Category Archives: travel

May 6, 2011

Best Breakfast … another kind

By simply three cents

So my post about best hotel breakfast got me thinking. I prefer staying in bed and breakfasts to get the local feel of a place, and to really interact with locals. There are so many memorable places I have stayed, and I think that a place can make a trip. Even if a place sucks, it’s going to give you a good story, of which I have plenty.

I have encountered such amazing hospitality at bed and breakfasts on my travels, and it’s really hard to say which breakfast beat others. Not for the taste, or the portions, but because you are getting a taste of cultures, and how can you really compare those experiences.

However, one experience that stands out was in Monteverde, Costa Rica. This couple had a farm and on this farm they had built a few cabins for guests to stay in. Because it was the rainy season, as noted by our experience with tropical storm Alma, we were the only ones staying there at the time.

At breakfast, we were invited into their home. Their beautiful kitchen was connected to the living room where their two children played. We were served such a local breakfast. The coffee was from the beans on their land, the eggs were from their neighbor’s chicken, the fruit was grown on their land and the milk was from their cow, who was due to give birth any day.

Our hosts: the husband spoke no English and the wife spoke very good English
Their children: the toddler spoke Spanish and the baby said ‘mama’
Us: my boyfriend speaks a few words of Spanish and mine is decent – my grammar backwards is – but I can get by with a pretty solid knowledge of vocabulary and hand motions where my vocab is weak.

We were all able to communicate over breakfast and the baby crawled right over to my boyfriend and held her hands up to be held.

These are the kinds of experiences I love. It’s so much more than about the food.

Leave a comment   |  tags: | posted in food, things that make me smile, travel, travelogues

May 3, 2011

Best Breakfast?

By simply three cents

This morning on Facebook, Independent Traveler asked their fans ‘What’s the best hotel breakfast you’ve ever had?’

Everyone has one, but of course there’s a story how I found one of the best hotel breakfasts ever.

Now, I normally don’t choose to stay in proper hotels when I travel, as I much prefer the authentic feel of a bed and breakfast and staying with a local family, which I planned for during a trip to Costa Rica in May/June 2008. For the most part we stayed local, but thanks to Tropical Storm Alma things got changed up a bit.

“This is the first time a tropical storm has hit the Pacific coast in this location in 120 years,” said José Joaquín Aguero, an IMN meteorologist. “The last time this happened was around 1887.”

OF COURSE 1887 was the last time this happened. Obviously our hearts went out to the people above all. It was incredible to see how they dealt with the devastation. I remember seeing women walking out of their homes while carrying children on their shoulders. Not to mention that they were wading in water that was easily up to their waists. We only saw this from the road, which was maybe 50 feet away, but I remember that we were both very emotional watching this from the sidelines.

We had been headed down the Pacific coast to Manuel Antonio from Monteverde. We had to stop for the night in Playa Hermosa (a beach town) because the rain was so hard and it was dark. In the morning we continued, but only got as far as Parrita. We were told we couldn’t go any further because the water on the road (yes, one way in, one way out, wouldn’t recede for four DAYS.) Alma was fierce and we saw the waves as we stood on the beach (probably not the smartest thing we have ever done) to prove it.

While out for drinks in Playa Hermosa, at a bar on the beach, I remember the lights going out and the bands equipment shorting out. We were basically in a bar on the beach (it was on the water but other than a roof there was no protection) so we could feel the rain since it was coming in sideways and easily see the lightening right over the ocean. Instead of sending us home, the staff put candles on the tables, the band decided to sing acoustically and we ordered another round.

The next morning we needed to make a change of plans, and quickly, as the water was getting out of control. We met an ex-pat American who rearranged our itinerary for our last few days. He directed us to another part of the country, closer to San Jose, but still far enough outside that we felt like we were still in the countryside. We also had to make a few calls because we were going to be dropping off our rental car in Manuel Antonio to fly back to San Jose for our connecting international flight. Getting a refund proved to be a bit of a challenge because it was a non-refundable airline ticket, but being that we couldn’t physically drive to Manuel Antonio due to the road closures, it would be impossible to get on the flight. Also needed to reroute our rental so that we could return it in San Jose.

