Tokyo, Japan…in 24 hours.

Hey folks:

I am back with a new review of my recent trip to Tokyo, Japan. Since I’ve been here in Korea, I’ve been wanting to get there but the flights were never cheap enough for me. (Obviously they are still much cheaper than flying from the States though.) I lucked up in early March and picked a random weekend to go for about $200.

Once my flight was all squared away, I started looking for somewhere to stay. I first had to research the different areas of Tokyo to see exactly where I wanted to visit. Since I was limited on time, I needed to be in  a location that was central to the most attractions. I knew for a fact that I wanted to see Harajuku and Shibuya crossing. I typed in both areas on search engines to find accommodations. I came across a pod hotel in the heart of Shibuya. At the time, the hotel had not opened so I was hesitant not having reviews to read first. I knew that staying in a pod or capsule hotel was something that was on my Tokyo bucket list, so I went with my gut and booked.

I then had to research my transportation options into Tokyo since I would be arriving on a really late/early  morning flight. At this time, all trains would have stopped. I found info on an airport bus company (Keiyu Bus Co.) that had a bus into Shibuya during late night hours. The bus was around $16 compared to taking a taxi at that time for around $80. I had a few friends in Japan call for me to inquire as well. Although I wasn’t able to reserve a seat in advance, I still decided to wait and try my luck.

Everything went smooth and I made it to the hotel. When I walked into The Milleanials Shibuya, I was blown away. It was brand spanking new and the location was perfect. Upon check in, I was given my own iPod touch that would serve as the control for my pod and the building elevators. Once I arrived at my pod, a really nice souvenir toiletry bag was waiting for me with towels, slippers, a toothbrush, cotton pads, and ear plugs.

I set my alarm using the iPod touch. You also control your bed position, the lights in the pod, and the theater system with it. After playing around with all of the functions, I finally decided to head to bed. (I was too excited.)

I opted for late check out since I arrived so late. I wanted to give myself a little more time to sleep and then prepare for a non stop day, afterall I literally only had one day.

I checked out of my pod and stored my bag with the hotel and set out. I asked the front desk attendant for a pancake restaurant recommendation. To my surprise, there was one just steps away.

I arrived right when they opened at 11am so I didn’t have a wait. I ordered the strawberry banana pancakes with orange juice. I had missed homemade pancakes since Western style pancakes are hard to find in Korea. The breakfast total was around $14.

After breakfast, I set out to see the infamous Shibuya crossing. Shibuya crossing is known as the world’s busiest intersection. It was amazing to see all of the people crossing from 3 different ways. I wandered around Shibuya for a bit and stumbled upon another famous site, Hachiko statue. Hachiko was a dog that would come to Shibuya train station to greet his owner after work every day. The dog even continued this after his owner died for several years. ( Now that’s loyalty) A statue was erected in the dog’s honor.

After watching the chaos of the crossing a few more times, I set out toward Harajuku. Luckily it was also in walking distance (about 15 minutes) Harajuku is the area that I picture when I think of Tokyo. Here you find all of the girls and guys dressed in Kawaii costumes as well as stores that sell the clothes as well. Harajuku is also home to lots of retail stores and cool restaurants. In the heart of Harajuku is a really cool escalator with a kaleidoscope like mirror.

The only thing I was in search of while in Tokyo was sneakers. Korea doesn’t always get the best selection and if they do, they tend to charge more. Let’s just say Tokyo is a sneaker lovers dream. I browsed in several stores, going down different streets just to see what was out there. I wanted to think my decision through carefully so I waited to purchase until I was able to truly compare the options.

That afternoon, I had reservations at the Kawaii Monster Cafe. I have been eyeing this place since I came to Korea. Kawaii Monster cafe is a restaurant that, as one person describes, is a child’s dream on acid. You are escorted into the doors and you instantly say WOW!!! The colors! The lights! The crazy merry-go-round in the very middle! It’s a sensory overload. I didn’t know which way to look first. Since I was alone, I was able to get a small table that was literally in the middle of all the action. (SWEET!) At this restaurant, you can either pay for the $5 admission in advance online (which I did) or pay in person. (Just be mindful you will have to wait until people with reservations are seated first if you pay in person) Once you enter you must then purchase one food and one drink item from the menu. There are also pre paid menu packages you can opt for. I ordered fries and a coke. (cheapest things on the menu) The fries came with an assortment of colored dips to mimic the theme of the cafe. Other menu items include: colorful pastas, crazy shakes, and desserts. Every hour and a half the “Monster girls” do a live dance show and get guests involved too. It was super cute and the kids loved it. (SO DID I!) After watching the show, eating my fries, and closing out my bill I headed back out to continue my sneaker hunt.

I eventually made my way to Takeshita street in the heart of Harajuku. This is the most popular street in the area filled with street food, restaurants, vintage clothing stores, and souvenir shops. After reading several blogs, I found that crepes and gigantic rainbow cotton candy were must try things. I wasn’t in the mood for that much cotton candy on my own so I chose to try a crepe. I had an apple cinnamon crepe. It was only OK. I also decided to try peach coke from one of the 1 million vending machines found on the street. It reminded me of cherry coke a lot but was still pretty good.

