moderately strenuous. Once we arrived we were able to swim and relax without time limitations. Cesar gave us ample time to explore. He also guided those us who wanted to sit beneath the waterfall. We then headed back to the drop off point and visited the Embera Tribe. They welcomed us by playing instruments and lining the entrance with women and babies. They did a presentation which was both in Spanish and translated to English by Cesar. After a dance performance we were welcomed to eat a traditional lunch cooked by the Embera women. The food was fried plantains, fish, and a assortment of fresh fruit. It was beautifully served in a large leaf as if it were a bouquet. After the lunch an Embera woman gave a presentation of the history and lifestyle of the tribe offering every opportunity to ask any questions we may have. You also have an opportunity to explore the village and purchase handmade crafts from the tribe. I purchased beautiful beaded earrings and a fully beaded top. I also gifted the sellers a photograph taken by my Canon instant print camera and a sensory toy for their small child. I thought it’d be a good idea to bring conscious gifts that they may not have access to.
After drop-off at my hotel I showered and got ready for the Panama Canal. The best times to go are when ships are passing through so you can see it in action. The last ship passes at 5pm. What I didn’t know was that there’s like 4 levels of museums once you’re at the canal. Entry costs $10 at the Miraflores Visitor Center to see the canal. The fourth floor is Packed with visitors trying to get photos. My tip is if the fourth floor is pack try a lower outdoor level. Before leaving I stopped at the information desk at the Panama Canal. I got recommendations for good traditional Panamanian food in Panama City. I headed to Sabroso Panama, which was the top suggestion given to me. This place has live shows and sooo much energy. When I arrived I was shocked at how big the venue is, and how many celebrations were happening all around me. There was a DJ inside a giant school bus in the middle of the restaurant and people up dancing. This place is a major VIBE! And lets not forget the food and drink were spectacular! HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend. The area that the restaurant is located is beautiful as well, it gets you out of the skyscrapers and along a boardwalk and ocean views.
Day 3 I booked another airbnb experience “Enjoy San Blas Tour”. This one was great value for the price but I can’t rave about the guides like I did with Cesar. This experience takes a lot of coordination from the pickup in Panama City to the 4hr drive to the 30 min boat ride and all the way back all in one day. It was a longgg day so if you’re not a trooper to do a 12-14hr day trip don’t do it. There are other options such as staying the night in San Blas or flying there but I was short on time and did not know about the flying option until AFTER the fact. No regrets though, I had a great time. San Blas has crystal blue waters and I met some incredible people. There is an border crossing-like experience. You MUST bring your PASSPORT and $20 to enter Nargana. This is a requirement to get to the van drop off to the boat ride in order to get to San Blas.
During the San Blas tour we stopped at 3 different Islands. Each had their own charm. The first was more secluded and natural, not much going on. The second was where we had lunch and there was a swing and bar. The last was the most lively. There was a beach volleyball, campsites, and a bar. The 4 -hour drive is sort of like a roller coaster, the drive itself is long, there are potholes and bumps at every turn, and the drive is constantly weaving in order to avoid obstacles BUT its a beautiful view and spotting wildlife along the way is an adventure. During the drive I heard monkeys howling loudly, unfortunately we weren’t able to see them. We also saw an animal that kind of looked like a racoon. Panamanians didn’t know a name for it but called it a sleepy cat in Spanish lol. Don’t ask me? During the boat ride we saw dolphins, and even stopped to get up close and personal with the star fish. How many tours do you go on where you get to see both rainforest animals as well as aquatic? I thought overall it’s a great value all things considered.
After getting cleaned up I went out for my last dinner. I wanted to go to this highly rated, alternating menu chef led restaurant but it was closed. I was then given an alternate suggestion nearby, which was a steakhouse. The steakhouse was great, I had a steak and sangria. The sangria looked and tasted like they put green apples in some red wine and I was not mad about it.
Day 4 was my departure day.
Accommodations
Global Hotel Panama
Transportation
Uber is accessible and cheap
Tours typically included pickup and drop off from Panama City Hotels
Recommendations
Food: Try Sancocho, tamale, ceviche, ropa vieja, guacho, and frybread
These are based on my personal experience/market research as of August 2022.
Activities
Monkey Island
Chagres National Park
Embera Tribe Visit
San Blas Island hopping
Waterfall chasing
Hike the rainforest
Visit the Panama Canal
Inside Scoop
Panama definitely reminded me of a lively Costa Rica. I mean rainforest and beach vibes but with more upbeat energy. Put it like this, I look at Costa Rica as a more calm relaxing and sightseeing destination whereas Panama brings the nature AND party.
I found Panamanians to be really stylish, idk if it’s just me but they were slaying looks hunty! I couldn’t find much on the internet of things to do in Panama, so I feel like it’d be a great contender to explore some of the smaller parts outside of Panama City. If you do, let me know for my next visit. Maybe next time I’ll spend more than a long weekend there.
Guatemala is an adventure and nature lover’s paradise. I am truly shocked at how underrated Guatemala is! This is an extremely affordable trip with so much to do and see. I’ve heard all about all about Lake Atitlan and I knew I had to see it for myself. I choose to spread my time between two different areas on Lake Atitlan according to the research I had gathered. I choose to stay in Panajachel, which is the closest starting point of Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City and the largest area on the Lake. It’s also where you will likely enter and exit no matter if you choose to stay there or not. The second area I choose was San Marcos which is a hippy town. San Marcos is peaceful and great for yogis and vegetarians. The transportation on Lake Atitlan is essentially tuk tuks and boats. Those are the fastest and most accessible forms of transportation at the lake. You can get around fairly easily by bus as well if you’re willing to experience local transportation.
The buses are also known as chicken buses. Chicken buses are school buses that have been tricked out and used for local transportation. The buses are decked out as if they were featured by an episode of Pimp my ride. The drivers are proud of their buses, when I took a video of all the decked out buses at a bus terminal the drivers turned on their lights and sounds and put a big smile on their faces to show off what they had created. It was similar to a car show when many are gathered. They have decorative lights, paint jobs, and whatchamacallits (I know nothing about cars so all the custom additions are whatchamacallits to me). The buses are a staple in Guatemala. If you choose to ride them they are affordable and locals hop on to sell passengers snacks. The snacks range from fresh chopped fruit to street food.
The people in Guatemala were helpful and the Spanish is easy to understand (Guatemala is one of the best places to take Spanish lessons). I had a list of things to do in Guatemala but I didn’t prebook anything besides the hotels. Each time we needed help finding a place to eat or do an activity there was someone willing to help.
