Monday, February 29, 2016

The Solo Female Traveler’s Guide to Rome

The-Solo-Female-Travelers-Guide-to-Rome

Rome is one of the most well-known European destinations, and is famous for being one of the most historical, cultured and romantic destinations in the world. As a solo female traveler, whether you are visiting to enjoy the excellent food or to see the sights of the city, you won’t leave without some memories and photos to treasure.

Here’s my solo female traveler’s guide to Rome!

Vatican City

– Where to Stay –

Rome is so popular that the sheer number of hotels is enough to make your head spin. There is no “best” district to stay in—where you stay should depend mostly on your preference and style of travel.

Termini Station, as the main transport hub, wins in terms of diversity—here you can find hostels and pensions galore, and the proximity to trains and buses can’t be beat, but you will be on the outskirts of a lot of the sights and Vatican city area.

Piazza Navona

If you’re looking for a comfortable, budget option you may want to stick with Best Westerns; there are a few in the center of town. Also, you can find hostels and Airbnbs on every corner!

If you’re on the lookout for a luxury hotel experience during your stay, try the Via Veneto district near Villa Borghese. Here you’ll find Rome’s most expensive and exclusive hotels—but, you can’t go wrong with beautiful gardens outside of your front door.

If you’re after the Vatican, look no farther than the Prati hotel district, a quiet residential area just a few minutes’ walk to the Holy City.

Piazza Navona Fountain

– What to See –

Rome is THE destination when it comes to food, romance, history, and culture. I’ve touched on my favorite sights and must-dos in my three-day itinerary, but when in Rome… don’t forget to check out these highlights!

Trajan’s Markets was the first “multilevel shopping mall” in the world. Here you can also walk along the Via Biberatica, the best-preserved ancient street in the city. Afterward, climb up Palatine Hill to check out the imperial palaces, extensive garden grounds, and ruins of villas.

(source)

You’ll marvel at the exquisite architecture of the Pantheon, the only temple that survived the collapse of Rome relatively in one piece.

The Colosseum is the universal icon of Rome, and you can join a tour to explore the interior. Nearby, check out the Arch of Constantine, which was built to commemorate Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312, and the Roman Forum.

(source)

While you’re wandering the streets, stop by the Trevi Fountain and toss in a coin—legend has it that whoever tosses a coin in the fountain will return to the Eternal City someday. Grab some gelato and take a moment on the Spanish Steps to watch the people passing by.

I highly recommend checking out Walks of Italy to see what walking tours they have going on. Here’s my experience doing a food and pizza making tour in Rome!

Pizza making in Rome

– Food in Rome –

A trip to Rome wouldn’t be complete without delving into its cuisine! Stop by a local market for some fresh produce and farmer goodies. The Campo de’ Fiori Market is a colorful market with delights such as hand-squeezed olive oil, fresh fruit, and Limoncello.

Limoncello

Here you can sample an assortment of olive oils, balsamic vinegars, liquors, cheeses, and wines—the flavors go on and on!

Italian Pastries

And of course, don’t forget to check out a traditional Roman pizzeria. Wood-burning stoves are just magic when it comes to fresh pizza! Try to find a place that will give you a quick lesson in making your own Napoli-style pies—it’s informative, tasty, and you get to join in the fun of stretching the dough.

Italian Cappuccino

Top it all off with a cup of Italian joe—best enjoyed at Caffé Sant’Eustachio, one of the oldest espresso shops in Rome. You can’t go wrong with these authentic, home-roasted beans.

Walks of Rome

– Getting Around Rome –

Rome is a bit chaotic so it takes a few days to get a handle on the inner workings of the traffic and public transit lines. Pick up a map from your hotel or download one to your phone before you head out for the day.

Rome is best enjoyed on foot—it’s romantic, it’s intimate, and it’s the best way to find all the hidden gems! There are also light railways, buses, trams, and the metro that will help you quickly get from point A to B.

