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MY TRAVELS
To understand what's going on in the world, you have to see the world ~ Aerin Lauder ~
Switzerland
My absolute favorite place in the whole wide world. You absolutely must visit the Swiss Alps in Switzerland for a triple threat view of breathtaking mountains, turquoise lakes and stunning villages.
The Swiss Alps are simply majestic and completely surreal and unbelievable. If you have the chance, visit Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Murren and as many towns around these areas! And of course, don't leave without visiting Jungfrau a.k.a Top of Europe.
The best way to commute around is via their travel friendly trains as some towns do not allow vehicles. Why would you want to drive anyway when you can sit back and relax on the train while enjoying the incredible views from the window! Also, please take the Gondolas around from town to town for stunning bird's-eye view
I highly encourage you to get a day pass or 2-3 day pass for the train depending on how long you are there as it will be less costly to travel with a pass verses daily ticket purchases. We got a 3 day pass for $150 per person and this allowed us to go around to as many towns as possible.
I know this will probably become one of your favorite places too.
**Visited early September
**Weather was sunny and perfect
**Perfect for couples as it is quiet, peaceful and ehm ehm ROMANTIC! ;)
The Swiss Alps are simply majestic and completely surreal and unbelievable. If you have the chance, visit Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Murren and as many towns around these areas! And of course, don't leave without visiting Jungfrau a.k.a Top of Europe.
The best way to commute around is via their travel friendly trains as some towns do not allow vehicles. Why would you want to drive anyway when you can sit back and relax on the train while enjoying the incredible views from the window! Also, please take the Gondolas around from town to town for stunning bird's-eye view
I highly encourage you to get a day pass or 2-3 day pass for the train depending on how long you are there as it will be less costly to travel with a pass verses daily ticket purchases. We got a 3 day pass for $150 per person and this allowed us to go around to as many towns as possible.
I know this will probably become one of your favorite places too.
**Visited early September
**Weather was sunny and perfect
**Perfect for couples as it is quiet, peaceful and ehm ehm ROMANTIC! ;)
Cotswolds
Many years ago, I had come across a photo of this quaint village and I literally went around asking people if they knew where in the world it was. No on seemed to know. Being very much into old British period shows, this is totally my type of viiiibe!
While in London in 2017, I showed one of my friends the picture from google images to see if he knew where it was and he told me he KNEW! He said it was in the Cotswolds which is.... IN THE UK!!!!!
I couldn't believe it. It was just two hours southwest of London!!! I must go right away!!! The town you see in this picture of me is called Castle Combe, which is ranked "the prettiest place in the U.K."
The minute you land there, you'll go back hundreds of years and find yourself wondering how people dressed and what they talked about wandering the streets of this old historic village built in 1140.
**Visited in the Winter and Spring
**Weather was cold and rainy (but worth it)
**Perfect for families, friends, couples or solo.
While in London in 2017, I showed one of my friends the picture from google images to see if he knew where it was and he told me he KNEW! He said it was in the Cotswolds which is.... IN THE UK!!!!!
I couldn't believe it. It was just two hours southwest of London!!! I must go right away!!! The town you see in this picture of me is called Castle Combe, which is ranked "the prettiest place in the U.K."
The minute you land there, you'll go back hundreds of years and find yourself wondering how people dressed and what they talked about wandering the streets of this old historic village built in 1140.
**Visited in the Winter and Spring
**Weather was cold and rainy (but worth it)
**Perfect for families, friends, couples or solo.
Portugal
I went to Portugal in 2021 as soon as they opened their borders for travelers from the U.K. and I am so glad I did! I visited Porto and Lisbon and fell in love with Porto. My husband fell in love with Lisbon.
I loved the small, intimate, quirky, and quaint feel of Porto while my husband fell in love with the vibrant streets and history of Lisbon.
Porto, the second largest city in Portugal is absolutely a must-see! If you visit Porto, please make sure you go on top of the Dom Luis Bridge for an incredible panoramic view of the entire city. The historic center of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! No need to have a car in Porto as you can literally walk around the whole city.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal is known to be “the coolest city in Europe” by many. And I can see why. It’s full of culture, heritage, history, depth, and many colorful sites to see. You’ll spot people of all ages walking the cobblestone streets of Lisbon. If you visit, make sure you take tram 28 which is a cute yellow tram that will take you to all the touristy spots in Lisbon. You can hop on/off as they come every few minutes! We drove in Lisbon but not inside the city as we just took the tram around. However, we drove to Sintra where this colorful Palace de Pena was located. Please don’t leave Lisbon without going to this palace. You can leave your car on the bottom of the hill and take the bus to the palace or you can drive up all the way to the palace and park in the public parking lot.