While in Panajachel we ate our first meal at the bed and breakfast we were staying in, Jenna’s. We had fish and veggies and the food was fresh, flavorful, and filling. At Jenna’s the owner is very present and makes arrangements for tuk tuk pick ups and can recommend activities and such around the Lake. The bed and breakfast is an eco lodge which was a fancy tent/hut made of natural materials. The decor is centered around nature and rightfully so. Each room has its own balcony with grand views of the lake. Absolutely stunning place to stay.
In Panajachel we explored the main shopping area by the pier. There you will find endless stalls of food, clothing, and souvenirs. In Pana there happened to be an event called Volks Fest going on, so we got to jam to the music and see all the Volkswagens gathered for the festival. We also went to Hotel Atitlan to do stand up paddle boarding but they were only offering jetski, so we did that instead. The hotel also has a scenic swing with a mural on the deck and the Lake in the background. The hotel has such a stunning outdoor space that there was a formal event going on in the adjacent area (looked like a graduation).
We explored not only Panajachel but also Santa Catarina Palopo, which is nearby. Santa Catarina Palopo is much quieter, smaller and slower pace than Pana. I found the town to be colorfully decorated and there are nice immersive experiences there such as the natural hot spring, and the tiny museum filled with historic items. Finding the hot spring was wild. If you get dropped off where the pier is you need to walk along the path of the water. Hopefully you see locals because they know exactly which spots in the water that the holes with boiling water are coming from. You may find locals gathered in a small area of the shoreline that will be surprisingly hot amongst the cold water and waves. The pockets of heat amongst the cold body of water was unlike any other hot spring I’ve ever been to. The museum, which we wondered into by following a child who solicited us and we went down a little alley way up to what appeared to be steps to someone’s home but turned out to be a small museum. The museum featured traditional clothing, tools used, etc. On the second story of the museum the guide taught me to play an ancient game with colored rocks and I had alot of fun. The tour was completely in Spanish just an FYI but there were many photos and items to view that told the story. They also had a small family restaurant on the roof.
After Panna San Marcos was actually an happy accident. I intended to stay in San Pedro but when looking for accommodations ended up finding a place of interest in San Marcos, the next door area. San Marcos is most definitely a hippy town. The change of pace is apparent. The town is much slower and honestly you’ll find a certain demographic there as well. The yogis and vegetarians are abundant. Just a warning, MOST of the restaurants in San Marcos (the main street) have vegetarian menus. I am NOT a vegetarian and didn’t eat meat for 2 days while in San Marcos just because it was not offered in the restaurants that I went. Even my hotel only had vegetarian options for breakfast. We found meat in San Marcos on day 3 smh. Here I took an aerial class, got a massage, and island hopped. The towns are just a short boat ride away from each other. At any time you can walk to the dock and they will ask you where you are going and get you on the next boat headed that way. There is no schedule or pre-booking, they just wait until the boat is mostly filled up and then they go. On San Pedro I visited the hot tub baths. We called a couple of hours prior to going to reserve a tub and paid a small fee. The tubs are filled with hot water and the view is stunning. There is a cold tub filled as well which is an amazing sensation after you soak in the hot tub for awhile. We ate at restaurants in different areas each day just to get a feel of each place. The boat rides as transportation to the nearby towns made the experience even more unique.
After Lake Atitlan we headed to Antigua. In Antigua we visited the famous yellow arch and went chocolate tasting. On day 2 we visited the hobbit park Hobbitenango. There you will find hobbit houses (you can reserve one for about $120/night), a picturesque hand bridge, and old school games. The park prides itself on the wifi free fun. Some of the activities include mini golf with large hammer clubs, a sling shot game, bow and arrow practice, axe throwing, pony rides, photo ops, and a adrenaline ride (a swing similar to bungee jumping but more tame).
Accommodations
Jenna’s River Bed and Breakfast (Panajachel)
Lush Atitlan (San Marcos)
Naif Boutique Hotel & Gallery (Antigua)
Hostal Villa Toscana (Guatemala City)
Transportation
IAD-SAL-GUA via Avianca
Private Shuttle from GUA to Panajechel ($200)
Private local boat ($20 total)
Tuk Tuk ($3-$5 on average around Lake Atitlan)
Four local buses (Chicken Buses) from Panajachel to Antigua ($6/person total)
Local Bus (Chicken Buses) from Antigua to Guatemala ($3/person)
GUA-SAL-IAD via SA Avianca
Activities
Visit Hobbentiango the hobbit town with plenty of activities and the picturesque hand bridge photo op
Stand up paddle boarding (150 Q/person at Venga Atitlan Outdoor Adventure)
Santa Catarina Palopo Aguas Termales- hot springs
Visit Santa Catalina Arch
Jetski (Hotel Atitlan)
Atitlan Nature Preserve for the waterfall and botanical gardens
City hop around Lake Atitlan
Chocolate tasting
Other Things to do
(Things that I didn’t get a chance to do)
Paragliding
Mayan weaving Class
Kayak on the lake
Hike Volcan San Pedro
Black Sand Beach
Mayan Cooking Class
Mayan Ceremony Cave
Semuc Champey pools and cave
Take a Spanish lesson
Recommendations
Food: Try the meat stews (caldos), soups, tamales, and the coffee.
Culture: Learn about the Mayan culture. There are endless ways to discover the culture in Guatemala from the cave tours to the ancient weaving classes to a Spanish lesson.
Planning Tools
Minimum Budget
$25/night Hotel (average $60/night) $15/day meals $10/day activity
Recommended Minimum Duration
A week +
Best time to Visit
November to April but year-round temperatures between 72-90 deg F
This is based on my own personal experiences and market research as of 2021
Inside Scoop
Guatemala was one of my favorite trips because Lake Atitlan is absolutely stunning and the best part is that it isn’t crowded. It feels like a well kept secret. The food is flavorful, the people are kind, and the adventures are endless.
Accessibility in Guatemala would be hard, especially around Lake Atitlan. There are not wheelchair friendly ways to access some of the hotels and attractions I visited. For example, the journey to Eagles Nest Atitlan the road to get there is narrow and uphill, I also didn’t see any cars in San Marcos which means you would need to take a tuk tuk and then you must hike a good distance for the entrance. I’m sure there are ways to manage such as by giving a local some money to carry your bags in the entrance but in general I found that accessibility would be a struggle for people with disabilities.
Transportation can definitely add up really quickly so my suggestion is stop being bougie if you want to save some coin and take a chicken bus. You can also use the shuttles which are an affordable option to and from the lake. The only con to the shuttles are there are only about 3 times available/day.