Helpful Tip: Taxis tend to be expensive and driving in Rome is only for the most daring.

Gelato in Rome

– Staying Safe –

Rome is generally a safe city, but it does get a healthy share of tourist scams and pickpocketing. Keep a low profile, hold your bag close to your body, and stash your cards and cash in a secure spot.

Number one rule: Keep your valuables with you, and always deep in your bag or in a front pocket.

Check out these Rome-travel essentials!

The Solo Female Traveler’s Guide to Rome is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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How To Use Your iPhone GPS For Hiking In The Wilderness

Using Your Smartphone GPS for Hiking

Travel Tips

Would you be surprised if I told you my favorite piece of backpacking gear is my smartphone? Learn how I use my iPhone GPS for hiking in the wilderness.

If you’ve been following me on Facebook & Instagram, you’ll know that I recently returned from an epic trek in Greenland on the Arctic Circle Trail.

There’s no cell-service on this hike. It was a 10 day adventure through remote Greenlandic wilderness. However I was still able to use my iPhone’s built in GPS capabilities to help me navigate a long-distance route.

The battery lasted 7 days before it needed recharging too!

I’ve been using Gaia GPS for hiking trips in places like Turkey, Norway, Israel, Greenland, Canada, Iceland, and the United States too. It’s a super useful app for adventure lovers.

Gaia GPS in Greenland

Smartphone GPS For Hiking

Did you know that cell service is not necessary to use your smartphone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) chip? However to track your progress effectively without cell service, you must pre-download maps before the journey.

There are a few different GPS mapping apps out there for smartphones, but my favorite (and the most used) is called Gaia GPS Topo Maps.

This amazing app allows hikers to pre-download different types of maps from around the world for use with your iPhone’s GPS. You can also record altitude, speed, leave waypoints, create tracks, and produce all sorts of other detailed information about your backcountry trips.

Better Than Dedicated GPS Unit?

Why spend hundreds of dollars on a dedicated GPS device for hiking when you can get the same functionality with a $20 app for your smartphone?

Using your phone as a GPS unit saves you money, reduces the amount of weight you pack, and serves multiple purposes (photos, journal, notes, etc.).

Pre-Downloading a Section of Map

Gaia GPS Settings

To get the most out of Gaia GPS, there are few settings you need to be aware of. First, there are many different map layers you can use within the app. The two I use most often are the Open Hiking Map and Google’s satellite view called Imagery + Roads.

These are probably the best maps for hiking. The Open Hiking Map includes basic topographical features along with known hiking trails, while Satellite Imagery gives you a better picture of the landscape.

If hiking somewhere without cell service, make sure to pre-download sections of the map that cover the area where you’ll be.

Pre-downloading maps is explained in the YouTube tutorial below.

Gaia GPS also allows you to record tracks as you hike, but don’t do this unless you have a specific need, because it drains battery life and requires the phone to be powered on the whole time.

I only use the app to confirm my GPS location or navigate in bad weather.

Close the Gaia app after each use (double tap the home button and swipe the app up to close). This prevents Gaia from continually updating your location. Turn the phone off to further reduce battery drain.

Hiking in Norway with the LifeProof FRĒ Power

Protecting Your Phone

As you might already know, I’m a huge fan of the water & shock-proof smartphone cases from LifeProof, and they’re one of my sponsors too.

Using the LifeProof FRĒ POWER gives me double the battery power for long-distance treks like the Arctic Circle Trail.

So when my phone’s battery eventually dies, I simply press a button on the back of the LifeProof case to recharge it completely.

Battery Conservation Settings

While hiking through Greenland for 10 days, my iPhone 6 battery lasted for 7 days using the settings below. I turned off the phone when not in use, and only powered it up to compare my GPS location with the paper maps I carried.

