7 Days in Rome with Explore Italy - The League Travels' Ultimate Guide to the Eternal City

Hey guys!

We're excited to continue our series of European Guides with a week itinerary for one of our favorite cities on the planet- Rome! After we left France, we took a train down the Italian coast (drool!) to Rome for a week of adventures with Explore Italy. Everyone loves Italy, and since Rome is one our favorite cities in Italy, we've put together our ultimate guide to the Eternal city just for you!

Everything about this city oozes romance, history and culture. Italians treat their food like a lover, and the passion is evident in every pizza, pasta and scoop of gelato. It's enough to make anyone a foodie! Beyond the food (if it's even possible to get past the food), the ancient architecture and history in this city is second to none. In case you aren't already booking your ticket on the next flight to Rome, let me remind you about the beautiful, warm Roman people, the stunning countryside surrounding the city, the incredible museums and nightlife and the language of love being spoken all around you... ok! I digress!

We're pumped to share some of our favorite areas, sites, foods and hotels to help you build your itinerary. What we loved about our adventures with Explore Italy was the chance to see not only the most well-known sites in Rome, but also the opportunity to get to see some of the lesser-known (but equally as amazing) parts of the city!

This guide will take somewhere around 7 days to complete, but you can see a lot in a few days and also stretch it over a few weeks. It's up to you, but however you choose to build your own adventure, thanks for joining us for 7 days in Rome with Explore Italy - The League Travels' Ultimate Guide to The Eternal City!

---

7 days in Rome with Explore Italy - The LeagueTravels' Ultimate Guide to The Eternal City!

Rome is a city for everyone- and while we all know the most famous sites, there's so much more to Rome than meets the eye. We always love to experience a destination beyond only the tourist circuits, which is just what we did in Rome. We'll break this guide down into 2 main areas, with the top things to do and see (and eat!) in each one. 

CITY CENTER

View fullsize

Ah, Rome... Full of charming ancient streets and lovely, boisterous Italians beckoning you into their restaurants for a meal. Winding cobblestone alleys open up to stunning churches and squares, and it's hard not to imagine the people who have walked the same streets from antiquity to present day. The center of Rome is the heart of it all, and it's best explored by wandering for days on end from one site to the next (or how we prefer to do it, one meal to the next!) Walk along Via Veneto for the La Dolce Vita experience, luxurious hotels and high-end shopping. Cross the River Tiber into bustling Trastevere to get a taste of one of Rome's hippest neighborhoods, or up to the Vatican City to see the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican museums. Shop and eat your way down Via Del Corso, explore ancient ruins, check out the Pantheon, rent a Vespa and eat gelato to your heart's delight! Everything you expect from Rome can be found around the hustle and bustle of the city center. Here's our top recommendations! 

WHERE TO STAY:

WESTIN EXCELSIOR ROME

LE MERIDIEN VISCONTI

WHAT TO DO, SEE & EAT:

• Tour the Colosseum (because duh, it's the Roman Colosseum)
• Check out the Pantheon (Sit and have a pizza or pasta at one of the cafes in the square to admire it!)
• Explore the Roman Forum (The sunset light over these ancient ruins is unreal!)
• Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain (Try going at sunrise to avoid the massive crowds)
• Walk from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia along Via del Corso (shop till you drop!)
• Wander through Trastevere (Quintessential old Rome, wander the streets and have dinner at one of the many amazing street cafes.)
• Check out The Vatican City, Saint Peter's square and the many Vatican museums (There’s so much to see here, so start early and allow most of the day to see it all!)
• Live your best "La Dolce Vita" life along Via Veneto
• Relax in Villa Borghese and see the view from Villa de Medici (Pro tip: check out the view over Rome from the balcony in the restaurant!)
• Eat a takeaway pizza or a creamy gelato on the Spanish Steps
• Order a decadent Gelato from Gelataria la Romana
• Enjoy a romantic lunch at Doney Restaurant + Cafe
• Order the Amatriciana pasta from Antica Osteria Pontesisto Roma in Trastevere
• Apperetivos and Aperol Spritzes on the Le Meridien Rooftop
• Hang out along the Tiber River in the evening
• Check the view of the city from the roof of the Altare della Patria
• Walk across Rome's most beautiful bridge, Ponte Sant'Angelo (The Bridge of Angels built in 134 AD!)

SOUTH ROME

OSTIENSE, EUR, TESTACCIO & PARCO DE MEDICI

View fullsize

When you think about Rome, chances are you only know about the main city center area. There's actually so much more to the Eternal City, and we spent a good chunk of our time in Rome this trip exploring the South side of the city! Starting at the city center and heading south, you'll run right into the bustling Testatccio neighborhood. The site of one of ancient Rome's original walls- this place is full of culture and history. You can find an amazingly preserved ancient pyramid (that's right- a pyramid in Rome!) and one of Rome's most vibrant food scenes in places like Mercado Testaccio, arguably the hottest spot in the city for street food. (Need I say more?) 

Head south from Testaccio to the next stop on our South Rome guide, Ostiense. The Ostiense neighborhood is an incredible area of Rome currently in the midst of a total transformation, and is quickly becoming one of the hottest young neighborhoods in the city. We spent our first few years of marriage living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, well known as one of the most "hipster" neighborhoods in the world. Williamsburg is full of culture, art, cool bars, restaurants and cafes. We've found that most major cities in the world have similar neighborhoods, and we always search for them because it's generally our favorite spot- Ostiense was just that! From Museums, cafes and art installations by day to a thriving nightlife scene by night, It's a must-visit area of Rome in our opinion. If you're looking for a rad part of the city without all the selfie-stick-swinging tourists but still close to city center and full of life, definitely plan some time in Ostiense. 

Beyond Ostiense, and a little further south you'll find one of the most intriguing areas of the city- the EUR area (EUR standing for Esposizione Universale Roma). This lesser-known neighborhood is an area of the city built under the rule of Mussolini in the early 1900s to commemorate 20 years of Fascism in Italy. Italy was chosen to host the 1941 world's fair, and Mussolini used the opportunity to build an area for the Fair to take place that could later become Rome's new city center. WWII began and that never happened, but in the 1950s the city council once again resumed development and turned the EUR into a business district, as it remains today. You can find loads of modernist architecture and stunning buildings like the Square Colosseum here, and it's a great spot to explore that most people don't know about. 

We said that Rome is a city for everyone- and that includes the nature lovers! You don't have to go to Tuscany to fulfill your desire for beautiful, wide-open spaces (but still, of course, definitely go to Tuscany as well) you can just head a little further south to Parco de Medici! Golfers, nature lovers, park lovers and people wanting a peaceful and quiet location just 30 minutes from the city center- Parco de Medici is for you! 

Ok... enough talking. Here are our recommendations!

WHERE TO STAY:

SHERATON ROMA

SHERATON PARCO DE' MEDICI

WHAT TO DO, SEE & EAT:

• Climb the stairs in front of the Square Colosseum and check the Fendi headquarters in EUR
• Admire the Piramide di Caio Cestio in Testaccio
• Eat your way through Mercado Testaccio
• Browse the beautiful art in Centrale Martini
• Order a gelato at Gelataria La Romana in Ostiense- yes we mentioned this twice bc it's that good
• Take a photo of the Facade Mural across from Porto Fluviale on Via del Porto Fluviale
• Walk the ultra-modern Ponte Settimia Spizzichino bridge
• Golf a round at the Sheraton Parco de Medici
• Grab a coffee or gelato from Giolitti in EUR and spend a few hours walking around seeing the amazing architecture
• Spend an afternoon sipping cocktails and swimming at the massive Sheraton Roma pool

---

View fullsize

Ok guys... just because we are obsessed with food, we had to share a few of our must-eat foods while you're in Rome:

• Amatriciana pasta: This regional specialty from Amatrice of spicy red sauce and bacon is pasta heaven- for real. .
• Pizza: This is a no brainer, but there’s simply nothing better than the pizza in Rome.
• Pinsa: The ancient predecessor of modern day pizza, and a perfect snack!
• Aperol Spritz: It doesn’t get more Roman than drinking an Aperol Spritz at a sidewalk cafe in the afternoon light of Trastevere (or anywhere for that reason!)
• Cacio e Pepe: This is a simple roman pasta recipe and a staple at any respectable roman establishment! You can thank us later…
• Gelato: Another no-brainer, but you’ll never enjoy gelato as much as you do waking around the streets of Rome with cone in hand!

---

Thanks for joining us for "7 Days in Rome with Explore Italy - The League Travel's Ultimate Guide to the Eternal City"!

Adventures away!

Zach and Tara

The League Travels Ultimate Singapore Guide

Living in Bali, as wonderful and exotic as it is, we sometimes find ourselves missing the bustling city vibes of New York. There's something about the skyscrapers and public transport and overall energy of a modern, metropolitan city that really gets us going- and luckily for us, Singapore is just a short flight away and satisfies all our big-city longings!

