No visa needed from Americans (as of writing this). I wasn’t even asked for proof of onward travel. Also sadly no stamp
Bring US dollar bills as you will get a much better rate exchanging dollars (or euros/pounds) than taking money out of a ATM. This rate is known as the Blue Dollar rate & you can check what it’s currently at here. While I was here, I received around 15% more pesos for my USD while exchanging at a Western Union.
The public transit is super easy to use (google maps works great), but you need to buy a Sube card (which sometimes can be hard to find, so just ask the front desk of wherever you are staying to help you find a store or station that sells them).
In general I felt very safe, even walking home at night, but I was in the Palermo neighborhood which is particularly busy and full of tourists. Take care of your belongings and pay attention to your surroundings, but I never felt unsafe.
Consider adding a day trip or a few days to Uruguay since it’s just a ferry away!
CITY: BUENOS AIRES
HOW LONG: 15 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
I spent a total of 2 nights at a hostel when I first arrived to Buenos Aires (then I went to Uruguay for a week) and then spend 13 nights at an airbnb solo while I took Spanish language classes for 2 weeks š I stayed America del Sur Hostel which was in a cool neighborhood for walking around. The hostel had a nice common area + kitchen. The front desk was super helpful! Beds were comfy & had curtains/personal light/socket. The only complaint was that the sink in my room was outside the bathroom which meant when people arrived late or left earlier, you pretty were guaranteed to wake up since someone was using the sink 2 feet from your sleeping face Very odd design haha
For my airbnb stay I chose an apartment within a 15 min walk from my school in the Palermo neighborhood. I loved this area! Highly recommend. The airbnb itself was cute, and was perfect for a two week stay. Kitchen was sufficient, laundry & gym in the building, and grocery stores nearby. I felt completely safe walking around solo day or night as well, which is such a treat while traveling! If I were to come back to Buenos Aires I would aim to stay as close to Plaza Immigrantes as possible as I loved eating it that area.
Las Petunias – Right on the main square in Palermo. Delicious (but slightly more expensive) Argentinian restaurant. Ā
Ubu cafeĀ – I ate here twice. Loved the Chicken Cesar wrap. It’s located right on the main square in Palermo.
NYC cookies – Always happy to find a yummy cookie spot!
La paniglia – cute cafe with cozy vibes + hot chocolateĀ
Arte focacciaĀ – Delicious sandwiches! Felt like I was in Italy š We took the sandwiches and headed to the park to enjoy them
The Burger Company – Wow what a delicious burger. I expected a more fast-food level burger, but we all raved about the food. Great spot for lunch.
Casa Dingo – Aussie cafe right on the main square. Cute drinks & yummy lunch food.
Lardito – incredible, elevated club sandwich. Adorable vibes and every plate was delicious and interesting. Great for trying a bunch of different dishes. Highly recommend for dinner. You could go to the wine shop and pick out a bottle for the table. This was my favorite restaurant I ate at.
Submarino – hot milk with a bar of chocolate that melts into it to make hot chocolate!Focaccia in the park!NYC CookieNYC CookieNYC CookieArte Focaccia
WHAT TO DO:
Weirdly because I was using this two week as a break before heading into a bust two month stretch, I actually didn’t do much while here. Instead, I got into a routine where I worked out at the tiny gym in my airbnb, walked to Spanish class which was 4 hours long, and then headed to lunch with my classmates. In the late afternoons, I would catch up on admin work before cooking at home & watching some netflix. Honestly, I absolutely loved my chill time.
Given I have very little recommendations, here is a very comprehensive, well respected blog on a complete guide to Buenos Aires š
We did go to some language exchanges which were fun! They are a great way to meet people and also practice some Spanish š
I also managed to get fairly sick my one weekend here However, I did go to the La Recoleta Cemetery and the Sunday market outside it. It was pretty cool to walk around the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires. Lots of old graves to check out.
Other than that, I just loved eating my way through all the fun & cute restaurants in Palermo with my friends.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
I always felt like I would love Buenos Aires and I was not wrong! It was such a beautiful city. It felt like a mixture of Paris, Barcelona & a hint of NYC, but overall a very European vibe. I was obsessed with the tree lined streets. I took a thousand photos but none did them justice. I was quite happy to be here for two weeks and would’ve loved to be here longer, but if you are just playing tourist, 3-5 days is probably plenty (but keep a minimum of one day for a day trip to Uruguay).
BUDGET FOR 17 DAYS IN BUENOS AIRES:
Accommodation: $440 ($30 per night)
Food: $155
Groceries: $78
Activities: $380 (This includes $370 for two weeks of Spanish classes; $9.25 per hour of class)
Local Transportation: $40
Total: $109 (Daily average: $72)
Transportation to next destination: $58 ferry to Uruguay + $226 flight to Bolivia
Cities visited: Montevideo, Punta del Este, & Colonia
Pro Tips:
Most commonly, Uruguay is visited in conjunction with traveling to Buenos Aires. It’s very easy to get between one another via flight, bus or usually by ferry (which is what I did).
No visa needed for US citizens (2024). I went through immigration in Buenos Aires as I boarded the ferry (out of Argentina & stamped into Uruguay) so once I arrived in Colonia there was no immigration to be done š
You can even do just a day trip to Uruguay (to Colonia) from Buenos Aires, but I would recommend giving the country at least a few days. I was quite happy to spend a week here!
The best way to get cash is by exchanging dollars or euros (not by using an ATM). This will give you the best exchange rate.
Uruguay is known for its stunning beaches, but I went in the shoulder season (Spring) so I enjoyed fairly quiet version of the country. It also meant I could book my accommodation as I went (rather than booking ahead). It was nice to be able to get to a place and feel it out before committing to timeframe of how long I’d stay.
Uruguay is one of the safest & most stable countries in South America – I absolutely loved it and not a single concern of safety. What a treat!
However, it is definitely not the cheapest country, in fact it’s probably one of the most expensive. The good news is that I still found it fairly reasonable so don’t let the cost put you off it.
CITY: Montevideo
HOW LONG: 3 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
I stayed at a very cozy hostel a little out of the historic part of the capital called Mediomundo. I loved its location as it was safe, quiet, but there were tons of restaurants. Also it was 5 min away from the water front promenade that goes on for 20km+ so I went for a run each morning!! Such a dream. There were curtains on the beds + a personal light/socket. The breakfast offered was pretty cheap & included eggs. Overall I would highly recommend!
WHERE TO EAT:
I ate breakfast at the hostel of 2 days, but tried Americo Cafe for some delicious French Toast.
With the family I met on the walking tour, we also found a cafe so they could try Mate, a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused herbal drink. It is such an important drink for everyone here. Everyday when I went on my sunset walks, everyone was carrying around a little holder for their thermos of hot water + cup for their mate. It was very cool to see.
Mercado Ferrando was a fun food market spot with lots of great options for dinner! I had a delicious burger and some gelato for dessert. I just love a food hall š
WHAT TO DO:
I loved just walking along the promenade and people watching. As per usual, I also went on a walking tour where I met a lovely family from California. We ended up spending the rest of the day together, including heading a pickleball spot I found as I walked around. The dad was thrilled to get out on the court on his vacation. It’s very difficult to find pickleball outside of the US so it was so much fun to play in Uruguay. In fact these courts (having been built 8 months prior) are the first in the capital city!
While walking around make sure to check out the Mercado del Puerto, Plaza Independencia, & the Montevideo sign (this is a little further away).
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
I totally fell in love with Montevideo. It felt safe, the architecture was charming, people were lovely, and it was so, so relaxed. I almost decided to do my 2 weeks of Spanish classes here instead of Buenos Aires. I hope to return to Montevideo/Uruguay again in my life!
CITY: Punta del Este
HOW LONG: 2 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
I treated myself to a hotel stay since it was only $40 per night (gotta love shoulder season)! It was in the center of town & included breakfast. There was a pool (but it was too cold to use it while I was there) & nice common area to sit in. Overall simple but nice.
so beachy & cuteHotel pool
WHERE TO EAT:
Because it was shoulder season, it definitely felt like a lot of restaurants were closed or doing renovations, but I enjoyed dinner at Capi Bar & Rey de La Pizza. I also tried a doughnut from Donut City that was decadent.
WHAT TO DO:
If you were visiting during the summer, the thing to do would be hang at the beach, but it was pretty windy & chilly while I was here. I still really enjoyed it though. Like Montevideo, there was a promenade along the water all around the city so I walked or ran along it each day! I also stopped to check out the cool sculpture of “La Mano.”
Punta del Este skylineCute housePunta del Este skylineA bustling Friday afternoonEl ManoEl Mano
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
This beach town is likely best enjoyed during the summer (rather than spring), but it was kinda nice to feel like I had the town all to myself. It was very peaceful, calm, & cozy. Definitely worth a visit!
CITY: Colonia
HOW LONG: 2 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
I stayed at Viajero Colonia Hostel. This is a chain hostel (which I tend to try to avoid), but this one was actually great! The room was clean & quiet. There were curtains on the bed as well as a personal light, a lockable storage area for small valuables and a plug. Bathroom was attached to the room. Huge common area & the hostel was located in the center of town! I also did a free yoga class on the rooftop terrace. Definitely would stay here again.
Hostel roomView from the terrace
WHERE TO EAT:
Breakfast at Charco Bistro was delightful. You sit with views right out on the water and restaurant is gorgeously decorated. Very light & area & green with plants. Food was yummy too!
Colonia Sandwich Shop offered delicious sandwiches and they are also famous for their cinnamon rolls, so I obviously tried one! Lived up to its reputation. I paired it with a hot chocolate as well on a chilly, but sunny afternoon.