Enable Airplane Mode (turns off WiFi/Bluetooth)
Close all apps except Gaia
General > Usage > Battery Percentage = ON
Privacy > Location Services = OFF (except Gaia)
Privacy > Advertising > Limit Ad Tracking = ON
Privacy > Motion & Fitness = OFF
General > Siri = OFF
General > Accessibility > Reduce Motion = ON
General > Date & Time > Set Automatically = OFF
General > VPN = OFF

One more important tip is to keep your phone warm when it’s cold out, like in a pants pocket. This includes when sleeping too. Nothing drains the battery faster than cold weather! ★

Watch Video: Gaia GPS Tutorial

More Information

Product: Gaia GPS App for iPhone | Android
Total Cost: $19.99 USD
Useful Notes: Gaia GPS is a pretty big application with many features. You’ll want to set aside at least an hour to learn how to use it.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Why Couples That Travel Together Stay Together

Couples that travel together

Traveling as a couple or as a family is not only an extremely fun thing to do, but also, an extremely healthy thing to do. Families who take regular family vacations tend to be closer, happier, and stronger. The same goes for couples!

There are plenty of reasons why couples that travel together stay together, but here are our favorite!

Greece Couples Travel

You See Each Other at Your Best & Worst

Anything can happen when you’re traveling. Trust us. The unexpected will eventually come to fruition. You’ll experience highs and lows and as a direct result your partner will get to see the real you.

Seeing your partner at his or her worst and still loving him/her is the ultimate testament of love and the ultimate test of a relationship.

If you can deal with these situations and still love your significant other, you’re going to be just fine when it comes to a tedious argument about the toilet seat being left up.

Couples Travel Venice

You Face Adversity… Together

As a couple you’ll encounter a plethora of challenges you have to face both as individuals and as a couple. From a loss in the family, to job and money troubles, issues with friendships, or whatever it might be, life is going to present you with challenges that you ultimately must conquer together.

Working as a unit when faced with adversity truly illustrates the strength of your relationship. While you travel together you’ll undoubtedly encounter issues and they’re always resolved most quickly and efficiently when you work as a team.

You Have Fun Together

Being able to parasail over the sea in Nice, Kayak the waters of Positano, Italy, climb the castle walls in Dubrovnik, Croatia, or taking a yoga class in Bali Indonesia, are just a few examples of the fun to be had together while traveling!

Let your hair down and simply enjoy the beauty of experiencing a new culture and new place together. What’s better than having fun while traveling the world with your best friend!?

Bali Infinity Pool

You Grow Together Rather Than Apart

Many of our previous relationships as well as many of those of our friends ended due to growth. Growth is generally a good thing, but in the aforementioned situations the growth was away from one another. Growing apart is cancer to a relationship.

Growth is inevitable, however, especially if you start dating in your 20s and plan to be together until you die. The most important thing is to grow together. Traveling is a catalyst for mutual growth that helps a couple bond. So go experience new places and cultures together.

Go deal with adversity together. Go fine yourself in awe in a place you’ve never heard of. Go find YOURSELVES and grow together!

Romantic Sunset in Florence

You Make Memories

Both of us will admit that many, if not most, of our strongest, most fond memories, are from travel. Whether it’s a family vacation to Hawaii as a kid or a nomadic adventure around the world with your better half, travel will always endow you with wonderland memories.

Having those memories to share will enable your relationship flourish to its full potential. You will always be able to laugh and think back on those amazing experiences you two had together while traveling.

Couples in Gili Islands

You Keep the Spark Alive

Having something new and fresh around every corner of your travels will make your experience together nothing short of magical. Any time a relationship becomes stagnant there is room for contamination. Rather than allow your relationship to become dull, constantly sharpen it and keep that spark alive.

Travel is one of the best ways to make sure you never lose that spark.

Oktoberfest as a couple

You Live in The Now

Knowing what’s really important in life and honoring that as an individual will help when it comes to building a successful relationship.

