Venezuela

Venezuela: I might be biased, but these are the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to in my life… hands down. The sand is snow white. The water is crystal clear and just the right temperature. There’s tons of tiny little untouched islands everywhere off the coast, and you can pay a fisherman to take you out to them for the day. These islands are bare and theres nothing but just you and nature. These beaches are my kind of heaven. Most of my childhood memories from Venezuela are from the beach and our beach house in Higuerote. Margarita Island is also fun and a little more commercial and full of hotels. Chichiriviche is also a great destination. Also, Los Roques is supposed to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. These are the best kinds of beaches for someone that just needs to get away and unwind.

Molokini Island

Maui: You just can’t go wrong with Hawaii. I preferred Maui to Honolulu because it’s less commercial and more laid back. We stayed at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club, and our accommodations were amazing.  The pool is nice but just forget it because a sandy paradise is just a couple more steps from your room. The only reason I went to the pool was to get a plate of fresh pineapple for  breakfast at the pool restaurant every morning (heaven!).  I remember the chef at the hotel being fantastic as well. We went snorkeling at Molokini Island, and it was one of the best snorkel trips I’ve ever taken. We saw tons of sea life  in these reefs and even some sea turtles. Lahaina was the biggest town close by and its packed with great stores and restaurants and also offers a front row to the best sunset in Maui. I also suggest going on the roadtrip to see the waterfalls on the way to Hana. While the road is windy and at times scary the sights are worth it: Beautiful jungles and waterfalls and also you can go to some black sand beaches that will take your breath away. Watchout though: some of these beaches have extremely strong currents and undertow and can be dangerous. My only gripe is that Pacific beaches are at times a little too cold for my taste, but they’re beautiful nonetheless.

Nice, France

French Riviera: I studied abroad in Nice for 4 weeks one summer and fell in love with the Riviera. Again, these tend to be somewhat colder beaches unless you go in August. In Nice, the beaches are also stone beaches so I recommend buying padded beach pads or beach chairs. The cities of the French Riviera are not only beach destinations but fun sightseeing cities as well. Vieux Nice is the older part of town and is inhabited by lovely boutiques and enticing and delicious gelaterias. Two of my favorite museums I’ve ever visited were in Nice: the Musee d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC) (where I fell in love with Yves Klein) and Musee Matisse De Nice (he’s one of my favorite artists so I probably spent a good 3 hours here). One of my favorite things to do in Nice was to walk the Promenade Des Angles along the beach and then climb the stairs up to the viewing deck and then continue to the park . Another great thing about the Riviera is that  the other towns are 20 minutes away or less by train or bus. Each has its own character and beautiful beaches. I recommend Antibes, Cannes (in late May  you can see the town set up for the festival…very fun), St. Tropez (furthest away, takes about 2 hours, have to take a train then a bus), Villefranche Sur Mer, and Monaco. All these other beahes are sand beaches, and you can walk around the towns and see everything in a day pretty much. Monaco is a great day trip but a little harder to get around by foot so I recommend buying a pass on those tours that you can jump on and off. If you make it to Montecarlo, you must see the palace, go to the Jacques Cousteau Museum and go inside the Montecarlo Casion. You’ll need some identification to show you are over 18 and they let you right in during the day. I forget if you have to pay a fee at all but even if you do… YOU MUST GO INSIDE. It is best to go during the day because at night they enforce a black tie dress code.

These are my top three, but I also recommend anywhere on the Caribbean (love the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico), Cancun, Florida (Destin, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami), and Martha’s Vineyard (cold but beautiful).

While I miss my parents and home terribly so this Thanksgiving, the one thing I won’t miss is holiday travel. Traffic on the highways… overcrowded planes… chaotic airports. Ugh, airports during the holidays are probably my least favorite place on earth EVER. But, I have come up with some tips to make your life easier.

1. If you’re in the city, book a towncar or taxi at least a day before you leave. Last Thanksgiving, when I was going home I ended up letting 2 other people into my towncar to Logan because they could not get a cab.

2. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport because traffic going to the airport tends to back up during the holidays. Also, the lines at security are extra long. I would try to get there at least 2 hours before my flight.

3. Make your life easier when you’re going through security and put your plastic baggie of liquids somewhere easy to reach. Wear shoes easy to slip off and on (check here for more tips on what to wear). Try not to wear a belt or too much jewelry that you’d have to take off.

4. If traveling by car or bus, take something to entertain you in traffic like a book on tape or a fun playlist. Don’t let traffic put you in a bad mood.