View from CharcoHelados DienzzoColonia Cinnamon Roll + Hot Chocolate
WHAT TO DO:
I honestly just enjoyed meandering around the small town center. Sunsets on the ocean were stunning and it was fun to see everyone gather on the waterfront. The architecture is charming & has a European feel. I took wayyyy too many photos haha.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
Colonia is small so it really only needs a day, but I was happy enough to spend a full, lazy day walking around. I don’t like being rushed and constantly packing up so these days I try to spend a minimum of 2 nights in a place. So like I said, I didn’t find that there was much to do here, but just being here was a treat.
BUDGET FOR 7 DAYS IN URUGUAY:
Accommodation: $180 ($26 per night)
Food: $110
Groceries: $20
Activities: $33
Local Transportation: $50
Miscellaneous: $20
Total: $413 (Daily average: $59)
Transportation to next destination: $56 ferry back to Buenos Aires. I love an easy, cheap travel day to the next country š
We stayed at the lovely Airbnb, right in the center of town. It had 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms & a washer! It was very modern and clean. It also felt very safe & had a clean water spout in the sink. It was perfect for a girls weekend in Oaxaca š
WHERE TO EAT:
Boulenc – Fun, delicious brunch spot! I obviously got the french toast & added crispy bacon. Everyone’s meal looked great.
La Tribu – Fun pizza spot with a lovely outdoor terrace. I had a great, healthy rice & veggie bowl.
Tierra del Sol – Upscale, nice dinner. Our fanciest meal. Service was excellent & menu was very unique.
One night we stopped at a Marquisitas stand for a fun waffle/crepe-like dessert. I chose one with peanut butter and nutella – yum!!
La TribuBoulencBoulencDessert stand
WHAT TO DO:
Abbie is a master planner of events so she curated an incredible week for us all. I mean do you see this itinerary????? š
We did a food tour through a large market, had a pool day, ate our hearts out, and had a fabulous day trip to Hierve El Agua (hot springs + one of two certified waterfalls in the world), Teotitlan Del Valle (cute town with small market), & Arbole de Tule (widest tree in the world). We also just walked around Oaxaca, checking out small stores, trying snacks & fun drinks, and seeing the Cathedral.
Hot SpringsHot SpringsHot SpringsPetrified WaterfallPetrified Waterfall
Such a fabulous few days celebrating Abbie!
Birthday Girl + HaleyBirthday Girl + Haley
Overall Thoughts:
Oaxaca is a charming, small city that is worth a visit, but the highlight for me was the petrified waterfalls, hot springs, & the widest tree. There is just nothing that beats cool nature things for me haha.
It was so fun to have a girls trip be a part of my larger grand adventure. Very grateful Abbie included me and I had a blast going abroad with Haley for the first time!!
Our first international adventure together30th birthday parties look very different than early 20’s haha
Budget for 3 days in Mexico:
This was not my typical backpacking trip so costs are a bit more than usual. There were plenty of things that could’ve been done to make this cheaper, but I was not in charge & it was a 30th birthday so all in all not too bad!
Accommodation: $315 ($105 per night)
Food: $117
Groceries: $0
Activities: $175 (some transport & other miscellaneous expenses were rolled into here but my friend just charged us one venmo for all pre-paid activities so I just lumped it in this category)
Local Transportation: $5
Total: $612 (Daily average: $204)
Transportation to next destination: $365 for the flight to Oaxaca from SFO & $525 for the three flights it took me to get to Buenos Aires (lol)
Bonus photos of me having alcohol for the first time in 6 months hahah
After a wonderful 2.5 months soaking up the summer sun in California, I am back on the road again. This time I am headed to South America to backpack all around this large continent! I am planning to go to Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, & Paraguay… but also ANTARCTICA!! Pretty exciting stuff. I’ll finally check off all 7 continents š
That being said, this was one of the more challenging trips to pack for because I’ll be doing lots of hiking & in some colder climates, which means more layers and bulkier items like my hiking shoes. I made the decision to really focus my clothes on practicality, which means I sacrificed bringing lots of “cute” clothes that I inevitably wouldn’t be wearing much since the focal point of this trip is hiking, often at higher (read: colder) altitudes. If you know me then you know I’d wayyyy rather be warm than dressed cutely haha.
Overall tips:
Start with the right bag! I love every bag I have ever had from Tortuga. They are designed for this type of travel and include features like opening like a suitcase (avoid top loading backpacks), fit carry on size restrictions, & organize your stuff beautifully. I currently use an old bag of theirs that is 35L. Try to take MAX 45L (but the smaller the better).
Consider the weather, destination, & time of year you are heading to South America as this will greatly vary what types of clothes you will need. Bolivia in the winter – COLD, Colombia in the summer- HOT, Buenos Aires – generally fairly mild year round
Think through how the clothes will layer together.
Make sure that every top works with every bottom and works with every shoes. Use a capsule wardrobe as inspiration. This is less important since my clothes are mostly athletic items, but still good to think through.
Less is more! I canāt emphasize this enough. You CAN do laundry. You CAN buy anything you feel like you ended up needing on the road. I promise!
If you are planning a longterm trip, donāt forget to check out all the things I wish I had known before setting off on my first big trip!
Also, here’s a great Antarctica specific packing list.
1 pair of Lululemon Align pants ā can be used for working out/walking around town (even hiking in a pinch) or I can dress it up.
1 pair of Lululemon joggers- after a long day of hiking, I want a more casual, comfy pair of pants to throw on in the evenings.
One pair of warmer leggings from Patagonia – For Antarctica
Waterproof pants – for Antarctica
1 jumpsuit I had made in Hoi An (inspired by my Madewell Jumpsuit) – this will be my one cute outfit when needed
2 Cute shirts – these are pretty casual (in a pinch I could hike in them)
4 sports bras
4 athletic shirts (for running + sleeping in). One is from Vuori & a few from Lululemon. Need lots of these for all the hiking!
3 long sleeve shirt (I recommend Merino Wool but I can’t use it because I’m allergic to wool sadly so mine is from Lululemon – I have 3 colors!)
1 long sleeve jacket from Lululemon – good for warmth & layering, but also super cute!
Booty shorts (to sleep in)
5 pairs of underwear
9 pairs of socks (some regular, some hiking, some warm for Antarctica)
Waterproof gloves (for Antarctica)
1 black bralette
Light Patagonia puffer ā good for chilly planes/busses & for layering on hikes. It also smushes down fairly small so itās a great backpacker jacket. Iāve also used it as a pillow in a pinch.
1 Swimsuit – I donāt foresee doing much swimming on this trip, but itās always smart to bring one
Hiking boots – I normally don’t bring these traveling since they are heavy & bulky (aka they never go in my pack, I just wear them on travel days), but for the amount of hiking I am doing, it’s a must to bring them.
Waterproof sandals (will act as my water shoe as well as my cute shoes- I never said the backpacker lifestyle was glamorous haha)
Sunglasses (Warby Parker)
Baseball hat
Bandana- for hiking
Warm hat – for hiking & for Antarctica
Scarf or gator – for Antarctica
Rain coat (Patagonia; you can pack it up into its pocket so I can easily attach it to the outside of my bag via a carabiner)
Running belt ā I donāt use it often since my Lululemon Fast & Freeās have a pocket for my phone, but every once in a while it comes in handy.
Crossbody bag (I put it into my daypack on travel days). I use this out and about on a daily basis. It fits my iPad mini, passport, keys, credit cards, cash, AirPods, chapstick, sunscreen, etc.
ELECTRONICS
Computer + Charger
iPad
iPhone + Charger (I get a 6 ft cord so I can always reach the plug from my hostel dorm bed!)
AirPod Proās
Headphones (Bose; noise-cancelling for travel days)
AirTag (This is a no brainer these days; provides peace of mind incase I am forced to check my bag or when itās below me in a bus. Always nice to confirm itās still with me!)
Headlamp – for hiking + Antartica
TOILETRIES (I USE A BUNCH OF LITTLE TOILETRY BAGS TO KEEP THESE ALL ORGANIZED)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Any medication you take
Retainer
Deodorant
Tiny roller perfume
Makeup
Makeup Remover (Iāve become obsessed with cleansing balm for this because it isnāt a liquid, & itās highly effective at getting makeup off at the end of the day!)
Razor
Conditioner + Shampoo (Get containers to put your products into & refill on the road!!)
Face wash
Moisturizer
Hair Brush
Pocket Hand Sanitizerā I keep one in my backpack and one in my sling/purse. Great in general, but also for when inevitably there is no soap at a random bus stop bathroom š
Tiger balm (I picked this up in Southeast Asia and itās now a staple in my bag. Great for mosquito bites and just feeling a little sick. Itās kinda like Vickās vapor rub).
Ibuprofen
Hair ties and bobby pins
Moleskin
Bandaids
Cough drops
Topical steroid cream for bed bug bites or regular bug bites to help with itchiness
MISCELLANEOUS
Passport ā no explanation necessary š
ID (I bring my driverās license)
Travel Credit Card- I bring 2-3 cards with me in case I lose one it gets stolen or it gets hacked. Important to get ones with no foreign transaction fee; I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve (hello lounge access!) + Capital One Venture Card.
Debit Card (Charles Schwab has the best one because it reimburses ATM fees from any ATM in the world š)
US Dollars – I always bring 1-2 Hundred dollar bills as an emergency source of cash (luckily most places in the world would take USD if it was truly an emergency & you needed some cash to get you out of a situation), however, in the case of South America, I’ve taken more! Between Bolivia’s visa requiring payment in USD & the best exchange rate being USD to local currencies in a lot of countries, I’ve taken closer to 10 Hundred dollar bills
Record of your plans (I make folders within my email inbox to keep track of everything or you could print out a copy of your itinerary)
Eye Mask (you can either go the classic eye mask route or get one like this that almost acts like your eye mask + ear plug since you can play white noise through the built in bluetooth speaker- pretty cool!)
Lock (for staying in hostels or locking my bag.) Get the combo lock so you donāt have to worry about tiny keys. I take two to be able to lock two different compartments in my bag AND so I can keep my computer/passport/iPad compartment still locked when I use the other one to lock a locker within a hostel.