If you haven't been to Singapore before, you're sure to be shocked at just how sparkling and convenient this city-state is. Singapore is a sovereign island nation at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula with one main island and 60-something islets. All in all, the nation is only a whopping 50 square miles- and just about every inch is accounted for! It's an intriguing place with excellent public transportation, incredible shopping, delicious food and a beautiful mashup of cultures that makes you feel like you've stepped into a Disney World version of a modern metropolis. The nation's airport, Changi International, is our favorite airport in the world and an excellent option for any length of stopover- and the national airline, Singapore Air, is one of our very top choices for air travel whenever it's an available option. We've spent several nights and long layovers in (and out) of the airport, and there's no shortage of things to do to keep yourself occupied. (We'll post an article with our overnight guide to Changi Airport one of these days!) Outside of the airport, Singapore's MRT subway + bus system is sparking clean and simple to navigate, dependable and overall a lovely, efficient way to get around. It's a land of extravagant hotels, copious amounts of mega-malls, and perfectly manicured parks- but with plenty of culture and charm as well. Needless to say, we love Singapore and visit at every chance we get so we've put together a guide to help you plan your next trip to this wonderful destination!

HOW TO GET THERE

Singapore is one of the major international hubs in Southeast Asia, so you can fly in from just about anywhere. The national carrier, Singapore Air, has routes from the east and west coast, and is one of our favorite airlines in the world. The planes are gorgeous and the amenities are generous, especially on long-haul flights. They boast an impressive fleet including heaps of Airbus 380s and Boeing 777s, their planes have ample legroom even in economy, and their stellar service makes for a really pleasant flying experience. They are also a member of the Skyteam Alliance, so you can continue to rack up those skymiles. 

WHERE TO STAY

1. Hotel Jen OrchardGateway

View fullsize

We Love Hotel Jen Orchardgateway for the perfect location, easy access to public transportation and beautiful rooftop pool. Upgrade to the club level for access to an amazing 24 hour lounge, breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktail hour- you can thank us later. Read our full review of Hotel Jen OrchardGateway here. 

 

2. Hotel Jen Tanglin 

View fullsize

We love Hotel Jen's Tanglin location for the beautiful and peaceful surrounding area, the proximity to Orchard Road, and the wonderfully redesigned sleek rooms. Again, the club level room is worth the upgrade, and you'll love the lobby restaurant, cafe and the large outdoor pool. Read more about Hotel Jen Tanglin here. 

 

3. Shangri-La Singapore

View fullsize

The Shangri-La is the perfect place to stay for the discerning luxury traveler. Consistently a top name in the 5-star experience, Shangri-La will leave you feeling pampered, spoiled and refreshed. We love it for the expansive grounds, the amazing fine dining selections, and the perfect service. Origins Grill and Bar on the ground level is the perfect choice if you want a grand culinary experience as well! Read our full review of the Singapore Shangri-La here. 

 

4. Grand Park Orchard Road

View fullsize

The Grand Park is a perfect spot to stay for their prime location on Orchard Road, the amazing Cantonese restaurant, Mitzo (seriously, eat here- it's our favorite restaurant in Singapore), and their cool terrace pool and bar, Bar Canary. They also have a club level complete with a club lounge, and as usual, it's worth the upgrade.  

HOW TO GET AROUND

SMRT

Singapore has the public transportation game on locks. This expansive transit system of subways and buses are as spotless as they are prompt, and it's by far the cheapest (and most efficient) way to explore Singapore. You can take the subway right from the airport, which makes getting in and out of the city after your flight super convenient. 

Grab

Grab is an app-based taxi service much like Uber, and is your cheapest option for taxis in Singapore. Unlike many big cities, the local taxis are pretty honest and trustworthy and highly regulated, so if you can't find any wifi to order a grab, don't fret about grabbing a local taxi either. 

WHAT TO DO 

1. Find your zen at the Chinese + Japanese Gardens

These incredible Gardens sit on the edge of Singapore's center, and are an easy 30 minute subway ride from Orchard Road. (The Chinese Gardens stop on the green East West Line). Go early for the beautiful morning light, to avoid the crowds, and to see the locals practicing tai chi on the lawns. 

2. Eat Halal food and admire the beautiful Masjid Sultan on Arab Street

One of the coolest parts of Singapore is the amazing diversity found between neighborhoods- so if you want to feel like you stepped out of Southeast Asia and into the middle east, Arab street in the Kampong Glam neighborhood is easily accessible from the city center by walking or by taking the Downtown line to the Bugis Street stop on the SMRT. 

3. Eat roti and curry and admire the colorful architecture in Little India

Indians make up a large percentage of Singapore's population, which means you can find the very best of Indian food and culture in Singapore. Take the SMRT's Downtown Line to Jalan Besar to explore the wonder that is Singapore's Little India neighborhood! Feast on roti canai, chicken masala, spicy curries and sip a mango lassi- you'll be so glad you did!

4. Shop to your heart's content on Orchard Road

Singapore is the land of malls. There's an incredible concentration of glitzy shopping centers in this tiny country, so you can shop the days away buying everything from bargain and second hand to high-end labels. The very heart of this shopping extravaganza is Orchard Road, where there is a different mega-mall every single block it seems! 

5. Explore Gardens by the Bay

If you've ever seen anything about Singapore, it probably included the giant tree-like structures from Gardens by the Bay. These iconic sculptures are only a small part of the amazingly expansive garden complex, complete with 2 bio-domes, a walkable skyway, sculptures, lakes and more. With the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the background, this place is a perfect spot to snap some photos and make some memories! If you can spare the time, spend a sunset here to see both the day-time vibe and the night-time lights! There's also a killer light and sound show here several times nightly that will leave you speechless!

6. Admire the colorful row-houses on Joo Chiat Street

While there's little else to see around this neighborhood and no easily accessible SMRT stations without a bit of a walk, a short taxi ride to this street full of beautifully colorful row-houses is worth the trip! 

7. Explore iconic Emerald Hill

This neighborhood is a short walk from Orchard Road, and was the former home of many of Singapore's wealthy Pranakan Community. Admire the beautiful streets and the Chinese Baroque architecture, and enjoy a quick peaceful escape from the chaos of Orchard Road. 

8. Eat your way down Killeny Road

One of our favorite parts about Singapore is the amazing diversity of food options- you can pretty well find any type of cuisine you want! If you're having trouble deciding, though, don't fret! Just head to Killeny Road and try it all! This amazing stretch offers nearly every type of food you could imagine- each shop is a different specialty and you can easily eat Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, Western, Indonesian and French food without walking more than 2 blocks- and all without breaking the bank!

9. Singapore Flyer

If you're looking for an epic view of Singapore, take a ride on the city's mega-ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer. It stretches a whopping 541 feet into the sky, and includes 28 air-conditioned capsules- each able to accommodate 28 passengers. 

10. Catch the nightly Laser show at the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is a marvel in every way- so it's no surprise that their shoppes are equally as spectacular. Ride a gondola on their underground river or shop every high-end brand you can think of- but don't forget to heard out the back to watch the nightly laser show on the bay and prepare to be amazed!

11. Admire the ancient architecture and culture of Chinatown

Singapore has a very large Chinese population, so it's no wonder that Chinatown is massive and full of wonder and adventure. Explore the exotic shops and traditional markets, eat authentic Chinese street food and get lost wandering the many incredible streets of this part of Singapore!

---

Ok- there is so much to see and experience in Singapore, but hopefully this list can serve as a starting point to plan your own trip to this amazing country! If you have anything to add or local tips, please let us know in the comments below! 

Adventures Away!

Zach + Tara 

The League Travels Ultimate Guide to India's Golden Triangle

Hey guys!

When we left NYC to travel full time, we had a few destinations around the world that we knew we wanted to prioritize. One of them was India, and specifically during the Holi Festival. So many destinations around the world feel pretty heavily influenced by western culture, and we had heard that India was about as authentic as it gets- so we couldn't wait to get there and see if for ourselves! We partnered with India's number One airline, Jet Airways to explore a few cities in this incredible country, and we're so excited to share our India Travel Guide with you!

We only had about 10 days to spend in India between a few jobs, so we decided to spend all of our time in the area called "The Golden Triangle" in the North. It's made up of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and is a pretty standard circuit for people visiting India as there is so much culture and must-see destinations packed into the area around these 3 cities. You can travel between each city by car, but we had a mix of flights and hired drivers, which we thought was a good mix. Jet Airways flies all over India, and we had a consistently good experience with them each time (You can read our full review of Jet Airways here). 

Most countries will need a visa to visit India, and you'll want to plan ahead as it takes time to process the visa. It's a bit of a complicated process online, but we applied for the E-Visa On Arrival about one week before we left, and needed to bring our printed approval letter to the airport to board our flight. The approval came in our emails 2-3 days later. It cost us about $75 per person and we paid online with our application. Once you land in India, you proceed to the Visa On Arrival counter and get the official stamp there (again with the necessary approval letter) and that's it! We applied for our e-visa here.