Anyway, through the kindness of this ex-pat American who gave us ideas for where we could spend the next few days, we were able to visit the surrounding towns outside of San Jose which were lovely. In addition to the excellent hospitality we had already received, we had the opportunity to stay on a coffee plantation and we were able to enjoy Alajuela, a less touristy Costa Rica.

We decided to stay in San Jose on our last night, which without this storm, wasn’t on our itinerary. We decided to live it up our last night in a lovely boutique hotel, complete with cocktails and a dip in the roofdeck hot tubs. (If you know me, you know this is not the way I travel!)

Dinner our last night we cabbed to a local restaurant keeping with my passion to keep it local, but breakfast the following morning, in the hotel, our last in Costa Rica was probably the best HOTEL breakfast ever.

I point the hotel distinction out because I have enjoyed many amazing breakfasts when staying at bed and breakfasts and I wouldn’t be able to pick the best. The best part of those is being able to share with local families and really experience the local flavor, both literally and figuratively. More on that in another post.

Thanks to the season, we had juice and smoothies, made from Costa Rica’s finest fruits. Fruits I never heard of, or tasted before, and we had a field day trying them all! I don’t remember the rest of the breakfast but those juices were the best.

What was your favorite hotel breakfast?

1 Comment   |  tags: | posted in food, in and around the world, travel, travelogues

April 17, 2011

Observant in Orlando

By simply three cents

I told you I’d share some observations about my day at Universal, but I am going to share my biggest observation about Orlando as a whole.

If foreign visitors only see Orlando, and want to generalize, they must think Americans are buffet-eating, line-pushing, souvenir-collecting kind of people. 

The same could be said if they add Las Vegas to their US itinerary.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , | posted in travel, travelogues

April 15, 2011

Universal Observations

By simply three cents

Heading to Universal Studios today! Am sure I will have a ton of observations as I haven’t been to a theme park in years.

Stay tuned.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , | posted in observations, travel

April 14, 2011

Plane Peeves

By simply three cents

As I am flying tonight(!), I am thinking about my peeves on the plane. In no particular order, here goes:

  • People who open closed bins to find space for their oversized luggage
  • People who dont hold onto their coats and instead use precious overhead space for a coat
  • People who run to board first and clog up the area for those whose rows have been called
  • People who travel with luggage half open with things falling out (yes, really)
  • People who don’t understand that you have to travel with 3oz or less of liquid, and you, yes, you, need to take off your belt
  • People who set off alarm; then take one thing off at a time, only to continue setting off alarm until they realize they have loose change in their pocket
  • People who go to bathroom on plane right after boarding; clogging the aisles for people who are trying to get to their seat, or even worse, right before take off
  • People who get up while the seat belt sign is on. You are not in first grade. Pay attention, and it’s truly for your safety – as seen by the Air France jet that clipped a regional plane on a runway at JFK earlier this week.
  • Unprepared parents. I totally get a crying child because their ears pop, or they may not like to fly, or even sit still. But please don’t rely on the magazines in the seat back pocket for entertainment. DVDs, music and games are a better choice.
  • People who don’t get a seat for a child who is clearly too big. I have seen this a handful of times and I can’t believe this is allowed. This is probably not safe, and not comfortable for the parent, the child or the person sitting next to you (ie. ME).
  • People who fly with dogs aside from medically necessary ones. This cannot be fun for the dog. I realize sometimes it is necessary, but if it is, don’t take your dog out mid flight to show him off to your neighbors. I’d take a plane full of screaming babies before one yippy barking dog on a five hour flight. Been there, done that. It barked the entire flight and the owner got some dirty looks and comments throughout.
  • Arm rest hogs. Unless you are in the middle, you get one, and only one.
  • Men who don’t help women get their bags up when they are sitting in the aisle right below where I am trying to get my bag in. I travel light. I am short and I have zero upper body strength and sometimes it’s difficult for me to get my bag into the bin.
  • People who put their seat backs back right after take off, right before a meal is served. Unless this is an overnight flight, there is no need to keep your seat reclined. This is not your living room. It is not your Lazy Boy and yes, I am RIGHT behind you.
  • People who kick the seat in front of them. Once I get kicked twice, I have now resorted to telling the  person (usually NOT a child) that I have just had back surgery and to please be careful with their seat. The fact that I usually can’t lift my bag into the bin helps with the back surgery story.