3 carabiners ā I just attach them to my backpack and over the course of the trip they will hold everything from my water bottle, shoes, rain jacket and more. You will not regret having a few on hand.
Hand warmers for Antarctica
Pack of playing cards (My sister got my a custom deck with some of my favorite photos from my travels – such a thoughtful gift)
Monopoly Deal – a fabulous compact game for the backpacking trail!
Face mask (Iāve used this while feeling sick as well as on a dusty motorcycle ride)
2 pens for writing postcards
HERE IS EVERYTHING SPREAD OUT ON A TABLE!
Here is what is packed in each packing cube:
Three sports bras, 9 pairs of socks, booty shorts & underwear3 long sleeve shirts, 2 short sleeve shirts, & 2 cute shirtsLululemon jacket, 6 pairs of pants, swimsuit & jumpsuitAll packed up
All packed up and ready to go on another adventure!
Well I’ve officially been on the road for over a year!! I can’t believe how fast time flies when you are having fun… & jet setting around the world! If you know me at all in real life, you know there are two topics that get me more excited than anything else: Travel & Personal Finance. So I thought it would be fun (for me anyway haha) to put together a post on what one year of international travel can look like from a financial perspective.
Some considerations:
This is only for one person (me)
I travel fairly cheaply (mostly staying in hostels) & in general don’t have expensive taste in food or transportation, but I also am saying yes to any experiences that I want to say yes to
I am traveling fairly quickly so taking lots of flights + moving locations every 3-5 days usually. It’s much cheaper to travel slower
I am not traveling in a super logical route. For example, while in Europe I went to England, then Northern Ireland, then France, then England, then Switzerland, then England, then Ireland… I was meeting up with different friends at different points so while it wasn’t logical, it made sense for what I was doing. However, again this is an area that one can make cheaper if they don’t travel in circles like I did haha
I am flying home to California quite often for Christmas, my 30th birthday, and for some weddings. Again this is driving up some inefficiencies.
Here’s the trip summary leaving in June 2023, covering 30 countries across 6 continents:
6 months in Europe + Egypt – 19 countries
.5 month CA visit for Christmas
1 month Fiji & New Zealand with my family – 2 countries
3 months Southeast Asia + Japan – 6 countries
.5 month CA visit for my birthday
2 months Mexico + Colombia – 2 countries
In full transparency, my parents kindly paid for Fiji, NZ & Japan since I was with them for those three countries (very, very lucky!!) so this analysis will cover roughly 10 months (FJ, NZ, Japan + CA visits were roughly free). Also on this trip, I have tried to add what I spent in each country to its dedicated blog post so hopefully that’s helpful (for example: scroll to the bottom of this blog post to see how much I spent for 3 weeks in the Philippines).
Here we go…
Total Spend: $34.5k USD
Spend by Segment
This shows a breakdown of the total spend by trip segment. Obviously Europe will be the highest since that was the longest segment of the trip so far. Pre-trip expenses include: clothes, Workaway membership, initial flights, & electronics. Health insurance for the duration of the trip was $170 per month ($2,040 for the year).
Average Daily Spend by Region
This shows the daily cost by region, which makes it far easier to compare the costs agnostic of time spent in each spot. I was a little shocked to see that Southeast Asia was the highest since it obviously has a reputation for being one of the cheapest places to backpack, but I was living my best life while there. I spent $351 on 22 hours of massage (average of $16 per hour). I spent $577 on 13 dives (average of $44 per dive). I did a 3 day sailing trip around the Philippines. I did a 3 day cruise of Ha Long Bay. I did a 4 day motorcycle ride through Northern Vietnam. I spent $450 on tailor made clothes in Hoi An. This is opposed to Europe where the only “experience” I spent money on was the hot air ballon ride in Turkey. Put another way: in Europe, the activities category made up 15% of total spend. In SEA, the activities category made up 35% of total spend. So while the average daily spend was higher for SEA, I was living like a queen.
Spend by Category
This is a breakdown of how much I spent by category. As expected, accommodation is my largest spend, but I am actually proud of myself for spending so much on activities! I can be pretty stingy with spend so I love that I have said yes to so many experiences on this trip. A lot of them ended up in my top 5 memories of the trip š You’ll find the breakdown for the trip overall as well as by region.
Europe (6 months): $18.1k
Southeast Asia (2 months): $7.5k
Colombia & Mexico (2 months):
Spend by Month
This breaks down my spend by month! Sept was particularly high because I managed to spend $1400 in 3 days in Switzerland (thank you last minute rental car & expensive destination). October was lower because 3 weeks of that I was au pairing in Spain with living expenses covered. As noted on the graph, Dec, Jan, April & June are all low spend months because either I spent 2 weeks at home or my parents were with me. I averaged $2,877 per month over the course of this year, which when you compare it to what I spent just living in San Francisco, this is actually cheaper!
Top 5 experiences of the trip so far:
Hiking Milford Track in New Zealand ($2045, but my parents paid for this)
Riding Motorbikes through the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam (300 USD)
Scuba Diving with Thresher Sharks in the Philippines ($88 USD)
Hot Air Balloon Ride in Turkey (~$200 USD per person)
Hiking in Switzerland (~35 USD)
Top tips for traveling cheaper:
Stay in dorms in hostels – you might sacrifice a bit on quality of sleep but in general the cost savings + meeting so many cool people makes this a great resource for traveling on the cheap
You’ll notice I spent almost $4500 on eating out. If you are staying in airbnbs or hostels with kitchens (more common in Europe, NZ & Australia), buy groceries!
Travel slower. As I mentioned, you’ll save a lot on accommodation costs if you can book a month long airbnb than hotels/hostels for a few nights at a time. This also will bring down your transportation costs.
Fly less! Unfortunately I am doing a lot of flying. I’d be saving a ton of money if I was doing bus/train travel and if I was going slower, thus visiting less places.
Only take a carryon backpack. You’ll save on baggage fees every time you do have to fly.
Use credit card points to book flights.
Consider doing WOOFING or Workaway to save money in exchange for working a few hours a week (usually ~20)
Hope this was helpful!!! Wish my luck on my next year of adventures, starting with more time in South America š
Well I’ve never really “traveled” here but since I’ve spent most of my adult years living in San Francisco (when I’m not galavanting around the world), I thought I might write out a few of my favorite things to recommend to people when they visit my favorite US city.
It’s not comprehensive but it’s a list of some of MY favorite things to do š
Pro tips:
Don’t call San Francisco “San Fran” or “Frisco”. Do call it SF, San Francisco, or The City.
Don’t leave anything in your car when you park it. Notice I didn’t see leave anything valuable, I said don’t leave ANYTHING in your car. It will get broken into.
While SF can be expensive, lot’s of my favorite things to do are free/cheap. Play pickleball in the most beautiful location in the Presidio, walk along Chrissy Fields, explore Haight Ashbury, picnic in any of the incredible parks, etc.
From a weather perspective, I think September & October are the best times of year to visit. This is our summer when we get the most sun & it’s fairly warm (although SF has a microclimate and it’s always much cooler than any of the surrounding areas so DO NOT FORGET A JACKET). Runner up would be April/May when spring is doing its thing.
Public transport & Uber are pretty widely available in SF, so if you can avoid renting a car, I’d recommend it. But if you are leaving SF, then just wait to rent a car once you are leaving.
San Francisco SkylineGolden Gate Bridge from below (on a boat cruise)
Where to Stay:
I don’t have actual recommendations since I’ve never stayed in a hotel, and weirdly most of the hotels in San Francisco are in downtown or near Pier 39, which can be touristy or in the less cute parts of SF. My favorite neighborhoods are Hayes Valley/Alamo Square, North Beach, & Cow Hollow. There aren’t many hotels in these areas, but if you are staying in an Airbnb these would be good places to start. That being said, Downtown or Pier 39 are still good/central places to be since you’ll be running around the city anyway. If you want a guide on all the districts, check them out here. Here’s a comprehensive list of hotel options to check out.
Alamo Square (I lived right around the corner from the Painted Ladies)My favorite plant in SF: Spiral Aloe (located at 1124 Page St)
Where to eat:
Here are some of my favorite restaurants. Caveat- I am not a foodie nor am I known for being in the know for the best restaurants so I humbly just offer where I like to go as an average eater living in San Francisco š
Coffee/Bakery Spots
The Mill – Cute coffee shop with spots to work on your computer in Nopa.
Arsicault Bakery – very well known bakery in SF. Plan ahead and go early, but expect long lines no matter what š Their croissants (especially their almond croissant) are out of this world. Two locations (Inner Richmond & Civic Center).
b. Patisserie Famous for their chocolate almond croissant! Line can be long, but moves efficiently. Located in Lower Pac Heights.
b. PatisserrieJane the Bakery
Brunch spots (all are popular so factor in wait times)
Zazie – Delicious brunch in Cole Valley! They pay livable wages so tipping isn’t required.
Plow – in Portrero Hill, known for their crispy potatoes!
Kitchen Story – known for Millionaire’s bacon & has an Asian influence. Located in the Mission.
Brenda’s – soul food brunch (think French, Creole, and Southern cuisine, including beignets and po’ boys), but in a more dicey area of the city (Tenderloin) to be aware as you walk around or park (wouldn’t advise parking here).
Devil’s Teeth Baking Company – less brunch and more of a breakfast sandwich to go type of place in Outer Sunset. Grab one (there will be a line) and then head to Ocean Beach to eat it.
Le Cafe du Soleil – cute cafe with all day breakfast in Lower Haight.
Devil’s Teeth feat Ocean BeachBrenda’s
Lunch spots
Lucinda’sĀ – Great sandwichĀ to grab and then eat in Alamo Square.
Gott’s burgers – Local Bay Area chain with yummy fries, burgers (including Impossible of course), and shakes. Located at the Ferry building so fun to walk through there.
Radhaus – German pub vibe located right next to Fort Mason. Great beer options.
