We visited in Jan 2025 for a birthday. One thing to note is that the larger airport is all the way south and we stayed on a hilton property all the way north so it took about 90 mins for us to go through the hills/mountains to get there. We stayed for a short period of time, but we did an excursion to the volcano, we did go into the sulfer pools, we did the toraille waterfall and finally we saw Gros Piton and Petit Piton. We utilized simpletransfers for our tours and our transfers to the airport and our guide Alex was great. He took us to unknown spots, like a hole in the wall joint to get fishcakes which were so good! We also visited Fort Rodney and climbed to the top where you can get views of the entire island. Two restaurants I recommend - Sea Salt in Rodney Bay - the Cajun Fish was so good & Bodrums in the same area that has great local cuisine.

We visited Dubai prior to Thanksgiving in 2024. First off, it's great to plan any trips abroad during Thanksgiving because the U.S. is the only country that celebrates it, so you it's priced well. Second, November - Feb is great to visit the UAE because the temperatures are not as bad, high 70s to mid 80s, vs. in the summer months it's blazing. Now that we got that out the way...we connected from Chicago through London. Most flights land late at night. We recommend booking transport from the airport. We did all of our transport and car service through https://alweamtransport.com/, I found them on Tripadvisor and initially booked just the airport transport, but they reached out and we ended up booking all our tours and transportation through them. We spent roughly $250 USD per person includes tip (party of 5) for 4 days of transportation, that included roundtrip airport shuttle, roundtrip to gold souks in Dubai, roundtrip city tour, roundtrip to Abu Dhabi and we threw in a few more items. Day 1 - we did the gold & spice souks & desert safari - I highly recommend the desert safari, which included dune bashing, quads/dune buggies, sunset photos, bbq with a fire show, holding falcons, camel riding and sand surfing if you choose. Day 2 - Dubai City tour, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Miracle Garden and then we had them take us to dinner at Orfali Bros which is a Syrian fusion restaurant that is Michelin Star rated Day 3 - we did a trip to Abu Dhabi to visit the Grand Mosque (worth it), Al Wasir, and then upon return to Dubai we did Global Village which is like "it's a small world" on steroids Day 4 - we rested a bit and then transferred to the airport to head to Istanbul All our tours, entrance tickets, etc. were handled by Al Weam. For pictures, etc. you can take a look at my IG Feed @sterling8200. Dubai is not inexpensive, you can definitely blow a bag, but it was not as expensive as I though it would be. You need to determine what you want to do, where you want to eat and what your vibe is. We like experiences, so we spent on excursions & transport, but less on food. We stayed at the Canopy Hotel near the water (marriott property), earned points and breakfast was included. It's a nice hotel, but it's not close to the city.

We visited Antigua July 2024 for relaxation. We stayed at a Royalton property, right on the beach. It's an all inclusive and has a few options to choose from. We booked an excursion through the property to do an Island Safari, which provided some history and took a scenic route to the British Harbor (great photo op), a Plantation (eek!) with Windmills and a colonial port. What was missing was any of the historical context around it. We had the resort take us to the the "downtown" area and we bought some art, ate fresh Snapper and just walked around a bit. It's an island town, so it's meant to rest and swim. The spa at the resort was top notch, until they tried to sell us a bunch of products. Overall, it was a typical island, with great fresh seafood, beautiful beaches and relaxation. We left right before Carnival, so that may have been entertaining!

We visited Brazil for the NFL Sao Paulo game, but while there we visited Rio for 4 days. We flew out of Newark, NJ into Sao Paulo and then up to Rio. Places to go; - Copacabana Beach - Try the food along the beach - Assador for authentic Brazilian Steakhouse Experience - better than Fogo - Fogo de Chao - we went, but nothing to write home about - Do a city tour, we did a 2 - 3 hour walking tour and visited Colombo, The Franciscan Museum, learned about where the name Brazil comes from, visited the location where slavery was abolished and tried a few authentic smoothies made with fruit from the Amazon - Christ the Redeemer Statue is a must! - Sugarloaf Cable Car tour worth it, try to go at Sunset, the pictures will be EPIC - Sunrise at Impanema Beach - Stay close to Copacabana, it's fairly safe there - Visit the Escadera Selaron and listen to "Beautiful" by Snoop & Pharell :), go early to avoid the crowds - Drink Caipirinhas!!! We did not visit the favellas, we saw them, but we were told it was not safe. Don't wear anything flashy and keep your cell phone close. We did not have any issues because most thought we were locals. Learn a bit of Portuguese, it helps and have Google translate or some sort of translate app close by. There is a lot of negative hype on Brazil, but we had no issues. Food is delicious and inexpensive, Uber is rampant and the people are very kind!

Went for our five year anniversary. Dublin is a must go! We stayed at the Clarence right near Temple Bar, but it was quiet. We did a few tours, Trinity College & Book of Kelly was worth it and it’s a great way to get a lay of the land. We did a full day to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. Try some authentic fries with dipping sauces in Galway and Oysters. We visited a few pubs where you will hear live music and sing along. There is no shortage of live music all over Ireland. We ate at Gallaghers Boxty House for potato pancakes, worth the visit. We visited Guiness for the Sky Bar views. St Patrick’s Cathedral was also quite beautiful. Also, an unknown gem that our cab driver told us about was Kilmainham Jail, we learned about Ireland’s stories past and it’s only €8. We walked everywhere and really had no issues. Dublin is very safe and the people are incredibly kind. I will definitely go back!

Turks and Caicos was a solo trip. I traveled the week of Easter and it was crowded! Stayed at the Atrium Resort in a residential neighborhood. Walking distance to a local beach and about a 45 minute walk to town. I was not near any restaurants, so I had groceries delivered which is pretty expensive. If I went again, I’d stay at an all inclusive or closer to restaurants. For a rest and recharge solo trip, the resort was perfect, but I wish it was near food. For a solo traveler the taxis charge more or you will ride with others and have to drive to multiple destinations. I recommend renting a car, but the price is steep. Or a bike?! Fish Fry on Thursday is a vibe, live band, great food and some cute little markets. The water is so clear, the people are kind and the food is very good!

We visited in December 2023. First thing we noticed, Cayman is expensive! Nachos and drinks for two came out to $80 USD! We stayed at a Marriott property on the beach, but the beachfront was not great. The hotel was close to the harbor, the shops and park. The island wasn’t as good as others in the Caribbean when it comes to food and culture, but for a relaxing time it was nice.

I'll start by saying we only had 22 hours in Tokyo and we have to go back.... We planned a private tour through TripAdvisor - City Unscripted, to make the most of one night and one day in Tokyo. We landed and had a car service also booked through tripadvisor pick us up at Haneda. We stayed at the Conrad Tokyo, it's close to the subway and only a few stops from Shibuya. My husband is a gamer, so we focused our visits around that. The night we arrived we took the Subway to Tokyo Tower. We bought tickets in advance and got to see some great night views of Tokyo, it's a tourist spot. Our guide explained that the locals don't go to tokyo tower. We visited Shibuya sky the following day, I'd recommend that over Tokyo Tower. The subway was a nice way to travel, we were there during a festival, so many were in traditional dress, which was nice to see, plus the people watching. Their subway is complex and I recommend an app or a guide to navigate it. I would've gotten lost without Hiroto, our guide. Same night we visited Shibuya which was like Times Square on crack! We did the Shibuya Crossing/Scramble and just took in the vibes. Apparently, it's very similar to the game "persona", in real life. We closed out our night at "Soak" which is a skybar, great DJ and the drinks were good, but waaaayyy overpriced. Day 2 - we started pretty early, went back to Shibuya and visited Shibuya Sky. Buy tickets in advance because it's a huge attraction and sells out quickly. It takes you up to the top of a skyscraper and you get uninterrupted views of tokyo all the way out to Mt. Fuji. It's worth the visit and if you can go early - opens at 10 - do it, because there is a queue and it gets busy. They do not let you take bags to the top, they provide lockers that cost about 100 yen to rent, you can take your phone/camera with you. Next up, we visited Don Quixote, which is hard to describe. It's about 8 floors of anything you can imagine, one floor is pets supplies, another is candy, another is cosmetics, another is stationary, souvenirs, etc., we stocked up on souvenirs and skincare, for less than $80 USD, which was perfect since we were short on time. It's in Shibuya and close to the subway. From there we went to Tokyo Nintendo, which is just an experience if you're a gamer. It's in the Parco bldg., there are other cool shops around there. Pokemon, Jumpshop - Dragonball Z shop, etc. Basically a gamer/anime lovers paradise! Our last stop was the Meiji Shrine, it's more historic and has a more traditional Japanese style. It was a nice end to a phrenetic day. The site itself is huge, we visited the gates and the temple, but you could easily be there a half day. There are Ema tablets that you can purchase and write your wishes on and place it on a wall and they will be prayed for. Long story short - we have to go back, there is so much to do. We didn't get to sample the food like we wanted to, because we didn't have enough time to sit down and take it in - we got the hotel breakfast and ordered room service for dinner, but I know we will go back and take it in!

