new zealand
New Zealand Oceania Road Trips

How to do a New Zealand North & South Island Roadtrip in 9 days

New Zealand – North and South Island in 9 Days

Thanksgiving was around the corner so we pieced together a last min trip to spend our extra days off in coveted area of New Zealand. Between work obligations, dog sitters, flights, and packing we quickly made it happen by scooping up the last 2 seats on a directly flight into Auckland. It was an intense trip to say the least. We don’t know if/when we would be back so we opted to squeeze everything into one trip or at least as much as we could. So, 8 days and 2,500 miles later (anywhere from 4-8 hours or driving each day), the experiences and sights were well worth it.

With the high cost of excursions and transportation, we wanted to take advantage of ‘freedom camping’ which is allowed in most of the country. Freedom camping is when you stop anywhere in a public area and setup camp for the night or car camp. By cutting down on hotel costs, it allowed us to keep the trip at a reasonable price and still afford to do most of the excursions. We opted for a SUV type vehicle with seats that went flush with the trunk so we could layout the sleeping pads and sleeping bags side by side without much issue. Rodey is about 6’1” and had to lay a little bit on an angle but since Jenni is 5’4” it didn’t really impact her sleeping space. We slept like two peas in a pod. The vehicle we used was a Holden Trax (small SUV / extended sedan so it was less expensive and more fuel efficient yet still big enough for us to sleep in).

With that being said, we had to pack light and effectively — only carry-ons and no checked bags. We each had one carry on with our personal items and we also brought one bag with camping gear and one bag with video/photo gear — no checked bags means no lost bags and more ability to keep our things out of sight when we parked places to go on excursions (as to not tempt thieves). It was a light trip but all the essentials were covered.

new zealand, south island, lake wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu just outside Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand

Packing List for New Zealand 9 day Road Trip

  • Sleeping bags
  • Blowup sleeping pad for each
  • JetBoil stove (no propane — can’t fly with propane. Stove should be cleaned (no residue) to make it into the country)
  • 10 Mountain House freeze dried meals for 2 (all must be closed and sealed to make it through customs)
  • 10 Granola / Energy Bars (all must be closed and sealed to make it through customs)
  • Reusable Water Bottles
  • Drone + Batteries + Charger
  • DSLR + DSLR Charger
  • Laptops (we each brought one)
  • Car AC/DC converter (so we could charge batteries as we drove)
  • Car charger for USB devices + USB cords for phones
  • Swim suits
  • 8 days worth of Socks + 12 days worth underwear
  • Minimal toiletries (small soap / shampoo / conditioner / razor, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, contact solution, sunscreen, hair gel, brush/comb, nail clippers)
  • Cold weather coat ideally that can be zippered down to something lighter
  • Outdoor clothing packed with layering intent (2 pairs of workout pants, 1 pair shorts, 2 tank tops, 2 short sleeve shirts, 1 long sleeve, 2 zip up top, scarf, gloves, hat
  • Hiking shoes and flip flops
  • Sunglasses
  • 2 person tent and tarp

 Score Card: 6.8/10

  • Transportation: 5/10 (the weather in the winter can be dicey and public transit isn’t an easy option, but when you come to New Zealand you should be ready to road-trip (unless you’re on a private tour)
  • Price: 4/10 (Nothing was cheap and the excursions are expensive, but they’re worth it)
  • Safety: 9/10 (we felt safe just about everywhere along the way and didn’t see any signs of crime)
  • Food: 6/10 (the options were limited between the major cities but some of the mom and pop shops were delicious, and the major cities had options galore)
  • Culture: 5/10 (not many cultural experiences)
  • History: 5/10 (we didn’t see many historical sites or historical stops)
  • Excitement: 8/10 (there were many outdoor exciting experiences to take part in)
  • Awe Inspiring: 9/10 (everything was so beautiful and pristine, the sights were unlike anywhere else)
  • Technology Equipped: 3/10 (limited service between cities, make sure to cache a map)
  • Female Friendly: 9/10 (It’s a safe and friendly city for women)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 9/10 (everyone is friendly and there are a lot of solo outdoor activities to take part in)
  • Language Barrier: 10/10 (if you speak English you’re good to go)

Where to go in New Zealand:

If you click on the four corner icon to the right you can open it up in a new window and click on the icons to read the information for each location (pricing, hours, important details) as well as download it or save it to your My Maps for Google to reference during your trip.

New Zealand Road Trip Drive Times (North & South Island):

Note these are during spring months, snowy/icy months may take longer due to poor road conditions.

SFO to Auckland via airplane (15.5 hours)
Auckland (Fly into, pick up rental car)
Auckland to Waitomo Glowworm Caves (2.5 hours)
Waitomo Glowworm Caves to Wellington (6 hours)
Wellington to Pitcon via Ferry (3 hours)
Picton to Franz Josepf Glacier (8.75 hours)
Franz Josepf Glacier to Fox Glacier (0.5 hours)
Fox Glacier to Queenstown (4.75 hours)
Queenstown to Milford Sound (4.25 hours)
Milford Sound back to Queenstown (4.25 hours)
Queenstown to Christchurch (6 hours)
Christchurch to Hamner Springs (2 hours)
Hanmer Springs to Picton (6.25 hours)
Picton to Wellington via Ferry (3 hours)
Wellington to Wai O Tapu (5.5 hours)
Wai O Tapu to Rotura (0.5 hours)
Rotura to Auckland (3.25 hours)
Auckland to SFO via airplane (15.5 hours)

New Zealand Fun Facts:

  • There are 4.5 million people in New Zealand and about 25 million sheep.
  • New Zealand is known for its merino wool.
  • The Monterey Pine accounts for 89% of the forestry in New Zealand. It was brought there in 1859 from North America and found to thrive in the rich soil and warm climate. The warm, wet conditions in New Zealand trick the tree into thinking it’s spring all year round so it reaches full maturity in 30 years opposed to double that in its native area of North America.
  • The only native mammals to New Zealand are the bat and marine mammals. All others that inhabit the area now were brought there by man.
  • Deer were brought over then took over much of the area causing the Fjord areas and other natural wonders to quickly get destroyed and erode from their hooves and trampling. This needed to be stopped to preserved the area so they created a deer farm industry. You’ll see tons of deer fenced in the same manner as (or often times with) sheep and cattle as you drive through the countrysides.

Pro Tips:

  • Cache an offline map through Google Maps — cell service is spotty at best and without a cashed map you’ll lose service once you’re a few miles from most major cities. You’ll be able to use it to locate gas stations, food stops and stay on track when you’re driving.
  • Bring sand fly spray (available at most major stores in NZ). They’re everywhere (especially on beaches), they bite and the bites not only hurt but have a long lasting itch that lingers for days.
  • It rains, a lot. Be aware that if you have an outdoor adventure planned, it may get cancelled if there is bad weather (rain / clouds / snow etc.). If there is something weather contingent you want to do (like helicopter hiking on glaciers) stay in those cities at least 2 days otherwise you may get short changed if they weather isn’t in your favor as you won’t have an opportunity to re-book. In the winter it’s cold and rains even more than in the summer. Be cognizant of the weather for the time of year you plan on going.
  • Earthquakes are frequent in the country, often times roads can be closed for months if an earthquake was bad enough. Be sure to leave enough time to drive alternate routes in the event an earthquake hit and you need a different way to get back or get out. Also, be familiar with earthquake protocol in the event you feel the earth move. Several struck while we were there but luckily they weren’t in the same city when we were. It did cause us to take a different alternate route back from Christchurch to Pittcon which set us back 2 extra hours.
  • If you’re taking the ferry, if you book in advance you can get a better deal. Search for coupon codes as well as they sometimes yield a deep discount
  • Find your favorite chain restaurants for accountable wifi and make them on the driving map so you can stop to do a bit of work if you can’t completely be off the grid
  • We had a very tight schedule and there is a lot to do in New Zealand. We highly recommend at minimum doubling the trip duration (16 days) if you want to squeeze it all in as we felt very rushed. In that instance, drive every other day rather than everyday (and spend more time checking out the sights during the drive as we couldn’t stop that often. It would also give you more time for excursions and adventures in each city. A few of the things we wish we did was the Heli Hike in Franz Josepf, Hector Dolphin Swim in Akaroa Harbor, Kelly Tarlton’s penguin or shark experience, the shark dive in Bluff, the wineries in Picton, Bay of Islands, Hot Water Beach and
  • Leave plenty of time to drive. The roads are mostly 2 lane, small, and squiggly which means you can’t drive too fast. Also, you will want to stop to take in the sights which will set you back. Even when we drove straight through, Goolge Maps estimated times weren’t accurate — it always took us longer to get there (even when we were driving ‘fast’).
  • Cops are out, don’t drive too fast. It’s not worth a ticket. We saw many cops pull people over across the entire country
  • There are very few people on the road past dusk to the point it’s a bit eerie. (Just a heads up)
  • You don’t need a visa from the US but you do need a round trip purchased ticket otherwise they will not let you on the flight (someone on our flight wasn’t able to go because they didn’t have a return ticket booked)
  • We were heavily questioned in customs (set us back 1.5 hours) and ALL of our belongings were hand inspected one by one as well as bio-x-rayed. They have a strict policy about bringing dirt/sand/bugs/food in from other countries so make sure you take this seriously and clean all your gear before you bring it into NZ. We were told because we booked our flight so last minute it caused us to be flagged in their system.
  • Many car rental companies will allow you to rent a car in Auckland, return the car in Wellington and pick up another rental in Christchurch, drive around south Island, return it back in Christchurch then pick it up in Wellington and return it in Auckland (if that makes sense) — all under the same reservation. If you don’t think the wineries near Picton or skydiving near Tasman Abel interest you — I would save time and fly from Wellington to Christchurch. This will easily save you a day in each direction and only costs about $100 RT for the island hopper flight if you plan in advance. When taking in account the cost of the ferry with a vehicle and gas it’s more advantageous to fly between islands.

Experience Highlights:

AJ Hackett Nevis Bungee
Description: A 440′ suspended bungee over a gorge with a stream
Location: Departs Queenstown (South Island) and takes you on a 45 min ride to the bungee location
Cost: $193 USD for the Nevis Bungee, $35 for the spectator (you get to go over to the main pod and watch), $31 for the video
Hours: 8am-8pm but it’s best to book in advance and it may be cancelled if weather is bad (but still goes off if it’s raining)
Website / Tickets: http://www.bungy.co.nz/
Notes: Allow 3-4 hours from arrival at their man location to ground transport to the bungee location and back. Also, parking nearby is difficult, feel free to pop into their main office and they’ll give you information on how to access the nearby (paid) parking lot. Ticketing happens on those streets in Queenstown often so do not park illegally or forget to pay the meter.

aj hackett, nevis bungee, nevis bungy, new zealand, queenstown
AJ Hackett Nevis Bungee in Queenstown

 

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tube It Tour
Description: Glowworms are rare in the world and most abundant in the Waikato area caves, take a trek and see the creatures up close and personal. 
Location: Waitomo (North Island)
Cost: $98 per person usd
Website / Tickets: http://www.caveworld.co.nz/tubeit
Notes: We picked this because it seemed more unique and had availability upon walking in. Looking back, it was a great choice — we felt lucky. The Tube it Tour is family owned and operated on their farm land (the cave entrance is on one edge and takes you under the ground and their farm stretches for acres above. They do small group tours (around 10 people), suit you up in thick wet suits, give you a tube and a headlamp. You’ll be taken down into the caves where they provide a guided tour with great information and some adventure including 2 small watersides and water up to your shoulders in parts (if you’re short — just float through it by holding onto your tube). You’ll start off walking in the dry area then wading in the water as it gets deeper then being tugged on your tube through the ins and outs of the cave all while the glowworms glimmer from above.

new zealand, north island, Waitomo, glowworm, glow worm, caves, tube it, tube
You’ll walk through rolling hills of green to find the cave entrance, tube in hand!
new zealand, north island, Waitomo, glowworm, glow worm, caves, tube it, tube
There are stalactites and stalagmites lining the wet cave!

