Travel With Stephanie

Weather: We went in January and it was the “cooler” season at high 80’s and 90’s and super humid. 

Where to stay: We stayed in the Centro within the Walled City. It’s central to all the sites and keeps you in the action for restaurants and night life. 

What to do: We always take a free walking tour (make sure to tip your guide) when available the first day of the trip. You not only get the lay of the land but you can ask the host, who’s typically a local, for recs. 

• Check out Getsemani for incredible local art and a lively night scene of live music and dancing. 

• San Felipe de Barajas Castle; we toured on our own without a guide and it worked out; there’s a lot of plaques with historical information but tours are available if you want a full historical rundown. 

Where to eat:

• Celele, one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, was incredible. The food was artfully created, gorgeous to look at and delicious. Make a reservation in advance and enjoy! They’re not solely vegan but the vegan tasting menu they created was outstanding. Other than that, not a ton of vegan options around the city but I got by ok. https://celelerestaurante.com/en/home/ 

Weather: We usually go in October or November and the weather is perfect with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 60’s although really anytime of the year is pretty perfect. 

Where to Stay: We always stay at an Airbnb in the Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Koloa. It’s got a great beach, beautiful property, comfortable condos, a pool, gym, and tennis courts. South Kauai has better weather than the Northside of the island so we like staying in the South.

What to do: Take a sunset cruise on the Na Pali Coast; it’s absolutely beautiful and you’ll likely see tons of dolphins.

• Hike Waimea Canyon, often compared to the Grand Canyon, it’s breathtaking.

• Tube down the old sugar mill irrigation system. It’s a fun adventure and a good bit of history.

• Be an ethical traveler and volunteer! We do a beach cleanup with The Friends of Kamalani & Lydgate Park; they go every Saturday morning so plan your activities accordingly so you can participate.

Where to eat: Keoki’s Paradise is our favorite. The food and drinks are delicious, great service, gorgeous ambiance and live music. Make a reservation.

• Beach House has the best view of the sunset and the food and drinks are excellent. Make a reservation.

• Bubba Burger is the spot for a quick, traditional burger and fries lunch. They offer a Beyond Burger too which is great.

https://www.keokisparadise.com/

https://www.the-beach-house.com/

https://www.bubbaburger.com/ 

Weather: We went in February and the weather was perfect for spending all day walking around the city; sunny and crips with temps in the high 50's low 60's. It's also off-season so it wasn't super crowded.

Where to Stay: We stayed in an Airbnb with a rooftop balcony overlooking the Castelo de São Jorge and with views of the Tagus River in the Baixa District which is centrally located.

What to do:

• Take a free walking tour (we like Sandeman's Free Walking Tours) and get a guided historyof the city on foot. We always do this the first day of the trip to get the lay of the land and the inside scoop from the guide about restaurant recs and which sites to see and which sites to skip. Bring your walking shoes and a walking stick or cane if you need assistance, the sidewalks are stone and the city is hilly.

• Check out LX Factory located just outside of the city center. This is apparently where the locals hang and I see why; great restaurants, cool shops and just a great way to spend the day.

• Listen to the traditional Fado music at Club Fado; the music is beautiful and enjoyed with a nice glass of local wine the vibe can't be beat. https://www.clubedefado.pt/en/ 

• Visit Castelo de São Jorge. It's got nothing on the palaces in Sintra but it's got a great view at the top of the city.

Where to eat: 

• Farès is a delicious little mediteranean spot with great cocktails and a cool vibe. https://reservation.umai.io/en/widget/fares 

• AO26 was amazing too. All vegan and all good with a really uniquely creative menu and the best peanut butter pie I've ever had. https://reservation.umai.io/en/widget/26-vegan-food-project 

Weather: We were there in November and the city of Melbourne was pretty warm; felt great to get out to the beach. Princetown was freezing so check the weather and pack accordingly. 

Where to stay: We stayed in a high rise Airbnb condo downtown with great views but I think I’d rather stay in one of the more quaint neighborhoods in an Airbnb home to get the local feel. 

What to do:

• The Royal Botanic Gardens was gorgeous and vast; I couldn’t believe how big it was and right in the city.