5. BREATHE… even though you’re more likely to get easily frustrated while traveling during the holidays just know that everyone around you just wants to get home too. So take it easy, you’ll get there.

Here are some more tips I found useful.

1. Tahiti – I am a total beach person. It is my ultimate go-to destination and my happy place. Ever since I was 13, I’ve been begging and pleading with my parents to take me to Tahiti. Something about Tahiti has always appealed to me as so serene, exotic, and soothing. When I make it over there, my dream is to stay in a bungalow over  the water and never leave. Ah… serenity now.

2. Australia- In elementary school, our mascot was a koala, and my third grade teacher was from Australia. Hence, this is where my interest in Australia partly comes from. There is just so much to do and see in Australia. I dream of the day that I get to see the Sydney Opera House in person. I imagine it just kinda takes your breath away kind of like the first time you see the Eiffel Tower or your first time in New York. I’d love to visit the Australia Zoo and perhaps get to pet a real koala or hug a kangaroo (yea… I know that’s probably dangerous). I’d also be totally down for scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef and perhaps see a shark or two.

3. Kenya and Tanzania- Who doesn’t have a wild fantasy to go to Africa? I’m a huge animal lover so one of my dreams has always been to go on an African safari. And, because I watch too many movies I also think it’d be really cool to spend the night with an African tribe. Maybe I’d hike Kilimanjaro or maybe see it from afar and wave to it. In undergrad, one of my best friends went on a medical mission trip to Tanzania, and her stories and pictures just make me want to go even more. So, mark my words, because one day I will go to Africa.

4. Spain- Dude… I’m half Spanish, and I’ve never been to the motherland. Everything about Spain intrigues me. From Madrid to Granada to Toledo to Barcelona, I want to see everything. I want to experience my roots and my culture first-hand. And, not gonna lie… my Spanish grandmother is an amazing cook so I’m sure the food is magic. I’d love to go to Pamplona for the Festival of San Fermin and watch the running of the bulls (from a safe distance), or go to La Tomatina in Bruñol for the huge tomato food fight. Maybe, spend a night in Sevilla and watch some Flamenco. Oh Spain… one day we’ll finally meet.

5. Brazil- So, even though I lived in South America for eight years, I never visited any other countries. I’ve always felt some type of pull towards Brazil for some reason though. Not only am I a big fan of soccer and beaches but the culture looks so fun-loving and welcoming. Sure I’d love to go and experience the madness that is Carnival but I’d also be down for bringing in the New Year on a Brazilian beach decked in all white with other locals. I’d also love to go trek into the rainforest… as long as it’s not spider season.

So there’s my list. What are some of your dream destinations?

Recently, I’ve noticed that all these sites are also offering hotel deals as well, and these seem like  better deals than you’ll find elsewhere on the Internet. They’re not available all the time, but they are definitely worth a look especially for travelers who like to plan in advance or adventurous travelers who love jetting off on a whim.

Groupon- very easy to sign up for but not available in all cities. Just choose your city and you’ll receive deals on hotels close to home for great weekend getaways. All Groupons don’t have to be used right away, but they do have expiration dates. Your credit card will be charged up-front. Groupon probably offers the most affordable deals.

Rue La La- must be a member to shop. To become a member you must be invited by another member or apply for membership. People are usually approved pretty fast so don’t fret. Rue La La offers deals on more upscale hotels, so they are pricier. I like when they do destination-themed sales (like skiing or beaches) because it gives you a wide selection of places nationwide.

Jetsetter by Gilt Groupe- like Rue La La you must be a member to shop on this site but it is easy to request a membership. This site offers the crème de la crème hotels on specials. I might not be able to afford these deals for a very long time but it’s good to know they are there. This is one of the only sites that I have also seen offering international luxury destinations.

Where else do you look for hotel deals?

It’s very accessible, and you can get there by car, train, or ferry.  The drive is about an hour or less depending on traffic. If you drive though, parking can be a sticky situation. Tip # 1: A lot of parking lots will try to charge you $20 for the day, but if you just drive around the town you can find regular street parking. Make sure you read the street signs so you don’t get towed though.

We arrived in Salem around noon, and Ellen and I ate lunch at Tavern in the Square, a new-ish restaurant in Salem from the same owners of Joshua Tree and Cityside Bar and Grill in Boston. It’s just ok. The clam chowder is acceptable but by no means order the crabcake sandwich. The crabcakes are over breaded and you can’t even taste any crab. I would suggest that you find another restaurant. After lunch we set out to see what Salem had to offer. Witches and Pirates and Hawthorne, oh my!