India was truly one of the most beautiful, epic places we've ever visited. You see things that you don't see anywhere else like cobra charmers and exotic Rajisthani palaces and camels and cows and elephants in the streets. The sunsets and sunrises are hazy and pink and pure magic, and the food is insanely good. It was also pretty challenging- we felt that we had to be on guard all the time, and as a non-indian a lot of people try to trick you or rip you off (like almost anywhere you travel in the world). It's sensory overload and a bit of culture shock, and after 10 days of waking up at sunrise to explore until late at night, we were ready to get back to something more relaxed and familiar. During our time in India we were shooting lookbooks and social content for 11 fashion brands as well as working with multiple hotels and travel companies, so our experience was quite a bit more full on than most. If you can take it a bit slower and really enjoy your time in each destination with some built-in time to rest and refresh, we'd highly recommend it.  

We've broken our guide through the Golden Triangle up into our 3 locations in the order we explored, and tried to give you as much info as possible. Let us know if you have anything to add in the comments below!

1st stop:

N E W   D E L H I

Delhi is the capital in India's North, and the geographical top of the Golden Triangle. This bustling, crazy city is divided into Old Delhi (the walled city established and built during the Mughal Empire in 1638) and New Delhi (built during the British Occupation in 1911). We loved it for the amazing history and good public transportation, big-city feel and amazing North-Indian food.

What We Saw: 

Red Fort- Delhi's Red fort was built in 1639 and served as the primary residence of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty for 200 years. There is so much incredible architecture to see inside of this heritage site!! The grounds themselves are huge and there’s unlimited amounts of photo opportunities everywhere you turn. It does tend to get pretty crowded so if you are planning to shoot here, we would suggest the earlier the better. That goes for pretty much any iconic spot in India. All of our best shoots were at sunrise, which is easy to do when every sunrise is as beautiful, hazy, and magical as they are in India! We went to the Red Fort during midday and it was really hard to get a good shot, but the good news is that the lighting at sunset was absolutely stunning! 

Qutub Minar- The Qutub Minar is a UNESCO World Heritage site constructed in 1192, and is one of the earliest surviving Mosque complexes in the India subcontinent. It was stunning! The minar itself was quite striking but we found the entire complex mesmerizing and beautiful. We visited and shot around 10am or so and it wasn't too crowded, so this would be easy to do after a sunrise location if you're putting together your own itinerary. 

Humayun’s Tumb- The tomb of Humayun is another UNESCO World Heritage site, constructed for the Mughal Emperor Humayun in 1569-70 by his first wife and chief consort. There was literally SO much to see here… it gets really crowded so plan to go early, but it is really large and really beautiful! We didn't even make it around the entire site because we were so hot and tired by the time we got there, so plan for this one to take a bit of time, but it is totally worth a visit!

Safdarjung Tomb- Okay, Humayun’s Tomb is more famous, but we actually much preferred our visit to Safdarjung's tomb! It probably has a lot to do with the fact that we got here at sunrise so we had the entire place to ourselves for over an hour, but it was such a beautiful place to be for sunrise and to get a wide variety of shots with no interruptions! This striking Mausoleum is made of sandstone and marble and was built in 1754 for the Mughal Empire statesman Safdarjung. So many people thought our photos here were at the Taj Mahal, because the silhouette in the glowy morning sun looks pretty similar! This place was definitely one of our favorites in New Delhi!

India Gate- The India gate is a war memorial built to memorialize the 70,000 soldiers from the India Army who died during the first world war. Get your iconic gate shot here (along with everyone else in Delhi…) but do keep in mind that it does light up beautifully at night too so if you want a good night shot or even just a good spot to hang out and see the starts, this is your spot! The surrounding lawns are the perfect place for a picnic lunch as well. We were told that a lot of locals park their cars here at night with their friends and drink a chai (chai's are a staple in India, and the most amazing we've ever tasted). Sounds pretty magical, right?!

Rashtrapati Bhawan- This is the parliament and the president’s house! It’s right across from the India Gate and so it's super easy to see both in about 30 minutes or so. We didn’t really shoot here at all, but we were glad we stopped by to have a look. Worth seeing, but if you're pressed for time, this one would be probably be the first place we'd take off our list. 

Jantar Mantar- Jantar Mantar is an equinoctial sundial built in the early 18th century, and another UNESCO World Heritage site. The sundial is intended to tell the time of day and is accurate to half a second, amazingly. This was the biggest and most extravagant sundial we'd ever seen, and it was so cool! There are countless angular shots to get here, with beautiful shades of tan and red all over the place. There is an identical sundial in Jaipur as well, so just do one or the other! No need to see them both.

Chandi Chowk- This local shopping market district in Old Delhi will really give you an authentic feel of Old Delhi! It was chaotic and dirty and everything you’d imagine it to be. It was definitely a really cool cultural experience that we wouldn't miss when visiting Delhi. We were so happy to have the experience, and then happy to hop in a Tuk Tuk and get the heck out of there! Haha!

Here are a few spots we didn’t have time to see, but would recommend if you have the time:

**Jama Masjid- This is the biggest mosque in Delhi and so beautiful! We actually only saw it from afar but would highly suggest visiting it.. make sure to cover your legs and shoulders when you do!! (guys + girls both!)

**Lodi Gardens/Garden of Five Senses- Apparently makes for such a gorgeous walk! There are so many unique flowers all over India, we are sure it must be so gorgeous! 

**Gurudwara Bangla Sahib- This is a beautiful temple that seems to be a favorite in Delhi.

Where We Stayed + Ate:

Radisson Blu in Connaught Place- Honestly, we booked this place super last minute… as in we booked it at the font desk of the hotel after arriving in New Delhi from the airport, haha! We were waiting for a few confirmations from other collaborations so we pushed this booking until the last minute. The hotel was fine, it was super affordable and in a pretty good location, but it wasn’t anything special. If we had done a bit more research, we would’ve probably stayed somewhere else, but it had everything we needed— even a gym and a balcony! The balcony was really nice to work from, and we enjoyed being in a central location to be able to walk to dinner each night and have plenty of options to choose from. 

Connaught Place Restaurants- One of the benefits of staying in the Connaught Place area was the unlimited amount of restaurants. We only had to walk a few minutes in any direction from the hotel to find some incredible Indian or International food- so if you find yourself in Delhi and don't know where the happening place to eat is, ask the cab driver to drop you in the middle of CP and you'll find anything you want!

Shang Palace @ Shangri-La Hotel New Delhi- We went for a dim sum lunch one afternoon to Shang Palace at the Shangri-La Hotel, and it was an incredible fine dining experience from start to finish. We were glad to have the break from Indian food, and It was one of the best dim sum meals we've ever had! If you're looking for a beautiful lunch or dinner option while in Delhi, we loved our experience here and highly recommend it!

Getting Around:

You can easily get around Delhi via Uber or on local Tuk-tuks, but if you go the local route make sure you agree on a rate before getting in. If you're looking to explore for a day at a time with minimal stress, you can book a driver by the day instead. In Delhi, we booked our drivers for the day through a company called India Tourist Driver, which you can check out Here — they were great! They have drivers located all throughout the entire golden triangle ((New Delhi + Agra + Jaipur)) and if we went back, we would go through this company again for sure. Make sure you negotiate a price including all parking and tolls- and you can haggle a better deal if you book for more than 1 day. This company was the most professional one we used, and highly recommend it. We used them 2 full days (8 hours each day) and worked out a price of 2800 Rupees for 2 days including all tolls and parking. 

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly:

Our Favorite: Our favorite thing about Delhi was experiencing so many stunning heritage sites! They were all so different and unique, and everything was pretty close to each other so it's easy to pack a lot into each and every day. As mentioned previously, our best days were the ones that we woke up early to shoot at sunrise at our top locations because Delhi is a very busy and crowded, so shooting those iconic shots that are all over Instagram in these places came with many challenges. But the whole experience of seeing such ancient, culturally rich places was truly amazing! 

Our Least Favorite: As you could imagine, two blonde-haired, blue-eyed people with camera gear and outfit changes stood out like sore thumbs in India. That meant quite a lot of stares, and lots and lots of people asking us for selfies. It was endearing to a point, but it got a little tricky to go anywhere in public without being stopped every few yards. The people in Delhi were entirely lovely and we met a lot of incredibly kind souls, but we also had multiple instances of people pulling us to take a photo when we politely declined or following and photographing/videoing us after we asked them not to. People followed us on the streets and while we never felt unsafe exactly, we often felt very uncomfortable. It was a little overwhelming, and we felt like we needed to have our guard up at all times (especially Tara), and we were a bit relieved when we left for the smaller, less crowded, more relaxed city of Jaipur.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

2nd stop:

J A I P U R  

Jaipur is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, affectionally dubbed "The Pink City" because of the color of the stone used to build the original walled city in 1727. We loved it for the beautiful Rajisthani culture and influence, the gorgeous architecture and the kind, relaxed people. 

What We Saw: 

Patrika Gate- This is one of India's most famous and instagram-worthy gates— it's a beautiful pink + gold building with the ornate and extremely colorful inside. This recently built gate is the 9th gate of Jaipur, the 2nd addition to the 8 original gates of the city. We could not wait to shoot here because it is unlike anywhere we had ever shot before! The first time we shot at sunset and it was super crowded, and then we came again at sunrise… also crowded, haha! I think it might be a bit impossible to avoid the crowds here, but definitely still make the effort for the shot because people kind of take turns at shooting on the inside and when you finally do get the shot, it is so worth it! This place is so unique! It's about 20 minutes from the center of the city (closer to the airport, the opposite direction of the most famous forts etc), so plan accordingly. Also, Zach fell backwards off a ledge here white trying to get a shot, so be careful around those knee-high fences that border the small balconies, haha!

