If you’re looking for the best hotel in Merida Mexico, The Diplomat Boutique Hotel Merida is a perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and attention to detail. Nestled in a beautifully restored colonial building, this charming oasis is one of the top choices for places to stay in Merida. The stunning Mexican tile, lush courtyard, and […]
Why Visit Merida A Merida vacation offers a unique cultural experience. The city is rich with Mayan heritage, delicious Yucatecan cuisine, and stunning colonial architecture. If you travel to Merida, Mexico, you’ll find it’s a perfect base for exploring the Yucatan Peninsula, offering countless day trips from Merida to nearby archeological sites, cenotes (natural underground
Though I’ve visited the Oaxaca coast countless times, it took me years to stay in Huatulco because I had trouble finding a Huatulco boutique hotel. There aren’t many, this area is mostly filled with very large all-inclusive resorts. That’s just not my preferred travel style. So when I found the charming Huatulco accommodation of Villas
My favorite pueblo magico is now Cuetzalan, Puebla, the absolutely gorgeous traditional town in the northeast of Puebla state, tucked into the lush tropical mountains. I based myself from the beautiful Cuetzalan hotel, Posada La Vereda, which was a perfect choice to enjoy both the incredible nature and quick access to the amazing town of
What’s better than waking up on vacation and seeing the ocean’s waves outside your room window? Better yet, swimming in an infinity pool with a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean and a long beautiful beach below? If you’re looking for a Oaxaca beach hotel in Puerto Escondido, Blater Hotel is an affordable, comfortable stay
After a few days staying near Playa La Ropa, we retreated to the tranquil Zihuatanejo Mexico beach hotel, Puerta Paraiso. This hotel on Playa Larga is beachfront, so you can enjoy the sight and sound of the waves from many of the vantage points of the rooms and common areas. We spent 3 very relaxed
Zihuatanejo had been at the top of my list for years. I had been saving pretty hotels in the area on my Instagram, and at the top of my wishlist was Casa del Cielo, a boutique hotel in Zihuatanejo with gorgeous decor and a stunning view of La Ropa Beach and the picturesque bay.
Guatemala is an incredible, diverse country and it’s impossible to do everything in a week. But we’ll visit 3 distinct regions during our 1 week Guatemala trip. From the jungle and ruins of Tikal, to the beautiful colonial city of Antigua, to magical Lake Atitlán, we’ll learn about Mayan culture, history, artisan work, and typical
On my last trip through Chiapas and Guatemala, I spent the first two nights and the last two nights of my 2 week journey at the beautiful oasis of Sombra del Agua. This is one of the best designed Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas for the thoughtfully curated decor, leafy patios, beautiful
On my first trip to Chiapas, I ran out of time to make it to the Lacandona/Montes Azules Chiapas jungle and I really regretted it. So on my last trip to Chiapas, I made it a priority to make it to this remote and lush natural region. So I booked 4 days at Las Guacamayas
One thing I love about the Oaxaca coast is that there are so many different types of beaches and hotels, you can find something perfect for every type of traveler. Villasol is one of the overall best hotels in Puerto Escondido because it fits the needs of so many – families, groups, couples, and more.