Milford Sound Nature Cruise
Description: A boat cruise next to all the large waterfalls and a guided tour throughout the sound with a focus on all the animals (penguins, whales, dolphins, etc.)
Location: Milford Sound (South Island)
Cost: $62 per person usd
Website / Tickets: https://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/experiences/cruises/
Notes: We signed up for this same day. The weather was very rainy and there were waterfalls everywhere but during dry times they only have a few permanent waterfalls cascading over the cliffs. If it was dry out, we would have done a longer experience or something more immersive. We saw lot of different animals in their natural environment and the guides were very knowledgeable.

south island, milford sound, nature cruise, boat cruise, new zealand
They provide red rain jackets but if it’s chilly or very wet be sure to bring more layers.

Riverjet Boat Tour and the Squeeze
Description: The riverjet boats were invented in New Zealand as a way to go through the shallow rivers (and were the precursor for the jetski — similar technology) as they only need 4″ deep water! This tour takes you on the riverjet boat through a historical area of Rotorua then into a secret spot where you need to squeeze through tight cliffs in order to access an area filled with thermal activity and waterfalls to play in.
Location: Rotorua (North Island)
Cost: $69 per person usd
Website / Tickets: http://www.riverjet.co.nz/
Notes: The weather was iffy but took a turn for the better so we booked this tour the same day and were pleasantly surprised. The tour guide had a great sense of humor and the experience was information, fun, and different. They will take photos during the adventure but then make you pay for them in the end if you want them (so be sure to bring a waterproof camera if you want your own).  Also, although the boat goes fast and they’ll do spins to showoff it’s technical prowess (it can turn on a dime, literally), things don’t get too knocked around so bring whatever essentials you want (sunglasses, hair clips, water bottles, etc.).

new zealand, the squeeze, north island, rotorua
You’ll reach a waterfall after going through ‘The Squeeze’ that originates from hot springs above! Be sure to take your sunglasses off before you get under it!
new zealand, north island, rotorua
You’ll soon find yourself squeezing through the cliffs on a quest to find the waterfalls!

Costs: $3633 for 2 people for an 8 night / 9 day New Zealand trip that covered the North and South Island (all prices in USD)

  • $499 RT flight from SFO to AKL x 2 people
  • $196 glowworm cave tour for 2
  • $439 total spent on automobile gas
  • $195 Ferry from North Island to South Island for 2 and car
  • $6 propane
  • $193 Bungee Jump at AJ Hackett ticket
  • $35 Bungee Jump spectator ticket
  • $31 Bungee Jump video
  • $160 Ferry from Picton to Wellington (South to North Island) for 2 people and 1 car
  • $458 car rental for 8 days
  • $124 Milford Boat cruise for 2
  • $40 Hanmer Hot Springs for 2
  • $106 Hotel in Milford Sound for 1 night
  • $138 Jetboat + Squeeze Tour for 2 people
  • $45 Wai O Tapu Tickets for 2 including Geyser Eruption
  • $40 Zorbing for 2
  • $100 for GoPro wrist strap
  • $329 spent on food and misc. over the coure of the trip (didn’t eat out much)

Itinerary

  • Friday
    • 9pm arrive at airport
    • 10:45pm depart SFO to AKL
  • Sunday (lost a day due to time change and flight time — flight was 15.5 hrs)
    • 8:55am arrive in Auckland
    • 11:30am finally out of customs
    • 12:30 pick up rental car and pack it up,
    • 3pm Glowworm cave tour in Waitomo
    • 5:30pm hit the road
    • 9:30pm picked car camping spot, made dinner and arranged sleeping space
  • Monday
    • 5am packed up the car and ate breakfast
    • 5:30am hit the road
    • 8:30am ferry to South Island out of Wellington
    • Noon arrived in Picton
    • 12:30 grabbed food for dinner and snacks from a local grocery store and fueled up gas
    • 1pm hit the road
    • 9:30pm arrived in Franz Josepf, found a spot to sleep and made dinner
  • Tuesday
    • 8am Tried to heli hike at Franz glacier but it was cancelled
    • 9am grabbed lunch and gas
    • 10am went to Fox Glacier
    • noon Ate at the nearby lake with sweeping views of Fox Glacier
    • 2pm Tried to heli hike at Fox Glacier, was cancelled
    • 4pm Hiked Fox glacier
    • 5pm Hit the road
    • 10:30pm Stopped just outside Queenstown and setup sleeping arrangements / made dinner
  • Wednesday
    • 6am Packed up the car and drove into Queenstown
    • 7am Went to McDonalds cafe for breakfast and free wifi (caught up on work)
    • 8:30am Went to AJ Hackette and checked In
    • 9:10am Left for the Nevis Bungee
    • Noon Arrived back from Nevis Bungee
    • 1pm Ate lunch at Winnie’s in Queenstown for pizza and walked around downtown Queenstown
    • 3pm blew a fuse in the car (charging too many things at once), searched and found a shop that carried a replacement fuse
    • 4:30pm Left for Milford Sound
    • 9:30pm arrived in Milford Sound, grabbed the last hotel spot and treated ourselves to a comfy nights sleep and a hot shower
  • Thursday
    • 8am Woke up, used the internet, checked out, then filled up gas
    • 9am Went to the main lodge and signed up for a boat cruise and grabbed breakfast
    • 10am Took the Milford Sound Nature Cruise
    • 12:30pm Left for Queenstown
    • 5:30pm arrived in Queenstown, filled up gas, grabbed dinner
    • 6pm Headed for Christchurch
    • 10:30pm found a spot to stop, made dinner and went to bed
  • Friday
    • 8am woke up, packed up, headed out
    • 10:30am arrived in Christchurch, dolphin excursion was cancelled so headed toward Picton (*Had to take the long way, earthquake took out roads near Kaikoura)
    • 11:30 Stopped at a nearby beach
    • 12:30 grabbed lunch
    • 1:30 Hit the road
    • 4pm Stopped in Hanmer Springs for hot-spring action and grocery shopping
    • 5pm headed toward Picton
    • 9pm packed up for the night and made dinner
  • Saturday
    • 5:30am woke up and finished the drive to Picton, stopped to take photos as there were rainbows everywhere
    • 9am checked in for the Ferry
    • 9:30am Ferry from Picton to Wellington
    • 1pm arrived in Wellington
    • 1:30p grabbed lunch just outside of Wellington then headed toward Wau O Tapu
    • 4:30pm Stopped in Taihape to fill up gas and check out their gumboot throwing exhibit
    • 8pm Made it to Wai o Tapu and checked out the bubbling pits that were outside the park
    • 9pm found a spot to sleep, made dinner, setup the car
  • Sunday
    • 8am woke up and packed up the car, headed into town to fuel up and grab breakfast
    • 10:15am Wai O Tapu Lady Knox Geyser eruption
    • 11am Riverboat and Squeeze tour in Mihi
    • 1:30 back to Wai O Taipu to check out the thermals
    • 3pm head toward Rotoura
    • 4pm Zorbing
    • 5:30pm Drove toward Auckland
    • Stopped in Hobbiton for some photos
    • 9pm Made it into Auckland
    • 9pm Grabbed a sushi dinner & fueled up
    • 10pm found a spot to sleep
  • Monday
    • 8am left to see some of the Auckland sights
    • 9am hiked nearby hills
    • 10am Grabbed Lunch
    • 11am Filled up Gas
    • 11:30am Returned rental
    • Noon Went to the Airport
    • 2:10p Flight took off from AKL
    • 6am PST Arrived in SFO (gained a day due to time change and flight time — flight was 15.5 hours)

Unique Takeaways:

  • It’s like a magical wonderland with little pockets of just about everything you could want in nature and adventure opportunities. Visiting New Zealand allows you to enjoy so many earthly experiences in one (small) country from skydiving to bungee jumping to shark diving to dolphin swimming in the wild to geysers to zorbing to spelunking to waterfalls to penguins to hot springs to glaciers to wineries to forests to rainbows and more. Words and photos will never do it justice.
fox glacier, hike, south island, new zealand
Ample hikes near Fox Glacier with spectacular views and beautiful bridges
fox glacier, hike, south island, new zealand
Quick hike open to the general public leads you up Fox glacier so you can get a good look at the fast melting ice. See it before it’s gone as it recedes quicker than the ice is being replenished!
picton, new zealand, south island, winery, rainbow
Rainbows were all over on our drive to Picton, spreading their colors over all the vineyards.
wai o tapu, hot springs, geothermal, thermals, colors
Wai O Tapu has thermals and hot springs with amazing colors
new zealand, gumboot, throwing, north island
Taihape is known for the gumboots, and they get really into it. Stop by and take a stab at throwing one! I beat out Rodney!
winnies, new zealand, pizza, queenstown, south island
Some yummy pizza and a salad at Winnie’s in Queenstown!
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costa rica, liberia, travel, adventure, rodney, 60seconds, central america
Central America Costa Rica Travel

72 hours in Costa Rica – Everything you Need to Know

Liberia, Costa Rica

We went on a trip to Costa Rica because he had a free hotel resort stay. It was one of those things you pay a low price for but they make you sit through a 1-2 hour sales pitch. We had to book it in advance and unfortunately cut our stay 2 nights short because of poor weather getting out. Regardless, we didn’t have high expectations but had a lot of fun (and have a lot we still want to go back and do).