My last mission, outside of my sneakers, was to find as many of the crazy Kit Kat candy bar flavors. Tokyo has been known to produce unique flavors of the candy. I found a small assortment pack in a random souvenir shop. The pack had: strawberry cheesecake, apple, purple sweet potato, matcha green tea, matcha almond, strawberry, and a few other flavors. (I ended up also finding a melon flavor in the airport. I’ve tried a few so far and they are really good)

I finally made my sneaker decision after consulting some friends via text and went to make my purchase. (I did great!)

By this time the sun was setting and I was a little hungry since I had only had light meals all day. Another Tokyo bucket list item was to have ramen from Ichiran. This is a small ramen shop that always has a wait outisde. You first stop at the “vending machine” outside to place your basic order and pay. (cash only) You are then seated at a personal cubby where you are given a checklist on how you want your ramen to taste. Your ramen is then served through the small window at your cubby and the window flap closed once you receive it. You have a small water tap and cups at your cubby as well so you can truly eat in peace. The ramen was around $8.

After enjoying my delicious ramen I started to make my way back toward Shibuya to check on my bags and rest my legs a bit. Although I was checked out, the hotel allowed me to relax in the lobby area. I charged my phone up a bit and decided I had one last must-do…SUSHI IN JAPAN!

I once again asked for a recommendation from the front desk. The initial place that was recommended had a crazy line and I was short on time. I decided to just walk around Shibuya some more to see it come alive at night. I was able to see a flash dance performance, street rappers, and even people racing in the human Mario Kart. I eventually came across another sushi place (Genki Sushi) that looked really fun. I only had one hour left to get in, eat, and get out. There was a short wait but I made it in just in time.

This place was SOOOOOO COOL. Once again you are seated at a personal stool in front of a small tablet. You order your food via the tablet and it is whisked directly to your seat on a conveyor belt that goes around the whole restaurant. You then notify the belt that you have your food by tablet, and the mini cart is sent back to the kitchen. You can order however you want but you have a 45 minute limit to ensure other guests can get in and eat too. The sushi was really fresh and pretty inexpensive too. I was happy to have stumbled upon that place.

After chowing down, I made my way back to the hotel one more time to grab my bags. My full day in Tokyo was coming to a close and I needed to catch the subway to the airport.

The station was only a 5-7 minutes walk from the hotel. ( I literally didn’t have to pay for transportation that day except to and from the airport. Once I arrived at Shibuya station, I had to ask several people to point me in the right direction for the airport train. There are so many different lines so it was kinda confusing. However, I made my way to the airport with time to spare!

As you can see I had a fun and busy day in Tokyo. It’s a somewhat expensive city compared to other Asian cities. (But about the same as a major city in the USA) It is such a cool vibe and I saw people of all races there too. I didn’t get the weird stares that I expected from an Asian city. I could see myself living in Tokyo if the cost of living wasn’t so high. Hopefully I can get back one more time before I leave this side of the world. There is still so much for me to see!

Thanks for reading and happy traveling.

 

Travel Review: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Hi folks:

I’m back to bring you the review of destination 2 of my 3 country trip recently. I had the opportunity to travel to Seim Reap, Cambodia after leaving Kuala Lumpur.

Now I will admit, Siem Reap was not somewhere initially on my radar. After speaking to a fellow travel enthusiast, she convinced me it was somewhere that I had to see.

I flew into Siem Reap airport from Kuala Lumpur. The flight was super short, less than 2 hours. Once I arrived into Cambodia, I had to apply for the on-the-spot visa. The visa is $30 for tourists and an additional $2 if you don’t bring a passport sized photo too. The visa is required and you can pay for it online in advance. (Most people just get it on arrival) The process took maybe 30 minutes total and I was out to meet the driver from my guesthouse. Also, although they have their own currency American currency is preferred most everywhere in Siem Reap so keep that in mind.

Most, if not all, accommodations in Siem Reap come to the airport to pick you up for free. Just make sure you communicate the times ahead of your arrival. My driver had a sign waiting for me and off we went to the guesthouses’s Tuk Tuk. (a carriage like cart powered my motorcycle or scooter.) The ride from the airport to my guesthouse was only about 20 minutes. There is lots of dust in Siem Reap so keep this in mind and pack either a mask or scarf to cover your mouth or eyes while in a Tuk Tuk.

 

I was staying at the Blossoming Romduol Lodge just off the main road in Siem Reap. I booked a private double room through booking.com and my total was $54 for 3 nights. (Yes $18 per night!) It was a nice sized room with a large (and SUPER comfortable) double bed. It had a TV, wardrobe, and small table too. I also had a private bathroom. The bathroom was a little outdated and was more so of a traditional Asian bathroom. (Meaning no separate shower. It’s a shower room so there’s a shower head on the wall next to the sink and the water drains in the middle of the floor. My apartment is the same here in Korea so I’m actually used to it. It dries pretty fast too) The property provided free breakfast daily and had a really cute pool and pool bar as well. (The picture shows the fish spa in the front of the property. They were cleaning it during my stay.)