Cheese plus – Great deli spot for a sandwich on Polk Street.
Mayflower Market – Another favorite with my friends. We like grabbing a sandwich here and eating it in Alta Plaza in Pac Heights.
Dinner spots
Beretta – reasonable Italian food (one location in NOPA & one in the Mission).
Souvla – cheap, casual, yummy greek food (there are a few locations around SF).
Flores – in the heart of the fun going out young part of town (Marina/Cow Hollow neighborhood). Known for delicious margaritas and good Mexican food.
Walk along Chrissy Fields for the best views of Golden Gate Bridge
For a European moment, walk around the Palace of Fine Arts (near Chrissy Field so easy to couple these together)
Visit Alamo Square for the Painted Ladies & views of the SF skyline (great during the day or sunset). Pro tip: as mentioned above, get a sandwich from Lucinda’s and sit in Alamo Square for some fabulous people watching
Picnic in Dolores Park for some even better (read: weirder) people watching, but also great SF skyline views
Visit Coit Tower for panoramic views of SF on a clear day! Pro tip: if it’s foggy, don’t both coming here
Drive or walk town Lombard Street, the most crooked street in the world!
Take a cable car
Visit Alcatraz! Pro tip: tickets CAN sell out so it’s worth booking tickets ahead of time if you don’t have lots of flexibility
Explore the hippy neighborhood of Haight Ashbury for great thrifts shops
Walk around Golden Gate Park & discover lakes, Bison, art, & windmills. Pro tip: rent a lyft e-bike & cycle your way all the way to Ocean Beach. Grab a Devil Teeth’s breakfast sandwich and enjoy it while sitting on the beach, listening to the waves
Head to Fort Mason for sunset, especially on a warm Friday afternoon. There’s always tons of people enjoying the green space, with plenty of dogs to say hello to!
Walk around the Presidio – tons of lovely walks to do
Peruse all the fun shops & food stands at the Ferry Building. Great spot for picking up some artisan gifts. Pro Tip: There’s a great farmer’s market on Saturdays!
Visit any of the fabulous museums like the De Young or Museum of Modern Art. Check out this guide to some of the best museums. Pro Tip: if you are visiting on a Thursday, go to the Exploratorium after dark. It’s a very cool interactive science museum & on Thursdays it’s open for 18+ with alcoholic beverages available
Check out a Bay Area sports game. Between the Giants, Warriors, 49ers, the A’s and the Sharks you have plenty to choose from!
Golden Gate Bridge from Chrissy Fields Palace of Fine ArtsPalace of Fine ArtsAlamo SquareAlamo SquareAlamo SquareAlamo Square facing West for sunsetDolores ParkViews from Coit TowerAlcatrazGolden Gate ParkGolden Gate ParkGolden Gate ParkOcean BeachFort Mason for sunsetFort Mason for sunsetThe PresidioFerry BuildingWarriors GameGiants GameGiants Night Game
What to do outside of SF (Day Trip):
North of SF
Muir Woods – Get lost in some big beautiful old growth coast redwood trees. Pro tip: you need to reserve parking permits ahead of time & there is little service in the park so plan ahead.
Sausalito – Drive over from the city or take the ferry over & enjoy the gorgeous views of SF. Tons of cute restaurants & a yummy ice cream shop.
Hike Mt Tam – a lovely, big hike with great views on a clear day.
Napa Valley – some fabulous wine tasting. Pro tip: Sonoma, St Helena, Calistoga, & Livermore all also offer great wine tasting (and can be less busy & often less expensive).
View of SF from SausalitoMarin side of the Golden Gate BridgeMuir WoodsWine TastingSt Helena
South of SF
Santa Cruz – have yourself a beach boardwalk day, complete with some roller coaster rides.
Pacifica – it can often be foggy, but it’s a classic Northern California beach town. You can often spot whales in the ocean on their migration.
PacificaDevil’s Bunker in PacificaDevil’s Bunker in Pacifica
East of SF
Berkeley – fun, hippie city across the bay. Easy to take the metro over for a few hours to walk around.
What to do outside of SF (overnight/weekend Trip):
Yosemite – my favorite national park in the US
Lake Tahoe – my favorite place in the US (but I grew up coming here so there’s nostalgia mixed in) & it’s great year round, but summer & winter are the most popular times. Pro tip: of course spend some time at Lake Tahoe itself, but don’t be afraid to spend time hiking to one of the many other lakes in the region during the summer. Desolation Wilderness is beautiful!!
Mendocino – moody, green, & quiet is how I would describe this area. Check out the fun airbnbs up there for a cozy weekend.
Carmel & Monterey – charming seaside towns along the central coast
Big Sur – where Big Little Lies is filmed. Gorgeous ocean views, but check out road closures as access here often is tough with Highway 1 collapsing at times.
There are tons of events throughout the year in SF (see a more comprehensive list here), but these are some of the most popular:
Bay to Breakers – Usually in May. This is a classic SF event. It’s a 12k race from the SF Bay (east side of SF) all the way to Ocean Beach (West side of SF). Essentially you run from one side of the city to the other. The aim of the game is to dress as silly as possible. In classic SF fashion, you will see plenty of boobs & dicks – any excuse to get naked. Pro tip: You can still participate even if you don’t sign up for the race. Most people just get dressed up with friends and drink along the course š
Bottle Rock – Usually in May. A music festival held in Napa Valley, so there’s a heavy wine influence on the festival. Past artists include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars, Tom Petty, Eric Church, Kygo, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, & Stevie Nicks.
SF Pride Parade – Usually at the end of June. It’s a beautiful, vibrant day celebrating folks from all colors of the rainbow flag. One of the best in all of the US š
SF Marathon – Usually in the back half of July. Very fun event to see all the runners take over the city. I’ve done both the 1st half marathon & the 2nd half marathon. It’s a very fun route. Enjoy as a spectator or a runner!
Outside Lands – Usually in August. A very fun music festival in the gorgeous Golden Gate Park. Past artists include: Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers, Elton John, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, & Megan Thee Stallion. Pro tip: Uber/lyft can get very expensive during the festival so think about your transportation ahead of time. Also if you don’t plan to go to the festival, I would avoid visiting SF this weekend.
Fleet Week – Usually in October. More than a million people gather to watch the Blue Angels fly overhead. It’s quite spectacular to witness. There’s also a parade to celebrate veterans & active duty military members
SantaCon – Usually in December. A fun day of drinking & merriment, where everyone dresses at Santa!
Overall Thoughts:
While folks often read/see horrendous things about San Francisco on the news, I think it’s one of the best cities in the US. Yes, there are some homeless people, but this isn’t unique to SF. Yes, there are some neighborhoods to avoid. Yes, cars do get broken into (seriously don’t leave anything, and I mean ANYTHING, in your car at any time). But truly San Francisco is magical. It’s charming. It’s a foodie’s playground. It’s a nature lovers’ heaven. It’s inclusive. It’s has everything. I just love it! It has so much to offer in such a tiny footprint (Fun fact: San Francisco is only ~7 miles by 7 miles). In a weekend, you would barely scratch the surface, so start planning your second trip, before you even take the first š
Make sure to fill out your Check Mig before you arrive and before you leave (within 72 hrs before/after). This is required for entry into Colombia.
In general, I found it pretty reliable to use my credit card to pay everything (especially in Bogota & Medellin), but in smaller towns it’s a good idea to have some Colombian Pesos on hand.
Uber is incredibly reliable, cheap & useful in the big cities.
Didi is a great resource (& very cheap) for getting groceries & food delivered.
In Medellin, tourists tend to stay in El Poblado or in Laureles (which are the most expensive & nicest parts of Medellin). While yes they can be quite “gringo” I admittedly really liked them. What can I say, I’m a sucker for tons of cute cafes. Also, they are pretty safe so that’s an attractive feature.
There is some crime in the form of robberies (I luckily didn’t experience this), the main tips are to not walk at night, not wear flashy jewelry or clothes, & not get super drunk. Another phenomenon I heard about is that the dating apps target men where they get drugged & then robbed- so be aware of that.
Medellin can be known for prostitution & drugs, but if you’re not looking for it, you won’t really run into it or notice it (at least I didn’t!).
Food in El Poblado isn’t actually that cheap because it’s mostly tourists that hang out there.
Public transit is very cheap & it’s safe/reliable in Medellin!
There is a rainy season in Colombia so account for that in your trip planning.
CITY: Bogota
HOW LONG: 4 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
I stayed at Botanico Hostel Bogota and overall liked it! Good safe location. The hostel had lots of cute areas to sit and hang out. Fairly easy to meet people. Small kitchen to cook. There was yoga & salsa classes, as well as a hostel dinner you could join. It could be loud at night, but I had no problems sleeping since I use a bluetooth enabled eye mask to blast white noise.
The staff were overall helpful & available 24 hrs per day, which was incredible helpful given I got super sick during my time here. Not sure if I picked something up in Mexico City before flying here or whether I got something that hit very quickly in Bogota, but regardless I was miserable. It was very nice that the staff were always around to help if I needed it.
The only downside (which really isn’t the hostel’s fault), but there are lots of water outages in Bogota. Each district gets assigned 24 hr periods of no running water. Normally that would be fine, but when you are sick and need to use the restroom (a lot) & showers to feel better, this was less than ideal. They did have basins of water to manually flush the toilets, but still not what you want when very sick.
Not sure I should mention this again, but my best advice for what to do in Bogota is NOT GET SICK! Unfortunately all I really was able to do was sleep & try not to die š When you travel this long, you are bound to get sick along the way, but it always sucks.
My last day I started to feel a little better so I managed to go on a walking tour to start to learn about the history of Colombia, but there is definitely other cool things here that I had to miss because I was sick
Candelaria Neighborhood
Overall Thoughts:
No major thoughts, however if you only are going to be in Colombia for a week, you can probably skip Bogota & head straight to Medellin or the northern coast like Cartagena, Santa Marta & Tayrona National Park.
