If you’re looking for a dreamy place to visit – a place where the beaches feel endless, the waves are perfect, and the underwater life is gorgeous, Siargao might be for you. It’s a tiny island in the state of Mindanao, and it’s like a whole different world. 1. Siargao is hard to get to, but worth it. Siargao is somewhat hard to get to, though it is getting easier. They now have daily flights from both Cebu and Manila, but there are just a few flights a day on and off the island. You’ll be flying on a small-ish prop plane, and the runway on the island doesn’t quite…
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Visiting Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria
When visiting Bulgaria, one of the most stunning places you’ll see pictures of is Seven Rila Lakes. It’s an absolutely jaw-dropping place to go, and it’s an easy day trip from Sofia. Before heading up to the mountains, here’s what you should know to plan your trip. Getting To Seven Rila Lakes There is no real public transit option to get to Seven Rila Lakes. (Technically, you can get there by bus but it’s highly inefficient.) Most people take their own cars – but beware! Especially in the high season of the summer months, parking can be an absolute nightmare. If you drive, either go super early in the morning,…
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10 Things to Know Before Visiting Croatia
Croatia has become a dream destination for many. With it’s incredible national parks, breathtaking beaches, gorgeous history, and fun nightlife, what’s not to love? Before heading to Croatia, make check out these things to know before visiting Croatia. 1. Croatia is bigger than you might think. Croatia seems quite small on the map, so it seems like an easy country to get around. While it’s fairly easy to get around, things are not especially close. If you’re taking the ferry from Split to Korcula, it takes over 2.5 hours (if everything is going according to plan!). And if you’re heading from Hvar to Dubrovnik, the ferry can easily take more…
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Korcula, Croatia: The Perfect Island Destination
When you look at visiting Croatia, you’ll see lots about Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Zadar. But flying under the radar is Korcula (pronounce core-chew-luh), an island near Hvar. Korcula refers to both the island as a whole, and the main town on the island. Getting to Korcula Korcula is a large Adriatic island near Hvar. You can get there with the ferries – there is no bridge connecting Korcula to the mainland. There are car ferries and fast ferries going to the island. The ferries go to both Korcula (the town) and Vela Luka. Take a close look at where your accommodations are to make sure you go to…
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Is Croatia a Budget Travel Destination?
A few years ago, Croatia made all sorts of travel headlines for the beauty of the country combined with its incredible affordability. That made more people want to go visit, and then… Game of Thrones. So now that Dubrovnik frequently is jam-packed with people, and the country is on everyone’s “hot list” the question comes up. Is Croatia a budget travel destination? Croatian Travel Costs Given its newfound popularity, it is more expensive than ever to go to Croatia. In general, it’s still cheaper than most western European countries like Spain and France. Croatian travel is highly seasonal. The crowds come with the gorgeous weather and cruise ships in the…
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7 Budgeting Tips for Long-Term Travel
Long-term travel is a dream come true, but budgeting for it is a significant undertaking. When you’re budgeting for long-term travel, you have to have a plan for how much money you need, and a plan for when you get home. These budgeting tips for long-term travel are here to help you make sure you don’t get into a budget bind while you’re abroad. See how much I spent on my four-month round the world trip. 1. Plan Your Budget by Day By City or Country Before you leave for your trip, it’s a good idea to build a spreadsheet with the places you think you’ll go, and a rough…
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What to Pack for a Nile Cruise
Once you’ve figured out what to wear, figuring out what to pack for a Nile cruise is the next step. Clothes to Pack for a Nile Cruise When you’re thinking about what to pack for a Nile cruise, the list of clothes feels extensive. Make sure to include the following when you’re getting ready to go. Focus on clothes in fabrics that breathe well and dry quickly. Consider packing things other than cotton – cotton is breathable, but it doesn’t dry especially quickly. Linen or athletic fabrics will serve you better in the heat of Egypt. A Good Maxi Dress or Skirt You’ll want your legs covered, but it’s hot.…
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Sites You’ll Visit on a Nile Cruise
A Nile Cruise is one of the best ways to see the variety of sites between Luxor and Aswan. While you can add additional excursions onto your cruise, most cruises will take you to at least the sites below. You can also find out what to expect from a Nile Cruise and what women should wear on a Nile Cruise. Luxor Sites Visited Karnak Temple Karnak Temple is one of the largest temple complexes in Egypt. You’ll get to walk down the Avenue of the Sphinxes to enter. It’s said that the Avenue of the Sphinxes used to extend all the way between Karnak and Luxor Temples! These days, it’s…
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8 Things to Know Before Visiting Romania
Romania is an up-and-coming country for tourists, especially with Bucharest hitting many “must-visit” lists. Before heading there, here are 8 things to know before visiting Romania. 1. Romanian train travel is not like western Europe. If you consider yourself an “old pro” at train travel through Europe, but your experience has been mostly France/Italy/etc, manage your expectations. Trains through Romania are much older and slower than the trains in western Europe. The good news is that the trains are cheaper! In general, Romania is not as well-connected as western Europe with trains and train stations – they are further apart, and frequently a bit further from the city center. Consider…
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Books to Read While Visiting Venice
Nothing is more fun for a bibliophile than reading a book that’s set in the location you’re currently visiting. Given that Venice is a magical place in its own right, it makes it even more magical to read books set there. If you’re preparing for a trip there, headed there, or just dreaming about it, here are perfect books to read while visiting Venice. Nonfiction Books to Read While Visiting Venice City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas Before Italy unified, it was a collection of city-states, with Venice as one of the most dominant. This is a great survey of history and how one, small, island city came…