**Visited early June
**Weather was PERFECT. Sunny but not too hot.
**Perfect for friends, families, couples, and solo
I loved the small, intimate, quirky, and quaint feel of Porto while my husband fell in love with the vibrant streets and history of Lisbon.
Porto, the second largest city in Portugal is absolutely a must-see! If you visit Porto, please make sure you go on top of the Dom Luis Bridge for an incredible panoramic view of the entire city. The historic center of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! No need to have a car in Porto as you can literally walk around the whole city.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal is known to be “the coolest city in Europe” by many. And I can see why. It’s full of culture, heritage, history, depth, and many colorful sites to see. You’ll spot people of all ages walking the cobblestone streets of Lisbon. If you visit, make sure you take tram 28 which is a cute yellow tram that will take you to all the touristy spots in Lisbon. You can hop on/off as they come every few minutes! We drove in Lisbon but not inside the city as we just took the tram around. However, we drove to Sintra where this colorful Palace de Pena was located. Please don’t leave Lisbon without going to this palace. You can leave your car on the bottom of the hill and take the bus to the palace or you can drive up all the way to the palace and park in the public parking lot.
**Visited early June
**Weather was PERFECT. Sunny but not too hot.
**Perfect for friends, families, couples, and solo
Barbados
I went to Barbados in 2020 for two reasons:
1) To have my legal wedding ceremony on the beach with my husband
2) Honeymoon right after our ceremony!
Barbados was one of the only places we could travel to in order to have our wedding at the peek of the pandemic in 2020. And we are so glad we did!!!!
We definitely needed a car in Barbados and so I highly encourage you to rent a car if you want to get around easily. It will end up being less expensive than taxis. You can literally go around the entire island of Barbados with a car in 4 hours. Can you believe that? But don’t rush…get out the car and stop by as many scenic places to actually absorb as much of this gorgeous island. Our favorite stop was at the North of the island called “Cove Bay”. We parked our car and got lost in the views from the top of the cliff.
Their food in Barbados is absolutely delicious (who doesn’t love Caribbean food?!) and don’t expect the island to be cheap. It is actually a bit pricey!
I encourage you to do fun excursions while here. We went on speed tubing behind a boat as well as snorkeling under the clear blue waters which was so stunning seeing colorful fish and turtles.
**Visited end of September
** Weather was hot, humid and sometimes rainy
**Perfect for families, couples, and solo.
1) To have my legal wedding ceremony on the beach with my husband
2) Honeymoon right after our ceremony!
Barbados was one of the only places we could travel to in order to have our wedding at the peek of the pandemic in 2020. And we are so glad we did!!!!
We definitely needed a car in Barbados and so I highly encourage you to rent a car if you want to get around easily. It will end up being less expensive than taxis. You can literally go around the entire island of Barbados with a car in 4 hours. Can you believe that? But don’t rush…get out the car and stop by as many scenic places to actually absorb as much of this gorgeous island. Our favorite stop was at the North of the island called “Cove Bay”. We parked our car and got lost in the views from the top of the cliff.
Their food in Barbados is absolutely delicious (who doesn’t love Caribbean food?!) and don’t expect the island to be cheap. It is actually a bit pricey!
I encourage you to do fun excursions while here. We went on speed tubing behind a boat as well as snorkeling under the clear blue waters which was so stunning seeing colorful fish and turtles.
**Visited end of September
** Weather was hot, humid and sometimes rainy
**Perfect for families, couples, and solo.
Lake Como
Lake Como is the definition of class and elegance.
Located an hour north of Milan, Lake Como is a must visit if you are into postcard destinations.
There are many towns you can choose to stay in depending on your taste and desire. Because it was our first time, we stayed in Bellagio and we did not regret it. We stayed in a hotel right in front of the lake so we woke up to stunning lake views every morning. Getting around to the other towns is so easy with the public ferry that operates like an on-water bus. Tickets to get around various towns via the ferry are inexpensive which makes it budget friendly for those not eager to splurge.
Second to Bellagio, our favorite town was actually Varenna (minus all the tourists). We loved Varenna for it’s vibrant colors and lake view restaurants.
If possible, I encourage you to get a private boat to take you around the lake with a captain who will give you a nice history lesson and an unforgettable tour that will allow you to take stunning photos and videos. Private boats for just two are a bit on the pricey side ($170 per person), but you can request a private boat that you can share with a few other strangers and that will save you more $.
** Visited in mid September
** Weather was spectacular
** Perfect for families and couples
Located an hour north of Milan, Lake Como is a must visit if you are into postcard destinations.
There are many towns you can choose to stay in depending on your taste and desire. Because it was our first time, we stayed in Bellagio and we did not regret it. We stayed in a hotel right in front of the lake so we woke up to stunning lake views every morning. Getting around to the other towns is so easy with the public ferry that operates like an on-water bus. Tickets to get around various towns via the ferry are inexpensive which makes it budget friendly for those not eager to splurge.