CITY: Medellin
HOW LONG: 38 NIGHTS
The goal of my time in Medellin (& really in Colombia all together) was to slow down, rest & catch up on life things before taking off again on my grand adventure. But to make it productive & give some structure I used my time here to take some Spanish classes! I took classes here. My daily routine included getting up for my 8:15am F45 class, then getting a yogurt bowl at Cafe Campesino, then going to my Spanish class from 10am-1pm. I loved my teacher so much that we’re going to continue classes over zoom while I’m back in California summer 2024. In the afternoons I spent my time at the airbnb catching up on never ending to-do list. When traveling life stuff falls to the wayside quite easily. It was so lovely having 6 weeks to knock out it all out! Figure out health insurance for the back half of the year: done! Execute a Roth conversion: check! Call my Grandpa: yep! Life is good in Medellin. I also met some fun people at the language school and it was so cool getting to be friends for a few weeks instead of the usual 48 hr friendships that happen at hostels. Also my good friend Sabrina from growing up (known each other since elementary school) joined me for my last two weeks (one week in Medellin + one week up North in Colombia). We genuinely spend more time abroad than in the US since she lives in LA and I’m in San Francisco (usually). Colombia was our 11th country & 5th continent together š
Sabrina made it to Medellin!This gorgeous city
ACCOMMODATION:
I stayed at an Airbnb for my 6 weeks in Medellin. I knew I wanted a break from hostels and it was such a treat to have my own room & bathroom. I also loved being able to cook 90% of my meals in a lovely, beautiful kitchen! This place was a 10 min walk to Provenza (my favorite part of El Poblado). There are tons of cute cafes, restaurants and shops. There are gyms nearby & I always felt safe walking around (although at night I tended to Uber). Overall it was a good place, but I probably wouldn’t stay here again. I would get a place in either Laureles (another cute neighborhood) or find a smaller, cheaper spot. I had hoped the big co-living situation would bring a social element, but the roommates were a little weird (and both American) so that was a bummer. I did love the views from my window, especially during the crazy rainstorms š
Room from my roomThe neighborhood of Provenza
Where to Eat:
I spent 6 weeks here and ate at many fun restaurants. The food scene here is overwhelmingly great. Come hungry! Here are some favorites:
Pergamino – I had brunch with my friend Lucy here (fun fact: we met on the Salkantay Trek in Peru 5 years ago and she now lives in Medellin). Very trendy & great coffee (according to others).
Hijamia – Popular, upscale brunch spot with a few locations in El Poblado. I went to the Manila location & it was buzzing with people on a Sunday morning.
Crepes & Waffles – another great local brunch chain. It’s very popular so expect a line. Also the menu is robust so you’ll definitely struggle to pick just one meal!
Ćpoca – Another great brunch spot on one of the main walking streets in Provenza
Ely Cafe – Upscale, snazzy brunch spot located in a cool building Very cool spot with yummy Limonada de Coco’s – my favorite new drink!!
Ajiacos y Mondongos – I had a fun lunch with my Spanish teacher here. Ajiacos is a popular Colombian soup (mostly from Bogota) and it was great to mix some cultural experiences into the Spanish class. Excellent food here!
Chef Burger Provenza – a great burger spot right in Provenza. Food was yummy & service was great.
Lucio Carbon y Vino – I had a fancy dinner with Sabrina in Envigado – incredible Caesar salad and caldron de champignons
37 Park – I walked past this place a billion times before actually eating here. Loved the decor. Food was not what I expected but everything was delicious. Deconstructed spring salad and deconstructed grilled cheese š fries were delicious too!
Pizzaiolo – really good pizza in the heart of Provenza
Arepa Rellenas – Tammy & I loved this place. Very casual, cheap spot for lunch or a quick dinner. It was around the corner from our language school so it was toooo convenient.
Ajiacos y Mondongos with WendyChef Burger ProvenzaGerman Street FoodLucio Carbon y VinoPizzaioloDessert pizza at PizzaioloArepas Rellenas with TammyLimonada de Coco!!!!
Dessert
Amor Acuya – my favorite ice cream in Medellin!! So many great flavors that rotate all the time! Pro-tip: ask for the hard chocolate shell sauce š
Magic sauce
What to do:
Parque Arvi – huge park that you need to take the gondolas to (fun fact: Medellin was the first city in the world to use gondolas as part of their public transportation system). We went to a butterfly sanctuary, hiked and paddled around in a boat.
Eoin & TammyMedellinGondola – coolest public trasnit systemLooking down at Medellin from the Gondolas
Comuna 13 – what used to be considered the most dangerous neighborhood in the most dangerous city, is now a thriving cultural center of Medellin. Very cool to take a walking tour and learn about its rich history.
Comuna 13Beautiful stairs all around Comuna 13Great views of MedellinSo much street artA sweet treat on the hot day
Pueblito Paisa – fun spot to check out in the city. It’s a tourist attraction that embodies the spirit of all things Paisa (the term for people from Antioquia). “This is a replica of a typical turn of the centuryĀ AntioquiaĀ town comes complete with its own traditional stone fountain in the middle of the town square, and is surrounded by a church and rectory, the mayorās office, a barber shop, and a one-room school house.” Read more about it here.
Medellin is so green!Profesora Sara showing off Colombian’s love of the Chocolate & Cheese comboProfesora Wendy!
Go to language exchanges to meet other travelers & locals. I primarily went to practice my Spanish with locals, but there were plenty of English speaking travelers who couldn’t speak Spanish at all which provided an opportunity for locals to practice their English! Pro Tip: Try Gringo Tuesdays or DanceFree if you are staying in El Poblado.
Get a massage at Azkara Spa & Wellness. They were fabulous and massages were very reasonably priced.
Go dance some Salsa or Bachata! So many opportunities in Medellin to dance š
Salsa lessonsSalsa lessons
Overall Thoughts:
I don’t even know where to begin. I just loved everything about Medellin (except having to be cautious about walking alone at night – that was annoying). Medellin is so green, it basically feels like you are living in nature, but you are also in a major city. Even though I was there in rainy season, the sun still came out plenty. The people are SO kind & generous. They were so patient with my Spanish & genuinely so excited that I was doing my best to learn their language – I loved it! It really opens up the travel experience to be able to communicate in someone’s native language.
Medellin has a great work/life balance and everything is just so chilled (sometimes hard for my American brain, but I eventually settled in). For example, every time I was checking out at the grocery store, it took a minimum of 10 min even if there was only one person ahead of me in line. I just had to learn to embrace it haha.
Also, if you have ever wanted to learn Spanish, the best way to do it is to go live in a Spanish speaking country & take classes. Medellin/Colombia is known as a great option because they have a very neutral/easy accent & they talk slower than other Spanish speaking countries. Guatemala is also known as another good option!
Medellin is a great spot to just come hang for a few days, weeks or even months! Bring your laptop & work remotely. It’s just awesome! I can’t wait to go back š
Medellin is full of natureMy time in Medellin would be incomplete without my incredible Spanish teacher: Wendy
CITY: Minca
HOW LONG: 3 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
We stayed at Masaya Casas Viejas Hostel. It’s actually not technically in Minca, as you have to take a 4×4 vehicle for about 30 min up into the mountains/jungle to get to the actual hostel. But let me tell you – it’s worth it! It’s a little oasis nestled high up in the clouds. There’s an infinity pool, hammocks, chaise lounges, co-working areas, yoga in the morning, and delicious food. Beds are comfy & wifi works most of the time š It was very easy to meet people since you don’t leave the property much, unless you head out to a waterfall hike! Would absolutely recommend this place 9/10 (just wish the showers had warmer water, but hey you can’t complain being this remote!)
The cutest hostelDreamiest sunset viewsThe hostel life
Where to Eat:
At the hostel restaurant š Not too many options. Some folks headed into Minca for lunch (3 hr hike away) but generally people ate at the hostel. Luckily the food was very good!! Each meal had tons of great options to choose from.
Great breakfast optionsLunch
What to do:
Relax & enjoy the views š You can do some waterfall hikes, but Sabrina & I chose to just chill our time here. We did some yoga, lots of reading, played Monopoly Deal & President with all our new friends, and enjoyed the gorgeous sunset over the jungle.
This is a perfect spot to spend a few days (3 nights max I would say), to just recharge amidst your backpacking trip & make some friends who are likely heading in the same direction as you!
So many hours playing cards
Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed it here. After 6 weeks in Medellin I was slightly worried about the jarring nature of jumping back into backpacking, but this was a perfect way to ease back into it. We met so many fun, interesting people & I loved my lazy days. Finally finished a book I had started 3 weeks prior!
CITY: Tayrona National Park
HOW LONG: 3 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
Holy moly this was paradise on earth. Senda Watapuy is a dream. DO NOT HESITATE to book here!!! We loved every part of our stay. The room was incredible (they installed mosquito nets to address bugs). The private pool was amazing (love being able to skinny dip in the morning). The food at the restaurant was great. The grounds were fabulous. A true jungle oasis.
Once again, you are mostly stuck at the hotel in terms of food but the good news is that I loved the food here. Very expansive menu, but in classic form, I fell in love with their caesar salad and ate that most meals. One cool thing they offered was that you could order food from the menu on your phone and specify if you wanted to eat it in the room, at the pool or at the restaurant – very convenient.
Free breakfastI was obsessed with this salad!
What to do:
The main thing to do in this region is hike in Tayrona National Park through the jungle to the beautiful beaches. However, our hotel was right at the edge of the park so while we did go into the park for a short hike, we decided we preferred to spend our time reading by the pool, with views of the gorgeous jungle.
We also got some massages.
Riverside massages
You can literally walk to the park entrance from the hotel, which is nice though! Bring sunscreen, bug repellent and water!!
Overall Thoughts:
This was such a treat! 10/10 would absolutely recommend this place (mostly talking about the hotel) to anyone. I felt like I was on a true vacation.
Does it get better than this?Cheers!