 Score Card: 6/10

  • Transportation: 7/10 (few people rent vehicles, most locals drive scooters or motorcycles. However, despite the poor roads in certain areas, most places that are tourist friendly provide shuttles and pickup/drop off services to accommodate your needs. We had a free shuttle from the hotel pick us up and drop us back off at the airport)
  • Price: 8/10 (The excursions were what you would expect elsewhere but food/drinks/hotel prices are a lot less than elsewhere for the quality of service you’re getting)
  • Safety: 6/10 (the town itself is poor and when in a tourist area I felt safe but wouldn’t go anywhere on my own at night. I was also told that a lot of excursion vendors scam and to be aware of this before ‘buying’ anything from people off the property)
  • Food: 7/10 (the resort had a vast assortment of food and drinks. It was amazing but it was pretty good for a free daily buffet and the drinks were on the more delicious side)
  • Culture: 6/10 (The resort didn’t have a lot of cultural activities, everything was centered around tourist excursions and breathtaking views)
  • History: 5/10 (We didn’t see many historical options but wouldn’t expect that in a tropical resort setting)
  • Excitement: 6/10 (it was more of a leisure trip with the excitement being that we were relaxing. However, there were exciting outdoor excursions to take part in if one so chooses)
  • Awe Inspiring: 7/10 (the beach and water were beautiful although it was, at the end of the day, a beach)
  • Technology Equipped: 6/10 (Our resort had cell and wifi service for some providers but not others and it would sometimes go in and out)
  • Female Friendly: 7/10 (A resort like this would be fun on an all girls trip as the food and drinks are free, plus lounging, tanning and taking in the beauty)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 3/10 (because it’s a resort town, it’s best enjoyed with people you know / people you’re traveling with)
  • Language Barrier: 7/10 (Most of the staff spoke English but once you found the maids, they didn’t and many of the people outside the resort didn’t speak or understand English)

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • Costa Rica has had cases of the Zika virus and is currently at a level 2 warning by the CDC. With that being said, the resorts take the situation seriously and the most spray constantly for mosquitoes. We didn’t get any bug bites but had mosquito repellent bracelets on at all times.
  • An all inclusive resort isn’t very expensive but, because it covers food and drinks, makes the trip well worth it if you plan on staying within the confines of the property rather than going into town for dinner. The resort we stayed at had okay food but no room service and the one food facility was only open certain hours.
  • Locals preferred USD, when we tried to use the local currency (Colones) we were typically overcharged by double.
  • Outside the hotel tipping is almost always included but in tourist areas menus will usually say ‘Service Charge NOT included’ when you get the bill (in which case you should tip)
  • There is a $29 fee when departing as a Costa Rican tax. Paying by CC charges a large fee so it’s best to have cash on hand for this.
  • Police can ask you for a copy of your passport and papers anytime so always have them on hand. (This never happened to us but can happen so you want to be prepared).
  • Typical tipping is $10USD/5000c for tour guides and $1/500c for bell hops
  • If you’re going snorkeling, we encountered very small stinging jellyfish. We highly recommend checking the water / asking natives before getting in or wearing a layer of protections (as they hurt – but aren’t deadly).

costa rica, liberia, travel, adventure, rodney, 60seconds, central america

Experience Highlights:

Playa Hermosa
Description: Quiet beach just outside the resort
Cost: free
Hours: 24/7
Notes: We rented a stand up paddle board for $30 for 2 hours and paddled to the remote islands just off the shore for uninterrupted snorkeling where we saw dozens of puffer fish! It also had amazing views of the full moon at night where we were able to have a quiet walk on the beach with no one else in sight!

costa rica, liberia, travel, adventure, rodney, 60seconds, central americacosta rica, liberia, travel, adventure, rodney, 60seconds, central america

Costs: $729.96 for 2 people for a 2 night, 3 day Experience in all-inclusive Resort (would have been 5 nights if our flight wasn’t cancelled/rescheduled)

  • $15 Uber to airport from SFO
  • $285.98 RT flight from SFO to LIR x 2 people
  • $30 Stand up paddle board x 2 people
  • $15 Uber from SFO home
  • $10 in tips
  • $29 Costa Rica departure tax x 2 people

costa rica, liberia, travel, adventure, rodney, 60seconds, central america

Itinerary

  • Friday 11/11/2016
    • 11:15pm red-eye flight from SFO to ORD (arriving at 5:15 am Sat)
  • Saturday 11/12/2016
    • 7:45am ORD (Chicago O’Hare) to LIR (arriving at 12:50 pm in Liberia, Costa Rica)
    • 2:30p Exited customs and into the shuttle provided by the hotel
    • 4pm made it to the hotel (heavy traffic on the road in/out of the airport during peak hours caused a delay) and got settled in
    • 5pm Had dinner and drinks, chatted the night away as we overlooked the beach/cove
  • Sunday 11/13/2016
    • 10am Mandatory sales pitch meeting, lasted 1.5 hours
    • noon Rented SUP and went snorkeling
    • 3pm walked around the venue to check out the views
    • 4pm napped
    • 5pm got ready for dinner
    • 6pm Had dinner and drinks
    • 8pm Went exploring the properties amenities (hotel, pool, etc.) — ran into a family of raccoons
    • 10pm took a late night stroll on the beach as there was a big full moon out
  • Monday 11/14/2016
    • 8am Ate breakfast then took one last walk on the beach
    • 10am Depart hotel for airport
    • 12:35pm LIR to HOU (arriving at 5:15 pm In HOU)
    • 7:4pm HOU to SFO (arriving at 10pm in SFO)

Unique Takeaways:

  • There are a lot of amazing excursions we missed out on. We did a lot of research and highly recommend checking these out if you get a chance: Buena Vista ($80/pp for ziplinging / slide / hot spring / mud bath), El Coco (white sand beach), Palo Verde National Park (hike, $12/pp), Catarata Llanos de Cortes (Waterfall), gyrocoptering (Tamarindo), ATV/Extreme Zip Lining (Flamingo Adventures $109/pp), Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserver (hanging bridges, Baja del toro), Rincon de la vieja ($52/pp

costa rica, liberia, travel, adventure, rodney, 60seconds, central america

punta cana, dominican republic, Paradisus, all inclusive, resort, hotel
Central America Dominican Republic Travel

60 Seconds of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

We were taken on a trip to Punta Cana by his company and had a fabulous time basking in the life of leisure in a tropical paradise where we had no worries and no expectations. It was fun filled with a lot of downtime while soaking up vitamin D in the beautiful Dominican Republic.

 Score Card: 5.8/10

  • Transportation: 5/10 (few people rent vehicles, most locals drive scooters or motorcycles. However, despite the poor roads in certain areas, most places that are tourist friendly provide shuttles and pickup/drop off services to accommodate your needs)
  • Price: 5/10 (The excursions were what you would expect elsewhere but food/drinks/hotel prices are a lot less than elsewhere for the quality of service you’re getting)
  • Safety: 5/10 (the town itself is poor and when in a tourist area I felt safe but wouldn’t go anywhere on my own at night)
  • Food: 8/10 (the resort had a vast assortment of food, it was delicious)
  • Culture: 8/10 (There were a lot of local flavor in all that we did from the music to the dances to the hospitality)
  • History: 5/10 (We didn’t see many historical options but wouldn’t expect that in a tropical resort setting)
  • Excitement: 6/10 (it was more of a leisure trip with the excitement being that we were relaxing. However, there were exciting outdoor excursions to take part in if one so chooses)
  • Awe Inspiring: 7/10 (the beach and water were beautiful although it was, at the end of the day, a beach)
  • Technology Equipped: 6/10 (Our resort has cell and wifi service for some providers but not others and it would sometimes go in and out)
  • Female Friendly: 7/10 (A resort like this would be fun on an all girls trip as the food and drinks are free, plus lounging, tanning and taking in the beauty)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 2/10 (because it’s a resort town, it’s best enjoyed with people you know / people you’re traveling with)
  • Language Barrier: 6/10 (Most of the staff spoke English but once you found the maids, they didn’t and many of the people outside the resort didn’t speak or understand English)

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • The Dominican Republic has had cases of the Zika virus and is currently at a level 2 warning by the CDC. With that being said, the resorts take the situation seriously and the most spray constantly for mosquitoes. We didn’t see any mosquitoes while at the resort but did see some while at the airport. Bring bug spray!
  • An all inclusive resort isn’t very expensive but, because it covers food and drinks, makes the trip well worth it if you plan on staying within the confines of the property rather than going into town for dinner. The resort we stayed at had amazing food options and room service.

Experience Highlights:

Paradisus
Description: The Royal Service package from their hotel is amazing, it’s not only all inclusive but has a butler service with 24/7 assistance, premium drinks, a fwe Royal Service only restaurants, and a Royal Service only beach plus 2 beach bars and a juice bar.
Location: Playa de Bavaro, Punta Cana 00000, Dominican Republic
Cost: $165 and up depending on the dates and the level of service. The enitre resort is all inclusive, though.
Hours: 24/7
Website / Tickets: http://www.paradisus.com/
Notes: Take advantage of all the beach excursions and enjoy the beautiful weather! Booking online through a third party bundling service may yield better rates than what you get on the beach or through the vendors direct website
paradisus, paradisus resort, punta cana, dominican republic paradisus, paradisus resort, punta cana, dominican republic

Pearl
Description: A hopping dayclub that turns into a nightclub only a few times a year
Location: Cabeza de Toro Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Cost: Varies depending on the date, arrival time and what you are going there for (they have restaurants on the property too)
Hours: 9am until midnight or 1am depending on the day
Website / Tickets: http://www.pearlbeachclub.com/
Notes: The stage is flanked by cabanas and the entire area is surrounded by a pool. The property is on the beach and beautiful

punta cana, dominican republic, pearl, nightclubpunta cana, dominican republic, pearl, nightclubpunta cana, dominican republic, pearl, nightclub, tom & collins, tom, collins, DJ, edm, edc

Costs: $80 for 2 people for a 5 night, 6 day Experience (would have been $2036 if his company didn’t pay for it)

  • His company provided all inclusive hotel with complimentary airport pick up (retails for $200+ per night depending on the night and level of service (with or without a butler, etc.)
  • His company provided airfare (the total for both round trip flights was $550)
  • His company paid for pirate experience and dinner with complimentary hotel pickup (retails for $114 per person)
  • His company paid for cruise and snorkel experience with complimentary hotel pickup (retails for $89 per person)
  • His company paid expenses at the club — n/a, would have went to club in resort
  • $60 ($30 each) Parasailing
  • $20 dinner at the airport before leaving

Itinerary

  • Monday
    • 11:55pm red-eye flight from SFO to Charlotte
  • Tuesday
    • 9:25am flight from Charlotte to Punta cana
    • 1pm land in Punta Cana and go through customs
    • 3pm take shuttle and check into hotel
    • 5pm Dinner at Fuego in the resort
    • 7pm meet other employees
  • Wednesday
    • 9am Order room service breakfast
    • 11am Lay by the beach
    • Noon Grab lunch at the resort
    • Check out spa on the resort property
    • 5pm mixer event
    • 6pm fine dining company dinner at Passion in the resort
    • 9pm dancing at a club on the resort property – Red Lounge
  • Thursday
    • 9am order room service for breakfast
    • 10am take complimentary shuttle and go on a boat cruise plus snorkeling
    • 2pm arrive back at the hotel and grab lunch then get ready
    • 6pm take shuttle to Pirate cruise and dinner excursion
    • 9:30pm head back to the hotel to go dancing at Gabi
  • Friday
    • 9am room service for breakfast
    • 11am take part in beach volleyball
    • 3pm do a walk through for the nights event at Pearl
    • 5:30pm order room service for dinner
    • 7pm go to Pearl on complimentary shuttle and setup
    • 8pm Pearl awards event starts and it starts raining
    • 9:30pm Pearl turns into club and everyone dances in the rain while Tom & Collins DJ
    • 1:30am ride back to hotel on complimentary shuttle
  • Saturday
    • 10am wake up and order room service
    • 11am head to the beach
    • 1pm go parasailing
    • 3pm take a nap on the beach
    • 6pm go to dinner on the resort property
  • Sunday
    • 9am wake up and order room service for breakfast
    • 11am take shuttle to the airport
    • 11:30am grab lunch at the airport
    • 2pm flight from Punta Cana to Houston
    • 6pm dinner at the United Lounge in Houston
    • 7pm flight from Houston to SFO
    • midnight, land in SFO

Unique Takeaways:

  • Punta Cana loves tourists as it’s their main form of income, the drivers yelled tourists out the window while driving us to/from our excursions and the people parted to make way.  It has a lot to offer, is inexpensive compared to other destinations and a beautiful place to relax. Be sure to look out the window of your plane as you’re about to land and check out the clear, blue ocean waters.
medford, oregon, crater lake, rim, road trip, natural wonders,
North America Oregon Road Trips Small Towns Travel

48 hours in Medford, OR

Medford, Oregon – Crater Lake and more!