Travelers are generally quite good about living in the present moment. Generally travelers value experiences over material possessions. Being able to live in the now and truly be content anywhere, in any circumstance, is incredibly powerful.

So grab your significant other and just go. We say this so often, but seriously, just go! Your relationship will flourish and you’ll be happier than you ever imagined.

Shop couples travel essentials!

Why Couples That Travel Together Stay Together is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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Saturday, February 27, 2016

Bali-Inspired Travel Nails

Bali Travel Nails
Drinks in Bali

Ubud Rice Fields

Bali Plumerias

Bali Fruit Bowl

Bali Jewelry

Breakfast in Bali

Bali Fruit

Bali Smoothies

Bali is a heaven on earth! It is one of the best (and cheapest) places to unwind, relax and focus on your wellness. It is home to the freshest ingredients, juices and organic eats and you can find them around every corner.

To get ready for the trip, I wanted to try out a travel nails style that was loosely inspired by the paradise and beach vibes of Bali!

Waterfalls, mokeys, rice fields, beautiful beaches, and fresh smoothies daily- after two weeks in paradise, I couldn’t fathom the thought of leaving!

If you’re looking for some Bali nail inspiration, I fell in love with these colors- Asia and Ziv. My favorite polish is Zoya Nail Polish because it is the longest wearing, natural nail polish available. All the colors are toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and Camphor Free- can’t ask for anything better!

Shop Polish for Bali-Inspired Travel Nails!

ASIA by ZOYA

ZIV by ZOYA

Bali-Inspired Travel Nails is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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Friday, February 26, 2016

Staying at The Cove Atlantis at Atlantis Resort

Staying at The Cove Atlantis

Atlantis Paradise Island is a gorgeous ocean-themed resort in the Bahamas. With a 141-acre waterscape, 14 lagoons, and 21 world-class restaurants, it’s one of the more beautiful beach getaways the Caribbean has to offer.

The Cove Atlantis, is a dream-like luxury palace, and is one of the best places for a girlfriend’s getaway that we’ve come across! I spent a week with gal-pal Courtney Scott, my other half of Girls Meet Globe, and we had a BLAST.

Here’s more about our experience staying at The Cove Atlantis, Paradise Island!

Atlantis Paradise Island

•• The Resort ••

Atlantis Paradise Island Resort is a gorgeous ocean-themed resort in the Bahamas. With a 141-acre waterscape, a massive waterpark, 14 lagoons, and 21 world-class restaurants, it’s one of the more beautiful beach getaways the Caribbean has to offer.

The island features a variety of accommodations built around all the fun, that range from family-friendly to an adult’s paradise. Overall, staying on Paradise Island was truly paradise. All of the activities the resort offers is sure to bring out your inner child!

TheCoveAtlantis_AzureSuites_LivingArea

•• The Rooms at The Cove Atlantis ••

Built in 2009, The Cove Atlantis is an all-suite, sophisticated tower. High-class décor and amenities meet an array of sun-soaked activities and water fun. It also includes easy access to the rest of Atlantis Paradise Island, seaside attractions, and the Atlantis Marina.

Each one of the 600 rooms at The Cove Atlantis is fully equipped with furnished balconies, deep-soaking tubs, and sandglass-bricked showers. There are also flat-screen TVs, sitting areas, minibars, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi available—some rooms even offer panoramic views of the Caribbean waters below.

Definitely book an Azure Suite—these rooms boast some of the best views on the top five floors. And if you feel like splurging, spring for The Club—features of these exclusive suites include a dedicated concierge, access to The Club Lounge, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and specialty cocktails made just for you.

•• The Waterpark ••

Aquaventure, Atlantis’s famous waterpark, is the highlight of any visit. The vast water playground includes 18 water slides, 11 pools, 14 lagoons, 3 white-sand beaches, and two river rides. There’s nothing like diving down The Abyss, a 200-foot body-slide, or slipping on The Surge, a waterslide rollercoaster.

