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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls is considered the largest waterfall in the world. It can be found on the Zambezi River on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can access the waterfall from either country. I flew into Zambia and then took a quick car ride over to Zimbabwe. If you are flying into Zambia make sure you bring some cash with you to pay for a visa. The visa costs about 30 USD. If you plan on doing any shopping most places in Zimbabwe prefer American dollars. Most of the activities listed at the lodge were also priced in US dollars. Hotel We stayed at the Victoria Falls Safari Club. Everywhere we went in southern Africa the hospitality was amazing. The…
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Cape Town in 24 Hours
When we were planning our trip to Africa we originally only allotted for enough time to go on Safari and to Victoria Falls. I had wanted to visit Cape Town since before I even began medical school so I begged my friends to make a quick trip to the beautiful city. Of course this meant I only really had one day to see everything. So here is my one day guide to seeing Cape Town. (I’m definitely planning a trip back though because I missed so much the first time around.) While in Cape Town we stayed at the Hilton near the City Centre. Since we only had one day to explore we asked the concierge the best way to…
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Kruger National Park Safari
Ever since I went to South Africa I’ve been asked by multiple people about my trip, so finally by popular demand here are all the details of my African adventures. I spent a total of 9 days in Africa and it was a lot of traveling to and from the destinations that we wanted to visit. In this post I’ll be covering just the safari aspect of my trip. The Safari that I went on was through the Elephant Plains Game Lodge. There is no direct flight that will get you there. I initially flew into Johannesburg and then bought a separate flight to Hoedspruit (HDS). From HDS it is a 90 minute drive to the lodge. You can arrange transportation…
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City of Angels
Hi friends! I just got back from a quick trip to LA and as much as I loved it I don’t think I could handle the traffic situation there. It takes hours to get anywhere and you need to plan your day according to traffic patterns. Once you come to terms with the fact that most of your time will be spent in a car you will realize that LA has a lot to offer. Food Every single place that we ate was out of a fairy tale. Here are some of my favorites and trust me the pictures don’t do it justice. Snow Monster This place serves Boba tea in a lightbulb with a cotton candy cloud covered…
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Italian Food Tour
I love Italian food! My favorite dessert of all time is Tiramisu. I could eat pizza and pasta everyday, three times a day, forever. Italy was a dream come true for me. If you love to eat read on for recommendations on some of the best food I’ve ever had. Lets start from the beginning. My very first Italian pizza was actually at the airport in Rome. It was the size of my head and yes I did eat it for breakfast. After we finally arrived in Naples we made a quick stop to La Masadona. This is the home of the fried pizza crust and even though it’s fried it is incredibly light and not too heavy. …
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48 hours in Paris
I am in love with Paris and I can’t wait to plan a trip back. I only really had two full days to explore (which is why I’m only wearing one outfit in most of my pics) but I definitely made the most of it. I booked at room at Le Parisis Hotel and it did not disappoint. The room had a view of the Eiffel tower from my window! Even the little bathroom amenities were high quality. The location was within walking distance to the Eiffel tower and there were plenty of restaurants nearby. Prior to arriving in Paris I booked a hop on hop off bus pass with Big Bus Paris. I went on this trip with my…
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Understanding VAT Refunds
Paris is full of amazing food, delicious pastries, historic architecture and mesmerizing works of art. All of these things will launch Paris to the top of any wanderer’s travel list but there’s one thing that makes the city of lights an inevitable destination for fashionistas….the shopping of course! For years I was buying all of my European designer handbags and shoes in the US at full price. Then I learned about the one small thing that has had the biggest impact on my closet in the last two years. VAT refunds! Here’s the beginner’s guide to saving hundreds on designer items. What is a VAT refund? VAT stands for “Value Added Tax” and it is a tax that is…
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Havana
If you’re heading to Havana make sure you read my previous post about things to do before you travel. We booked an Airbnb that had stunning views of the city. Carmen was an amazing host and she also helped with transportation and recommendations on sights to see. For $6 a day she also provided us with this delicious breakfast spread. The area that we stayed in is called Vedado. Its a quieter area and not quite as bustling as Old Havana. Vedado has its own charm with restaurants, parks and the Malecon just a short walk away. If you want to be closer to the night life I would recommend staying in Old Havana. Top Spots to Visit Fabrica…
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Americans in Cuba
Is travel to Cuba still allowed from the US? I traveled to Cuba in May of 2017 which was luckily right before the new travel restrictions were put in place in June. You can still travel to Cuba but you won’t be able to do it under the “people to people” category or as a solo educational trip. Traveling for tourism is illegal but you can still travel under 12 other categories. The 12 categories of authorized travel to Cuba are: Family visits Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations Journalistic activity Professional research and professional meetings Educational activities Religious activities Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions Support for the Cuban people…
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7 days in New Zealand
I’ll be honest with you guys, I did absolutely no research when I planned my trip to New Zealand. I booked a flight to Auckland and had nothing else planned. Luckily New Zealand is the perfect travel destination for this type of procrastination. The first thing we did was book a rental car. They drive on the left side of the road over there but don’t worry, they are used to Americans attempting to navigate the roads and have huge arrow signs at every turn reminding you which lane to stay in. Half of the fun of traveling through New Zealand was experiencing the breathtaking views while getting to our destinations. Get ready for some winding roads along the mountain…