I was welcomed with a cool towel and some refreshing tea. I headed to my room to settle in for a while and rest. A few hours later, I decided to head out to the main area where the markets and restaurants were located. It was a short 7-10 minute walk to the main area so I didn’t see the need to pay for a tuk tuk. I was surprised at how cheap things were there. My first meal was fried noodles with chicken and vegetables, a fresh banana shake, and bottled water. The total for that was $3.50. There were souvenir shops that had T-shirts for $1!! ( I got a few actually) After eating my meal, I walked around the markets and explored Pub Street before the crowds came out. (It’s a famous road full of bars that comes alive at night) I also stopped by one of the local travel stands to book my transportation for the Angkor Wat temple tour. It was $13 for all day transportation around the “small tour.” (mostly the four main temples that people know of) My last stop for the night was to get a foot and leg massage. ( I told you in my last post I got one literally every night after that first one. I was serious.) In Siem Reap, the 30 minute massages were anywhere from $3-$4!!!! After an oh so relaxing massage, I headed in for the night since my tour would start early the next day.

Day 2:

I woke up to have breakfast before I was picked up for my tour. I had a plain omelet, baked bread, fruit (dragonfruit and watermelon), and hot tea. (It’s very easy to be a vegan or vegetarian here. The fruits are in abundance and sooo fresh. They have so many things that we don’t have in the states.)

I packed up my backpack and then headed out with my guide. The first stop was to the main building for the Angkor Wat temple tours. You have to first purchase an ID card to enter the various temples. You have the option of a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day pass. The prices were $37, $62, or $72 respectively. I only wanted to do the one-day tour. You can pay by cash or credit card and they also take your photo for your ID.

After I received my ID, I loaded up into a different van to start my tour. Our first stop was to the infamous Angkor Wat temple. This is the temple that is the symbol of Cambodia as evidenced from the country’s flag. Our guide allowed us to follow him or to freely explore for two hours. I started with him to get the general history and then took off on my own to get in some pictures. It was pretty crowded and super hot! Yet, we still had a long day ahead.

Our second stop of the tour was to the temple where the movie Tomb Raider was filmed. Most of the temple was being repaired but you could still see the most famous part where the movie was shot. By this point I was super sweaty and pretty hungry. Luckily, lunch was our next stop.

 

We were taken to a pretty touristy restaurant where the prices are more than double what they would be in the main area. It’s like this because tours brings loads of people here daily and it’s one of the only options to people on the tours, so you either eat or starve. For lunch I had Cambodian curry with chicken and a banana shake. The total was $10!

We loaded back up and went to our third temple, Bayon. (which was my favorite) This temple is known for the many carvings of the face of the King who built it. His face is literally everywhere. It was pretty cool and very detailed.

After Bayon, we went to one last temple where we would stay to watch the sunset. There wasn’t much to do around this temple so most people literally sat on the ground for two hours to wait for sunset. After watching the sunset I headed back down the mountain (we had to climb a mountain for about 10 minutes to reach the peak to watch the sunset) and toward my van. Around the parking area was many food vendors and souvenir carts. A big thing in Cambodia is young kids hustling tourists instead of going to school. Our guide warned us early so I knew not to give in. They want to encourage the kids to not beg and to hopefully enroll in school instead.

It was a super LONG day and I was so ready to head back to shower. I did just that and then headed back out to the main road for another cheap dinner (chicken lok lak) and my daily massage. (it was soooo needed on this day)

Day 3:

This day I decided to sleep in. I didn’t have any real plans and I was perfectly fine with that. Siem Reap is a super laid-back place anyway so it’s very easy to just chill out. Just like Day 2, I had my breakfast of eggs, bread, fruit, and tea. I decided to then go check out the pool for a little while too.

Around noon, I finally decided to get dressed and explore for the day. The guesthouse has free bicycles for guests to use, so I checked one out. It was the cutest old school bike with a basket on the front. Before I left I also asked about cooking classes offered in the area. I decided to book one for later that afternoon.

I took off on my bike and it was one of the most carefree feelings I have had in a very long time. It was so fun and I felt like a kid again.

My cooking class was scheduled for late afternoon, so I went back to my guesthouse to take the Tuk Tuk there. The class took place in a cozy cottage tucked behind Pub Street. Once everyone arrived, we walked over to a local market where our instructor explained some of the main ingredients used in Cambodian dishes. We spent about 30 minutes at the market then went back to the cooking cottage.

We had three courses to make and we also got to eat them all. Our starter was veggie spring rolls. We went step by step including cutting our vegetables and wetting our rice paper to make the casing. Once we made them we were able to eat them and talk about them with the other people in class.

Next up was our main dish: fish amok. (It’s another native dish of Cambodia). It was very delicious. I was amazed that I was able to actually create something that good. Our final dish was dessert which was a fried banana and passion fruit dish. (YUUUUUMMMMM) The cooking class was really fun and I was able to sit and talk with people from all over the world too. (so that was a double win) As part of the class we were given certificates, sample spices to take home, and a recipe book as well. It was well worth the $27. (I’ll add more pictures of my dishes later)

Since the class was so close to the action, I decided to head out and explore more and of course get my $3 massage. Pub street and the surrounding markets really come alive once the sun sets. I decided to even try a fish spa. They are everywhere and are also pretty cheap. It felt really weird at first but after I while I didn’t mind it since I was in deep convo with a guy from Greece who was also at the spa. (This is why I love traveling, you meet so many different people)

It was pretty packed around the markets so I just took in the sites and sounds for a few hours before heading in for the night. It was my last official night in Siem Reap and I would fly out the next evening.