Second to Bellagio, our favorite town was actually Varenna (minus all the tourists). We loved Varenna for it’s vibrant colors and lake view restaurants.
If possible, I encourage you to get a private boat to take you around the lake with a captain who will give you a nice history lesson and an unforgettable tour that will allow you to take stunning photos and videos. Private boats for just two are a bit on the pricey side ($170 per person), but you can request a private boat that you can share with a few other strangers and that will save you more $.
** Visited in mid September
** Weather was spectacular
** Perfect for families and couples
Jamaica
Jamaica Jamicaaaaaaa!!
Where do I start!
Let me start off by saying Jamaican people are SO INCREDIBLY NICE & FRIENDLY. Their motto in life is “No Problem”. They literally say that to every single thing. You can say “Oh my God, there’s a hurricane coming!” and they’ll reply “No Problem!”.
Jamaicans know how to party. We stayed at an all inclusive hotel in Negril. All-inclusive hotels are usually not my cup of tea but to my surprise Hotel Riu Palace was 5 out of 5 in the quality of food, service, staff, cleanliness, and ENTERTAINERS.
They had entertainers entertaining guests at all times. They were the life of the party and the reason we laughed so hard every single day. Imagine just hearing Reggae music all day poolside or at their private beach and just watching entertainers dance throughout the day. Of course, if you prefer quiet, you can always go to the quiet section of the hotel.
We didn’t really leave our resort except for one night when we visited their local club. It wasn’t anything worth seeing. I think a club is just a club anywhere in the world. The resort was actually more fun.
I encourage you to do excursions in Jamaica! We went parasailing, snorkeling, and speed tubing behind a boat. These are the experiences that will make the trip unforgettable.
** Visited end of August
** Weather was sunny, humid and perfect for swimming
** Perfect for FRIENDS FRIENDS FRIENDS or FUN couples
Where do I start!
Let me start off by saying Jamaican people are SO INCREDIBLY NICE & FRIENDLY. Their motto in life is “No Problem”. They literally say that to every single thing. You can say “Oh my God, there’s a hurricane coming!” and they’ll reply “No Problem!”.
Jamaicans know how to party. We stayed at an all inclusive hotel in Negril. All-inclusive hotels are usually not my cup of tea but to my surprise Hotel Riu Palace was 5 out of 5 in the quality of food, service, staff, cleanliness, and ENTERTAINERS.
They had entertainers entertaining guests at all times. They were the life of the party and the reason we laughed so hard every single day. Imagine just hearing Reggae music all day poolside or at their private beach and just watching entertainers dance throughout the day. Of course, if you prefer quiet, you can always go to the quiet section of the hotel.
We didn’t really leave our resort except for one night when we visited their local club. It wasn’t anything worth seeing. I think a club is just a club anywhere in the world. The resort was actually more fun.
I encourage you to do excursions in Jamaica! We went parasailing, snorkeling, and speed tubing behind a boat. These are the experiences that will make the trip unforgettable.
** Visited end of August
** Weather was sunny, humid and perfect for swimming
** Perfect for FRIENDS FRIENDS FRIENDS or FUN couples
London
This one is a bit personal to me, because London is home sweet home. Well, since January 2021 that is.
I’ve always wanted to try living in London because London unlike any other city in the world is full of so much culture, diversity, sense of community, amazing transportation system, and new places to discover at all times.
Being a Muslim woman, it’s really impressive to see the number of Muslims that reside here and the number of mosques they have available. This is really one of my favorite things about London because coming from Los Angeles, we really don’t have that many Muslims there and definitely not enough mosques.
Besides London itself, the United Kingdom has so much history and depth to offer a curious adventurer. You can never get bored in this country. And in case you do get bored, well, hope on a £10 flight and you’re in a different country within 1-2 hours in Europe. How incredible is that?
I truly love London and I can confidently say it is one of my favorite cities in the world now.
**Visited all year round. I recommend visiting anytime between April – October for cherry blossoms, warm weather or Autumn leaves or in December if you love Christmas lights like I do
**Weather is pretty much chilly most of the time unless you hit the jackpot or come in the summer time
**Perfect for families, friends, couples, or solo
I’ve always wanted to try living in London because London unlike any other city in the world is full of so much culture, diversity, sense of community, amazing transportation system, and new places to discover at all times.
Being a Muslim woman, it’s really impressive to see the number of Muslims that reside here and the number of mosques they have available. This is really one of my favorite things about London because coming from Los Angeles, we really don’t have that many Muslims there and definitely not enough mosques.