The inside scoop is you need to hop on one of those $150 flights to Guatemala! It’s too cheap and too bomb to pass up.
There’s so much to do in South Africa, you can stay for 3 weeks like I did and never run out of things to do. I spent 5 days in Johannesburg, 4 days in Stellenbosch, and 10 days in Cape Town. Johannesburg is like New York City. It’s huge. Definitely great for the party animals, folks who like to shop in giant malls, and go to endless restaurants. The food here was BOMB! It’s also super clean in Joburg. It’s where we met people who come to work and nobody who actually from there or living in the city lol. Our Hotel had a really nice restaurant downstairs called the Codfather. There was a whole birthday celebration/function happening there. Since we went while there were still covid restrictions (December of 2021) There was also a curfew that had people utilizing the restaurants as the club scene. Anyways the seafood was good
We noticed that early breakfast was few and far between. I’m talking not many places were open prior to 9am. Parc Ferme Restaurant was a God-send. It was the place we ate breakfast for like 3 days because I’m an early bird. The vibes and food were good.
While in Joburg we went to the “township” of Soweto. That was definitely a highlight. We opted for the tour through Cebu our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable. First we went to the Hector Pieterson Museum which honors the boy who was killed during the peaceful protest that started an uprising for Freedom. The Museum is captivating with large black and white photos depicting the protests, tv screens and movies giving content, and audio for those who choose not to read. Then we headed to a local restaurant to try kota (pronounced quarter). Its sort of like a egg in the hole sandwich. Its made with thick toasted delicious bread (reminded me of Texas toast), minced meat, an egg, fries, lettuce, cheese and sauce. Its thick and it ain’t the prettiest dish but its goodt! After lunch we headed to Nelson Mandela’s House then Desmond Tutu’s home and lastly to the Soweto Towers. At the Soweta towers its a whole vibe. There’s music and no frills bars. Great place to kick it with the locals.
While in Joburg we went to Montecasino for the bird sanctuary but when we arrived realized there was a day’s worth of things to do there. That place is beautiful. Its like a mini Vegas. There’s a casino, restaurants, and shopping. It’s beautiful and absolutely worth a visit. The bird sanctuary was dope, they had so many exotic birds I’d never seen before. They also have other animals such as snakes, sloths, etc.
We took a quick flight from Joburg to Cape Town. In Cape town we ate at Truth Roastery which is a MUST. Its a steampunk themed restaurant and they are committed to the theme yall! The wait staff was dressed up in goggles, top hats, and clothes to match the theme. The menu is a newspaper and the item descriptions are crazy. Bae said the coffee was delicious. The food was fresh and I highly recommend it for breakfast or brunch.
We went to Bo-Kaap which is where the colorful houses are. There’s something about a colorful house that just brings up the energy. You’ll see many people taking photos here. If you take a long walk all the way up the hill you’ll find a fabulous view and a restaurant Bo-Kaap Kombuis where we ate traditional Cape Malay cuisine. This place is authentic and the view isn’t bad either. This is a great place to eat at a no frills restaraunt, enjoy the view, and learn about the history of Bo-Kaap. The owners are passionate about the history and the menu features a couple of highlights of the town’s history as well.
We took a trip to Muizenberg which is a colorful beach town. That beach was packed, but its a huge beach. There’s plenty of room for everyone. When we were in Muizenberg we ate at a restaurant called Tiger’s Milk. You’ll see this chain all around Cape Town. I especially enjoyed the flatbread with the halloumi cheese, feta, arugula, cucumber, and olive tzatziki. Great appetizer, and I enjoyed the ribs as my entrée.
We then choose to change locations and stay by the beach. Our next homestay was an amazing guesthouse a couple blocks from the Blouberg beach. Its called Bentley’s Guesthouse and its run by a lovely couple that used to work on yachts. The best part about the stay wasn’t the detail-oriented décor, music, scents, and meal. The best part was being greeted by dogs each morning when we came out for breakfast. They sent excellent recommendations on things to do in Cape Town and were attentive to our needs. I highly recommend this little boutique hotel if you’re looking for a comfortable stay by the beach away from it all.
There’s a nearby restaurant called Mozambique where you need to try the king clip fish. I’m still thinking about how delicious it was. You also need to try Hulis Donuts. They are a vegan donut shop but you wouldn’t even know it because I am no where near vegan and their donuts were delicious. My favorite was the lemon curd, then apple crumb, then blueberry & cream and strawberry & cream.
In Kirstenbosch you can check out the Botanical Garden. It’s a peaceful chill spot. It’s pretty large. Great value for your money. There were many people laid out on the ground just enjoying the view. They also have live music there during the summer on their stage. There’s a nice long canopy walk with views of table mountain as the backdrop. Great place to snap a picture.
I also tried a surf lesson in Blouberg, that was very subpar because there were so many people in the area I was trying to surf in. I recommend going early if you plan to surf. I almost hit a couple kids with my board and I don’t need those problems lol. Never again will I try surfing on a packed beach at 2pm. Yall be safe out there!
After the beach scene we went to Stellenbosch to get our wine on. We did the Franschhoek Wine Tram which was LIT! Please do this. You have to choose a route there are like 8 different color lines. The hard part is they don’t tell you how they differ except by which stops they go to. I did my own research and choose the red line. We saw that the stops had some of better options for food and activities. Once you choose your line you still have to choose which 5 stops you want to go to when there are 8 stops total. The host on the bus will give you an overview like this place only has sparkling wine so if you like sparkling wine go here. We choose to skip La Luz, Lynx, and Maison. We also accidently skipped another stop because we were tipsy and didn’t realize we had stayed past an hour at our second to last stop. Our absolute favorite was Paserene. We bought 2 bottles here and had 8 tastings of wine. For the 2 bottles of wine, 8 wine tastings, fresh honeycomb, and salmon flowers and a 20% tip we paid $35. This is just one example of how cheap everything is.
When switching locations we had a bit of a tiff with the host of our stay at Baruch Guesthouse on Lovell. She was quite rude and hassling us about our arrival time saying we were inconveniencing her by not showing up at lunch and we were her only guests that day so she wanted to go home and to come back it would take her 40minutes. When we arrived she apologized and upgraded our room so we obliged. The place is actually really nice. Despite our welcome, It’s beautifully decorated, extremely clean, fully stocked, and the pool area is picturesque. Loved the stay, despised the host.