On my last day, I slept in, had breakfast, and sat by the pool to read most of the day. The guesthouse allowed me to store my luggage after the check out time and I was able to still hang around the property. I even went back out on bike to just kill time. I stumbled upon a really cool Buddhist shrine. The day honestly flew by. My tuk tuk driver promptly took me to the airport to catch my flight. Next stop…Bangkok, Thailand.

Siem Reap was such a laid back and carefree place. I literally wore no makeup, workout leggings, and $1 Cambodia t-shirts the entire trip. Siem Reap is known as a hippy town and is very popular for backpackers. (people who travel with only a large back pack for extended periods) Everything was so cheap and I loved it. I would recommend maybe two-nights stay unless you plan to see more of the temples while there. It is very safe and aside from the kids who hustle, you don’t find too many beggars.

As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling!

I’m officially an English teacher!

Hey folks:

So it’s been a few weeks since my last post and I wanted to update you. As you can see, I’m still alive! The last few weeks have been busy but I’m still enjoying my time here in South Korea.

I believe I shared with you all that I was in a 4-week training program (TESOL) to help prepare us for teaching foreign language speakers English. I completed the program in August 25 after passing 3 mock teaching lessons. We had a complete graduation ceremony that day and even received certificates in real diploma folders.

Later that same day, we met with what’s called the “Head Teacher” of our respective schools. As you know, I was assigned to two schools so I met with two teachers that day. A head teacher is typically the liaison you work with in your school and at times teach with. Both of my head teachers speak pretty good English, although at times there are some words they don’t know.

That brings us to the current week of August 28! August 28 marked my first official day of class. I teach at my main school, Seonjong Elementary, on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I go out to Cheonan Upsong Elementary on Tuesdays only.  In both schools I only teach 3-6 grade. In Korea, they begin English lessons in 3rd grade unless their parents pay for them to go to private academy early on. (Academies can cost around $1500 per month!)

So what was day one like??? Well, I took the bus to my school which has it’s own labled city bus stop. There are 6 periods in each day and school starts at 8:40am with first period beginning at 9am. Each period is 40 minutes. On Mondays, I am with the 3rd graders only and for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th period only. So I have a LOT of down time on Monday especially since we are required to be at our desk until 4:40pm.

During my classes that day, I had three different sets of students. Since it’s the first week I simply did an “All About Me” presentation so that the students could learn more about me. They were so excited from the moment I walked in. These kids will make you feel like you are Beyonce. Everytime they see me in passing they giggle and say HELLOOOO. I can’t tell you the amount of times I had to say hello in one day.

I did the same presentation for all classes (and will do it 1000 more times this week. LOL)

Now for day 2! This school is out in the countryside of our city. So I had to take a subway then a taxi to get to it. Thankfully, we are paid extra if we have multiple schools to help cover our transportation costs.

This school is A LOT smaller than my main school. There is only one class per grade with no more than 13 students in a grade. Therefore, I will see all of the 3rd – 6th grade students in the school on Tuesday when I’m there.

My day started with teaching 3rd grade for 2 periods, so 80 minutes. Of course, my “All About Me” presetation wasn’t THAT long so I actually taught my first full English lesson. It went VERY well. The kids seemed to pick up on the key words and phrases and they enjoyed the game we played as well.

After that, I had 5th grade for 2 periods, 4th grade for one, and then I didn’t see my 6th graders because they had a test. So just like Monday, I had a lot of down time until 4:40 pm.

Now for the question you all want to ask (if you could): Did I eat the lunch??? Yes! As a matter of fact I did! Korean school lunches are pretty good. They are prepared daily by the cooks and everyone eats the same meal. Each meal typically has: soup, kimchi, rice, a meat, and veggie. This way, kids don’t get a choice and it’s a guaranteed balanced meal. Drinks are not served with lunch either. Students can drink warm barley tea AFTER they are done. Juice is not a big thing here either. (So I expect to lose a few pounds over time) A really cool thing, is that you can also get seconds and students must show their teacher their tray before they are excused to leave to ensure they eat. See some pictures of my lunches from Day 1 and 2 below!

All in all, my first few days have gone well. The kids are really cute, they say hello to me 5 million times, and all of the Korean teachers say WHOOOOA when they find out I’m really a lawyer since that’s a well respected profession here. I hope you enjoyed this update.

Happy Traveling.

 

Today’s Deals 3/10/2017

Hey folks!

There are some great domestic flight deals popping up today, so I wanted to share. Remember these prices won’t last longer than 24-48 hours. Airport codes are listed in parentheses and you will need them to search and buy the flights on the recommended sites. Happy traveling.