Beautiful homes in Salem

Creepy Statue of Roger Contant, the first settler of Salem.

And, as excited as we were… we found that we couldn’t do anything because all tours and admissions were sold out until 6:30 pm or 7 pm, and we had to return to Boston before then. Sad! So Tip #2: Book in advance or get there early and stand in line for tickets to the attractions you want to visit. So we ended up shopping, sightseeing and making friends with locals.

Salem is full of great attractions, but watch out because for every great museum there are 15 tourist traps. That is why I will give you a list of some recommendations from the great people at Remember Salem Gifts to avoid those dreaded tourist traps.

Tip #3: Things to do in Salem

Side of the Pirate Museum

1. Witch Dungeon Museum
2. New England Pirate Museum
3. Witch History Museum
   You can find info about all three of these here.
4. Salem Witch House
5. House of Seven Gables (I’m a huge Hawthorne fan and was so disappointed I couldn’t check this out)
6. Peabody Essex Museum – This is not witch or pirate themed but the director of marketing spoke in one of my classes and this museum looks gorgeous.

Old time cemetery in Salem.

Salem is tiny and great to travel by foot so forget the trolley tour. It’s totally walkable. There are also tons of haunted houses and nightly ghost tours that look really fun as well.

And, if you really want to get into the spirit you can even dress up.

Ellen and I in 20 years...

Here’s to hoping you have a spooky good time! (and better luck than Ellen and I did)

To this day I remember my mom’s go-to travel outfit from when I was younger. She would wear slim-fit dark jeans with a crisp white button down shirt,a pair of heels, and her classic blue blazer with gold buttons (I am still searching for a blazer just like hers, so if you’ve seen one let me know).  She would wear some long necklace and top off her look with her sunglasses. I remember just thinking that at that moment my mother just oozed with glamour and class. At the same time, she would then dress me in something nice yet itchy and uncomfortable.

So, there has to be balance between style and comfort when you travel and I don’t mean Juicy Sweat Pants and Jacket. Here is my pick:

1. A good pair of jeans or leggings (for the gals): Not only are jeans and leggings comfy and practical but they also won’t get all wrinkled like khakis or linen pants which might leave you looking like a hot mess after a long day of travel. Also, choose a dark color. Combine the two looks and you could wear jeggings!

2. Long Cotton Tee or Button Down Shirt: Some button downs are made of really thin material and might wrinkle easily so be careful.

3. Flats or Slide on Shoes: Easy to take off and put back on during security. Trust me I’ve worn boots many times and it’s so annoying especially if you tend to be a terminal runner like I am. (Terminal runner: travelers who are perpetually late and always running from security to their gate).

4. Pashmina Scarf: Whether in the summer or winter I always like to take one in case I get cold. I also like to use it like a blanket because something about airplane blankets give me the heebeegeebees.

Other things to bring with you:

- A jacket if you are going or coming from a cold climate.

- A pair of socks (if you are not wearing any) in case you get cold on the plane.

- A baggie of essentials: travel size deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, Clean and Clear Oil-Absorbing sheets, and a little make up. These are essential to freshen up after you arrive at your destination.

However, years have passed since those days, and I have been on so many planes that to me air travel has lost some of its magic. But, there is still one thing I still look forward to and that is browsing the Skymall catalog. I used to look through every page and wish that for once my parents would get me “The World’s Largest Write on Map Mural” so I could mark all the places I’ve been with little flags. Over the years though, I have noticed that some of the products in Skymall have progressively gotten more ridiculous, and I constantly keep asking myself “Why in the world… .”

Here is a round up of some of my favorites from the Holiday 2009 edition:

I don’t care if they call this an organized traveler’s leather hip pouch… this is a $60 glorified fanny pack.

Why do you need to shoot a marshmallow over 30 feet?

And if you definitely need more distance you can get the marshmallow bazooka…

Yea, I’d call this a chocking hazard but not because it has small parts.

So, this is basically a tanning bed/box for your feet so now even your foot skin can get cancer.

Yea, I’m just not dying to have a zombie coming out of my yard, sorry.

I guess if you really like Harry and the Hendersons this would be a great addition to your garden.

Hmm, if you have no trouble keeping track of the hour and date , why not just get a calendar? And, it also makes me wonder what kinds of conversations this starts.

As if texting while driving wasn’t dangerous enough… now you can be completely distracted by your computer and printer. They should probably make “Not for use while driving” a lot bigger and bolder.

I always wondered how much those giant monkeys at car dealerships were and now I know.

