Paris is truly a wonderful city with plenty to see! From a trip up the Eiffel Tower, walks along the avenue des Champs Elysees, boat rides down the seine river, pictures in front of the arc de triomphe, touting Notre Dame cathedral, to seeing the Mona Lisa at the louvre museum. You definitely need at least 3 days to soak up the beauty of this city. It is a very walkable city, but if you prefer to take the metro it is quite easy to access. There are many great Parisian restaurants to eat at, including LaDuree and Angelina’s- your go-to spots for amazing macaroons and rich French hot chocolates and pastries. And of course you can always shop-till you drop at the high end shops! And the bonus is you usually get more bang for your buck shopping in Europe, and you get a VAT tax refund with you leave!
I travel to Barcelona for the first time in the fall of 2016. It was a wonderful city and in mid October the weather was beautiful! All I needed was a light jacket, and at certain points in the day I could walk around and just a T-shirt and jeans. I stayed in a hotel that was About a 2 1/2 star. But I was not very concerned about that. I came to see the city. It is a very walkable city, and the people are very friendly. There are lots of places to eat and drink, and my favorite thing to eat was definitely the ham about a 2 1/2 star. But I was not very concerned about that. I came to see the city. It is a very walkable city, and the people are very friendly. There are lots of places to eat and drink, and my favorite thing to eat was definitely the jamón ibérico. There are plenty of places to shop retail and for souvenirs. If you’re looking for things to sightsee, I suggest Going to Park Güell! It’s beautiful! And gives an amazing view of the city! If you go when the weather is nice, you can also visit the beach which is also walking distance from Barrí gothic. There is also the Casa Goudi, which is a tasknto actually enter, as you out have tickets in advance and wait on a long line.. but the pictures from the outside are also amazing. The whole city has amazing abstract architecture and it is definitely a place to see!
I lived and worked in the Dominican Rep. during 2011, but I make it a point to travel back for vacation every year. I lived in Punta Cana (PC), which is known for its resports and beaches. PC is definitely the more expensive part of the island, but it you book your flight early enough you can find a good deal. You may also be able to find a good hotel/resort bundle for an all inclusive stay. Nightlife in PC is typically what ever bar or club that is linked to the resort/hotel. Some people like to venture off of the hotel/resort grounds and find other clubs in the area. One really good club is Oro which is The club at the hard rock resort. The history of PC is pretty short, it is relatively new in regards to the rest of the island. PC prides it self on being a sustainable in eco-friendly community.
My favorite place in the Dominican republic is the capital, cento Domingo. This is the first city discovered by Christopher Columbus in his search of the New World. It is home to the oldest cathedral in North America, and is full of old world history and charm. My favorite place to be in Santo Domingo is Zona colonial. You can spend all day there shopping and eating and walking the strip. There are also many museums and walking tours.
While on my 4 day trip to Havana, I ate dinner at two local Paladares (private/family owned restaurants), as well as the famous restaurant that Obama, Beyoncé and Jay Z ate at! Night one.. Paladar Doña Eutimia: A quaint little indoor/outdoor restaurant in Old Havana, tucked away in a corner behind a bunch of other paladares. You may need to ask a local or bike taxi for directions. The food was amazing! I ordered the shrimp in garlic sauce, rice w /Black bean and a side of sweet plantain. Out of all the restaurants we ate at, Doña Eutimia had the BEST black beans, hands down! In all, two meals with drinks and extra sides ran us a bill of approx 35 CUC total! I definitely reccomend this place!
Night two... Paladar La Guarida. Known as a secret treasure in Havana, the atmosphere and ambiance was exquisite, yet the food fell short of the hype.. I ate mediocre ropa vieja with OK rice and black beans, and a decent guava daiquiri. Two meals with drinks ran us approx 50 CUC, definitely more on the expensive side. I recommend this place just for the experience of traveling up the signature and picture-esque marble staircase and obligatory Cuban flag photo-opt.
Night 3... Paladar San Cristobal. All around wonderful experience! Nestled in the not-so-touristy part of old Havana, (I reccomend taking a bike taxi so you you can see everything) from the moment you enter, the restaurant will captivate you! With its cast iron gate entrance and neon lights, to the OVER THE TOP restroom! This particular night was my birthday and the waiters surprised me with a rendition of happy birthday, a small cake treat, shot of rum, and complimentary cigar! I ordered the Lobster canoa india (??) and rice and black beans (still no beating Doña Eutimia’s beans, but the lobster was great!) I also had one heck of a mojito!! In all, this was a great dining experience that I definitely reccomend! Two meals and drinks ran us approx. 60CUC, but definitely worth it!!
*All restaurants are located in Old Havana and you MUST have a reservation!
ROOFTOP POOL: The Gran Hotel Manzana is a luxury hotel located in La Havana Vieja (old Havana), directly across the street from El Floridita (great daiquiris and WiFi!). We came across this hotel by mention of our Air BnB host. We were looking for places to go for WiFi and she suggested we check out the rooftop for an amazing view of Havana- she wasn’t lying! The rooftop of the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski houses an inside and outdoor restaurant, an infinity pool, spa and pano view of Havana!
We were quite amazed! On our first visit to the rooftop we sat outdoors for lunch and drinks (decently priced). We asked if outside guest could access the pool, and were told no, but that we could purchase a day pass for 66CUC which gave us access to the pool and spa area from 9am-9pm. So, the next day we came back at 9am sharp ready to enjoy the day-lounging poolside!