 

Deal 1:

Washington, DC (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX) for $248 roundtrip on American. This flight includes a layover in Dallas. Purchase on AA.com

Dates:

October 14-17 and September 30- October 3.

**May be other dates, but those were the only ones I saw right now.

Deal 2:

Charlotte (CLT) to NYC/NJ(EWR) for as low as $66 rountrip on United.

Departure dates: June – mid August (no Sundays)

Return: June – mis August (mostly midweek days)

** Blackout dates: June 22- July 10

 

Deal 3:

Atlanta (ATL) to Miami (MIA) nonstop on American for as low as $137 roundtrip.

Dates: now through October. Use the google.com/flights seach option to find actual dates. Lots of dates for $145.

 

Deal 4:

Washington, DC (DCA) to Dallas (DFW) nonstop on American for as low as $87 roundtrip.

Departure: Sept – Oct on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday

Return: same as above.

Use priceline.com or Momondo.com to find lowest rate

 

Deal 5:

Atlanta (ATL) to Washington, DC (not sure which airport) nonstop on United for $116 roundtrip.

Departure dates: May 24; June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14

Return: May 27, 30, 31; June 1, 2, 6, 7, 14

Use Priceline.com or Momondo.com to find lowest rate. Use WAS as airport code to search all airports in DC.

Tuesday Travel Review: Cape Town, continued

Hey folks!

I’m back for hopefully the last review of South Africa!

When we left off, I had finished the tour of Robben Island and table mountain. That night, a few of the girls and I stumbled upon a really cute restaurant called Kloof Street House. It was a really cute Victorian house turned restaurant situated in this garden. The food was delicious.  I had the fish of the day which was King Clip (a popular South African fish) paired with cauliflower purée and spinach. I also had an appetizer salad and a house virgin drink. The total for all of this equated to about $21 total. Crazy right!!

Next up was Sunday. This was technically another free day. That morning we had breakfast at what quickly became our fav, Clark’s. ( I ate there two more times while there) They had everything from fresh fruit bowls, fresh pressed juices, to avocado toast! My kinda spot. I had a fresh pressed orange, carrot, and ginger juice with their egg sandwich (eggs, avocado, mushrooms, greens, and cheese).

We then went on a hunt for a rental car to get to Boulders beach which was an hour outside of Cape Town. We had no luck on locking down an automatic car that quick so Uber it was! The ride out was gorgeous. We rode along the coast which was also alongside mountains! Our goal was to see the South African penguins! Let’s just say mission accomplished! Although you couldn’t physically be on the beach with the penguins, it was still quite a site to see. You are only a few feet away from the penguins who are in their natural habitat. There is a small entrance fee to see them but it’s so worth it.

We spent about an hour with the cute little guys before heading back to the city. That evening was pretty chill. We had dinner at a pizza spot near the Kloof Street house. The great thing about Cape Town restaurants is that you can bring your own bottle of wine with you. You only pay a small corking fee, and some places don’t even charge.

Monday was our planned beach day. We headed out to Camp’s Bay which is a mix between Laguna Beach and Miami. It was blazing that day so it was a great day to be at the beach. The water was still pretty cold since summer had just started. However, the locals didn’t mind. Just like with any beach, there are people on the beach constantly selling things so don’t be surprised if you go. You can also rent chairs and umbrellas while there too. It’s worth it and needed. There are plenty of restaurants and bars along the beach as well.

I only spent a few hours at the beach because we had reservations at a really cool restaurant that evening. I had a few friends that had gone before and recommended this place: Gold Restaurant. It was more than a restaurant, it was an experience. You have to make reservations in advance since this place is always packed. This was the only night of our trip that they had openings. I ended up having to go alone but that’s another story for another day. I’m just glad I did.

Before the actual dinner I participated in an interactive drumming circle in which we were taught various drumming cadences on African hand drums for about 30 minutes. I was then seated and it was time for the show. The meal came with 18 dishes from various countries within Africa. The waitress would explain each dish and how it should be eaten. In between courses we were entertained by traditional singers and dancers. They held nothing back and even pulled people up out of their seat to join in. (Yes, I was pulled up. Lol) I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was probably one of the best cultural experiences of my trip. It was also pretty reasonable, coming to about $40. (Sorry I don’t have pictures, this is the night my phone decided to stop working completely.)

We were up bright and early Tuesday morning for our safari at Anquila private game reserve. It was about an hour and some change ride to get there. Once there we had a hot breakfast before loading up in the jeep to see South Africa’s big 5. While on the 2 hour adventure we saw zebras, lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, springboks, and even ostrich. It was quite an experience to see these animals so close in their natural habitat.

     After the actual safari, we headed back to the reserve building for a sit down lunch before making our way back to the city. As an added bonus, our driver took us to see the actual prison that Nelson Mandela was released from in 1992, Drakenstein. There was a powerful statue at the entrance which commemorated Mandela’s release and his first appearance to the public.

That evening was our last night there so we headed out to dinner at a rooftop restaurant called The Vue.  It was a modern spot with 360 degree views overlooking Cape Town. Again, the food and drinks were super cheap. We ordered loads of Tapas and still only paid about $20 each.

