Category: Hotels

Essential Travel Tips for Planning Your Own Trip without using a Travel Agent – Portugal Edition!

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I’m not sure how it happened, but at some point my sister and I became the designated travel agents for all of our friends and family. And no, we don’t do it professionally! We just love traveling, we love researching, and we love having memorable and easygoing travel experiences. Ever since our summer abroad in Paris when we were in high school and college, we’ve slowly learned a thing or two about being abroad. It’s always a little overwhelming in the beginning of planning a trip. Flights, hotels, rental cars, day trips, restaurants… it’s a lot to think about it. But if you just focus on one thing at a time, the rest will fall into place. I also wrote this list in the order that I follow throughout the booking process. 🙂 I hope it helps simplify your travel planning!

FLIGHTS

I always start with booking my flight first. It just feels like the “biggest” thing to get out of the way – figuring out the dates! Plus, the plane ticket is usually the largest and most expensive part of traveling so I like to make sure I get the best deal on the plane tickets first and foremost. I typically try to research flight prices on Mondays-Wednesdays when the tickets are usually the cheapest. It’s also helpful to book at 6-8 weeks out for domestic flights and 2-6 months out for international flights. Though, if you’re dates are flexible, I recommend watching the flight prices for a few days (or weeks if you have the time) before making your purchase. I tend to use Booking.com most of the time because it’s easy to find the cheapest flights with their search engine and they offer mix-and-match flights from multiple airlines. Oftentimes, booking directly with an airline site is more expensive. Just make sure to read their refund process because it’s usually different for each airline, even when you book through Booking.com. I tend to do way too much research when it comes to booking flights because I’m always looking for the one with the least amount of layovers for the best price. Yes, sometimes I’ll even make spreadsheets and charts before purchasing… but that’s probably overkill. 🙂 I booked our Portugal trip for 10 days. I always find this to be a good timeline if you’re going to be traveling between two-three cities. And honestly, 10 days wasn’t even enough for Portugal! In Japan, we were there for about 11 days, which felt just about perfect. If you’re spending all of this money on plane tickets, you might as well make it worth your while! And remember, you only live once!

HOTELS

Okay, so you finally pulled the trigger and booked a flight! Yay! After I book a flight, I usually take a few days off to let my brain recharge. Hotel research is a whole other beast. BUT! Booking.com actually offers package deals that include flights and hotels, which makes it even easier! I usually do my initial research on Booking.com and then make sure to read a few reviews on each hotel on Google too before officially deciding. If you’re traveling to Portugal, make sure to check out my blog post – Cute and Affordable Hotels in Porto and Lisbon – for recommendations! I’ve learned the hard way to keep the hotels to a minimum. Meaning, stay in the same hotel for as many nights as possible and avoid switching hotels if you can. It’s such a pain dealing with check-in/check-out times and dragging suitcases down the street and on public transportation. TRUST ME. I recommend only one hotel per city. In many cases, you can take day-trips out of major cities to see landmarks and use your hotel as a home base for the majority of your trip. Also, I definitely recommend reading some travel blogs or reddit posts about the best areas for visitors to stay in for the city you are visiting. You’d be surprised how many people have already done the research for you! Reddit is a lifesaver, in case you haven’t discovered it yet. I use it all the time! You can usually figure out how convenient a hotel is by reading the reviews as well. In Europe, I tend to like hotels that are located near the river, as most European cities were built around waterways. In Porto, I’d recommend the Ribeira and Baixa areas. In Lisbon, we stayed in the Chiado area!

TRANSPORTATION

Booking transportation can be the most stressful part of planning a trip – trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B in a foreign country. Honestly, I just read other people’s travel blogs! After doing a bit of research, I figured out that Omio is one of the easiest ways to book bus and train tickets in Portugal. They have a super easy to use phone app, so just make sure to download it before you go! I booked our train ticket from Porto to Lisbon on the app before we left but I’ve read that you can book train tickets on Omio even on the day of your train ride. You can also book buses and ferries on Omio, all over Europe. It’s a super helpful app! For rental cars, you can also use Booking.com. They always have super competitive rates!

EXPERIENCES AND DAY TRIPS

This is the fun part! What do you want to do while you’re there?! Booking day trips and experiences are the best way to get to know a new country. You can do food tours, ghost tours, boat rides, entertainment, wine tastings, etc. The list goes on and on! I prefer to use Viator for this kind of thing because the experiences usually have a lot of reviews from previous travelers. Sometimes there are multiple versions of the same type of excursion but the schedule of the day is different. They do this so that tour groups don’t run into each other. For example, the Douro Valley Wine Tour with River Cruise that I booked in Portugal had a few different options. You could either do the tour that included two vineyard visits and a boat ride OR a tour that included three vineyard visits without a boat ride. We also did a 3 Hour Food & Wine Tour in Porto, Portugal that we loved – you can read more about it on the blog here! These kinds of tours are typically great for older travelers too because everything is pre-planned and you can choose the tour that works for your accessibility. I try to book at least 2-3 tours/excursions for each trip we take. The tour guides are usually super friendly and willing to share information about their culture and country. You might even find that you make friends through your tour group that you keep up with throughout your travels. And maybe even friends for life!

