exterior of hotel jardim sintra

Where To Stay in Sintra and Why it’s More Than Just A Day Trip

Posted on by Krystal
Sintra is one of the most magical places I have ever visited. Back in 2012 I spent just a few hours there for the first time and fell in love with it. Since it’s conveniently placed just an hour train ride from Lisbon, it is the easiest and most popular day trip from the city center. However, I recently went back to explore this medieval wonderland again and decided to spend a few nights at the...more

What Are The Best Things To Eat in Paris? Try These 3 Life Changing Restaurants.

Posted on by Krystal
If you're looking for the best things to eat in Paris, the list is probably never ending. The French are however known for some truly jaw dropping dishes. They also set the standard for most high end cuisine. I've never considered myself a picky eater, but I have never been that adventurous either. When I first started traveling, I was committed to branching out of my comfort zone and trying some exotic dishes. That wasn't...more

You May Never Want to Leave Portugal After You Have These Perfect 3 Days In Porto

Posted on by Krystal
If you're planning a trip to Portugal, you absolutely cannot miss visiting Porto. I can't say enough good things about this place. It was easily my favorite city in Portugal the first time I visited, and even after a second trip, this incredible city remains at the top of the list of my all time favorite places. You really only need 3 days in Porto to see all the major highlights. A bit of a...more

If You’re Wondering Where To Eat in Porto, Try These Four Restaurants

Posted on by Krystal
Most travelers have a hard time picking their favorite city. At least I know I do. But if you backed me into a corner and made me choose I would probably pick Porto. I was the kickstarting city to a pretty big adventure so it holds real emotional value for me. But it's also home to some of my favorite European foods, which is why I came up with a list of where to eat...more

The Palacio das Cardosas Hotel is Where You Should Stay in Porto and Here’s Why

Posted on by Krystal
If you're looking for the perfect place to stay while you're visiting Porto, you won't find any better hotel than the Palacio das Cardosas Hotel. It is centrally located right in Liberdade Square and makes for a great starting point for whatever you want to do. It's also steps away from the São Bento train station for where ever your next adventure takes you. Even though the rooms aren't cheap, I worked around that to...more

Visiting the Magical Place that is Sintra, Portugal.

Posted on by Krystal
One of the best things about open-ended traveling is winding up in places that you didn't know existed. Or being pleasantly surprised that a destination highly exceeds your expectations, like Sintra. When I decided to start my 14-week trip off in Portugal, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it was conveniently located as one of the closest countries to fly into from the United States. I knew it was relatively affordable, and I...more

All About the Time I Hiked the Italian Coast in Cinque Terre

Posted on by Krystal
On my first long backpacking trip to Europe, my travel partner and I were terrible planners most of the time. To missed trains, running after buses, and not checking in for our Ryanair flight before we got to the airport, we were the target of most rookie travel mistakes. But sometimes terrible planning worked out better than we could ever have imagined. Like the time we got on a much later train than expected from...more

My Top Three Unplanned Italian Destinations

Posted on by Krystal
When it comes to Italy, it is easy to ramble on about the impeccable cuisine, high quality coffee, beautiful language, the winding canals of Venice, breathtaking coast of Cinque Terre and the ancient cobblestones in Rome. From top to bottom, it is arguably my favorite country. It is also one of the first places I recommend to anyone who is planning a trip to Europe. There are so many obvious reasons to love the country....more