• Brighton Beach to see the Bathing Boxes. Nice little beach, obviously touristy but wasn’t super crowded when we went. 

• The Twelve Apostles are about a 3 hour drive from Melbourne in Princetown Australia. Rent a car and enjoy the drive. These limestone rock formations have been carved by rain, wind, and waves over the last 18,000 years. 

• Port Campbell National Park home of Loch Ard Gorge, site of a 19th century shipwreck, Island Archway and London Bridge. Close to the 12 Apostles so check it all out while you’re in the area. 

Where to eat: Smith and Daughters has a beautiful restaurant where you can get an amazing vegan experience (make a reservation) and I recommend you opt for the Chef’s Table Menu. Their casual deli next door is great for more casual but still really delicious sandwiches, baked goods and side bites.

https://www.smithanddaughters.com/

Weather: We were there in February and it was cool with temps in the 50's. A light sweater was all we needed to comfortably explore the Souk during the day.

Where to stay: We stayed at Riad Jardin Secret and it was incredible. It felt like living in an art museum; the craftmanship, design and decor were beautiful; the service and food were amazing. Highly recommend. https://www.riadjardinsecret.com 

What to do:

• Souk Semmarine is a huge maze of shop after shop of traditional Moroccan goods like leather goods, jewelry, rugs, spices, produce and more. We had a local tour guide (only $40 total for the three of us for about 6 hours) who walked us through the Souk providing historical facts and local insight. Haggling is encourage and expected. 

  • • • It's fun to also see the Souk at night however beware that some of the streets close so the way you entered may be open when you're ready to exit. Our phone maps worked just fine to navigate us around and we felt safe.

• Dar El Bacha is an 18th Century palace showcasing the beautiful craftsmanship of the traditional tile and woodwork of Moroccan architecture as well as local art.

  • • • Our guide allowed us to skip the line and provided us detailed information and history. Highly recommend getting a local tour guide, it was amazing. We booked through https://www.instagram.com/mustaphachouquir/ as recommended by our hotel.

Where to eat: 

• We had the best meal, with the best ambiance and the best service at Sahbi Sahbi, a full-female ran restaurant with traditional Moroccan food. The chefs cook in an open-air kitchen in the middle of the restaurant. A must-visit 101/10 restaurant. https://www.sahbisahbi.com/en/ 

Weather: We went in February and the weather was perfect for spending all day walking around the city; sunny and crips with temps in the mid-50's. It's also off-season so it wasn't super crowded which was great. 

What to do: 

• Quinta da Regaleira was my favorite. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts a lush green property and unique features from a lake to a winding well. 

• The Pena Palace. This colorful castle sits up high in the Sintra Mountains with beautiful views. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

• Castelo Dos Mouros is a Moorish castle founded in the 10th Century with sweeping views of Sintra and a old world feel that can't beat.

• Transport Tip: There are parking lots at all three places (the one for Quinta da Regaleira is a short walk away) so if you're driving, don't be fooled by taxi drivers trying to tell you that you're not allowed to 'drive close to the palace'; it's a scam.

Weather: We went in November and it was pleasant. 60’s during the day and 40’s at night. It was freezing at the top of Mount Wellington so be prepared with layers, hats, gloves etc.

Where to stay: We stayed in a great Airbnb in Sandy Bay less than 10 minutes from Hobart. Definitely rent a car so you can travel the island and see all it has to offer. 

What to do: Take a trip to the top of Mount Wellington, Tasmania. At 4,170 feet above sea level it’s 609 feet higher than Table Mountain in South Africa. The views are breathtaking. 

• We hiked around Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park and it was gorgeous. The water really does look like blue glass. 

• Farm Gate Market is a huge farmers market in Hobart every Sunday with fresh produce and local wares. 

• The Tasmanian Devil Unzoo was really cool; we got to feed kangaroos and see the surprisingly cute Tasmanian Devils.

• We went wine tasting at Bangor Vineyard Shed; it was absolutely beautiful and the wine was delicious. 

Where to eat: We mostly cooked at home but we enjoyed a delightful meal with wonderful wine at Urban Greek.

https://urbangreek.com.au/