We did 2 days in Singapore and that's enough time. It's pretty tiny. We did a night cruise which gave some good history and great views, lot's of photos! We also did a food tasting tour through Tripadvisor, which was totally worth it. We got to visit a few Hawker Stations and try food that we otherwise wouldn't have tried, due to a language barrier. All the food was amazing! As some others have noted, Singapore is pricey. Everything is imported, so their cost of living is HIGH! Food is cheap, but that is it. We bit the bullet and stayed at Marina Bay Sands for the views and the infinity pool. It's pricey, but it's close to everything and the experience was top tier! It also has access to the Gardens by the Bay and the light show at 7:45 & 8:45 each day, we took that in on night 2 and it was beautiful. If you have some time, the cable car is a nice visit at sunset. We had the unfortunate pleasure of getting stuck, but still had lovely views of the sun going down. Also, if we'd had 1 more day, we would have visited Sentosa, which is where the beaches are and a dolphin park and some other fun places to go. Singapore is beautiful. but it's pricey. It's great to visit as a stopover, but I'm not sure I'd plan an entire trip around it.

We visited Bali in July 2023. We stayed in Ubud at a private Villa called the Sanctum Villa, which is a part of Villa Cella Bella. Our villa came with a concierge and chef for breakfast. Our concierge drove us around Ubud, outside of that for excursions, etc., there was a nominal fee. We were there for 4 days. We were picked up from the airport and driven to the airport by the concierge. The airport is about 1.5 hours from Ubud, I am mentioning just for you to factor in travel time. Bali itself is very affordable, getting to Bali can take up to 24 hours. We flew from Chicago to ATL, ATL to Doha, Qatar and Qatar to Bali - it took nearly 2 days! We upgraded to business class, so the flights were not cheap, however, depending on the time of year, you can find some deals. Jet lag was real, but took 2 - 3 days to catch us. Day 1 - we toured Ubud city center. There are tons of little shops and restaurants. The people are incredibly hospitable. Our first night we at at Gedong Sisi Warung in Ubud. It had authentic Indonesian food and a Western Menu as well. I tried the Tom Yum Goong and it was amazing. For three people and drinks, $60 USD and we had full meals and apps. Day 2 - we visited the Mason Elephant Sanctuary, we wanted to ride/bath the elephants, however it was a 2 hour wait, so we opted to enter the park and just feed them. Save your money on the ride/bathe, unless you're wanting the IG moment, feeding them is just as fun! They have free items to feed them and more substantial meals that you can purchase for very little. The "trainers", will take your pictures and they have the elephants do tricks, like putting a flower wreath on your neck! We spent time as a group of 5 and individually with the elephants and had a blast! There are other photo op moments throughout the park and there are coy fish and turtles as well. We spent an easy 3 hours at the park. After the park we went to the tegalalang rice terrace, which is where the bali swings are. We had swings at our villa, so we didn't do it, but we did zipline and took a bunch of pictures in the bird's nests and other items. It is worth the visit and costs about $2 USD to enter. That night we visited the LOL bar in Ubud which has live reggae music and great drinks. Day 3 - we visited the Tirta Temple (Hindu water temple), it was stunning! I do suggest arriving early morning, because it gets crowded. They require men & women to wear sarees, but they give them to you free of charge, entry is nominal fee and goes to the upkeep of the temple. Women have to pull their hair back. Be warned, when you exit the temple, you walk out to a maze of shops, which is great for souvenirs, however, it takes a while to get out and they will be asking you to buy. You can barter, but it's all cash only. Nothing we haven't seen and they back off when you say no thank you. After the temple, we drove the 90 minutes to Finn's Beach Club! To get a table, you have to put down a minimum of about $350 USD - but that goes towards food and bev. We had 5 people, so with Cigars, Champagne, food and Hookah, it was easily spent, but wanted to warn. You can go to the beach from the club, they will give a stamp for reentry. It's a great time and you could easily do a whole day! After the beach club we had massages at our villa for $35 per person! I wish we'd done one every day, it was amazing! Day 4 - we did drone photoshoots of flower baths, pools and swings arranged by the villa and then downtown Ubud. Bali was a GREAT time. There is way more to do and see, but we only had 4 days! Cost wise, the flight and hotel are likely going to be the most you spend, everything else is nominal. You don't have to tip, but it's appreciated. Can't wait to go back!

We visited Bangkok for two days in August 2023. We were short on time so we used the greenbook global site to determine activities and utilized the TripAdvisor link to book tours and get points for more travel! Our first tour was a tuk tuk night tour, we visited the Giant Swing, the Grand Palace, ate street food, the flower market and Chinatown. The tour started at 6:30 and ended around 10 pm and the tuk tuk, took us back to our hotel. The food is sooo good! Our second day, we did a custom private tour. We took public transportation, which helps you acclimate to the city a bit more. Our guide Yuut was a monk for 10 years and a guide for 4 years. We visited Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace & Wat Traimit. We also, did a canal tour via a boat, which showed the homes within the community and some of the more traditional Thai architecture. We also, visited some street food markets, tried Durian (the smelliest fruit), Chinatown for shopping and our guide provided some data along the way. We stayed at a smaller boutique hotel called Amadeang Riverside Bangkok, which was a great location and close to public transit and the street markets. 8 hours in the rainy season with 100% humidity is a lot, if we had more time, I would have spaced out the tour and added in some beach time and nightlife. We definitely want to explore more. Thailand in general is a poorer country, but rich in history. Food, costs very little. Even entry into the temples was less than $10 for two people. They don't expect tips, but we would typically round up the amounts, because the cost was so low. Try to get small denominations, tuk tuk drivers do not have change. There were no issues traveling while black, the only thing I noted was the fact that when we landed at the airport, there was a separate customs area for those traveling from Africa and South America, which felt suspect to me.