Memorial day weekend was upon us and we wanted to go somewhere different so we picked Medford, OR. It was a short flight from San Francisco and there were seats available despite a last minute booking! We weren’t sure what was there but were going to wing it and make the most!

 Score Card: 7.0/10

  • Transportation: 5/10 (the weather in the winter can be dicey and public transit isn’t an option, but when you come to Medford you’re ready to road-trip)
  • Price: 6/10 (most things are slightly less expensive than we were accustom to)
  • Safety: 9/10 (we felt safe just about everywhere along the way and didn’t see any signs of crime)
  • Food: 6/10 (the options were limited but some of the mom and pop shops were delicious)
  • Culture: 5/10 (not many cultural experiences)
  • History: 7/10 (there were a lot of historical options if you seek them out)
  • Excitement: 7/10 (there were many outdoor exciting experiences to take part in)
  • Awe Inspiring: 9/10 (everything was so beautiful and pristine, the sights were unlike anywhere else)
  • Technology Equipped: 2/10 (limited service outside of Medford)
  • Female Friendly: 9/10 (It’s a safe and friendly city for women)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 9/10 (everyone is friendly and there are a lot of solo outdoor activities to take part in)
  • Language Barrier: 10/10 (if you speak English you’re good to go)

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • Cache an offline map through Google Maps — cell service is spotty at best and without a cashed map you’ll lose service once you’re a few miles from Medford. You’ll be able to use it to located gas stations, food stops and stay on track when you’re driving.
  • Bring a hammock (unless it’s cold out) as there are so many beautiful places to throw it up and take a nap. We like the hammock and straps from Eno.
  • Bring bug spray for the spring, summer, fall months as the mosquitoes are out in full force

Experience Highlights:

Lake of the Woods
Description: Just an hour or so from Medford, this beautiful place is a great solo, couple or family spot to enjoy mother nature. It is accented by red wood chairs throughout to give it that throwback, childhood feeling.
Location: 14700 Highway 140 EKlamath Falls, OR
Cost: $5 to park, boat/kayak/paddle boat rentals are available along with cabins and food for an extra charge
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Website / Tickets: http://lakeofthewoodsresort.com/
Notes: It has a beautiful view of the rolling mountains calmed by a sizable lake surrounded by tall, green trees — very picturesque.

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Crater Lake
Description: To some it’s considered a wonder of the world but one thing is certain, it’s awe inspiring.
Location: 42°54’50.9″N 122°09’04.7″W
Cost: $15 to enter the park and it’s good for a few days if you wish to come back. There are a few free days (consult the national park schedule for free days).
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Website / Tickets: https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
Notes: The stillness of the lake, reflective nature with the island surrounded by a rim of rock — makes for something out of this world. It was a former volcano (Mount Mazama) which, once it exploded about 7,700 years ago, gave rise to the crater like appearance.  It’s the 5th oldest national park and the deepest lake in the United states at 1,949 feet. You can check the webcam on the national park site to see if the clouds are obscuring the lake and thus there isn’t a view.medford, oregon, crater lake, rim, road trip, natural wonders, 20160528_163457
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Diamond Lake
Description: It’s a smaller lake and the amenities are not as well kept as Lake of the Woods or Crater Lake but still a nice area.
Location: 350 Resort Dr Diamond Lake, OR
Cost: It’s free to enter. They have cabin, boat and ammeities for an extra fee.
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Website / Tickets: http://www.diamondlake.net/home.aspx
Notes: The mosquitoes get crazy at night, bring bug spray!

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Costs: $880 for 2 people for a 2 night, 3 day Crater Lake / Medford trip

  • $400 ($200 RT per person) from SFO to Medford, OR and back
  • $91 car rental for 2 days
  • $41 gas for car rental
  • $138 hotel for first night
  • $80 hotel for second night
  • $25 dinner during Warriors game
  • $25 lunch at Lake of the Woods
  • $24 snacks for the road trip
  • $36 parking at the airport
  • $15 entry to Crater Lake
  • $5 entry to Lake of the Woods

Itinerary

  • Friday
    • 8pm Leave SFO
    • 9:30pm land in Medford, grab the rental then head to the hotel
  • Saturday
    • 10am eat breakfast at the hotel then head toward Crater Lake
    • noon Stop at Lake of the Woods to bask in its glory and grab lunch
    • 2pm Arrive at Crater Lake, take in the awe inspiring view then drive along the rim
    • 5pm Arrive at Mirror Lake
    • 6pm Head back to Medford to watch the Warriors game
    • 8pm Head to the hotel
  • Sunday
    • 8am Eat Breakfast, pack, then head to the airport
    • 10:30am fly out of Medford to SFO

Unique Takeaways:

  • On a calm, clear, sunny day — Crater Lake is the only place you need to be. Its beauty is captivating and unreal — there isn’t a photo that does it justice. Take your time at the lookouts from various vantage points, it’s a place you’ll want to remember.
Big Cities Hawaii North America Travel

60 Seconds of Oahu, Hawai’i

Oahu, Hawai’i – Honolulu, North Beach, Waikiki and more!

Oahu, Hawai’i is a popular vacation spot for American’s and international guests alike, it was a matter of time before we ventured to the sliver of US soil surrounded by water. With only a few days there, we wanted to make the most and engaged in a lot of fun activities (and celebrity sightings).

 Score Card: 7.5/10

  • Transportation: 5/10 (if you want to get around in the morning or late evening, the roads are clear. Most other times you’ll find yourself in traffic. Public transit was available but generally inconvenient and slow.)
  • Price: 6/10 (some things are inexpensive like snorkel and surfboard rentals but other things are slightly above average like hotels and car rentals)
  • Safety: 5/10 (we were warned about theft on several occasions and heard about crime on the news but didn’t see anything ourselves)
  • Food: 8/10 (there was food around every corner and there was something for all pallets and tastes)
  • Culture: 8/10 (Hawaiian experiences were plentiful but most of the time they were paid experiences)
  • History: 7/10 (Pearl Harbor was the center historical experience but the geographical history was abundant as well)
  • Excitement: 7/10 (there were many outdoor exciting experiences to take part in)
  • Awe Inspiring: 8/10 (beauty was there to take in if you took a second to look around)
  • Technology Equipped: 9/10 (we had service in most areas and traveled around most of the island)
  • Female Friendly: 9/10 (It’s a safe and friendly city for women)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 9/10 (everyone is friendly and there are a lot of solo outdoor activities to take part in as well)
  • Language Barrier: 10/10 (if you speak English you’re good to go, if you speak Japanese it’s the second most popular language)

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • Renting a car from the airport is more economical than elsewhere, from our experience.
  • Hotels get pricey but Airbnb has lodging options that are much more affordable if you can book in advance!
  • There are a lot of deals in Waikiki for excursions elsewhere for up to 50% off. If possible, shop online for deals or wait until you get there an get an even better deal on shark dives, turtle snorkels, etc.
  • There are a lot of cool things to see and do in Oahu but you’ll need a car to get around OR take advantage of the shuttles many of the excursions provide from Waikiki.

Experience Highlights:

Sharks Cove
Description: Contrary to the name, Sharks cove isn’t home to any sharks (that we’re aware of) but is home to a lot of turtles, little seas creatures and fishies! There is a spot across the street from it where you can rent snorkels for $15 for the day (North Shore Surf Shop).
Location: 59-712 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
Cost: free – $15
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Website / Tickets: n/a
Notes: It’s less popular than some other locations BUT we think the wildlife and just as plentiful if not more and because there are fewer people, it’s a more peaceful snorkeling experience.
IMG_0611-1sharks cove, turtle, selfie, snorkel, snorkeling, oahu, north shore, hawaii

Hawaiian Style Rentals
Description: Grab a scooter and breeze around town!
Location: 2556 Lemon Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815
Cost: $35+
Hours: they have rentals until 5pm (when the venue closes) and longer
Website / Tickets: HawaiianStyleRentals.com
Notes: They push a $25 insurance fee, unless you’re returning it past business hours — we felt like our scooters were safe when we locked them up as were instructed20160612_073634

Waikiki Beach
Description: Go surfing, go scuba diving, do snorkeling, enjoy the nightlife, etc. — it’s the lively place on the roughly 39sq mile island
Location: Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, HI 96815
Cost: free+
Hours: n/a
Website / Tickets: n/a
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Kapena Falls
Description: This secret spot is right off the main road, only a 1/2 mile hike in and will breath life into waterfall jumpers hearts.  Park in the cemetery parking lot near the back. You’ll notice a trail that starts where the building and the parking lot meet — follow it back and after a few minutes you’ll see the waterfall. Walk across the stream and then follow the train up to the top – jump at your own risk
Location: 2302 Pali Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96813
Cost: free
Hours: Before the cemetery closes
Website / Tickets: n/a20160612_161703-01-1

Pacific Skydiving
Description: If you want a beautiful tandem or fun jumper parachuting experience — this is your place. It’s along the ocean so you’ll have breathtaking views as you hurl toward earth. 
Location: 68-760 Farrington Hwy, Waialua, HI 96791
Cost: $149+ for tandems, $30+ for fun jumpers
Hours: they open at 6am with the first group going up before 7am (weather permitting)
Website / Tickets: PacificSkydivingHonolulu.com
Notes: Their staff is very nice and they do a good job accommodating people that are staying in Waikiki with a free shuttle at least twice a day with online reservations.  Get there early if you are walking in as the winds pick up as the day goes on and it’s common for them to be done on or before 11am due to strong winds. 20160613_083934