The best part about it is that not many tourist have caught on to the day pass deal, so the pool was quiet and peaceful! (If you’re on a budget, the day pass is definitely the way to go! Regular room rates at the hotel are upwards of $400USD/night)
Paris is truly a wonderful city with plenty to see! From a trip up the Eiffel Tower, walks along the avenue des Champs Elysees, boat rides down the seine river, pictures in front of the arc de triomphe, touting Notre Dame cathedral, to seeing the Mona Lisa at the louvre museum. You definitely need at least 3 days to soak up the beauty of this city. It is a very walkable city, but if you prefer to take the metro it is quite easy to access. There are many great Parisian restaurants to eat at, including LaDuree and Angelina’s- your go-to spots for amazing macaroons and rich French hot chocolates and pastries. And of course you can always shop-till you drop at the high end shops! And the bonus is you usually get more bang for your buck shopping in Europe, and you get a VAT tax refund with you leave!
I travel to Barcelona for the first time in the fall of 2016. It was a wonderful city and in mid October the weather was beautiful! All I needed was a light jacket, and at certain points in the day I could walk around and just a T-shirt and jeans. I stayed in a hotel that was About a 2 1/2 star. But I was not very concerned about that. I came to see the city. It is a very walkable city, and the people are very friendly. There are lots of places to eat and drink, and my favorite thing to eat was definitely the ham about a 2 1/2 star. But I was not very concerned about that. I came to see the city. It is a very walkable city, and the people are very friendly. There are lots of places to eat and drink, and my favorite thing to eat was definitely the jamón ibérico. There are plenty of places to shop retail and for souvenirs. If you’re looking for things to sightsee, I suggest Going to Park Güell! It’s beautiful! And gives an amazing view of the city! If you go when the weather is nice, you can also visit the beach which is also walking distance from Barrí gothic. There is also the Casa Goudi, which is a tasknto actually enter, as you out have tickets in advance and wait on a long line.. but the pictures from the outside are also amazing. The whole city has amazing abstract architecture and it is definitely a place to see!
I lived and worked in the Dominican Rep. during 2011, but I make it a point to travel back for vacation every year. I lived in Punta Cana (PC), which is known for its resports and beaches. PC is definitely the more expensive part of the island, but it you book your flight early enough you can find a good deal. You may also be able to find a good hotel/resort bundle for an all inclusive stay. Nightlife in PC is typically what ever bar or club that is linked to the resort/hotel. Some people like to venture off of the hotel/resort grounds and find other clubs in the area. One really good club is Oro which is The club at the hard rock resort. The history of PC is pretty short, it is relatively new in regards to the rest of the island. PC prides it self on being a sustainable in eco-friendly community. My favorite place in the Dominican republic is the capital, cento Domingo. This is the first city discovered by Christopher Columbus in his search of the New World. It is home to the oldest cathedral in North America, and is full of old world history and charm. My favorite place to be in Santo Domingo is Zona colonial. You can spend all day there shopping and eating and walking the strip. There are also many museums and walking tours.
While on my 4 day trip to Havana, I ate dinner at two local Paladares (private/family owned restaurants), as well as the famous restaurant that Obama, Beyoncé and Jay Z ate at! Night one.. Paladar Doña Eutimia: A quaint little indoor/outdoor restaurant in Old Havana, tucked away in a corner behind a bunch of other paladares. You may need to ask a local or bike taxi for directions. The food was amazing! I ordered the shrimp in garlic sauce, rice w /Black bean and a side of sweet plantain. Out of all the restaurants we ate at, Doña Eutimia had the BEST black beans, hands down! In all, two meals with drinks and extra sides ran us a bill of approx 35 CUC total! I definitely reccomend this place! Night two... Paladar La Guarida. Known as a secret treasure in Havana, the atmosphere and ambiance was exquisite, yet the food fell short of the hype.. I ate mediocre ropa vieja with OK rice and black beans, and a decent guava daiquiri. Two meals with drinks ran us approx 50 CUC, definitely more on the expensive side. I recommend this place just for the experience of traveling up the signature and picture-esque marble staircase and obligatory Cuban flag photo-opt. Night 3... Paladar San Cristobal. All around wonderful experience! Nestled in the not-so-touristy part of old Havana, (I reccomend taking a bike taxi so you you can see everything) from the moment you enter, the restaurant will captivate you! With its cast iron gate entrance and neon lights, to the OVER THE TOP restroom! This particular night was my birthday and the waiters surprised me with a rendition of happy birthday, a small cake treat, shot of rum, and complimentary cigar! I ordered the Lobster canoa india (??) and rice and black beans (still no beating Doña Eutimia’s beans, but the lobster was great!) I also had one heck of a mojito!! In all, this was a great dining experience that I definitely reccomend! Two meals and drinks ran us approx. 60CUC, but definitely worth it!! *All restaurants are located in Old Havana and you MUST have a reservation! ROOFTOP POOL: The Gran Hotel Manzana is a luxury hotel located in La Havana Vieja (old Havana), directly across the street from El Floridita (great daiquiris and WiFi!). We came across this hotel by mention of our Air BnB host. We were looking for places to go for WiFi and she suggested we check out the rooftop for an amazing view of Havana- she wasn’t lying! The rooftop of the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski houses an inside and outdoor restaurant, an infinity pool, spa and pano view of Havana! We were quite amazed! On our first visit to the rooftop we sat outdoors for lunch and drinks (decently priced). We asked if outside guest could access the pool, and were told no, but that we could purchase a day pass for 66CUC which gave us access to the pool and spa area from 9am-9pm. So, the next day we came back at 9am sharp ready to enjoy the day-lounging poolside! The best part about it is that not many tourist have caught on to the day pass deal, so the pool was quiet and peaceful! (If you’re on a budget, the day pass is definitely the way to go! Regular room rates at the hotel are upwards of $400USD/night)