We visited Cartagena in Feb 2023. We arrived on Superbowl Sunday. My husband is an Eagles fan, so we had to find a spot to watch the game. We stayed at the Charleston Santa Teresa, which is in the Old City. It's a beautiful hotel converted from a convent. We walked to the clock tower square area and were asked by a guy on the street if we wanted to watch the game. We ended up on a rooftop bar/restaurant at sunset with amazing fish tacos and mojitos and the game on several large projection screens. A DJ played old school hip hop during commercials and there was a whole crew of other black americans watching the game as well. That was pure luck, but hey we link up in different countries! The next day we did our own self tour of the Old City, visit Getsamane, it's beautiful with it's murals, colorful buildings, streets covered by flags and umbrellas and the food is really good. There are street vendors everywhere selling fresh fruit. The Mango in Cartagena hits different, I had it nearly every day we were there. We also visited Palenque, the first free African Territory in the Americas. We had the best fish I've had in my entire life. We booked it through TripAdvisor, it included pick up from our hotel, transport (only two other people), lunch, boxing lessons, a dancing show, a visit to an herbalist and the overall history of the territory. We were back by about 2 pm. From there we enjoyed the rooftop pool at our hotel at Sunset. All the food in Cartagena is amazing and there is something for everyone. We had fish or steak almost every night. If there is coconut rice on the menu, get it. We visited the mud volcano as well, it's worth the experience and you get real comfortable with a lot of strangers. My husband booked a nighttime dinner cruise, which was gorgeous, the food was not the best, but the views of the "new city" and being on the water was worth it. We felt incredibly safe at all times. It was great to see so many brown and black people, we felt more at home there than we do in Europe when we visit. The culture is amazing and a little $$ goes a long way.

Went for a concert a few years ago. Long weekend trip. Food is amazing! Visited the Grand Ole Opry, a soul food restaurant near Fisk U, Fisk U (my mom went there) and Broadway, which is like the main drag. Get bbq and soul food!

My husband and I visited Aruba for New Years 2023. We booked using Greenbookglobal's link to Marriott. We stayed at the Courtyard in the Noord area of the island, about a 20 minute ride from the airport. Taxi's are inexpensive. They take USD $$. The hotel is not "on the beach", but there is a shuttle that takes you right there and it's about a 5 minute ride. The hotel is walking distance to several restaurants and bars. It was really nice. We had breakfast at the hotel daily and then would go out to eat for lunch and dinner. I recommend Lola - it's a great taco spot about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. The drinks and food a really good, we ate there twice. We learned about the flamingos on flamingo island (though not indigenous to the island). We missed the window to reserve time to go to the island. You have to go on the Renaissance website and reserve by 9:00 am on Saturdays for the upcoming week, it sells out quickly. We have some flexibility to work remote, so we went ahead and booked one night at the Renaissance in Oranjestad, Aruba (capital city) to be able to get the ferry to visit Flamingo Island. The Courtyard was nice, but the Renaissance was AMAZING!!! It's in the heart of everything! Flamingo island is worth the hype, but get there early. We got there around 8:45 am before everyone else. The drinks are reasonably priced and the food was pretty good. It costs $0.25 to get food for the flamingos to feed them and there are options to get some solo shots for the 'gram early. It's a unique experience. We stayed for a couple hours and then took the ferry back to check in to the hotel. We walked around Oranjestad and went to get some culture. There are a lot of street vendors and cool spots. On our day we ate at the Dutch Pancake House and tried the Poffertjes (Dutch Mini Pancakes), they were pretty good. Aruba is just chill. They're known for their Aloe, which we got a few lotions, soaps, etc. But ultimately it's just like any other island, but to ring in the New Year and just relax, it's worth it!

We spent 10 days in South Africa. We started in Jo'burg, visited Kruger for Safari and then finished in Cape Town. It was August, so it was winter. But the coolest it got was about 60 degrees, which was okay with just a light jacket. We booked through Explore World, which we found on Travelzoo. We stayed at the Cape Milner hotel in Cape Town and spent one night in Stellenbosh, were we stayed at the Spier Winery/Farm. Both were very nice top tier hotels. Spier has an amazing restaurant, art gallery, hiking grounds and of course wine tasting. In my opinion, their wine was better than Napa! We bought several bottles to come back with. There are tons of galleries with authentic art, tribal carvings and shields all over Stellenbosh and they ship back to the states if you need to. In Cape Town, we visited Cape Malay, Table Mountain, Devils Peak, drove down to the penguin village and our final night we visited Gold Restaurant where we experienced foods from all over the diaspora and a live show with drums and dancing. We got tribal face painting as well. Recommendations; - Our guide Charlton "Charlie" was great through our tour agency - Visit Langa Provence, we did do Soweto in Jo'burg as well, this one is a bit smaller, but there is the Dompas museum that explains more on Apartheid - Try a Gatsby Sandwich, we at Gatsby Palace, but they serve them a lot of places in Cape Town, you can have any type of meat. A small is enough for two - Also if you make it down the coast "Fish on the Rocks" is a great seafood restaurant and the portions are large - We did not get to visit Robbins Island due to sea swells, but if you can it's a must do. The harbor area is nicely done and there is a lot to do and see. South Africa is not very expensive. The culture and the people are amazing. It was hard to leave.

We visited Fez in July-August 2022. First off - it's HOT. It's the desert and it's about 110 during the day and drops to about 100 at night time. The ground holds the heat. We knew that going in, but if you do not like the heat, I'd suggest waiting until the fall. We booked our Moroccan holiday through Travel World India, which we found on Travelzoo. We modified a 10 day tour to a 5 day tour. We flew in and out of Casablanca, and traveled from Casablanca to Ifrane, Meknes, Fez, Rabat and Marrakech. We had the same guide and driver the entire time and it was three of us. It's a bit pricier, but I highly recommend this way of travelling, especially for safety reasons. Our guide did an amazing job of balancing history, culture and inserting activity and we had plenty of time to rest. We visited several Medinas and tried Moroccan food in Riads. In Fes we visited a tannery to see how leather is made, Art Naji - to watch how they create authentic Mosaic pieces, we walked through the Medina and purchased a Berber rug and we visited several Mosques and temples. Our guide was clutch in explaining where to go and what to see, his name is Abdul. We had no issues with traveling while black. We'd visited Northern African previously, so we were familiar with what to expect in a Muslim country. We embraced the culture, adhered to dressing modestly and genuinely enjoyed learning about the history.

We visited Istanbul for a 20 hour layover in July. The point was to visit the Europe and Asia side. We booked a tour through "my local guide istanbul". Our guide's name was Salih and I found him through Google. He customized our tour for us since we were short on time. He arranged transport to and from the airport, recommended a hotel close to city center (Sura Haggia Sofia) and took us on a walking tour of the gardens, took us to get authentic Turkish food, Turkish Tea and Coffee, and we took the ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul for baklava and then the subway back to the European side - that was the first night. The next morning we visited the Blue Mosque and Haggia Sofia and the former stadium area of the city. Salih was very knowledgeable and we really got a good sense of Istanbul. We definitely want to go back. Breakfast at the hotel was generous and nice. Then transport arrived to take us to the airport.

