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Some might hear of the Caribbean blue...Some might see that it is true...
Our trip to the Caribbean was a very spontaneous decision. We had a few vacation days left so in the spur of a moment we got the plane tickets, booked our accommodation and one month later we were in the Dominican Republic.
Punta Cana is mostly known as a honeymoon destination, but it's much more than that...depends on what you are looking for. Yes, you can choose to splurge at a fancy resort and just soak in the sun for an entire week, or you can explore all the surroundings...beaches and islands...and still...soak in the sun.

Best time to visit Punta Cana
The best weather is definitely between December - May, with December - February being the most crowded period. You will want to avoid the period from June - November known as the hurricane season, with the highest chance of it being in September.

Explore the famous Bavaro Beach
The thing I loved most about this beach is that it changes its "mood" at every 20 meters... from a crowded place tangled with sun beds to an empty stretch of sand with only palm trees around you.
The gorgeous blue water also mixes things up for you, from calm and relaxing in one place, to wild and wavy in the other, just pick your poison.


Isla Saona
We visited this island in an organized day trip and to be fair the excursions in the Dominican Republic are a bit expensive, but definitely worth it.
The trip to Saona was 130$ for both, including barbecue lunch and a stop to a natural pool (basically a place with shallow water in the middle of the sea), but the color is this water is truly unreal.


The island was lovely and it had the most exotic vibe ever!
The return to the resort was a 2 hours catamaran ride! If the trip would have been just that it would still have been amazing! The staff organized a party on the catamaran with latino music and rivers of cubata's...the fancy word for rom with coke ;).


Isla Catalina
Same as to Saona, we went in an organized day trip for 140$ for both. This also had lunch included and return with the catamaran.
If I'd have to choose between the two islands, well...I can't decide. They were both amazing.


Boost your adrenaline
There are a lot of water sports that you can practice, from banana rides to windsurf, if not there is always the option of parasailing. If you have not tried it yet, I would recommend it! It really is the lowest form of extreme sport :).

Try Mama Juana
Mama Juana is one of their traditional drinks which I actually enjoyed! It is a mixture of rum, red wine and honey, soaked in a bottle with tree bark and all sorts of herbs.

Make new friends


Looking forward in hearing your experience in Punta Cana, we sure did have fun!


Hugs,
O

I had no idea how much I wanted to visit Singapore before I got there! I don't think this makes any sense to you, but it sure does to me...so let me elaborate.
While planning our trip to the Philippines (articles about El Nido, Palawan - here and Boracay - here) and looking for flights we had two options in terms of layover: Manila or Singapore. After reading about the two, Singapore definitely won the race and we decided to extend our layover into a short trip. Best decision ever!

From the moment we landed in Singapore I was absolutely mesmerized, maybe because Changi Airport is one of the most impressive airports in the world! They even have a botanical garden...
Ok, I have to admit first of all that I can't be very objective here as Singapore was my first trip outside of Europe, so it does have a special place in my heart.

When to go
The best time to visit Singapore is between February to April when the weather is the most pleasant. The months between November to January are to be avoided as those are know to be the rainiest.

Getting around
Public transport is very efficient in Singapore and you will be able to get around quickly and easy at a relatively low price. The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) will get you to all the important sites as it spans the entire city, therefore make sure that you book your accommodation close to one of the MRT stations. A single journey ticket will cost between 1,40 - 2,50 SGD depending on the journey's length. You can also buy a tourist pass with unlimited travel for 1, 2 or 3 days for 10, 16 or 20 SGD.
You can use the same MRT to get from the airport to the city centre and the journey is 30 minutes long. More details can be found here.

Where to stay
We stayed at Hotel G Singapore and we chose it mainly due to its proximity to the MRT and a walking distance to Bugis Junction, a busy hub with shopping malls and a large variety of restaurants. Marina Bay and the city centre were just 30 minutes walk away. All in all this hotel offered a good value for money.


Gardens by the Bay
By far this represents one of the iconic sites in Singapore and without a doubt is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen.
This incredible nature park spans over 101 hectares and it consists of three gardens: Bay South, East and Central, the largest of the three being the Bay South Garden. This also holds the two conservatories: The Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome. There is a free entrance for the gardens, but to visit the conservatories there is a fee of 28 SGD (Singapore Dollars).



The main attraction of these gardens are by far the Supertrees, which are man made tree like structures high up to 50 meters that at night light up in many bright colors.
The OCBC Skyway is an elevated walkway between two of the biggest supertrees that offer a great panoramic view of the gardens and Singapore as well. One ticket for the Skyway is 8 SGD.


Garden Rhapsody
Do you have a happy place? You know...the kind where your mind wonders from time to time. Well one of mine is for sure Gardens by the Bay during Garden Rhapsody. I cannot express with words how beautiful this place is at night! Imagine listening to the most peaceful rhapsody while these magnificent super trees light up in many colors that dance to the rhythm of the song.