Hawa Mahal: Palace of the Winds- This incredible, unique palace was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh right in the middle of The Pink City, and it is such an incredible site to see! Rumor has it that the Maharaja had his lead-architect's hands chopped off after completion so he could never replicate the style anywhere else! You can pay for a ticket to go inside, but we heard that there wasn't much to see inside and the shot everyone wants anyways is of the palace itself from the outside! There is a cute little cafe directly across the street called ‘Wind Blown Cafe’ that has incredible views of the entire Palace! And better yet, there is a guy named Mojito who works here who is so nice + friendly. If you see him, tell him Zach and Tara from New York said hello! We ended up coming back to this cafe multiple times just to hang with him. Good coffee, good view, and good company-- the absolute best! It's a sort of tricky entrance from the street, and you have to take 2 or 3 flights of narrow stairs to get up to the cafe. Ask any of the guys on the street if you can't find it, and one of them is likely to be part of the family that owns it. 

Amer Fort- Amer Fort is located about 11 kms from Jaipur, and was originally built in 1592. It is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is stunning and iconic for every good reason. The exterior of the fort itself is amazing, but you can also buy a ticket to tour the interior of the fort to see the most impressive parts of the Palace. While we don't support elephant rides, one of the ways that people get up to the fort is on elephants- so if this is something you avoid entirely then just letting you know that it is one way that people see this site.

The Amer Fort itself is gorgeous to see, but we also spent one morning hiking up to the fort's original wall/gate on the hilltop across the road, and that was probably our most magical morning in Jaipur. One side looks down on the breathtaking golden Amer Fort, and the other side looks down over the city of Jaipur as the sun rises over the mountains in the distance. The hike itself was pretty intense and took 15-20 mins or so straight up the ridge on a ruthless set of stairs, but worth every rocky ((and steep!)) step. You're able to have such a beautiful view of Amer Fort from the top as well as the entire Pink City. It was truly breathtaking and we highly recommend doing the same if you are up for the adventure! It was one of the most incredible sunrises we have ever seen- and major thanks to Puneet Yadav for the recommendation!

City Palace- Jaipur's City Palace was built for the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1729, and is another must-see spot when coming to Jaipur. There is one option for 500 Rupees for general public ((about $8 USD)), which allows you to come inside, see the main courtyard area and a beautiful peach and white room, and that is about it. There is another option to pay 2500 Rupees ((a little over $38 USD))  that allows you to view a LOT more of the palace (including a really epic blue room that we were really dying to see!). We only did the cheaper option because we weren’t sure if it was worth the price difference and we had already shot so much at that point, however we regretted it because we didn't end up having time to go back and have a look and heard that the price difference is totally worth it! It will be at the top of our list for next time…!! 

Getting Around:

We used Uber almost our entire time in Jaipur- it was fast, easy, super cheap and very reliable. We still used a day driver a few times and recommend India Tourist Driver again, unless you can find a reputable local driver. We hired a local driver, and while it was a fine experience, we did end up with a few headache situations that we were able to avoid in Delhi by booking through the company.

Where We Stayed: 

1st Airbnb — We stayed with such a sweet family ((mom, dad, and daughter)) who treated us 100% like their own! We shared meals with them and really felt like we were a part of the family! They were so kind + helpful in explaining their beautiful country to us, and we were so thankful to have such a warm and local experience. It was just what we always hope for when booking through Airbnb, and definitely recommend their rooms if you're looking for a local experience in Jaipur. CLICK HERE to book your stay with Raman and Kavita!

The Raj Palace— This place was probably the most luxurious experience we have ever had, hands down. We still are pinching ourselves that we stayed in an actual Indian palace for a night-- it was a dream! It is a 300 year old Rajisthani Palace converted into a hotel... talk about ultimate Indian luxury! The staff all look amazing and wear the coolest traditional outfits. There are numerous courtyards that each look as if they are scenes painted from a storybook. Our room was gorgeous in every way, and only having one night here was just too short. Our dinner experience here was so epic, and we felt like true royalty the entire time. If you are looking for a culturally luxurious experince while staying in Jaipur, look no further. CLICK HERE to book your stay at the Raj Palace!

2nd Airbnb — For our final night in Jaipur, we stayed at another Airbnb- this time of a friend and fellow photographer we had met on Instagram. We'd spent a morning with him shooting in Jaipur earlier in the week, and we were to happy to stay with his family for our final night in India. Puneet knows all the best local spots in Jaipur and is an incredible photographer himself- so we'd definitely recommend hiring him to show you his version of Jaipur even if you don't stay a night at their place! Contact him via Instagram to see if he's available when you're in town, or CLICK HERE to book your stay with Puneet Yadav!

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly:

Our Favorite: There were so many favorites about Jaipur… We went to a shop near our guesthouse that our hosts recommended and bought traditional Indian clothes! Tara picked out a Sari and Zach picked out a __. It was such a cool experience that we will never forget. The place had such nice quality goods for affordable prices, and the staff were helpful and kind to help you find exactly what you were looking for. We loved it! Our last night we ate at an incredible rooftop restaurant called Peacock. We highly recommend checking it out for your time in Jaipur. There was live music and good vibes, what more can you ask for? 

Our Least Favorite: Unfortunately, we had a lot of issues with our drivers in Jaipur that made transportation a bit complicated. All in all, we think the best way to get around India is by booking through a proper driving company. That is what we booked through in New Delhi and had no issues whatsoever. We decided in Jaipur to try and go a more local route, but it was much more difficult than we imagined. In some ways it was fine and I'm sure there are tons of local drivers that would have been great to work with, but it got to be fairly complicated. Less accountability, more haggling, and we mostly ended up disappointed. Again, we would recommend India Tourist Driver for a professional, reputable local company

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

3rd stop:

A G R A

What We Saw:

Taj Mahal- Our visit to the Taj Mahal was the only reason that we went to Agra and we only planned for one night so we could make sure to go first thing in the morning before sunrise. We knew that the Taj was going to be beautiful to see, but it was far beyond what we could have even imaged! It is one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, and it was stunning in every way!! We arrived at 5:45am and surprisingly enough, there was already a large line to get in. The doors don't open until around 6-6:30am, and then everyone rushes in to get the perfect shot. Most people stop to get the iconic shot straight on, but if you book it straight to the mosque on the west side of the Taj, you can hopefully score a little time with no one around like we had!

Where We Stayed:

The Retreat- This hotel was fine, kind of similar to our experience in Delhi at Radisson Blu. Took care of our basic needs, but nothing special and pretty affordable. We were only there one night so it was perfect, and super close to Taj Mahal. The breakfast was actually pretty good and the staff were really friendly! It was nothing fancy, but we wouldn't mind staying here again if we needed to. CLICK HERE to book your stay at The Retreat.

Getting Around:

Uber is good and cheap in India for small trips. If you're looking for a driver for an overnight trip to Agra, we'd recommend India Tourist driver again. They offered us the full trip (tolls and parking included) from either Jaipur or Delhi for 6,500 Rupees. ((PS... as much as we've mentioned India Tourist Driver, we aren't sponsored by them in any way. We just highly recommend their service because of our experiences!))

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly:

Our Favorite: All we planned to do in Agra was go see the Taj Mahal, and there is nothing that could top that experience. It was absolutely everything we could have ever imagined + more! It was beautiful in every way, and totally worth the drive from either Delhi or Jaipur to see it for yourself! We shot from the west side which isn't as popular as the east side, but we preferred the lighting because the sun rises from behind the Taj and it made for some incredible photos- without the large crowds!! Enter from the western gate for a smaller crowd, and we took a tuktuk inside to a secondary closer gate to get in faster once it opened. You can technically walk to that gate, but we didn't mind paying a few dollars to ride and get ahead of the crowds.

Our Least Favorite: We felt like we always had to be very vigilant to watch out for ourselves in Agra as everyone is trying to sell you something or make a few bucks off of you. As you can imagine, millions of tourists visit Agra each year for the Taj Mahal, and any highly-tourist site can be like that. Like we mentioned before, our driver situation wasn't ideal. We were kind of forced into having a guide for the Taj Mahal because our driver told us it was a “pick-pocket area” and that the guide would be coming with us and it was already included in the price we paid for the drive. We tried telling him that we didn’t need to have a guide, but he didn't speak english too well and basically told us over and over it was already included in our price. However, this was not true and actually the guide tells you you can pay whatever you see fit— which of course makes you feel bad if you don't pay him well! It was a pretty uncomfortable situation because we felt obligated to pay him even though we didn't ask for his services whatsoever. After having had him along, though, we were happy to have a guide so he could explain things to us and he even offered to shoot photos of the two of us (tripods are strictly prohibited in the Taj!) so it is something we would have been up for anyways. It was just a bit sketchy how it all unfolded and we want to make you guys aware before it happens to you too!! ;) You can definitely do the Taj Mahal with no guide, and we probably would have- but in the end we'd recommend a guide if it's your first time. It helps with navigating the crowds, the craziness, and they can help with photos. Just discuss price and have everything on the table beforehand!