We spent the last couple days back near the V&A waterfront. That is a nice central area. There’s so much to do. We made it to see the penguins at Boulders Beach, took the cable car up Table Mountain, had clothes made, took a helicopter ride over Cape Town, did a sunset cruise around Cape Town, went shopping at the markets, and went to the beaches.
Transportation
DCA-EWR-JNB via United Airline
JNB-CPT via Safair
CPT-EWR-IAD via United Airlines
Used Uber and Bolt for transportation throughout SA
Activities
Visit Nelson Mandela Square
Visit Soweto
Go to Montecasino (Casino, restaurants, shopping, and bird sanctuary)
Visit colorful beachtown Muizenberg
Hike Table Mountain or take the cable car
Franschhoek Wine Tram
Visit wineries in Stellenbosch
See tropical penguins at Boulders Beach
Bo-Kaap colorful houses
Kirstenbosch botanical garden
Go to the beach (Blouberg, Clifton, Camps Bay, Muizenberg)
Go shopping at the markets (The Biscuit Mill, Hout Bay Market, Cape Point Vineyards in Noordehoek)
Take a helicopter ride over Cape Town
Take a sunset cruise in Cape Town
Gets clothes custom-made
Activity
Price
Soweto Tour through Airbnb Experience (Can book direct with guide Cebu whatsapp +27 07 257 54136)
Other Things to do (Things I didn’t have time to try)
Apartheid Museum (was closed when I went)
Go to Carnivore or another restaurant to try exotic meats
Maropeng Cradle of Humanity
Pilanesberg National Park Safari
High Tea
Paragliding at Signal Hill or Seapoint
Jazz Clubs
Jozi X adventure park (I’m so sad this place was closed when I was there)
Accommodations
Johannesburg- Sandton Skye
Cape Town Airbnb- Explore the city from a central Art Deco Loft
Cape Town Beach stay- Bentley’s Guesthouse
Stellenbosch- Baruch Guesthouse on Lovell
Cape Town- Head South Lodge
Recommendations
Food: Try ostrich, king clip fish, antelope venison, kota, and traditional cape malay cuisine
History: Please don’t go to SA without acknowledging and learning the history. It doesn’t matter if you go to one of the many Nelson Mandela sites or the apartheid museum etc. It’s not pretty but it’s important and apartheid wasn’t long ago. My personal opinion is that that’s apparent in how some South African’s treat others.
These are my suggestions based on current (2021) market research and personal experience.
Inside Scoop
I’ve thought long and hard on how I wanted to break down my experience in South Africa. I will admit, I had some preconceived opinions based on people I had met from SA. When I went, I felt many parallels to the United States. Apartheid in SA is to segregation in the USA. The difference is Apartheid didn’t end until the 1990s. With that in mind, I felt the divide, especially when I was in Cape Town. I loved Cape Town for the beaches, mountains, and things to do. What I didn’t love in Cape Town was the stuck up vibes from some of the people, and seeing all the homeless people sleeping 5minutes away from the most posh areas. It’s hard to not notice all the inequality.
I loved Joburg for the energy I felt from the people. Think dressed to the 9’s out for the night in DC or NY. I also loved that Joburg was super clean and the food was on point. Me personally, I enjoy smaller cities rather than the giant ones. They all seem the same to me. I overall preferred Cape Town over Joburg because there was so much to do outdoors. The wine region of Stellenbosch gave similar vibes to Cape Town when it came to the way people interacted with me. I had a great time just minding my own beautiful black business and enjoying the wine, rest, and relaxation. I would suggest spending a weekend in Stellenbosch instead of the 4 days like I did if you rather explore Joburg or Cape Town longer but still want to visit the wine region. Despite my indifference for the way that I was received in South Africa, it’s an undeniably beautiful destination. I suggest living your best life no matter where you go and no matter how people treat you.
One thing about South Africa is I did feel safe but in certain areas you have to be veryyyyy careful about having your phone out and how you carry your money. There’s danger everywhere you go so it’s up to you and your comfort level on tolerance.
The Dominican Republic is filled with natural attractions, from waterfalls, to underground lakes, to mangroves, and caves. Although we went during covid precautions and there was a 11PM curfew at the time (November 2020) we still managed to see plenty of the cities and attractions. Thank God for delivery and fast Uber drivers lol. There were a couple days where we raced the clock to get back on time due to us stuffing our faces with delicious food late at night.
The first stop once we checked into our homestay in Santo Domingo was SBG Sofia’s Bar and Grill which had the most amazing food of dare I say the entire trip. We had sooo many goodies like the lamb chops which came out steaming, the paella, fried octopus, and crab fritters. The drinks were to die for as well. The atmosphere is A1, we saw many people clearly celebrating significant life events there and the place is swanky. The only downfall was the service we experienced wasn’t great at all. I’m all about the food though so overall I 9/10 recommend.
Our first activity was the trip to three eye national park aka Lago Los Tres Ojos. I saw this place on the internet and it immediately reminded me of the cenotes in Mexico. The unfortunate part is there is no longer swimming in this park but its still worth the view. Tres Ojos is an natural formation with underground water formation or lakes. The park actually contains four lakes but is named Tres (or three in Spanish) because the last one wasn’t found until later. I highly recommend getting a guide which is available at the entrance, on the spot, so that you can see the fourth lake or “eye”. The guide will accompany you on a manual boat operated by pulling the raft from one end to the other using a guide rope. The fourth lake is spectacular and easily the most beautiful. It’s like something from a dream. Pictured below.
Fourth Lake located at Lago Los Tres Ojos
After Tres Ojos we explored downtown Santo Domingo aka Zona Colonial. Zona Colonial is one of the oldest cities so the cobblestone streets and old buildings bring you back in time. We walked all around Zona Colonial to marvel at the architecture, colorful buildings, people playing futbol, shop the streets, and eat a flavorful feast whilst being serenaded by a band in the park. The musicians were unusual to what I’m used to, there was a bagpipe and one of the musicians showed his merengue skills.
Later, we spent the evening at our rooftop pool overlooking all of Santo Domingo with the classic skyscraper city views. For dinner we went to Laurel which had bomb a## appetizers and good size dranks! They had a nice aesthetic and the vibes were good too!