Yep, when I’m underwater I have ALWAYS wanted to make and receive  phonecalls. I guess I don’t really see any value in this unless you’re like Jacques Cousteau or something. This might be good for sharks lurking around you though.

And as always I have saved the best for last:

Wow… there are just no words. I’d pay $100 bucks to see the person who paid $100 bucks to buy this try to use all their brain power and teleketic energy to do this.

PS. Hey Skymall, if you’re hiring people to write your product descriptions… I’m currently looking for a job and would love to test your products

The race leaders and pace car at mile 1.

About a month ago, I went to Chicago to go see my sister run the Chicago Marathon (yeah, she’s pretty amazing). I had only been to Chicago once before in high school, and I was really excited to return again and experience more of the city.

Chicago is a great city to visit, and transportation to and from the airport is very convinient. When you fly into O’Hare, you can jump on the blue line El (subway/train) for $2.25 and go downtown. This is ten times easier and cheaper than having to take a cab and great when you’re traveling on a budget.

My first night I stayed with one of my good friends from Mizzou in Lincoln Park. While I love being the ultimate tourist when I travel, I also find it incredibly refreshing to see the city from the perspective of the people who live there. Lincoln Park was definitely one of my new favorite areas of the city. It’s a little north of downtown, and I would describe it as a Midwestern West Village. Storefronts are full of local and well-known boutiques like Francesca’s and Lululemon and restaurants and diners.

The next day I met up with my family downtown. We stayed at Hilton Suites Chicago Magnificent Mile. LOVED IT! The accommodations were amazing. For me, the “make it or break it” factor is always the bed, and the beds at the Hilton were some of the plushest and most comfortable ever. The room was spacious and clean. The hotel restaurant is not very good though. We ate at Club Med for dinner one night, and I was not impressed at all. You’re better off leaving the hotel for meals.

This hotel is definitely all about location, and if this is your first time in the city or you are an avid shopper I highly recommend the Hilton Suites Chicago Magnificent Mile. The hotel is in the heart of downtown steps away from the Museum of Contemporary Art, the John Hancock Center, and shopping shopping shopping (aka Michigan Avenue). Michigan Avenue is the heart of Chicago shopping, and the stores range  from high-end like Escada and Bloomingdale’s (one of the best I’ve been to) to affordable gems like H&M and Forever 21.

If you’ve never been to Chicago, marathon weekend is actually a great time to visit even if you are just a spectator. Not only is it amazing to watch 45,000 people run 26.2 miles, but the race course goes through the best parts of the city. It starts and finishes in Grant Park, which is a spacious green oasis right on the lake with artwork and great views of the city.

View of the city from Grant Park by the "Agora" statues.

Then it takes you through the heart of downtown.

Chicago

We also watched the race in Chinatown. One of the most fun and liveliest spots to watch the marathon.

Chinatown in Chicago

And, finishes in Grant part again.

Post-race in Grant Park

Another great thing about Chicago is the food and I’m not talking just about hot dogs and deep dish. Try:

1. Bandera (American): Take it from a southern girl and try the Cornbread & Foccacia. Also, the salads are amazing here specially the Macho Salad. The Mac & Cheese is also very good and quite comforting.

2.Quartino (Italian): I absolutely loved this place! Unlike many Italian restaurants that tend to be family-style eating, this Italian restaurant serves all its entrees as small plates tapas-style. I loved this concept because it lets you sample so much of the menu. I recommend the Zola Noci and Pere Pizza ( Gorgonzola, Walnuts and Pears), Veal Meatballs Napoli, Eggplant Parmigiana (one of the best I’ve had), and the Tortellini with Alfredo Sauce, Peas and Prociutto. And, for dessert I recommend the Profiteroles (with ice cream not custard…a childhood favorite of mine) or the Coppa al Banana …YUM. Don’t waste your time with the Nutella Panino. Its too hard and you’re better off making it at home anyways. It’s pretty much just toast with Nutella.

3. Scoozi (Italian): From the geniuses of Lettuce Entertain You, try the Butternut Squash Ravioli, the Tomato & Goat Cheese Pizza, the Mushroom Risotto, or the Penne Arrabiata with Sausage. Basically, everything is delicious.

4. Nookies Too (American, Diner-Style): Went to Nookies in Lincoln Park for brunch. Loved the Dixie Benedict (a southern play on eggs benedict with biscuits and gravy) and the pancakes.

5. Signature Room or Signature Lounge at the John Hancock Center: Amazing views of the city. You’re better off making a reservation.