One thing we’ve learned in India is that nothing is free regardless of how many people offer you a ‘free’ service. This is the case in many places in the world of course, but we were faced with this over and over in India. Knowing it ahead of time and being aware is important and helps you to know what to expect when traveling here! Having said that, we met some of the sweetest people in India — our hosts Raman, Kavitah, and Puneet-- and were so thankful for the many things they did for us selflessly during our stay. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

All in all, we were completely in love with India. It was unlike any place we have ever been, and the culture is rich and beautiful and exotic. The architecture is stunning and unique, the food is amazing, and we shot some of the most amazing photographs we have ever shot! There are some things we would change if we did the trip over again, but all in all we feel extremely lucky to have seen the places we saw. After 10 days of full-on shooting and exploring, we were ready for some down time and familiarity- but we'd recommend a trip to India's Golden Triangle to pretty much anyone!

Adventures Away!

-Zach + Tara

 

League Travels' ULTIMATE Miami Guide

Hey guys!

We're back in NYC after yet another trip to Florida (we've visited the sunshine state 4 times already this year)! 

Two weeks ago we took a trip to Miami to celebrate our friend Blair's birthday, and we had such a blast. We've been to Miami quite a few times over the past few years, and each time we fall in love with it a little more. Miami has something for everyone- whether you're a beach bum, a foodie, an art connoisseur or you like an urban vibe, Miami is a perfect vacation spot. It's a quick 3 hour flight from NYC, and we find deals all the time- so it's easy to make a quick weekend or a full week out of it. Miami Beach is home to a vibrant nightlife scene, and stunning resorts are a dime a dozen- so no matter your price range or taste, you can find something there!

Every time we visit a new city (or return somewhere we've been before), we scour the internet for recommendations of what to do, where to eat, and what to see. It makes a trip so much less stressful when you can use someone else's experience to guide your own planning. So, we couldn't wait to share our ultimate city guide with you! We've put together a list of our favorite places to stay, eat, drink, and our favorite things to do in Miami to get you started- so book those flights, pack your bathing suit and sunscreen, and get your Miami vacation started!

WHERE TO STAY

W SOUTH BEACH

We always love the W Hotel brand, and our post a few weeks ago about the W Retreat in Vieques is a hard one to top- but the W South Beach is our favorite hotel in Miami by a landslide. We'd even venture to say it among our favorite hotels in the world! It's not the cheapest option, but the grounds, the service, the rooms, the beachfront location and the amenities prove the saying "you get what you pay for". This place is perfection! You can explore and book the W SoBe Here!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

AC MIAMI BEACH

If you're looking for a more economical option on South Beach, and you want to be close to it all but out of the crazy, AC Miami Beach by Marriott is a great option. It's minimal and to the point, but the property is new and very nice. There's a Starbucks connected to the hotel, a good restaurant/bar called Gin + Collins that serves great late-night food and a nice European style Breakfast. The resort fee covers beach chairs and umbrellas, daily fitness fitness classes (yoga on the beach anyone?!), bicycles and more- but by far the best part of this hotel is the rooftop pool! You can explore and book the AC Miami Beach Here!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

CATALINA BEACH CLUB

This fun hotel is a good middle-ground price option if you're coming to Miami for all the action! It's in the heart of South Beach, so it's a party all the time, and the daily free happy hour is always a good time. We stayed here a few years ago and had a great time (but it can be loud late, so if you're a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the bar!) There are several pools and bars with food, great amenities, it's a great price and a great choice! You can Explore and book the Catalina Beach Club Here!

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

COFFEE AT PANTHER COFFEE IN WYNWOOD

Stop for a coffee and a pastry on your way through Wynwood at this awesome local shop. You can watch them cupping and roasting their own beans while you wait, and the large patio out front makes for the perfect chill coffee shop vibes!

BACKYARD DRINKS AND FOOD AT THE BROKEN SHAKER

This bar/restaurant behind the Freehand Hotel was one of our favorite stops this trip. It's a chill, relaxed spot with a nice tropical feel, and the drinks (and food) are fantastic. It's not fussy and it's a great escape from the wild South Beach crowd to catch up with friend over your favorite recipe- or try on of their daily cocktails and punch concoctions!

WET WILLY'S

Ok, let's be honest- this is our least classy option. It's a total dive, but you've got to admit that a bar dedicated to alcoholic slushies is the perfect spot to hit up after a long day in the sun (or in between club-hopping)! Our favorite slushie is the Bob Marley!

ACAI BOWLS FROM ATHEN'S JUICE BAR ON NORTH BEACH  

If you find yourself in North Beach, you've got to grab an Acai Bowl or a tropical smoothie from Athen's Juice Bar! It's a long-running favorite on North Beach, so you'll meet lots of nice locals who are always happy to give their recommendations for the best local spots!

ROMANTIC ITALIAN DINNER AT CASA TUA

Date night is solved with Casa Tua! This romantic Italian spot is the perfect restaurant for a classy (and delicious!) dinner. The tables outside are private and gorgeous, surrounded by luscious greenery and candles, and the interior is a charming and intimate. The mushroom whatever is to die for, and you cannot leave without trying the tiramisu.  

BRUNCH AT MORGAN'S RESTAURANT IN WYNWOOD

This Wynwood joint offers moderately priced tasty food with lots of healthy + organic options. There's a lot to choose from on the menu- so it's a great spot for a group with varying tastes and health-consciousness levels. Try the mascarpone and raspberry stuffed french toast for one end of that spectrum, or the Kale salad on the opposite end!

SEAFOOD AND SUNSET AT MONTY'S SOUTH BEACH

This spot is perfect for a relaxed sunset seafood dinner! Great happy hour with cheap oysters and seafood, a non-pretentious crowd, fun staff and a great west-facing marina view make this a wonderful experience all around!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

WHAT TO DO

TAKE A DOORS-OFF HELICOPTER TOUR WITH FLY NYON

This is the most EPIC way to see Miami! Fly Nyon Miami offers a doors-off tour that is worth the trip to Miami alone. Check out our video all about it below, and book your flight here!

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY AT MANGOS

This place is a classic South Beach nightclub. Don't expect fancy or who's-who... but if you're looking for a fun night of dancing and partying, Mangos is good clean fun!

TAKE IN THE AMAZING STREET ART SCENE IN WYNWOOD

This neighborhood is SO cool, and quickly becoming one of the hippest spots in Miami. We got serious Williamsburg Brooklyn vibes, and the murals on virtually every wall make this place as charming and inspiring as it is cool. Spend a morning walking through Wynwood Walls, grab a juice at Jugofresh Wynwood Walls or sit and enjoy brunch at one of the many cafes- you could make a trip out of Wynwood all by itself!

SHOP UP AND DOWN THE LINCOLN STREET MALL

If you like shopping, spend an afternoon strolling through this outdoor mall. It's lined with shops and restaurants open late into the night, so you can always come back (or shop through) 'till dinner!

CATCH AN INDIE FLICK AT O CINEMA

This cool theater in North Beach plays great indie and film-festival flicks. We were lucky enough to catch Chris Burkard's "Under an Arctic sky" and meet him when we were in town! 

RIDE BIKES ALONG THE BEACH

Many of South Beach's hotels offer bike rentals, and it's the perfect way to get around and explore! Cruise up and down the beach or the boardwalk with the salty breeze on your face and the sun on your skin!

Ok... this is by no means an exhaustive list, but it's enough to get you started! Anyone have any of their own Miami favorites? Share them with us in the comment section below!

Adventures away!

-Zach + Tara

9 things you HAVE to do in Puerto Rico

We all love a good tropical vacation, don't we? Swim-up bars, palm tree-lined beaches, fruity rum drinks served in coconuts and pineapples, white sandy beaches... need I say more? But chances are, something holds most of us back from planning the trips we so longingly watch on other people's Instagram feeds. Maybe you don't have a passport, or the idea of not knowing the language scares you. Maybe the flights are too pricey or you don't have the vacation days or the currency exchange is too confusing- whatever your excuse may be, we have you answer- it's time for a trip to Puerto Rico!!

I know, I know... easier said than done, right? Well our goal is to convince you of just how easy- and exotic- Puerto Rico really is. First of all, to give you a little taste of San Juan, check out our latest video recapping our adventures in Puerto Rico!

One of our favorite things about Puerto Rico is the incredible ease of travel for Americans. Being a US territory, this tropical island doesn't require you to have a passport if you're a US citizen. That means no customs lines either! it's a quick 4 hour direct flight from NYC, and all the major US carriers fly into San Juan. That means that you most likely won't have tons of long layovers and your flight time will be so much less than flying somewhere exotic across the world. It's in our backyard! And also, while Spanish is spoken predominantly, you'd be hard-pressed to find somewhere that nobody speaks english! 

Ok- so you're ready to book your trip to Puerto Rico! Here's our list of 10 things you absolutely have to do while you're on the Island. 