Besides London itself, the United Kingdom has so much history and depth to offer a curious adventurer. You can never get bored in this country. And in case you do get bored, well, hope on a £10 flight and you’re in a different country within 1-2 hours in Europe. How incredible is that?
I truly love London and I can confidently say it is one of my favorite cities in the world now.
**Visited all year round. I recommend visiting anytime between April – October for cherry blossoms, warm weather or Autumn leaves or in December if you love Christmas lights like I do
**Weather is pretty much chilly most of the time unless you hit the jackpot or come in the summer time
**Perfect for families, friends, couples, or solo
Finland
Finland! Who goes to Finland!?
I DO! Because I am just weird like that and why not.
Ok I’m going to be honest here and I hope my Finnish readers won’t be upset with me. I don’t know why anyone would go to Finland unless they were visiting someone or wanting to see the famous Northern Lights!! I went to Helsinki which is the capital of Finland as well as Porvoo, a very small town North East of Helsinki and to be honest, all I did was eat eat eat because there was nothing else to do. You can literally see Helsinki in half a day! And Porvoo, you can see it in just a few hours!
However, they have INCREDIBLE snow in the winter full of fluffy white powder everywhere which is honestly pure joy to look especially while you are cozied up at home in front of a fireplace, which most people have in Finland!
Did you know that the Sauna was invented in Finland!? I betchya didn’t know!
Also, if you’re somehow going to end up in Finland, you might as well take the Ferry to Estonia, which is just a couple of hours away. By the way, Estonia is a country in case you haven’t heard of it
**Visited in September
**Weather (chilly but not too cold) and December (freezing to death but the snow is magical!!!!)
**Perfect for no one. Just kidding, perfect for anyone who is bored and just wants to travel somewhere new.
I DO! Because I am just weird like that and why not.
Ok I’m going to be honest here and I hope my Finnish readers won’t be upset with me. I don’t know why anyone would go to Finland unless they were visiting someone or wanting to see the famous Northern Lights!! I went to Helsinki which is the capital of Finland as well as Porvoo, a very small town North East of Helsinki and to be honest, all I did was eat eat eat because there was nothing else to do. You can literally see Helsinki in half a day! And Porvoo, you can see it in just a few hours!
However, they have INCREDIBLE snow in the winter full of fluffy white powder everywhere which is honestly pure joy to look especially while you are cozied up at home in front of a fireplace, which most people have in Finland!
Did you know that the Sauna was invented in Finland!? I betchya didn’t know!
Also, if you’re somehow going to end up in Finland, you might as well take the Ferry to Estonia, which is just a couple of hours away. By the way, Estonia is a country in case you haven’t heard of it
**Visited in September
**Weather (chilly but not too cold) and December (freezing to death but the snow is magical!!!!)
**Perfect for no one. Just kidding, perfect for anyone who is bored and just wants to travel somewhere new.
Croatia
I went to Split, Croatia in 2018 for my birthday and it was so beautiful!
I love countries and cities with history, substance and depth and Split was definitely that. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan like I am, then you must visit Croatia for places and landmarks from the hit show. T
From split, you can take boat rides to different islands of your choice. You can even take a four hour drive to Bosnia like I did which was worth the drive. Or you can drive to the other famous city in Croatia, Dubrovnik, which unfortunately I didn’t have the chance to visit
**Visited in mid September
**Weather was very hot
**Perfect for friends, families or couples
I love countries and cities with history, substance and depth and Split was definitely that. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan like I am, then you must visit Croatia for places and landmarks from the hit show. T
From split, you can take boat rides to different islands of your choice. You can even take a four hour drive to Bosnia like I did which was worth the drive. Or you can drive to the other famous city in Croatia, Dubrovnik, which unfortunately I didn’t have the chance to visit
**Visited in mid September
**Weather was very hot
**Perfect for friends, families or couples
Germany
Ok, as much as I’ve traveled to Germany, I’ve never seen a little fairytale town like Heidelberg.
Heidelberg only has approximately 160,000 people and I’m pretty sure they all know each other. You can see the entire city in two days and most of the time you’ll probably be able to spot the beautiful palace from wherever you are.
Heidelberg is a quaint and sweet town to drive or walk around. It’s a must see if you are in Germany.
**Visited mid April
** Weather was chilly but not too cold
** Perfect for friends, couples, families, or solo
Heidelberg only has approximately 160,000 people and I’m pretty sure they all know each other. You can see the entire city in two days and most of the time you’ll probably be able to spot the beautiful palace from wherever you are.
Heidelberg is a quaint and sweet town to drive or walk around. It’s a must see if you are in Germany.
**Visited mid April
** Weather was chilly but not too cold
** Perfect for friends, couples, families, or solo
Australia
Vienna
Bosnia
Sweden
Budapest
Monte Carlo
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