We then headed to Samana to our next homestay. Samana is a tiny town on the coast, which means one thing…BEACHES! I love a good little town experience. Big cities offer variety and community but towns usually host hidden gems and more intimate experiences with people, places, and activities. In the same way I enjoy a town, I also enjoy boutique hotels over large hotels every day of the week. If you’ve never stayed at a boutique hotel then I urge you to try one out! They offer many of the pros of a large hotel such as location, amenities, and services PLUS intimate/more personalized experiences. Boutique hotels are often more aesthetically unique than regular hotels in my experience. They also usually (in my experience) offer better service since there are less guests they tend to they are able to better cater to needs. Mahona Boutique Hotel offered spectacular aesthetics of woven décor, and unique ocean themed rooms with high ceilings that offered open air. The hotel is protected by a Balinese gate that offers a VIP experience and each room is a standalone villa surrounding the central shared swimming pool. The breakfast was outstanding. The meal was fresh and filling.
In Samana we ventured out to our first waterfall El Limon booked right in town right on the spot. The experience was spectacular! We choose to ride the horses although you can hike it on foot. Disclaimer the hike to the waterfall is somewhat difficult. The horse ride was quite entertaining, there were so many bumps, hills, fruits, and herbs that we experienced during the ride. The waterfall wasn’t too crowded and the visitors were mostly locals. There’s a good range at the waterfall, spots that are shallow and areas that are deep enough to plunge from the rocks overhead if you dare. There’s also a great photo opportunities at the waterfall. There’s a man staged there with his parrot. The parrot is bright red and it makes for a stunning picture for the gram.
In Samana we explored Playa Bonita. The beach was fun, we rented a surf board, tried slack line, and ate delicious Dominican food.
The other place we explored around Samana was Los Haitis National Park. I had read about plenty of history and seen photos that convinced me Los Haitis was worth a visit! We booked an all-day experience that included caves, mangroves, beach, lunch, and boat ride. The day was filled with history, natural discoveries, and water activities. During our stop at Bacardi Beach (which I do not recommend, its a tourist trap) we made the best of it and borrowed a ball from the crowded bar to play some beach volleyball. It turned out to be the perfect gateway to make friends and get active.
Last stop for DR was Cabarate which is resort town on the coastline. This base was great for getting to more beaches (we went to Sosua – Playa Alicia) and most importantly 27 waterfalls. 27 waterfalls is a MUST for my adrenaline junkies. This experience was unforgettable. You are swimming, sliding down waterfalls(yes, you read that right!), and jumping off ledges. During this experience you walk and hike quite a bit as well. You are given a mask due to covid (isn’t waterproof but can get wet). It is disposable. You are also given water shoes if needed. There are 27 waterfalls as the name implies but depending on the weather/water levels some may be closed. We only had access to 4 waterfalls but YALL as sad as that sounds I cant even imagine doing 27! I’m scary though so ignore me. So much fun yall! And for all my non-swimmers or weak swimmers (like myself) no worries, you are supplied with a life vest. Conquer those fears folks, if I can do it anyone can!
Transportation
BWI-FLL-SDQ ~6hrs
Spirit airlines
Accommodations
Airbnb Lux apartment Downtown Pool and views+Jeep – Santo Domingo
Mahona Bed & Breakfast- Samana
Airbnb Lovely Stylish Apartment at Oceanfront – Cabarete
Airbnb Estancia Santa Barbara- Santo Domingo
Activities
27 Charcos (27 waterfalls)
Explore caves and mangroves in Los Haitises National Park
These are my suggestions based on current (2020) market research and personal experience.
Recommendations
Food & Drinks: Try Tostones, mofongo, mamajuana, rum punch, mezcal, and tequila.
Inside Scoop
Yall know I keep it real, so let me just start by saying I went into DR side eyeing certain conversations because I had experiences with Dominicans in America saying ignorant things in relation to race. I had a couple of those experiences in the Dominican Republic as well to be honest. One of my guides from Three eye National park wanted to discuss how Haitians were black and Dominicans are mixed. It was his intent to disassociate from black people that really struck me. I understand how colonialism has affected some people (but that’s everywhere you go). Any how I had a great time exploring DR and can’t wait to visit Haiti.
Turkey is a dream vacation full of awe-inspiring mosques and valleys. The culture and vibe is more on the modest side. I choose looks that weren’t tight fitting or too revealing to stay respectful yet respectfully SLAY! Read more about Turkey in my Turkey Travel Guide: The Ultimate Turkey Travel Guide.
What to Wear to a Mosque
This is proper Mosque attire minus the scarf that I used to cover my hair and more of my arms. If you plan to visit the mosques such as the Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque try to wear something that is conservative covering your chest and falls below the knees. This Dress is from BooHoo. The ruffled sleeves and high neck with the bow make a vintage style dress extremely couture.
More ideas: Long sleeve maxi dress, Button down shirt and pants, cardigan, scarf as shawl, etc.
Inspired Look
This outfit was inspired by carpets. The print perfectly captures the regal patterns on carpets, which are a staple of Turkey. This outfit was bought on Aliexpress. If you have time to wait and want to save some coins try ordering from Aliexpress. I also thrifted this authentic vintage hat from France.
Dress to Impress
Dresses are ALWAYS a good idea! I love dresses because they can be functional and create an instant vibe. This dress is conservative yet stylish. Choose lightweight materials so you don’t overheat and prints always spice it up. This dress was found on a clearance rack at Burlington.
Leisure & Street Wear
This fun and funky set is perfect for roaming the streets of Istanbul. Button downs and pants are a great way to be stylish and modest in the conservative areas. The shirt, pants, and scarf…you guessed it, are all from Aliexpress. The bowtie sandals are from Express.
Traditional Garb
This photo was taken in Sultan Carpets in Cappadocia. The dress is a rental, they let you choose from an assorted rack in various colors. You get to wear the dress and headpiece. The rental/photos in Sultan Carpets will run you about $20/person.
Color-Blocking
Color-blocking the negativity! Choose colors that compliment each other but are striking and bold. That way your outfit pops. For a bonus match your outfit to something in your photo (I.E. the balloons, or a classic car, etc.)
Animal Print
Don’t be afraid to add pizazz with animal print. I also like to pull in vintage elements with modern pieces. For example, my high waisted bell bottoms paired with this off the shoulder crop top with cut out. Outfit details: Pants-Buckle, Top- Aliexpress, Shoes-Express.
Cute & Coastal
On the Coast of Antalya I opted for a deeper V-cut bohemian dress, since I felt a bit more comfortable by the water (since swimsuits were the main attraction).
Turkey is an absolute Gem! This is the type of trip that ANYONE and EVERYONE could love. There’s tons of history, culture, adventure, family-friendly options, food, relaxation, shopping, and romance. The best part about Turkey for me, was definitely the food and the diversity. We explored the big city of Istanbul and smaller towns like the coastal town Kas.