RESTAURANTS AND FOOD OPTIONS

This can often be the most stressful part of a trip when you’re exhausted, lost, jet-lagged, or starving. Every country is different, which is why I make sure to create a list of restaurant ideas before we even leave for our trip. I make sure to pick restaurants that are close to our hotel for those nights when our feet are throbbing and we just want to hang out in our temporary neighborhood. You can also create your own map using Google My Maps, which is an incredible tool. You can add the restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, landmarks, and anything else you’re planning to do to your map so you can see how far away everything is from each other. Make sure to download your map to make it accessible offline just in case you don’t have wifi or service at some point during your trip.

OTHER TRAVEL TIPS

-Bring a charged power bank with you everywhere. Your phone will die FAST when you’re using it all day for maps, directions, restaurant research, etc.

-Bring a camera! As a photographer, I often bring multiple cameras, but a camera like the Canon G7X Mark II is great for travel because the images are beautiful but the camera itself is super easy to use. You can read more about this camera on my photography blog here! Plus, it’s a tiny point and shoot camera and can fit in your pocket!

-Invest in a rolling suitcase with spinner wheels. These are SO much better than the old school suitcases that you have to drag behind you. It makes the airport experience a million times better, believe me!

-GET AIRTAGS FOR YOUR LUGGAGE! I’ve heard so many nightmare stories about lost luggage. Airtags allow you to track your luggage throughout your trip. Even if you just accidentally leave your suitcase outside of the elevator at your hotel. Airtags are truly amazing. I use them for everything in my life now. Plus, it’s kind of fun to watch your suitcase travel along with you from airport to airport.

I’ll be sure to add more tips as they come to me, but for now, I hope these tips help you in your planning process! Feel free to leave any comments/questions below!

Happy traveling!
❤ Myles Katherine

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Cute and Affordable Hotels in Porto and Lisbon, Portugal – Travel Tips for Couples on a Budget

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I LOVE a good hotel deal. Especially when I’m planning a long trip and I don’t want the majority of my expenses to be a room that I hardly spend any time in. I always have the intention to lay around in the hotel room and sit on the balcony sipping my coffee, but it never really seems to happen. There’s just always too much to do and see outside of my doorstep! But… I do like to have the option to lounge or sip my coffee with a beautiful view. You just never know! 🙂 That’s why I spend a LOT of time researching our hotels before our trips. I read tons of reviews on multiple websites and I scour the internet for discounts and deals. I’m here to save you a bit of that trouble and tell you about the adorable and affordable hotels we stayed in on our recent trip to Portugal! It would simply be unfair of me to keep them a secret! Below, I’ve included our 4 favorite hotels that we stayed in throughout our 10 day trip to Porto and Lisbon.

1. MEMORIA PORTO FLH HOTEL: My absolute favorite hotel in Porto was the Memoria Porto FLH Hotel. I KNEW it was going to be perfect as soon as I stumbled across it because the photos looked incredible. And honestly, it totally lived up to the hype. As with most European hotels, the room wasn’t enormous, but it was super duper clean and we were greeted with a glass of Port after a LONG journey from the United States. It was quiet and peaceful with a lovely view of the river. It was located right next to the gorgeous and historic Church of Saint Francis and was walkable to pretty much everything we did in the city. Just be ready to get a WORKOUT in Porto. The hills are no joke. But I felt so fit and toned when I got home! Make sure to check out Curioso cocktail bar – it’s walkable from the hotel and was home to the best cocktails we had in Porto.

Also, if you’re going to be in Porto for a few days, I definitely recommend this Douro Valley Wine Tour and this 3-Hour Food & Wine Tour. We had the BEST time of both of these tours and our guides were incredible! You can read more about the Douro Valley wine tour here or the 3-hour food and wine tour here! It’s just an absolute necessity to drink Port while you’re in Porto!

Front Entrance of Memoria Porto FLH Hotel

Basic Twin Room

Private Bathroom

Breakfast Area

Cute Entryway

The Port we received upon arrival and the view from the front entrance of the hotel

Beautiful Park Super Close to the Hotel

Church of Saint Francis

2. ACTA THE CLOVER IN PORTO – We only stayed one night at the Acta the Clover but it was so so lovely. We had a large balcony looking over the city and we left the windows open all night long. Our room was facing away from the train station so it was quiet and peaceful. And it’s located super close to the Trinidade metro/train station which is one of the main stations in the city. It felt very fancy, especially the service we received at the front desk. They even had fruit-infused water in the lobby which I always appreciate, especially in Europe. Once again, it’s a pretty small room but that’s just typical of Europe, especially if you’re traveling on a budget. For me though, I care about cleanliness and comfort, and this room was everything we needed. My husband and I argued over whether this hotel was nicer than the Memoria Porto but I think that just shows that they were both amazing!