Me and the bestie visited Belize for a girls trip in June 2022. We decided to go only 30 days prior. I used my Marriott Points to stay at the Alaia Hotel. It was amazing, there is this cool rooftop pool with portals that overlook the hotel lobby. The only issue is that there is a seaweed problem during May - September and it smells like sulfur, so the beachfront is closed. We did not know this prior to, so if we were to visit again, we'd come in the fall. We flew into Belize City and took a Cessna plane for about $80 one way to San Pedro off the coast of the Belize mainland. The flight takes about 20 minutes. My friend actually sat next to the Pilot, which was pretty cool. Upon arriving we were greeted with a refreshing beverage and upgraded to a suite. We had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room and kitchen - which was a bit excessive for 4 days, but hey an upgrade, is an upgrade. The valet that took us to our room, told us about the Garifuna people that are indigenous to Belize and made some recommendations. We got settled and then picked up our golf cart rental. Cars are rare on the island, so a golf cart is recommended. We drove to Black and White (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g291962-d11915263-Reviews-Black_White_Garifuna_Restaurant-San_Pedro_Ambergris_Caye_Belize_Cayes.html) less than a mile from our hotel that served authentic Garifuna food. That night was a Thursday night, they had a special cultural night explaining the Garifuna people, live dancing and music and a buffet. We sampled everything, I recommend the hudut. Our second day we ventured into the downtown part of San Pedro, we visited the Belize Soap company, we had fry jacks - which are a flat bread in Belize that you can add any topping too. They eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a variety of toppings. We had them everyday! After walking around and doing some site seeing, we went for a 1 pm sailing excursion (Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat to the Barrier Reef), where we snorkeled and got to see manatees, sea turtles, puffer fish, etc. Then we sailed to Shark/Ray Alley and snorkeled with Nurse Sharks and Sting Rays. We headed back at sunset and got to witness the amazing sunset. We also met some new people, who we met with later for dinner. Everyone told us to eat at Carambas, so that is where we went for night 2. You can choose your seafood, your seasoning and how you want it prepared. The drinks are amazing and the food is good. It's a bit hyped up and commercialized, but the food was good. I got icecream around the corner when we were leaving. Our next and final day, we went to Secret beach which is about a 45 minute golf cart ride to the other side of the island. We bounced from Blue Bayou, to Swing Bar, to Marumba. My two cents, they're all kind of the same. It's free to get a lounger, they all have food and drinks. For us it was the vibes and the music. The drinks are a bit pricey, but to be expected. We did not plan ahead and ended up eating at the hotel that night, I do not recommend it. The food was not a good. Our last day it rained, so we just slept in and took a shuttle to the airport to take the Cessna back to Belize City. Belize is amazing. It's not too pricey. It's diverse and the food (outside of our hotel restaurant), is really good.

We visited Grenada in May 2022. We'd been wanting to go for some time but the Pandemic caused a delay. We visited for our 3rd Anniversary trip. We stayed at the Royalton Grenada, which I booked via "greenbookglobal". Because I am a Marriott Platinum member we were upgraded to the all inclusive portion of the resort, which include a private butler named Kezia! That was an unexpected perk. She assisted us with getting a driver to go downtown Grenada, she got us reservations at restaurants and other activities. We were able to change our money at the hotel, but there is a limit to what you can pull out daily. Most spots take credit cards, but for tips, cash is preferred. It is important to leave the resort and head out, so we had our butler assist us in getting a taxi to go downtown. Our driver did a Panoramic tour on our way downtown and dropped us in the heart of spice island and picked us up about 2 - 3 hours later. We did our own walking tour. We found a local art gallery where we purchased a painting. We went to the Chocolate shop to try some chocolate and learn the history and we purchased some spices. Our driver also introduced us to the person that we went out with the following day to go and see the underwater sculpture museum, which is amazing if you snorkel. We sampled local food as well and took part in massages and facials at the resort. Grenada is a must see, it's easy to navigate and very safe.

We visited Bermuda in March 2022. We purchased an all inclusive deal through Travelzoo I’m December 2021. March was a good time to go because the testing mandates had been lifted. We only had to test going in and then when you register with the ministry of health coming in, you pay $50 usd and you’re automatically scheduled for your test to return to the US. We stayed at the Grotto Bay resort, less than 5 minutes from the airport. It’s near the crystal caves which we highly recommend. Also the resort has a spa that is in a cave! I can now say I got a massage in a cave. I also swam in a cave. If you’re there on a Sunday get the cod breakfast served with potatoes. Costs around $10-$15 for a platter that will fill you up. We were told it was a Bermudian dish. We visited downtown Hamilton and took in the culture. You can take the public transportation around the island, because we stayed at an all inclusive our bus passes were included. Also the bus gives you a great visual of the colorful homes and opportunities to take pictures for FREE! This trip was a relaxing one, so our activities were minimal, but I love Bermuda. It’s easy to get to, 2 hours from NYC, CLT, ATL, VA.

I had been eyeing Iceland for a while, because I wanted to see the Northern Lights. Research showed the best times to go were Oct - Mar, with Feb being a prime time. Valentines Day weekend 2022 was it! We booked the trip about 30 days out, usually we do our trips more in advance, but the Panorama (aka Covid), makes things difficult. We flew from Chicago into Boston and Boston direct into Keflavik. The flight out of Boston was less than 5 hours, so we did not get much sleep. We upgraded to business class on Iceland Air, which was nice! We landed early and the rental car place was not open, so we had to wait about 2 hours in the airport, we grabbed some coffee and chilled. The airport has some nice shops and restaurants. Driving in Iceland is an adventure in it's own right. I read previous reviews and decided to keep costs low it made sense, cut to 3 days of ridiculous winds, snow plows throwing snow on to the car, crazy S turns down mountains, blizzards, hail storms and the fact that it's not light outside until 8:45 am and gets dark at 4:45 pm....we wished we could afford a chauffeur. We stayed and the Centrehotel, in Reykjavik - it's a chain there are several. It served breakfast, but it's a typical European breakfast, so nothing to write home about. It was in the Velkomin - Lighthouse Village. Very artsy, painted streets, buildings, lots of gin bars, clubs and really good food. No parking near the hotel! But the meters are reasonable, about $5USD/day and the walk was pretty short. We had dreams of touring the entire island via the Ring Road, but only had 4 days, so we settled on getting south. Iceland is full of amazing sites, sunsets, everything looks like a painting, so you do not have to go far to find things. I suggest visiting the Yoda Cave - you can type it in to Google Maps, it's about 2.5 hours south of Reykjavik. The cave is about a 2 mile hike off the road and it's naturally cut out of of stone and looks just like Yoda! From there we trekked back through Vik a very quaint little city. We visited the most famous black sand beach - Reynisfjara Beach - it's absolutely beautiful, but also quite cold. You cannot swim in the water due to the waves and currents, but it was 10 degrees, so we would not have done it anyway. We also stopped Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, you see them from the side of the road and it's so amazing because it's so cold and they should be frozen, but they are not, very nice photo moments. That same night we boarded a tour bus and went to the Þingvellir National Park to see the Northern Lights, for 20 minutes we listened to our guide go on and on about the fact that "we are dealing with nature and there is no guarantee" and all of a sudden we looked out the windows and saw the moving white lights! People got emotional. As soon as we made it to the spot, we hopped off the bus and took in the wonder. Our guide told us that she is 70 years old and had never seen them that bright and bold! Absolutely stunning. It was worth the 8 degree temps and nearly freezing my fingers and toes. I highly recommend gloves with touchscreen capability, which I had, but they did not work. Also a tripod. We took pics on our phones, which worked just fine, but you have to hold incredibly still. Other great spots - Fagradalsfjall Volcano, it started erupting in March 2021 and stopped in Sept 2021, we hiked up and walked on the hardened lava, that still had steam coming from it! Sky Lagoon & Blue Lagoon, we did both - I recommend Sky Lagoon, it's over looking the harbor, it's adults only and the you have the 7 rituals, which include a sauna overlooking the harbor. But, the Blue Lagoon, is one of the 25 wonders of the world, we did 3 masks and "in-water massages", which were AMAZING! My hair was beyond dry afterwards, so I highly recommend packing a deep conditioner if you have textured hair. We booked Volcano Lava Fields, Hot Springs and Sky Lagoon through trip advisor and it was about $120USD per person, but it was worth it, we were picked up around 7 am and done by 3 pm, and we learned a lot about the history and ecology of the Island. We also visited the bridge between two continents - Eurasia and North America, that is not something you do everyday. The Perland Museum is also worth a visit, it has an ice cave and provides a detailed explanation of how the island evolved over the centuries and the overall ecology, plus the 4th floor has an observatory that overlooks all of Reykjavik, so more great pictures, we toured before heading to the airport to leave. Lastly, there is a restaurant called Monkeys that we ate at for Valentines Day, it's a Peruvian Japanese Fusion spot - I have no idea, who decided to marry these two - but they deserve a large check. Dumplings, sushi, spice, red pepper margaritas, mushroom mole, I'm not a food snob, but I definitely snapped shots of my meal. Our only negative happened at Keflavik airport when we were leaving. We were looking to get a few more souvenirs and we were followed around the store, we were questioned more than once in the business class lounge, we were pulled out of line when going through customs and asked "how long have you been here" and then when trying to board we were told "economy isn't boarding yet" and I had to correct them to explain we were business class. So disappointing! But outside of the airport and Iceland Air's employees, we had a marvelous time!