The reason I started this blog years ago, is because I worked in a creative industry (fashion) but was burned out & craved inspiration (alongside my insatiable urge to travel). Learning from local artisans, seeing amazing architecture, and visiting museums would fill me with ideas and a renewed desire to create. That’s why I think
There are so many travel and social apps out there, but none seem to be totally perfect for everything I want to do. As a creative person, I really like apps that are aesthetically pleasing and allow for my own visual customization. I’ve been trying out Jet Journal travel app for iPhone and think it’s
Antigua Guatemala is a place I visit often, so I finally decided to put together an Antigua travel guide. This beautiful and lovely little city is one of my favorites in Central America, it’s full of gorgeous historic homes and churches, colorful walls, leafy greens, incredible textiles, and mountains + volcanoes on all sides. So
After several trips to the country, I can absolutely say that Lake Atitlan is one my favorite places to visit in Guatemala. When I think about Guatemala, I picture the magical lake surrounded by epic mountains and volcanoes, and the vibrant traditional Mayan towns that surround it. I want to write about all the villages
Planning my Palenque tours from San Cristobal was probably the most difficult part of my Chiapas travel planning. The Palenque ruins are quite far from San Cristobal, and there is mixed information online about the safest way to get there. So after lots of research and actually doing the trip, I want to write about
A couple of months ago, I started planning a solo trip, but wanted to be in a space where I would: 1) meet interesting people and 2) have a meaningful experience. I had planned on finding a yoga retreat somewhere in Central America, and when I stumbled on Villa Sumaya, Lake Atitlan retreat, I knew
Last month I had the pleasure of staying in the beautiful and welcoming Casa Lum Boutique Hotel San Cristobal, Chiapas. For 4 days and 3 nights. I felt at home in the thoughtfully decorated hotel, taken care of by the attentive staff, and was just steps away from everything I wanted to see and do
After years of dreaming about Chiapas travel, I finally had a chance to explore the southernmost state in Mexico. It’s a beautiful and unique place, really different from anywhere else I’ve been in the country. If you like visiting places with stunning, wild nature or cultural destinations, you will love this region. Over my week
One of my most frequently asked questions is – where to stay in Oaxaca? So I put together a list of the best hotels in Oaxaca. I will only be including hotels that I have stayed at and loved or that I have very strong recommendations from trusted sources. There are hundreds of hotels in
One of my favorite things about our lovely weekend trip to Puebla was our stay in the gorgeous boutique hotel in Puebla – Meson Sacristia de la Compañia . This Puebla hotel is a sight for sore eyes – a vibrant pink courtyard, carefully curated antiques, lots leafy plants, pretty filtered light, and thoughtfully decorated
Contemplating a quick trip to Puebla? Many people skip over this huge, historic city, but if you have even a couple of days to detour here, you’ll find tons of cool things to do in Puebla city. So I’ve put together a quick Puebla travel guide to tell you my favorite highlights. You could easily
I recently found out about a new trip planning tool called Relovate that I’ve been using as my itinerary planner for two upcoming trips. It has some really unique features that I haven’t seen before all in one tool, so I’m excited to tell you more about it! When I plan an upcoming trip, I
El Salvador travel is very off the radar for many, which is exactly the reason I was so interested to visit. During my whirlwind 6 day El Salvador tour with the El Salvador Tourism Board, I visited 10 towns/cities, 4 beaches, 2 volcanoes, 2 local markets, and a coffee farm. I learned so much about the
I’ve already established that my time on the Caribbean island of Roatan was above and beyond anything I expected. I loved this interesting and beautiful island. One of the most surprising parts of my Roatan vacation was my 3 days on the wild and undeveloped East End. The East End of the island receives
Roatan is an beautiful Caribbean island that seems to be on very few non-divers’ radar. It’s actually fairly little known in the travel world in general. This small island is part of a chain of 3 islands in the clear Caribbean waters off the coast of Honduras. Most Roatan travel revolves around exploring the second
A good hotel should tick all the boxes – including location, decor, and amenities. But most importantly, it should feel GOOD to be in. Roatan hotel, Puerta Azul boutique hotel has a great vibe and felt like the perfect retreat for my last 4 days in Roatan. What I loved most about this beautiful Roatan
If you are looking for a boutique hotel near Roatan’s most beautiful beach, West Bay Beach, Ibagari Boutique Hotel is a gem. This West Bay Roatan hotel is beyond gorgeous, in a perfect location, and is both luxurious and relaxing. After spending 10 days on the island of Roatan in Honduras, I am so
In my humble opinion, the Puerto Vallarta beaches south of the city are the most Instagram-worthy, beautiful, and dramatic beaches, and yet they are usually mostly empty. It baffles me because they are SO easy to get to, whether you have a car or are taking the bus. During my last trip to Puerto Vallarta,