Costs: $1750 for 2 people for a 4 night, 5 day Oahu trip

  • $800 ($400 round trip flight from SFO to HNL (Honolulu International Airport) x 2 people)
  • $30 ($10 x 3) Haleiwa Bowls Acia Surf Bowl shared
  • $45 car rental for the day
  • $188 Hotel rental for the night
  • $105 scooter rental for the day including theft insurance
  • $16 Breakfast shared
  • $30 ($15 x 2) Snorkel Rental
  • $75 ‘Fun Jumper’ costs for gear rental ($35), parachute packing ($10), and airplane ticket ($30)
  • $35 breakfast at the resort shared
  • $160 ( $80 each) Shark dive
  • $100 Roy’s meal and dessert (shared)
  • $75 Morimoto dinner and dessert (shared)
  • $25 dinner in Waikiki (shared)
  • $26 dinner in Waikiki (shared)
  • $25 lunch at burger join (shared)
  • $15 surfboard rental
  • $ 0.00 resort cost was comp’d for 3 nights as we stayed with a friend

Itinerary

  • Thursday
    • 1pm Leave SFO
    • 3pm land in Honolulu and head to the Resort
    • 5pm: head to dinner at Roy’s for 6pm reservation
  • Friday
    • 6am leave for the Shark Diving adventure and grab snacks on the way
    • 8am Shark Diving Appointment, go in cages and observe sharks
    • 10am Haleiwa Bowls for a snack
    • Noon Stand Up Paddle board rental
    • Grab lunch at Kua Aina Burger
    • 2:30pm Head back to hotel, take scenic route around east side of the island
    • 6:30pm dinner reservation at Morimoto’s
  • Saturday
    • 9am breakfast at the Resort
    • 10:30am go to pickup scooters and grab snacks
    • Noon stop at Makapuu beach to play
    • 5pm Grab lunch/dinner in Waikiki
    • 6pm Spend time in the hot tub at the resort
  • Sunday
    • 7:30am return scooter rental in Waikiki
    • 8:30am grab breakfast at Eggs N Things
    • 9:30am check into Waikiki hotel on the beach
    • 10am rent surfboards
    • 12:30 head out for lunch near the hotel
    • 2:30 grab a car rental
    • 3pm head to Kapena falls for waterfall jumping
    • 5pm head back to the hotel
    • 7pm eat leftovers
  • Monday
    • 7am leave for North Shore
    • 8:30am Skydiving experience as a fun jumper
    • 11am check to see if we can get another shark dive in without the cage (they were booked
    • 11:15am have a Haleiwa Bowls for a snack
    • 11:30am rent snorkels and go snorkeling in Sharks Cove
    • 12:15pm head back to the airport
    • 2:30pm return car rental at HNL and head to SFO
    • 11pm land in SFO

Unique Takeaways:

  • It rains a lot, as in almost everyday from what we noticed. However, the rain only lasts a few minutes before it usually passes and the sun comes back out. Thus, there are a lot of rainbows and why it’s so closely associated with the beautiful feature.
  • Island time is thing, if you are expecting fast service change that mindset and give yourself extra time while out to eat
Europe France Road Trips Small Towns Travel

24 hours in Normandy, France

Normandy, France – Road Trip from Paris, France

After a few days in Paris we decided some time in the countryside was necessary and we opted to take a day trip to the Normandy area of France, 3 hours outside Paris, home of the D-day events. A few computer clicks later, we had a car rental ready confirmed for the next morning. It was nice to see the other side of France, get a feel for what happened during D-day and have the freedom to stop whenever, wherever along the way.

 Score Card: 5.6/10

  • Transportation: 4/10 (public transportation is available but difficult to coordinate, the roads are well kept for those that drive but there are a lot of tolls)
  • Price: 5/10 (most things are inexpensive but getting there costs a lot)
  • Safety: 9/10 (although we didn’t lose anything, there were signs and warnings for pickpockets everywhere, and graffiti was found throughout the city)
  • Food: 4/10 (the food options weren’t plentiful or vast, most of the options were mediocre at best)
  • Culture: 6/10 (there is a lot of culture to take part in from swanky bars with cancan dancers to singers on the metros to shops lining the streets on the weekends)
  • History: 9/10 (it was immense, everywhere you looked was something that reflected a part of their history or had a story to tell)
  • Excitement: 5/10 (there weren’t many thrill factors to indulge in)
  • Awe Inspiring: 8/10 (the age of some of the buildings and realizing what went on there left us in awe)
  • Technology Equipped: 3/10 (had limited service throughout, most of the drive was without service but when we drove through a larger city or found a popular destination spot 4G or wifi would be available, if we didn’t cache an offline map we would have had issues getting around)
  • Female Friendly: 9/10 (It’s a safe and friendly city for women)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 4/10 (most of the locals didn’t speak much if any English and being rural, people weren’t in abundance)
  • Language Barrier: 3/10 (once you leave the city, the number of English speakers and their fluency greatly declined. We used translating apps to fill in the gaps that helped a lot. As long as you tried to make an effort, most people were really friendly)

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • Download an offline / cached map on your phone that covers all the areas you plan on visiting as the internet is limited and navigation with the offline map will be much easier as it uses triangulation and you can still search / type in locations to get directions to / from there to / from where you are
  • Most of the major D-day landmarks close at 5pm, getting into the city early will allow you to see and do more
  • The tolls accept credit cards as well as euros. Budget for 20 euros in tolls each way between Paris and Normandy (40 euros total)

Experience Highlights:

Omaha Beach Monument
Description: An amazing beautiful monument in the sand overlooking part of ‘Omaha beach’ paying homage to the D-Day event.
Location: Avenue de la Libération, 14710 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France
Cost: free
Hours: n/a
Website / Tickets: http://www.musee-memorial-omaha.com/
Notes: The monument is easily visible from the street with parking within a 100m (although parking could be difficult on busy days)
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d-day, operation overlord, map, 24hour mark, 24 hour, mark, beaches, normandy, france

Above is a photo of where the troops were deployed (the US were on Utah and Omaha beaches while the British and Canadian troops were on the beaches shown further east). There are lines that show where they wanted to be at the 24 hour mark vs the shaded area of the progress they actually made, but ultimately being victorious and taking back France from the Nazi’s after a few weeks.

Cathedrale Notre Dame de Bayeux
Description: This church is the tallest building in the town dates back to 1077 when William, the Duke of Normandy and King of England, were in power. It is adorned with intricate stained glass windows and if you have a chance to visit the crypt, you’ll see the amazing frescoes.
Location: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Bayeux, 14400 Bayeux, France
Cost: free
Hours: n/a
Website: http://www.notredamedubessin.org/
Notes: Be prepared to wait in line for at least a hour and spend at least 45 minutes walking through the maze of underground passages

Abandoned Hospital – Center Du Vexin – Sanatorium Aincourt
Description: Built in 1933, this hospital was constructed with the purpose of tuberculosis treatment. Later, caught in the middle of WW2, it was taken hold by militia and turned into a concentration camp in 1941. Despite being able to hold 150 people, it quickly fluctuated to over 600 ‘suspected individuals’ with those being held then being sent to places such as Auschwitz. Soon after, in 1942, it was turned into a military training camp and then after the war was reopened as a hospital 1946 only to be finally closed decades later and registered as a historical site since 1992. The ruins exist for 2 of the 3 pavilions (the third still being used by the current hospital in service), the laundry building, morgue and some additional housing.  Currently, it is decorated with graffiti with most windows missing and some walls and ceilings crumbling. The overgrown foliage is taking back the building as it continues to decay. 
Location: 25 Rue des Acacias 95510 Aincourt, France
Cost: free, but enter at your own risk
Hours: n/a
Website: http://www.abandonedabandoned.com/abandoned-tuberculosis-sanatorium-aincourt/
Notes: The area oozes an eerie overtone contrasted by a beautiful wooded setting. We saw 2 militia standing outside a closed road with what appeared to be automatic guns when we were near the current working hospital – so to those interest, enter at your own risk. We parked in the north-western most parking lot, from there you’ll see a path leading into the forest (away from the hospital) and just beyond that you’ll see, in the distance, what looks like a 2-3 story building. Walk about 300 yards on the path (past the danger / warning signs) and you’re there, can’t miss it.
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Costs: 245.80 € for 2 people for a 1 day road trip

  • 58 € Car rental for 1 day (higher rate due to additional rental fee for dropping it off at a different location than it was picked up from)
  • 37.80 € tolls to Normandy and back
  • 90 € gas for car
  • 14 € Battle of Normandy Museum tickets for 2
  • 26 € dinner near Omaha beach at D-Day restaurant for 2
  • 20 € for souvenirs and snacks

Itinerary

  • Sunday
    • 11am: grabbed our rental car but got detoured to a different location as our pickup location was closed (unbeknownst to us) due to the Paris marathon
    • 12:30pm: grabbed our stuff from our Airbnb/checked out and headed out to the French countryside
    • 1:30pm: checked out an abandoned hospital 15 min off the highway in the back of a sleepy town
    • 2:30pm: took a detour and see a mansion but stopped and checked out some cute picturesque farms before we got there then saw a parade of vintage cars cruising by when we finally got to the mansion
    • 4:30pm: made it to the Museum of the Battle of Normandy
    • 6pm: made it to the Omaha monuments
    • 6:45pm: grabbed dinner at a nearby diner
    • 7:15pm: cruised the countryside in search of cute areas for photos and the perfect sunset spot
    • 7:45pm: headed back towards Paris, stopping at Omaha beach again to place a lock
    • 11:35pm: made it back to Paris

Unique Takeaways:

  • The countryside is riddled with historically old homes and buildings that have seen and survived both world wars and surrounded by the most picturesque settings, rolling green hills, flowers, livestock and all that the country was initially built upon.
Big Cities Europe France Travel

5 days in Paris, France — Everywhere You Should Go

Paris, France

An Odesza concert brought us to Paris, France but it being my first time there (and his second), we made it into a full fledged trip to explore the city and the flanking countryside. What a delightful place with so many things to see, places to go, adventures to be had. The Eiffel tower, the iconic Paris landmark, was at every turn — visual from most places in the city and mirrored in the trinkets and emblems throughout.