Aquaventure is great fun for kids and adults alike; you can be sure your entire visit will be a fun-packed stay!

Need a breather?

You can always relax in a private cabana, enjoy a private massage, or recline on the island’s white sand beaches!

•• Dining and Drinking ••

The Cove Atlantis has a variety of options for sophisticated palates. Indulge in the best and freshest cuisine—Japanese, Mediterranean, Chinese, South American, and Tuscan.

After your meal, take full advantage of the multitude of bars offering premium top-shelf liquor. Play it classy in the Café Martinique wine cellar, or enjoy a refreshing microbrew at the Moon Club—famous for its in-house moon jellyfish floating directly behind the bar.

Atlantis Aquarium

For a delicate fruit-infused martini, your best bet is the Sea Glass, where you can sip signature cocktails while playing your hand at blackjack or roulette.

My favorite, Cain at The Cove, offers delicious food, and the Aura Nightclub offers a fun night out as well! This adults-only ultra-pool features two bars, an outdoor gaming pavilion, and 20 private cabanas.

Helpful Tip: Food at the resort is quite expensive, so be sure to factor in at least $100 per person per day for food!

•• Activities ••

Aquaventure waterpark isn’t the only diversion on Paradise Island. Guests can check out the fitness center, spa, tennis courts, rock-climbing area, pottery studio, movie theatre, or library.

The Mandara Spa brings European and Balinese therapies to the Bahamas. On-site you’ll also find the Caribbean’s largest casino with 75 tables.

With day trips in Nassau and boat charters to luxury shopping, what’s not to love about The Cove Atlantis?

Water Bikes

What’s the first thing you’d try at Atlantis Resort?!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

The Ultimate West Hollywood Travel Guide

West Hollywood Guide

West Hollywood (a.k.a. WeHo), is a hip, premium destination in L.A. County. Home to the Sunset Strip, this is where you’ll find pioneers of the motion picture industry and major activists of LGBT rights. It’s all about trailblazing fashion design and dining here!

Check out all of my tips in the ultimate WeHo travel guide!

Getting Around West Hollywood

Located in Los Angeles, West Hollywood has TRAFFIC! The city traffic tends to be congested so it’s best to stay off wheels but if necessary, get dropped off so you don’t have to find parking.

Although only 1.9 square miles, you’ll find endless energy, style and fun around every corner in WeHo.

If you plan to stay in WeHo, you don’t need to rent a car, but be sure to download the Uber App as you’ll need to use a cab. Bus service exists, but Uber is more efficient and quite cheap. Ride the Metro from WeHo to downtown, but avoid late-night rides.

No matter how you get around, expect traffic.

Where to Stay in West Hollywood

Madrid is an extensive city, with many different neighborhoods. While getting around via metro is easy, picking an awesome area to begin with can only make the trip better!

The Best of Budget Accommodations in WeHo

Airbnb: Budget travelers should try Airbnb first—there are tons of rooms and houses of varying shapes and sizes for rent.
Banana Bungalow Hostel: This fun and lively hostel is one of the most popular in the country! It’s perfectly situated just a simple drive away from Universal Studios, Disneyland, downtown L.A., Chinatown, and Venice Beach. They have private, dorm-style and street-side patios rooms, ranging from $22 to $100 per night.
USA Hostels Hollywood: This hostel is smack-dab in the thick of the action in the entertainment district, just steps away from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. It offers its own tours, bbq nights, and free comedy shows. You can find private or dorm-style rooms available from $37 to $130 per night.