Each area of Turkey has so much to offer. The main areas I explored were Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Kas, and Pammulkale. Istanbul had the best food. We even tried Persian/Iranian food there and yall the Goat Neck (kuzu gerden) SNAPS! Please do yourself a favor and visit Reyhun Iranian Restaurant. Everything from the food to the drinks and even the price tag were outstanding! You can do a whole foodie tour around Istanbul trying all the different Turkish delight options as well as the baklava and goat. There’s so much food to try check out the “recommendation” section for more. O and don’t forget to try the Turkish ice cream (specifically pistachio, thank me later). The ice cream is extremely creamy but has a more elastic property that is supposed to maintain its form longer than traditional ice cream. It is sooo good, do not miss out! Whilst in Turkey we were invited to a private party and got to see the nightlife. The club we went to played house music all night long and there were drinks flowing the entire night. It’s good to have friends there because I noticed that they like to keep things “exclusive”.
While in Istanbul we also checked out the Blue Mosque which was under renovation so there wasn’t much to see. The main appeal there is all the blue tile, which was all covered up so it was a quick visit. We also managed to go to Hagia Sophia which was spectacular. The mosques require you to cover your hair and ensure you are conservatively dressed or wear something to cover you, if not. We saw people with disposable gowns which resembled hospital gowns. They also provide scarves you can borrow. I brought my own scarf to toss over my head. The high ceilings, chandeliers, and overhead paintings make the Hagia Sophia magical to see. Lastly, we visited the Grand Bazaar and hunty it was definitely grand. It is a maze of vendors indoors. Think of an indoor flea market but 50x’s bigger. You can buy replicas of bags, jerseys, and everything else you can think of. The grand bazaar is absolutely hectic and sensory overload. If you go, be prepared to haggle!
After Istanbul we headed to Cappadocia. On our first full day in Cappadocia we woke up early for our hot air balloon ride. We were picked up via van and transported a short distance to the valley. They provide a breakfast box with snack-like food and drinks. The hot air balloons are then blown up with a giant fan and fire. Once the balloon is inflated and the basket is upright you climb into your section which will likely have others and it’s a smooth sail up. During the ride we shuffled around so that everyone could get their pictures and enjoy the view. After the flight Deluxe held a champagne toast and provided a flight certificate. The next day in Cappadocia I wanted to go to a bunch of random unrelated activities. My hotel Charming Cave Hotel came through with organizing a driver for the day to do just that. We went to Dalton Brothers Ranch to hang with the horses (100TL), Sultan Carpets (200TL) for a picturesque backdrop and traditional dress, Ceramic workshop (Free) to create pottery on the handwheel and learn the process of how it’s made. We went to the small valley of Pasabagi where you can find the rock formations and inside the chimney quarters. This hodgepodge tour was what I wanted to see and do in Cappadocia. I recommend doing a search and finding what interests you. The standard tours were many valleys that honestly looked the same in my opinion. The last day we opted for the classic car tour which takes you to love/red valley and the sunset point. The tour was a bit short (2 hours) but well worth it to travel in style and get some good pictures while enjoying the history and views.
After leaving Cappadocia we flew to Antalya and stayed in a fabulous boutique hotel called Palm House 17. I cannot recommend this place more! The details in the decor are unmatched. The place is run by a couple who take great care of you during the stay. The room we chose was extremely spacious and had plenty of amenities. I love a room with a robe and slippers. They also provided some fancy bath products and the bathroom contained a bidet.
In Antalya we went to a fabulous private beach ($5/person). The beach entry price includes beach chairs and umbrellas. They also have towels, floaties, etc. for a small additional fee. The view was spectacular and the water was nice and warm.
The next day we opted to do a boat trip which turned out to be not what we expected or paid for (we were told it would be a small boat for more of a personal experience) but we made the best of it. We made the mistake of utilizing a street vendor to book the boat the night before. The street vendor had us prepay and ended up scamming us. He claimed he had fallen asleep and it took a whooooole fiasco to get the money back, but bae did a little finesse (aka cussed the vendor out). There was a standoff and the vendor claimed to go to the ATM to get the money to refund us. The neighboring restaurant owner had been sucked into the drama but when he realized that the vendor wasn’t coming back (and was actually scamming us), he paid us our money back. The boat we ended up getting on was a 4 story pirate boat filled with like 200 people. Think small cruise. There were sun-tanning bed on the top floor, booths and a dance floor on the third floor, tables and chairs on the second, and a shower and diving board on the first floor. The boat had people young and old. There was a spectacular party where the captain eventually stole the show and danced off the boat into a backflip off of the third floor. My mind is still blown! As much as I didn’t want to enjoy the dance party, I did. The crew teaches dance moves and it ends with a foam party. The kids on the boat most enjoyed the foam. I’m not trying to be a debbie downer but foam kinda disgusts me when its a bunch of strangers playing in it. The boat turns into a soapy, dirty mess. Luckily the shower and sunbeds were still options so I could avoid our booth after the foam. During our last stop on the boat, we were invited onto a yacht. The yacht belonged to a Turkish man who had retired and begun living on the boat during quarantine. It was just him and his daughter and they welcomed us with coffee. We talked about politics, retirement, languages, favorite spots in Turkey, and traveling.
After Antalya we went to Kas, which we learned about during the trip. Soooo many people had recommended going to Kas that we had to see it for ourselves. Kas turned out to be everything they hyped it up to be and more. Kas is a special place. Although it’s gaining more tourists it still feels like a well kept secret. The hotel offered a private beach and the staff was accommodating to our every need. The last day we enjoyed one of the beaches and shopping in town. The shopping is cute af. The small shops all have their own appeal. You can purchase lamps, blankets, towels, jewelry, cloths, carpets, etc.
We met wonderful people while in Turkey. My favorite part about travel is the people you meet. This man was from Kurtish from Kurtistan. He told us about the history of the Kurtish people and how Turkey had not acknowledged that Kurtish people existed for a long time even after they helped Turkey fight. He yearned to tell the story so that people everywhere could see his people and his kids or grandkids or great grandkids would eventually be seen and their culture and history could live on. He was kind and genuine. When you meet people such as this you can see it a mile away. I know that it was no coincidence that we shopped at the Kas markets from street to street and ended up at his brother’s store and these were the only two shops we ended up buying from. How unlikely, we had no clue they were brothers or there was any connection until we were checking out with his brother and he comes in and greets us and tells us that is his brother. His brother is the lamp plug. He will ship his lamps and they are gold! I will warn you Kas to me it reminds me of a bougie hippie/boho town, so souvenirs here aren’t always the cheapest. Namely the clothes and jewelry but you can find something affordable if you hunt and bargain.