I must say, this was quite a trip to remember. While the 20 hour flight isn’t one for the faint at heart, it’s worth it in the end. I definitely plan to head back to Africa to explore a new country hopefully soon. I hope these posts have been helpful over these last few weeks. If you have questions or need recommendations just let me know! As always…happy Traveling. ✈️

Tuesday Travel Review: Cape Town, South Africa Part 2

Hey folks!

Today I’m bringing you Part 2 for my Cape Town Travel Review. In today’s post I will talk about tours, food, and other things that I did while there.

First off, be ready for the LONG flight. It was 20 hours total but luckily with international flights they feed you every few hours and provide free inflight movies/TV. Not to mention it’s the perfect time to catch up on missed sleep.

On our first full day there, we were up bright and early for a Winery tour through a company called Wine Flies. Before we were picked up for the tour we decided to grab breakfast close to our apartment. We stumbled upon a place called Latitude 33 located on Bree St. (after this post I found that the restaurant closed due to management issues) It was the only place open at 7am serving full breakfast. I ordered the oatmeal (which was HUGE)and  had sliced almonds and choice of sliced bananas or apples, wheat toast, and a orange mango juice. I think my total for all of this equated to about $4!!! (When I say food is cheap here, I mean it!!! And it’s all so fresh)

We made it back just in time to be picked up for our tour with Wine Flies. Wine flies takes you to 5 wineries in the Stellenbosch area of Cape Town. Each winery allowed you to sample various red wines, white wines, and Champagne (or MCC as they call it in South Africa). There were two wineries that also did food pairings: one with cheese and one with chocolates. Each winery also gave you the option to purchase the wines that were sampled. You will want to make sure you have extra room in your luggage because the wines are amazing and SUPER cheap. (Literally $4 for a bottle of great award winning wine) The price of the tour was $54 per person and we booked the tour prior to going. They included transportation as well and it lasted mostly all day, a lunch was provided too.

    

 

 

 

Later that night, we decided to test out the Cape Town Club scene. We uber’d our way (you can take an Uber anywhere within Cape Town for 20 Rand which is less than $2) to a club called Coco located on the infamous Long Street in Cape Town. There was a cover charge to get in, but I can’t remember exactly what it was. The music in the club was a mix of American hip hop and African hip hop. It was a two-story club and was pretty lit!! We stayed until closing at 3am then hit up the late night food spot down the road called Steerz. It’s the South African version of Burger King and again…SUPER CHEAP.

After partying hard, we slept in on Friday. Once we were up for the day, we agreed to check out the beautiful Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (or V&A waterfront as it’s called) The V&A waterfront consists of a huge mall as well as outdoor shops, restaurants, the Robben Island port and museum, as well as some awesome photo opp spots. We started our day there with lunch at a popular sushi restaurant in the mall. The offer free wine while you wait on a table. (WIN!) The sushi was really fresh and very filling. From there we browsed the mall and then headed outside where all of the action was. As we walked around the actual waterfront we saw a steel drum band performing, an African singing troupe, and just overall beautiful scenery. In this area is where you will find the famous Table Mountain picture frame that most tourists take pictures in. As we continued to walk, we actually discovered a second one too. If you are there, this is definitely a MUST SEE!!

Next up was Saturday! This was by far my favorite day of the week. We were scheduled to do the Robben Island tour as well as see Table Mountain. We purchased tickets in advance for the Robben Island Ferry as well as the Table Mountain Cable car for a total of $43. We hired a private tour guide for the day as well to transport us which was about $20 per person for 4 people.

Before heading off to the tour, one of the other girls and I walked about a block from our apartment to a cute little coffee shop. (They are everywhere in Cape Town) I ordered a fresh pressed green juice which was made to order, a latte (some of the best coffee I’ve had has been in Cape Town), and an apple muffin. Again, all of this was at most $5-$6. (If you buy fresh pressed juice in the states, you know that alone can be $5-$6)

First up on the day was Robben Island. This is the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for several years during the Apartheid era. The tour included a guided walkthrough from a former political prisoner who gave a chilling first hand account of what life was like in the prison. It was a very emotional tour but worth it.

From there our tour guide took us over to Table Mountain park to catch the cable car up to the top of the mountain. Once we got to the top, the view was breathtaking. Literally a 360 view of Cape Town. We spent about 45 minutes on top before heading back down in the cable car. You can also self hike to the top and then take the cable car down. The hike is about 2 hours to the top. If I get a chance to go back, I will definitely be doing this!

Our tour guide then took us on a bonus tour of historic Cape Town. He was very knowledgeable and showed us places that weren’t initially planned for our day. His name was Mac (Cape Tours with Mac) and I highly recommend him for a day of touring Cape Town. You can tell that he truly enjoys what he does. He was found via Trip Advisor. He charged 1000 SA Rand for the day which was about 250 between the 4 of us. (Equates about $75 dollars total then divide by 4)

        

 

So this was the first half of my trip. As you can see it was pretty eventful. To prevent this post from being TOO LONG…I’m gonna make an executive decision and do a Part 3 next week. So that means you have to come back to see what else I did while on my trip!!! It gets better, I promise.