We visited Panama City, Panama for New Years 2022. Panama is amazing! We stayed at the Westin Playa Bonita, which is off the beaten path, we learned it used to be a American army base. It’s not downtown, but it’s about a $20 Uber ride away and super close to the beach. We booked a few tours that I recommend. 1. The Panama Canal. It just reopened for tourism post CoVid and it was nice to get out on the water. We visited monkey island, walked in the rainforest, got to see all kinds of wildlife and animals and we were treated to holadres which is a Panamanian breakfast food that I recommend. 2. We did a night tour our Casca Viejo, our guide was amazing! He explained the history of the city, showed us the sights and we went to a restaurant in the Amador Area the of the city called Sabrosa Panama, which has great local fare for a reasonable price. 3. We did another tour like a local where we got to check out the neighborhoods of the city, their street art/murals are so beautiful and we also got to observe the influences from the indigenous, the Chinese, he French and the Spanish. Panama is one of the few countries I’ve been that has a sprawling metro area and also nature juxtaposed next to one another.

We loved Split. We visited in August 2021. It's right on the water. We did a day trip from Dubrovnik. I recommend a walking tour; - walk the Riva, it's right outside of the Palace - Diocletian's Palace - it's free to enter, it's a Roman castle, that has a church and many living quarters that are nice to see - We ate at a bistro in the middle of the city and I recommend the seafood risotto, the sell it many places, but they use squid ink, so it comes out black. Very tasty - Also along the Riva there are "Dalmatian treat" vendors - try one of them, it's a very dressed up crepe, very good - if we go back, I'd hit up the beaches, we did not partake, but very clean white sand and not too crowded Split felt the most diverse of all the cities we visited in Croatia. We only had an issue once, while at lunch we noticed two teens eyeing our bags, etc., we let them know we were not to be played with, but that was all. Pricing wasn't too bad with the exchange and we paid with credit cards, so we didn't need cash on hand.

Brussels was like Paris light to me, though they mainly speak Dutch. We stopped here on the train en route to Amsterdam. Only a couple hours, so a very quick walk through from the train station. I'm not a coffee drinker, but it was an early train, and the coffee was very good. Looked like most European cities. The people were kind and helpful when we got turned around. I want to go back to explore more.

I was only in Slovakia for a couple hours en route from Prague to Budapest via train. It's similar to other Central European countries. Affordable. We passed through Bratislava, it was night, so not too much to see. The train station is very nice and the people we encountered were equally nice. I'd pass through again and stay longer.

I visited Munich in March 2019 during a girls’ rail trip through Europe. Munich was our last stop on an 11-day tour and we came in from Vienna, Austria. • We did a walking tour of the city to get a lay of the land • We took the train and a bus to Nymphenburg Palace, which is very interesting. Don’t mess with the swans, they bite. It has nice grounds for you to walk around. • We saw a lot of churches • I recommend visiting a beer garden and interacting with some of the locals, Prost! is cheers in German • The food in Germany is okay, lots of meat and potatoes, but we did visit a fish market in the outdoor market space called Fisch Witte, it was amazing. We ate fish and drank wine with bibs on right next to the counter • There are tons of cool lounge bars and eateries, we hopped from one to the other, so I don’t have any names, but they’re all nice Though there were not a lot of black and brown people in Munich, it feels very liberal. We felt very safe, and the people were friendly. As it was explained to us, it’s more Bavarian and open than if you were to go to Berlin which is further North. I’ve never been to Berlin, so I cannot validate that, but it had it’s own charm.

Prague has always been a dream of mine to visit. It was a girls trip in March 2019. We stayed for 3 days and pretty much saw and did everything you can do. • We visited the Prague Castle • AghRTA Jazz Club – it’s got a cave vibe, really cool • We did a walking tour of Old Town • Orla Clock – astronomical clock • Walked across the Charles Bridge and got to see the statues and rub them for good luck • St. Vitus Cathedral – near the castle • Shopped • Visited Old Town Square and the outdoor markets Overall, I’d highly recommend it. Try chimney cake, which is basically a cinnamon roll filled with cream, shaped like a chimney – they’re everywhere. Food isn’t too expensive, most places do not require reservations, the city is very walkable and people are friendly.

I was only in Marseille for the day. I’d recommend a tour; • Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille or Cathédrale de la Major, is a beautiful church that has Turkish influences • There is a lot of shopping nearby • Château d'If – if you ever read the Count of Monte Cristo this may ring a bell • And then indulge in one of the many restaurants and try the olive oil chocolate • Buy some soaps, there are spots everywhere and it smells amazing It’s southern France, so it’s more Mediterranean and laid back, compared to Paris, in my opinion. I’d go back.

We visited Kona on the Big Island in January 2021. We stayed at the Royal Sea Cliff resort. We rented a car to get around the island. Hawaii is absolutely beautiful! Spots to go; • Punaluʻu Beach – black sand beach with sea turtles • Sunset helicopter cruise up the coast • Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park • Hapuna Beach • Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill – amazing seafood • Island Lava Java – great breakfast spot • Fish Hopper Seafood and Steak – our dinner arrived in a small boat • We also took in a luau, they vary when they are offered There is something for everyone, but it is pricey. We didn’t have a meal for two for less than $75. We even went grocery shopping and that was pricey. It’s just expensive on the island. I’ll definitely return.

We did a day trip from Croatia to Slovenia. I agree with the other reviewer, it’s underrated. We booked a private tour with a driver who picked us up. In the 2 hour ride to Slovenia she provided great insights to the country’s history. We started in Llubjana the capital city. We visited the castle and rode the funicular up where you get a bird’s eye view of the city. It’s extremely green and lush. We traveled back down to see city center and our guide made suggestions on lunch. We were told that horse is a delicacy, we chose not to indulge. We tried their sea salt chocolate, which they give you free samples of and dumplings. Prices are not bad and the currency is the euro. We later travelled to Postonja, which has Jana=cave. It’s very cold, bring a jacket. The caves are huge! It’s amazing to see the evolution over time. We also got to see “Om” which are large salamanders that live in the cave. Overall, I’d recommend a day trip. Almost everyone speaks English, the food is good and the people are friendly.

I’ve been to Bahamas three times all while on a cruise. Freeport and Nassau are great. I’ve snorkeled off a catamaran in Nassau. Toured Freeport on a scooter, be careful they drive on the other side of the road! If you get the chance, try Bahamian stew, they serve it in the local spots. You can barter for mostly anything. The people and culture are great.

I visited Puerto Rico in 2017 for a birthday trip. We stayed at the AC Hotel which has a rooftop pool with views of the city of San Juan and the shoreline. It also allows access to the Marriott about 2 blocks away with beach access. The food is great, we ate at local spots off the beaten path, but I suggest open table to find good locations. We did a sunset sailboat tour, which was absolutely beautiful. Most of the time was spent poolside or on the beach. But it’s definitely great culture, cuisine and drinks.

Who doesn’t love Jamaica? We visited for thanksgiving in 2018. Upon arrival we feasted on jerk chicken. We stayed at a timeshare property under RCI, that is all inclusive, I believe Sunscape. It’s a family friendly resort. Several eateries on the property, but we ventured out. We found a cab driver that we called upon to take us around the local spots, including Scotchies which has authentic Jerk Chicken and Carnival. We did a catamaran ride and visited margaritaville. We snorkeled off the catamaran. We took a tour to Negril for horseback riding, 4 wheeler riding and sunset at Ricks Cafe. Four days was plenty to rest and relax and feel right at home.