Did I mention the street food ? There’s mussels with lemon, you read that right. I was shocked to see mussels as street food but it was very common all around Turkey from the city of Istanbul to the beach town. They are actually stuffed. There’s street corn, and chestnuts.
Lastly, we headed to Pamukkale to take a dip into the picturesque thermal pools. Getting from kas to Pammukkale was a bit tricky. We originally wanted to rent a car to drive ourselves but everyone from Antayla to Kas had told us renting a car would be difficult and expensive. The next option they gave us was to take a bus that goes to another city and then from that city we could take another bus to Pamukkale or hire a private ride from there. I did not like that option because I wanted to maximize the time we could stay in Kas. I have experience in other countries hiring a taxi driver to be a private driver at a negotiated fixed rate. Bae talked to one of our taxi drivers and negotiated to pay $100 for a ride from kas to Pamukkale which is amazing because the ride from the other city that they were offering us which is closer to Pamukkale was quoted at $200. This way we were able to leave that evening and enjoy the sunset in Kas and got to Pamukkale right at 9pm. We tip our driver handsomely and went on our way.
In Pamukkale we woke up early to get to the thermal pools asap. There are two gates, one walking gate which opens at 0800 and the driving gate which opens at 0630/0700. I’m so glad we chose the drive inside because the pools became packed around 0800/0830. The pools look just like the pictures. They are just not as nice to get into. You cannot wear shoes to get to the pools so you have to walk bare feet on the calcium ground which hurts like hell. The pools also weren’t as warm as I’d hoped but it’s probably because they are naturally heated by the sun and in the morning they haven’t had much time to warm up. Later on I’d bet they were a bit warmer but that also means being surrounded with tourists. I don’t know about you but I’ll take the cool empty pools for 500 Alex.
Pamukkale offers paragliding for like 30euro but we didn’t get a chance to try it out. Other than that with the entrance fee to the pools you also have access to the surrounding ruins. The ruins are massive and impressive. There’s an amphitheater that I highly recommend seeing. You can also pay an additional fee to access the museum and swim in Cleopatra’s pool. You can see Cleopatra’s pool for free though if you don’t want to get in.
As much as I can rave about Turkey it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t also give the real REAL inside scoop. First off lets address the smoke, it was horrendous for me. At every given opportunity everyone around lights up a cigarette, doesn’t matter if there are kids around, you’re eating, or even standing nearby. That didn’t stop me from loving my time there it just made me want to avoid being around people at all costs.
I don’t know if this is a common thing but food came out extremely fast at the restaurants we ate at. It happened more times than not and it shocked me every time that the food was speedy and delicious!
I thoroughly enjoyed the cats all around Turkey. They are everywhere and I’m not a cat person but they definitely grew on me. If you are afraid of stray cats and dogs you may have a hard time, I cant lie.
We did NOT have great experiences when purchasing tours, tickets from the street vendors. You know the little tourist shops all along the roads? I’ve used these types of vendors all around the world and some countries have better experiences/quality than others. Again we did not have great experiences booking through the street vendors in Turkey. I suggest utilizing your accommodation’s services. For example in Cappadocia our hotel booked everything besides our classic car tour for us. They quoted us prices and we never pre-paid for anything or paid anyone besides the hotel. This ensured timely and professional services because the hotel held them accountable and they didn’t already have our money so services were much better than prepaying a street vendor. At the end of our stay in Cappadocia we paid for all the tours during our stay.
Lastly, If you’d like to get inspiration for what to wear check out my Turkey Lookbook.
The best places to photograph your fits are your safari glamping tents, Zanzibar beaches, & wherever inspiration strikes.
Where to shop
Shop once you get there! Tanzania has authentic high-quality fabrics/garments for affordable prices.
Inspiration
Tanzania inspires me to wear easy outfits fit for royalty. Think Coming to America meets Bohemian.
Glamping Look
Easy and lightweight Crochet top paired with earth tone harem pants. Accessorized with woven basket and oversized hat.
Out & About Day Look
Can you believe this is a $7 African print dress bought in Tanzania at the market? Choose vibrant colors and bold prints. Pair with statement earrings and a bag to carry your lip gloss, phone, and money.
Photo Ready Day look
Choose simple but vibrant sets. This set is from Aliexpress and is perfect for comfort and versatility. The skirt can be worn in many ways and adds dimension to photos when moving.
Swimwear
Two piece set with sleeves. Choose prints with colors that compliment your skin tone. Choose swimwear that highlights the best parts of your body and makes you feel confident.
Safari Look #1
Stick with the theme of neutral colors but MAKE IT YOUR OWN! I choose a thrifted animal print button down (which I tucked the collar and buttons in and tied at the end) and paired it with camel colored suede sweats and matching tennis shoes. I also keep it cute with a red lip to make it pop and some hoop earrings. (I suggest trying to incorporate a scarf so that you can be cute and keep the dust out of your hair)
Safari Look #2
Again, stick with the theme but MAKE IT YOURS! This is my version of the tradition flannel shirt and cargo pants that others tend to wear on safari. I choose a khaki boiler suit and paired it with head band and boots. BEWARE that squat potties are sometimes the only option during safari.
Statement Pieces & Color Story
Choose bold statement pieces and pair it with simple but well put together basics. IE I choose to pair the bold handcrafted fully beaded headband I bought from my immersive experience with the Hadzabe Tribe with a strapless blue maxi dress. Read more about my experience with the Hadzabe Tribe HERE.
Choose colors that represent the country. An easy way to do this literally is to look at the colors of the flag (IE blue). The alternative is to choose colors that speak to you in relation to the country (IE orange for me)
Who wouldn’t want an spontaneous Bae-Cation sponsored by their sweetheart amongst the Caribbean Sea? The answer is somebody out of their mind or someone who doesn’t like adventure (and that’s boring).
Here’s the scoop: it’s a quick cheap flight which is why we changed our plan from a weekend trip to New Orleans to Antigua & Barbuda.
Antigua is a small Island ~8miles long. There was an untouched appeal, like when you go to a destination that isn’t swarming with tourist. There are still chicken and cows roaming the streets and that to me is beautiful to see. Anyways, let me get out of my antisocial nostalgic reminiscing and tell you’ll about the island. Upon arrival things slowed down. Westerns are infamous for fast food, fast pace, fast living. This island is on “island time” and that can be refreshing for some and frustrating for others. My suggestion is to slow down, enjoy the view, and the company. I found the locals to be extremely down to earth once you engage with them.