Double Room

Balcony View

In-room Coffee Bar

3. HOTEL PORTO INTERFACE TRINIDADE BY KAVIA IN PORTO – The Hotel Porto Interface Trinidade was probably the least nice of the three hotels we stayed in in Porto, but it was probably the most convenient. It’s literally right across the street from the major Trinidade train station. You just walk across the street and you’re there. So if you’re short on time and want to stay close to transportation, this is a great option. It was quite loud, even with the windows closed but I don’t mind sleeping with earbuds in. I’ve gotten used to traveling with them though, so it’s not a big deal for me as long as I have those. My husband, however, can sleep through anything so he didn’t even notice. The hotel overall was very clean though and I like that you needed the key card to get in through the front door. It made it feel safer, especially being right across from the train station. It’s a very busy area near lots of shopping and major sites, but it did feel a bit crowded. I preferred the quiet area near Memoria Porto, but my husband liked being closer to the inner part of the city. Once again, it’s pretty small. Don’t do what I did and bring a giant American suitcase with you because it won’t fit anywhere in Europe. You would think I’d learn my lesson by now, but I still haven’t…. I just like to bring all of my cute outfits!! I forgot to take photos before we’d already settled in with our suitcases, so just ignore all of our stuff everywhere. 🙂

Double Room

Private Bathroom

4. BOUTIQUE CHIADO APARTMENTS AND SUITES IN LISBON – The Boutique Chiado Apartments and Suites was my husband’s favorite of the 4 hotels. And thinking back on it now, it was definitely the biggest and most comfortable of them all, especially for an extended stay. It was like a little home away from home. It had a large living room area, a mini kitchen and a separate area for the bedroom. It was absolutely gorgeous and in a great location. The Chiado area has a lot of great restaurants and coffee shops, and is just a short walk to a huge bar scene area if that’s more your vibe. If we ever go back to Lisbon, I will definitely book this hotel again, no question. It was incredibly affordable and we appreciated the extra space, for sure.

Also, just as a quick travel tip, we used Omio to book our train travel between Porto and Lisbon. It took me a while to figure out the best way to book train travel from the US while we were planning. This was by far the easiest and least confusing option. They have a cute and fun app you can use, and the tickets are super affordable. You can find tickets from Porto to Lisbon here!

Hotel Entrance

Double/twin Room Deluxe

Private Bathroom

View from the Living Area

Hotel Entrance

We had such an incredible time in Portugal and the hotels make such a big difference. My family always reaches out to me for hotel recommendations because I love saving money where I can but I’m also not willing to give up my comfort and safety. All of these hotel rooms are perfect for a traveling couple on a budget. I hope this information helps you in your trip planning!

WHERE TO BOOK:

MEMORIA PORTO FLH HOTEL on Expedia.com

ACTA THE CLOVER IN PORTO on Expedia.com

HOTEL PORTO INTERFACE TRINIDADE BY KAVIA IN PORTO on Expedia.com

BOUTIQUE CHIADO APARTMENTS AND SUITES on Expedia.com

TRAIN TRAVEL RECOMMENDATION:

OMIO

Happy travels!

❤ Myles Katherine

Howth and Ireland’s Eye: Easy Day Trip from Dublin Spent on the Coast

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Two years ago I went to Belfast and Northern Ireland for my Master’s program where I conducted research with a team for an amazing organization, Widows Against Violence Empowered (WAVE). WAVE is a trauma support center that provides assistance for those impacted by the Troubles and surrounding conflict in Northern Ireland. It was an enduring, but inspiring project that informed my academic concentration in International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. I won’t forget the people I met, and tangible impact WAVE has on the victims and survivors across Northern Ireland. After almost two weeks of conducting interviews, attending group sessions, and conducting research, I was ready for a solo break to reflect and decompress. I had 24 hours to myself before I headed back home to Washington, DC and decided to spend it in the coastal town of Howth after a friend recommended the area to me.

If you are interested in booking an easy half-day tour to Howth from Dublin, I recommend this one. I traveled on my own, but I’m sure a tour reduces some of the stress!

On my last morning in Belfast, I took the Aircoach bus down from Belfast to Dublin, arriving at the train station. From there I took a Bolt ride (similar to Uber) to my hotel. It was around $25, but it was worth it for the ease. I ended up staying in Sutton on the outskirts of Howth because the hotels and inns in town had already been booked out. My hotel was the Marine Hotel Sutton. It’s a historic waterfront hotel that provided a dose of seaside quaintness.