 

Happy Traveling. ✈️

 

 

Tuesday Travel Review: Cape Town, South Africa Pt. 1

Hi folks!

So I know it’s been a few weeks since my last Tuesday Travel Review but I was traveling and preparing to travel. No worries though because I’m back and ready to spill all the deets.

My latest travel took me halfway across the world to Cape Town, South Africa. (So freakin cool right??!) In this two part post I will start by explaining how the trip was planned and then later go into detail about all the things I did while there.

South Africa has been one of those countries that was always on my radar, but I never thought I could actually get there. I would check my go to sites daily hoping to come across that perfect price to go. There were always sales but mostly in the $600-$800 price range, and I wasn’t ready to splurge THAT much on a flight. I had even been in talks with a travel agent to get there around the same time, but she came back with a price of about $3,300 with flight plus hotels. UMMM NO THANKS!

I continued to search the sites, more specifically theflightdeal.com, when around late summer something finally came through. There was a fare sale through the South African Expedia for roundtrip flights to Cape Town from Washington, DC for about $420 on South African Airways. WHATTTTTTT!!! This is what I had been waiting for. I started playing around with the matrix software (see previous post) to find the dates in which that fare was valid. Lucky for me the fares were running in late November/early December which was perfect for my annual birthday trip. (My birthday is December 8). I told a friend who was also looking to go to South Africa as well. It took a while for her to make a decision so by the time we decided to purchase the fare had jumped to about $520. I was still fine with paying that because I knew that was a steal. We could plan our housing and activities later so buying this flight was the most important thing at the time. I would also worry about my flight to Dulles from Charlotte later as well.

After everyone who decided to come bought their flight, our next task was finding housing to accommodate our group of 6. We searched the usual sites such as Expedia, Booking.com, Travelocity, etc. but we found that it was hard to accommodate 6 people for a week. Our next option was Air BnB. We came across a few options that were suitable. The majority of the group opted for a 3 story luxury apartment in the Bo-Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town. From the pictures it was a beautiful apartment and was centrally located. It did not come with a pool or housekeeping though. The breakdown in price came to about $475 per person for 6 nights. It was a little more than I wanted to pay for housing but I was outnumbered on that. There were several other options for less with more options like the pool. One of the girls going on the trip paid the balance of the housing with a credit card and we were able to pay back our portion over time. Which was a life send! Once we had housing out of the way, our next task was to decide on tours and excursions. Since it was our first time heading to South Africa, we all wanted to see and do as much as we could within the time we were there.

The typical touristy things were on the list: safari, wine tour, table mountain, Robben Island, Boulders Beach, nightlife, and great food. We would spend the next few months searching various sites such as Trip Advisor and Viator for the best tours and the best prices.

I’ll pause here and give you more next week in part 2. Stay tuned. Happy Traveling.

 

How to find flights for cheap!!!

Happy Monday folks:

So many of you always ask…”How are you always taking trips? You must be rich!” Actually I’m far from it. I’ve just mastered the art of finding awesome flight deals and today I will walk you through it too.

There are 3 main sites that I browse and/or subscribe to

1. theflightdeal.com
2. faredealalert.com
3. google.com/flights

I highly suggest getting on the email list for the first two ASAP.

The flight deal is probably the one I find the majority of my awesome deals from. The way it works is everyday the site will list flights that they have found through specialized search engines that are at discounted prices. (The same for fare deal alert) You want to check the list as soon as you can within the day because as the day goes on, the flights either sell out or the prices increase based on demand.

The flight deal to me has the better options since they advertise deals that mostly leave from airports that host international airlines. Fare deal alert still has great options but not as often based on the cities it advertises for.

Once you check the list you still need to find the actual deal on your own using a flight matrix software. Once you click on the deal you are interested in, the thread will walk you through the steps in finding the deal at the price listed. There is normally a set of dates in which the deal is valid for so you have to search within those dates only. The thread will also give you a special search code for the matrix. You have to type the code exactly as listed or you will get an error. Once you have that as well as the airport codes for your departing and arriving city, you are all set to go. The instructions typically suggest searching a whole month out at a time. So you will enter one “start date” and the software will search all flights within a month from that date. It will then populate a calendar with prices for the entire month. The ones listed in orange are the cheapest ones found. I play around with the dates as well as the number of nights I plan to stay to truly find the best deal. Once you find the dates for the deal, you have to go to either Travelocity or expedia to actually purchase. You cannot purchase directly through the matrix software.

Now that I’ve given the basics (because the sites walk you through it too) here are my tips:

• You must be flexible: If you have set dates in mind, these sites won’t work to your advantage. The deals are within set travel dates.
• You must act FAST: As I said previously, the deals sell out and the prices increase. If it is a super crazy deal, then you can expect it to be gone within hours. I try to remind people you have at most a 48 hour window to purchase the deals before they are gone.
• Get the flight first plan later: If you can swing the dates for the deal, then get it! You can plan your accommodations and activities later. The flight is normally the most expensive part anyway.
• If you are serious about travelling more, then check the sites daily. Make it apart of your morning internet binge. The sooner you see a deal the better chance you have of getting it at the lowest listed price.