When I first found Amantica Lodge online, I immediately fell in love with this Peru luxury hotel. The design of the exclusive villa was everything I look for in a hotel – sleek, hip and beautiful. This seemed like the perfect choice for a boutique hotel Lake Titicaca experience. The stay totally lived up to
I feel like my time in the Cusco region of Peru was nothing short of magical – and I don’t say that lightly. For 3 weeks we spent time in Cusco city, Ollantaytambo, and many of the surrounding towns and ruins. One of my absolute highlights of these weeks was our 3 day tour with
When I found Nautilus Boutique Hotel online, I knew they filled all 3 of my Santa Teresa hotel requirements:◆Jungle plant overload◆Central location to beach and amenities◆Lots of cute details So if you hadn’t already guessed, I loved my time here! I only had 9 days in Costa Rica, so I wanted to make sure that I made
When I found Peace Retreat online, the first thing that I noticed was how flexible their programs were. I’ve wanted to try a yoga retreat for while, but was often turned off by high rates or specific dates that didn’t work with my schedule. The great thing about this Costa Rica Yoga Retreat, is that
Panama saved the best for last. We spent two months in the country traveling to many of the big tourist destinations, but really fell in love with Panama’s Azuero Peninsula during our last two weeks in the country. This area is thought of as the cultural heart of Panama – full of cowboys, ranchos, traditional
Panama really surprised me. In our 2 months in the country I spent time in such varied locations: from the ultra-modern and developed capital city, to Caribbean island towns only accessible by boat, to traditional farming towns with a cowboy culture. While we really enjoyed all the different regions we were able to visit, one area stood
When we mentioned to anyone that we were heading to a hotel in Las Lajas Panama next, we were met with blank stares. Even many locals in the country hadn’t heard of this tiny Pacific town minutes from a wide stretch of black sand beach. So it wasn’t a surprise to us to find this
Our first stop in Panama was Boquete and the timing for us was a bit tricky. We had just come out of an intense week running back and forth seeing family in the States. And the month before that, my husband and I were apart while he worked on a music tour and I continued to
Are you scared of hostels? Do you fear pre-booking a budget hotel, only to walk into the bedroom and find stains on the sheets and cockroaches in the corner? Fear not, there are tons of great budget hotels and hostels in Central America, South America and Mexico. I’ve traveled through this region for years, staying
Mention Tulum and you’ll get some strong opinions. Some people love it, while others think it’s over. I just visited Tulum for the second time, and I loved it just as much as the first time a few years ago. However, because it’s now quite touristy, I think there is a specific way you should
Anytime I have a chance to pass through Mexico City, I’m thrilled. I’ve been lucky enough to spent many months here over the years, staying in tons of airbnbs and hotels from Roma, Condesa, Coyoacan, Anzures, to San Rafael. They all have their own personalities and charms, but El Patio 77 boutique hotel in Mexico
It’s probably pretty obvious by now that Oaxaca is one of my favorite cities in the world. Few places have it beat for its high level of culture, complex food, delicious mezcal, colonial architecture, and surrounding natural beauty. So when I was planning my second trip to the city, I knew what I wanted in my
Visiting the San Bernardo Islands is the final part in my series about the 3 best adventures in beautiful and diverse Colombia. Be sure to check out my previous posts about hiking epic Valle de Cocora and camping Parque Tayrona. Grab my customized map below with accommodation options on the islands and links to book! [thrive_leads
This is part 2 in my 3 part series about the best adventures in Colombia. Head back to my previous post about hiking epic Valle de Cocora. And stay tuned for the final adventure in the series! Here is Part 2 – Parque Tayrona is a national park on the northeast Caribbean coastline of Colombia. It’s well
As I’ve previously mentioned, budget hotels in the Dominican Republic didn’t impress me much. In Mexico or Central America you can find many stylish hostels or quaint local guesthouses in every town, but in the DR it’s much more challenging. The budget options here tended to be a bit rundown, with bare bones furniture and
Are people backpacking Dominican Republic? This was the question that I asked myself before our recent trip. The answer is yes…but the information and online resources are few and far between. Daily I’m bombarded with Groupon and Travelzoo deals to all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic. Yet when I began my search for budget hotels or
My husband and I rented a fantastic apartment in Oaxaca, Mexico for a week in April. The aptly named Casa de los Abuelos (House of the Grandparents) made us feel right at home during our stay. When thinking over the pros and cons for this list, I really struggled to come up with any cons. I think