 Score Card: 7.6/10

  • Transportation: 8/10 (the metro is easy and inexpensive to navigate, and gets you easily around the city. There are also ample bikes to rent and the streets are well kept for driving)
  • Price: 7/10 (it’s not an inexpensive city, although there are plenty of free museums and parks to enjoy but it wasn’t a bank breaker either)
  • Safety: 7/10 (although we didn’t lose anything, there were signs and warnings for pickpockets everywhere, and graffiti was found throughout the city)
  • Food: 7/10 (they had a lot of different food options but not every venue had the best food unless you were willing to spend a lot)
  • Culture: 8/10 (there is a lot of culture to take part in from swanky bars with cancan dancers to singers on the metros to shops lining the streets on the weekends)
  • History: 9/10 (it was immense, everywhere you looked was something that reflected a part of their history)
  • Excitement: 6/10 (there weren’t many thrill factors to indulge in but with some planning you could find yourself in fun spots that get your heart pumping)
  • Awe Inspiring: 8/10 (the age of some of the buildings, stunning beauty at night and proximity to the countryside provided breath taking moments)
  • Technology Equipped: 9/10 (had 4G service throughout and a lot of buildings had free wifi)
  • Female Friendly: 8/10 (It’s a safe city for women aside from petty theft)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 7/10 (the locals spoke a lot of English but weren’t the friendliest – tended to stay in their circle of friends rather than befriend us. However, other tourists were plentiful and eager to chat it up)
  • Language Barrier: 7/10 (most people in the city itself knew at least some English (many spoke it fluently) but once you leave the city, the number of English speakers and their fluency greatly declined. We used translating apps to fill in the gaps that helped a lot. As long as you tried to make an effort, most people were really friendly

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • Make all your reservations for the touristy things (like Eiffel tower tickets, Catacombs, Louvre, etc.) and great dining spots well in advance if you want to minimize wait times
  • Download the Visit Paris by Metro app (on Google’s Play Store). It provides you with metro and RER routes, you can put in locations and it will tell you how to get there. It works with or without GPS and has a host of other features. Makes getting to/from the airport as well as around the city a breeze!
  • Be sure to check out the Eiffel tower at night for one of their light shows on the hour through 1am!
  • Skip getting the unlimited ride metro pass (unless your hotel is on the outskirts of the city) as nearly everything is walkable or less than €2 each way for stops within the city boundary
  • They take credit cards everywhere, cash isn’t necessary but nice to have
  • BNP Paribas is a major bank in France and you can use your Bank of America ATM card there to take out euros without any foreign transaction fees!

Experience Highlights:

Eiffel Tower
Description: The iconic fixture that is synonymous with Paris, a must for any visitor
Location: Paris, France
Cost: 7 € per person to walk up to the second floor / 17 € to take a lift to the summit (free to walk around the outside on the ground level)
Hours: opens at 9:30a-11pm all year around, 9am-midnight during the summer
Website / Tickets: http://www.toureiffel.paris/en.html
Notes: You do not need tickets in advance to go to the Eiffel tower but it does make your wait much shorter if you do! You can walk to the second floor or take a lift (prices and wait times vary) or you can walk to the second floor then get a ticket to get a lift to the summit (or just take a lift from the ground to the summit). There are cocktails on the summit level and restaurants on the 1st and 2nd level (most need reservations well in advance but you can bypass the need to get a lift ticket if you have reservations at the restaurant). They have a light show in the evening where the building sparkles on the hour for 3-5 minutes, every hour, through 1am. Also, a great spot to get a fabulous instagrammable photo is from the Palais de Chaillot as there is a pond and it creates a reflection of the tower, plus if you go up the stairs it elevates you a bit for a better angle.
paris, france, eiffel tower, tour de eifflel, night, refllectioneiffel tower view, eiffel tower, paris, view, france, landscape, tourist

Catacombs
Description: Lurking under your feet as you walk the city are miles and miles of catacombs. They were dug to execavate limestone used for constructing most of the local buildings and later filled with bones of the decesased for various reasons. It’s a unique location with a lot of history and different vibe.
Location: Paris, France
Cost: 8 € +
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 10am-8pm (last entry is allowed at 7pm)
Website: http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/homepage-catacombs-official-website
Notes: Be prepared to wait in line for at least a hour and spend at least 45 minutes walking through the maze of underground passages

paris, france, catacombs, hidden gem, must see, travelIMG_8190-1

Le Louvre Museum
Description: The former royal palace built in 1190 was turned into a museum in 1793 when King Louis XIV moved the royals residence to Versailles. It is a massive building that has been expanded on over the years and currently encompasses over 625k square feet of space that many great works of art from around the world call home. Famous works include Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch and Winged Victory of Samothrace by Pythokritos of Lindos (to name a few). The entrance is through the iconic Louvre pyramid (see through, glass-like shape made famous by the Da Vinci code movie) which was added to the building during a renovation that was started in 1983 and inaugurated in 1988.
Location: Paris, France
Cost: 15 € +
Hours: 9am-6pm daily
Website: http://www.louvre.fr/en
Notes:  It’s a very large museum, if you are into art dating from the times of ancient Egypt through 19th century classics — leave a lot of time to explore (we called it quits after 4 hours).
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Arc de Triomphe
Description: It is a homage to the Grande Armee (former French army) as the conquered most of Europe and built upon request by Napoleon, the French emperor, in 1806 (and finally completed in 1836 — after his death — at a cost of  9.3 million French francs) which makes it older than the Eiffel tower and extremely expensive for the time. 128 battles of the first French Republic and Napoleon’s Empire are written on the walls along with the names of the generals. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added in 1921 and the ‘eternal flame’ is re-lit every night at 6:30 pm.
Location: Paris, France
Cost: free to see, 8 € + to go in
Hours: 10am-10:30pm daily  (summer hours are extended until 11pm)
Website: http://www.arcdetriompheparis.com/
Notes:  If you want to cross the street to go to the actual Arc de Triomphe, use the underground tunnel located at the Wagram exit of the metro on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side of the circle.

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Printemps
Description: Get a fabulous view of the city from this hidden gem and at no cost to you! Head up to the highest point the elevator takes you then take the escalator to the top where there is a cafe with 360 views of the city and an outdoor terrace.
Location: 64, boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France (Opera / Bourse)
Cost: Free (although not mandatory, you can buy drinks and/or snacks)
Hours: 9:30am-8pm daily (closed Sunday’s)
Website: http://departmentstoreparis.printemps.com/
Notes:  You can see the various churches and, of course, the Eiffel tower. Great spot for brunch on a sunny day, too, or to catch the sunset when that happens before 8pm (as that is when they close).
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Crepe Avenue
Description: You can’t do Paris without crepes and Crepe Avenue does crepes well! With lunch/dinner crepes as well as desert crepes, there is a lot  to choose from! 
Location: Paris, France
Cost: 10 €+ per crepe
Hours: noon-3:30pm & 7-11:30pm everyday except Sunday
Website: http://www.crepeavenue.com/
Notes: It’s a local spot so not everyone working there speaks perfect English. We suggest getting a few different kinds and splitting, for the two of us we got 2 regular crepes and a dessert crepe (we shared them all). It was delicious! To go the traditional local route, enjoy them with a glass of cider.
crepe avenue, paris, france, crepes, restaurants, where to eat, best crepes, delicious crepes, best crepes in paris crepe avenue, paris, france, crepes, restaurants, where to eat, best crepes, delicious crepes, best crepes in paris

Costs: $926 per person for 5 days/4 nights including flight and shared accommodations

  • $800 RT flight from SFO to Paris for 2
  • $72 Odesza tickets for 2
  • $315 Airbnb for 3 nights
  • 20 € RER/metro tickets from CDG airport to Madeline stop in Paris
  • 30 € Louvre tickets for 2
  • 22 € 3 pizza’s from Matteo’s
  • 14 € Eiffel tower tickets for 2
  • 24 € Catacomb tickets for 2
  • 29 € Crepe dinner
  • 36 € Buddha bar
  • 68 € Dinner at Non Coupable
  • 36 € late night pizza & burger at Pizza Pino
  • 58 € Car rental for 1 day
  • 37.80 € tolls to Normandy and back
  • 90 € gas for car
  • 14 € Battle of Normandy tickets for 2
  • 26 € dinner near Omaha beach at D-Day restaurant for 2
  • $130 for metro tickets, trinkets, snacks, lunches, desserts, souvenirs — for 2
    *Converted everything to USD (when 1 dollar = .88 Euros) prior to totaling

Itinerary

  • Wednesday
    • 2:45pm: boarded our flight from SFO to CDG (Paris, France)
  • Thursday
    • 10:30am: arrive din Paris, France
    • 11:30am: hopped on the RER from the airport into Paris, transferred at a station to our stop (Madeline) (Cost: €10 each way)
    • 12:30pm: stopped at a shop outside our metro station and grab some macaroons to celebrate making it to Paris
    • 1pm: got to our Airbnb location and dropped off our bags
    • 2pm: headed to the Louvre
    • 6pm: walked back from the Louvre to our hotel, took a few business calls then grabbed pizza at Matteo’s down the street and snacks for breakfast at the nearby grocery
    • 8pm: fell asleep — could barely keep our eyes open
  • Friday
    • 1pm: woke up much later than anticipate, jet lag got the best of us
    • 1:30pm: walked from our accommodations to the Eiffel Tower
    • 2:30pm: took photos outside the Eiffel tower
    • 3pm: got in line for the Eiffel tower and walked up to the second deck
    • 4:30pm: left the Eiffel tower area and grabbed lunch at a nearby cafe
    • 5pm: walked to the Arc de Triumph
    • 6pm: went to the Catacombs via the metro
    • 7:45pm: left the Catacombs and headed back to our neighborhood
    • 8:30pm: ate crepes for dinner at Crepe Avenue
    • 9:30pm: headed back to our Airbnb
    • 10:30pm: went to Buddha Bar for their 20th anniversary event
    • 12:30am: headed back to our Airbnb
  • Saturday
    • 11am: woke up and ate a quick breakfast
    • 11:30am: went on a 4 mile run to see the Louvre, Love Lock Bridge and Notre Dame Cathedral
    • 1pm: headed back to our Airbnb, grabbed a salad and amazing fresh squeezed orange juice from a nearby grocery store
    • 3pm: got ready for the evening
    • 5:30pm: headed out for dinner
    • 6:30pm: went to Printemps and checked out the view from the rooftop
    • 7:30pm: headed to L’Olympia for the Odesza concert
    • 10:15pm: left the concert and headed back to change my shoes
    • 11:15pm: decided to go explore the city at night
    • 12am: got nearly to the Eiffel tower and noticed a light show, learned that there would be another at 1am, walked around trying to find the best location for photos/videos
    • 1am: saw the Eiffel tower light show where they cut the lights and only the white flashes existed before turning off all the lights for the remainder of the night
    • 1:15am: decided to walk to the Arc de Triumph to see it at night
    • 1:45am: left the Arc de Triump and went on a quest for late night food — nearly everything was closed by 2am
    • 2:20am: found an open pizza place called Pizza Pino (address: 31-33 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France — open until 5am) and grabbed food. Their pizza was delicious but their burger was shockingly even better!
    • 2:45am: walked home to our Airbnb
  • Sunday (Normandy road trip)
    • 11am: grabbed our rental car but got detoured to a different location as our pickup location was closed (unbeknownst to us) due to the Paris marathon
    • 12:30pm: grabbed our stuff from our Airbnb/checked out and headed out to the French countryside
    • 1:30pm: checked out an abandoned hospital 15 min off the highway in the back of a sleepy town
    • 2:30pm: took a detour and see a mansion but stopped and checked out some cute picturesque farms before we got there then saw a parade of vintage cars cruising by when we finally got to the mansion
    • 4:30pm: made it to the Museum of the Battle of Normandy
    • 6pm: made it to the Omaha monuments
    • 6:45pm: grabbed dinner at a nearby diner
    • 7:15pm: cruised the countryside in search of cute areas for photos and the perfect sunset spot
    • 7:45pm: headed back towards Paris, stopping at Omaha beach again to place a lock
    • 11:35pm: made it back to Paris
    • 12am: watched the Eiffel tower light show we barely missed the day prior
  • Monday
    • 1am: saw the second Eiffel tower light show
    • 2am: had a silent disco dance party by ourselves on a roundabout in the streets in the rain (forewent a hotel for the night, decided it was  better to stay up all night so we sleep on the plane and better for fighting jet-lag)
    • 4:30am: headed to the airport to fill up gas, take a 2 hour nap, then return the rental car
    • 8am: entered the airport
    • 10am: got our on our flight from CDG to SFO
    • 12:30pm landed in SFO

Unique Takeaways:

  • As beautiful as the city is during the day, the city comes alive at night. Take time to walk around when the moon is out — love is in the air and the city glows with romance.