 

1. Stay on Condado Beach

There are so many amazing things about this beach... from the rocky shores, the thousands of palm trees lining the sand, and the crystal clear water. It's San Juan's beach resort district, and it's one giant tropical party! We love this beach so much that we decided to stay right on it at the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino! It is literally beach front with the most breathtaking views of Condado-- talk about paradise! The hotel is stunning and has amazing grounds and pools, complete with swim-up bars, a poolside DJ, and a coconut stand where you can purchase alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks in actual coconuts the size of your head! Can it get any more tropical than that?! It's the perfect central location too- halfway between the airport and Old San Juan. get more info about the San Juan Marriott and book here

 

2. Island hop with Vieques Air Link

Most people know about Puerto Rico, but not everyone knows that it is composed of several islands. Just off the east coast of the mainland are 2 small islands, Vieques and Culebra. They are virtually untouched and some of the most gorgeous places we've ever seen. If you need a break from the party that is Puerto Rico, head over to either of San Juan's airports and catch a 25 minute flight on Vieques Air link to explore these exotic tropical islands. Everything from wild horses to black, white and pink sand beaches with perfectly turquoise water- all without the tourist scene. The small airline is inexpensive and so much fun- tiny 8-seater prop planes that make you feel like you're seeing the islands from a bird's-eye-view.. and so much more adventurous than a normal commercial jet! We'll post more about Vieques in our next post, but take our word for it- you'll feel like you stepped into southeast asia without the 20-something hours of travel (or the hefty price tag!).   

 

3. Drink a Piña Colada at Barrachina

Okay, real talk: We quickly realized the first time we went to PR that there is an argument about who invented the Piña Colada. Apparently there was a drink making contest held at the Caribe Hilton, and the bartender who won was the bartender for a place called Barrachina. So the Hilton claims they invented it, but so does Barrachina. Whichever side you agree with, I think we can all agree that Barrachina is totally worth a trip to PR. Every time we're on the island we visit this spot (that we literally stumbled upon a couple years ago!). It's the most amazing Pina Colada we've ever had in the dreamiest setting. Not to mention there are parrots right beside the bar?! It's definitely a must-see. We went for the first time for dinner this past trip and got to witness a Flamenco show for free while we ate! It was such an authentic and cool experience that we will never forget, and it's a League Travels non-negotiable when you're in PR.

 

4. Explore El Yunque Rainforest

El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US national park system, but this dense jungle can hold it's own among the greatest rainforests in the world. Spend a day hiking and exploring, watching incredible wildlife and breathtaking scenery, and swim in waterfalls- El Yunque is nothing short of magical!  

 

5. Take a Food + History Tour with Spoon food Tours

Guys... there is this incredible Walk + Taste tour that by itself is completely worth the trip to PR! The company is called Spoon Food Tours, and we couldn't recommend it highly enough. It's so informative and, of course, delicious! Our tour guide (Pablo, aka the world's greatest tour guide) knew anything and everything about PR and encouraged everyone to ask questions as we went through Old San Juan. We learned so much history and stopped at loads of restaurants along the way, literally eating and drinking our way through the city. It lasted about 3 hours and was the perfect way to spend a morning! Pablo told us we would leave pleasantly full, but we left totally stuffed and satisfied. You can book a tour with Spoon Food Tours here

 

6. Eat MOfongo

This classic Puerto Rican dish is made from fried green plantains and topped with deliciously flavorful meat or vegetables. You can get it anywhere that serves local fare, and it's a non-negotiable for any visit to PR!

 

7. Fly a Kite at Castillo San Felipe del Morro

There are 2 forts that make up Old San Juan that are both pretty epic + historic. One in particular, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, has a huge lawn that people use to fly kites! It's such a cute tradition and an iconic thing to do when visiting Puerto Rico. Even though the majority of people flying kites are kids with their parents, we most certainly took part in the adventure ourselves!

 

8. Kayak in a bioluminescent bay

The first time we went to PR, we looked at tons of photos online from the bioluminescent bay wondering if it was worth it or not. The photos looked insane and to be honest a little too good to be true... it is just something you've never seen before. Neon microscopic organisms that glow in the dark?! We ended up doing it after reading so many reviews and are so thankful we did! Glass-bottom kayaking in the pitch black night and then dipping your hand in the glowing water is something worth experiencing-- even if that is all that you come to PR for! There are only a few bio bays in the world, so it's quite remarkable that Puerto Rico has three! One in Fajardo and La Parguera on the mainland's east coast, and one in Vieques Island- which rumor speculates is the best in the world! Book a bio bay trip here

9. Get Lost exploring Old San Juan

San Juan's historic center, known as Old San Juan, is a beautiful glimpse into Caribbean history. Old, winding streets and colorful buildings make up this neighborhood filled with cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. It's a sight to see during the day, but even more romantic at night when the nightlife starts up. Beautiful preservation and a vibrant food scene truly make this a remarkably exotic place to wander around for a few hours or a few days. Hit La Factoria's late-night secret speakeasy through the back, watch Flamenco dancing at Barrachina on a weekend evening, or wander into any of the seemingly endless open-air bars for a cocktail and dancing. No trip to Puerto Rico is complete without an adventure in Old San Juan!

Hopefully between our video and our recommendations, you're feeling pretty convinced about taking a trip to Puerto Rico soon! We know you won't regret it- and there is so much to see and do that we haven't even gotten to experience yet! Feel free to share some of your favorite PR experiences if you've been so we can make sure to put it on our list for next time! 

Adventures away!

-Zach and Tara

Koh Samui, Thailand - your 24-hour guide

Hey guys!

Three years ago we got married on a South Carolina Beach and left for an adventure-filled honeymoon around the world. For our first stop we wanted something wildly exotic, stunningly tropical, and uber relaxing. We debated Fiji, French Polynesia, and the Caribbean, but a friend’s recommendation steered us towards checking out Thailand. We ended up heading to Phuket, and we fell head-over-heels in love with the country! Everything from the food to the warm, vibrant culture and the stunning landscapes draws you in. Long story short, we couldn’t wait get back. So this last year for our 2nd anniversary we planned a trip to a different island paradise just off Thailand’s southeast coast, Koh Samui. It was hard to imagine a trip that could compare to our first time in Thailand, but Koh Samui didn’t disappoint! We were welcomed with that same Thai hospitality and kindness, ate the freshest curries and noodles, drank our fair share of fresh local juice and Mai Tai’s, and had some incredible adventures exploring the island. The exchange rate with the US dollar is quite good- 35 Thai Baht to 1 US Dollar right now. Your money can take you a long way here! (to give you a better idea, we stayed in Samui for 6 days and our total food + drink cost was only $215 US!)

We know that a trip somewhere new and unfamiliar can be a bit overwhelming to plan, so we’ve put together our favorite things about Koh Samui to serve as your 24-hour guide. While we recommend 4-5 days at least, Koh Samui’s modest size (15 miles long at it’s widest point) can also work for someone with just one day to explore. The island has something for everyone, and whether you prefer luxury resort vibes or jungle adventures, Koh Samui is a must-visit destination for your next getaway.

 

TRAVEL

First things first- getting there. While Koh Samui has a decent sized (and very nice) airport for international arrivals, we found it most cost-effective to fly into bangkok and then book a local carrier for the short domestic flight to Samui. BKK is a major international hub, so you're more likely to score an awesome flight deal arriving there. We recommend then flying a local airline like Bangkok Airways to Samui. You'll have to clear immigration and then re-check in for your domestic flight, but we found it quite simple to do!

for reference: a google flight search for NYC-Samui landed at $891 RT. Flying NYC to BKK came in at $586, and the BKK-Samui flight was $216. Depending on the dates, that saves you around $100 or more!

For travel around the Island we rented a moped for a few days, which is definitely the easiest way around. It cost a measly $9 USD per day from our resort, and most of the busy areas have local rentals available (Try Samuipedia). You can also take local taxis quite inexpensively, but make sure you negotiate the rate before leaving!

VISAS

Thailand doesn't require a tourist visa for U.S. passport holders as long as your stay is less than 30 days, so you can Visit Thailand stress free! You can find the most updated visa information here. 

LAMAI BEACH

Koh Samui is lined with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The east coast beaches (Lamai and Chaweng, for instance) have wonderful restaurants, vibrant nightlife and are quite popular, while the west coast is a bit less developed. Chaweng is the busiest beach and the definite hotspot, but our favorite was actually Lamai! It’s less crowded and perfectly tropical. There’s a wonderful beachfront restaurant we loved called the Black Pearl where you can get a delicious green curry or pad thai with your feet literally in the sand. Good food is so easy to find and so inexpensive, so we always found ourselves ordering a second (or third!) round of drinks. Lamai is lined with hotels, bungalows, restaurants and shops, but still feels beautifully un-developed at the same time. It’s a perfect place to spend a morning, an afternoon, or your entire trip. 

CHAWENG BEACH

While Lamai beach came in as our favorite beach in Samui, Chaweng is the busiest and most popular. If you’re looking for a party, you’ll likely find it in Chaweng! The shopping is incredible and you can’t escape the wonderfully carefree vibes that make Chaweng a draw for the young, cool crowd. While Lamai is quieter and more secluded, Chaweng is the beach hotspot that Koh Samui is famous for. Plus, there’s no shame in beach-hopping for a few hours, so get on your scooter and go decide your favorite beach for yourself!