With all this, I still LOVE to travel! The people-watching and observations that come out of your time (leading up to) and in the sky can be hilarious.

What’s your biggest peeve?

Leave a comment | posted in observations, peeves, travel

April 11, 2011

Even Exchange…or not!

By simply three cents

People ask me how I am able to travel so much. ‘Isn’t it expensive?’ I am asked. Well, yes, it can be…IF you stay in high-end hotels, travel in peak season, travel in comfortable (read: pricey) modes of transportation and pick places where your home currency is not valued well against the local currency, your trip might cost you a pretty penny.

Here’s how I try to combat what could be very expensive overseas trips — which in the end allows me to travel more:

1 – I love to take in as much local culture as possible so I choose bed and breakfasts or small local hotels. Bed and breakfasts are an incredible way to get inside information from your hosts, as well as local breakfast foods. It’s also a way to meet like-minded travelers.

2 – I am also very much an off-peak traveler. With a few exceptions (Patagonia in the summer, Iceland with 20 hours of sunlight), I tend to travel off-peak. Less crowds, better service and most importantly, more interaction with the locals. You also have some instant spontaneity since everything is not already booked. Off-peak doesn’t have to be December in Italy – though it’s lovely strolling in Venice with no massive crowds, but it can also be laying out on Croatia’s beaches in early September since all the Europeans visit throughout August.

3 – Utilize public transportation. Hiring a private driver is a good idea in some places for safety, or for those long-haul flights where you just don’t want to think about getting from the airport to your accommodation. Private drivers are great when you don’t want a big group tour, and letting your host know you are open to adding a few more people can save you money, and introduce you to other travelers. These comforts shouldn’t be your primary mode of transport. And do your research. Cabs in NYC are not for budget travelers, but cabs in Buenos Aires definitely can be.

And so for the final piece, do your research. Destinations with busted economies, unstable governments (but relatively safe) and currency that does well against your home currency (mine is the USD) are great picks – and probably not completely overrun with travelers…yet.

Ten years ago when I was backpacking around Europe, pre-Euro, there was different currency in each country. So, I would make my first meal McDonald’s (gasp!) when I arrived so I could get a better idea of the exchange rate in each country. The cost of my chosen meal (which I kept consistent across countries — value meal with two cheeseburgers, small fries and a medium soda) gave me a better idea on how the currency stacked up for me for lodging, food and purchases! [When I did this, Belgium was the only country that I never saw a McD’s!]

This was obviously not the best way to get a ‘taste’ of the country but when you’re backpacking alone and stink at math, it’s a good substitute. Now, I use oanda.com instead of testing my theory so I can enjoy local cuisine from the very start of my arrival in various countries around the world.

In no particular order…here’s a short list of countries that I know do well against the USD. My goal here is not to cover the world, just give some insight on places that some people may not instantly think of when they think of places to visit overseas. Countries I have been are in bold. Everything else is on my wishlist.

I welcome comments because it’s just more options to add to my list…if they aren’t already on my longer wishlist!

  • Croatia; Europe without the Euro exchange rate.
  • Bosnia; People still have imagery of a war-torn country. This is true but it is very cheap and very beautiful.
  • Iceland; A few years ago their very prosperous economy collapsed and how can you say no to 20 hours of sunlight in the summer
  • Argentina; Unstable economy. When I booked my trip, it was 3 pesos to 1USD; when I arrived, the exchange was 4 pesos to 1USD
  • Southeast Asia; Vietnam, Laos, parts of Thailand, Cambodia. Have never been but on my list.
  • Eastern Europe: Latvia, Hungary, Romania, Estonia. Prices in these places are supposedly what the Czech Republic was like 10 years ago.

