Saudi Arabia used to be one of the most difficult countries to secure a tourist visa. Several years ago on a flight from Bangkok to Vietnam I remember reading an article mentioning that policies regarding travel to the country would be changing in the coming years. I made a mental note to keep an eye open for that. I was able to visit last year, spending the majority of my time in Dammam. Traveling to Saudi Arabia can be an exhilarating … [Read more...]
A Visit to Interesting Places, Northern Iraq
From Erbil, we make the tiny mountain community of Lalish in a little more than an hour including being waived through several police checkpoints. Arriving at Lalish a guard stationed on the road leading to the community told us we needed to remove our shoes for the duration of our visit. No sooner than we had done so, a gentleman passing by asked if we would like to join him for lunch. Lunch was held inside a large room surrounded by men sitting … [Read more...]
What to know in regards to receiving EU & USA compensation for delayed flights
Delayed flights are unfortunately the result of numerous factors, whether it be weather, mechanical equipment, software problems or a myriad of other factors. During mu 20+ years of traveling I have come to realize that a delayed flight or even cancellations are more common than one would think. Those flying once or twice a year, may in fact never experience a delay or canceled flight due to their infrequent travel, but for those on the road more … [Read more...]
Moments in Santa Fe de Antioquia, Colombia
An old man hunched over with a baseball cap and a small cloth pack hanging from his back, scoots in beside me on a small well worn bench. He quietly calls out to an old woman who has casually wandered over to us carrying a Styrofoam box perched on top of her shoulders . She places the coffee carefully in between the wooden slats on the park bench in between myself and the older gentleman. We sit here in silence, yet surrounded by music … [Read more...]
A Visit to Khujand in Tajikistan
Trying to find a shared taxi in Tashkent for the ride to Oybek on the Tajikistan border turned into an effort in futility. After getting directions where to go from my hotel and after a 35-minute drive I arrived at the provided destination to discover an empty parking lot. Walking over to one of the nearby metro stops I asked one of the officers in Russian using Google translate and she then directed me to another metro stop another 30+ minutes … [Read more...]
Why We Chose the Springs Resort in Costa Rica for Our Wedding
Choosing a wedding venue is never an easy task! We looked at venues in our local area of Fort Lauderdale, Miami, all the way to the Caribbean islands, and many beach resorts in Costa Rica prior to choosing The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal, Costa Rica. Today I’ll share with you what led to this decision and why we feel like this is one of the most unique weddings ever crafted. About The Springs Resort in Costa Rica The Springs Resort and … [Read more...]
Thailand Trails: A Road Trip Adventure
Out of the blue, a friend sent me a Whatsapp note asking where I was. Knowing his proclivity for international travels and knowing my schedule, we both could have been just about anywhere on the planet. "Thailand", was my reply. I had recently arrived in the Kingdom, immediately following three months in the Caribbean and Colombia. Remarkably, he said he was in Khorat which was only about 2 hours north of where I staying. It had been years since … [Read more...]
Abu Dhabi, Too Good to be True?
I discovered Jannah Burj Al Sarab online, a property advertising itself as a 5-star hotel for the price of $39/night plus taxes (total price was $45/night). Always a sucker for deals, I immediately booked. After staying a night here I can say this was one of the better hotel deals I've gotten anywhere on my travels. Taxis and various beautiful cars were lined up waiting on the driveway next to the lobby (always a good sign of luxury), the room … [Read more...]
A Much Needed Reset at Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel, Puerta Vallarta Mexico
Sometimes you need an escape from it all; whether it be the rigors of a heavy work schedule, cold weather, a change of pace, or new scenery. And these refreshers or resets don't necessarily need to be weeks at a time, rather just a couple of days is often just what one needs to feel completely rejuvenated. The destination: Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel and Romantic Getaway in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Puerta Vallarta is an easy flight from the … [Read more...]
Holiday in Erbil, Iraq
Despite my visit in early June, the temperatures were already sweltering during the day hovering around 39 degrees. Not one for sitting around inside or using taxis, I spent most of my several days here wandering the city on foot, trying to stay hydrated. I have yet to meet any international tourists and I'm ok with that. The markets are chaotic and on the weekends (Friday and Saturday's) are particular busy. Everyone seems to have their own … [Read more...]
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