X2 RESORT

Incredible resorts abound in Samui, but we have to tell you about the place we stayed- X2 Resort + Spa (pronounced “Cross-to”). This is technically a 24-hour guide, but if you decide to extend your trip we highly recommend X2. We have a large arsenal of travel sites where we find hotels, and we found this place on one of our favorites, JetSetter.com. Our room was massive, beautifully renovated, and had it’s own private courtyard and pool.  The booking site called it “all-spa inclusive”, but we figured that had gotten lost in translation. To our surprise and excitement, upon check-in we learned that it actually meant all-spa inclusive! Treatments in the stunning, tranquil spa were fully included in our stay and totally unlimited (based on daily availability, but we both got at least 2 ninety-minute treatments per day!). Breakfast was included, the grounds were beautiful and romantic, and it cost us less than $150 per night on a special.

KOH TAO (Turtle Island)

Samui is surrounded by amazing islands, many of which make a perfect half-day adventure. The area is famous for having some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to Scuba Dive for the first time! We found the 100 Degrees East dive shop online, and we could not more highly recommend it. If you’re inexperienced with diving like we were, they offer a 1-day PADI Discover Scuba experience. It’s worth every penny. After the brief course, we completed 2 dives and it was one of the most magical experiences of our lives. You have the choice to dive in either Angthong Marine Park (an incredible destination on it’s own) or Koh Tao. We chose Koh Tao and it was perfect. Ask if Kurt is available as an instructor- he really made the experience for us. Imagine stunning coral, all sorts of sea life, a remote tropical island, warm azure waters and being surrounded by thousands of bright, tropical fish. Now go book your dive!

NA MUANG WATERFALL

The beaches aren’t the only place to spend your time in Samui. The island’s interior is a dense tropical jungle! The ride from our hotel to the falls was about 20 minutes, but we stopped off at every cool thing we saw. It took us 45 minutes or so! There’s lot at the entrance to the park where you can leave your scooter for less than 1 USD, and then you hike through the jungle up to the falls. There are two waterfalls, one downstream from the other. It was the end of a dry season when we went, which meant less water, but also more climbing up the rocks! There are a few little shops along the way and some locals selling food- we convinced them to make us a pineapple fried rice with chicken and it was phenomenal (and cost only 250 THB- about $5 US)! You can hike and swim the waterfalls in just a few hours, leaving lots of time to explore the rest of the island! It gets very hot in the midday sun, so we recommend doing this in the morning or late afternoon if possible!

TEMPLES

Samui is home to a plethora of stunning temples and structures, perfect for exploring. The Big Buddha is one of the most famous, located on the northeast side of the Island. It’s quite close to the 100 Degrees East dive shop, so you could visit quickly before or after your dive! Another temple we found particularly intriguing was the Wat Kahunaram temple near Lamai. We pulled off to check this place out on our way back from Na Muang, immediately drawn to the colorful, striking architecture. To our surprise, the mummified remains of a Buddhist monk (sitting up!) were on full display right at the entrance! Buddhist Thais have great respect for death as part of the cycle of life, and the monk’s remains serves as an inspiration to follow the Buddhist ways. The surrounding grounds and temple are a sight to see, and take less than an hour to explore. You’ll have to take your shoes off to enter the temples themselves. As always, visit this religious sight with reverence and respect, as it is highly revered among Buddhist Thais.

DINING

If you haven’t already picked up on this, we LOVE Thai food. After a busy day of sight-seeing and adventuring, we’d recommend dinner in Chaweng, Lamai, or Bophut. (Try the fresh green curry, pineapple fried rice, pad see ew or pad thai- you can't go wrong!) All three of these areas have extensive dining selections and are easily accessible from your afternoon adventures- whatever those may be! The Black Pearl is a perfect spot on Lamai Beach for a leisurely lunch! If you find yourself on the south end of the Island, X2 Resort has a wonderful restaurant called 4K (“fork”), or the Conrad Koh Samui in Taling Ngam is said to have one of the best sunset views on the Island. Let’s be honest though- there’s no bad spot for a sunset cocktail or dinner when you’re in paradise! 

NIGHTLIFE

We can’t talk about Koh Samui without mentioning the nightlife! If you want to party till the sun comes up, make your way from dinner to Chaweng Beach and have the time of your life! This is the party beach, and you won’t regret having a few tropical drinks or Thai beers in this vibrant bar scene. Full Moon Parties happen monthly on nearby Koh Phangan- but as our friend Rachel from Hippie-in-heels blog talks about on her blog, we don’t recommend you stay on Koh Samui to attend the party. If you’re up for a crazy adventure, go for it. Otherwise, make it the next stop on your trip instead of an evening excursion. You can check out KoSamui.com as an excellent reference for more nightlife info (or any other info, for that matter)!

Ok. Enough talking- it’s time to book your trip! Whether you’re stopping by for 24 hours or spending a relaxing month, Koh Samui is truly a tropical island paradise. We’ve only broken the surface of stuff to do, but this is a good starting point for your trip! We can’t wait to return, and can’t wait to hear the recommendations you bring back with you. Adventures or R+R, beach or jungle, luxury or budget- Koh Samui is a must-visit when you’re in Southeast Asia. Heck, it’s even worth its own trip.

Adventure Away!

-Zach + Tara

6 meals worth traveling the world for

We love to eat.

We always talk about breakfast being our favorite meal - and it is - but we don't discriminate against lunch or dinner (or afternoon snacks or late night meals or anything in between)! It's so fun to eat local food as you travel, and we feel like it's one of the best ways to truly "taste" a culture! When we were planning our honeymoon years ago, one of the factors that pushed us to choose Thailand was the chance to eat authentic Thai Food! And, well, it didn't disappoint, and we've been traveling with our taste buds ever since. 

We've been lucky enough to eat some incredible meals in some incredible places around the world these past few years, and we wanted to share our favorites! Not-so-coincidentally, most of these meals were enjoyed in places we would highly recommend for your next travel destination! 

Here they are- eat your heart out and plan your next gastronomic getaway ASAP!

1. POSITANO, AMALFI COAST - Dinner at Li Galli, Hotel Villa Franca

Perched on the top of a hill overlooking Positano's iconic shoreline and just below the Amalfi Coast cliffs, Li Galli is the mouth-watering fine-dining restaurant found in the luxurious Villa Franca Hotel. The hotel alone is worth the trip (as if you need justification to explore the Amalfi Coast), but Li Galli's elegant flare on local cuisine is bucket-list worthy. Executive Chef Vincenzo Esposito and his team work in collaboration with multi-starred Michelin Chef Gennaro Esposito to create a brilliant menu of mediterranean fruits and vegetables, seafood caught in the bay below, and meat from the surrounding italian towns. We had the 7 course tasting menu, added the "cracked lemon" dessert and wine pairings (ok, we also had a cocktail or two before and after), and it was one of the most incredible culinary experiences we've ever had. It certainly doesn't hurt that you're eating in a intimate, open-air veranda watching the sky meet the sea as the sun sets over the cliffs. Impeccable service and attention to detail, warm attitudes and professional yet personable staff are just the cherry on top of a truly sublime gastronomic experience. 

((See more about our stay at Hotel Villa Franca here))

2. KOH SAMUI, THAILAND - Lunch at The Black Pearl, Lamai Beach

View fullsize

We first visited Thailand three years ago on our honeymoon, and we've been obsessed ever since. It's an exotic tropical paradise, and the food alone is worth the 12+ hour flight. Thai culture is kind, warm and gentle, and the landscapes are as stunning as they come. Koh Samui ("Koh" is thai for Island, so literally "Samui Island") is a wonderful island just off the eastern coast of the mainland in the Gulf of Thailand. It's less developed and touristy than Phuket, but still very visitor friendly. We stayed at the secluded, romantic X2 Resort and rented a moped to explore the island, which is only 25 km long at its widest point. Lamai Beach is on the south eastern side of the Island, and it's much less crowded than the other beaches we visited (Chaweng Beach, for instance, is the perfect beach if you're looking for a party). Don't let that fool you though- in our opinion, Lamai the best beach on Samui. There's a perfect little restaurant called The Black Pearl at the edge of the sand with tables extending out over the rocks. Bare feet in the sand and the turquoise waves crashing just feet away, fresh green curry, pineapple fried rice and a couple of mai thais are literally the things tropical dreams are made of. 