Cozumel is nice. It’s known for its snorkeling and you can just walk out from your hotel and snorkel. We stayed at the El CID resort, not too far from the airport. We were within walking distance to downtown. The resort had a nice breakfast spread and we ate at local eateries for dinner. You can catch a ferry that’ll take you to Riviera Maya, which has silver shops where you can bargain, what they call 5th Avenue and local fare cuisine. Prices in Mexico are never unreasonable. We also visited a tequila tasting spot and made a few purchases. This was a girls trip, long weekend and much needed. Overall Cozumel is quiet and relaxing and felt very safe and easy to get around.

Punta Cana is just fun. We stayed at a resort property. We zip lined. Visited a rain forest. Rode in dune buggies. Swam in a fresh water lagoon. And just relaxed. The food is amazing. The people are friendly and the costs are low. Just beware of drinks with coconut milk . It’s a nice getaway for 3-4 days. Activity booking can be done at the resort or prior to going. I went on a girls trip and we had a blast.

Paris is just beautiful, but you do need to try to speak the language. I visited in 2017. I spent 2 days and I need to get back. I missed the Louvre, but did get to tour the Eiffel, we had dinner at the restaurant there, it wasn't that great to me. But no matter, there are plenty of places to get great food. The food is just so fresh, the breads, the cheese, the meats, the wine, it's just good. I recommend Crepes in the morning with a croissant. We stayed at the Hotel Cadet, which I learned recently closed and has not reopened post covid. We also took a day trip to Versailles, which is about 90 minutes outside of Paris. We took a night river cruise down the Seine and saw Notre Dame before the fire, lit up at night. We also visited Sacré-Cœur and Lafayette Department Store. Paris in spring is beautiful, you can grab a bottle of wine and just sit on the side of Seine and watch the sunset. Customer service is french, but when we tried speaking the language, people were more willing to help us. I plan to return and stay a bit longer next time. Update, went back to Paris for 4 days on a sister's trip in Nov 2022. Visited the Louvre, which is nice for what it was. We took a train t Reims, to visit Veuve Clicquot, which is worth it if you enjoy Champagne. We took the tour and did a tasting. Reims was a cool little town. The train to and from takes about 45 minutes one way. The rest of the trip we did what most do - we shopped, which is worth it with the global reimbursement. We stayed at the Paris Tour de Eiffel, where we had a balcony and a great view of the Eiffel. We were about a 15 minute walk from the Eiffel, the Louvre and 20 minutes from shopping, though you can always take an Uber for about $10 - $14 Euro. Can't wait to visit again!

I've only spent a few hours in Zurich. The trains are very user friendly and you can easily get from the airport to city center in 15 minutes. Zurich is walkable and very clean. It's a typical European city in my humble opinion, nothing to be overjoyed about. Prices are high, people are nice and coffee is good.

I visited Montenegro on a day trip from Croatia in July 2021. It's about a 10 hour day trip. And you pass through Bosnia on the way in. The borders in this part of the world are interesting and on the way back, we got stuck for 3 hours at the border and did not get back to our hotel until 10 pm. So pack your patience. First stop in Montenegro was a small seaside town of Perast, where we chartered a boat to visit Our Lady of the Rocks a small island off of Montenegro. It's beautiful. The water is this gorgeous turquoise. From there we visited Kotor, which is a fortified city. You pay a small fee to enter and then once inside you're met with sites and sounds. We tried to grab a bite, but the waitstaff took forever and only gave us water after nearly 20 minutes, while serving others that arrived after us, so we got up and left. We definitely got some stares and felt a bit out of place. It was also extremely hot, like 98 degrees, so it was uncomfortable walking around. Our last stop was Budva, another seaside town. The closest comparison I have is Atlantic City. The beaches are nice. But there is a lot of construction that is just incomplete, so it looks unfinished. Here we finally got to eat, so we grabbed a bite at a nice seaside restaurant, recommended by our guide. The food was authentic Mediterranean, but they had Goulash, which I hadn't had since I was in Budapest. So, in 98 degree weather I ate goulash and Greek salad and it was delicious! Montenegro is nice, but I wouldn't go longer than a day. We just didn't feel comfortable and didn't see people that looked like us.

We did one day in Valleta, Malta in August 2019. It is beautiful. We visited a filigree jeweler, which is quite interesting to see. A glass blowing factory. Several neighborhoods. A winery, which is one of their exports and it was quite good. A beach, which had the clearest blue waters. St. John's Co-Cathedral, where you do need to cover up to enter. What is interesting in the church is the fact that tombs are under the tiles, so you're walking around on top of tombs. It is right on the water. Lots of Game of Thrones scenes if you're in to that. Its a small island, so you can get a lot in, in a day, but I'd go back. The food is the only thing that isn't very memorable to me.

We visited Lisbon, Portugal in December 2019 right before New years, we were there for 2.5 days. Things to do - we stayed at a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, just a few blocks from the waterfront. We rode the cable car, did a bus tour to the carriage museum (I don't recommend), 25 de Abril Bridge, Jerónimos Monastery, downtown shopping Area, old town, day trip to Sintra Palace (you have to climb a very steep hill but it's worth it), Moorish Castle, Cascais (seaside town, where you want to try Jinja, it's a cherry tasting shot served around the holidays) and the Western most point in Europe. Food - if you like seafood, Lisbon is your spot. They do have this fried cod street food with cheese inside that was disgusting to me and it had bones, but "when in Rome". We also tried Port wine, which was just "ok". Overall we enjoyed Lisbon, we went right after the holidays, it was relaxing, the temperatures were cooler, the sunsets beautiful and the people were exceptionally kind. It's also beautiful to see all lit up during the holidays.

St. Thomas is great. We visited in May 2021 for our Anniversary. We stayed at the Wyndham Margaritaville Resort. Upon arrival we were given a complimentary bottle of rum. We felt safe with all the Covid Precautions. I do not recommend renting a car, they drive on the left side of the road there and it's very hilly terrain, we actually cancelled our rental and just cabbed it. They are still bouncing back after being shutdown for Covid and a Hurricane 2 years ago, so they are reliant on tourists, so we tipped generously wherever we went, most cabs were about $15 - $20 per trip. We got a complimentary tour to downtown from the hotel, where we walked around, bought some jewelry, visited a few shops and historic sites and of course ate at a little hole in the wall eatery in one of the alleyways. A lot of the tourist spots are closed for repairs post hurricane. There are good places to eat in Redhook, that have authentic carribean fare for low prices. We ate at Pesce Italian, which was very good and reasonably priced. Shoreline bar and grill which was right near our resort, cheap eats, good food and drinks and you get to see tarquin fish right on the water while the sun is setting, the fish tacos were amazing. Sunset Grille, which is right on the water and the fish is so good. St. Thomas is just relaxing and easy to get in and out of from the states. Perfect for 3 - 4 days.

Cuba is amazing. I visited in 2018 on a cruise out of Miami. We only had a day and a half there, which isn't enough time. We did a day trip to see old Havana, visit a cemetery, city center, a rain forest, see Hemingway's house and we did it all in a 50s car. First - the food, is just, so good. I've been trying to find Cuban food as good as what we had there in the states to no avail. The art and culture are just amazing. We visited a Cuban hotel that had peacocks just roaming around. We felt incredibly safe and welcomed. All the guides were happy to greet us and tell us about their country and their culture. I recommend purchasing rum, specifically Havana Club, they don't sell it here in the States, though you can find it over in Europe. If you get the chance to go to Cuba, just do it.