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California North America Road Trips Small Towns Travel

24 hours in Big Sur, California

Big Sur, California

When you live in San Francisco and you have a free weekend, you get out of town. For us, we decided to do a road trip to Big Sur. It’s roughly a 3 hour drive each way without stops (shorter than a road trip to Tahoe) but the highway 1 drive is breathtaking.  We’ve both driven through before but wanted to experience more of the area this time around. It didn’t disappoint, Big Sur was magical. Here is our 60 seconds in Big Sur.

 Score Card: 6.5/10

  • Transportation: 4/10 (winding one lane roads with no other ways in/out that sometimes succumb to traffic with no public transportation options. But, the roads are beautiful and well maintained which is why you do the drive.)
  • Price: 5/10 (there are inexpensive and expensive options for food/accommodations to fit your budget and needs)
  • Safety: 9/10 (no graffiti, no pickpockets, no thief incidents, and overall very low crime)
  • Food: 9/10 (Amazing food options served at locations with breathtaking views)
  • Culture: 2/10 (there isn’t a lot of culture as it’s a sleepy town)
  • History: 7/10 (they have US history dating back to the early 1900’s but not much beyond that)
  • Excitement: 6/10 (there weren’t many thrill factors to indulge in but if you are outdoorsy you can find challenging hiking, surfing and fishing spots)
  • Awe Inspiring: 10/10 (everything made us feel in awe of nature and the beauty it holds)
  • Technology Equipped: 1/10 (no service, you’re off the grid unless you find a location to put you on their wifi. For some this good, others this is bad. If you have to be connected, this trip won’t work for you)
  • Female Friendly: 9/10 (It’s a safe city for women)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 9/10 (everywhere we went we met friendly people, if you are looking to make connections on your way people are open to meeting you and hearing your story)

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • Save a Google Offline Map of Big Sur before you leave as you will not have phone service (or bring a real map). We lost service around Caramel and didn’t get it back at any point during the drive south of there. Having the offline map was a lifesaver, we were still able to have triangulation services through our cellphone and thus driving directions while using points that were located on the cached map.
  • Bring cash, the parks require it for parking
  • Make reservations ahead of time for dinner and camping/hotels
  • Get ready to scoop up Esalen hot spring tickets at 9am the day of your trip, well worth it!

Experience Highlights:

Skydive Monterey Bay
Description: What better way to start your day than by racing to the ground! If skydiving is your thing or just on your to-do list this is a great spot to squeeze it in! Make sure the weather is good as they close on days weather won’t permit jumps to happen (just call the night before).
Location: Monterey Bay, CA
Cost: $35+ per person for Fun Jumpers at 18k feet (tandem starts at $179 at 10k feet)
Hours: opens at 8am until mid afternoon, hours are determined by weather and the amount of jumpers signed up
Website / Tickets: www.skydivemontereybay.com
Notes: They have a fast plane to get you to jumping altitude in about 6 minutes andthe highest fun jumper and tandem jumps at 18k feet with beautiful views overlooking the Pacific coastline.
Pro Tips: Sorting out Fun Jumper paperwork took awhile (but walk-ins are welcome). Make sure your last jump was in the last 30 days, have your USPA license with you, and your jump log is completely filled out. Gear rental is available if you don’t own your own stuff yet.  They have a morning and afternoon shift. The plane is quick and runs each load back to back in 10/15 min cycles for each shift with a large break between the two. During our stay they had 12 loads, 6 in the first shift and 6 in the second shift.

Skydive, Monterey, Bay, fun jumpers

Bixby Bridge
Description: The longest and tallest span when it was completed in 1932, this bridge allows people to pass over Bixby creek. It’s a great photo op with the contrasting ocean to land to manmade bridge. We spent about 10 minutes here.
Location: Big Sur, CA
Cost: free, stop at the vista point, park and get out to get a good look
Hours: n/a
Website: http://www.visitcalifornia.com/attraction/bixby-bridge

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Pfeiffer Beach
Description: We picked this location for the purple sand, and yes — it is really purple. Amethist stone gets crushed while in the ocean and washes up giving the sand (actually amethist particles) the appearance of being purple. Aside from the sand, the beach has a beautiful rock called the ‘Doorway to Heaven’ and beautiful views for picnics, sunrises, sunsets and on a hot day – some fun in the sand and surf.
Location: Big Sur, CA
Cost: $10 for parking.
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/pfeiffer-beach-big-sur
Notes: They are only allowed to have a certain number of cars on the road leading from Highway 1 down to Pfeiffer Beach. If they are at capacity you will have to come back. We tried three times and on our third time were successful.  Make sure you have $10 cash (or check) to pay for parking at the park.

pfieffer beach, doorway to heaven, big sur, purple sand20160326_184710-e1

Nepenthe
Description: We read that the views and food were fabulous so we picked this spot for dinner and we were not disappointed. 
Location: Big Sur, CA
Cost: They had entree items starting at $15 and going up to $50, drinks start around $10 and apps around $5. It can be an affordable or expensive meal depending on your taste and budget but the views are priceless
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Website: www.nepenthebigsur.com
Notes:  They take reservations if you book in advance but have a bar if you want drinks/apps or to get a snack while you wait. And, although they told us it would be a 45 min wait, we had a table outside overlooking the coast in 15 minutes. They have a lovely fire pit, stay after dinner and curl up while you look at the stars — it’s beautiful!

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Esalen Hot Springs Night Baths
Description: If you are looking for something unique to do in Big Sur, this is it, it’s a hidden gem with limited access. The natural hot springs are a perk they have on the property and offer to the students taking one of their workshops (400 offered annually). The workshops are expensive and the grounds are lovely as they are located on side of the cliff. However, everyday (at least most days) they open it to the public for night baths from 1-3am.  However, they only allow 25 people to attend and open up tickets that same morning (technically the day before i.e. if you want to go at 1am on Sunday they open up tickets Saturday) at 9am online.  They had a guide meet us at the parking lot at the top of Esalen Institute and walk us down a hill to the check in spot where they call us off by name and then walk us to the hot springs located on the cliff overlooking the ocean.  They had one bath at the top, three on the main level on the ‘quiet side’ and one on the ‘silent side.’  Cooling tubs and massage tables are located throughout (used during the day at the Institute as they offer massages for purchase). There are faucets at most of the hot spring tubs so you can add more hot water in it yourself. They are natural hot springs so they contain sulfur thus take off your silver as it will tarnish. It’s clothing optional. There is a shower room that overlooks the ocean as well.  It was great having so many spots to share with only 25 people, it never felt crowded and we were left in our own hot spring tub a few times. 
Location: Big Sur, CA
Cost: $30 per person
Hours: 1am-3am for public admittance (with online ticket purchase / reservation)
Website: https://nightbaths.esalen.org/reservations/new
Notes:  Bring a plastic water bottle (they have water fountains you can refill it in) as you will get dehydrated. If possible, go on a full moon or when the moon is mostly full for a stunning sight.

Esalen Institute, Hot Springs, Night Baths

Limekiln Falls
Description: We picked this spot because it not only looked beautiful, but it’s only a 1 mile hike from the parking area. We had to trek through the creek at certain points to make it to the stunning waterfall view. The walk over was the most memorable, it was fun being on an adventure and since we were there early, we had the whole area to ourself to enjoy!
Location: Big Sur, CA
Cost: $10 for parking
Hours: 8am to sunset
Website: www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_limekiln.html
Notes:  Bring shoes you don’t mind getting wet as you have to walk over/around/through the creek. Camping is allowed at this area with reservation. Non-camping parking spots fill up quick so get there early or be prepared to wait.

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McWay Falls
Description: This is an iconic Big Sur photo spot (popular on Instagram). It’s amazing because the cove is realtively unreachable unless you are a skilled climber and the waterfall looks pictureque. Park your car on the side of the road and walk along the falls side, you’ll find a trail that will lead you to a bridge made to observe the cove and falls.
Location: Big Sur, CA
Cost: free
Hours: n/a
Website: http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_mcwayfalls.html
Notes:  It looks better after midday when the sun is coming in from the west.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium
Description: It is the nicest aquarium we’ve been to; home to over 600 different species and visited by over 2 million people annually. They do a great job at providing a vast array of sea creatures to watch in habitats that are, to the best of our current capability, similar to their natural habitat along with several areas where you can touch creatures and ask questions. Leave at least 3 hours to get through all the exhibits, we left because we were exhausted but could have stayed a bit longer and seen a few more things.
Location: Monterey, CA
Cost: $39.95 per adult
Hours: 9:30am-6pm most days
Website: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Notes:  Be sure to check their schedule and pop in the different areas for feeding time! Our favorite was the sea otter feeding!20160327_121328-e1

Costs: $208 per person for 2 days/1 night

  • $41 Gas
  • $8 Breakfast at McDonald’s (shhhh, don’t tell)
  • $40 for Fun Jumper Skydiving from 18k feet with helmet rental (just Rodney)
  • $116 Dinner for 2 at Nepente (we didn’t hold back and had great food)
  • $60 Esalen Hot Spring Night Bath tickets @30 each x 2 people
  • $10 Pfeiffer Beach Parking
  • $10 Limekiln Parking
  • $18 Breakfast at Cannery Row in Monterey for 2
  • $80 Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets @ 40 each x 2 people
  • $7 Street Parking near the Aquarium