3. DUBAI, U.A.E. - Breakfast at Khaymat Al Bahar, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah Hotel

If you haven't been to Dubai yet, add it to your list. It's an amazing, intriguing place and, if you can handle the heat, it's a must-visit destination. The futuristic city is literally built up out of a desert on the arabian peninsula, and the juxtaposition of old and new is a sight to see. You feel like you're teetering between a page out of Arabian Nights and a scene from the Jetsons. Emirates, the national airline, is our favorite carrier in the world, and with efforts to become a contender for top tourist destinations in the world by 2020, Dubai is extremely tourist-friendly. Our flight arrived early in the morning, so we jumped in a cab and drove out to the Al Qasr Hotel in Madinat Jumeirah. A friend told us about the poolside restaurant's unmissable breakfast buffet at Al Qasr, but we had to jump through a few hoops to get in without being hotel guests. A short runaround finally lead us to a concierge who was able to book us a reservation (begrudgingly, perhaps, but a reservation nonetheless). He directed us to a pickup point where a driver picked us up in a golf cart and escorted us through the sprawling property to Khaymat Al Bahar. We had the full breakfast buffet, and it was worth every penny. The endless spread was Lebanese inspired and gorgeously presented, but we were hard-pressed to think of a single thing they didn't offer. We ate outside on the patio, which sits on the edge of the beach and with perfect views of the Burj Al Arab. We ate enough food and drank enough lattes to feed a small army, but we couldn't bring ourselves to leave! As you know, breakfast is our thing- so we were in absolute heaven. ((if you don't have a reservation as a hotel guest, get there early to ensure you can get a table! We arrived around 7am))

4. DUBAI - U.A.E. - High Tea at At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa

Ok, Dubai was so good that two restaurants in Dubai made our list. We knew we couldn't visit the UAE without a stop at the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Rather than just the observation deck, we opted into celebrating our anniversary with High Tea at At.mosphere lounge on the 122nd floor. It's definitely on the expensive side, but worth it if you're looking to splurge on an experience or celebration. You enter the building through the exquisite Armani hotel, where hostesses in flowing black Armani gowns escort you to the restaurant's lobby before you take elevators to the 122nd floor. From start to finish, the extravagant high tea experience was dazzling and delicious. We reserved our table early enough to score a window table, and the views of the city far below and not-so-distant desert was absolutely captivating. Teas, coffees, champagne, cocktails, and an endless flow of finger foods and pastries left us happily stuffed for the rest of the day, and the impressive service was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary in extreme style.

5. KEY WEST, FLORIDA - Dinner at Latitudes Restaurant, Sunset Key Cottages

Sunset Key Cottages is a private island resort just off the west side of Key West, and it's gotta be the best kept secret in the Keys. You can only board the ferry to the Island if you're a resident, a resort guest, or have reservations at the restaurant or spa. It's a short leisurely ride to the landing at Sunset Key, and Latitudes restaurant stretches to the right of the dock on glorious display. Surrounded by palms and built in that endearing Florida Key style, Latitudes was voted #1 best restaurant in Key West, as well as top 100 most romantic restaurants in the US for 2017- and for good reason. The food was absolutely incredible from start to finish, and the service was professional, warm and fun. The patio is large yet surprisingly intimate, and the warm Caribbean breeze made it all the more dreamy. We're still dreaming about the food- crab cakes, beef carpaccio, scallops, catch-of the day and mouth watering sides, breads and desserts... and you can't possibly visit Key West without eating key lime pie at every chance you get! We've had a few key lime pies over this year, but this one was far and above anything we'd ever tried before. We'd dare to say that it's worth a trip to the southernmost tip of the US just for a slice of Key Lime pie at Latitudes.

((You can see more about our trip to Sunset Key on our post here)) 

6. NYC - Dinner at Kuma Inn, Manhattan's Lower East Side

Ok, we couldn't leave NYC off our list, even though we don't have any photos of this one! There are so many incredible places to eat in the Big Apple, but Kuma Inn is our absolute favorite. It's a locals-only type spot because it's not easy to find. The entrance is a barely-marked doorway off of Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side, and other than a red spray-painted sign on the doorframe, you'd never know you were there. The door leads you up a dodgy flight of stairs and through another unmarked door into the hole-in-the-wall cash only, BYOB joint. There's only a handful of tables, but the insanely delicious filipino, thai and southeast-asian tapas keep that place packed every. single. night. The food flows out of the open kitchen as it's ready and we have yet to eat something that we weren't completely obsessed with. The rice crepes, chinese sausage, coconut sticky rice and arroz valenciana are a few of our staple favorites, and the nightly specials are always amazing. They're only open for dinner, so grab a few bottles of wine or sake and find your way to the LES to experience the glorious gastronomic feast that is Kuma Inn. 

Do you have a favorite restaurant that you'd travel just to eat at? Tell us in the comments below!

 

Here's to the adventure....

Zach + Tara Brose

10 amazing things to do during your stay at Margaritaville Key West!

Cue Jimmy Buffett singing "Margaritaville..."

Last week we escaped the winter blues in NYC and went south. As far south as we could go, actually, without leaving the country. We went to Key west, the southernmost point in the Continental United States. (The "southernmost point" marker on the island is a tourist hotspot with people waiting in line to take their picture with the sign, actually). 

Just 90 miles north of Cuba, surrounded by stunning turquoise waters and tiny islands, Key West was the perfectly tropical weekend trip we wanted without busting out our passports. Key West has an international airport, but we were coming off of a few days in Miami, so we booked some crazy cheap tickets in and out of MIA for just $80! And, since it's an easy (and beautiful!) 3 hour drive through the keys, we loved the idea of a short road trip!

While we were in Key West we stayed at the stunning Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, and we couldn't wait to share this incredible property with you! It was the perfect Resort for a fun, relaxing weekend in the sun. From the tropical pool vibes and outdoor dining to the spacious, modern rooms and ideal island location, we found ourselves completely comfortable and relaxed from the moment we arrived. The staff is warm and welcoming, and there is SO much to do without going far. If you're the type who prefers to spend your vacations sitting poolside sipping Key Lime Margaritas, this place is for you. At the same time, though, Margaritaville's marina location and close proximity to Duval street (an easy 5-minute walk) makes it the perfect base for your island adventures. Tara and I are somewhere in the middle, so our ideal property offers both- and that's exactly what we found in Margaritaville!

So, we wanted to share our top 10 things to do during your stay at Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina. It was challenging to narrow it down, so you'll just have to come and see the rest for yourself! 

1. Breakfast at Bistro 245

If you know us, you know our obsession with breakfast. When we're home in NYC, we make breakfast together every day. It's a few moments of guaranteed quality time in the midst of our chaotic schedules, and that habit has carried into our travels! We love to load up on a great healthy breakfast to kick off our day, and Bistro 245 delivered! (Not to mention how thrilled we were to get fresh pressed green + red juice! Eating healthy can be a challenge on the road, but not at Margaritaville!)

 

2. Shop (and eat/drink) your way down Duval Street

Key West is a treasure trove of restaurants, bars, history and attractions, and you can find it all on Duval Street! Imagine New Orleans and the Virgin Islands combined to form one main drag... that's Duval!

 

3. Chill Poolside

Ok let's be honest.... this is everyone's dream in the middle of winter. Margaritaville does it right! Work on that tan in the hot FL keys sun, or relax in the shade of a palm tree. Just sit and relax without lifting a finger and order your favorite summer cocktail from Castaways, the pool bar, and you'll find yourself singing "wasted away again in Margaritaville" in no time!

 

4. Order Room service and enjoy a romantic night in

Or, like we did, follow up dinner with champagne and dessert! Chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of bubbly and a jacuzzi for two was just what the doctor ordered. 

 

5. Sunset Celebration

Every evening at Sunset, Margaritaville hosts a fun celebration on the pier next to Bistro 245 filled with music, food, vendors and street performers, and it's a great way to transition from day to night! Take in the sunset while being entertained and sipping your favorite cocktail!

 

6. Wind and Wine Sunset Sail

Since Margaritaville sits right on the Marina, it's the perfect base for nautical adventures! We took a sunset "Wind and wine" sunset sail from Danger Charters, and it was everything. You sail on a 65 foot schooner out into the most stunning Caribbean sunset while a wine expert brings you through a flight of 9 different wines. A glass of bubbly to start, then 4 different whites and 4 different reds. Combined with Hors Devours and a tranquil sea, this was one of the highlights of our trip! ($85/person, Sails nightly from the Marina outside Margaritaville)

 

7. Key Lime everything!!

Key lime pie, Key Lime Cooladas, Key Lime Margaritas, Key Lime everything! When you're in Key West, it's a non-negotiable!

 

8. Have a drink on the Sunset Deck

Above the pool and overlooking the Ocean, the Sunset Deck is the perfect setting to take in the gorgeous Key West sunset! It's roomy and covered in strung-up lights, and it's basically the perfect way watch Nature's dazzling display. 

 

9. Ride Bikes to the Southernmost point

We rode bikes from the resort and spent an afternoon exploring Key West. If you ride all the way to the very end of Duval Street, you hit Key West's Southernmost point- which is in fact the southernmost point in the continental United states!

 

10. Make new friends

One of our favorite parts of Margaritaville was how friendly everyone was! The staff and the guests alike- we found a rare combination of private luxury and cordial mingling. Generally, at a resort where people are partying together, you sacrifice the peaceful romantic vibes for the fun. But, at romantic, secluded hotels you can sometimes lose the fun you find at a more upbeat property. Maybe it's the name, or maybe it's the well-thought out resort design, or maybe it's just the magical island vibes... but at Margaritaville you truly get both!

Here's to the adventure...

Zach + Tara

*This post was sponsored by Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, but our opinions, as always, are our own!