Again, I very much welcome comments. Where have you been that the exchange rate was ridiculously good?

1 Comment | posted in travel, wanderlust

April 6, 2011

WHY leave?

By simply three cents

This week’s WHY Wednesday questions why some travelers leave their comfort zone, only to eat foods that they are familiar with and know.

This was in the NYT and is crazy! The best part of traveling is eating like the locals…I don’t travel to faraway lands so I can eat cheese fries.

I have so many fond food memories from my travels but some of my favorites are getting freshly sliced cheese from a Swiss cheesemonger, spicy sausage on a roll with the local sauce in Bosnia and some unidentified tapas plate in Spain that the bartender sent over.

Personally, I’m not traveling just so I can eat something that I would eat after a night out at the bars when I was 22.

Eating while traveling is about finding a local market, tasting things on the menu you can’t get at home and being offered foods that you wouldn’t otherwise try. I ate fruits I never heard of in Costa Rica, I ordered fondue in Brussels only to find out that was actually mozzarella sticks and drank locally sourced milk at a market in Denmark!

Yes, sometimes there can be a negative experience. Like the time the boyfriend ordered the daily special in a small town in Tuscany and wound up getting a plate of fresh meat. So fresh, and chewy, in fact that he, a meat lover, had to follow each bite with a glass of water and a sip of wine. The place was small, and the staff attentive. Not wanting to insult, he finished most of the plate. I went with the pasta special of the day. Even now, years later, I remember how good my gnocchi and wine tasted. But he tried his, didn’t like it and didn’t insult anyone either and now we have a great story.

If something is on the table that you’ve never seen or tried, at the very least, take a bite! You’ll find yourself eating foods you wouldn’t have otherwise found!

Now the exception to this french fry story is ordering pommes frites in Belgium…you’ll need to get them topped with a few squirts of mayo, just like the locals!

Do you have any fond food memories? Feel free to post in the comments section.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in food, things that make me smile, tips, travel, wanderlust, why, WHY Wednesday

April 1, 2011

It’s a Box, it’s a Square, no it’s a Cube

By simply three cents

When you rent a car you never know what you’re going to get.  This weekend we got a Nissan Cube. It is literally…a Cube.

The car is horribly ugly but drives nicely and it worked well for us, since any car is better than no car.

When we returned, the guy asked if we saw any other Cubes. Of course. We saw two. He said, you never notice them until you are in a Cube.  He also said every time he asks that question of Cube renters, people have noticed other Cubes on the road. Thought it was funny because without being in one, you probably wouldn’t notice them otherwise. Guess that could be true for any ‘interestingly’ shaped car.

Our Cube was a dark nude/light brown color, that I think I would love on my toe nails, during my next pedicure!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , | posted in just silly, observations, travel

March 13, 2011

Friends

By simply three cents

I am so lucky to have the kinds of friends that you may not see every day, or even every month. But once we’re back together, it’s like nothing has changed. Even though so much has – after all, we’ve grown up. But…not too much, otherwise it would be BOR-ING.

Got to experience that several times over the weekend, and it was great.

1 Comment   |  tags: , | posted in in and around the USA, observations, things that make me smile, travel

February 28, 2011

Like I need more encouragement

By simply three cents

The New York Times Travel Show was held this past weekend at the Javits Center. I went on Sunday and now the wheels in my head are spinning to decide where to visit next!

Iceland has been at the top of the list for some time – plus their economy tanked so it’s a bargain destination. If you eliminate the Galapagos, Ecuador is also a good bargain against the dollar. Nicaragua is up and coming. Spain and Portugal weren’t in attendance but a return to Spain has been on the list for a while. Egypt had a booth and it will be a great bargain when they stop being in the news.

And if I decide to stay in the country, Maine, Oregon, the Gulf Coast and the Carolinas all seem like good places to visit.

I could go on and on and on…there’s really no where I wouldn’t consider.

Leave a comment   |  tags: | posted in in and around NYC, things that make me smile, travel, wanderlust, winter