I've been to London twice. The first time was in 2017, I spent 3 days there. We visited Camden, which reminded me a lot of Tribeca, very hipster, good pubs, street food and the English version of pool = snooker. We did the history part, visited parliament, big ben, did a thames river tour, west minister abbey, double decker bus, phone booths (side note they don't use them and they smell of urine), MI5 bldg., the tower of london (houses some of the royal jewels), the London Eye (big carousel built for the Queen's Jubilee) and Buckingham Palace. We tried authentic fish and chips - not great. In fact, none of the food I've had in London has been good, each time I've gone. We actually ended up at a McDonald's which is sad. I did encounter a flat white for the first time and it was nice to sit in a coffee shop and just sip and read. We stayed at the Doubletree in Notting Hill, there are a lot of cafes and trendy shops. It's close to the tube/subway, but their system is way more complex than I am used to. I have a cousin that has lived in London for over 10 years, so he helped us navigate it. But there is always Uber, so that is helpful. To me the English were just a bit snobby, customer service was lacking and they seemed to have a poor opinion of Americans. London is a nice introduction to Europe, but there are far better places, that are more welcoming.

I went to Curacao in 2016 with a college roommate. We were there for about 4 days. Our first night we visited a local jazz lounge, the food was amazing. But we noticed very quickly, Curacao is expensive, taxi rides cost about $50 USD to go oneway and food is equally pricey. Our first few days we were beach bums. We stayed at a Marriot property and became fast friends with the hotel bartender (ha)! We got massages on the beach, visited downtown Willemstad, Curacao, and had some authentic food right on the water front. You have to try the actual Curacao liquor, which they mix in almost every drink and it comes in more colors than just blue. There are day tours to aloe farms and sugar cane farms, but we were there more to relax. We did notice an undertone of "supremacy" downtown. The history of Curacao is interesting because it was a dutch colony and playground for a long time and then they gained their independence. There are still some dutch there that must not appreciate their playground being uprooted. But overall, we felt safe, it's a beautiful island, a little pricey and worth a 3 - 4 days of R&R.

I enjoyed Copenhagen quite a bit. We were only there for 2 days, which is enough time, but it's a very relaxed city, so it's nice to put on the tale end of a European trip which we did. The amount of bikes rivals Amsterdam, along with the canals. We stayed in the Vesterbro neighborhood at the hotel mayfair, which is a nice, hipster hotel, easy walk from the train station which takes you to and from the airport and close to eating spots. We spent a half day during a canal tour to get some history, culture and see the major sites, like Nyhaven, the little mermaid, the financial district and the castles. We spent half the day at Tivoli Gardens which is the 3rd oldest amusement park/carnival in the world and it was so great to just be kids again. We did a little shopping in their shopping district and tried some of the local foods. We of course had Danishes and Cardamom Biscuits which is more Swedish, but very good. The Swedish border is very close and we could've done a day trip, but we were on the back half of 10 days in Europe and had already done 5 countries, so we were just relaxing in Denmark. Copenhagen is very diverse, in food, people and culture. While we were there they were preparing for a pride event. We also got free covid testing to reenter the US at the Airport. I'd go back!

Did a day tour of the Vatican City, that is really all it takes while you're in Rome. I have mixed feelings. We did St. Peters Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the grounds, But it's a bit disheartening to see all of the artwork and statues that they have from all over the world, specifically Africa that they have claimed as "theirs". We did observe a mass with the Pope and there was a lot of pushing and shoving because people had pilgrimaged from all over the world to view the Pope. We weren't treated differently per say, but we felt "watched" and there just seemed to be a sense of privilege to other populations that were there over those who were brown and black. It is definitely something to see, but you leave feeling a bit off because you know that the church has not always been kind to black people.

I was only in Athens for the day part of a cruise tour. We did a bus tour. We got to see the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient Agora of Athens, Panathenaic Stadium, observe the changing of the guard, see some of the sites the Olympics to place, visited the Placa and bought souvenirs, of course had authentic Greek food, and tried Orzo which is their liquor that tastes like licorice (I didn't care for it). We actually got lost leaving the Acropolis, but easily found our way to the Placa and got back with our group in time to board the ship. I'm sure there is much more to do and see, but we only had about 6 hours to get around, so we focused on the highlights. Tons of architecture and history, but for the short time we were there we saw the highlights.

Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia, we'd spent 4 days in the south in Dubrovnik and then 2 days up North in Zagreb. Because it's further North and in land, it's cooler than the coast which is more Mediterranean. We were there in August 2021. We stayed at the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel, it's a historic landmark and many diplomats and celebs have stayed there. Very stately rooms, 3 great restaurants and a great lounge bar with live music. It's walking distance to city center. We did a Zagreb Night City walking tour, which was great, it gave the history of the city and some great nightime views. Zagreb has a great night life, as you move from city center, there are these offshoot roads and there is pretty much anything you want to do. It reminded me a lot of Amsterdam. There are all sorts of foods. One night we had authentic Greek Food and Gelato for dessert. Another night we ordered room service from the hotel. The landmarks of the city are all very close by and our hotel was right near the botanical garden. Zagreb is also very close to Slovenia, where we went on a private day tour. Very diverse, safe, reasonably priced, takes the Euro or the Croatian Currency and the food is really good.

Austria is okay, just okay. We spent 2.5 days there. We did a walking tour to understand the history, see where Hitler did a famous speech, learned all about the incestuous royal histories in Europe (lol), tried Wiener schnitzel and got to see how insane Austrians get for Easter (it's bigger than Christmas over there, bunnies everywhere!). But we also got to see some of the remains of a very imperialistic past, for instance Meinl, it's a famous coffee brand (google it) still has the face of an African Child on it to this day! When we questioned our guide after seeing numerous castles, courtyards and Hitler haunts, she kind of brushed over it like it was nothing. Not a ton of diversity walking the streets. We visited Demals Chocolates, to try a famous tort cake, which was very good and rich, but we were the only people of color. One night we did visit a wine garden in the suburbs which we were able to take a bus and train to get to and we were serenaded by an accordion trio?! We stayed in a renovated hotel near where Mozart lived, which overlooked a beautiful courtyard. Austria is very walkable and safe, the food is okay and it's clean. We got a few stares here and there, but we were treated nicely. They take the Euro and it's easy to get in and out of by train to other European countries, we came in from Budapest. It was March when I was there, so it was still chilly and it's near the water. Perhaps it's different in summer? I likely wouldn't go back, it was not the most memorable.

I almost didn't come back from Barcelona. My husband and I went during our honeymoon when we toured the Mediterranean. We had 2 days in Barcelona. We did a walking day tour and got to understand the lay of the land, got recommendations on eateries, saw works of Gaudi, including Park Gruel and La Sagrada Familia. We ate authentic paella, which was amazing with Sangria. Barcelona is a very safe and walkable city. There are cable cars and they give great views of the city. Try a churro with hot chocolate, it's different there than it is in the states. The only thing we didn't get to do that I wanted to do was see flamenco dancers, but that gives us a reason to return. No issues travelling while black, Barcelona is amazing.

We visited Jaco beach, Puntarenas and San Jose, Costa Rica. We rented a car and just drove around. Costa Rica is great when you want to get in touch with nature. We visited Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz, which is a great preserved rainforest in the mountains. We at at Restaurante Aldea Casa de los Mariscos in Puntarenas, which had great steak and seafood. Not a ton of English spoken, but I know enough Spanish to get by. We took the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera to do the Bioluminescent Kayak Tour at Night, which is amazing, I highly recommend it. My husband had never kayaked, but we arrived early enough while it was still daylight to get a quick tutorial. The algae have the bioluminescence the same as lightening bugs and as you row in the water, they are "disturbed" and they glow. It's not easy to catch on film without a slow shudder camera, so we just have to enjoy the memory. But it was absolutely amazing. There are black sand beaches and white sand beaches. We definitely want to go back because we were only there 4 days and we only got to one coast. It's a beautiful country and we had no issues or concerns while traveling.