After I checked in and dropped my bags off, I took a short walk to the Sutton train station and hopped on a short train ride down to Howth.

When I arrived, I decided to do some exploring among the shops and restaurants along the harbor. It’s an easy place to people-watch and just enjoy this cozy corner of the world. I had fun taking photos and popping into some of the cute shops. Similar to my previous Amsterdam post, I brought my 35mm Holga camera with me for unique film shots and am sharing a few black and white photos in this post.

Holga photo

I hadn’t planned to take a boat ride, but there were a few tours offering bookings on the spot that departed every hour. Since it was a foggy day, the captain recommended that I head to Ireland’s Eye, since the coastal tour would be too cloudy to see anything. I took his word for it and was so happy I did. If you’re interested in booking a boat tour ahead of time, see here on GetYourGuide for a few options. You can’t go wrong!

When I boarded the boat, I could see fog in the distance which we headed straight toward. Before I knew it, we were surrounded by fog and I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Mystical indeed! The fog opened quickly and the island appeared before our small tugboat. We off-boarded and were able to roam around at our leisure. There were small beaches and lots of birds, like kittiwakes and guillemots. It was fun to take photos and enjoy the serenity of this little island. I took some time to sit on the beach before the next boat came to take us back to Howth.

Holga photo
Holga photo
Holga photo

After going back through the fog and arriving to shore, I spotted two adorably ugly Irish grey seals. I couldn’t help but giggle and snap a few photos as they bobbed along in the harbor.

My original draw to visiting Howth was to take the hike up on the cliffs and see the lighthouse. I followed my GPS and the pathway along the eastern coastline. There were so many gorgeous spots to take photos and I had only wished my sister was with me so we could have photoshoots!

I spent a couple of hours walking along the coast and its cliffs, taking in the sights and sounds. There were so many birds nesting and cawing along the cliffs and nesting. It was truly stunning. The fog had settled in though, which added to the magic of the day, but also made it difficult to see the full views. I didn’t make it down to the lighthouse because the fog was too thick, but the trail was still striking. The pathway was well-maintained and easy to follow. The photos don’t do the views quite justice and the cliffs were higher up than they even appear!

Holga photo in Howth

After I arrived back into town, I was eager to get to my dinner reservation at 30 Church Street. It was such a cozy restaurant to relax in with a glass of wine after a long day. I indulged in the beet and goat cheese salad and the Supreme of Corn-Fed Chicken. I had a wonderful window seat with views of Saint Mary’s Abbey ruins next door. The lovely end to a day on the coast before I headed back to the hotel for the night.

I recommend this beautiful day or weekend trip next time you’re in Ireland! Reminder to book here if you want a day tour!

❤ Natalie

Top 10 Travel Tips for your first time in Amsterdam, Netherlands

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  • 1. Stay in De Pijp – Staying at the Sir Albert, of course! De Pijp is a down-to-earth neighborhood that is easy to stroll and not quite as noisy as the city center. It is filled with lovely restaurants and has great streets and canals to meander. It’s also a 20-30 minute walk to the city center and red light district or a quick metro ride!
A little duck fancied himself a ride on our vessel
  • 3. Visit the Tony’s Chocolonley Headquarters – Tony’s Chocolonley is a Dutch chocolate company that was created to combat the exploitation in the cocoa manufacturing industry. Not only is its mission important, its chocolate is amazing. Conveniently, its headquarters are based in the heart of Amsterdam. The company has creative flavors, bars, and snacks to choose from. But if nothing on the menu tickles your fancy, then you can actually make your own chocolate bar – amazing, right?!
Blueberry Deluxe with a scoop of saffron ice cream. Heavenly.
  • 6. Try bitterballen. If croquettes and beef stew had a child, it would be a fried baby bitterballen. You simply cannot leave Amsterdam without trying one. We ordered them at cafe t’Smalle, and they were so delicious!
  • 7. Check out a museum – We opted for the Van Gogh museum. You can purchase tickets ahead through the museum’s website. If you prefer to enter through a guided tour, you can purchase tickets and the tour here. While we didn’t do a tour this time, I recommend booking your tickets ahead of time for the day and time slot you want to go. I would set aside a minimum of two hours for the Van Gogh museum. If you’re short on time, the Kattenkabinet (cat museum) is quirky and cool with a lovely gift shop! It only takes 45 minutes to an hour to explore.
  • 8. Enjoy a cocktail date night – The Flying Dutchman was a perfect date spot, but be sure to make reservations! It had an inspiring menu showcasing classic cocktails throughout the ages and a robust whisky collection.

Til next time

❤ Natalie

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