Take a stroll down Marina Bay
Located in the central area of Singapore, this bay is the perfect place to take a stroll at night as it will amaze you with some of the most impressive structures in Singapore. Besides the renowned Marina Bay Sands, you can also see the Arts and Science museum, take a glimpse of the Downtown Core skyline and walk on the delightfully lit Helix Bridge.


Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck
My second favorite place in Singapore, after Gardens by the bay, is definitely this. A 23 SGD ticket will get you up to the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands from where you will be left breathless by the most incredible view. I would recommend going up at night to enjoy the light show that the city has to offer.


Downtown Core
This financial quarter of the city is where you will find some of the most impressive buildings and skyscrapers in Singapore.


Chinatown
Even though it is very close to Downtown core, this neighbourhood couldn't be more different. It is the traditional and old part of the town where you will find the best street food and a very busy nightlife. We were fortunate enough to be there during the Chinese New Year and we got to witness their traditional festivities. Food wise you must try Bak Kwa (Chinese meat jerky), although a tad expensive it was one of the best things I ate while there.


Botanic Gardens 
Tucked away in this urban jungle you will find an oasis at the Botanic Gardens. The entrance is free, however there is a fee of 5 SGD to enter the National Orchid Garden.
This is not a very popular place for tourists, but you will get to mingle with the locals. If you have only a short time in Singapore, you could skip this as after all it is just a regular botanic garden and there are far better places to see in this city.

Orchard Road
This is the main shopping street in the city, home to all the high ends brands as well as some local boutique shops. Basically there is a little something for everyone.

Maxwell Food Centre
This hawker centre is located in Chinatown and is the perfect place for you to try a variety of local dishes. It is basically a more organised food market with good and cheap food.
The place doesn't look much but it is definitely famous with not only tourists but locals as well.

Singapore is a lovely city and at night it is absolutely amazing! Hope that I inspired your next travel destination!


xoxo,
O

Conde Nast Traveler just ranked the 30 bests islands in the world in the 2017 Readers Choice Awards and the number one is...(drum roll please)...the one and only Boracay in the Philippines! Following up close on 2nd and 3rd place are two other islands in the Philippines as well: Cebu and Palawan.
Now...if I were to be completely honest I liked Palawan better than Boracay, mostly because it is not yet that touristy and the landscapes are more dramatic, but Boracay is not too shabby. If you haven't yet read our article about El Nido - Palawan you can check it out here.

Why visit 
Crystal clear turquoise water, powdery white sand, the most lively night life ever and an abundance of water sport choices, all to create a perfect island destination.

When to visit
Best time to visit the island is between November - May, during the dry season. You most definitely want to avoid the wet season as there is literally nothing to do when it rains.

How to get there
Boracay has two main airports, one in Caticlan and one in Kalibo. We landed in Kalibo and from there we got a combo ticket (bus+boat) to get to Boracay. We booked online with Southwest Tours Boracay Inc. and the price for 2 people was 1680 php.
Boracay is the land of fees! There is a fee for almost everything: an airport fee, an environmental fee and a boat terminal fee. Therefore in order to leave the airport you will have to pay the airport and environmental one. So you might need to withdraw some money at one of the airport's ATM's.

Where to stay
While in Boracay the best place to stay is near the White beach. The beach is divided in 3 stations, we found it best to stay somewhere close to Station 2, as that is where all the magic happens. Most of the restaurants, shops and even the mall are in Station 2. Station 3 is the more laid back area, not as busy as Station 1 and 2 and has limited options in terms of restaurants and shops.


In conclusion, yes...Boracay is the clear definition of a touristy island! Opposite to Palawan where only local shops and restaurants are to be found, Starbucks and Mcdonalds are right at home on Boracay.
Even so, the island has a unique charm! As long as you don't expect to be alone on the beach you can still manage to find a few quiet spots and palms trees to relax under.

All things said, I think this cute little island deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime!

Have you packed your bags yet?


P.S: For more photos from our adventures, follow us on instagram @flip.flops.only.

xoxo,
O

I love Italy! But this is coming from a girl who's favorite food is pizza (besides french fries, but that's a different story).
If you have a romantic weekend getaway in mind, Venice would definitely be the right choice.
If being in the land of pizza, pasta, gelato and Aperol spritz is not enough, just add some lovely buildings, narrow and quiet canals, gondolas and one of the most romantic vibe ever.

For sure you cannot leave Venice without visiting the San Marco square, Rialto bridge or the Grand Canal, but I felt that the true charm of Venice was not given by these famous overcrowded landmarks, but by just getting lost through its narrow streets and canals.


While in Venice I would recommend you dedicate a half day or maybe a full one to visit the lovely islands of Murano and Burano.
Visiting Burano was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Venice! If you have not yet read our post about Burano you can check it out here.



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