Itinerary

  • Saturday
    • 8:55am: Stalked the Esalen Hot Spring Night bath site to get tickets for that night which were limited to 25 seats and only made available starting at 9am PST the same day. Luckily we got 2 tickets!
      • Note: I checked the site after check out, 9:02am, and it was sold out. If you want them, you need to be quick and a bit of luck!
    • 10am: Leisurely departed San Francisco
    • noon: Arrived at Skydive Monterey
    • 3pm: Jumped on load 10 for the day, fell 18,000 feet with an amazing view of the coast while falling
    • 3:30pm: Packed the parachute
    • 4pm: Hit the road
    • 5pm: Took photos at Bixby Bridge
    • 5:30pm: took photos at Pfeiffer Beach (purple sand and ‘Doorway to Heaven’ rock) close to sunset
    • 7pm: headed to Nepenthe for a sunset dinner
    • 9:30pm: Decided to car camp (opposed to tent or hammock camping). Found a nice spot and layed out our sleeping bags in the car after folding the seats down. Curled up and squeezed in a 2.5 hour nap!
    • 12:45am: Headed 5 min down the road to Esalen Institute for the Hot Springs Night baths where our guide meets us at the top of the hill and walks down with us.
    • 3am: headed back to the car then head a few minutes down the road to car camp
  • Sunday
    • 7am: Woke up to a beautiful view and packed the car up for a day of driving
    • 7:45am: Arrived at Limekiln State Park
    • 8am: Walked the 1 mile trail to the Limekiln falls
    • 9:15am: Headed back toward San Francisco
    • 9:45am: Stopped at McWay Falls, took the trail next to the road down to the overlook and got a great view of the cove and waterfall
    • 11am: Grabbed brunch at a cafe in Cannery Row in Monterey
    • 11:45am: Entered Monterey Bay Aquarium
    • 2:45pm: Headed back to the car and head home (hit traffic most of the way back)
    • 5:30pm: Picked up dinner in San Francisco

Unique Takeaways:

  • Big Sur is magical, the sunsets are not to be missed. Make sure you are in a good spot to watch it, it’s worth it.
  • If you get an early start, the roads are clear and it feels like you have the entire coast to yourself. Worth waking up early for.
Asia Big Cities Japan Travel

5 Days in Tokyo, Japan — Everywhere you Should Go

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, we love you. Your clean streets, easy public transportation, lengthy history, unwavering respect shown towards everyone and the vast amount 0f English speakers made the trip a breeze.  Here is our 60 seconds in Tokyo.

 Score Card: 7.5/10

  • Transportation: 9/10 (easy to understand and inexpensive public Metra transportation system. But, hours start at 6am and end before midnight)
  • Price: 2/10 (a little more on the expensive side, especially for accommodations)
  • Safety: 9/10 (no graffiti, no pickpockets, no thief incidents, and overall very low crime)
  • Food: 7/10 (great if you love Asian food, very few choices outside that genre)
  • Culture: 8/10 (a lot of traditional culture to experience)
  • History: 9/10 (a lot of ancient history still remains among an otherwise modern city)
  • Excitement: 6/10 (there weren’t many thrill factors to indulge in)
  • Awe Inspiring: 5/10 (nothing seemed extra special but everything was beautiful)
  • Technology Equipped: 9/10 (4G service nearly everywhere)
  • Female Friendly: 9/10 (It’s a safe city for women)
  • Solo Travel Recommended: 7/10 (It’s a little harder to make friends during the day but the nightlife scene loves Americans, aside from that it’s an easy and safe trip if you’re going at it alone)

Where to go:

Pro Tips:

  • Haneda airport is much closer than Narita, if you can fly into Haneda it will take less time and cost less to get to Tokyo.
  • Get a metro pass to make getting around the city a breeze! They are available for purchase at Narita/Haneda/Yonago airports, a few hotels and Bic Camera shops located throughout the city. 3 day unlimited pass cost around $15.
  • Very few places take credit cards (way fewer than we thought) so come with Yen or plan on taking some out from the ATM upon arrival at the airport
  • Download a Tokyo Metro app for your cellphone, makes getting around the city and finding your way through the stations easy
    • Note: although the stations are underground, it can be over 1000 meters between platforms
  • Uber is available if you feel so inclined but Uber and Taxi’s are much more expensive than the Metro, however you’ll have to take it if you plan on going anywhere between midnight and 6am as that is when the Metro is closed
  • Tipping isn’t a thing, don’t worry about it
  • Download the Translate app by Google and you’ll be able to take photos of signs and it will translate them for you, have what you speak translated to Japanese in real time or visa versa for the native Japanese speakers, or type in words/phrases and get them translated into Japanese to help communicate with the locals
  • When in doubt, always bow — it’s a sign of respect. The deeper the bow, the more respect you are showing.

Experience Highlights:

Robot Restaurant
Description: An epic light, laser and led experience paired with live music, dancing and story lines/battles. The stage is 3 people deep on each side so everywhere is a good spot to see everything. The $10 bento box is a sushi meal you can pre-purchase that they bring out to you when you’re seated. They also have drinks and other food for purchase BEFORE the show (that you can then take to your seat). If you forego the bento box, get there early as the line gets long for food/drinks and they cut it off 5 min before the show starts — or come already fed.  The food isn’t fabulous so go for the sensory immersive experience, not the meal.
Location: Shinjuku neighborhood of Tokyo
Cost: $60+ per person
Length: 1.5 hours
Hours: Various, daily
Website / Tickets: www.shinjuku-robot.com
Notes: We left saying, “What the heck did we just see?”

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Mori Museum – Sky Deck
Description: One of the large art museums in Tokyo, they have exhibitions that come through. Regardless, head to the sky deck (238 meters up) for amazing cityscape views.
Location: Roppongi Hills neighborhood of Tokyo
Cost: $18+ per person
Website / Tickets: www.mori.art.museum/eng
Notes: Unlike the Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower, the lines are short and they don’t need advanced reservations, plus you can see both of those from this location!

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Meiji Shrine 
Description: Beautiful shrine with daily ceremonial experiences flanked by stunning park grounds for walking and exercising.
Location: just outside Hirujuku neighborhood of Tokyo
Cost: free
Website / Tickets: http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/

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Tsukji Market
Description: The famous Tokyo fish market (will be moving locations summer of 2016). Most of the worlds tuna and a lot of the worlds sushi pass through here. They limit tuna auctions to 120 people per day they are opened, if you plan on attending arrive around 3:30am and get a ticket, then wait until they take the first group at 5am and the second at 5:30am. Sushi Dai is also located in the fish market, if you forego the tuna auction, arrive early and wait for a seat at Sushi Dai. It’s around $40 per person which will get you 9 pieces of sushi (their choice what you are given, not yours). If you arrive later, you may face a 5 hour wait or longer. The fish market and Sushi Dai start closing down around noon daily.
Cost: free to go, $40 for Sushi Dai or the Tuna Auction
Website / Tickets: www.tsukijimarket.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm

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Japanese Terms to Know:

You don’t need to know much as everyone we met spoke at least a little English, but being able to say these four terms will show you respect them and go along way.

  • Ohayou gozaimasu (Oh-hi-o go-zai-mas) means ‘good morning’
  • Konichiwa (ko-knee-chee-wah) means ‘good afternoon’
  • Arigatou (are-e-got-o) means ‘thank you very much’
  • Sayonara (sigh-oh-nar-ah) means ‘good bye’

Costs: $883 per person for 5 days/4 nights including hotel/flight

$800 – 2 RT Flights from SFO @ $400 each
$100 – Granbell Hotel (1 night)
$100 – Intercontinental Hotel (bummed the room off a friend that was traveling, had the hotel provide a cot in the room at a surcharge)
$30 – 3-day unlimited metra passes @15 each x 2 people
$140 – Birdland restaurant prefix dinner @ 70 each x 2 people
$120 – Robot Restaurant @ 60 each x 2 people
$40 – Oedo Onsen Hot Springs / Bath House @ 20 each x 2 people
$55 – T2 Shibuya (cover for the club ($25 for women, $30 for men))
$35 – Souvenir sushi plates, Saki bowls and chop sticks for 2
$46 – Mori Museum + sky deck admission @ 23 each x 2 people
$300 – various restaurants, fish market tastings, cabs and snacks

Itinerary

  • Wednesday
    • Flight out of SFO headed to Haneda
  • Thursday
    • 10pm: arrive in Haneda
    • 10:15pm: take out Yen from ATM, buy a 3 day metra pass then take the rail to the metra
    • 11pm: arrive at Oedo Onsen for Hot Springs / Hot Baths
    • 1am: Grab a cab and head to the  Hilton Tokyo Odaiba Hotel
  • Friday
    • 6am: wake up to see the sunrise from the hotel, eat breakfast snacks we bought, then go back to bed
    • 11am: take a cab and switch to ANA InterContinental Hotel
    • 12pm: take the Metra to Shinjuku, grab lunch at a ramen shop, check out the gambling/gaming areas, walk through the streets and check things out
    • 4pm: walk through Shibuya Crossing during the day
    • 5:30pm: back at hotel and squeeze in a nap
    • 7pm: head to the Robot Restaurant
    • 10pm: head back to the hotel and crash, jet lag caught up with us
  • Saturday
    • 6am: head to the Tsukiji fish market, eat sushi / try different tunas / shop for souveners
    • 9am: head to the Mori Museum for the Takashi Murakami exhibit and the views from the skydeck
    • noon: head to Savoy for the best pizza of our lives (*they only have bar seating and 2 types of pizza to choose from, but get it to go and eat on the ledge outside)
    • 1pm: walk through the Meiji shrine and park
    • 2pm: walk through the shops looking for going out clothes for the night
    • 4pm: head back to the hotel to shower and change for the night
    • 7pm Birdland restaurant reservation
    • 8:30pm walk through Subuya Crossing, grab a coffee at the Starbucks and people watch
    • 10:30pm: Head to a nearby alley and take the elevator to a lounge where there are apps and drinks
    • 11:30pm head to T2
    • 2:30am head to a ramen shop for a late night snack
    • 3am: head back to the hotel
  • Sunday
    • 9am Head to Hirujuku
    • 10am Have brunch at a ramen shop
    • 10:30am Browse through the shops for souveners
    • 3pm Check into the Granbell hotel
    • 3:30pm it was raining so we decide to watch a movie then take a nap, still tired from the day before
    • 10pm walk through the neighborhood checking out the local shops, decide on a sushi restaurant for a late dinner
  • Monday
    • 8am: go out for a 3 mile run in the rain, checking out Shibuya
    • 11am: check out of the hotel and put our stuff in a locker
    • 11:15am: eat lunch at Slappy Jacks — needed some non-noodle food
    • noon: Park Tower to listen to a orchestra concert being performed for the public
    • 1pm: Head to the Park Hyatt Hotel’s Peak Lounge for amazing views of the city. (Lost in Translation was filmed there and you can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day — it’s free)
    • 2pm: Grab our luggage from the lockers and take the Metro to the Skyliner to get to Narita airport (1.5 hour commute)
    • 3:30pm: arrive at airport
    • 6pm: fly from Narita airport to SFO

Unique Takeaways:

  • Smoking isn’t allowed outside unless you are in a designated smoking area, but smoke is allowed in certain venues (like clubs)
  • The city gives people useless-jobs to ensure nearly everyone is employed, this helps keep the city clean/safe and the homeless population to a minimum
  • Women are usually dressed up, most wear skirts and heels
  • People wear masks over their face not only to make sure they don’t get sick but to make sure they don’t give their germs to other people and to keep warm
  • Lockers are located everywhere so if you’re between hotels, put your stuff in one and come back when you need it. Really convenient, safe and easy to use!
  • Pointing with your toes/feet is disrespectful