I live in Chicagoland, so I'm probably biased. But, I've only lived here for 4 years. Prior to being a resident, I was a tourist and a visitor. In Chicago it depends on the time of year. Summer - I recommend the Taste of Chicago, doing an architecture boat tour, Willis Tower and visiting the restaurants on River Walk, where you can watch kayakers go by and take in the people at sunset. Fall - Take in a show at the Chicago Theater, see a play, walk along Lake Michigan or just eat deep dish until you burst. London House is a great restaurant for apps and cocktails. Winter - it's mostly indoors. Though a walk down Michigan Avenue is beautiful, especially and Christmas time when all the windows are decorated. Yes, it snows, yes it's windy, but that is what great coats and boots are made for. Water tower place is great for shopping, so is North Michigan and State Street. We also have some great neighborhoods that each have their own vibe. I use Open Table, but it's hard to find bad food and there is something for everyone. Spring - in Chicago its a blur of winter and then summer, we get a few days of 70ish and then it shoots up. There are a lot of festivals, day parties and happy hour spots, along with outdoor concerts and entertainment. The city is diverse, but there is still a lot of self segregation, i.e. Southside is primarily black, Westside is Latinx and black and Northside is primarily white. But, I've never felt out of place in the city or the surrounding neighborhoods.

Visited Toronto in 2007, for a long weekend. It was cold and rainy. It's pricey and the dollar wasn't very strong then. Tons of shopping options. Easy to navigate and get around and rental cars was not too expensive. Went to Niagara Falls and it was nice. The food was okay, nothing to write home about. I recommend walking by the water. Visiting their downtown Area and of course Niagara Falls. No issues travelling while black, felt very safe and accepted.

We visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 2021 on a day trip from Dubrovnik, Croatia. We were picked up from our hotel in Dubrovnik and it was about a 2 hour ride through Dubrovnik to the Kravich Waterfalls in Bosnia. A couple notes here, you can country hop in Europe like we go from state to state here, but there is a wait at the border. Some make you get out, show your passport and your vaccine card, while others will allow your guide to show each passport. We waited at the border as long as 3 hours and as little as 5 minutes. Sometimes there was a border agent shift change or large buses with sketchy populations, that took them longer to search. To us it was all apart of the adventure, but if you have dinner reservations, you may not want to book a day tour. Our tour was on a van with about 20+ folks from all over the world. It was English speaking, with strong Croatian accents. After Kravich waterfalls, we proceeded to Mostar. Mostar is famous for it's bridge "old bridge" and has a lot of Turkish influences. We got a great tour and history lesson of the Bosnian war, downtown Mostar and then we had about 2 hours to just walk around and enjoy. We had traditional Bosnian Coffee - very strong, no cream, one sugar cube, served extremely hot! We also tried traditional Bosnian dishes - called Cevapi - which is basically a meat platter with some lettuce. It was okay, but definitely worth a try. Our meal was roughly $20 American Dollars and included the Entree, Water, Coffee and Dessert. Prices in BIH were reasonable, they take the Euro, BAM and Croatian Currency. Though there were not many black people while we were there, we did not feel ostracized, everyone was very hospitable, spoke English and treated us respectfully. I'd recommend it.

I've been to Phoenix and Scottsdale several times for work. I generally stay at a Marriot property because, you know, points. Both Phoenix and Scottsdale, have several food options and places to go, especially downtown Scottsdale. The JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, is amazing. Very relaxing. Beautiful desert scenery and fairly reasonable in pricing. Because Phoenix is a large city, many of the famous eateries from other cities are there. Like Portillo's, which is a Midwest Chicago, thing, but they have one in Phoenix (maybe two now). Each time I am in Phoenix, I do not see a ton of diversity. I won't say it's uncomfortable, it's just not there. If I didn't go for work, I'm not sure I'd go on my own.

Cairo just go! We had 2 days in Cairo. Our first day we got straight to it and went to Memphis, Saqqara and Giza. We had a private tour with a guide, transportation, ticket entry and of course history. We visited tombs, local market and the Sphinx. I'd suggest, visiting a souk where you can see essential oils and make a purchase. You can barter for almost everything in Egypt. Also, ask your guide to take you to a papyrus making shop, it's very interesting how it's done. We also got to try authentic Egyptian food outdoors. Over an open fire near a goat pen - interesting. Nighttime in Cairo - well, don't drive, get a driver. Traffic in Cairo is unbelievable and scary. We were there on New Years Eve and New Years Day, so the nightlife was in full effect. Lots of fireworks. Lots of folks out in the streets. Great food and drinks. Travelling while black - it is Africa, but when you're there, there is a distinction between Northern Africa, which is more "middle east" than West or South Africa. We had no issues, it felt very welcoming. Just want to point out the difference. Side Note - the air quality was horrible. Tons of smog. When we came back from Egypt we had bronchitis, just due to the poor air quality. We were there pre-covid, but if I went back, I'd wear a mask, have Vicks on deck and cough drops. Luxor and Aswan are better than Cairo, but still the air quality is not ideal. We stayed at the Hilton Cairo, which was "okay", heavy smoke smell and just overall very busy, but it was the time of year. Had multiple restaurants in the hotel to choose from. Our tours were all booked through Travelzoo.

I visited Aswan in early 2020 before the shutdown apart of a Nile River Cruise from Cairo to Aswan. We were only there for a day, but we got to do a city tour via horse and buggy (side note, they just go when they feel like it and that was disgusting), visit a mosque, we got to walk around the souk, drink tea on the street and do a little shopping before getting back on the cruise. We booked through travelzoo and we traveled with another couple. So there were only 4 of us and our guide. All of Egypt is very friendly to black people, we had no issues. There is always the "my brother, my sister" shouted at you to by their wares/goods and then when we did encounter actual Black Americans, we would reply "my real brother/sister" and say hello and see where they were from. I cannot speak to nightlife or romance because we were only in the city for a few hours, but overall I recommend visiting Egypt.

My best friend and I visited Budapest in March 2019. We were there for 2 days coming from Prague via train. I highly recommend taking the overnight train if you are able, it’s an unforgettable experience. We booked through gorealeurope.com. We stayed at the Prestige Hotel Budapest, near the rail lines. We toured heroes square, Budapest Zoo, Bath Houses, St Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge. We rode on the oldest subway in Europe, ate authentic Strudel (yum!) and got to spend time on the Buda and Pest sides. Our guide was wonderful and made recommendations on what to do and where to go. At night we found local eateries and had goulash-it’s a MUST! We wished we’d stayed longer. The people are great and it’s easy to navigate the public transport. We also visited the bath house on the Pest side and got massages, which I highly recommend. The history of WWII and the Russian occupation is something we are not taught in the states, it’ll break your heart, but it’s important. Go visit! We want to go back.

My husband I visited Venice in 2018. We were there for less than a day and pretty jet lagged. Venice is totally walkable and can be done in a day. We caught a water taxi and quickly made our way to St Marks square to sit outside and have espresso. We toured the upscale shops, grabbed a mask, had gelato and authentic Italian cuisine. We stayed at a Marriott property near the train station. The city seemed pretty affordable. No issues being black or experiencing being treated differently.

Amsterdam is amazing. I went with my father for his 60th birthday. We started in London, then Paris and Amsterdam was our last stop. It’s perfect to end a European holiday because it’s so relaxing. We stayed at the Hotel Amrath, an older historical hotel. We visited the markets, Heineken experience and did several canal tours. We were there for three days and that was just enough time. Amsterdam is very walkable and the locals are amazing.