CITY: Cartagena
HOW LONG: 2 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
I stayed at Los Patios and wouldn’t recommend it. It’s in a good location, but they have a lot to improve. The AC barely worked, so we asked to lower the temp 1-2 degrees and it turned to an ice box. The dorm room floor stayed dirty the entire time. Very hard to meet people. When I asked the front desk about where the start of the walking tour was she said there are no walking tours in Cartagena other than theirs, which is just a straight lie. Very bizarre as there are like 10 free walking tours I found online. The hostel is so loud that you really canāt sleep at night or morning. Iāve stayed at 100+ hostels and this isnāt it. 5/10
Where to Eat:
Brioche bistro Moderno – service wasn’t great but the food was fabulous! Delicious brunch food in the center of the walled in city.
NĆa Bakery – I had an iced chocolate with 100% cacao. Very light, not too sweet & yummy on a hot day (aka every day in Cartagena). Very cute cafe with a swanky vibe.
Pascal – Another great cafe/breakfast spot just outside the walled in city. Cute decor & strong AC. Had a great breakfast sandwich.
Munchy cream – fun ice cream spot with tons of toppings, which is my favorite!!
BriocheMunchy
What to do:
I only had one full day here so I optimized with a morning walking tour to hit the highlights and one last cheap massage before heading back to the US. Would highly recommend Relax Spa Cartagena de las indias for a spa treatment while visiting Cartagena. If you have more time here, I hear the island day trips or overnight trips can be quite fun!
Overall Thoughts:
Cartagena was so colorful and beautiful!! I would’ve happily stayed here another day but not another week because it was so HOT, & I am not really a beach or party person, which Cartagena is known for. Overall it was a cool spot though!
BUDGET FOR 12 DAYS of traveling IN Colombia:
Fun to have two different types of budgets in this post, but admittedly my type of fun might different than most haha.
Accommodation: $532 ($44 per night) Our stay at Senda Watapuy drove the average up, but it was worth it!!
Food: $199
Groceries: $0
Activities: $167 (massages + walking tours)
Local Transportation: $172
Miscellaneous: $83
Total:Ā $1153 (Daily average: $96)
——————————————————————————–
BUDGET FOR 38 DAYS living IN Colombia:
Accommodation: $1157 ($30.44 per night)
Food: $335
Groceries: $327
Activities: $859 (includes $665 for 6 weeks of Spanish Class)
Local Transportation: $250
Gym: $234
Miscellaneous: $91
Total:Ā $3253 (Daily average: $85)
Transportation to next destination: $0 (I booked my flight home to California with points – yay!)
Once again, I am about to head out on the road! After a whirlwind visit home in California for my 30th birthday(!!!), I am taking off for a slightly different stint of my trip. I have a week in Mexico with my sister for a wedding, but then I take off solo to Colombia where I’ll be staying in Medellin for 6 weeks to study Spanish at a language school! I’ve talked about this before, but at the three month mark of backpacking, I get really burnt out and need to stay still to recuperate. I built this part of the trip in very intentionally. I’ll be staying at an airbnb, where I’ll have my own room and going to class everyday. I’ll be cooking and signing up for a gym. I am SO excited to have a bit of a routine and not have to pack up over & over again. In fact, I get to unpack for 6 weeks!! Truly what a dream.
Because this is quite the different type of trip, I get to pack a little differently. Other than needing outfits for a wedding (which thankfully was casual enough that I could wear clothes that I’ll also wear out & about in Colombia), I only need to pack fairly generic outfits for school, going to the gym, and an outfit or two to go out to dinner, etc. Additionally, I am not going to a bunch of different climates, so overall it’s a relatively simple packing approach.
Big news: I am trying out Tortuga’s newest backpack, the Travel Backpack Lite 40L. It’s the updated version of my last backpack of theirs (the Setout). Nice to travel with a brand new backpack! It’s the perfect carry on size & with their packing cubes, you can optimize every square inch of it. I actually had room leftover when I packed all the below into it. I’ve also added the Tortuga Travel Sling, the new Tortuga Packable Daypack (to replace my 5 year old one), & the Tortuga Tech Organizer, which means I’ve achieved my goal of being a walking evangelist for all Tortuga products haha.
Think through how the clothes will feel in heat. Linen & lightweight materials will be best.
Make sure that every top works with every bottom and works with every shoes. Use a capsule wardrobe as inspiration.
Less is more! I can’t emphasize this enough. You CAN do laundry. You CAN buy anything you feel like you ended up needing on the road. I promise!
If you are planning a longterm trip, don’t forget to check out all the things I wish I had known before setting off on my first big trip!
PACKING LIST FOR Colombia:
CLOTHES
3 pairs of Lululemon Fast & Free Cropās ā Iāll be joining a gym while in Medellin so I need more workout leggings than I normally take.
1 pair of Lululemon Align pants ā can be used for working out/walking around town or I can dress it up.
1 pair of Lululemon joggers- since I’ll be living in an airbnb, I wanted a more casual, comfy pair of pants to throw on when I am home in the evenings.
1 pair of jean shorts
2 Rompers (one is just a copy of the other that I had made in Hoi An)
2 jumpsuits I had made in Hoi An (inspired by my Madewell Jumpsuit)
2 Cute shirts (one linen for the heat, one basic cute grey shirt)
4 sports bras
5 athletic shirts (for running + sleeping in). One is from Vuori & one is from Lululemon. I need more of these shirts this time around since I am planning to go to the gym everyday in Medellin
Waterproof sandals (will act as my water shoe as well as my cute shoes- I never said the backpacker lifestyle was glamorous haha)
Pair of white sneakers (bought these in Japan)
Light Patagonia puffer ā good for chilly planes/busses & for when I visit countries that are a little cooler, even in the summer. It also smushes down fairly small so itās a great backpacker jacket. Iāve also used it as a pillow in a pinch.
1 Swimsuit (I don’t foresee doing much swimming on this trip, but it’s always smart to bring one)
Sunglasses (Warby Parker)
Hat
Rain coat (Patagonia; you can pack it up into its pocket so I can easily attach it to the outside of my bag via a carabiner)
Running belt – I don’t use it often since my Lululemon Fast & Free’s have a pocket for my phone, but every once in a while it comes in handy.
Tortuga Packable Daypack – This is their latest version of their daypack! Very excited to try it out. It packs into itself if you don’t want to use it. This is my personal item for flights.
Tortuga Travel Sling crossbody bag (I put it into my daypack on travel days). I use this out and about on a daily basis. It fits my iPad mini & passport in the back zipper pocket. In the main pocket I can put keys, credit cards, cash, AirPods, chapstick, sunscreen, etc.
ELECTRONICS
Computer + Charger
iPad
iPhone + Charger (I get a 6 ft cord so I can always reach the plug from my hotel dorm bed!)
AirPod Proās
Headphones (Bose; noise-cancelling for travel days)
AirTag (This is a no brainer these days; provides peace of mind incase I am forced to check my bag or when itās below me in a bus. Always nice to confirm itās still with me!)
TOILETRIES (I USE A BUNCH OF LITTLE TOILETRY BAGS TO KEEP THESE ALL ORGANIZED)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Any medication you take
Retainer
Deodorant
Tiny roller perfume
Makeup
Makeup Remover (Iāve become obsessed with cleansing balm for this because it isnāt a liquid, & it’s highly effective at getting makeup off at the end of the day!
Razor
Conditioner + Shampoo (Get containers to put your products into & refill on the road!!)
Face wash
Hair Brush
Pocket Hand Sanitizerā I keep one in my backpack and one in my sling/purse. Great in general, but also for when inevitably there is no soap at a random bus stop bathroom š
Tiger balm (I picked this up in Southeast Asia and it’s now a staple in my bag. Great for mosquito bites and just feeling a little sick. It’s kinda like Vick’s vapor rub).
Ibuprofen
Hair ties and bobby pins
Moleskin
Bandaids
Cough drops
Topical steroid cream for bed bug bites or regular bug bites to help with itchiness
MISCELLANEOUS
Passport ā no explanation necessary š
ID (I bring my driver’s license)
Travel Credit Card (no foreign transaction fee; I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve (hello lounge access!)+ Capital One Venture Card)
Debit Card (Charles Schwab has the best one because it reimburses ATM fees from any ATM in the world š)
Record of your plans (I make folders within my email inbox to keep track of everything or you could print out a copy of your itinerary)
Extra Passport photos
Thumb drive with all documentation if desired
Sarong/beach blanket- My roommate got this for me! Perfect for any countries where I need to cover up more as well as the beach or to dry off from a swim. I didn’t bring my quick dry towel with me this time since my apartment/airbnb provided a towel for the duration of my stay.
Water Bottle
Ear Plug
Eye Mask (you can either go the classic eye mask route or get one like this that almost acts like your eye mask + ear plug since you can play white noise through the built in bluetooth speaker- pretty cool!)
Lock (for staying in hostels or locking my bag.) Get the combo lock so you donāt have to worry about tiny keys. I take two to be able to lock two different compartments in my bag AND so I can keep my computer/passport/iPad compartment still locked when I use the other one to lock a locker within a hostel.
3 carabiners ā I just attach them to my backpack and over the course of the trip they will hold everything from my water bottle, shoes, rain jacket and more. You will not regret having a few on hand.
Pack of playing cards
Face mask (I’ve used this while feeling sick as well as on a dusty motorcycle ride)
2 pens for writing postcards & for my Spanish classes
Everything I’m taking with me!
Here is what I packed in each packing cube:
Swimsuit, 3 sports bras, 8 socks, booty shorts, bralette5 shirtsTwo jumpsuits, two rompers, jean shorts, 5 pairs of leggingsPacking cubes all packedAll packed up! 40L Tortuga Lite Backpack, Tortuga Packable daypack (personal item), Tortuga Sling bag, and my airport outfitBack on the road, all decked out in Tortuga gear š
We stayed at the cutest Airbnb. It’s a bit of a walk uphill to get back, but you always have the option of a cheap uber. Garden & patio are very peaceful. Fresh fruit & water were provided at the beginning of our stay. Bed was very comfortable and wifi worked great. There was a fan which helped cool the room since there was no AC. They also provided beach towels to go to the hot springs. Wish we had more time here & would absolutely stay here again!