I haven’t talked much about google.com/flights because it works a little different. This site works more as a forecasting option to show prices of flights everyday. I suggest this when you have a set destination and set travel dates in mind. The cheaper flights will generally have long layovers but that’s all a personal choice. Sometimes you can make it a 2 for 1 trip by exploring in your layover city or country. Keep in mind that Southwest airlines does not list it’s fares on any outside site other than it’s own. So you will have to compare their fares directly on their site.

With any type of planning, do you research. However, with my first two sites remember time is of the essence. If you know it’s a place you have been wanting to see, then go for it!!!

 

I know this is a lot of info but I have at least given you the important basics. If you have any questions, just ask and I will do my best to help!! Happy Traveling.

Plan Ahead for 2017: Travel Deal Alert!

As we prepare to end 2016 and bring in 2017, many people will add travel more to their list of resolutions. If course this blog was designed to do just that. If you are looking to see some new places in 2017 but need to plan far in advance, I have a great deal for you!

A travel agent that I worked with on a few of my trips in the past has come back into the travel planning world. After speaking with her, she told me about a vacation her company is offering in 2017. It was so good I had to share. The company she works for, Adventure Fun Vacation Agency is offering a cruise package leaving Monday October 23rd and returning Saturday October 28. The cruise is on Carnival’s Sensation and leaves from Miami, Florida with stops in Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman before returning to Miami.

The cost of the trip is $500 per person for an inside cabin or $550 per person for ocean view. I know what you are thinking, that sounds like a lot for one person. However, the great thing about this deal is that you are only required to pay a $25 deposit by December  to lock in your rate.  From there, you are able to make a $50 monthly payment each month through July 2017. Your final balance will be due August 15, 2017. That is 8 months to pay toward this trip.

The great thing about cruises as I’ve mentioned before is that all food is included with this cost. It’s all you can eat 24 hours a day. You can even order multiple courses at your sit down dining options with  no extra charge. Cruise ships offer lots of on board activities as well while you travel between your destination ports. Additionally, you will be able to see multiple destinations in one trip. Now this price does not include your flight, but the great thing about planning ahead is you will have time to plan for that and find a great price. The agent can also help you find budget friendly transportation options if needed.

If you are interested in this deal contact Crystal Piper with Adventure Fun Vacation. Email: adventurefunvacation@gmail.com or 803-262-1743. Let them know that Broke and Abroad Blog sent ya!!

Thanks for reading and don’t miss this week’s Tuesday Travel Review! Happy Traveling.

Ok so I’ve booked my flight, but where do I stay?

Over the last few weeks we have covered a variety of topics to help prepare for traveling. Another key aspect in planning your trip is deciding where to stay.

Thankfully in this day and time we aren’t limited to just staying at hotels and resorts. Now we also have Air BnB which can be a God send if planned correctly. I personally have used both. The first factor I consider before deciding between the two is: am I simply getting away for a quick trip or is this a special occasion type of vacation. If it is more of a quick trip or I find that hotels are extremely pricey for my destination during my travel dates, I typically go for an Air BnB.

What is Air BnB you ask? Well, Air BnB is where regular people like you and I rent out their homes or rooms in their homes to guest through the Air BnB platform. You can find Air BnB options almost anywhere including outside of the US. Once you go onto the site, you are able to choose the type of accommodation you may need: whether it’s a single room, a few rooms in the house, or an entire house all together. From there the site will narrow down the homes available based on your filter. You are then able to see pictures of the homes in that area as well as where exactly it is located within your destination. I highly recommend studying the actual location of where your home is located, you don’t want to book a home based on price and then find out that is far from the attractions you are looking to see. If it is, you will spend more money in Uber and taxi fees than needed and for some places that can be pretty expensive. Once you make a final decision on a home, you will be able to hold the home at the owners approval for 24 hours. Secret tip: You can message the owners and ask if they are willing to negotiate on the rate. Don’t just go with the rate listed. More people are willing to negotiate than you think. So just ask!!!! You must then book the place within that 24 hour hold or risk losing it to someone else. From my experience, the entire balance is usually due at the time of booking so make sure that you have all money together first before booking. Once you are booked, you will receive a confirmation and any other info from the owner that may have been left out. Now you just head to your destination and check in according to the owners rules. Simple as that.

Now on the flip side, I recommend booking resorts/hotels when you are traveling for a special occasion or when you can find a deal on hotels. (This is where signing up for hotel rewards programs can come in handy.) The good thing about hotels and resorts is that you: 1. have you own room to do as you please, 2. you can get daily housekeeping, 3. Some resorts have all-inclusive options so you have unlimited food options. Just like with an Air BnB hotel location is important too. If you are planning a trip to a new destination, I recommend studying area maps to find the best location for attractions and hotels. You want to cut down on having to pay for transportation as much as you can. This can be done through simple google searches or also by using tripadvisor.com. (It’s literally my travel bible at times)

When making a decision between the two options ask yourself am I staying for the experience or literally just for somewhere to lay my head and shower in peace? If you are looking for the later, then Air BnB is for you. Otherwise, if luxury is more of your thing, then hotels and resorts would be best.

I hope this helps!!! Happy traveling!