View from the Signature Lounge in the John Hancock Center

As if I didn’t have an amazing weekend in Chicago with my family and friends, Continental also made me smile at the end of Columbus Day weekend. After showing up at the airport at 6 am for my return flight to Boston (via Newark), I found out that my flight to Newark was delayed, and it would make me miss my connection to Boston. Sleepy and already defeated I walked up to the counter expecting the typical airline run-around. But, when I walked up to the counter and gave them my name, they informed me that I had already been re-routed on a direct flight to Boston (on an American Airlines flight). I didn’t have to do anything. It was already done. Nice. So, THANKS CONTINENTAL! I knew there’s a reason why you’re my favorite airline.

Chicago Tip: If traveling there in the fall, take warm clothes or a jacket no matter what. I was fooled by the predicted temperatures of 45-50 degrees which I interpreted as “nice fall weather.” It ended up being significantly colder than that, and I had to go out and buy a scarf and fleece. So, go prepared.

Usually, when I was trying to find airfares and deals, I visited other sites like: Orbitz, SideStep, Expedia, Priceline or StudentUniverse. After I had researched all their deals, I would check the prices on different airlines’ sites. And, finally if I wasn’t successful whatsoever, I would give up and call my dad, the ultimate flight finder, for help.

Now I have Bing though, and it has made my life so much easier when booking flights. My favorite thing about Bing is that it aggregates all the fares from different travel websites and airlines all into one place for you. When you are ready to book, you just click on the flight that you want, and it will direct you to that site to start your transaction.

I also love all the extra features that Bing adds like:

• Direct links to other travel sites.
• The number of tickets left at that price.
• The ability to apply filters to your search.
• “Price Predictors” (my favorite feature) helps see whether you should buy tickets now or wait for the price to drop in the next week.
• “Flexible Search” gives you the ability to track fares over a period of time and identify best travel destinations, travel dates and lengths of travel.
• “ Airfare Deals” can find real deals for you and it will actually tell you why it’s a deal. It will track airfares and determine for you when a fare is “record low-act fast”, “$X less than average on record” or “ save $X off average low found today.”

Bing travel also has a function for hotels, but I haven’t used it. If its anything like their flights function then I’m sure its great. Using Bing can be a little overwhelming at first so I recommend reading  this quick “How It Works” section.

You can also check out the Bing Travel Blog and get great content about travel. So, next time you are booking  a trip, try Bing and let me know how it goes.

Extra Tip:

The Today Show had a great report called “What Your Travel Agent Isn’t Telling You.” During this segment, they talked about how sometimes when you are booking tickets online cookies from that travel sites might mark you as a repeat customer and hike the price. So, to avoid this use different computers or clear the cookies on your browser. For other great tips watch this clip.

1. Toiletries: If you are traveling with friends try to plan to share certain things like shampoo, conditioner, lotions, toothpaste, and/or  blowdriers/straighteners. Also, if you are staying at a friend’s place, ask to see if there are things that they have that you can use. Moreover, unless you stock up on hotel soaps, shampoos, and conditioners like my mom does, it’s a smart idea to invest in reusable travel size toiletry containers like these from The Container Store.

2. Pajamas and Underwear: I know this seems silly, but trust me forgetting your pajamas or underwear will make you feel like a small failure (been there, done that).

3. Two Pairs of Bottoms: One of these could be worn as part of your travel outfit. Of course, jeans are a must for any trip, and I recommend having a pair of dark-washed jeans that could also double as a nighttime outfit. Make sure whatever you to take (jeans, leggings, khakis, etc.)  is versatile and can be worn more than once.

4. Three tops: I usually pack comfortable cotton tees or some shirts I can easily layer if it gets cold

5. One or Two Going Out Outfits: Depending on any plans you may have it is best to have about one or two outfits ready for nighttime. Bring some dressier tops for your dark jeans or perhaps your go-to little black dress.

6. One Jacket/Sweater/Fleece: Weather is unpredictable so make sure you have something to keep you warm just in case anything happens.

7. Two Pairs of Shoes: For a girl with one too many shoes like me, this is at times the hardest part. However, for short weekend trips it’s best to take a comfortable pair of walking shoes like some Chuck Taylors plus a nice pair of shoes for your going out outfits.

8. Umbrella: Look at number 6.

9. Camera: Remember to charge the battery.

10. MP3 player: Remember to charge the battery.

Remember, versatility for weekend travel outfits is key so try to make sure all the pieces that you pack can be worn interchangeably with each other. Attempting to stick to this formula will also make sure that you don’t overpack and weigh yourself down to much.