WHERE TO EAT:
San Miguel De Allende has some incredible restaurants. You definitely won’t go hungry! Here were our favorites:
The Restaurant – Ambiance is incredible & was higher end than where I usually eat at while backpacking, but it was a nice treat! The patio had beautiful plants & we loved the al fresco dining. I had a yummy burger! This was recommended to us by our Airbnb hosts.
Cafe Muro– French toast was fab & this cafe is located in a quiet area out of the hustle bustle. The staff were incredibly nice and we had the place to ourselves most of our meal. Great place to work on a computer as well.
La Parada – Dinner with the wedding party on Friday night was at this restaurant. Really great food & cocktails!
La SacristĆa – yummy breakfast & cute outdoor seating
Rosewood – The rosewood has a rooftop bar with incredible views over the city. Pop up for a drink at sunset!
The RestaurantIced Chocolates on the main squareCafe MuroLa SacristĆa
WHAT TO DO:
There are supposed to be amazing hot springs here, but Ellie & I attempted to go to one (La Gruta) and were severely unimpressed. Kinda a bummer. Here’s a list of other options.
Bit of a letdown lol
We also had a run in with a family friend who was also here for a wedding! Turns out San Miguel de Allende is a popular place for getting married š
Charlie!Finally got to meet his girlfriend!
We loved walking around the streets of San Miguel; it’s just beautiful. The cobblestone streets are treacherous so plan to wear comfy shoes (aka no heels!!).
Besides that, the only thing left to do was attend a fabulous wedding!! Congrats to Billy & Monica!
The Bride to be: Monica!Her dachshund Mochi is the real reason I came to the weddingRehearsal dinner nightLa CallejoneadaWedding ready!!!Wedding ready!!!We love a dog friendly weddingLove you Monica!
Overall Thoughts:
We loved San Miguel de Allende. It’s charming, quaint, safe, colorful, easy to navigate, approachable & more. While it’s not the easiest to get to flight-wise (closest airport is 1.5-2 hrs away), you won’t want to leave. It’s definitely worth visiting!
CITY: Mexico City
HOW LONG: 3 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
We stayed at Wanderlust Hostel and honestly wouldn’t recommend it. We wanted to like it, but there were too many things that made us wish we had stayed elsewhere. Our private room had no outside window, which made it feel like a dungeon. The free breakfast was very strictly between 9:30-10am. The bathrooms weren’t that nice. But the toughest part was that the owners were weirdly short, curt and gruff with us. Every time we interacted they seemed to think we were bothering them. It was very strange. It wasn’t HORRIBLE but there are enough other great hostels to choose from in Mexico City.
WHERE TO EAT:
Ellie & I went to a few fun cafes & restaurants. I love traveling with her because we get to pick two meals and try them both!
La Ventanita Cafe – We ordered pancakes and French toast, and both agreed that the French toast was better!
Freims– hip, trendy cafe with a lovely back terrace. Plenty of dogs & digital nomads doing their thing. Yummy brunch food!
Churrero El Moro – Small churro chain that makes delicious churros. Pro tip: get the thick hot chocolate to dip your churros into! We literally went back for seconds after the first round.
Antonella Caffe– we needed a quick bite to eat before heading to the airport and this place was great!
My forever brunch dateLa VentanitaFreimsFreimsCibelesAntonellaStreet tacos!!!
WHAT TO DO:
So in full transparency, Ellie & I were EXHAUSTED from my 30th birthday party + the wedding in San Miguel de Allende. This meant when we arrived to Mexico City, we both looked at each other & said “let’s not over do it here.” Well….. that turned into basically doing nothing. At the end of our time we both agreed that the trip to CDMX was a bit of a wash and we will need to come back here before we can really say that we’ve been to Mexico City. Whoops, but it happens when traveling this much!
We slept late (helped by the lack of natural light in our room lol), played lots of cards in cafes, caught up on life, walked through Parque Mexico, and went to movie with the hostel (we saw the Challengers and it was trippy but in a bad way; we both kinda hated it). That’s basically it haha.
Parque Mexico
Overall Thoughts:
I feel like I can’t even give real thoughts on Mexico City since we didn’t do much and our hostel wasn’t great. Mexico City definitely felt HUGE so I know there’s a lot to explore. I hope to come back soon and actually do so.
BUDGET FOR 6 DAYS IN Mexico:
I invited Ellie as my date so I paid for her trip to Mexico. Does this make the world’s best big sister?? I would think so!! But this explains why these numbers are higher than usual; it’s for two people š
Accommodation: $540 ($90 per night)
Food: $300
Groceries: $0
Activities: $48
Local Transportation: $241
Total: $1,142 (Daily average: $190)
Transportation to next destination: $218 for the flights to Mexico (for both of us) + $152 (my flight to the Colombia)
A lot of places take credit cards, but plenty don’t so it’s smart to get some money out of an ATM when you arrive
To get around on public transit (a must while in Japan, it’s incredible), download the Suica card on your phone before you arrive. Here’s a guide on how to do it. I had trouble re-loading using apple pay (looking on reddit it looks like I am not alone in experiencing this issue), but it’s easy enough to find a machine at one of the subway stations to top it up (requires cash though!).
Unless you are going to be taking trains like every other day, itās unlikely that the train pass is worth it. They changed the price & now it’s far harder for it to pay for itself. My dad and I just bought Shinkansen or regular train tickets day of at the station to get around Japan. Definitely take the Shinkansen train at least once. It’s wild how quick & efficient they are!
Get excited for the toilet experience in Japan!!! It’s like a spa day every time you use the restroom. You are in for a treat. Don’t miss out on trying all the different buttons it has to offer.
Try fun snacks at 7-eleven. It’s not like the US at all. My favorite were the shelf stable pancakes with maple syrup & butter. I loved keeping them in my daypack for an emergency snack option.
Do not miss out on doing some Onsens. This was a highlight for my dad & me! Just be aware you aren’t allowed to have tattoos in many of them so make sure to pay attention to this.
Because Tokyo is huge, it’s hard to be “perfectly” centrally located. Instead focus on having your accommodation be near 1-2 metro stations. We used the metro system every single day so if you are near a few then it will be very easy to explore Tokyo!
I thought the metro system was incredible easy to navigate despite being in a different language (post 2021 Olympics there is far more English signage which helps). My pro tip for navigating the metro system is to use Google maps and just focus on the color of the line you are taking & the letter & number of the stop you are trying to go to. For example: if I am taking the green line and getting on at stop H19 and need to go to H14 then those are the only three things I pay attention as I am navigating the signage at the metro stop. I ignore the name of the line & the names of the stations. But seriously, Google maps gave all the correct information every time including telling you what platform to get on, which was SO helpful.
Don’t worry about having “too much” time in Tokyo. I spent 9 days & barely scratched the surface. I would’ve happily stayed longer.
I was surprised at how little English was spoken in Japan. If you had told me that I would encounter more people in Laos speaking English than in Japan, I would’ve said “No way!” but this definitely was true. Have a translator app ready because you’ll need it š Everyone was so kind in trying to help, but in order to get the help, you need to use a translator since most folks we interacted with spoke little to no English. I truly think in all my travels (60+ countries at this point) Japan is where I encountered the least amount of English. Not a bad thing & it didn’t affect our travels at all, but it’s just something to be prepared for.
Shinkansen trainI would say 193 MPH is pretty darn fast
My Japan trip was slightly different than my usual backpacker adventures for two reasons:
I was with people the whole time! My German friend Sonja (who I met in Thailand), Marisa (a friend from California), & my dad all joined me for parts of the trip. We even had one day where we adventured the four of us.
My dad joined me for 10 out of the 15 days and GENEROUSLY paid for the trip so I didn’t stay in hostels for most of my trip here. It’s also why my budget section only reflect the 5 days he wasn’t with me. It also meant I did 5 nights in Tokyo with Sonja & then Marisa before my dad arrived. Marisa, my dad & I immediately went to Kyoto after my dad landed in Tokyo. After Kyoto my dad & I said goodbye to Sonja & Marisa & headed to Hakone for 2 nights before ending the trip in Tokyo for 4 nights.
CITY: Tokyo
HOW LONG: 5 NIGHTS (with Sonja & Marisa) + 4 nights (with my dad)
ACCOMMODATION:
Hostel with Sonja: Citan Hostel This hostel was honestly great. Comfy beds, clean rooms & bathrooms, cute little kitchen & common area to eat a meal from 7 eleven. There’s a bar/cafe downstairs that sometimes has live music. Wasn’t that easy to meet people but it didn’t matter since Sonja & I were together. This is a common complaint about hostels in Japan. It seems like weirdly universally people struggle to meet people in Japanese hostels. This place was also incredible reasonable given we were there during Cherry Blossom season. It was only ~$40 USD per night per bed. Other hostels were charging upwards of $100 per night per bed.
Apartment with my Dad: Shinjuku1 this place was located quite centrally, but it was a fairly efficient, small apartment. It did the job, and was nice & clean, but I might recommend finding a hotel instead of doing an apartment. Having access to a concierge/front desk for questions is quite useful in Japan. Japan can be overwhelming to figure out all on your own.
WHERE TO EAT:
I really, truly feel like you can’t go wrong with any restaurants in Tokyo or Japan in general. We ate in a lot of hole in the wall places that didn’t really even have names and they were all amazing. But I, of course, tried some yummy brunch spots.
Flippers – big FLUFFY pancakes. So yummy! This place always has a HUGE line so if you want to go, I’d advise getting in line about 45min to 1 hr before they open. We were in the first seating, which made the wait bearable.