The Best Luxury Accommodations in WeH0

Mondrian: The chic and trendy Mondrian is right on Sunset Strip and it sure knows it. With pearly decor, a teak deck pool, and the classy restaurant—Ivory on Sunset—it dresses to impress. Standard rooms, suites, apartments, penthouses galore, with prices start from $369 per night.
The London: If you really want to pamper yourself, book a few nights of luxury at The London. This glamorous, all-suite hotel, starting at $299 a night, will make you feel like a Hollywood star. It offers spacious suites, most of which come with a private terrace and premier view of the chic Hollywood hills.
Petit Ermitage: Petit Ermitage is my favorite hotel by far—it is a charming boutique hotel with an intense feel of La Vie Bohème. The interior is beautiful, elegant, and cozy, and is designed to make you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. With its rooftop pool and proximity to hip Santa Monica Boulevard (walking distance!), what’s not to love?

What to Do in West Hollywood

No matter if you walk, bike, drive or take public transit, WeHo is the best jumping-off point to see LA’s hottest spots. After a day of adventuring, you can come back and enjoy West Hollywood’s amazing restaurant and nightlife scene!

Gaze at the Heavens at Griffith Observatory: The observatory is a cool place to check out the cosmos, see space-related displays, and get a stellar view of the Hollywood sign. You can look through telescopes and enjoy live shows in the planetarium.
Hike Behind the Hollywood Sign: It’s easy enough to climb up behind the sign for some fantastic panoramic views. Choose from three routes: Mt. Hollywood Trail, the Canyon Boulevard Trail, and the Cahuenga Peak Trail.
Runyon Canyon Park: Outdoor enthusiasts should stretch their legs at the 160 acres of Runyon Canyon Park. The park is located below the Santa Monica Mountains and has routes for varying degrees of endurance. It is particularly popular with dog walkers as off-leash walking is permitted.
Pool Party: If you’re on the lookout for an amazing party with vivacious energy and nighttime music, check out West Hollywood’s WET pool deck at the W Hotel. Enjoy its crazy vibe and dive into wild and wet parties Friday through Sunday.
Concert or performance at Hollywood Bowl: The Hollywood Bowl is a 1920s amphitheater, which holds a variety of concerts; be sure to buy tickets as soon as you can—shows sell out quickly!
The Grove at Farmers Market: Foodies should try the Farmers Market on the corner of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue. Featuring more than 100 restaurants, food trucks, produce stalls, and souvenir shops, it’s the place to go for American and ethnic cuisine.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movie Night: Cinespia plays host to outdoor movie nights and is complete with preshow DJs and themed photo booths. Bring your blankets, picnic basket, and drinks for the full experience.
Urban Lights at LACMA: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a perfect place to stroke your inner artisan. The beautiful Urban Light is a large sculpture at the entrance and is an installation of 202 restored street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s.

Where to Eat in West Hollywood

West Hollywood’s hottest foodie spots rotate as quickly as the nightlife. Be sure to check the listings for the latest updates. You can always count on these spots.

E.P & L.P: Hit it classy with handcrafted cocktails and Southeast Asian-inspired appetizers at this rooftop bar.
California Donuts: While these donuts are probably not THE best in Los Angeles, but they are just something you have to get while in WeHo!
Joan’s on Third: This gourmet marketplace will have your mouth watering with items like apricot-glazed ham, fried chicken with jalapeño, coleslaw, and chicken milanese.
Gracias Madre or Café Gratitude: Vegans will be happy at Gracias Madre, a stylish Mexican place that serves 100% vegan cuisine. Stay healthy with hippie-inspired dishes at Café Gratitude’s sandwiches and wraps.
Cecconi’s: Head to Cecconi’s for lunch. This modern restaurant serves classic handmade Italian fare like orecchiette with claims, calamari fritti, and chicken paillard.
In-N-Out Burger: Nothing is so quintessentially Californian as the fast-food joint In-N-Out Burger. Grab a bun, hand-cut fries, and a thick shake.
Urth Caffé: Stop at Urth Caffé for your organic blends. There’s one on Melrose Avenue with a cozy outdoor patio. You’ll find a great selection of teas including matcha and tisane.

SHOP my favorite WeHo-inspired styles!

The Ultimate West Hollywood Travel Guide is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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