Greeted by a lovely couple at our Airbnb with warm energy. The airbnb is in a gated area with two main houses and two guest houses. Our guesthouse was beside the pool and had a stunning view overlooking the island. Our walkway was surrounded by an assortment of fruit trees blooming with delicious treats. We admired them and our host promised us fresh homemade popsicles with the soursop grown on their trees. Those popsicles were so refreshing in the heat of the day. We also had a bottle of homemade rum punch waiting for us in the fridge. This is one of the many reasons I love Airbnb, what hotels provide this type of local and organic experience? The rum punch was also tasty, it was spiced just perfectly and the kick of alcohol was balanced with the sweetness of juice.
The first restaurant we went to was Casa Roots right on the beach. It was an quiet nestled and unassuming romantic setting. Once you find the place the aesthetics and vibe take over. It’s formal enough to put on your LBD but casual enough to enjoy the beach setting. We heard waves crashing as we ate and watched the sunset. We even walked along the beach while waiting on the food to arrive. Then we went to the bar to sample the special shots. We spent hours at the bar chatting with our waitress and bartender. We talked about the economy of the island as well as fun things to do and really got to know each other. We enjoyed the food and the company. There were a few different flavors, all made in-house. Our bartender “Spoon” gave us recommendations and we laughed the nigh away. He told us Huchins Bay is the expensive side of town and the nightlife is popping in English Harbor and named Cloggies as one of his go-to’s. The service was exceptional as well as the food, drinks, and dessert. I HIGHLY recommend.
The next morning we drove to the downtown area to find some breakfast. Not many places were open but fortunately one of the locals saw us looking for a place and decided to walk us to a spot. The breakfast spot he took us to was a donut shop called Donut Ace which is a local shop that also serves breakfast. I was excited about the menu as they had everything from pancakes to bacon to plantains and the sweet stuff was just a bonus. The cinnamon rolls looked amazing but it was a little too early for me to take on. This place is definitely a hidden gem, the locals swarm and there was a line out the door while we awaited our food. I suggest trying the coconut craze drink, you won’t regret it. So many sweets to choose from with my sweetie.
Then we went shopping, the downtown area is filled with local artesian shops, handmade crafts, and souvenirs. I opted for a handmade purse, I love finding unique accessories and rocking them with my future fits. I was also looking for an ankle bracelet and luckily we approached a little old lady near the pier. She was so lively and loving. She was selling necklaces and bracelets and when I told her I was looking for a anklet she ensured me not to worry and when I found the design I wanted she began crafting it for me on spot, custom-made for my ankle. This is my new Antiguan auntie. She was a joy and now I have a custom keepsake.
After shopping we wanted to check out the sting ray encounter at Stingray City Antigua. We walked right up and booked on the spot; although, it was nearly fully booked, so I suggest trying to reserve this in advance. The safety measures were in full affect, they ask you to wear your mask upon check in and sanitize your hands. The tour began with a safety brief and the guide showed us how to we should hold a stingray using a stuffed animal. It was comical and we all signed waivers and hoped on a boat. The boat ride isn’t too long before docking in the middle of the ocean to snorkel and see the stingray. The water is pristine, which made the stingray encounter even more exciting. The guides hold the stingray and pass them along to you when you are ready. They move your hands and capture photos as you try not to freak out or disturb the stingray. It’s a terrifying and exhilarating experience all at once. You also get a chance to feed them, which was terrifying for me because I didn’t want to loose a digit. I spent most the encounter screaming and hugging up on my beaux lol. There is a wide range of ages on this tour from toddlers to seniors. It was followed by the strongest of strong rum punch back on shore. This is where the fun continued as we got to know our fellow tourist. We met couples from New York, Colombia, and even locals from Antigua.
We spent our days at the beaches. They were secluded, clean, and pristine. The ocean water was warm, the perfect bae-cation vibe. We ended up near the Sandals Resort and saw their photographer making rounds photographing patrons with the Sandals sign on the beach. We also were able to enjoy one of the resort’s amenities without dishing out thousands of dollars for one night stay. On the hunt for the swim up bars we ended up at a lavish resort with many pools and bars. The property was also surrounded by cabana beds and hideaway spots for the taking. We wandered all around and claimed our spot on a beautiful hideaway facing the ocean sunset. It began to rain so we sat tight and waited it out. If that’s not the setting for a baecation I don’t know what is. After the rain stopped we called it a night and headed home. On the way to our homestay we stopped at a Jerk Stand on the side of the road since we Roti King had already closed. The Jerk Stand was a local vibe, with music playing, people playing dominos and just vibing out. We could see the jerk meats being cooked to perfection and cut by the cook in the back. The cashier was a young playful girl who kept us entertained as we waited on our food.
Our vacation to Antigua and Barbuda was phenomenal ! It was extremely short but we packed our days with adventure and relaxation. It was the perfect weekend getaway with bae.
Transportation Details
BWI-MIA-ANU (~6hrs of flight time total)
$450 RT
Car Rental (Drive-A-Matic Car Rentals booked on the spot at the airport)
$45 total for 3days ($10 mandatory driver’s license)
Accommodations Details
Airbnb in Saint George
$100/night
Cedar Valley View Villas
Activities
Beaches
Shopping
Sting Ray encounter
Swim up bars
Other Activities
Laviscount Island for giant tortoises and other tropical wildlife
Boat trips
Water Sports
Turtle snorkeling
Sailing (Sailing week held annually at the end of April)
Helicopter ride over volcanic Montserrat
Hiking
Recommendations
Food: Try the national dish fungie and any seafood dish
Drinks: Try the local Wadadli Beer and any drink with rum
February/March for best weather August (low season) for better prices but hottest weather
Disclaimer: These are based on my own personal experiences/research based on data from June 2021
Homegirl Guide Inside Scoop
We didn’t get a chance to check out Barbuda but the locals seemed unimpressed. It’s an 90 minute ride on the ferry and there’s a bird sanctuary if you’re into that kind of things. The Antiguan people echoed there’s not much to see but y’all let me know if you end up finding out. The street food was bomb. There was a Jerk stand that was phenomenal and fried fish sandwich stands everywhere, where they will load it up with hot sauce and an assortment of toppings. The pricey food was great too! Everything we ate was flavorful and fresh. You can’t go wrong out here. There are resorts that house probably the majority of tourists so getting outside of those resorts will definitely get you off the beaten path to discover the wonders and this naturally beautiful island. & The majority of the population is black y’all ! I love to see it.
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