The French Toast FactoryĀ – this was weirdly located on the top floor inside a mall within a food court, but it was so great we went twice. There were so many fun items on the menu to try that I ordered two whole meals to myself just so I could try some of each.
Heavenly island lifestyle– My dad & I came here for breakfast before exploring the neighborhood. Cute vibes & yummy food.
Fluffy pancakes!!!7 Eleven dinnerSonjaMarisaMore pancakesIce with fruitStreet foodProcessed with VSCO with m5 presetChicken KatsuIce cream + CardsSushi with DadProcessed with VSCO with m5 presetRamen!!!
WHAT TO DO:
Given Tokyo is literally the biggest city in the world (by population), there is soooooo much to do. Google to your hearts desire, but here are a few things we did while in Tokyo š
Shibuya crossing – Supposedly the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, with as many as 3,000 people crossing at one time. It’s also been made famous for being featured in the movie “Lost in Translation”
Shinjuku Gyoen Park – a lovely park all year round, but ESPECIALLY during Cherry Blossom season. It was my favorite spot to see the blossoms.
Meiji Jingu shrineĀ – one of the main shrines in the heart of Tokyo. It was established in 1920, to commemorate the virtue of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken who took the initiative to modernize Japan.
Wander the Golden Gai neighborhood for a drink in the evening. It’s mostly filled with tourists now, but we still enjoyed stopping for a drink here. It’s a small area filled with tiny bars amidst all the alleys. They tend to hold no more than 6-10 people each. We met some fun travelers & chatted for a few hours.
Omoide Yokocho – a bunch of narrow alleys filled with small restaurants/stalls
TeamLab: Planets & TeamLab: Borderless – both of the exhibits were incredible cool & would recommend going to both. Tickets 100% sell out in advance so grab tickets as soon as you can. If I had to pick one I think I would do Planets because it was more fun/interactive in a playful way, but truly both were awesome. It’s an art meets play meets museum type of experience.
Starbucks Roastery: There are only 6 Roasteries in the world. From their website: Combining the art and craft of coffee in an immersive and thoughtfully designed environment, this one-of-a-kind space featuresĀ an impressive mix of bars and custom details. We needed a reservation to go (free but you do need to get it in advance). We got ours day of, but weekend reservations tend to go quickly.
Park Hyatt barĀ – Do not miss going up to one of the Park Hyatt bars for a drink & taking in the most incredible view of Tokyo. Pro tip get there any hour before sunset to claim the best spot. Unfortunately they are closed until Oct 2025 for renovations though.
Shibuya CrossingMeiji JinguMeiji JinguTokyo during the dayTokyo at nightCherry Blossoms TeamLab: PlanetsTeamLab: PlanetsStarbucks RoasteryStarbucks RoasteryTokyo at nightMore Sakura!TeamLab: BorderlessTeamLab: BorderlessTokyo from the Park HyattTokyo from the Park HyattGolden Gai
Overall Thoughts:
I really wasn’t sure what to expect with Tokyo, given it’s so different to anywhere else I’ve been in my entire life, but I really liked it! I couldn’t believe how clean, organized, approachable, & safe it was (given it’s the biggest city in the world!!). Most neighborhoods felt like neighborhoods, not like a huge sprawling, metropolitan city. I was also shocked about how quiet the city was; there are practically no cars, which meant no honking or traffic. Everyone seems to use the metro, which is awesome! Tokyo is rad.
Cherry Blossom buds
CITY: Kyoto
HOW LONG: 4 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
Marisa, my dad & I stayed at Urban Hotel Kyoto Goji Premium. Fairly good location with bus stops nearby. Rooms were nice, but small (typical of Japan). There was an onsen in the hotel which was a treat! Not a ton of restaurants nearby, but that just gave us an excuse to check out different neighborhoods.
WHERE TO EAT:
I honestly forgot to write down most of the places we ate at but we loved Breizh Cafe Creperie along the Philopshers Path. We ate lots of delicious ramen & noddles so it was fun to have a crepe for a change. Literally every random place we ate at was awesome. I truly feel like you can’t go wrong with food in Japan. Even the small ramen place that happened to be next to our hotel was awesome. And don’t miss Nishiki Market for lunch or dinner (see below).
WHAT TO DO:
Once again, there is TONS to do in Kyoto so don’t think these are the only things or even the best things. It’s just what we had time for/ prioritized š
Fushimi Inari Taisha – the most famous destination in Kyoto. The orange gates must be one of the most photographed spots in Japan. This beautiful Shinto shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Get here early!! The crowds can be suffocating and if you want a photo with know people in it – good luck lol.
Higashiyama Jisho-ji / Gingaku- Ji – built in 1482, it’s now a Zen temple. The grounds & gardens are beautiful! This was one of our favorite stops. Don’t miss the unique dry sand garden!
Philosophers PathĀ – a gorgeous walk along a little canal. It’s a well known spot to see the gorgeous cherry blossoms
Nishiki market – come hungry!! Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, it’s a huge, long market with tons of yummy bites to try. Get something small at lots of stalls.
Nijo castle, built in the early 1600’s, is the location of the rise & fall of the Shogun. Gorgeous architecture and it was cool to walk around the gardens.
Kyoto Observation Deck – 100 meters in the sky, it’s a great way to get a 360 degree view of the city. We could even see Osaka in the distance.
Fushimi InariFushimi InariFushimi InariPhilosopher’s PathGingaku – JiGingaku – JiGingaku – JiKyoto at nightNijo CastleNijo CastleKyoto from above
We also took a day trip to Nara, which is about one hour away on a train. Here’s what we did:
Bowing deer – I know it’s touristy and gimmicky but I low-key loved hanging with & observing the deer. Get yourself some Deer snacks (sold all around the park), and get bowing. It’s so much fun to interact with the deer, politely of course š
Todai-ji Namdaimon (Grand South Gate) ę±å¤§åÆŗåå¤§é – This was a HUGE gate. The pillars are 21 meters tall. Get close and look at how long the continuous log goes for. Very cool to see & just a short walk from the bowing deer. Originally built in 752, it got destroyed in a a typhoon. The one we can see today was built in 1203.
Isuien Garden and Neiraku Museum – beautiful Japanese garden. My dad loves checking out gardens while traveling. Very peaceful to walk around.
Yoshikien Garden – right next to the Isuien Garden & free admission. Another pleasant garden to meander. We also sat & chatted on a bench for a bit. Lovely!
New friend
Overall Thoughts:
Kyoto & Nara were great additions to the itinerary. We loved the bowing deer, all the shrines & gardens, & running around eating tons of fabulous food. It was also fun to have my dad meet Sonja, who has become quite the frequent travel partner in crime. We already have two more trips on the books (Tahoe & Antarctica!).
CITY: Hakone
HOW LONG: 2 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
We stayed at a magical (but not cheap) hotel right on the lake in Hakone called Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel. It was killer. The property was lovely. The lake views were stunning. There was a foot bath outside looking at the lake. They gave us traditional robes to wear around the property, which was very cool. The food was surprisingly good, given it was a buffet. I would highly recommend this spot if you aren’t on a backpacker budget. Pro tip – it’s worth getting the lake view rooms. We didn’t have one, & we regretted it.
Not a bad view while getting to soak my feet in the hot water!
WHERE TO EAT:
Often the hotels or Ryokans in this region include breakfast & dinner so we ate every meal at the hotel!
Dinner at the hotel
WHAT TO DO:
Hakone was my vibe! I loved being up in the mountains a bit and it was so great having lake views from the hotel. Such a treat. Here’s what we did:
Visit the Hakone Open Air Museum: I am not a museum or art person, but one of my dad’s favorite artist’s had a piece here (Niki de Saint Phalle’s “Miss Black Power”) so off we went. I was pleasantly surprised at how awesome this museum was. It’s mostly outside, which was cool, and there were tons of really interesting, colorful, large sculptures. Fun stuff for kids as well. There was also a huge Picasso exhibit. Definitely a must see if in Hakone.
If you get lucky (we did not), you can get views of Mt Fuji from around Hakone.
Take the Hakone Ropeway. Pretty cool way of getting around without a car. There are a few stops where you can get off, including one where you get try a black egg, which is an egg boiled in the sulfurous waters.
The main attraction (other than Mt Fuji) are all the onsens! My dad & I love all things hot water/spa/relaxation so we just loved going to the onsen 2-3 times per day (at least once in the morning before breakfast and once after dinner). The onsen at the hotel was indoor & outdoor so it was fun in the evening to lie in the hot water while the cool air swirled around, all while gazing at the stars. I truly loved the onsen experience!
The other highlight was the hotel gave us traditional robes in our rooms and we were encouraged to wear them around the hotel’s property and even to dinner. We thought it was so fun & such a cultural experience for everyone at the hotel to all be dressed this way at meals. It also made transitioning to the onsen after a meal very easy! The Japanese have thought of everything.
Picasso ExhibitMiss Black PowerDidn’t get so lucky with the views on the Ropeway hahaHotel views
Overall Thoughts:
Hakone was such a different vibe to the big cities of Kyoto & Tokyo. We were in nature, not a lot of lights, far less people, etc so it was nice to have the juxtaposition. We mostly got to relax, play cards, and have some quality time. I loved it!
BUDGET FOR 5 DAYS IN Japan (only including the part that I was paying for):
Accommodation: $128 (43$ per night): This is for 3 nights in the hostel; Marisa graciously let me crash with her in her hotel room for free š She’s the best!
Food: $212
Groceries: $0
Activities: $53
Local Transportation: $52
Miscellaneous: $52
Total: $500 (Daily average: $100)
Transportation to next destination: FREE (flight to the US) My dad used points š
Seriously a huge shoutout to the best dad there is š We had such a blast exploring together & I just appreciate him so much for always being the best travel buddy. Fun Fact: he spent 3 years traveling around the world after graduating college in the 80’s and is a huge inspiration for me doing the same!
The Pursuit Of Travel